S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2011

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

CHART INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   34-1712937

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Infinity Corporate Centre Drive

Suite 300

Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125-5370

(440) 753-1490

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Matthew J. Klaben, Esq.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

One Infinity Corporate Centre Drive

Suite 300

Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125-5370

(440) 753-1490

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With a copy to:

Arthur C. Hall III, Esq.

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

1400 KeyBank Center

800 Superior Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2688

(216) 622-8200

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨      Accelerated filer                   x
Non-accelerated filer    ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  ¨

 

 

 


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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount to be Registered/Proposed
Maximum Offering Price

Per Unit/Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering

Price/Amount of

Registration Fee (1)

Debt Securities

   

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

   

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

   

Warrants

   

Units (2)

   
 
 
(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered and may be offered and sold from time to time at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
(2) Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.


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PROSPECTUS

CHART INDUSTRIES, INC.

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

We may offer and sell from time to time any combination of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock and warrants, as well as units that include any of these securities. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants.

We will provide the specific terms of the securities to be offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference, carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.

Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GTLS.” On July 27, 2011, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $57.60 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Please read the risk factors discussed or incorporated by reference under the section of the prospectus captioned “Risk Factors” on page 7 and contained in any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

The securities may be sold directly by us to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds that we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

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 July 28, 2011.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1   

Where You Can Find More Information

     3   

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     5   

The Company

     7   

Risk Factors

     7   

Use of Proceeds

     8   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     8   

Description of Capital Stock

     9   

Description of Debt Securities

     14   

Description of Warrants

     21   

Description of Units

     23   

Legal Ownership of Securities

     25   

Plan of Distribution

     28   

Validity of Securities

     29   

Experts

     29   


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration procedure. Pursuant to that procedure and under this prospectus, we may offer and sell from time to time:

 

   

Debt Securities;

 

   

Common Stock;

 

   

Preferred Stock;

 

   

Warrants; and

 

   

Units.

The securities described above may be offered and sold in combination and in one or more offerings. Each time we offer and sell securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we will file with the SEC a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” in their entirety. They contain information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.

The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

This prospectus contains and incorporates by reference market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe that these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. Although we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the market and industry data presented in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference, these estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.

 

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This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The registration statement that contains this prospectus contains additional information about our company and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, we refer you to the registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement with respect to the securities we are offering under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. You may read and copy the registration statement, as well as our reports, proxy statements and other information, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Chart. The SEC’s internet site can be found at http://www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at http://www.chartindustries.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement.

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the following information or documents that we have filed with the SEC:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010;

 

   

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011;

 

   

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011;

 

   

our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 27, 2011; and

 

   

the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on July 20, 2006, and any amendments and reports for the purpose of updating the description.

We are also incorporating by reference additional documents we may file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus, other than any portion of such documents that by statute, designation in such documents or otherwise are deemed to be furnished, rather than filed, under the applicable SEC rules or are not required to be incorporated herein by reference. This additional information is a part of this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement from the date of filing of those documents. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.

The information relating to us contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement should be read together with the information in the documents incorporated by reference.

 

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We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered any or all of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost, upon written or oral request. You may request these documents by writing to or telephoning us at the following address and number:

Corporate Secretary

Chart Industries, Inc.

One Infinity Corporate Centre Drive

Suite 300

Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125-5370

(440) 753-1490

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or set forth in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering these securities in states where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus (including the information incorporated by reference) contains, and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain, forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “continue” or the negative of such terms or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements contained herein, in documents incorporated by reference (including future cash contractual obligations, liquidity, cash flow, orders, results of operations, and trends, among other matters) or in other statements made by us are made based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We believe that the following factors, among others (including those described in and incorporated by reference into the section captioned “Risk Factors” herein, and by any cautionary language in this prospectus, in the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering), could affect our future performance and the liquidity and value of our securities and cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf:

 

   

the cyclicality of the markets which we serve and the vulnerability of those markets to economic downturns;

 

   

the loss of, or a significant reduction or delay in purchases by our largest customers;

 

   

the fluctuations in energy prices;

 

   

governmental energy policies could change, or expected changes could fail to materialize;

 

   

competition in our markets;

 

   

economic downturns and deteriorating financial conditions;

 

   

our ability to manage our fixed-price contract exposure;

 

   

our reliance on key suppliers and services;

 

   

degradation of our backlog as a result of modification or termination of orders;

 

   

changes in government health care regulations and reimbursement policies;

 

   

general economic, political, business and market risks associated with our international operations and transactions including the recent political instability in North Africa and the Middle East and the recent natural disaster and related complications in Japan;

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates;

 

   

our ability to successfully acquire or integrate companies that provide complementary products or technologies;

