The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities nor are we soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No 333-179667
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated February 24, 2012)
Issued February 28, 2012 (Subject to Completion)
$
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2022
We are offering $ aggregate principal amount of % senior notes due 2022 (the Notes). Interest on the Notes will be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, beginning , 2012.
The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with any of our current and future senior unsecured indebtedness. We may redeem the Notes, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement.
The Notes are not, and are not expected to be, listed on any national securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. Currently, there is no public market for the Notes.
Investing in the Notes involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement and the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
Price to Public (1) |
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions |
Proceeds to Company (before expenses) |
||||||||||
Per Note |
% | % | % | |||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | $ |
(1) | Plus accrued interest, if any, from , 2012, if settlement occurs after that date. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes on or about , 2012 only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Citigroup | J.P. Morgan | Morgan Stanley |
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is , 2012.
We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in any related free-writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to give you any other information, and neither we nor the underwriters take responsibility for any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are an offer to sell only the debt securities described herein, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since these dates.
Prospectus Supplement
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document contains two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and the securities offered. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.
Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
In this prospectus supplement, Interpublic, Registrant, we, us, our and the Company each refers to The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., unless the context indicates otherwise.
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This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference information that we have filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. Information contained in any document subsequently filed with the SEC, to the extent it modifies information in this prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, will automatically update and supersede the information originally included in this prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the following documents or information filed with the SEC:
| our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012; |
| our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 20, 2011; and |
| our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012. |
All documents that we will subsequently file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We will not incorporate by reference into this prospectus any information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus, unless and only to the extent specified in that report.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AND OTHER FACTORS
This prospectus supplement contains forward-looking statements. Our representatives may also make forward-looking statements orally from time to time. Statements in this prospectus supplement that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, constitute forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as may, will, expect, believe, anticipate, intend, could, would, estimate, continue or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in the Risk Factors section of this document and the risk factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
| our ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients; |
| potential effects of a challenging economy, for example, on the demand for our advertising and marketing services, on our clients financial condition, and our business or financial condition; |
| our ability to retain and attract key employees; |
| risks associated with assumptions we make in connection with our critical accounting estimates, including changes in assumptions associated with any effects of a weakened economy; |
| our ability to meet our performance targets and milestones; |
| potential adverse effects if we are required to recognize impairment charges or other adverse accounting-related developments; |
| risks associated with the effects of global, national and regional economic and political conditions, including counterparty risks, risks related to developing countries, and fluctuations in economic growth rates, interest rates and currency exchange rates; |
| potential adverse effects if our credit ratings are downgraded; |
| developments from changes in the regulatory and legal environment for advertising and marketing and communications services companies around the world; and |
| risks associated with undertaking controversial work that may be challenged by consumer groups. |
Investors should carefully consider these risk factors and the additional risk factors outlined in more detail under the heading Risk Factors in this prospectus supplement.
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This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, as further described above under Incorporation by Reference. This summary may not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in the Notes. To understand all of the terms of this offering and for a more complete understanding of our business, you should carefully read the entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in September 1930 under the name of McCann-Erickson Incorporated as the successor to the advertising agency businesses founded in 1902 by A.W. Erickson and in 1911 by Harrison K. McCann. The Company has operated under the Interpublic name since January 1961.
About Us
We are one of the worlds premier global advertising and marketing services companies. Through our 42,000 employees in all major world markets, our companies specialize in consumer advertising, digital marketing, communications planning and media buying, public relations and specialized communications disciplines. Our agencies create customized marketing programs for many of the worlds largest companies. Comprehensive global services are critical to effectively serve our multinational and local clients in markets throughout the world, as they seek to build brands, increase sales of their products and services and gain market share.
The work we produce for our clients is specific to their unique needs. Our solutions vary from project-based activity involving one agency to long-term, fully integrated campaigns created by multiple IPG agencies working together. With offices in over 100 countries, we can operate in a single region or deliver global integrated programs.
The role of our holding company is to provide resources and support to ensure that our agencies can best meet clients needs. Based in New York City, our holding company sets company-wide financial objectives and corporate strategy, establishes financial management and operational controls, guides personnel policy, directs collaborative inter-agency programs, conducts investor relations, provides enterprise risk management and oversees mergers and acquisitions. In addition, we provide limited centralized functional services that offer our companies operational efficiencies, including accounting and finance, executive compensation management and recruitment assistance, employee benefits, marketing information retrieval and analysis, internal audit, legal services, real estate expertise and travel services.
Our Brands
Interpublic is home to some of the worlds best-known and most innovative communications specialists. We have three global networks, McCann Worldgroup (McCann), Draftfcb and Lowe & Partners (Lowe), that provide integrated, large-scale advertising and marketing solutions for clients, and two global media services companies, UM and Initiative, operating under the Mediabrands umbrella. We also have premier domestic integrated and interactive agencies that are industry leaders as well as a range of best-in-class specialized communications assets.
| McCann offers a full range of communications tools and resources to many of the worlds top companies and most famous brands, positioning McCann to meet client demands in all regions of the world and in all marketing disciplines. McCann Erickson Advertising has operations in over 100 |
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countries. MRM Worldwide is among our industrys largest global digital and customer relationship management (CRM) networks. Momentum Worldwide is a leader in experiential marketing and promotions, as is McCann Healthcare Worldwide in healthcare communications. |
| Draftfcb is a modern agency model for clients seeking creative and accountable marketing programs delivered in a media-neutral manner under a unified, integrated business. The company has its roots in both consumer advertising and behavioral, data-driven direct marketing. We believe the agency is the first global, behavior-based, creative and accountable marketing communications organization operating as a financially and structurally integrated business unit. |
| Lowe is a premier creative agency that operates in the worlds most dynamic growth markets. Lowes core strength is developing high-value ideas that connect with popular culture and drive business results. This is evident in the agencys global creative rankings and strong local operations in major key markets, such as Deutsch (U.S.), DLKW/Lowe (U.K.), Lowe Lintas (India) and BorghiErh/Lowe (Brazil). |
| Mediabrands delivers on the scale and breadth of our media capabilities, making investment decisions for tens of billions of dollars of client marketing budgets, yet retains a nimble, collaborative culture. UM and Initiative seek to deliver business results by advising clients on how to navigate an increasingly complex and digital marketing landscape. Specialist brands within Mediabrands focus on areas such as the targeting and aggregation of audiences in the digital space, hyper-local marketing, media barter and a range of other capabilities. |
| Our domestic integrated independent agencies include some of advertisings most recognizable and storied agency brands, including Campbell-Ewald, Hill Holliday, The Martin Agency and Mullen. The marketing programs created by this group incorporate all media channels, CRM, public relations and other marketing activities and have helped build some of the most powerful brands in the U.S., across all sectors and industries. |
| We also have exceptional marketing specialists across a range of disciplines. These include Jack Morton (experiential marketing), Octagon (sports marketing), industry-leading public relations agencies such as Weber Shandwick and GolinHarris, FutureBrand (corporate branding), and our digital specialist agencies, led by R/GA and HUGE, which are among the industrys most award-winning digital agencies. Our healthcare communications specialists reside within our three global brands, McCann, Draftfcb and Lowe. |
We list approximately 85 of our companies on our websites Company Finder tool, with descriptions and office locations for each.
Market Strategy
We operate in a media landscape that is evolving at a rapid pace. Media channels continue to fragment, and clients face an increasingly complex consumer environment. To stay ahead of these challenges and to achieve our objectives, we have made and continue to make significant investments in creative and strategic talent in fast-growth digital marketing channels and high-growth geographic regions and world markets. In addition, we consistently review opportunities within our company to enhance our operations through mergers and strategic alliances, as well as the development of internal programs that encourage intra-company collaboration. As appropriate, we also develop relationships with technology and emerging media companies that are building leading-edge marketing tools that complement our agencies skill sets and capabilities.
