e424b5
The information in
this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may
be changed. A registration statement relating to these
securities has been declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We are not using this preliminary
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to offer to
sell these securities or to solicit offers to buy these
securities in any place where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-164903
Subject
to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated February 16, 2010
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated February 16, 2010)
$
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
% Notes due 20
We are offering $ aggregate
principal amount of % notes
due 20 . We will pay interest on the notes
on
and
of each year,
beginning ,
2010. The notes will mature
on ,
20 .
We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time on or
after ,
20 at the applicable redemption prices described in
this prospectus supplement under Description of the
NotesOptional Redemption. In addition, prior
to ,
20 , we may redeem all or a portion of the notes at a
price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus the
make-whole premium described in this prospectus
supplement. We may also redeem up to 35% of the notes prior
to ,
20 with the net cash proceeds we receive from
certain public equity offerings. If a change of control, as
described in this prospectus supplement under the heading
Description of the NotesRepurchase at the Option of
the Holders Upon Change of Control, occurs, we may be
required to purchase the notes from the holders at a purchase
price of 101% of the principal amount plus any accrued and
unpaid interest.
The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank
equally with our other existing and future senior unsecured
indebtedness. The notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured
basis by our domestic subsidiaries that represent substantially
all of the revenue, income and assets of all of our domestic
subsidiaries, including Bay Valley Foods, LLC, and, following
completion of the acquisition described in this prospectus
supplement, Sturm Foods, Inc. See Prospectus Supplement
Summary Proposed Acquisition of Sturm Foods,
Inc. and Use of Proceeds in this prospectus
supplement for more information regarding this proposed
acquisition. The notes and the guarantees will be effectively
subordinated to our and the guarantors secured obligations
and will be structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities
of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes. The notes
will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations
of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount.
The net proceeds of the notes will be used to fund, in part, the
proposed acquisition of Sturm Foods, Inc. We also intend to
offer shares of our common stock in an underwritten public
offering pursuant to a separate prospectus supplement to finance
a portion of the proposed acquisition of Sturm Foods, Inc. This
offering of notes is contingent on the completion of the
acquisition of Sturm Foods, Inc. However, this offering of notes
is not contingent upon the common stock offering, and the common
stock offering is not contingent upon this offering of notes.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Currently, there is no public market for the notes.
Investing in the notes involves risks that are described
under Risk Factors beginning on
page S-20
of this prospectus supplement.
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Per note
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Total
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Public offering price (1)
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%
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$
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Underwriting discount
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%
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$
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Proceeds, before expenses, to us (1)
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%
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$
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(1)
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Plus accrued interest, if any,
from ,
2010
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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 notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only
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, on or
about ,
2010.
Joint Book-Running Managers
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BofA
Merrill Lynch |
Wells Fargo Securities |
Co-Lead Managers
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BMO
Capital Markets |
Rabo Securities USA,
Inc. |
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey |
Co-Managers
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Barclays
Capital |
KeyBanc Capital Markets |
The date of this prospectus supplement is
February , 2010.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-ii
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S-ii
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S-iii
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S-1
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S-20
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S-27
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S-28
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S-29
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S-36
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S-38
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S-83
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S-86
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S-90
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S-90
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S-90
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Prospectus
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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1
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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1
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RISK FACTORS
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2
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TREEHOUSE FOODS, INC.
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2
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THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
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2
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CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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3
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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3
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
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3
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
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3
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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10
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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25
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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26
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
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26
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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26
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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
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28
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EXPERTS
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28
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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28
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S-i
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which contains the terms of this offering of notes.
The second part, the accompanying prospectus dated
February 16, 2010, which is part of our Registration
Statement on
Form S-3,
gives more general information, some of which may not apply to
this offering.
This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement may add, update or
change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. If
there is any inconsistency between the information in this
prospectus supplement and the information contained in the
accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus
supplement will apply and will supersede the information in the
accompanying prospectus.
It is important for you to read and consider all information
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your
investment decision. You should also read and consider the
information in the documents to which we have referred you in
Where You Can Find More Information in the
accompanying prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus, and in other offering material, if any,
or information contained in documents which you are referred to
by this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We
have not authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the
securities described in this prospectus supplement or an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities
in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful. See Underwriting. The information
contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying prospectus or other offering
material is accurate only as of the date of those documents or
information, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents
or information or the time of any sale of the securities.
The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an
offer, or an invitation on our behalf or the underwriters, to
subscribe to or purchase any of the notes, and may not be used
for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone, in
any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not
authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such
an offer or solicitation. See Underwriting.
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, as
used in this prospectus supplement, references to
TreeHouse, the Company, us,
we or our mean TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and
its consolidated subsidiaries. When we refer to you
in this prospectus supplement, we mean all purchasers of notes
being offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners
of those securities.
MARKET
AND INDUSTRY DATA
Certain market data contained in or incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are
based on independent industry publications and reports by market
research firms. Although we believe these sources are reliable,
we have not independently verified the information and cannot
guarantee its accuracy and completeness. Some data are also
based on our good faith estimates, which are derived from our
review of internal surveys, as well as the independent sources
referred to above.
S-ii
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL
MEASURES
We have included financial measures of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted
EBITDA margin and free cash flow in this prospectus supplement,
which are non-GAAP financial measures as defined
under the rules of the SEC. Adjusted EBITDA represents net
income before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation
and amortization expense, and other non-cash and non-recurring
items. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents adjusted EBITDA as a
percentage of net sales. Adjusted EBITDA is not required by, or
presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States, or GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is a
performance measure that is used by our management, and we
believe is commonly reported and widely used by investors and
other interested parties, to evaluate a companys operating
performance on a consistent basis after removing the impact of
capital structure, asset base, items beyond the control of
management (such as income taxes) and other non-cash and
non-recurring items. Because we cannot predict the timing and
amount of charges associated with non-recurring items or
facility closings and reorganizations, management does not
consider these costs when evaluating performance, when making
decisions regarding the allocation of resources, in determining
incentive compensation for management, or in determining
earnings estimates. These costs are not recorded in any of our
reportable segments.
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you
should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for
analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these
limitations are:
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Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect, among other things:
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our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital
expenditures or contractual commitments;
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changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
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the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements
necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our
debt; and
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any cash income taxes that we may be required to pay;
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Assets are depreciated or amortized over estimated useful lives
and often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA
does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
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Adjusted EBITDA does not adjust for all non-cash income or
expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash
flows; and
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Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect limitations on, or costs
related to, transferring earnings from our subsidiaries to us
and the guarantors.
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Because of these limitations, adjusted EBITDA should not be
considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to
invest in the operation and growth of our business or as a
measure of cash that will be available to us to meet our
obligations. You should compensate for these limitations by
relying primarily on our GAAP results and using adjusted EBITDA
as a supplement.