 

   

financial distress of third parties;

 

   

our ability to control our costs while maintaining customer relationships and core business resources;

 

   

our ability to successfully manage our planned operational expansions;

 

   

difficulties in implementing a new ERP system;

 

   

the loss of key employees;

 

   

the pricing and availability of raw materials;

 

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litigation and disputes involving us, including the extent of product liability, contract, warranty, employment and environmental claims asserted against us;

 

   

United States Food and Drug Administration and comparable foreign regulation of our products;

 

   

the impairment of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets;

 

   

the costs of compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and responding to potential liabilities under these laws;

 

   

labor costs and disputes and the deterioration of our relations with our employees;

 

   

additional liabilities related to taxes;

 

   

the underfunded status of our pension plan;

 

   

our ability to continue our technical innovation in our product lines;

 

   

our ability to protect our intellectual property and know-how;

 

   

claims that our products or processes infringe intellectual property rights of others;

 

   

disruptions in our operations due to severe weather;

 

   

potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;

 

   

increased government regulation;

 

   

regulations governing the export of our products and other regulations applicable to us as a supplier of products to the U.S. government;

 

   

risks associated with our indebtedness, leverage, debt service and liquidity;

 

   

fluctuations in the price of our stock; and

 

   

other factors described herein and in documents incorporated by reference.

There may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

These statements reflect current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly revise our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this prospectus, the date of any applicable prospectus supplement, the date of any free writing prospectus or the date of the documents incorporated by reference herein that include forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the statement is made.

You should read this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents that are referenced and which have been incorporated by reference herein and therein, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements.

 

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THE COMPANY

We are a leading independent global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment used in the production, storage and end-use of hydrocarbon and industrial gases, based on our sales and the estimated sales of our competitors. We supply engineered equipment used throughout the global liquid gas supply chain. The largest portion of end-use applications for our products is energy-related, accounting for approximately 47% of sales and 49% of orders in 2010, and 71% of backlog at December 31, 2010. We are a leading manufacturer of standard and engineered equipment primarily used for low-temperature and cryogenic applications. We have developed an expertise in cryogenic systems and equipment, which operate at low temperatures sometimes approaching absolute zero (0 kelvin; -273° Centigrade; -459° Fahrenheit). The majority of our products, including vacuum insulated containment vessels, heat exchangers, cold boxes and other cryogenic components, are used throughout the liquid gas supply chain for the purification, liquefaction, distribution, storage and end-use of hydrocarbon and industrial gases.

Chart Industries, Inc. is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1992. Our principal executive offices are located at One Infinity Corporate Centre Drive, Suite 300, Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125 and our telephone number is (440) 753-1490.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding whether to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risks involved in an investment in our securities, as set forth in:

 

   

Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2010; and

 

   

the other risks described in any prospectus supplement or in any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific issuance of securities or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for the repayment of debt and for other general corporate purposes. Our general corporate purposes include, but are not limited to, repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, capital expenditures, investments in or loans to subsidiaries and joint ventures, funding of possible acquisitions, working capital, satisfaction of other obligations and repurchase of our outstanding debt or equity securities. Pending any such use, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities may be invested in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing instruments. We will include a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of securities under this prospectus or in a free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The financial information in the table below should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for each of the periods indicated:

 

Fiscal Years Ended December 31,

   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2011

2006

   2007    2008    2009    2010   

2.4

   3.4    5.9    5.3    2.3    3.7

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings is defined as pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustments for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and income or loss from equity investees. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of financing costs and an estimation of the interest portion of rental expense.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of the material terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws is a summary only and is subject to the complete text of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. References in this prospectus to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws means our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as amended.

Authorized Capitalization

As of July 26, 2011, our authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 29,436,383 shares were issued and outstanding, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are currently issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. The holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

Dividend Rights. Subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be outstanding, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive equally and ratably, share for share dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available to pay dividends. Dividends upon our common stock may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any of our funds available for dividends, such sums as the board of directors deems proper as reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any of our property, or for any proper purpose, and the board of directors may modify or abolish any such reserve. Our senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing our existing senior subordinated notes impose restrictions on our ability to declare dividends with respect to our common stock.

Liquidation Rights. Upon liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or other winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably the assets available for distribution to the stockholders after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any of our outstanding preferred stock. Neither a sale of substantially all of the property and assets of the corporation nor a consolidation or merger of the corporation into another corporation shall be deemed a liquidation of the company.