In recent years, we have taken several major strategic steps to position our agencies as leaders in the global advertising and communications market. These include:
| We re-organized our media operations under a single management structure, Mediabrands, to reinvent how we plan, buy and measure media investment on behalf of our clients. We have also aligned a |
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spectrum of specialist media companies under this structure. Additionally, we have invested in technology and analytics, including the launch of the IPG Media Lab in New York in 2011, a highly advanced resource for our clients. Since launch in 2008, Mediabrands has delivered industry-leading performance and growth. |
| We moved Lowe to a hub model, focused on a smaller and more strategic global footprint, and significantly revamped its management team in an effort to turn around its operating performance. Once this approach began to yield positive results, we strengthened Lowes capabilities in the key Brazil and U.K. markets through acquisitions and in the U.S. by aligning Deutsch and Lowe in North America to create a more powerful offering from which to service and source multinational clients. |
| Five years ago, we combined accountable marketing and consumer advertising agencies in the unique global offering of Draftfcb, which is now operational throughout all world markets. |
| At our marketing services division, Constituency Management Group (CMG), we continue to strengthen our market leading public relations and events marketing specialists. In recent years, we built out significant social media practices across CMG agencies and expanded our operations in Latin America, China and the Middle East. |
| Our McCann unit continues the transformation of its offering under new global leadership with the delivery of best-in-class integrated marketing communications solutions in all geographic regions for the worlds largest multinational advertisers. |
Digital Growth
Demand for our digital marketing services continues to evolve rapidly. In order to meet this need and provide high-value resources to clients, we have in recent years focused our investment in embedding digital talent and technology throughout the organization. This reflects our belief that digital marketing cannot be treated as a stand-alone function, but should, instead, be integrated within all of our companies, mirroring the way in which consumers incorporate digital media into their other media habits, and, ultimately, their day-to-day life. Recruiting and developing digital expertise at all our agencies and in all marketing disciplines is an area in which we continue to invest.
To meet the changing needs of the marketplace, we have acquired or incubated specialty digital assets, such as Reprise Media (search engine marketing), HUGE (e-commerce solutions), Cadreon (demand-side platform) and The IPG Media Lab. We have also continued to invest in existing digital assets such as R/GA, a digital agency and industry leader in the development of award-winning interactive campaigns for global clients, as well as MRM, a leading global digital agency. These companies have unique capabilities and service their own client rosters, while also serving as key digital partners to many of the agencies within IPG.
Fast Growth Regions
We continue to evaluate strategic opportunities to invest and grow in fast-growth geographic regions. In recent years, we have made significant investments in India and Brazil, further strengthening our leadership position in these high-growth, developing markets. Transactions completed in Brazil include the 2011 acquisition of S2 Publicom, a leading public relations company and the 2010 acquisition of CuboCC, a new media and digital marketing services company. Further, our operations in India continue to be best-in-class as we support our strong growth in the region with partnerships and talent investment, giving us a leadership position in this important market. We also hold a majority stake in the Middle East Communication Networks (MCN), among the regions premier marketing services companies. MCN is headquartered in Dubai, with 60 offices across 14 countries. Our partner in Russia is an acknowledged leader in that country. In China, where we operate with all of our global networks and across the full spectrum of marketing services, we continue to invest organically in talent and behind our agency brands. Additional areas of investment in 2011 included key Asia Pacific markets.
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Acquisition Strategy
We feel that our company has the appropriate set of assets, capabilities and geographic coverage to succeed in todays media landscape. However, when an outstanding resource or a strong tactical fit becomes available, IPG has been opportunistic in making tuck-in, niche acquisitions to enhance our offerings. Our focus has been and will continue to be predominantly on digital and international growth markets.
During the course of 2011, IPG acquired multiple agencies across the marketing spectrum, including firms specializing in digital and social media, healthcare communications, and public relations, as well as agencies with full service capabilities. All acquired agencies have been integrated into one of our global networks or existing agencies.
Financial Objectives
Our long-term financial goals include maintaining competitive organic revenue growth and continuing to improve our operating margins, which we expect will further strengthen our liquidity profile and increase value to our shareholders. Accordingly, we remain focused on meeting the evolving needs of our clients while concurrently managing our cost structure. We continually seek greater efficiency in the delivery of our services, focusing on more effective resource utilization, including the productivity of our employees, real estate and information technology. The improvements we have made in our financial reporting and business information systems allow us more timely and actionable insights from our global operations, while our conservative approach to our balance sheet and liquidity position provides us with a solid financial foundation and financial flexibility to manage our business.
We believe that our strategy and execution position us to be fully competitive in key growth areas such as digital services and emerging markets, with the talent and creativity to thrive in a content-driven media world, to meet our financial goals and to deliver long-term shareholder value.
For information regarding our financial condition and results of operations as at and for the year ended December 31, 2011, please refer to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
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The Offering
Issuer |
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. | |
Securities offered |
$ principal amount of % senior notes due , 2022 | |
Maturity date |
The Notes will mature on , 2022, unless earlier redeemed by us at our option. | |
Interest payment dates |
Each and , beginning on , 2012 and ending on the date of maturity. If any interest payment date would otherwise be a day that is not a business day, such interest payment date shall be made on the next succeeding business day. No interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after such interest payment date to the date payment is made. | |
Interest rates |
The Notes will accrue interest at the rate of % per annum. | |
Redemption |
We may redeem the Notes at any time in accordance with the redemption provisions described under Description of the NotesOptional Redemption in this prospectus supplement. The redemption price will equal the greater of:
100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and
a make whole amount, which will equal the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such Notes discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis at the relevant adjusted treasury rate plus basis points,
plus, in either of the above cases, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to, but excluding, the redemption date. | |
Change of Control Repurchase Event |
If we experience a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined in Description of the NotesChange of Control Offer), we must offer to repurchase the Notes in cash at a price equal to not less than 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. See Description of the NotesChange of Control Offer. | |
Denominations |
The Notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
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Ranking |
The Notes are our general obligations and are not secured by any collateral. Your right to payment under the Notes is:
junior to the right of our secured creditors to the extent of their security in our assets;
equal with the rights of creditors under our current and future senior unsecured debt, including our amended and restated revolving credit facility;
senior to the rights of creditors under debt expressly subordinated to the Notes; and
effectively subordinated to the rights of our subsidiaries creditors. | |
Use of proceeds |
We intend to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes towards the redemption price of our $400 million 4.25% convertible senior notes due 2023, which we have announced we will redeem in full on March 26, 2012. If conversions of the convertible notes result in an aggregate redemption price that is less than the net proceeds, we will apply the balance of the net proceeds towards our share repurchase program and for general corporate purposes. See Use of Proceeds. | |
Risk factors |
You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus, which includes information incorporated by reference. In particular, you should evaluate the information set forth under Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors of this prospectus supplement for risks involved with an investment in the Notes. | |
Trustee and principal paying agent |
U.S. Bank National Association |
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Summary Financial Data
The following tables set forth our consolidated financial data for each of the last three years. These data have been derived from our audited financial statements. The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. The historical consolidated financial data are not necessarily indicative of our future performance.
(Amounts in Millions, except Per Share Amounts and Ratios)
Years ended December 31, |
2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||
Statement of Operations Data |
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Revenue |
$ | 6,007.4 | $ | 6,507.3 | $ | 7,014.6 | ||||||
Salaries and related expenses |
3,961.2 | 4,117.0 | 4,402.1 | |||||||||
Office and general expenses |
1,700.3 | 1,837.7 | 1,924.3 | |||||||||
Operating income |
341.3 | 548.7 | 687.2 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
90.1 | 171.3 | 190.2 | |||||||||
Net income1 |
143.4 | 281.2 | 551.5 | |||||||||
Net income available to IPG common stockholders1 |
93.6 | 271.2 | 520.7 | |||||||||
Earnings per share available to IPG common stockholders1 |
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Basic |
$ | 0.20 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 1.12 | ||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.99 | ||||||
Other Financial Data |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 540.8 | $ | 817.3 | $ | 273.5 | ||||||
Ratios of earnings to fixed charges |
1.7 | 2.4 | 3.4 | |||||||||
As of December 31, |
2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||
Balance Sheet Data |
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Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities |
$ | 2,506.1 | $ | 2,689.4 | $ | 2,315.6 | ||||||
Total assets |
12,263.1 | 13,070.8 | 12,876.6 | |||||||||
Total debt |
1,946.6 | 1,737.0 | 1,769.2 | |||||||||
Total liabilities |
9,449.0 | 10,212.7 | 10,135.9 | |||||||||
Preferred stock Series B |
525.0 | 221.5 | 221.5 | |||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
2,536.3 | 2,566.9 | 2,497.3 |
1 | The year ended December 31, 2011 includes a pre-tax gain of $132.2 related to the sale of approximately half of our holdings in Facebook, Inc. |
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The Company has set forth risk factors in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. We have also set forth below certain additional risk factors that relate specifically to the Notes. Investing in the Notes involves risks. You should carefully consider all these risk factors in addition to the other information presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
Risks Related to the Notes
We are a holding company, and repayment of our debt, including the Notes, is dependent on cash flow generated by our subsidiaries.