In evaluating adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the
future we may incur expenses similar to those for which
adjustments are made in calculating adjusted EBITDA. Our
presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a
basis to infer that our future results will be unaffected by
unusual or non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect
the impact of earnings or charges resulting from certain matters
we consider to be indicative of our ability to service our debt
over the period such debt is expected to remain outstanding.
Free cash flow represents cash flows from operating activities
less capital expenditures. Free cash flow is not required by, or
presented in accordance with, GAAP. Our management believes that
free cash flow provides useful additional information concerning
cash flow available to meet future debt service and other
payment obligations, satisfy working capital requirements and
make strategic investments. Readers should be aware that free
cash flow does not represent residual cash flow available for
discretionary expenditures.
S-iii
The non-GAAP measures of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin
and free cash flow used in this prospectus supplement may be
different from similar measures used by other companies,
limiting their usefulness as comparable measures. These non-GAAP
financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to
net income or cash flows from operating activities as indicators
of operating performance or liquidity.
See footnote (1) to the summary historical and pro forma
financial information under Prospectus Supplement
Summary Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial
Information for a description of the calculation of
adjusted EBITDA and an unaudited reconciliation of adjusted
EBITDA to net income.
S-iv
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information about us and
this offering. This summary is not complete and does not contain
all of the information that may be important to you in deciding
whether to invest in the notes. You should read carefully this
entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus,
including the Risk Factors section, and the other
documents that we refer to and incorporate by reference herein
for a more complete understanding of us and this offering. In
particular, we incorporate by reference important business and
financial information into this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus.
Our
Company
We are a leading manufacturer of private label food products in
the United States and Canada. Our products are focused in
center-of-store, shelf stable food categories. We are
the #1 or #2 private label manufacturer in six of our
eight largest product categories, and we believe that we are the
largest manufacturer of non-dairy powdered creamer, private
label salad dressings and pickles in the United States (based on
total sales volume). Our business is organized into three
operating reportable segments, including North American Retail
Grocery, Food Away from Home, and Industrial and Export, which
supply our products primarily into the grocery retail,
foodservice and industrial food channels. We currently supply
more than 250 food retail customers in North America, including
47 of the 50 largest food retailers, and more than 450
foodservice customers, including 74 of the 100 largest
restaurant chains and the 200 largest foodservice distributors.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. was created from Dean Foods spin-off
of certain of its specialty businesses to its shareholders.
Since we began operating as an independent entity in June 2005,
we have significantly expanded our product offerings in
center-of-store,
shelf stable food categories by completing five strategic
acquisitions. During fiscal 2009, we generated net sales of
$1,512 million and adjusted EBITDA of $191 million.
Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol THS and, as of February 12,
2010, we had an equity market capitalization of approximately
$1,323 million.
On December 20, 2009, we entered into a definitive
agreement to acquire Sturm Foods, Inc., or Sturm. Sturms
product offerings include hot cereal, sugar free drink mixes,
sugar based drink mixes, hot cocoa mixes, cappuccino, nonfat dry
milk and organic products. Sturm has the #1 market share in
both private label hot cereal and private label sugar free drink
mixes. Sturms strategy is to be an innovation leader,
having introduced several new offerings that address consumer
preferences for sugar free, organic, nutraceutical enriched and
heart healthy products. We believe the acquisition of Sturm,
which we refer to as the Sturm Acquisition, will enhance our
business by adding leading market share positions in two large
categories for private label sales, increasing our scale and
further diversifying our product offering. Sturm generated
$343 million in net sales, $30 million in net income,
and $92 million in adjusted EBITDA during the twelve months
ended December 31, 2009. For the twelve months ended
December 31, 2009, on a pro forma basis for the Sturm
Acquisition, our net sales would have been $1,853 million
and our adjusted EBITDA would have been $282 million. We
expect the Sturm Acquisition to be accretive to gross margin,
adjusted EBITDA margin and earnings per share on a pro forma
basis in 2010.
S-1
Products
The following charts set forth TreeHouse and Sturm net sales for
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 by product
category ($ in
millions):(1)
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TreeHouse
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Sturm
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(Total net sales of $1,512)
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(Total net sales of $343)
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TreeHouse
Categories
Non-Dairy Powdered Creamer. Non-dairy powdered
creamer is used as coffee creamer or whitener and as an
ingredient in baking, hot and cold beverages, gravy mixes and
similar products. Product offerings in this category include
private label products packaged for grocery retailers, such as
supermarkets and mass merchandisers, foodservice products for
use in coffee service and products for industrial applications
such as portion control repackaging and ingredient use by other
food manufacturers. We believe we are the largest supplier of
non-dairy powdered creamer in the United States. For the twelve
months ended December 31, 2009, non-dairy powdered creamer
represented approximately 21% of our consolidated net sales.
Soup and Infant Feeding. Soup, broth and gravy
are produced and packaged in cans of various sizes, from single
serve to larger sized cans. We primarily produce private label
products sold to supermarkets and mass merchandisers. We also
produce infant feeding products, primarily under the
Natures
Goodness®
brand, and we co-pack organic infant feeding products for a
branded baby food company. Infant feeding production takes place
in the same facility that produces most of our soup, broth and
gravy products. For the twelve months ended December 31,
2009, soup and infant feeding sales represented approximately
23% of our consolidated net sales, with the majority of the
sales coming from soup.
Pickles. We produce pickles and a variety of
related products, including banana peppers, jalapeńo
peppers, pepperoncini peppers, pickled okra and pickled
vegetables, along with some sauces and syrups. We produce
private label and regional branded offerings in the pickles
category. These products are sold to supermarkets, mass
merchandisers, foodservice and industrial customers. We believe
we are the largest producer of pickles in the United States. For
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, pickles and
related products represented approximately 21% of our
consolidated net sales.
Salad Dressings. We produce both pourable and
spoonable salad dressings. Our salad dressings are sold
primarily to supermarkets and mass merchandisers throughout the
United States and Canada, and encompass many different flavor
varieties. We believe we are the largest supplier of private
label salad dressings in both the United States and Canada. For
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, salad dressings
represented approximately 12% of our consolidated net sales.
Jams and Other Sauces. We produce jams, pie
fillings and other sauces that we sell to supermarkets, mass
merchandisers and foodservice customers in the United States and
Canada. For the twelve months ended
(1) Due
to rounding, dollars and percentages may not sum to actual
totals.
S-2
December 31, 2009, jams, pie fillings and other sauces
represented approximately 10% of our consolidated net sales.
Aseptic Products. Aseptic products are
processed under heat and pressure in a sterile production and
packaging environment, creating a product that does not require
refrigeration prior to use. Our principal aseptic products are
cheese sauces and puddings. These products are sold primarily to
foodservice customers in cans and flexible packages. For the
twelve months ended December 31, 2009, aseptic products
represented approximately 6% of our consolidated net sales.