Other Matters. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and is not subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock, including the common stock offered in this offering, are fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the terms and rights of that series, including:

 

   

the designation of the series;

 

   

the number of shares of the series, which our board may, except where otherwise provided in the preferred stock designation, increase or decrease, but not below the number of shares then outstanding;

 

   

whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the dividend rate of the series;

 

   

the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable;

 

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the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

   

the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of 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, or upon any distribution of assets 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 specification of the other class or series or other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;

 

   

the preferences and special rights, if any, of the series and the qualifications and restrictions, if any, of the series;

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series; and

 

   

such other rights, powers and preferences with respect to the series as our board of directors may deem advisable.

We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock.

The Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class (or, in some cases, as a series) on an amendment to our certificate of incorporation if the amendment would change the par value or, unless the certificate of incorporation provided otherwise, the number of authorized shares of the class or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the class or series so as to adversely affect the class or series, as the case may be. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Certain provisions of our certificate 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 stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by stockholders.

Removal of Directors; Vacancies. Our certificate of incorporation provides that any director may be removed with or without cause, at any time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. In addition, our bylaws also provide that any vacancies on our board of directors will be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum or by the sole remaining director.

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

 

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Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by the chairman of the board of directors, the board of directors or a committee of the board which has been designated by the board of directors.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent. The DGCL permits stockholder action by written consent unless otherwise provided by our certificate of incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation precludes stockholder action by written consent.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary.

Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 calendar days nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders or at such other time as specified in our bylaws. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may impede stockholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.

Supermajority Provisions. The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage. Our certificate of incorporation provides that the following provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded by stockholders only if approved by a vote of at least 75% of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors:

 

   

the removal of directors;

 

   

the limitation of stockholder action by written consent;

 

   

the ability to call a special meeting of stockholders being vested solely in our chairman of the board, our board of directors and any committee of the board of directors which has been designated by our board of directors;

 

   

the advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations; and

 

   

the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with a 75% supermajority vote.

In addition, our certificate of incorporation grants our board of directors the authority to amend or repeal our bylaws without a stockholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or our certificate of incorporation.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except:

 

   

for breach of duty of loyalty;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law;

 

   

under Section 174 of the DGCL (unlawful dividends); or

 

   

for transactions from which the director derived improper personal benefit.

 

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Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We are also expressly authorized to, and do, carry directors’ and officers’ insurance providing coverage 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 certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders 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 stockholders. 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.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers providing for additional indemnification protection beyond that provided by the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy. In the indemnification agreements, we have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to indemnify and hold harmless the director or officer to the maximum extent then authorized or permitted by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, the DGCL, or by any amendment(s) thereto.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Delaware Anti-takeover Statute

We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL. Subject to specified exceptions, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder. “Business combinations” include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the “interested stockholder.” Subject to various exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who together with his or her affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. These restrictions generally prohibit or delay the accomplishment of mergers or other takeover or change-in-control attempts.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Investor Services is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Listing

Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GTLS.”

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock

The DGCL does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, which would apply so long as our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, require stockholder approval of certain issuances (other than a public offering) equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock, as well as for certain issuances of stock in compensatory transactions. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions. One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive the stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

 

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Management Stockholder’s Agreements

In connection with our initial public offering, we entered into amended and restated management stockholder’s agreements, effective as of April 1, 2006, with certain members of our management, including Messrs. Thomas, Biehl, and Klaben. Pursuant to and subject to the terms of the amended and restated management stockholder’s agreements, each management stockholder will have the opportunity to include in registered sales of our common stock (other than an initial public offering or relating to any employee benefit plan or corporate merger, acquisition or reorganization) and any shelf registration statement filed by us with respect to our common stock, all or any part of the “registrable securities” (as such term is defined in the amended and restated management stockholder’s agreements) then held by such management stockholder. We will pay all of the expenses associated with an offering of such shares. Underwriting discounts will be shared proportionately.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the trustee under the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.

The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

General

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

 

   

the title;

 

   

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;

 

   

the maturity date or dates;

 

   

the form of the debt securities of the series;

 

   

the applicability of any guarantees;

 

   

whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

   

whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;

 

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if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

 

   

the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

 

   

our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

   

the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;

 

   

the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;

 

   

the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

   

any and all other terms (including terms, to the extent applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities) with respect to such series, including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series;

 

   

whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for, or based upon the price of, shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours or any other person and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange, which may, without limitation, include the delivery of cash as well as the delivery of securities;

 

   

if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

   

any changes in or additions to the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;

 

   

additions to or changes in the Events of Default with respect to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such debt securities to be due and payable;

 

   

additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;

 

   

additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;

 

   

additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture;

 

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the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

   

whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

   

the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;

 

   

additional or alternative provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities;

 

   

any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or securities of other entities, we or the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.

