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| Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Mills Inc | NYSE:GIS | NYSE | Common Stock |
| Price Change | % Change | Share Price | High Price | Low Price | Open Price | Shares Traded | Last Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.40 | -0.62% | 63.61 | 64.50 | 63.33 | 64.495 | 9,891,969 | 21:36:43 |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| |
||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
On November 18, 2024, General Mills, Inc. (the “Company”) agreed to sell $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.875% Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.250% Notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes,” and together with the 2030 Notes, collectively, the “Notes”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated November 18, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule II thereto. The Notes will be issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1996 (as amended, the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, and the Officers’ Certificates and Authentication Orders, dated November 21, 2024 (the “Officers’ Certificates”), pursuant to Sections 201, 301 and 303 of the Indenture. The offer and sale of the Notes has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-283277). The sale of the Notes is expected to close on November 21, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
The purpose of this Current Report is to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the Underwriting Agreement, the Officers’ Certificates and the opinion of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP with respect to the validity of the Notes.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 21, 2024
| GENERAL MILLS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Kofi A. Bruce | |
| Name: | Kofi A. Bruce | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Exhibit 1
General Mills, Inc.
$750,000,000 4.875% Notes due 2030
$750,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2035
Underwriting Agreement
November 18, 2024
Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
as Representatives of the several underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
General Mills, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, the principal amount of its securities identified in Schedule I hereto (the “Securities”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of February 1, 1996, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company (as successor-in-interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”). To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule II other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 18 hereof.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on Form S-3, including a related basic prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including a Preliminary Prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will next file with the Commission a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall contain all Rule 430A Information or Rule 430B Information, as the case may be, together with all other such required information, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Basic Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).
(b) (i) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when any Preliminary Prospectus is first filed (if required) in accordance with Rule 424(b), such Preliminary Prospectus will, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed (if required) in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; (ii) on the Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (iii) as of the Time of Sale, the Time of Sale Information did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and no statement of material fact included in the Final Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Final Prospectus has been omitted therefrom; (iv) each Electronic Road Show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Information, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (v) on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and (vi) as of its date and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), as applicable.
(c) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Act. Any Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the Free Writing Prospectuses identified in Schedule III hereto, and Electronic Road Shows, if any, each furnished to the Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the prior consent of the Representatives, prepare, use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus.
(d) Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation or a limited liability company in good standing (as applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company and is in good standing (as applicable) under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(f) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(g) None of the execution and delivery of the Indenture, the issue and sale of the Securities, or the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its Material Subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or such subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any material indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or such subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiaries or any of its or their properties.
(h) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations, prospects, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (“Material Adverse Effect”), except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus.
(i) The Indenture and the Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(j) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(k) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Prospectus.
(l) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The selected financial data included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and Registration Statement are fairly presented on the basis stated therein. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(m) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.
(o) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus.
(p) No Material Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(q) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(r) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Rule 13a-15(a) under the Exchange Act. Since May 26, 2024, the Company has complied in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.
(s) (i) The Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of May 26, 2024, and (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting subsequent to May 26, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(t) The Company has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (acting in their capacity as such) with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) the Company, any subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Company or such subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Company, any agent of the Company or any subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the sale of the Securities, is a Sanctioned Person.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.
3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto or at such time on such later date not more than six Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
4. Offering by the Underwriters. The Company understands that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.
5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause any amendment to the Registration Statement to become effective. Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information) to the Basic Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has become effective pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B, or filing of the Final Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (1) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (2) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (3) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information, (4) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (5) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(b) If the Time of Sale Information is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event occurs as a result of which the Time of Sale Information would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Time of Sale Information conflicts with the information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with applicable law, the Company will forthwith prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information, as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Information, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (or in lieu thereof the notice required by Rule 173), any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (1) notify the Representatives of such event, (2) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and (3) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to the underwriters in such quantities as the representatives may reasonably request.
(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (or in lieu thereof the notice required by Rule 173), as many copies of the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.
(f) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate, will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and will pay any fee of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., in connection with its review of the offering; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(g) The Company will furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each proposed Free Writing Prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and will not use or refer to any proposed Free Writing Prospectus to which the Underwriters reasonably object.
(h) The Company will not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act a Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of any Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(i) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or (ii) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange Act in respect of, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company with a maturity in excess of one year or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until the Closing Date (other than the proposed offering of euro-denominated senior notes to be offered substantially concurrent with this offering.)
(j) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(k) In connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person; (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company and are not obligated to disclose such interests.
(l) If the third anniversary of November 15, 2024 occurs before all the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters, prior to such third anniversary the Company will file a new shelf registration statement and take any other action necessary to permit the public offering of the Securities to continue without interruption; references herein to the Registration Statement shall include the new registration statement declared effective by the Commission.
(m) The Company will prepare a final term sheet relating to the offering of the Securities, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to Schedule III, containing only information that describes the final terms of the Securities or the offering in a form consented to by the Representatives, and will file such final term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) under the Act following the date the final terms have been established for the offering of the Securities.
(n) The Company consents to the use by any Underwriter of a Free Writing Prospectus that (a) is not an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433(h)(1), and (b) contains only (i) information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering, (ii) information that is permitted by Rule 134 of the Act or (iii) information that describes the final terms of the Securities or their offering and that is included in the final term sheet of the Company contemplated in Section 5(m); provided that each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to take any action without the Company’s prior consent that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) under the Act a Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Time of Sale and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) If filing of the Final Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Final Prospectus, and any such supplement, will be filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.