We are a holding company and substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness, including the Notes, is dependent, to a significant extent, on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us, by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. Our subsidiaries do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the Notes or to make funds available for that purpose. Our subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness, including the Notes. Each subsidiary is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, including the Notes.
The Notes are structurally subordinated to the existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries.
Our subsidiaries will not guarantee the Notes. As a result, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. Therefore, our rights and the rights of our creditors to participate in the assets of any subsidiary in the event that such a subsidiary is liquidated or reorganized are subject to the prior claims of all of such subsidiarys creditors. As a result, all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries, whether secured or unsecured, must be satisfied before any of the assets of such subsidiaries would be available for distribution, upon a liquidation or otherwise, to us in order for us to meet our obligations with respect to the Notes. Our subsidiaries regularly make advances to the holding company as part of our ordinary-course treasury management activities, and the claims of subsidiaries for repayment of these advances rank equally with our other senior indebtedness, including the Notes.
If we are a creditor with recognized claims against any subsidiary, our claims would still be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiarys creditors to the extent that they are secured or senior to those held by us. Subject to restrictions contained in financing arrangements, our subsidiaries may incur significant additional indebtedness and other liabilities. At December 31, 2011, our subsidiaries were the obligors on approximately $153.5 million of total debt and the substantial majority of our total consolidated liabilities.
An active trading market for the Notes may not develop or continue.
The Notes are new securities for which there currently is no market. We have not listed and do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange. Although the underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the Notes after the completion of the offering, they are not obligated to do so, and such market making activities may be discontinued at any time and without notice. We cannot assure you that any market for the Notes will develop or continue. If an active market does not develop or continue, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control.
Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control triggering events, we will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes. The source of funds for any such purchase of the Notes will be our available cash or cash
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generated from our subsidiaries operations or other sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control because we may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the Notes that are tendered upon a change of control. Our failure to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control would cause a default under the indenture governing the Notes and our other securities and our credit facility. In addition, the exercise by the holders of Notes of their right to require us to repurchase the Notes is a default under our credit facility. Any of our future debt agreements may contain similar provisions.
Because the Notes are represented by global securities registered in the name of a depositary, you will not be a holder under the indenture and your ability to transfer or pledge the Notes could be limited.
Because the Notes are represented by global securities registered in the name of a depositary, you will not be a holder under the indenture and your ability to transfer or pledge the Notes could be limited. The Notes will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Except in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in the global securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in certificated form and will not be considered holders of the Notes under the indenture for any purpose. Instead, owners must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to protect their interests under the indenture and to transfer their interests in the Notes. Your ability to pledge your interest in the notes to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system may also be adversely affected by the lack of a certificate.
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We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $ million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We intend to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes towards the redemption price for our outstanding 4.25% convertible senior notes due 2023, which is an aggregate of $400 million plus accrued interest payable on March 26, 2012 (assuming the full principal amount remains outstanding on such date). Pending any such application of the proceeds, the proceeds will be invested temporarily in short-term marketable securities. We gave a notice of redemption to the holders of these convertible notes on February 24, 2012.
Holders of the convertible notes have the right to convert their notes to shares prior to the redemption date, at a conversion rate equivalent to $12.13 per share. If holders convert the notes to shares, we may not require all the net proceeds of this offering to pay the redemption price for the remaining notes, and in that event we will apply any excess net proceeds towards our share repurchase program and for general corporate purposes.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the years indicated are as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
1.6 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 3.4 |
In calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates and adjustments for net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. Fixed charges consist of interest on indebtedness, amortization of debt discount, waiver and other amendment fees, debt issuance costs (all of which are included in interest expense) and the portion of net rental expense deemed representative of the interest component (one-third).
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The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, short-term borrowings, long-term debt and stockholders equity as of December 31, 2011 and as adjusted to give effect to:
| this offering and the estimated related expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions; and |
| the application of the net proceeds of this offering and other available funds to redeem our outstanding 4.25% convertible senior notes due 2023 (assuming the full principal amount remains outstanding on the redemption date, set for March 26, 2012). |
The data are derived from our audited financial statements. You should read this table in conjunction with SummarySummary Financial Data, which appears elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes and the discussion of our liquidity and capital resources as of December 31, 2011 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
December 31, 2011 |
December 31, 2011 |
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Actual | As adjusted | |||||||
(in millions) | (unaudited) | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities |
$ | 2,315.6 | $ | |||||
|
|
|
|
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Short-term borrowings: |
$ | 153.5 | $ | 153.5 | ||||
Long-term debt: |
||||||||
6.25% Unsecured Notes due 2014 |
$ | 354.3 | $ | 354.3 | ||||
10.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2017 |
590.6 | 590.6 | ||||||
4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 |
202.7 | 202.7 | ||||||
4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 |
403.0 | | ||||||
% Senior Notes due 2022 |
| |||||||
Other notes payable and capitalized leases |
65.1 | 65.1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total long-term debt |
1,615.7 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total debt |
$ | 1,769.2 | ||||||
Stockholders equity: |
||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
$ | 2,497.3 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 4,266.5 | $ | |||||
|
|
|
|
On February 24, 2012, we announced that we are exercising our option to redeem our 4.25% Convertible Notes due 2023 and issued a notice announcing the redemption of all such convertible notes, of which an aggregate principal amount of $400 million is outstanding. The redemption price is equal to $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date. The redemption date is March 26, 2012. Holders of the notes may convert their notes into shares of Interpublic common stock until the close of business on March 23, 2012.
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The following description of the terms of the Notes offered in this prospectus supplement and referred to in the accompanying prospectus as the debt securities supplements the description of the general terms of debt securities in the accompanying prospectus, which we urge you to read. The Notes will constitute a single series of debt securities and will be issued under the indenture dated as of the date on which the Notes are originally issued (the base indenture) between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture dated as of the date on which the Notes are originally issued (the supplemental indenture and together with the base indenture, the indenture) relating to the Notes. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of the Notes and the indenture and does not restate those agreements in their entirety. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the Notes. The form of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which the prospectus forms a part. The indenture is also available to you without charge by writing to The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Secretary.
As used in this Description of the Notes, unless otherwise indicated, the words we, our and us refer to The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries. References to person or Person mean any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
General
The Notes will mature on , 2022, unless redeemed in whole as described below under Optional Redemption. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of % per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on and , commencing on , 2012. We will make each interest payment to the holders of record on the immediately preceding and , respectively. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date on which it was most recently paid.
If any interest payment date or the maturity date of any of the Notes is not a business day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if made on the date that payment otherwise was due and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after the interest payment date or maturity date to the date payment is made on such next succeeding Business Day. For this purpose, business day means any weekday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. Interest on the Notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
The Notes issued in this offering will be initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $ . We may, without notice to or consent of the holders or beneficial owners of the Notes, issue in a separate offering additional notes having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the issue date and public offering price) as the Notes. The Notes and any such additional notes will constitute a single series under the indenture. The Notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations ranking equally with our current and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund. We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange.