Events of Default Under the Indenture

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

 

   

if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

 

   

if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

 

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if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series to us and the trustee; and

 

   

if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee satisfactory indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

 

   

the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

 

   

subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding (it being understood that the trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to such holders).

A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:

 

   

the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered indemnity satisfactory to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

 

   

the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.

 

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Modification of Indenture; Waiver

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

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;

 

   

to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;”

 

   

to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;

 

   

to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;

 

   

to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;

 

   

to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “Description of Debt Securities—General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;

 

   

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or

 

   

to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

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

 

   

extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series;

 

   

reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities, or adversely affecting the conversion right of any holder; or

 

   

reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.

Discharge

Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:

 

   

provide for payment;

 

   

register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

 

   

replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;

 

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pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series;

 

   

maintain paying agencies;

 

   

hold monies for payment in trust;

 

   

recover excess money held by the trustee;

 

   

compensate and indemnify the trustee; and

 

   

appoint any successor trustee.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized appraisal firm, investment bank or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee, to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

   

issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

 

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Information Concerning the Trustee

The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise under the circumstances as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request or direction of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered satisfactory security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. Subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions with us; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest as defined by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, it must eliminate the conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is applicable.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description, together with the additional information that we include in any applicable prospectus supplements and in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be distributed to you, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement that describes the terms of the warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related warrants. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the warrants are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular warrant. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses and the complete warrant agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the warrants.

We may issue (either separately or together with other offered securities) warrants to purchase underlying debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or any combination thereof issued by us (“offered warrants”). Such warrants may be issued independently or together with any such securities and may be attached or separate from the securities. We may issue the warrants under separate warrant agreements (each a “warrant agreement”) to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the “warrant agent”), identified in the prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders of beneficial owners of warrants.

General

You should read the prospectus supplement for the material terms of the offered warrants, including the following:

 

   

The title and aggregate number of the warrants.

 

   

The title, rank, aggregate principal amount and terms of the underlying debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants.

 

   

The principal amount of underlying debt securities, preferred stock or common stock that may be purchased upon exercise of each warrant, and the price or the manner of determining the price at which this principal amount may be purchased upon exercise.

 

   

The currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable.

 

   

The price at which and the currencies, including composite currencies, in which the securities purchaseable upon exercise of such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire.

 

   

If applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time.

 

   

If applicable, the title, rank, aggregate principal amount and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security.

 

   

If applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and related securities will be separately transferable.

 

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Any optional redemption terms.

 

   

Whether certificates evidencing the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form and, if registered, where they may be transferred and exchanged.

 

   

Any other material terms of the warrants.

The prospectus supplement will also contain a discussion of the United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the offering.

Warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new warrant certificates of different denominations. No service charge will be imposed for any permitted transfer or exchange of warrant certificates, but we may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Warrants may be exercised and exchanged and warrants in registered form may be presented for registration of transfer at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement or term sheet.

Exercise of Warrants

Each offered warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase the amount of underlying debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or any combination thereof at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the offered warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will be void.

Warrants may be exercised by payment to the warrant agent of the applicable exercise price and by delivery to the warrant agent of the related warrant certificate, properly completed. Warrants will be deemed to have been exercised upon receipt of the exercise price and the warrant certificate or certificates. Upon receipt of this payment and the properly completed warrant certificates, we will, as soon as practicable, deliver the amount of underlying debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or any combination thereof purchased upon exercise.

If fewer than all of the warrants represented by any warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the unexercised warrants. The holder of a warrant will be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer involved in the issuance of underlying debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other combination thereof purchased upon exercise.

Amendments and Supplements to Warrant Agreement

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

No Rights as Holders of Underlying Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Common Stock

Before the warrants are exercised, holders of the warrants are not entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the related underlying debt securities and dividends on the preferred stock, common stock or any combination thereof, as applicable, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as holders of the underlying debt securities, preferred stock or common stock.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

The following description, together with the additional information that we include in any applicable prospectus supplements and in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be distributed to you, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses and the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.

General

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the securities offered hereby in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units being offered, including:

 

   

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

   

any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and

 

   

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.

Issuance in Series

We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.

 

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Title

We, and any unit agent and any of their agents, may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary. See the section entitled “Legal Ownership of Securities” in this prospectus.

 

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.

Book-Entry Holders

We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the securities.

Street Name Holders

We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.

Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

 

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For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.

Special Considerations For Indirect Holders

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

   

the performance of third party service providers and manufacturers;

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

 

   

whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

 

   

how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

 

   

if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities

A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under the section entitled “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated” in this prospectus. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

 

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Special Considerations For Global Securities

The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

   

an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;

 

   

an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above;

 

   

an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

 

   

an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

 

   

the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security;

 

   

we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security, nor do we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way;

 

   

the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and

 

   

financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities.