(b) The Company’s General Counsel shall have furnished to the Representatives an opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives to the effect that:
(i) the Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company in good standing (as applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company and is in good standing (as applicable) under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, or subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;
(ii) the Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Prospectus; the Indenture and the Securities conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
(iii) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;
(iv) to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property, of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not adequately disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required; and the statements included or incorporated by reference in (A) the Time of Sale Information under the headings “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of the Notes”; (B) the Final Prospectus under the headings, “Description of Debt Securities”, “Description of the Notes” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” and (C) the Registration Statement in Item 15, in each case insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings;
(v) (A) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; (B) any required filing of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); (C) any required filing of any Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 433; (D) to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened, and the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial information contained or incorporated by reference therein and the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; and (E) nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that causes such counsel to believe that (1) on the Effective Date or the date the Registration Statement was last deemed amended, and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (2) the Final Prospectus as of its date or on the Closing Date included or includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (3) the Time of Sale Information as of the Time of Sale or, as amended or supplemented (if applicable) as of the Closing Date, included or includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (with respect to clauses (1) through (3) above, in each case other than the financial statements and other financial information contained or incorporated by reference therein and the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion);
(vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;
(vii) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(viii) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained;
(ix) neither the execution and delivery of the Indenture, the issue and sale of the Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its Material Subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or such subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any material indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or such subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiaries or any of its or their properties;
(x) no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement; and
(xi) the statements in the Prospectus under the caption “Material United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations”, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the United States federal tax laws referred to therein, are accurate and fairly summarize in all material respects the U.S. federal tax laws referred to therein.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and public officials. With respect to opinion (iii) above, such opinion may be rendered by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP with respect to the laws of the State of New York. References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (b) include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President or any Vice President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information, the Final Prospectus, any supplements to the Final Prospectus and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) to the knowledge of such officers, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus.
(e) The Company shall have requested and caused KPMG LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, letters, (which may refer to letters previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, constituting statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters and (i) confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder; (ii) confirming that they have performed a review of the unaudited interim financial information of the Company for the period ended on and as at the date of the unaudited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and Final Prospectus, in accordance with AS 4105; and (iii) stating in effect, except as provided in Schedule I hereto, that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited financial statements of the Company made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; their limited review, as described in AS 4105, of the unaudited interim financial information for the period ended on and as at the date of the unaudited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and Final Prospectus, as indicated in their report which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and committees of the Company and its subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to the date of the most recent unaudited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:
(1) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements of the Act and with the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission with respect to financial statements included or incorporated by reference in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or in reports on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus;
(2) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements (other than any capsule information), audited or unaudited, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, there were any changes, at a specified date not more than three Business Days prior to the date of the letter (and in the case of the letter dated as of the Closing Date, at a specified date also being not earlier than the date hereof), in the long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or capital stock of the Company or decreases in the stockholders’ equity of the Company or in consolidated net current assets as compared with the amounts shown on the consolidated balance sheet as of the date indicated above included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, or for the period from the date one day after the date above to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year for sales, earnings before taxes and earnings from joint ventures or in total or per share amounts of net earnings of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representatives; and
(3) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, including the information set forth under the captions “Summary” and ”Risk Factors” in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, the information included or incorporated by reference in Items 1, 1A, 2, 7 and 11 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, and the information included in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included or incorporated by reference in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.
(f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the consolidated financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations, prospects, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus, the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus.
(g) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(h) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, 10017 on the Closing Date.
7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities. Except as provided in this Section 7 and Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel. Each Underwriter agrees to pay the portion of such expenses represented by such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the proportion that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in Schedule II bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all Underwriters) of the Securities.
8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the officers and directors of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Basic Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h)(1) under the Act, any Electronic Roadshow, any issuer information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d)(i)(B) under the Act or the Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and, under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”: (i) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (ii) the paragraph related to concessions and reallowances and (iii) the paragraphs related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the
indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder, after taking into account the amount of damages such Underwriter is otherwise required to pay, if any. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director and officer of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director and officer of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any
Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time:
(a) (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii) there shall have occurred any material disruption in securities clearance or settlement services, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus; or
(b) the representation in Section 1(b)(iii) is incorrect in any respect.
11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the address specified for notices to the Representatives set forth in Schedule I hereto; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to General Mills, Inc., General Counsel, Number One General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426, with a copy to General Mills, Inc., Treasury Department, Number One General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426, Attn.: Treasurer.
13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement, if any, shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.
16. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
17. Miscellaneous: In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
18. Definitions. The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
“Basic Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus covering the Securities dated September 27, 2021, contained in the Registration Statement, in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Act).
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or become effective.
“Electronic Road Show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Act.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
“Final Prospectus” shall mean the Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Offered Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Act).
“Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Act and includes the final term sheet referred to in Section 5(m) hereof.
“Material Subsidiaries” shall mean the Company’s significant subsidiaries as defined by Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X.
“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary form of the Final Prospectus used prior to filing of the Final Prospectus.
“Prospectus” shall mean the Final Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, and the Time of Sale Information as of the Time of Sale.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements, as amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be. Such term shall include any Rule 430A Information or Rule 430B Information, as the case may be, deemed to be included therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A or Rule 430B.
“Rule 173”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430A”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 462” refer to such rules under the Act.
“Rule 430A Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.
“Rule 430B Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430B.
“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.
“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or HM Treasury of the United Kingdom.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom, the European Union or any member state of the European Union, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person.
“Time of Sale” shall mean the time when sales of the Securities were first made.
“Time of Sale Information” shall mean the Preliminary Prospectus (if applicable) most recently available prior to the Time of Sale and each Free Writing Prospectus relating to the Securities listed on Schedule III hereto. If, subsequent to the Execution Time, the Company and the Underwriters have determined that such Time of Sale Information included an untrue statement of material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the information therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Securities to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then “Time of Sale Information” will refer to the information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
19. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such party of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or any BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in Section 19:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k);
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b);
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1 as applicable;
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| GENERAL MILLS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Wendy Unglaub | |
| Name: Wendy Unglaub | ||
| Title: Vice President, Treasurer | ||
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Underwriters as of the date first above written.
| BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||
| WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC | ||
| BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Meghan Maher | |
| Name: Meghan Maher | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Adam D. Bordner | |
| Name: Adam D. Bordner | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Som Bhattacharyya | |
| Name: Som Bhattacharyya | ||
| Title: Executive Director | ||
| WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Carolyn Hurley | |
| Name: Carolyn Hurley | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
SCHEDULE I
Underwriting Agreement dated: November 18, 2024
Registration Statement No.: 333-283277
Representatives: Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:
| Title and Aggregate Principal Amount: | General Mills, Inc. $750,000,000 4.875% Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”)
General Mills, Inc. $750,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes” and, together with the 2030 notes, the “Notes”) | |
| Purchase Price (plus interest, if any, accrued from the Closing Date): | 2030 Notes: 99.191% or $743,932,500 2035 Notes: 99.034% or $742,755,000 | |
| Price to Public: | 2030 Notes: 99.541% of the principal amount 2035 Notes: 99.484% of the principal amount | |
| Sinking Fund Provisions: | None | |
|
Optional Redemption Provisions: |
2030 Notes:
At any time prior to December 30, 2029, the date that is one month prior to the maturity date of the 2030 Notes, in whole or in part at any time at General Mills’ option at the redemption price equal to the make-whole amount described in the Prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
On or after December 30, 2029, the date that is one month prior to the maturity date of the 2030 Notes, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
2035 Notes:
At any time prior to October 30, 2034, the date that is three months prior to the maturity date of the 2035 Notes, in whole or in part at any time at General Mills’ option at the redemption price equal to the make-whole amount described in the Prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. | |
| On or after October 30, 2034, the date that is three months prior to the maturity date of the 2035 Notes, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. | ||
| Change of Control Offer to Purchase: | If a change of control triggering event occurs, unless General Mills has exercised its right to redeem the Notes, it will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. | |
| Closing Date and Time: | November 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. New York City Time | |
| Address for Notices to Representatives: | Barclays Capital Inc. | |
| 745 Seventh Avenue | ||
| New York, New York 10019 | ||
| Attention: Syndicate Registration | ||
| Fax: (646) 834-8133 | ||
| Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | ||
| 388 Greenwich Street | ||
| New York, New York 10013 | ||
| Attention: General Counsel | ||
| Fax: (646) 291-1469 | ||
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | ||
| 383 Madison Avenue | ||
| New York, New York 10179 | ||
| Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk | ||
| Fax: (212) 834-6081 | ||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | ||
| 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor | ||
| Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 | ||
| Attention: Transaction Management | ||
| Email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com | ||
SCHEDULE II
| Underwriter |
Principal Amount of the 2030 Notes To Be Purchased |
Principal Amount of the 2035 Notes To Be Purchased |
||||||
| Barclays Capital Inc. |
$ | 129,375,000 | $ | 129,375,000 | ||||
| Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
129,375,000 | 129,375,000 | ||||||
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
129,375,000 | 129,375,000 | ||||||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
129,375,000 | 129,375,000 | ||||||
| BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
52,500,000 | 52,500,000 | ||||||
| BofA Securities, Inc. |
52,500,000 | 52,500,000 | ||||||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
52,500,000 | 52,500,000 | ||||||
| Rabo Securities USA, Inc. |
15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | ||||||
| SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. |
15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | ||||||
| TD Securities (USA) LLC |
15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | ||||||
| U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | ||||||
| Bancroft Capital, LLC |
3,750,000 | 3,750,000 | ||||||
| Cabrera Capital Markets LLC |
3,750,000 | 3,750,000 | ||||||
| Independence Point Securities LLC |
3,750,000 | 3,750,000 | ||||||
| Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC |
3,750,000 | 3,750,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
$ | 750,000,000 | $ | 750,000,000 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
SCHEDULE III
Free Writing Prospectus(es)
Final Term Sheet (attached as Exhibit A hereto)
EXHIBIT A TO SCHEDULE III
Filed pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-283277
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
PRICING TERM SHEET
November 18, 2024
$750,000,000 4.875% Notes due 2030
$750,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2035
| Issuer: | General Mills, Inc. | |
| Offering Format: | SEC Registered | |
| Trade Date: | November 18, 2024 | |
| Settlement Date**: | November 21, 2024 (T+3) | |
| Day Count Convention: | 30 / 360 | |
| Title: | $750,000,000 4.875% Notes due 2030 $750,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2035 | |
| Principal Amount: | 2030 Notes: $750,000,000 2035 Notes: $750,000,000 | |
| Maturity Date: | 2030 Notes: January 30, 2030 2035 Notes: January 30, 2035 | |
| Coupon (Interest Rate): | 2030 Notes: 4.875% 2035 Notes: 5.250% | |
| Price to Public: | 2030 Notes: 99.541% of the principal amount 2035 Notes: 99.484% of the principal amount | |
| Yield to Maturity: | 2030 Notes: 4.973% 2035 Notes: 5.314% | |
| Spread to Benchmark Treasury: | 2030 Notes: +70 bps 2035 Notes: +90 bps | |
| Benchmark Treasury: | 2030 Notes: UST 4.125% due October 31, 2029 2035 Notes: UST 4.250% due November 15, 2034 | |
| Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield: | 2030 Notes: 99-11/ 4.273% 2035 Notes: 98-22/ 4.414% | |
| Interest Payment Dates: | 2030 Notes: Semi-annually on each January 30 and July 30, commencing July 30, 2025 2035 Notes: Semi-annually on each January 30 and July 30, commencing July 30, 2025 |
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 2030 Notes: 370334 DA9 / US370334DA90 2035 Notes: 370334 DB7 / US370334DB73 | |
| Optional Redemption Provisions: | ||
| Make-whole Redemption: | 2030 Notes: At any time prior to December 30, 2029 at a discount rate of T+15 basis points 2035 Notes: At any time prior to October 30, 2034 at a discount rate of T+15 basis points | |
| Par Redemption: |
2030 Notes: At any time on or after December 30, 2029 at 100% 2035 Notes: At any time on or after October 30, 2034 at 100% | |
| Change of Control Offer to Purchase: | If a change of control triggering event occurs, General Mills will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. | |
| Joint Book-Running Managers: | Barclays Capital Inc. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC BNP Paribas Securities Corp. BofA Securities, Inc. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | |
| Senior Co-Managers: | Rabo Securities USA, Inc. SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. TD Securities (USA) LLC U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. | |
| Co-Managers: | Bancroft Capital, LLC Cabrera Capital Markets LLC Independence Point Securities LLC Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC | |
| * | Note: A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. |
| ** | Note: We expect to deliver the notes against payment for the notes on the third business day following the date of the pricing of the notes (“T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the business day preceding the date of delivery may be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement. |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Barclays Capital Inc. at 1-888-603-5847, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 1-800-831-9146, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533 or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 1-800-645-3751.
This pricing term sheet supplements the preliminary form of Prospectus Supplement issued by General Mills, Inc. on November 18, 2024 relating to its Prospectus dated November 15, 2024.
ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.
Exhibit 4.1
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE
AND
AUTHENTICATION ORDER
Pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1996 (as amended, the “Indenture”), between General Mills, Inc. (the “Company”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order is being delivered to the Trustee to establish the terms of a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture, to establish the form of the Securities of such series in accordance with Section 201 of the Indenture, to request the authentication and delivery of the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture and to comply with the provisions of Section 102 of the Indenture.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein and defined in the Indenture shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.