Mexican Sauces. We produce a wide variety of
Mexican sauces, including salsa, picante sauce, cheese dip,
enchilada sauce and taco sauce that we sell to supermarkets,
mass merchandisers and foodservice customers in the United
States and Canada, as well as to industrial markets. For the
twelve months ended December 31, 2009, Mexican sauces
represented approximately 4% of our consolidated net sales.
Refrigerated Products. We produce refrigerated
salad dressings and liquid non-dairy creamer, which are sold to
supermarkets, mass merchandisers and foodservice customers. For
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, refrigerated
products represented approximately 2% of our consolidated net
sales.
Sturm
Categories
Hot Cereal. Sturm produces a variety of
instant and
cook-on-stove
hot cereal, including oatmeal, farina and grits, single-serve
instant packets and microwaveable bowls. In September 2008,
Sturm acquired the McCanns Irish
Oatmeal®
brand to complement its
cook-on-stove
offering. Sturm has introduced several innovations in their hot
cereal category including cereals that are omega-3 enriched, low
sugar, heart healthy, organic, and that promote weight
management. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2009,
Sturms hot cereal products represented approximately 37%
of its consolidated net sales.
Sugar Free Drink Mixes. Sturm produces a
variety of powdered drink mixes, principally sugar free
products, including lemonade, iced tea and functional drink
mixes, such as energy, vitamin enhanced and isotonic sports
drinks. Sturm is a pioneer in the private label powdered drink
mix category, partnering with leading national retailers to
develop their private label programs in this category. For the
twelve months ended December 31, 2009, Sturms sugar
free drink mix products represented approximately 43% of its
consolidated net sales.
Other. Other Sturm products include sugar
based drink mixes, hot cocoa mixes, cappuccino, nonfat dry milk
and organic varieties of the previously mentioned products. For
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, these products
represented approximately 20% of Sturms consolidated net
sales.
Pro Forma
Categories
Following the completion of the Sturm Acquisition, we will hold
a leading market share position in eight
center-of-store,
shelf stable food categories. The combined company will have a
broader portfolio that we believe will further diversify our
product categories, customers, sales channels and raw materials
requirements. We expect that completing the Sturm Acquisition
will enable us to accelerate research and development for
innovative new products and packaging formats. By providing
existing and additional customers with an enhanced portfolio of
products, we expect that the Sturm Acquisition will create cross
selling opportunities across customers, sales channels and
geographies.
S-3
The following chart sets forth our pro forma net sales for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2009 by product category,
after giving effect to completion of the Sturm Acquisition ($ in
millions):(2)
Pro Forma
Company
(Total pro forma net sales of $1,853)
Industry
Overview
The U.S. food total outlet retail market is estimated at
close to $350 billion in annual sales, of which private
label food represents approximately $65 billion. According
to independent market research studies, private label food
products have increased their market share in the United States
from approximately 11.6% in 1988 to approximately 18.3% in 2009.
We believe that product and packaging improvements, along with
greater focus by retailers, have fundamentally changed private
label from inexpensive, generic brand imitators to store-branded
national brand equivalents offering value and product quality
that often meet or exceed that of branded competitors. Despite
gains in market share, private label penetration across all FMCG
sectors in the United States remained below that of many
developed economies, including France (26%), Spain (29%),
Germany (32%), The United Kingdom (44%) and Switzerland (46%)
(market research estimates based on 2008
data).(3)
We expect the convergence of several factors to support the
continued growth of private label food product sales in the
United States, including:
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Greater focus by grocery retailers in developing their private
label food product programs;
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The emergence of private label food products with reputations
for quality and value that meet or exceed national
brands; and
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Fundamental changes in consumer behavior that favor the secular
growth trends in private label food products.
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Given the highly competitive nature of the U.S. food
retailing industry, we believe that most grocery retailers are
seeking to expand their private label food product programs as a
means to differentiate themselves from competitors, build
customer loyalty and enhance margins and profitability. As the
breadth and quality of a particular grocery retailers
private label offering factors more prominently in
consumers store selection criteria, we believe that a well
developed, high quality private label food product offering can
be an effective marketing tool for retailers to further their
brand image, drive customer traffic to their stores and enhance
shopper loyalty. In addition to the inherent marketing benefits,
private label food products generally offer retailers higher
gross margins and profits than branded equivalents.
Consequently, many grocery retailers have
(2) Due
to rounding, dollars and percentages may not sum to actual
totals.
(3) FMCG
represents fast-moving consumer goods, including food, alcoholic
and non-alcoholic beverages, personal care products and
household care products.
S-4
announced targets for expanding their share of private label
food product sales, over the next several years, to drive
greater productivity from their store base.
According to industry data, private label products accounted for
over 31% of all new product introductions in the
U.S. packaged food industry during 2009. This is an
increase of 85% when compared to the number of private label
product launches in 2004. In the same time period, branded
product launches have declined almost 45%. We believe this
increase in private label product launches is a direct response
to consumer desire for high quality food products that offer
compelling value. As private label has grown, many offerings
have developed reputations for value and high product quality
that often meet or exceed those of branded competitors.
According to multiple consumer surveys, the majority of
consumers who have tried private label food products during the
current economic downturn reported that they will not return to
purchasing branded products when the economy improves. We
believe many of these consumers will retain their loyalty to
private label food products based on the product quality and
value proposition associated with these products.
The private label food manufacturing base is highly fragmented.
In retail grocery, we believe the top seven private label
manufacturers represent less than 20% of category sales. As a
result, a typical grocery retailer relies upon hundreds of
private label food suppliers. We believe the highly fragmented
private label manufacturing base will continue to consolidate as
retailers seek out suppliers who can offer value-added
capabilities like innovation and category management along with
the ability to supply multiple private label products on a
national basis.
Competitive
Strengths
We believe the following competitive strengths differentiate us
from our competitors and contribute to our continued success:
Leading Private Label Market Shares in Attractive
Categories. We are a leading private label
manufacturer of a broad range of
center-of-store,
shelf stable food products. Following completion of the Sturm
Acquisition, we will have the leading share of private label
food product sales in six of our eight largest product
categories, namely powdered non-dairy creamer, soups, salad
dressings, pickles, hot cereal and sugar free drink mixes.
Additionally, we are the second largest private label supplier
of jams and jellies and Mexican sauces. Our leading market share
positions are supported by low cost manufacturing, research and
development capabilities, product and packaging innovation and
logistical and category management capabilities, which allow us
to provide an enhanced level of service to our retail customers.
We believe that we participate in attractive product categories.
Private label food product offerings in our product categories
represent 10% or more of total sales in such categories. Sales
of private label food products in our eight largest product
categories have consistently increased their share of category
sales, mirroring the secular trend of increasing private label
market share in U.S. grocery. According to market research
reports, private label market growth rates have exceeded their
respective categories in total for the period from 2003 to 2009.
