exh4-1.htm


Exhibit 4.1


 


THE WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THE WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND THUS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED UNLESS REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THAT ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR UNLESS, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER, SUCH REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION IS NOT REQUIRED.


 


Warrant to Purchase Common Stock


of


EVERGREEN ENERGY Inc.


 


 


Warrant Shares: _______                                                                                                                         Initial Exercise Date: _________ , 2011


 


Warrant Number:________







 


THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, _____________ (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date hereof (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to the close of business on the fifth anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Evergreen Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to ______ shares (the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock.  The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).


 


Section 1.           Definitions.  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Forbearance and Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”), dated as of February 1, 2011, among the Company, BIMCO, Inc. (f/k/a/ Buckeye Industrial Mining Co.), the holders of 8% Convertible Secured Notes Due 2012 issued by the Company identified in Exhibit A to the Settlement Agreement, Centurion Credit Funding LLC and Level 3 Capital Fund LP.


 


Section 2.           Exercise.


 


a)           Exercise of Warrant.


 



	
  

	
i.    

	
Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of this Warrant and a duly executed copy of the Notice of Exercise Form annexed hereto; and within five (5) Trading Days of the date said Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company, the Company shall have received  payment of the aggregate Exercise Price of







 






  





  











  









	
  

	
the shares thereby purchased by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a bank authorized to do business in the United States or any state or territory thereof.







 



	
  

	
ii.    

	
The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise Form within one Business Day of receipt of such notice.







 


b)           Exercise Price.  The exercise price per share of the Common Stock under this Warrant shall be Seven U.S. Dollars and Twenty Cents (US$7.20) per share, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).  The Exercise Price shall be payable in cash or other immediately available funds in United States Dollars.








	
  

	
c)

	
Mechanics of Exercise.







 


i.      Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise.  Certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission (“DWAC”) system if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective Registration Statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) the shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144, and otherwise by physical delivery to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is six (6) Trading Days after the latest of (A) the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise Form, (B) surrender of this Warrant (if required), and (C) payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”).  This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised on the first date on which all of the foregoing have been delivered to the Company.  The Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised, with payment to the Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(c)(v) prior to the issuance of such shares, having been paid.


 


ii.          Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise.  If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Shares, deliver to Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.


 






  





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iii.          Rescission Rights.  If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then, the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.


 


iv.         No Fractional Shares or Scrip.  No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant.  As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.


 


v.         Charges, Taxes and Expenses.  Issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event certificates for Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant, when surrendered for exercise, shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.


 


vi.         Closing of Books.  The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.


 


Section 3.            Certain Adjustments.


 


a)           Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, subdivides the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or issues a stock dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision or the issuance of such stock dividend shall be proportionately decreased, and the number of shares receivable upon the exercise thereof shall be proportionately increased, and if the Company at any time combines the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased, and the number of Shares receivable upon the exercise thereof shall be proportionately decreased, effective at the close of business on the date of such subdivision, stock dividend or combination, as the case may be.  In the event of any reclassification or change of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or of any reorganization of the Company or any similar corporate reorganization on or after the date hereof, then and in each such case the settling ’07 Noteholders, upon the exercise of warrants at any time after the consummation of such reclassification, change,


 




  





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or reorganization, shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the shares receivable upon the exercise hereof prior to such consummation, the equity interests or other securities or property to which such settling ’07 Noteholders would have been entitled upon such consummation if such settling ’07 Noteholders had exercised the Warrant immediately prior thereto, all subject to further adjustment pursuant to the provisions of this Section.


 


b)           Pro Rata Distributions.  If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to the Holders) evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including cash and cash dividends) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any security other than the Common Stock), then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the closing market price of the Common Stock on the principal trading market for the Common Stock (the “Market Price”) determined on the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator shall be such Market Price on such record date less the then per share fair market value on such record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness or rights or warrants so distributed applicable to one outstanding share of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.  In either case the adjustments shall be described in a statement provided to the Holder of the portion of assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or such subscription rights applicable to one share of Common Stock.  Such adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made and shall become effective immediately after the record date mentioned above.