The accompanying prospectus contains a section entitled Description of Debt SecuritiesDefeasance and Covenant Defeasance. That section describes provisions for the full defeasance and covenant defeasance of securities issued under the indenture. The Notes are subject to these defeasance provisions.
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Optional Redemption
The Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at our option, at any time or from time to time, upon notice to the registered address of each holder of the Notes at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption. The redemption price will be equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) on such Notes discounted to the date of redemption, on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), at a rate equal to the sum of the applicable Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus basis points, plus in either case accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.
For purposes of the foregoing discussion on Optional Redemption, the following definitions are applicable:
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding that redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue (as defined below), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price (as defined below) for that redemption date.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined below) as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes, that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of Notes of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date, the arithmetic average of three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations (as defined below) for such redemption date.
Independent Investment Banker means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers selected by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of any three primary U.S. Government securities dealer selected by us, and their respective successors.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the arithmetic average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding that redemption date.
Remaining Scheduled Payments means the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes that would be due after the related redemption date but for that redemption. If that redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to the Notes, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment on the Notes will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued on the Notes to, but excluding, such redemption date.
On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion of the Notes called for redemption (unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with a paying agent (or the Trustee) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed on that date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed in accordance with DTCs policies and procedures.
Change of Control Offer
If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below) occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem all the Notes as described under Optional Redemption, each holder of Notes will have the right to
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require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that holders Notes pursuant to an offer (a Change of Control Offer) on the terms set forth in the indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, we will offer payment (a Change of Control Payment) in cash equal to not less than 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (the Change of Control Payment Date, which date will be no earlier than the date of such Change of Control). No later than 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, we will mail a notice to each holder or otherwise give notice in accordance with the procedures of DTC describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in such notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by the indenture and described in such notice.
We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the indenture, we will comply with the applicable securities laws or regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the indenture by virtue of such compliance.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, we will, to the extent lawful:
| accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; |
| deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and |
| deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by us. |
The paying agent will promptly mail or wire transfer to each holder of Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
We will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
If a Change of Control Offer is required to be made, there can be no assurance that we will have available funds sufficient to pay for all or any of the Notes that might be delivered by holders seeking to accept the Change of Control Offer. In such case, our failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the indenture which may, in turn, constitute a default under our other agreements.
Our principal credit agreement provides that certain change of control events with respect to us would constitute a default thereunder. A default under the credit agreement may result in a default under the indenture if the lenders accelerate the outstanding debt under the credit agreement. Any future credit facilities or other agreements relating to indebtedness to which we become a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. Moreover, the exercise by the holders of Notes of their right to require us to repurchase the Notes could cause a default under such indebtedness, even if the Change of Control itself does not. Finally, our ability to pay cash to the holders of the Notes, if required to do so, may be limited by our then existing financial resources.
Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the indenture does not contain provisions that permit the holders of the Notes to require that we repurchase or redeem the Notes in the
S-18
event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction. In addition, courts have raised questions about the enforceability of provisions, which are similar to those in the indenture governing the Notes, related to the triggering of a change of control as a result of a change in the composition of a board of directors. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of Notes to require us to repurchase Notes as a result of a change in the composition of directors on our board of directors may be uncertain.
We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by us and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement has been executed by the time of making the Change of Control Offer.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of us and our restricted subsidiaries (as defined in the accompanying prospectus under Description of Debt SecuritiesCovenantsLimitations on Liens) taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase substantially all, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of Notes to require us to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of us and our restricted subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.
For purposes of the foregoing discussion on Change of Control Offer, the following definitions are applicable:
Below Investment Grade Rating Event, with respect to the Notes, means that such Notes become rated below Investment Grade by at least two of the three Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of such Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request 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 applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
Beneficial Owner has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, warrants, rights, options or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or any other equity interest of such Person, including each class of common stock and preferred stock.
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Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of us and our restricted subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) and Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act);
(2) the adoption by our shareholders of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution;
(3) we (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) become aware of the acquisition by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of our Voting Stock;
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of our board of directors are not Continuing Directors; or
(5) we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of us or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where immediately after such transaction, no person or group (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person.
Change of Control Repurchase Event in respect of the Notes means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event in respect of the Notes.
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of determination, those members of our board of directors, each of whom (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of original issuance of the Notes; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).
Fitch means Fitch, Inc. (or any successor).
Investment Grade means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moodys (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moodys), BBB or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) or BBB or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes, for reasons outside of our control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by us as a replacement Rating Agency).
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (or any successor).
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by any two of our officers, at least one of whom must be our Chairman of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer, our President, our Chief Financial Officer, our Chief Accounting Officer, our Treasurer or our Controller, and delivered to the Trustee.
Rating Agency means:
(1) each of Moodys, S&P and Fitch; and
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(2) if any of Moodys, S&P or Fitch ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by us as a replacement agency for any or all of Moodys, S&P or Fitch, as the case may be.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services (or any successor).
Voting Stock means, with respect to any specified person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) 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.
Covenants
The Notes benefit from the covenants described under the section entitled Description of Debt SecuritiesCovenants in the accompanying prospectus.
Events of Default
The Notes are subject to the events of default described under the section entitled Description of Debt SecuritiesEvents of Default in the accompanying prospectus.
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MATERIAL U.S. INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Notes as of the date hereof. This summary deals only with holders that purchase Notes in the initial offering at their issue price and that hold such Notes as capital assets.
This summary is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below. This summary does not represent a detailed description of the federal income tax consequences to you in light of your particular circumstances. This summary does not address considerations that may be relevant to you if you are an investor subject to special tax rules, such as a bank or other financial institution, a tax-exempt entity, an investor that uses a functional currency that is not the U.S. dollar, an insurance company, a dealer in securities or foreign currencies, an investor that holds the Notes as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale, conversion or other integrated transaction, a U.S. expatriate, a controlled foreign corporation or a passive foreign investment company. This summary does not address any taxes other than U.S. federal income taxes.
If an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our Notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our Notes, you should consult your tax advisors.
If you are considering the purchase of Notes, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of the ownership of the Notes, as well as the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction, including any state, local or non-U.S. income tax consequences.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a citizen or resident of the United States or a domestic corporation or a person who is otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of the Notes (a U.S. Holder).
Payments or Accruals of Interest
In general, you must report interest on the Notes as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are received, in accordance with your regular accounting method.
Disposition of the Notes
On the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, you will have taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you receive (other than amounts representing accrued and unpaid interest, which will be taxed as such) and your tax basis in the Note. Your tax basis in a Note will equal the cost of the Note to you. Your gain or loss will generally be a capital gain or loss and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the Note for more than one year at the time of disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation.
If you sell a Note between interest payment dates, a portion of the amount you receive will reflect interest that has accrued on the Note but has not yet been paid by the sale date. That amount is treated as ordinary interest income and not as sales proceeds.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a beneficial owner of a Note or shares of common stock that is not a U.S. Holder (a Non-U.S. Holder).
S-22
Payments or Accruals of Interest
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, the interest income that you derive in respect of the Notes generally will be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that (i) you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock within the meaning of the Code and applicable U.S. Treasury regulations; (ii) you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us through stock ownership; and (iii) either (x) you provide your name and address on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form), and certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a U.S. person or (y) you hold your Notes through certain foreign intermediaries and satisfy the certification requirements of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations.
If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide us or our paying agent with a properly executed (i) IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable tax treaty or (ii) IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) stating that interest paid on a Note is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business (as described below under Disposition of the Notes) in the United States.
You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the above exemptions and the procedure for obtaining such exemptions, if available. A claim for exemption will not be valid if the person receiving the applicable form has actual knowledge or reason to know that the statements on the form are false.
Disposition of the Notes
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax on any gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a Note. This exemption will not apply to you if (i) you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on the Notes is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and the interest is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty), in which case you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis as discussed above in U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders; or (ii) you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met.
Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting
Payments of principal and interest on, and the proceeds of dispositions of, the Notes may be subject to information reporting and U.S. federal backup withholding if you are a U.S. Holder. In addition, you may be subject to backup withholding in respect of payments on the Notes if you fail to supply an accurate taxpayer identification number or otherwise fail to comply with applicable U.S. information reporting or certification requirements. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you may have to comply with certification procedures to establish your non-U.S. status in order to avoid information reporting. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest income described above will satisfy this requirement. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a holder may be allowed as a credit against the holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
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Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below, for whom Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are acting as representatives, has agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the aggregate principal amount of Notes, set forth opposite the underwriters name in the following table:
Name |
Principal Amount of Notes | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
$ | |||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
$ | |||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
$ | |||
$ | ||||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | |||
|
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Notes if they purchase any of the Notes. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering of Notes may be terminated.
The underwriters propose to offer the Notes directly to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and some of the Notes to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed % of the principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow, and any such dealer may reallow, a concession not to exceed % of the principal amount of the Notes. After the initial offering of the Notes to the public, the underwriters may change the public offering price and other selling terms.
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes).
Paid by The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. |
||||
Per Note |
% |
We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $ million.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities.
In connection with the issuance of the Notes, we may enter into interest rate swap agreements with financial institutions, which may include one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates.
New Issue of Notes
There are currently no public trading markets for the Notes. We have not applied and do not intend to apply to list the Notes on any securities exchange. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market
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in the Notes. However, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time in their sole discretion. Therefore, we cannot assure you that liquid trading markets for the Notes will develop, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable.
Sales Outside the United States
The Notes may be offered and sold in the United States and certain jurisdictions outside the United States in which such offer and sale is permitted.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date), it has not made and will not make, an offer of the Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:
(i) to any legal entity that is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
(ii) to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or
(iii) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive
provided that no such offer shall require the Company or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For purposes of the foregoing, the expression an offer of Notes to the public in relation to the Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State; the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State; and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
United Kingdom
This document is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the Financial Promotion Order), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). This document is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
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Each underwriter has represented and agreed that: (a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA)) in connection with the issue or sale of the Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company; and (b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Other Jurisdictions
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the Notes directly or indirectly or distribute this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any other offering material relating to the Notes in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on us except as set forth in the underwriting agreement and the pricing agreement.
Price Stabilization and Short Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell Notes in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases.
| Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters of a greater number of Notes than they are required to purchase in the offering. |
| Covering transactions involve purchases of Notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. |
| Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase Notes so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Notes. They may also cause the price of the Notes to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
In connection with the offering of the Notes, the person (if any) named as the stabilizing manager(s) (or persons acting on their behalf) may over-allot Notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the stabilizing manager(s) (or persons acting on their behalf) will undertake stabilization action. Any stabilization action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the relevant Tranche of Notes is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than 30 days after the date on which the issuer received the proceeds of the issue, or no later than 60 days after the date of allotment of the relevant securities, whichever is the earlier. Any stabilizing action or over-allotment must be conducted by the relevant stabilizing manager (or persons acting on their behalf) in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.
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The validity of the Notes will be passed upon for us by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York, New York. Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the Notes for the underwriters.
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PROSPECTUS
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
Senior
Debt Securities
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. from time to time may offer to sell senior debt securities. The senior debt securities may be offered together or separately and in one or more series, if any, in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of the offering and described in a prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
We will provide specific terms of these securities and the manner in which we will sell them in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 24, 2012.
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We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free-writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to give you any other information, and neither we nor the underwriters take responsibility for any other information that others may give you. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement are an offer to sell only the senior debt securities described herein, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since these dates.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell senior debt securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the senior debt securities we may offer. Each time we offer the debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the senior debt securities being offered at that time. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. In this prospectus, Interpublic, Registrant, we, us, our and the Company each refers to The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., unless the context indicates otherwise.
Whenever references are made in this prospectus to information that will be included in a prospectus supplement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules or regulations, we may provide such information or add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus by means of (a) post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, (b) filings we make with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or (c) any other method as may then be permitted under applicable law, rules or regulations. To the extent information in this prospectus is inconsistent with information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information, and any additional information you may need to make your investment decision.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. You may read and copy this information at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
This prospectus constitutes part of a registration statement on Form S-3 filed by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement.
Financial and other information can also be accessed through our website at www.interpublic.com, where we make available, free of charge, copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the SEC. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not incorporated into this prospectus.
You may obtain a copy of any of our filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 704-1200
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Our representatives may also make forward-looking statements orally from time to time. Statements in this prospectus that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, constitute forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as may, will, expect, believe, anticipate, intend, could, would, estimate, continue or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
| potential effects of a challenging economy, for example, on the demand for our advertising and marketing services, on our clients financial condition, and our business or financial condition; |
| our ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients; |
| our ability to retain and attract key employees; |
| risks associated with assumptions we make in connection with our critical accounting estimates, including changes in assumptions associated with any effects of a weakened economy; |
| potential adverse effects if we are required to recognize impairment charges or other adverse accounting-related developments; |
| risks associated with the effects of global, national and regional economic and political conditions, including counterparty risks and fluctuations in economic growth rates, interest rates and currency exchange rates; and |
| developments from changes in the regulatory and legal environment for advertising and marketing and communications services companies around the world. |
Investors should carefully consider these factors together with any additional risk factors disclosed in our SEC reports incorporated in this prospectus by reference or in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus.
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This prospectus incorporates by reference information that we have filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. Information contained in any document subsequently filed with the SEC, to the extent it modifies information in this prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will automatically update and supersede the information originally included in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC:
| our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012; and |
| our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 20, 2011. |
All documents that we will subsequently file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We will not incorporate by reference into this prospectus any information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus, unless and only to the extent specified in that report.
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An investment in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the SEC referred to under the heading Where You Can Find More Information, as well as the risks included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
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THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in September 1930 under the name of McCann-Erickson Incorporated as the successor to the advertising agency businesses founded in 1902 by A.W. Erickson and in 1911 by Harrison K. McCann. The Company has operated under the Interpublic name since January 1961.
We are one of the worlds premier global advertising and marketing services companies. Through our 42,000 employees in all major world markets, our companies specialize in consumer advertising, digital marketing, communications planning and media buying, public relations and specialized communications disciplines. Our agencies create customized marketing programs for many of the worlds largest companies. Comprehensive global services are critical to effectively serve our multinational and local clients in markets throughout the world, as they seek to build brands, increase sales of their products and services and gain market share.
The work we produce for our clients is specific to their unique needs. Our solutions vary from project-based activity involving one agency to long-term, fully integrated campaigns created by multiple IPG agencies working together. With offices in over 100 countries, we can operate in a single region, or deliver global integrated programs.
We are a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive office is located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, and our telephone number is (212) 704-1200.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the proceeds from the sale of the debt securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation:
| redemption and repayment of short-term or long-term borrowings; |
| capital expenditures; |
| acquisitions of or investments in businesses or assets; |
| purchases of our common stock; and |
| working capital. |
Pending application of the net proceeds, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term marketable securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue senior unsecured general obligations, which we refer to as the debt securities in this section. The debt securities will be issued from time to time under an indenture and applicable supplemental indenture, if any, with respect to any series of debt securities, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The indenture and any supplemental indenture are technical documents with terms that have defined meanings. The indenture is summarized below. Because this discussion is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. We urge you to read the indenture, in particular to understand your rights and our obligations under the covenants described below under Limitation on Liens, Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, Excepted Indebtedness and Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. The form of indenture is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.
The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the indenture. The specific terms of each series of debt securities will be described in the particular prospectus supplement relating to that series. For a complete description of the terms of a particular series of debt securities, you should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series.
General
The debt securities that may be issued under the indenture are not limited in aggregate principal amount. We may issue debt securities at one or more times in one or more series. Each series of debt securities may have different terms. The terms of any series of debt securities will be established pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors or in a supplement to the indenture relating to that series.
The debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations and will rank senior with any of our indebtedness that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the debt securities. The debt securities rank equally in right of payment with all our other existing and future unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated. Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the debt securities offered under this registration statement, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary during its liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiarys creditors, except to the extent that we are ourselves a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.
The provisions of the indenture allow us to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.
A prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will describe the specific terms relating to the offering. The terms will be set forth in an officers certificate or a supplemental indenture. The officers certificate or supplemental indenture will be signed at the time of issuance and will contain important information. The officers certificate or supplemental indenture will include some or all of the following terms for a particular series of debt securities:
(1) | the title of the series of debt securities; |
(2) | the purchase price, denomination and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
(3) | the date or dates on which principal and any premium on the debt securities will be payable or the method of determination of principal and any premium; |
(4) | the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear any interest or the method of calculating the rate or rates of interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue or the method by which the date or dates will be determined, the dates on which interest will be payable, and any regular record date for payment of interest; |
(5) | the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable; |
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(6) | the place or places where the debt securities may be exchanged or transferred; |
(7) | the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, at our option; |
(8) | the terms and conditions upon which we may be obligated to redeem or purchase the debt securities under any sinking fund or similar provisions or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a holder; |
(9) | the minimum denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000; |
(10) | if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies, including the currency unit or units, in which payments of principal and any premium and interest on the debt securities will or may be payable, or in which the debt securities will be denominated, and any particular related provisions; |
(11) | if we or a holder may elect that payments of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities be made in a currency or currencies, including currency unit or units, other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable, the currency or currencies in which these payments are to be made, including the terms and conditions applicable to any payments and the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined, and any particular related provisions; |
(12) | if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium and interest on debt securities are determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, which may be based, without limitation, on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable, the index, formula or other method by which the amounts will be determined; |
(13) | if any series of debt securities is not subject to our right to defeasance and discharge, or covenant defeasance; |
(14) | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies in which, and the other terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
(15) | any provisions for the conversion or exchange of debt securities; |
(16) | if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity; |
(17) | any changes or additions to events of default or covenants set forth in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
(18) | any agents for the debt securities, including trustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars; and |
(19) | any other terms of the debt securities. |
Exchange, Registration, Transfer and Payment
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the exchange of and the transfer of debt securities will be registrable, at our office or agency maintained for that purpose in New York City and at any other office or agency maintained for that purpose. In the absence of any provisions to the contrary with respect to any series of debt securities, we will issue the debt securities in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed because of the transactions.
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All money paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of principal of and any premium or interest on any debt security which remains unclaimed for one year after the principal, premium or interest has become due and payable may be repaid to us, provided notice of unclaimed funds has been published in a publication of general circulation, and afterwards the holder of the debt security may look only to us for payment of those amounts.
In the event of any redemption, notice shall be delivered to each holder of debt securities to be redeemed 30 to 60 days prior to redemption.
Covenants
Except as described in this sub-section or as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to any series of debt securities, we are not restricted by the indenture from incurring, assuming or becoming liable for any type of debt or other obligations, from paying dividends or making distributions on our capital stock or purchasing or redeeming our capital stock. The indenture does not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, covenants contained in the indenture, which are summarized below, will be applicable to the series of debt securities to which the prospectus supplement relates so long as any of the debt securities of that series are outstanding.
Reporting. We must file with the trustee, within 45 days after we file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), copies of our annual and quarterly reports and other information that we may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Limitations on Liens. If we or our majority-owned subsidiaries that meet the requirements of a restricted subsidiary incur any indebtedness for borrowed money secured by an interest in or lien on any of our assets or those of any restricted subsidiary, we will be required to secure the debt securities equally and ratably with, or, at our option, prior to, this indebtedness. A restricted subsidiary is any majority-owned subsidiary which meets any of the following conditions:
| our and our other majority-owned subsidiaries investments in and advances to the subsidiary exceed 10% of our total assets and those of our subsidiaries consolidated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year; |
| our and our other majority-owned subsidiaries proportionate share of the total assets, after intercompany eliminations, of the subsidiary exceed 10% of our total assets and those of our subsidiaries consolidated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year; or |
| our and our other majority-owned subsidiaries equity in the income from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles of the subsidiary exceeds 10% of our income and that of our subsidiaries consolidated for the most recently completed fiscal year. |
The preceding provisions will not require us to secure the debt securities if the liens consist of either liens securing excepted indebtedness for borrowed money or any of the following:
(1) | liens on property or assets acquired or held by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries incurred to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of the property or assets or to secure indebtedness for borrowed money incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after the acquisition for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price, or liens existing on any property or assets at the time of its acquisition by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries, other than any liens created in contemplation of the acquisition that were not incurred to finance all or any part of the purchase price of the property or assets (so long as the liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of any character other than the property or assets being acquired); |
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(2) | liens on property or assets of a person, including any entity, other than us or any of our restricted subsidiaries, existing at the time we or our restricted subsidiaries purchase or acquire the property or asset, so long as the liens were not created in contemplation of the purchase or other acquisition and do not extend to any property or assets other than those so purchased or otherwise acquired; |
(3) | liens affecting property or assets of a person, other than us or any of our restricted subsidiaries, existing at the time the person merges into or consolidates with us or a restricted subsidiary or becomes a restricted subsidiary or at the time of sale, lease or other disposition of the property or assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a restricted subsidiary, so long as the liens were not created in contemplation of the merger, consolidation or acquisition and do not extend to any property or assets other than those of the person so merged into or consolidated with, or acquired by, us or the restricted subsidiary; |
(4) | liens to secure indebtedness for borrowed money owing by a restricted subsidiary to us or to a restricted subsidiary; |
(5) | liens existing on the date of initial issuance of the debt securities; |
(6) | liens in favor of the United States or any of its states, territories or possessions, or the District of Columbia, or any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of any of those political entities, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments; |
(7) | liens on any property to secure all or part of the cost of its alteration, repair or improvement or indebtedness for borrowed money incurred to provide funds for this purpose in a principal amount not exceeding the cost of the improvements or construction; |
(8) | purchase money liens on personal property; |
(9) | liens created in connection with a capitalized lease obligation, but only to the extent that those liens encumber property financed by that capitalized lease obligation and the principal component of that capitalized lease obligation is not increased; |
(10) | liens on property arising in connection with a securities repurchase transaction; |
(11) | liens, including judgment liens, arising in connection with legal proceedings, taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges, so long as those proceedings, taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges are being contested in good faith and, in the case of judgment liens, execution on the liens is stayed, and for which we have established any reserves required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP; |
(12) | carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, landlords, materialmens, repairmens or other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 90 days or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued, so long as any proceedings commenced for the enforcement of the liens have been stayed or suspended within 30 days after their commencement, and provision for the payment of the liens has been made on our books to the extent required by GAAP; |
(13) | easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the underlying property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of our business or that of any restricted subsidiary; |
(14) | pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers compensation laws or other similar legislation, other than in respect of employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or to secure public or statutory obligations; |
(15) | liens securing the performance of, or payment in respect of, bids, tenders, government contracts, other than for the repayment of borrowed money, surety and appeal bonds and other obligations of a similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; |
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(16) | any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor and any restriction or encumbrance to which the interest or title of the lessor or sublessor may be subject that is incurred in the ordinary course of business; |
(17) | any contractual right of set-off or any contractual right to charge or contractual security interest in or lien on our accounts or the accounts of any of our restricted subsidiaries to effect the payment of amounts to a depositary institution whether or not due and payable in respect of any indebtedness for borrowed money or financing arrangement and any other lien arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers liens, rights of set-off or similar rights; |
(18) | liens arising in the ordinary course of banking transactions and securing indebtedness for borrowed money in an aggregate amount of not more than $15.0 million that matures not more than one year after the date on which it is originally incurred; |
(19) | any liens on assets of our subsidiaries organized outside of the United States in favor of lenders or an affiliated guarantor under or in connection with short-term working capital lines of credit or overdraft facilities, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business; |
(20) | any liens on any asset of any person organized outside of the United States arising at any time pursuant to an arrangement (factoring or otherwise) secured by accounts receivable that is existing at the time such person becomes or became a restricted subsidiary of ours or is merged into or consolidated with us or any of our restricted subsidiaries (or pursuant to any extension, renewal or replacement of such an arrangement); provided that such lien or arrangement was not created in contemplation of such event, and only to the extent, in the case of any such arrangement, that such arrangement does not provide for liens which, together with all other liens permitted under this clause (20), would encumber assets representing more than 5.0% of the consolidated accounts receivable of us and our consolidated subsidiaries as reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of us and our consolidated subsidiaries for our fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to such event (or, if applicable, such extension, renewal or replacement); |
(21) | any liens arising out of an interest bearing cash deposit account to be established and maintained by the lender or lenders (or their agent) under any credit facility with a bank or a syndicate of banks; and |
(22) | extensions, renewals, refinancings or replacements of any lien referred to in the above items, so long as the lien does not extend to or cover any of our property or that of the applicable restricted subsidiary, as the case may be, other than the property specified in these items and improvements to that property. |
We refer to the liens described above as permitted liens.
Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. We and our restricted subsidiaries will not sell or transfer any assets with the intention of entering into a lease of the assets for a term of more than three years unless:
(1) | the assets have not been owned by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries or have not been in full operation for more than one year prior to the sale or transfer; |
(2) | we or the restricted subsidiary could incur indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a lien on the assets at least equal in amount to the attributable debt (as defined below) with respect to the transaction without equally and ratably securing the debt securities under the limitation on liens in the indenture; |
(3) | we apply an amount equal to the value of those assets within 180 days of the sale of those assets |
(a) | to the defeasance or retirement, other than any mandatory retirement, mandatory prepayment or sinking fund payment or by way of payment at maturity, of the debt securities or other indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by us or a restricted subsidiary that matures more than one year after the creation of the indebtedness, or |
(b) | to the purchase, construction or development of other property; or |
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(4) | the transaction is between us and any of our restricted subsidiaries or between our restricted subsidiaries. |
The term attributable debt means, with respect to any sale and lease-back transaction, at the time of determination, the lesser of:
(1) | the fair market value of the property subject to the transaction, as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors; |
(2) | the present value, discounted at the leases identified or implicit rate of interest, if determinable, of the total net amount of rent (as defined below) required to be paid under the lease during the remaining term of the lease, including any renewal term or period for which the lease has been extended; or |
(3) | if the obligation with respect to the sale and lease-back transaction constitutes an obligation that we must classify and account for as a capitalized lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, the amount equal to the capitalized amount of the obligation determined in accordance with GAAP and included in the financial statements of the lessee. |
The term rent does not include amounts required to be paid by the lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of or contingent upon maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, the net amount of rent will be the lesser of (a) the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date the lease may be terminated, in which case the net amount will also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent will be considered as required to be paid under the lease subsequent to the first day upon which it may be so terminated and (b) the net amount determined assuming no termination.
Excepted Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the limitations on liens and sale and lease-back transactions described above, and without limiting our or any restricted subsidiarys ability to issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee indebtedness for borrowed money secured by permitted liens, we or any restricted subsidiary will be permitted to incur indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a lien or may enter into a sale and lease-back transaction, in either case, without regard to the restrictions contained in the preceding two paragraphs entitled Limitations on Liens and Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, if at the time the indebtedness for borrowed money is incurred and after giving effect to this indebtedness, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all indebtedness for borrowed money secured by liens, other than permitted liens, or, if less, the fair market value of the property subject to the lien, as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors and (b) the attributable debt of all our sale and lease-back transactions, in each case not otherwise permitted in the preceding two paragraphs, does not exceed 15% of:
(1) | our total assets and those of our majority-owned subsidiaries, including, without limitation, all items that are treated as intangibles in accordance with GAAP, less |
(2) | our total liabilities and those of our majority-owned subsidiaries, including, without limitation, all deferred taxes, in each case determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP (but without giving effect to any cumulative translation adjustments, whether positive or negative). |
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate or merge with or into any other person, including any other entity, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person or group of affiliated persons unless:
(1) | we are the continuing corporation or the person, if other than us, formed by the consolidation or with which or into which we are merged or the person to which all or substantially all our properties and assets are conveyed, transferred or leased is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any of its states or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; and |
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(2) | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, there is no default and no event of default under the indenture. |
If we consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our property and assets as described in the preceding paragraph, the successor corporation will succeed to and be substituted for us, and may exercise our rights and powers under the indenture, and afterwards, except in the case of a lease, we will be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the indenture and all outstanding debt securities.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Events of default contained in the indenture, which are summarized below, will be applicable to the series of debt securities to which the prospectus supplement relates so long as any of the debt securities of that series are outstanding:
(1) | default in the payment of interest on such debt security when due that continues for a period of 30 days; |
(2) | default in the payment of principal of or premium on such debt security when due and payable; |
(3) | default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment on that series when due; |
(4) | if the terms of the debt securities include a requirement to conduct an offer to repurchase the debt securities in the event of a change of control or change of control triggering event, failure by us to repurchase such debt securities or make such a change of control offer in a timely manner as required under such debt securities; |
(5) | failure to comply in any material respect with any of our other covenants, agreements or warranties contained in the indenture for a period of 60 days after notice to us by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such debt securities; |
(6) | the occurrence of an event of default within the meaning of any mortgage, indenture or debt instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any of our indebtedness for borrowed money, other than such debt securities, whether the indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be incurred, in an amount in excess of $50.0 million and which results in the indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and we have not cured the default in payment or the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within 10 days after written notice to us from the trustee (if the event be known by it) or to us and to the trustee from the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such outstanding debt securities; provided, however, that if, prior to a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such debt securities or the entry of judgment in favor of the trustee in a suit pursuant to the indenture, the default has been remedied or cured by us or waived by the holders of the indebtedness, then the event of default will be deemed likewise to have been remedied, cured or waived; and |
(7) | the occurrence of an event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us and our restricted subsidiaries, as described in the indenture. |
No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities, except as to those events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us as described in the applicable indenture, necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.
In general, the indenture obligates the trustee to give notice of a default with respect to a series of debt securities to the holders of such debt securities. The trustee may withhold notice of any default, except a default in payment on any debt security, if the trustee determines it is in the best interest of the holders of such series of debt securities to do so.
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If there is a continuing event of default beyond any grace period permitted under the indenture, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of a series of debt securities may require us to repay immediately the unpaid principal of and interest on all such debt securities. In the case of an event of default resulting from events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us, the principal, or the specified portion of the principal, of and interest on all such debt securities will become immediately payable without any act on the part of the trustee or any holder of such debt securities. Subject to conditions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of debt securities may rescind any acceleration of repayment and may waive past defaults, except a default in payment of the principal of, and any premium or interest on, any debt security of such series, payments to the trustee and some covenant defaults under the terms of such debt securities.
Under the terms of the indenture, the trustee may refuse to enforce the indenture or the terms of a series of debt securities unless it first receives satisfactory security or indemnity from the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to limitations specified in the indenture, the holders of a majority in principal amount of debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee. No holder of a debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the indenture unless:
(1) | the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to such debt securities; |
(2) | the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such debt securities have made a written request to the trustee and offered indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of such debt securities a direction inconsistent with the request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days; and |
(3) | it being understood and intended that no holder of any such debt securities that avails itself of the conditional right to seek a remedy, may disturb or prejudice the rights of any other holders of such debt securities. |
Despite the enforcement restrictions described above, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt security on or after the due dates expressed in the debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment.
We are required to furnish to the trustee, within 90 days of the end of our fiscal year, a statement by some of our officers as to whether or not, to their knowledge, there has been any default or event of default that occurred prior to the end of the fiscal year that is continuing.