Scale, Balance and Diversity. As one of the
largest private label food product manufacturers in the United
States and Canada, we believe that our scale enables us to be
more efficient and effective in servicing our customers. As
grocery retailers develop their private label food programs, we
believe they will seek out suppliers that can provide strategic
insight, product innovation, customer service, logistics and
economies of scale throughout North America. We believe our
category leadership, breadth of product offering and
differentiated capabilities put us in position to be their
supplier of choice.
We sell our products to a diverse customer base, including many
of the leading grocery retailers and foodservice operators in
the United States and Canada, and a variety of customers that
purchase bulk products for industrial food applications. We
currently supply more than 250 food retail customers in North
America, including 47 of the 50 largest food retailers, and more
than 450 foodservice customers, including 74 of the 100 largest
restaurant chains and the 200 largest food distributors.
Following the Sturm Acquisition, our top ten customers will
continue to account for approximately 50% of our net sales.
Walmart will remain our
S-5
largest customer and will represent approximately 20% of our net
sales. With the exception of Walmart, no other customer will
represent more than 10% of our net sales.
Well-Defined Portfolio Strategy. Our
management team has been successful in using economic value
added, or EVA, analysis in the private label food products
industry for several years. Applying EVA analyses across our
product portfolio allows us to evaluate our prospects for
profitable growth systematically and direct our resources to the
products and categories that we believe offer the greatest
potential. EVA analysis also identifies products and categories
that lag behind the broader portfolio, focusing
managements attention on the areas within our portfolio
that must be operated more efficiently. We update our EVA
analyses on a quarterly basis and develop and implement
operating strategies based on the results. Many of the operating
enhancements we have achieved can be directly associated with
our EVA efforts, including improving the returns in our pickle
business and accelerating the growth of our salad dressing
business.
Successful Track Record of Acquiring and Integrating
Businesses. Since we began operating as an
independent entity in 2005, we have completed five strategic
acquisitions, including Oxford Foods in February 2006, Del
Montes private label soup and infant feeding business in
April 2006, San Antonio Farms and J.L.
DeGraffenreid & Sons in May 2007 and E.D. Smith in
October 2007. As a result of these efforts, we have expanded
well beyond our original product base of pickles and non-dairy
powdered creamer, adding six additional complementary
center-of-store,
shelf stable food categories. We have a well-defined strategy
for identifying, evaluating and integrating acquisitions that we
believe differentiates us from many of our competitors. We
believe that our proven acquisition capabilities will allow us
to participate successfully in the ongoing consolidation trend
among private label food product manufacturers.
Strong Financial Performance and Significant Cash Flow
Generation. We have grown our net sales from
$708 million in fiscal 2005 to $1,512 million in
fiscal 2009, representing a compounded annual growth rate, or
CAGR, of 20.9%. Net income has increased from $12 million
in fiscal 2005 to $81 million in fiscal 2009. We have also
grown our adjusted EBITDA from $76 million in fiscal 2005
to $191 million in fiscal 2009, representing a CAGR of
25.7%. Over this period, net income as a percentage of net sales
increased 374 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin expanded
by approximately 180 basis points. For the twelve months
ended December 31, 2009, on a pro forma basis for the Sturm
Acquisition, we generated net sales of $1,853 million, net
income of $98 million, and adjusted EBITDA of
$282 million, representing CAGRs of 27.2% and 38.6%,
respectively, from 2005 through 2009. We have also generated
strong, consistent cash flows from our core operations. Since
December 31, 2007, we have reduced net debt (defined as
total debt minus cash on hand) by $214 million. In 2009, we
generated free cash flow (defined as cash flows from operating
activities less capital expenditures) of $68 million. Pro
forma for the Sturm Acquisition, our free cash flow for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2009 would have been
$120 million, based on our cash flows from operating
activities of $105 million, our capital expenditures of
$37 million and Sturms free cash flow of
$52 million.
Strong Management Team. The members of our
senior management team have an average of 20 years of
packaged food industry experience and have worked together on
several successful ventures, including the acquisition,
turnaround and sale of Keebler Foods Company. Our senior
management team has demonstrated its ability to grow our
business, increasing our net sales from $708 million in
2005 to $1,512 million in 2009 and our adjusted EBITDA from
$76 million in 2005 to $191 million in 2009. These
results have been achieved through a combination of organic
growth, EVA-driven portfolio optimization efforts and five
complementary acquisitions (excluding Sturm).
Strategy
We intend to grow our business profitably through the following
strategic initiatives:
Expand Partnerships with Retailers. As grocery
retailers become more demanding of their private label food
product suppliers, they have come to expect strategic insight,
product innovation, customer service and logistical economies of
scale similar to those of our branded competitors. To this end,
we are continually developing, investing in and expanding our
private label food product offerings and capabilities in these
areas.
S-6
In addition to our low cost manufacturing, we have invested in
research and development, product and packaging innovation,
category management, information technology systems and other
capabilities. We believe that these investments enable us to
provide a broad and growing array of private label food products
that generally meet or exceed the value and quality of branded
competitors that have comparable sales, marketing, innovation
and category management support. We believe that we are well
positioned to expand our market share with grocery retailers
given our differentiated capabilities, breadth of product
offering and geographic reach.
Continue to Drive Growth and Profitability from our Existing
Product Portfolio. We believe we can continue to
drive strong organic growth from our existing product portfolio.
Through insights gained from our EVA analyses, we develop
operating strategies that enable us to focus our resources and
investments on products and categories that we believe offer the
highest potential. Additionally, EVA analyses identify products
and categories that lag the broader portfolio and require
corrective action. We believe EVA analysis is a helpful tool
which maximizes the full potential of our product offerings.
Leverage Cross-Selling Opportunities Across Customers, Sales
Channels and Geographies. While we have high
private label food product market shares in the United States
for our non-dairy powdered creamer, soup, salad dressing and
pickles, as well as high branded and private label food product
market share in jams in Canada, we believe we still have
significant potential for growth with grocery retailers and
foodservice distributors that we either currently serve in a
limited manner, or do not currently serve. We believe that our
size and scale give us an advantage over smaller private label
food product producers, many of whom provide only a single
category or service to a single customer or geography. Our
ability to service customers across North America and across a
wider spectrum of products and capabilities provides many
opportunities for cross-selling to customers who seek to reduce
the number of private label food product suppliers they utilize.