A. Establishment of Series Pursuant to Section 301 of Indenture. There is hereby established pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture a series of Securities which shall have the following terms (the numbered clauses set forth below correspond to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture):
(1) The series of Securities being authorized shall bear the title “4.875% Notes due 2030” (the “Notes”).
(2) There shall be no limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture pursuant to this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order shall be limited to the amount set forth in Section C below (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture).
(3) Interest on each Note will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date (as defined in paragraph 5 below), except that interest due at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom the principal of the Note is paid.
(4) The Notes will mature on January 30, 2030 (the “Maturity Date”), unless the principal of any Note, or any installment of principal, becomes due and payable prior to such date. If the date of Maturity of a Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue for the period from and after the Maturity Date.
(5) Each Note will bear interest from and including November 21, 2024 or from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) as to which interest on such Note (or any Predecessor Security with respect to such Note) has been paid or made available for payment at an annual rate of 4.875%, subject to adjustment as described in the paragraph immediately below, until the principal of the Note is paid or made available for payment. Each payment of interest on a Note will include interest to, but excluding, as the case may be, the relevant Interest Payment Date or the date of Maturity.
The “Interest Payment Dates” for the Notes will be January 30 and July 30 of each year beginning on July 30, 2025, and the “Regular Record Dates” will be the January 15 and July 15, respectively, next preceding such Interest Payment Date whether or not a Business Day. If any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue for the period from such Interest Payment Date to that next succeeding Business Day.
Interest (including interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(6) Payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on each Note that is represented by a Global Security will be made to the Depositary (as specified in paragraph 16 below) or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Notes represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture.
Payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on each Note that is not represented by a Global Security will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Note at the office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York (which shall initially be the office of the Trustee). Registered Holders that wish to receive payment in immediately available funds must provide appropriate written wire transfer instructions sufficiently in advance of the payment date and present the Note in time for the party making the payment to make payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Any wire transfer instructions received by a party making payments shall remain in effect until revoked by the registered Holder. Payment in accordance with written wire transfer instructions from a registered Holder shall be deemed to constitute full and complete payment of all amounts so paid. The Company may, at its option, elect to make payments of interest other than at Maturity by check mailed to the address of the registered Holder thereof as of the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date as such address appears in the Security Register.
The “Place of Payment” with respect to the Notes shall be the City of New York.
(7) The Company may redeem the Notes prior to Maturity as described in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(8) If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A) shall have occurred, Holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Notes in the manner provided and subject to the limitations set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(9) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(15) The Notes shall be defeasible, in whole or any specified part, pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 of the Indenture or both such Sections.
(16) The Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. The Depositary with respect to such Global Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company. The Global Securities shall bear the legends set forth on the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A. Such Global Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof, unless (a) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in either case, the Company does not appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice or becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered, (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (c) an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security has occurred and is continuing, and the Depositary requests the issuance of Securities registered in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof. So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of any Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole Holder of the Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Notes and the Indenture.
(19) For the avoidance of doubt, the Notes may be executed on behalf of the Company using electronic signatures (including, without limitation, any .pdf file, .jpeg file or any other electronic or image file, or any other “electronic signature” as defined under Electronic Signatures and Records Act, including Orbit, Adobe Fill & Sign, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, or any other similar platform identified by the Company and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee).
B. Establishment of Form of Securities Pursuant to Section 201 of the Indenture. In accordance with Section 201 of the Indenture, the form attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby established as the form to represent the Notes.
C. Order for the Authentication and Delivery of Securities Pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture. Pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, you are hereby requested, as Trustee under the Indenture, to authenticate, in the manner provided by the Indenture, $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., which Notes have been heretofore duly executed by the proper officers of the Company and delivered to you as provided in the Indenture, and to deliver said authenticated Notes to Barclays Capital Inc. through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company against payment therefor on November 21, 2024.
D. Certification Pursuant to Section 102 of the Indenture. Each of the undersigned has read the pertinent sections of the Indenture, including Sections 201, 301 and 303 thereof and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto, and certain other corporate documents and records. In the opinion of each of the undersigned, the undersigned has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent to (i) the establishment of (a) a series of Securities and (b) the form of such Securities and (ii) the issuance, authentication and delivery of such series of Securities contained in the Indenture have been complied with. In the opinion of the undersigned, all conditions precedent to (x) the establishment of the Notes and the form of the Notes and (y) the issuance, authentication and delivery of the Notes have been complied with.
Insofar as this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order relates to legal matters, it is based upon the Opinion of Counsel delivered by the Company to the Trustee contemporaneously herewith.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto signed our names on behalf of the Company.
Dated: November 21, 2024
| GENERAL MILLS, INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Kofi A. Bruce | |
| Kofi A. Bruce | ||
| Its Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By | /s/ Wendy Unglaub | |
| Wendy Unglaub | ||
| Its Vice President, Treasurer | ||
CERTIFICATION
I, Chris A. Rauschl, an Assistant Secretary of the Company, do hereby certify that Kofi A. Bruce is on the date hereof the duly elected or appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the signature set forth above is his own true signature, and further certify that Wendy Unglaub is on the date hereof the duly elected or appointed Vice President, Treasurer of the Company and the signature set forth above is her own true signature.
| /s/ Chris A. Rauschl |
| Chris A. Rauschl |
| Assistant Secretary |
EXHIBIT A
| REGISTERED NO. | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $ |
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
4.875% NOTES DUE 2030
| CUSIP NO. 370334 DA9 | ISIN No. US370334DA90 |
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
GENERAL MILLS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars (U.S. $ ) on January 30, 2030 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from and including November 21, 2024 or the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) as to which interest has been paid or made available for payment, semiannually in arrears on January 30 and July 30 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on July 30, 2025, at the rate of 4.875% per annum, subject to adjustment as described in the paragraph immediately below, until the principal hereof has been paid or duly made available for payment. Interest (including interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Each payment of interest hereon will include interest to, but excluding, as the case may be, the relevant Interest Payment Date or the date of Maturity.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided for in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities with respect hereto) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the January 15 or July 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date; except that interest due at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom the principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or made available for payment will forthwith cease to be payable to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities with respect hereto) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note not less than 10 days prior to such special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
Payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on this Note will be made to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Note represented hereby for all purposes under the Indenture.