 


c)           Merger or Consolidation.  In the event the Company shall propose to enter into any consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation or entity (other than a consolidation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding voting securities (a “Trigger Event”)), the corporation or entity formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger shall execute and deliver to each Holder a supplemental warrant agreement whereby the Holder of this Warrant shall thereafter be entitled to purchase (in lieu of the number of Warrant Shares which such Holder would have been entitled to purchase immediately prior to such Trigger Event) the shares of stock or other securities or property to which such number of Warrant Shares would have been entitled at the time of such Trigger Event, at an aggregate purchase price equal to that which would have been payable if such number of Warrant Shares had been purchased immediately prior thereto.  In case of any such Trigger Event, lawful, adequate and appropriate provision shall be made with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Holder such that all the provisions of this Warrant shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as practicable, to such stock or other securities (“Replacement Securities”) and/or property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant. The supplemental warrant agreement shall contain the express assumption by such successor corporation or entity of the due and punctual performance and observation of every provision of this Warrant to be performed and observed by the Company and of all liabilities and obligations of the Company hereunder and thereunder.  Upon consummation of any such transaction, the term “Common Stock” as used herein, shall be deemed to mean, as


 




  





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appropriate, such Replacement Securities and/or property, including without limitation, the definition of Warrant Shares as used herein.


 


d)           Intentionally omitted.


 


e)           Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.


 


f)           Notice to Holder.


 


i.      Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.


 


ii.      Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such


 






  





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notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice.  To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.  The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice  except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.


 


Section 4.           Transfer of Warrant.


 


a)           Transferability.  Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer.  Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled.  The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.


 


b)           New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney.  Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Initial Exercise Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.


 


c)           Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the Holder hereof from time to time.  The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.


 


d)           Intentionally omitted.


 




  





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e)           Representation by the Holder.  The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.


 


Section 5.           Miscellaneous.


 


a)           No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise.  This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(c)(i).


 


b)           Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.


 


c)           Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc.  If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.


 


d)           Authorized Shares.  The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant.  The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant.  The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed.  The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).


 




  





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Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.


 


Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.


 


e)           Choice of Law/Jurisdiction.  This Warrant shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its principles of conflicts of laws that would result in the application of the law of any other jurisdiction, and any claims or causes of action arising out of, or in any way relating to, the terms and conditions of this Warrant may be brought and enforced in any court which may properly assert jurisdiction with respect thereto.


 


f)           Restrictions.  The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.


 


g)           Nonwaiver and Expenses.  No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Settlement Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.


 


h)           Notices.  Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Settlement Agreement.


 




  





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i)           Limitation of Liability.  No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder, shall give rise to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.


 


j)           Remedies.  The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant.  The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.


 


k)           Successors and Assigns.  Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder.  The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.


 


l)           Amendment.  This Warrant may not be modified or amended nor the provisions hereof waived without the written consent of the Company and the Holder.


 


m)           Severability.  Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.


 


n)           Headings.  The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.


 







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(Signature Pages Follow)


 






  





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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.


 







 

 



	
EVERGREEN ENERGY INC.


 


 


	
By:__________________________________________


     Name:


     Title:


 







 




 






  





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NOTICE OF EXERCISE







TO:           EVERGREEN ENERGY INC.







(1)      The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.


 


(2)      Payment of the Exercise Price shall be in lawful money of the United States.


 


(3)      Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:


 


_______________________________












The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number or by physical delivery of a certificate to:







_______________________________







_______________________________







_______________________________







(4)  Accredited Investor.  The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.







[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]







Name of Investing Entity:







_________________________________________________


Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:







_________________________________________________


Name of Authorized Signatory:







_________________________________________________


Title of Authorized Signatory:







Date: ________________________________________





















  





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ASSIGNMENT FORM







(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute


this form and supply required information.


Do not use this form to exercise the Warrant.)

















FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [____] all of or [_______] shares of the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to


 







_______________________________________________ whose address is







_______________________________________________________________.

















_______________________________________________________________







Dated:  ______________, _______







 


                   Holder’s Signature:     _____________________________







                   Holder’s Address:      _____________________________







                                                     _____________________________

















Signature Guaranteed:  ___________________________________________












NOTE:  The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company.  Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.


 


 


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