Growth Through Acquisitions. We believe we
have the expertise and demonstrated ability to identify and
integrate value-enhancing acquisitions. We selectively pursue
acquisitions of complementary businesses that we believe are a
compelling fit with our existing operations. Each potential
acquisition is vigorously evaluated for merit utilizing a
rigorous analysis that assesses targets for their market
attractiveness, intrinsic value and strategic fit. We believe
our past acquisitions of Oxford Foods, the Del Monte Soup and
Infant Feeding business, San Antonio Farms, DeGraffenreid,
and E.D. Smith were each a success and consistent with our
strategy. Since we began operating as an independent company in
2005, our acquisitions have significantly added to our revenue
base, enhanced margins and allowed us to expand from an initial
base of two
center-of-store,
shelf stable food categories to eight, including Sturm. We
attempt to maintain conservative financial policies when
pursuing acquisitions, and our proven integration strategies
have resulted in rapid deleveraging. By identifying targets that
fit within our defined strategies, we believe we can continue to
expand our product selection and continue our efforts to be the
low-cost, high quality and innovative supplier of private label
food products for our customers.
Proposed
Acquisition of Sturm Foods, Inc.
On December 20, 2009, we entered into a definitive Stock
Purchase Agreement to acquire Sturm, a privately-owned company
majority owned by an affiliate of HM Capital Partners, pursuant
to which TreeHouse will acquire all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of Sturm for aggregate consideration
of $660 million in cash, payable at closing, and subject to
adjustments for working capital and other items. Consummation of
the Sturm Acquisition is subject to customary closing
conditions. We intend to finance the Sturm Acquisition through a
combination of this offering of notes and approximately
$100 million from an underwritten public offering of our
common stock, with the balance funded from borrowings under our
credit facility.
The consummation of this offering of notes is conditioned upon
the closing of the Sturm Acquisition. Upon the consummation of
the Sturm Acquisition, Sturm will become a domestic subsidiary
of TreeHouse and will become a subsidiary guarantor of the
notes. See Description of the Notes Subsidiary
Guarantees in this prospectus supplement for more
information.
S-7
Sturm
Acquisition Rationale
We expect to realize several benefits from the Sturm
Acquisition, including the following:
Entry into Attractive Categories. Sturm is the
leading producer of private label hot cereal and powdered drink
mixes, principally sugar free drink mixes. The total hot cereal
and powdered drink mix categories generate over $1 billion
each in annual retail sales and are margin enhancing categories
for TreeHouse, each with a single major branded competitor.
Private label holds a significant share of the hot cereal and
sugar free drink mix category sales, and these are important
categories for many of our customers.
Enhanced Scale and Further Diversification of Our Product
Offering. Sturm adds two new categories for
growth and diversification. Both categories are consistent with
our
center-of-store,
shelf stable food strategy. Sturm also enhances our scale with
our customers. Sturms manufacturing footprint with
geographical proximity to our existing operations will support
manufacturing and distribution efficiency efforts.
Accretive to Margins and Cash Flow. We expect
the Sturm Acquisition to be accretive to gross margin, adjusted
EBITDA margin and earnings per share on a pro forma basis in
2010. We also expect the Sturm Acquisition to be accretive to
free cash flow (defined as cash flows from operating activities
less capital expenditures), as Sturm generated $52 million
of free cash flow for the twelve months ended December 31,
2009.
Equity
Offering
In connection with the Sturm Acquisition, pursuant to a separate
prospectus supplement, we intend to offer shares of our common
stock in an underwritten public offering, which we refer to as
the equity offering. We estimate that the total proceeds of the
equity offering, before deducting the underwriting discount and
estimated expenses, will be approximately $100 million. The
equity offering is expected to close simultaneously with the
completion of this offering. However, there can be no assurance
that the equity offering will be completed or what the terms
will be. The consummation of this offering of notes is not
conditioned upon the consummation of the equity offering, and
the consummation of the equity offering is not conditioned upon
the consummation of this offering of notes.
Sources
and Uses
The estimated sources and uses of the funds for the Sturm
Acquisition, assuming the acquisition had closed
December 31, 2009, are shown in the table below. Actual
amounts will vary from estimated amounts depending on several
factors, including (i) the amount of proceeds that we
received from this offering of notes, (ii) the amount of
net proceeds, if any, that we receive from the equity offering
and (iii) changes in Sturms debt balances and net
working capital from December 31, 2009 to the closing. In
addition, there can be no assurance that the Sturm Acquisition
will be consummated under the terms contemplated or at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources
|
|
|
|
|
Uses
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Credit Facility
|
|
$
|
182,000
|
|
|
Sturm Equity Consideration(1)
|
|
$
|
194,670
|
|
Senior Notes Offered Hereby
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
Refinancing of Existing Sturm Net Debt(2)
|
|
|
465,330
|
|
Equity Offering
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
Fees and Expenses(3)
|
|
|
22,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Sources
|
|
$
|
682,000
|
|
|
Total Uses
|
|
$
|
682,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects the total consideration to be paid to holders of all
the issued and outstanding shares of Sturms common stock. |
|
(2) |
|
Consists of $527,792 thousand of outstanding borrowings plus
$3,428 thousand of accrued and unpaid interest, reduced by
$65,890 thousand of existing Sturm cash. |
|
(3) |
|
Reflects our estimate of fees and expenses associated with the
Sturm Acquisition and related financing transactions, including
financing fees, advisory fees and other transaction costs. See
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial
Information. |
S-8
Corporate
Information
We are a Delaware corporation incorporated on January 25,
2005. Our principal executive offices are located at Two
Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 1070, Westchester, IL
60154. Our telephone number is
708-483-1300.
Our website address is www.treehousefoods.com. The information
on or accessible through our website is not part of this
prospectus supplement and should not be relied upon in
connection with making any investment decision with respect to
the securities offered by this prospectus supplement.
S-9
The
Offering
The summary below describes the principal terms of the notes.
Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject
to important limitations and exceptions. For a more detailed
description of the terms and conditions of the notes, see the
section entitled Description of the Notes. As used
in this section, references to the Company mean
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries.