The “Place of Payment” with respect to this Note shall be the City of New York.
All payments on this Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
Any payment on this Note due on a day that is not a Business Day will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the due date and no additional interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall have the same effect as though fully set forth in this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed and has caused a facsimile of its corporate seal to be affixed hereto or imprinted hereon.
Dated: November 21, 2024
| TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION | GENERAL MILLS, INC. | |||||||
| This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. | ||||||||
| By: |
| |||||||
| Wendy Unglaub | ||||||||
| Its Vice President, Treasurer | ||||||||
| U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL | ||||||||
| ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||||||
| Attest: |
| |||||||
| By: |
|
Chris A. Rauschl | ||||||
| Authorized Officer | Its Assistant Secretary | |||||||
| OR |
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[SEAL] | |||||||
| as Authenticating Agent for the Trustee | ||||||||
| By: |
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| Authorized Officer | ||||||||
[REVERSE OF NOTE]
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
4.875% NOTES DUE 2030
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1996 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. By the terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of other separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount. This Note is one of a series of the Securities designated as 4.875% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).
In case an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the unpaid principal hereof may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Company may at its option redeem this Note in whole or from time to time in part at the redemption price set forth below; provided that the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after a redemption in part shall be $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company may exercise such option by mailing, electronically delivering or otherwise transmitting in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures (or causing to be so mailed, delivered or transmitted) a notice of such redemption at least 10 but not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. In the event of redemption of the Notes in part only, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. If any Notes are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Notes will state the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Notes are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Notes will state the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed. New Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Notes will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by The Depository Trust Company (or another Depositary), the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.
Prior to December 30, 2029 (the “Par Call Date”), the Notes may be redeemed at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| • | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| • | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price will be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.
If on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
On and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion of the Notes called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price).
If a Change of Control Triggering Event shall have occurred, the Holder of this Note may require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of this Note at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase on, the Note (or part thereof) to be purchased (unless the Company shall have mailed or caused to be mailed a
notice of redemption within 30 days after such Change of Control Triggering Event stating that all of the Notes will be redeemed); provided that the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after a repurchase in part shall be $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Within 30 days after any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall mail or cause the Trustee to mail a notice describing the transaction or transactions constituting the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes. Such repurchase must occur no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the date such notice is mailed.
On the date specified for repurchase of the Notes, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
| • | accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase the Notes; |
| • | deposit with the Paying Agent the required payment for all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase the Notes; and |
| • | deliver to the Trustee the repurchased Notes, accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased pursuant to the offer to repurchase the Notes. |
The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other securities laws and regulations applicable to the repurchase of the Notes. To the extent that these securities laws and regulations conflict with the provisions of this Note requiring repurchase of the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall comply with these securities laws and regulations instead of the repurchase provisions of this Note, and the Company will not be considered to have breached its obligation to repurchase the Notes. Additionally, if an Event of Default unrelated to the repurchase provisions of this Note exists under the Indenture, including Events of Default arising with respect to other issues of Securities, the Company shall not be required to repurchase the Notes, notwithstanding the repurchase provisions of this Note.
The Company shall not be required to comply with obligations relating to repurchase of the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party satisfies such obligations.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) resulting in any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (b) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in a transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to one or more Persons (other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries); or (c) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(y) immediately following such transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the Holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction or (z) immediately following such transaction no Person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (a) was a member of the Board of Directors on November 21, 2024 or (b) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to the Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of a proxy statement of the Company in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings and its successors.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB– (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB– (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
“Rating Agencies” means (a) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (b) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization’’ (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency for a former Rating Agency.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies on any day within the 60-day period (which 60-day period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) after the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (b) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control; provided that a Rating Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the request of the Company that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Event).
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
The Company may, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, issue additional Securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes (except for the public offering price and issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date). Any additional Securities having the same terms, together with these Notes, will constitute a single series of Notes under the Indenture; provided that, if the additional Securities are not fungible with these Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional Securities will have different ISIN and CUSIP numbers. No such additional Securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes (except for the public offering price and issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date) may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred with respect to these Notes.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of either the entire principal of the Notes or of certain covenants and Events of Default with respect to the Notes, in either case upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
This Global Security is exchangeable for definitive Notes only if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in either case, the Company does not appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice or becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered, (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that this Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (z) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented hereby has occurred and is continuing and the Depositary requests the issuance of definitive Notes. In such case, this Global Security shall be exchangeable into Notes issuable only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. No Notes shall be issuable in denominations of less than $2,000. If this Global Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentences, it shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes, bearing interest at the same rate, having the same date of issuance, redemption provisions, Stated Maturity and other terms in registered form and of differing denominations aggregating a like amount.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations herein and therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. No Notes will be issuable in denominations of less than $2,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations herein and therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes and of like tenor in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the places, at the respective times and at the rate herein prescribed.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the absolute owner of this Note at such holder’s address as it appears on the Security Register (whether or not this Note shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account hereof and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All payments made to or upon the order of such registered holder shall, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectually satisfy and discharge liability for moneys payable on this Note.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or any Note, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such personal liability of every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director, as such, being expressly waived and released by acceptance hereof and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issuance of this Note.
Capitalized terms used herein which are not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.
The Indenture is, and this Note shall be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | --as tenants in common | UNIF TRAN MIN ACT--______CUSTODIAN_______ | ||||||
| TEN ENT | --as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) (Minor) | ||||||
| JT TEN | --as joint tenants with right | Under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act | ||||||
| of survivorship and not as | ||||||||
| tenants in common |
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| (State) | ||||||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
Please insert Social Security or
Other identifying Number of Assignee
/________________/________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Note of GENERAL MILLS, INC. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________ ________________________________________ attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated: _________________________ |
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NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
Exhibit 4.2
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE
AND
AUTHENTICATION ORDER
Pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1996 (as amended, the “Indenture”), between General Mills, Inc. (the “Company”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order is being delivered to the Trustee to establish the terms of a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture, to establish the form of the Securities of such series in accordance with Section 201 of the Indenture, to request the authentication and delivery of the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture and to comply with the provisions of Section 102 of the Indenture.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein and defined in the Indenture shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.