Modification of the Indenture
The indenture permits us and the trustee to amend the indenture and any supplemental indenture with respect to any series of debt securities without the consent of holders:
(1) | to evidence the succession of another corporation and the assumption of our covenants under the indenture and the debt securities; |
(2) | to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities or to the events of default or to surrender any of our rights or powers under the applicable indenture or to make other changes which would not adversely affect in any material respect the holder of any outstanding debt securities; |
(3) | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; and |
(4) | for other purposes as described in the indenture. |
The indenture also permits us and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected by the amendment, with each affected series voting as a
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class, to add any provisions to or change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture or any supplemental indenture or to modify the rights of the holders of debt securities of each series, provided, however, that, without the consent of the holder of each debt security so affected, no amendment may: :
(1) | change the maturity of the principal of or any premium on or any installment of principal or interest on any debt security; |
(2) | reduce the principal amount of any debt security, or the rate of interest or any premium payable upon the redemption, repurchase or repayment of any debt security, or change the manner in which the amount of these items are determined; |
(3) | reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
(4) | change the place of payment where, or the currency or currency unit in which, any debt security or any premium, interest on the debt security is payable; |
(5) | reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities the consent of whose holders is required for amendment of the indenture or for waiver of compliance with some provisions of the indenture or for waiver of some defaults; or |
(6) | reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or alter the provisions, waive any payment, or otherwise change our obligation in a manner adverse to the holder with respect to the redemption of the debt securities other than, if applicable under the terms of the debt securities, provisions relating to an obligation to conduct an offer to repurchase the debt securities in the event of a change of control or change of control triggering event (except to the extent provided in clause (7) below); |
(7) | amend, change or modify our obligation to make and consummate an offer to repurchase the debt securities in the event of a change of control or change of control triggering event in accordance with the relevant terms of the debt securities after such change of control or change of control triggering event has occurred, including amending, changing or modifying any definition relating thereto after the change of control or change of control triggering event has occurred; or |
(8) | modify the provisions relating to waiver of some defaults or any of the provisions relating to amendment of the indenture, except to increase the percentage required for consent or to provide that some other provisions of the indenture may not be modified or waived. |
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as is applicable to that series, our compliance with some restrictive provisions of the indenture.
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either:
(1) | to be discharged from all our obligations in respect of a series of debt securities, except for our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace temporary, destroyed, stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold monies for payment in trust (we will refer to this discharge as defeasance), or |
(2) | to be released from our obligations to comply with some restrictive covenants applicable to a series of debt securities (we will refer to this release as covenant defeasance); |
in either case upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations which will provide money sufficient to pay all principal of and any premium and interest on such series of debt securities when due. We may establish this trust only if, among other things, we have delivered an opinion of counsel to the trustee to the effect that the holders of such series of debt securities (a) will not recognize income, gain or loss for
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federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance or covenant defeasance and (b) will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. The opinion, in the case of defeasance under the first bullet point above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax laws occurring after the date of the indenture.
We may exercise the defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option. If we exercise the defeasance option, payment of such series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of a default. If we exercise the covenant defeasance option, payment of such series of debt securities may not be accelerated by reason of a default with respect to the covenants to which covenant defeasance is applicable. However, if the acceleration were to occur by reason of another default, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and U.S. government obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on such series of debt securities, in that the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.
Concerning the Trustee
U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association under the laws of the United States of America and having a corporate trust office in Atlanta, Georgia, will serve as trustee under the indenture.
The indenture contains limitations on the rights of the trustee, should the trustee become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in some cases, or to realize on specified property received in respect of these claims, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates. However, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described under the Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate the conflict or resign.
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BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES
The securities offered by this prospectus may be issued in the form of one or more global certificates, each of which we refer to as a global security, registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary and held through one or more international and domestic clearing systems, principally, the book-entry systems operated by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, in the United States, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the Euroclear Operator, as operator of the Euroclear System, or Euroclear, and Clearstream Banking S.A., or Clearstream, in Europe. No person who acquires an interest in these global securities will be entitled to receive a certificate representing the persons interest in the global securities except as set forth herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless and until definitive securities are issued, all references to actions by holders of securities issued in global form refers to actions taken by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, upon instructions from their respective participants, and all references herein to payments and notices to the holders refers to payments and notices to DTC or its nominee, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the offered securities. Electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links have been established among these systems and others, either directly or indirectly, which enable global securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing system through these links.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the procedures described below in order to facilitate transfers of global securities among participants of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we, nor any trustee, nor any registrar and transfer agent with respect to securities offered hereby will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities in the form of a global security will be registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC.
DTC
DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participating organizations, or DTC participants, and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between DTC participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, brokers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to others, or indirect DTC participants, for example banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly.
Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations, DTC is required to make book-entry transfers between DTC participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the securities and is required to receive and transmit distributions of principal of and interest on the securities. DTC participants and indirect DTC participants with which investors have accounts with respect to the securities similarly are required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit payments on behalf of their respective investors.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect DTC participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in a security held in DTC to transfer or pledge that interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate of that interest. The laws of
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some states of the United States require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a security held in DTC to those persons may be limited.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of securities (including, without limitation, the presentation of securities for exchange) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account with DTC interests in the relevant securities are credited, and only in respect of the portion of the aggregate principal amount of the securities as to which that participant or those participants has or have given the direction. However, in certain circumstances, DTC will exchange the global securities held by it for certificated securities, which it will distribute to its participants.
Euroclear
Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Transactions may be settled in many currencies, including United States dollars and Japanese yen. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market transfers with DTC described below.
Euroclear is operated by the Euroclear Operator, under contract with Euroclear Clearance System plc, a U.K. corporation, or the Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Operator conducts all operations, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Clearance System establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect participant in DTC.
The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. The Belgian Banking Commission and the National Bank of Belgium regulate and examine the Euroclear Operator.
The Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of Euroclear and applicable Belgian law govern securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Specifically, these terms and conditions govern:
| transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear; |
| withdrawal of securities and cash from Euroclear; and |
| receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. |
All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the terms and conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding securities through Euroclear participants.
Distributions with respect to securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with Euroclears terms and conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator and by Euroclear.
Clearstream
Clearstream is incorporated as a limited liability company under Luxembourg law. Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between
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Clearstream customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream customers, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities, securities lending and borrowing and collateral management. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in a number of countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with the Euroclear Operator to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.
Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. In the United States, Clearstream participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks, and may include the underwriters for the Securities. Other institutions that maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant may obtain indirect access to Clearstream. Clearstream is an indirect participant in DTC.
Distributions with respect to the securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.
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Terms of Sale
We will describe the terms of a particular offering of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement, including the following:
| the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| the purchase price of the securities; |
| the proceeds to us from the sale of the securities; |
| any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters compensation; |
| any initial public offering price of the securities; |
| any concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and |
| any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed. |
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in a sale of securities may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. Furthermore, any discounts or commissions received by them may be considered to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We may agree to indemnify any agents and underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The agents and underwriters may also be entitled to contribution from us for payments they make relating to these liabilities.
Method of Sale
We may sell the securities in any of these ways:
| through underwriters or dealers; |
| directly to one or more purchasers; |
| through agents; or |
| through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell them in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly through underwriters. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase a particular offering of securities may be subject to conditions. The underwriters will also be obligated to purchase all the securities of an issue if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price or any concession allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed.
We may also sell the securities directly or through agents. Any agent will be named and any commissions payable to the agent will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any agent will act on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise.
We may authorize underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase a particular offering of securities at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement using delayed delivery contracts. These contracts provide for payment and delivery on one or more specified dates in the future. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation and the terms and conditions of these contracts.
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Any restrictions on the offer, sale or delivery of bearer securities to United States persons or within the United States in connection with the original issuance of the debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such prospectus supplement will also describe any restrictions on the sale of securities in other jurisdictions if and as appropriate.
Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the debt securities will be passed upon for us by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York, New York, and will be passed upon for any agents, dealers or underwriters by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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$
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
% Senior Notes Due 2022
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
, 2012
Joint Book-Running Managers
Citigroup | J.P. Morgan | Morgan Stanley |