|
|
|
Issuer |
|
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. |
|
Notes Offered |
|
$ million aggregate principal
amount of % senior unsecured
notes due 20 , which we refer to in this prospectus
supplement as the notes. |
|
Maturity |
|
The notes will mature
on ,
20 . |
|
Interest |
|
% per year. |
|
Interest Payment Dates |
|
Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears
on
and
each year,
commencing ,
2010. |
|
Anticipated Ratings |
|
Moodys Investors Service, Inc.: |
|
|
|
Standard & Poors Ratings Services: |
|
|
|
The credit ratings are made by the rating agencies and not the
issuer. An explanation of the significance of ratings may be
obtained from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies
base their ratings on such material and information, and such of
their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem
appropriate. The rating of the notes should be evaluated
independently from similar ratings of other securities. A credit
rating of a security is not a recommendation by the rating
agency or the issuer to buy, sell or hold securities and may be
subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal
at any time by the assigning rating agency. |
|
Guarantees |
|
The payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the
notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior
unsecured basis by Bay Valley Foods, LLC and, following the
completion of the Sturm Acquisition, by Sturm. The subsidiary
guarantors will represent substantially all the revenue, income
and assets of our domestic subsidiaries. |
|
Ranking |
|
The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company
and will rank senior in right of payment to any of the
Companys future debt that is expressly subordinated in
right of payment to the notes. The notes will rank equal in
right of payment with all of the Companys existing and
future unsecured senior debt, including our credit facility and
our outstanding 6.03% Senior Notes due 2013, which we refer
to as the existing senior notes, and will be effectively
subordinated to the Companys secured debt to the extent of
the assets securing such debt. |
|
|
|
The guarantees will be general unsecured obligations of the
guarantors and will rank senior in right of payment to any of
their future debt that is expressly subordinated in right of
payment to the guarantees. The guarantees will rank equal in
right of payment with all existing and future unsecured debt of
such guarantors that are not so subordinated and will be
effectively subordinated to the |
S-10
|
|
|
|
|
guarantors secured debt to the extent of the assets
securing such debt. The guarantees will also be structurally
subordinated to all of the liabilities of any of our
subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes. |
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2009, after giving effect to this
offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, the equity offering
and the use of proceeds therefrom (assuming the equity offering
is completed with total proceeds, before deducting the
underwriting discount and estimated expenses, of
$100 million) and the consummation of the Sturm
Acquisition, the Company and the guarantors would have had total
unsecured debt of approximately
$ million, consisting of
$ of debt under the notes
offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement,
$100.0 million of debt under the existing senior notes,
$ million of debt under our
credit facility, and approximately
$ million of additional unsecured
debt would have been available to be borrowed under our credit
facility. In the event the equity offering is not completed, as
of December 31, 2009, after giving effect to this offering
and the use of proceeds therefrom and the consummation of the
Sturm Acquisition, the Company and the guarantors would have had
total unsecured debt of approximately
$ million, consisting of
$ million of debt under the
notes offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement,
$100.0 million of debt under the existing senior notes,
$ million of debt under our
credit facility, and approximately
$ million of additional
unsecured debt would have been available to be borrowed under
our credit facility. As of December 31, 2009, the notes and
the guarantees would have been structurally subordinated to
approximately $ million of
indebtedness of the non-guarantor subsidiaries. |
|
Optional Redemption |
|
At any time on or
after ,
20 , we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at
the redemption prices listed in Description of the
Notes Optional Redemption, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date. At any time
prior
to ,
2013, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount
of the notes with the net cash proceeds from certain public
equity offerings at the redemption price described in
Description of the Notes Optional
Redemption, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to
the applicable redemption date. In addition, at any time prior
to ,
20 , we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part,
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice,
at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus a make-whole premium, plus accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. |
|
Repurchase at the Option of the Holders Upon Change of
Control Repurchase Event |
|
If we experience a Change of Control (as defined in
this prospectus supplement), each holder of notes may require
us, subject to certain conditions, to offer to purchase all or a
part of the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their
principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. See
Description of the Notes Offer to Repurchase
upon Change of Control. |
S-11
|
|
|
Certain Covenants |
|
The indenture governing the notes, as supplemented and amended
by a supplemental indenture, which we collectively refer to as
the indenture, will, among other things, restrict our ability
and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries, with exceptions,
to among other things: |
|
|
|
incur additional indebtedness and issue
certain preferred shares;
|
|
|
|
make certain distributions, investments
and other restricted payments;
|
|
|
|
sell certain assets;
|
|
|
|
agree to restrictions on the ability of
restricted subsidiaries to make payments to us;
|
|
|
|
create liens and enter into
sale-leaseback transactions;
|
|
|
|
merge, consolidate or sell substantially
all of our assets; and
|
|
|
|
enter into certain transactions with
affiliates.
|
|
|
|
These covenants are subject to important exceptions and
qualifications described under the heading Description of
the Notes Certain Covenants. |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be
approximately $ after
deducting underwriting discounts and our estimated expenses
related to the offering. We will use the net proceeds to fund a
portion of the cash consideration payable in connection with the
Sturm Acquisition. The consummation of this offering is
conditioned on the simultaneous closing of the Sturm Acquisition
and there can be no assurance that the Sturm Acquisition will be
consummated. We expect that the total cash consideration payable
in connection with the Sturm Acquisition will be approximately
$660 million. In addition to the net proceeds from this
offering, we expect to use net proceeds from the equity offering
and borrowings under our credit facility to finance the Sturm
Acquisition. The equity offering is expected to close
simultaneously with the completion of this offering. However,
there can be no assurance that the equity offering will be
completed or what the terms will be. The consummation of this
offering is not conditioned upon the consummation of the equity
offering, and the consummation of the equity offering is not
conditioned upon the consummation of this offering. |
|
No Public Market |
|
The notes are a series of securities for which there is
currently no established trading market. The underwriters have
advised us that they presently intend to make a market in the
notes. However, you should be aware that they are not obligated
to make a market and may discontinue their market-making
activities at any time without notice. As a result, a liquid
market for the notes may not be available if you try to sell
your notes. We do not intend to apply for a listing of the notes
on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation
system. |
S-12
|
|
|
Form |
|
The notes will be represented by registered global securities
registered in the name of the nominee of the depositary, The
Depository Trust Company. Beneficial interests in the notes
will be shown on, and transfers will be effected through,
records maintained by The Depository Trust Company and its
participants. Clearstream Banking, société anonyme
and Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear
System, will hold interests on behalf of their participants
through their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will
hold such interests in accounts as participants of DTC. Except
in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus
supplement, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not
be entitled to have notes registered in their names, will not
receive or be entitled to receive notes in definitive form and
will not be considered holders of notes under the indenture. The
notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount. |
|
Risk Factors |
|
Investing in the notes involves risks. See Risk
Factors beginning on
page S-20
of this prospectus supplement important information regarding us
and an investment in the notes. |
|
Trustee |
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. |
|
Governing Law |
|
New York. |
S-13
Summary
Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information
The following tables set forth certain historical financial
information for TreeHouse and Sturm, as well as certain pro
forma financial information prepared to illustrate the effect of
the Sturm Acquisition.