A. Establishment of Series Pursuant to Section 301 of Indenture. There is hereby established pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture a series of Securities which shall have the following terms (the numbered clauses set forth below correspond to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture):
(1) The series of Securities being authorized shall bear the title “5.250% Notes due 2035” (the “Notes”).
(2) There shall be no limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture pursuant to this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order shall be limited to the amount set forth in Section C below (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture).
(3) Interest on each Note will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date (as defined in paragraph 5 below), except that interest due at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom the principal of the Note is paid.
(4) The Notes will mature on January 30, 2035 (the “Maturity Date”), unless the principal of any Note, or any installment of principal, becomes due and payable prior to such date. If the date of Maturity of a Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue for the period from and after the Maturity Date.
(5) Each Note will bear interest from and including November 21, 2024 or from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) as to which interest on such Note (or any Predecessor Security with respect to such Note) has been paid or made available for payment at an annual rate of 5.250%, subject to adjustment as described in the paragraph immediately below, until the principal of the Note is paid or made available for payment. Each payment of interest on a Note will include interest to, but excluding, as the case may be, the relevant Interest Payment Date or the date of Maturity.
The “Interest Payment Dates” for the Notes will be January 30 and July 30 of each year beginning on July 30, 2025, and the “Regular Record Dates” will be the January 15 and July 15, respectively, next preceding such Interest Payment Date whether or not a Business Day. If any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue for the period from such Interest Payment Date to that next succeeding Business Day.
Interest (including interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(6) Payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on each Note that is represented by a Global Security will be made to the Depositary (as specified in paragraph 16 below) or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Notes represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture.
Payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on each Note that is not represented by a Global Security will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Note at the office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York (which shall initially be the office of the Trustee). Registered Holders that wish to receive payment in immediately available funds must provide appropriate written wire transfer instructions sufficiently in advance of the payment date and present the Note in time for the party making the payment to make payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Any wire transfer instructions received by a party making payments shall remain in effect until revoked by the registered Holder. Payment in accordance with written wire transfer instructions from a registered Holder shall be deemed to constitute full and complete payment of all amounts so paid. The Company may, at its option, elect to make payments of interest other than at Maturity by check mailed to the address of the registered Holder thereof as of the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date as such address appears in the Security Register.
The “Place of Payment” with respect to the Notes shall be the City of New York.
(7) The Company may redeem the Notes prior to Maturity as described in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(8) If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A) shall have occurred, Holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Notes in the manner provided and subject to the limitations set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(9) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(15) The Notes shall be defeasible, in whole or any specified part, pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 of the Indenture or both such Sections.
(16) The Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. The Depositary with respect to such Global Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company. The Global Securities shall bear the legends set forth on the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A. Such Global Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof, unless (a) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in either case, the Company does not appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice or becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered, (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (c) an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security has occurred and is continuing, and the Depositary requests the issuance of Securities registered in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof. So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of any Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole Holder of the Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Notes and the Indenture.
(19) For the avoidance of doubt, the Notes may be executed on behalf of the Company using electronic signatures (including, without limitation, any .pdf file, .jpeg file or any other electronic or image file, or any other “electronic signature” as defined under Electronic Signatures and Records Act, including Orbit, Adobe Fill & Sign, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, or any other similar platform identified by the Company and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee).
B. Establishment of Form of Securities Pursuant to Section 201 of the Indenture. In accordance with Section 201 of the Indenture, the form attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby established as the form to represent the Notes.
C. Order for the Authentication and Delivery of Securities Pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture. Pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, you are hereby requested, as Trustee under the Indenture, to authenticate, in the manner provided by the Indenture, $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., which Notes have been heretofore duly executed by the proper officers of the Company and delivered to you as provided in the Indenture, and to deliver said authenticated Notes to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company against payment therefor on November 21, 2024.
D. Certification Pursuant to Section 102 of the Indenture. Each of the undersigned has read the pertinent sections of the Indenture, including Sections 201, 301 and 303 thereof and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto, and certain other corporate documents and records. In the opinion of each of the undersigned, the undersigned has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent to (i) the establishment of (a) a series of Securities and (b) the form of such Securities and (ii) the issuance, authentication and delivery of such series of Securities contained in the Indenture have been complied with. In the opinion of the undersigned, all conditions precedent to (x) the establishment of the Notes and the form of the Notes and (y) the issuance, authentication and delivery of the Notes have been complied with.
Insofar as this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order relates to legal matters, it is based upon the Opinion of Counsel delivered by the Company to the Trustee contemporaneously herewith.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto signed our names on behalf of the Company.
Dated: November 21, 2024
| GENERAL MILLS, INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Kofi A. Bruce | |
| Kofi A. Bruce | ||
| Its Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By | /s/ Wendy Unglaub | |
| Wendy Unglaub | ||
| Its Vice President, Treasurer | ||
CERTIFICATION
I, Chris A. Rauschl, an Assistant Secretary of the Company, do hereby certify that Kofi A. Bruce is on the date hereof the duly elected or appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the signature set forth above is his own true signature, and further certify that Wendy Unglaub is on the date hereof the duly elected or appointed Vice President, Treasurer of the Company and the signature set forth above is her own true signature.
| /s/ Chris A. Rauschl |
| Chris A. Rauschl |
| Assistant Secretary |
EXHIBIT A
| REGISTERED NO. | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $ |
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
5.250% NOTES DUE 2035
| CUSIP NO. 370334 DB7 | ISIN No. US370334DB73 |
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
GENERAL MILLS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars (U.S. $ ) on January 30, 2035 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from and including November 21, 2024 or the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) as to which interest has been paid or made available for payment, semiannually in arrears on January 30 and July 30 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on July 30, 2025, at the rate of 5.250% per annum, subject to adjustment as described in the paragraph immediately below, until the principal hereof has been paid or duly made available for payment. Interest (including interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Each payment of interest hereon will include interest to, but excluding, as the case may be, the relevant Interest Payment Date or the date of Maturity.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided for in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities with respect hereto) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the January 15 or July 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date; except that interest due at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom the principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or made available for payment will forthwith cease to be payable to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities with respect hereto) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note not less than 10 days prior to such special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
Payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on this Note will be made to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Note represented hereby for all purposes under the Indenture.
The “Place of Payment” with respect to this Note shall be the City of New York.