There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:

 

   

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;

 

   

if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or

 

   

if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived, and DTC requests physical certificates.

The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell any combination of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus through agents, through underwriters or dealers or directly to one or more purchasers, or through a combination of these methods.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If a material arrangement with any underwriter, broker, dealer or agent is entered into for the sale of the offered securities, a prospectus supplement will be filed, if necessary, under the Securities Act disclosing the material terms and conditions of such arrangement. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation (including underwriting discount) will be described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also describe other terms of the offering, including any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be listed.

The distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may occur from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

If the prospectus supplement indicates, we will authorize dealers or our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase offered securities from us pursuant to contracts that provide for payment and delivery on a future date. We must approve all institutions, but they may include, among others:

 

   

commercial and savings banks;

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

pension funds;

 

   

investment companies; and

 

   

educational and charitable institutions.

An institutional purchaser’s obligations under any contract to purchase our securities will only be subject to the condition that the purchase of the offered securities at the time of delivery is allowed by the laws that govern the purchaser. The dealers and our agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make as a result of those certain civil liabilities.

When we issue the securities offered by this prospectus, they may be new securities without an established trading market. If we sell a security offered by this prospectus to an underwriter for public offering and sale, the underwriter may make a market for that security, but the underwriter will not be obligated to do so and could discontinue any market making without notice at any time. Therefore, we cannot give any assurances to you concerning the liquidity of any security offered by this prospectus.

Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the securities described in this prospectus has been passed upon by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, 1400 KeyBank Center, 800 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Chart Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in Chart Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries’ Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2010 (including the schedule appearing therein) , and the effectiveness of Chart Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

 

     Per Offering  

Registration fee

   $              (1) 

Legal fees and expenses

                  (2) 

Trustee fees and expenses

                  (2) 

Accounting fees and expenses

                  (2) 

Printing and engraving fees

                  (2) 

Miscellaneous

                  (2) 
        

Total

   $              (2) 
        

 

(1) Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).
(2) Because an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are not currently determinable. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of fees and expenses that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under the registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate fees and expenses in connection with the distribution of the securities being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of being or having been in any such capacity, if he acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action, or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for violations of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws for Chart Industries, Inc. provide for such limitations on liability.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers providing for additional indemnification protection beyond that provided by the Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy. In the indemnification agreements, the Company has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to indemnify and hold harmless the director or officer to the maximum extent then authorized or permitted by the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL, or by any amendment(s) thereto.

 

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The above description is a general summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable provisions of Delaware law, as well as by the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws and applicable agreements between the Company and its directors and officers.

The underwriting agreement that the registrant might enter into (Exhibit 1.1) will provide for indemnification by any underwriters of the registrant, its directors, its officers who sign the registration statement and the registrant’s controlling persons for some liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Item 16. Exhibits

See Exhibit Index.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

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(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B (§230.430B of this chapter):

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) (§230.424(b)(3) of this chapter) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) (§230.424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) of this chapter) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) (§230.415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) of this chapter) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S–3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, on this 28 day of July, 2011.

 

CHART INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Samuel F. Thomas

  Samuel F. Thomas
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below, hereby constitutes and appoints Samuel F. Thomas, Michael F. Biehl, Kenneth J. Webster, and Matthew J. Klaben, or any one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of such attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 28 day of July, 2011.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Samuel F. Thomas

Samuel F. Thomas

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and

a Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Michael F. Biehl

Michael F. Biehl

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Kenneth J. Webster

Kenneth J. Webster

   Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ W. Douglas Brown

W. Douglas Brown

   Director

/s/ Richard E. Goodrich

Richard E. Goodrich

   Director

/s/ Steven W. Krablin

Steven W. Krablin

   Director

 

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Signature

  

Title

/s/ Michael W. Press

Michael W. Press

   Director

/s/ James M. Tidwell

James M. Tidwell

   Director

/s/ Thomas L. Williams

Thomas L. Williams

   Director

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

No.    Description
1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement (1)
4.1    Form of Indenture between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (filed herewith)
4.2    Form of Debt Securities (1)
4.3    Form of Warrant Agreement (1)
4.4    Form of Common Stock Warrant Certificate (1)
4.5    Form of Debt Securities Warrant Certificate (1)
4.6    Form of Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-133254))
5.1    Opinion of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP (filed herewith)
5.2    Opinion of Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP (filed herewith)
12    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
23.1    Consent of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Ernst & Young LLP
24    Powers of Attorney (included in signature page)
25    Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

 

(1) To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the offered securities.