TreeHouse
Historical Financial Information
The following summary historical financial information as of and
for each of the five years in the period ended December 31,
2009 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements and related notes. See Where You Can Find More
Information in the accompanying prospectus for details
regarding documents incorporated by reference herein. The
summary historical financial information provided below does not
purport to indicate results of operations as of any future date
or for any future period. For periods prior to June 27,
2005, all of the historical assets, liabilities, sales,
expenses, income, cash flows, products, businesses and
activities of our business that we describe in this report as
ours are in fact the historical assets, liabilities,
sales, expenses, income, cash flows, products, businesses and
activities of the businesses transferred to TreeHouse by Dean
Foods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
Operating data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
1,511,653
|
|
|
$
|
1,500,650
|
|
|
$
|
1,157,902
|
|
|
$
|
939,396
|
|
|
$
|
707,731
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
1,185,283
|
|
|
|
1,208,626
|
|
|
|
917,611
|
|
|
|
738,818
|
|
|
|
560,094
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
326,370
|
|
|
|
292,024
|
|
|
|
240,291
|
|
|
|
200,578
|
|
|
|
147,637
|
|
Operating costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and distribution
|
|
|
107,938
|
|
|
|
115,731
|
|
|
|
94,636
|
|
|
|
74,884
|
|
|
|
60,976
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
80,466
|
|
|
|
61,741
|
|
|
|
53,931
|
|
|
|
57,914
|
|
|
|
31,977
|
|
Management fee paid to Dean Foods
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,940
|
|
Amortization of intangibles
|
|
|
13,381
|
|
|
|
13,528
|
|
|
|
7,195
|
|
|
|
3,268
|
|
|
|
1,732
|
|
Other operating (income) expense, net
|
|
|
(6,224
|
)
|
|
|
13,899
|
|
|
|
(415
|
)
|
|
|
(19,842
|
)
|
|
|
21,423
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating costs and expenses
|
|
|
195,561
|
|
|
|
204,899
|
|
|
|
155,347
|
|
|
|
116,224
|
|
|
|
119,048
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
130,809
|
|
|
|
87,125
|
|
|
|
84,944
|
|
|
|
84,354
|
|
|
|
28,589
|
|
Other (income) expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
18,430
|
|
|
|
27,614
|
|
|
|
22,036
|
|
|
|
12,985
|
|
|
|
1,223
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
(107
|
)
|
|
|
(112
|
)
|
|
|
(665
|
)
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
Loss (gain) on foreign currency exchange
|
|
|
(7,387
|
)
|
|
|
13,040
|
|
|
|
(3,469
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other (income) expense, net
|
|
|
(2,263
|
)
|
|
|
7,123
|
|
|
|
(36
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(66
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense
|
|
|
8,735
|
|
|
|
47,670
|
|
|
|
18,419
|
|
|
|
12,320
|
|
|
|
1,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes
|
|
|
122,074
|
|
|
|
39,455
|
|
|
|
66,525
|
|
|
|
72,034
|
|
|
|
27,439
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
40,760
|
|
|
|
10,895
|
|
|
|
24,873
|
|
|
|
27,333
|
|
|
|
15,174
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
|
81,314
|
|
|
|
28,560
|
|
|
|
41,652
|
|
|
|
44,701
|
|
|
|
12,265
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(336
|
)
|
|
|
(30
|
)
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
|
(689
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
81,314
|
|
|
$
|
28,224
|
|
|
$
|
41,622
|
|
|
$
|
44,856
|
|
|
$
|
11,576
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
2.54
|
|
|
$
|
.91
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.43
|
|
|
$
|
.40
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.01
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.01
|
|
|
|
(.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
2.54
|
|
|
$
|
.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.44
|
|
|
$
|
.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
2.48
|
|
|
$
|
.91
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.42
|
|
|
$
|
.39
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.01
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.01
|
|
|
|
(.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
2.48
|
|
|
$
|
.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.43
|
|
|
$
|
.37
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
31,982
|
|
|
|
31,341
|
|
|
|
31,203
|
|
|
|
31,158
|
|
|
|
30,905
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
32,798
|
|
|
|
31,469
|
|
|
|
31,351
|
|
|
|
31,396
|
|
|
|
31,108
|
|
Other data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Cash provided by (used in):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
|
$
|
104,844
|
|
|
$
|
175,636
|
|
|
$
|
96,402
|
|
|
$
|
59,626
|
|
|
$
|
51,808
|
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
(34,118
|
)
|
|
|
(41,839
|
)
|
|
|
(467,819
|
)
|
|
|
(296,778
|
)
|
|
|
(14,230
|
)
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
(69,725
|
)
|
|
|
(139,726
|
)
|
|
|
380,699
|
|
|
|
229,157
|
|
|
|
(29,742
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
47,343
|
|
|
|
45,854
|
|
|
|
34,986
|
|
|
|
24,651
|
|
|
|
16,941
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
(36,987
|
)
|
|
|
(55,471
|
)
|
|
|
(19,184
|
)
|
|
|
(11,374
|
)
|
|
|
(14,244
|
)
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
|
190,787
|
|
|
|
157,672
|
|
|
|
137,641
|
|
|
|
109,315
|
|
|
|
76,498
|
|
Balance sheet data (at end of period):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
|
$
|
2,687
|
|
|
$
|
9,230
|
|
|
$
|
6
|
|
|
$
|
8,001
|
|
Working capital
|
|
|
217,418
|
|
|
|
165,997
|
|
|
|
240,955
|
|
|
|
195,862
|
|
|
|
97,109
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
1,384,428
|
|
|
|
1,355,682
|
|
|
|
1,455,958
|
|
|
|
935,623
|
|
|
|
609,697
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
401,640
|
|
|
|
475,233
|
|
|
|
620,452
|
|
|
|
239,115
|
|
|
|
6,144
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
31,453
|
|
|
|
44,563
|
|
|
|
33,913
|
|
|
|
26,520
|
|
|
|
18,906
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
756,229
|
|
|
|
620,131
|
|
|
|
629,309
|
|
|
|
576,249
|
|
|
|
513,355
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest expense,
income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense and
other non-cash and non-recurring items. There are limitations
associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as
compared to the use of the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure. Management uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate
performance, when making decisions regarding allocation of
resources, in determining incentive compensation for management
and for determining earnings estimates. Management believes
adjusted EBITDA provides investors with helpful supplemental
information regarding our underlying performance from period to
period. These measures may be inconsistent with measures
presented by other companies. See Non-GAAP Financial
Measures for the discussion of our use of adjusted EBITDA. |
S-15
The following table sets forth an unaudited reconciliation of
net income to adjusted EBITDA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
81,314
|
|
|
$
|
28,224
|
|
|
$
|
41,622
|
|
|
$
|
44,856
|
|
|
$
|
11,576
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
18,430
|
|
|
|
27,614
|
|
|
|
22,036
|
|
|
|
12,985
|
|
|
|
1,223
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
(107
|
)
|
|
|
(112
|
)
|
|
|
(665
|
)
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
40,760
|
|
|
|
10,895
|
|
|
|
24,873
|
|
|
|
27,333
|
|
|
|
15,174
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
336
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
(155
|
)
|
|
|
689
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
47,343
|
|
|
|
45,854
|
|
|
|
34,986
|
|
|
|
24,651
|
|
|
|
16,941
|
|
Stock option expense
|
|
|
13,303
|
|
|
|
12,193
|
|
|
|
13,580
|
|
|
|
18,794
|
|
|
|
9,618
|
|
Gain on foreign currency hedge transaction
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,270
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition integration and accounting adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
508
|
|
|
|
4,170
|
|
|
|
1,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
One time factory costs associated with inventory reduction
program
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revalue license agreement and other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
634
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on intercompany note translation
|
|
|
(4,929
|
)
|
|
|
9,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swap mark to market
|
|
|
(2,104
|
)
|
|
|
6,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plant shut-down costs and asset sales of closed facilities
|
|
|
885
|
|
|
|
12,905
|
|
|
|
(274
|
)
|
|
|
1,370
|
|
|
|
9,897
|
|
Gain on curtailment of post retirement benefits plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(29,409
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Write-down of trade names
|
|
|
7,600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,200
|
|
|
|
4,669
|
|
Spin-related costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,711
|
|
Other operating income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(66
|
)
|
Fructose settlement, Cairo facility gain, tank yard sale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,927
|
)
|
Gain on insurance replacement of fixed assets
|
|
|
(13,609
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One-time acquisition costs
|
|
|
1,839
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
$
|
190,787
|
|
|
$
|
157,672
|
|
|
$
|
137,641
|
|
|
$
|
109,315
|
|
|
$
|
76,498
|
|
S-16
Sturm
Historical Financial Information
The following tables set forth unaudited reconciliations of
(i) Sturms net income to adjusted EBITDA and
(ii) cash flows from operating activities to free cash flow
for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. The summary
historical financial information provided below has been derived
from Sturms unaudited consolidated financial statements
for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. Sturms
audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year
ended March 31, 2009, and unaudited financial statements as
of and for the nine months ended December 31, 2009, are
incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus by reference to our Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010. See
Incorporation by Reference in this prospectus
supplement and Where You Can Find More Information
in the accompanying prospectus for details regarding documents
incorporated by reference herein. The summary historical
financial information provided below does not purport to
indicate results of operations as of any future date or for any
future period.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twelve Months Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
30,352
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
20,383
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
25,555
|
|
Amortization of deferred financing costs
|
|
|
1,220