All payments on this Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
Any payment on this Note due on a day that is not a Business Day will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the due date and no additional interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall have the same effect as though fully set forth in this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed and has caused a facsimile of its corporate seal to be affixed hereto or imprinted hereon.
Dated: November 21, 2024
| TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION | GENERAL MILLS, INC. | |||||||
| This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. | ||||||||
| By: |
| |||||||
| Wendy Unglaub | ||||||||
| Its Vice President, Treasurer | ||||||||
| U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||||||
| By: |
|
Attest: |
| |||||
| Authorized Officer | Chris A. Rauschl | |||||||
| OR | Its Assistant Secretary | |||||||
| [SEAL] | ||||||||
|
as Authenticating Agent for the Trustee |
||||||||
| By: |
|
|||||||
| Authorized Officer | ||||||||
[REVERSE OF NOTE]
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
5.250% NOTES DUE 2035
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1996 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. By the terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of other separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount. This Note is one of a series of the Securities designated as 5.250% Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”).
In case an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the unpaid principal hereof may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Company may at its option redeem this Note in whole or from time to time in part at the redemption price set forth below; provided that the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after a redemption in part shall be $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company may exercise such option by mailing, electronically delivering or otherwise transmitting in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures (or causing to be so mailed, delivered or transmitted) a notice of such redemption at least 10 but not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. In the event of redemption of the Notes in part only, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. If any Notes are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Notes will state the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Notes are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Notes will state the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed. New Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Notes will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by The Depository Trust Company (or another Depositary), the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.
Prior to October 30, 2034 (the “Par Call Date”), the Notes may be redeemed at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| • | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| • | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price will be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.
If on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
On and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion of the Notes called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price).
If a Change of Control Triggering Event shall have occurred, the Holder of this Note may require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of this Note at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase on, the Note (or part thereof) to be purchased (unless the Company shall have mailed or caused to be mailed a
notice of redemption within 30 days after such Change of Control Triggering Event stating that all of the Notes will be redeemed); provided that the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after a repurchase in part shall be $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Within 30 days after any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall mail or cause the Trustee to mail a notice describing the transaction or transactions constituting the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes. Such repurchase must occur no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the date such notice is mailed.
On the date specified for repurchase of the Notes, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
| • | accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase the Notes; |
| • | deposit with the Paying Agent the required payment for all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase the Notes; and |
| • | deliver to the Trustee the repurchased Notes, accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased pursuant to the offer to repurchase the Notes. |
The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other securities laws and regulations applicable to the repurchase of the Notes. To the extent that these securities laws and regulations conflict with the provisions of this Note requiring repurchase of the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall comply with these securities laws and regulations instead of the repurchase provisions of this Note, and the Company will not be considered to have breached its obligation to repurchase the Notes. Additionally, if an Event of Default unrelated to the repurchase provisions of this Note exists under the Indenture, including Events of Default arising with respect to other issues of Securities, the Company shall not be required to repurchase the Notes, notwithstanding the repurchase provisions of this Note.
The Company shall not be required to comply with obligations relating to repurchase of the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party satisfies such obligations.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) resulting in any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (b) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in a transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to one or more Persons (other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries); or (c) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(y) immediately following such transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the Holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction or (z) immediately following such transaction no Person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (a) was a member of the Board of Directors on November 21, 2024 or (b) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to the Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of a proxy statement of the Company in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings and its successors.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB– (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB– (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
“Rating Agencies” means (a) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (b) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization’’ (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency for a former Rating Agency.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies on any day within the 60-day period (which 60-day period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) after the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (b) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control; provided that a Rating Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the request of the Company that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Event).
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
The Company may, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, issue additional Securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes (except for the public offering price and issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date). Any additional Securities having the same terms, together with these Notes, will constitute a single series of Notes under the Indenture; provided that, if the additional Securities are not fungible with these Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional Securities will have different ISIN and CUSIP numbers. No such additional Securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes (except for the public offering price and issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date) may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred with respect to these Notes.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of either the entire principal of the Notes or of certain covenants and Events of Default with respect to the Notes, in either case upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
This Global Security is exchangeable for definitive Notes only if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in either case, the Company does not appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice or becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered, (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that this Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (z) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented hereby has occurred and is continuing and the Depositary requests the issuance of definitive Notes. In such case, this Global Security shall be exchangeable into Notes issuable only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. No Notes shall be issuable in denominations of less than $2,000. If this Global Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentences, it shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes, bearing interest at the same rate, having the same date of issuance, redemption provisions, Stated Maturity and other terms in registered form and of differing denominations aggregating a like amount.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations herein and therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. No Notes will be issuable in denominations of less than $2,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations herein and therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes and of like tenor in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the places, at the respective times and at the rate herein prescribed.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the absolute owner of this Note at such holder’s address as it appears on the Security Register (whether or not this Note shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account hereof and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All payments made to or upon the order of such registered holder shall, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectually satisfy and discharge liability for moneys payable on this Note.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or any Note, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such personal liability of every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director, as such, being expressly waived and released by acceptance hereof and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issuance of this Note.
Capitalized terms used herein which are not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.
The Indenture is, and this Note shall be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | --as tenants in common | UNIF TRAN MIN ACT--______CUSTODIAN_______ | ||||||
| TEN ENT | --as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) (Minor) | ||||||
| JT TEN | --as joint tenants with right | Under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act | ||||||
| of survivorship and not as | ||||||||
| tenants in common |
| |||||||
| (State) | ||||||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
Please insert Social Security or
Other identifying Number of Assignee
/________________/________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Note of GENERAL MILLS, INC. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________ ________________________________________ attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated: _________________________ |
| |||
|
| ||||
| NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Exhibit 5
[Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Letterhead]
November 21, 2024
General Mills, Inc.
Number One General Mills Boulevard
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have acted as counsel to General Mills, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offer and sale by the Company of its $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.875% Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) and its $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.250% Notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes,” together with the 2030 Notes, the “Notes”) pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283277) (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the Prospectus Supplement dated November 18, 2024 to the Prospectus dated November 15, 2024 (together, the “Prospectus”) relating to the offer and sale of the Notes by the Company under the Registration Statement. As such counsel, you are furnishing an opinion in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act. In connection with such opinion, you have asked us to opine with respect to certain matters under New York law.
The Notes are to be issued under an indenture dated as of February 1, 1996, as amended (the “Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, formerly known as First Trust of Illinois, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”) and pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order dated as of the date hereof, delivered by the Company to the Trustee pursuant to Sections 102 and 303 of the Indenture (the “Officers’ Certificate”), and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated November 18, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Company and the Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”). The Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement, the Officer’s Certificate and the Notes are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Transaction Documents.”
We have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Transaction Documents, and such other documents, records and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the opinions set forth herein.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth in Annex I attached hereto, we are of the opinion that the Notes are valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, voidable transactions, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, assignment for the benefit of creditors and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement filed with the Commission and the reference to our firm under the caption “Validity of Securities” contained in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not imply or admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of the Act or other rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit.
| Very truly yours, |
| FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP |
| /s/ Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP |
Annex I
In rendering the accompanying opinion letter, we wish to advise you of the following additional qualifications to which such opinion letter is subject:
(a) We have relied, as to certain relevant facts, upon representations made by the Company in the Transaction Documents, the assumptions set forth herein, and upon certificates of, and information provided by, officers and employees of the Company reasonably believed by us to be appropriate sources of information, as to the accuracy of such factual matters, in each case without independent verification thereof or other investigation.
(b) Our opinion letter is limited to the laws of the State of New York (the “Covered Laws”), and we express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by our opinions of any other law. Furthermore, in rendering opinions as to the Covered Laws, we have only considered the applicability of statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions that a lawyer practicing in such jurisdiction (the “Opining Jurisdictions”) exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably recognize as being directly applicable to the Company or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(c) We express no opinion as to whether, or to the extent of which, the laws of any particular jurisdiction apply to the subject matter hereof, including without limitation the enforceability of the governing law provision contained in the Transaction Documents, except to the extent such provision would be enforceable based on Section 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York.
(d) We have relied, without investigation, upon the following assumptions: (i) natural persons who are involved on behalf of the Company have sufficient legal capacity to enter into and perform, on behalf of the Company, the transaction in question and to carry out their role in the transaction; (ii) each Transaction Document has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto (other than the Company); (iii) each party (other than the Company) having rights under any of the Transaction Documents has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make the Transaction Documents enforceable against it and has complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce the Transaction Documents against it and the other parties; (iv) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document, including electronic signatures, are genuine; (v) there has not been any mutual mistake of fact or misunderstanding, fraud, duress or undue influence; (vi) all statutes, judicial and administrative decisions, and rules and regulations of governmental agencies, constituting the Covered Laws, are publicly available to lawyers practicing in the Opining Jurisdictions; (vii) all relevant statutes, rules, regulations or agency actions are constitutional and valid unless a reported decision in the Opining Jurisdictions has specifically addressed but not resolved, or has established, its unconstitutionality or invalidity; (viii) there are no agreements or understandings among the parties, written or oral, and there is no usage of trade or course of prior dealing among the parties that would, in either case, define, supplement or qualify the terms of any of the Transaction Documents; and (ix) the conduct of the parties to the Transaction Documents has complied with any requirement of good faith, fair dealing and conscionability.
(e) We express no opinion as to the enforceability or effect in any Transaction Document of (i) any usury or fraudulent transfer, voidable transactions or fraudulent conveyance “savings” provision; (ii) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any particular court or other governmental authority (either as to personal jurisdiction or subject matter jurisdiction), any provision restricting access to courts (including without limitation agreements to arbitrate disputes), any waivers of the right to jury trial, any waivers of service of process requirements that would otherwise be applicable, any provisions relating to evidentiary
standards, any agreement that a judgment rendered by a court in one jurisdiction may be enforced in another jurisdiction, or any provision otherwise affecting the jurisdiction or venue of courts; (iii) any provision waiving or otherwise modifying legal, statutory or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or substantive rights; (iv) any provision that authorizes one party to act as attorney-in-fact for another party; or (v) any provision that provides for set-off or similar rights.
(f) The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to facts and laws existing on the date hereof. In rendering these opinions, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such laws, or in the interpretation thereof, or of any change in such facts which may occur after the date hereof.
(g) Without limiting any other qualifications set forth herein, the opinions expressed in the accompanying opinion letter are subject to the effect of generally applicable laws that (i) provide for the enforcement of oral waivers or modifications where a material change of position in reliance thereon has occurred or provide that a course of performance may operate as a waiver; (ii) limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; (iii) limit the enforceability of provisions releasing, exculpating or exempting a party from, or requiring indemnification of or contribution to a party for, liability for its own action or inaction, to the extent the action or inaction involves negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct or to the extent such provisions are contrary to public policy; (iv) limit the enforcement of provisions of a contract that purport to require the waiver of the obligation of good faith, fair dealing, diligence and reasonableness; (v) may, where less than all of a contract may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange; (vi) govern and afford judicial discretion regarding determination of damages and entitlement to attorneys’ fees and other costs; (vii) may permit a party who has materially failed to render or offer performance required by a contract to cure that failure unless either permitting a cure would unreasonably hinder the aggrieved party from making substitute arrangements for performance or it is important under the circumstances to the aggrieved party that performance occur by the date stated in the contract; (viii) may limit the enforceability of provisions imposing premiums or liquidated damages to the extent such provisions constitute, or are deemed to constitute, a penalty or forfeiture and provisions imposing increased interest rates upon default, or providing for the compounding of interest or the payment of interest on interest; (ix) may limit the amount payable under the Notes upon an acceleration to the extent that a portion of the amount so payable is considered by a court to be unearned interest; (x) may require mitigation of damages; (xi) provide a time limitation after which rights may not be enforced (i.e., statutes of limitation); (xii) may require that a claim with respect to any debt securities that are payable other than in U.S. dollars (or a foreign currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law; and (xiii) may limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States.
(h) The opinions expressed herein do not address any of the following legal issues: (i) state securities and Blue Sky laws and regulations; (ii) state tax laws and regulations; (iii) the statutes and ordinances, administrative decisions and the rules and regulations of counties, towns, municipalities and special political subdivisions (whether created or enabled through legislative action at the federal, state or regional level) and judicial decisions to the extent that they deal with the foregoing; (iv) voidable transactions, fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance laws; and (v) compliance with fiduciary duty and conflict-of-interest requirements.
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