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
9,179
|
|
Stock based compensation
|
|
|
1,963
|
|
Transaction costs
|
|
|
1,073
|
|
Management fee
|
|
|
1,869
|
|
Other
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
$
|
91,640
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
|
|
57,451
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
(5,759
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free cash flow(2)
|
|
$
|
51,692
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest expense,
income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense and
other non-cash and non-recurring items. There are limitations
associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as
compared to the use of the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure. Management uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate
performance. Management believes adjusted EBITDA provides
investors with helpful supplemental information regarding
underlying performance from period to period. This adjusted
EBITDA measure may be inconsistent with measures presented by
other companies. See Non-GAAP Financial
Measures for the discussion of our use of adjusted EBITDA. |
|
(2) |
|
Free cash flow represents cash flows from operating activities
less capital expenditures. Management believes that free cash
flow provides useful additional information concerning cash flow
available to meet future debt service and other payment
obligations, satisfy working capital requirements and make
strategic investments. Readers should be aware that free cash
flow does not represent residual cash flow available for
discretionary expenditures. This free cash flow measure may be
inconsistent with measures presented by other companies. See
Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the discussion of
our use of free cash flow. |
S-17
Summary
Pro Forma Financial Information
The following table sets forth our summary unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial information. The summary unaudited
pro forma condensed combined financial information has been
prepared to illustrate the effect of the Sturm Acquisition,
including related financing. The unaudited pro forma condensed
combined balance sheet combines the historical balance sheets of
TreeHouse and Sturm, giving effect to the Sturm Acquisition as
if it had occurred on December 31, 2009. The unaudited pro
forma condensed combined income statements combine the
historical income statements of TreeHouse and Sturm, giving
effect to the Sturm Acquisition as if it had occurred on
January 1, 2009. The historical financial information has
been adjusted to give effect to matters that are
(i) directly attributable to the Sturm Acquisition,
(ii) factually supportable, and (iii) with respect to
the statements of income, expected to have a continuing impact
on the operating results of the combined company. The
information below should be read in conjunction with the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and
the accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Financial Statements and:
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the audited historical financial statements of TreeHouse, as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2009, included in
TreeHouses Annual Report on
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010;
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the audited historical financial statements of Sturm as of and
for the year ended March 31, 2009, included in
TreeHouses Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010; and
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the unaudited historical financial statements of Sturm as of and
for the nine months ended December 31, 2009, included in
TreeHouses Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010.
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See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial
Information for a complete description of the adjustments
and assumptions underlying this summary unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial information.
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Pro Forma
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Twelve Months Ended
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December 31, 2009
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(Unaudited)
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(In thousands)
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Other Financial Data:
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Depreciation and amortization
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$
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70,990
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Capital expenditures(1)
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(42,746
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)
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Adjusted EBITDA(2)
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282,427
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Interest expense(3)
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53,521
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Ratio of total debt to Adjusted EBITDA
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3.5
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x
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Ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to interest expense
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5.3
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x
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Balance Sheet Data (at period end):
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$
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4,415
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Working capital(4)
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242,066
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Total assets
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2,220,910
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Total debt(5)
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985,177
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(1) |
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Reflects capital expenditures for the twelve months ended
December 31, 2009 of $37.0 million for TreeHouse and
$5.8 million for Sturm. |
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(2) |
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Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest expense,
income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense and
other non-cash and non-recurring items. There are limitations
associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as
compared to the use of the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure. Management uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate
performance. Management believes adjusted |
S-18
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EBITDA provides investors with helpful supplemental information
regarding underlying performance from period to period. These
measures may be inconsistent with measures presented by other
companies. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for
the discussion of our use of adjusted EBITDA. |
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The following table sets forth an unaudited reconciliation of
pro forma net income to pro forma adjusted EBITDA:
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Pro Forma
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Twelve Months Ended
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December 31,
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2009
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(Unaudited)
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(In thousands)
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Net income
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$
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97,654
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Income taxes
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52,371
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Interest expense, net
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53,476
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Depreciation and amortization
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70,990
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Stock based compensation
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15,266
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Acquisition costs(a)
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2,912
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Management fee(b)
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1,869
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Other
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46
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Tradename impairment
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7,600
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Gain on insurance replacement of fixed assets
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(13,609
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)
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(Gain) loss on intercompany note translation and other
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(4,929
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)
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Mark to market adjustment on interest rate swap
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(2,104
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)
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Net plant shut-down costs
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885
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Adjusted EBITDA
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$
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282,427
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(a) Reflects costs associated with the acquisition of Sturm
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(b) Fee paid by Sturm to former stockholder for advisory and
consulting services
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(3) |
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Pro forma interest expense includes amortization of deferred
financing costs on new debt of $1.1 million. |
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(4) |
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Working capital is current assets (excluding cash and cash
equivalents) less current liabilities (excluding short-term
borrowings, current portion long-term obligations). |
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(5) |
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Total debt includes short-term borrowings and current
maturities, and capital lease obligations. |
S-19
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in the notes involves risks. You should carefully
consider the risk factors described below and in Part I,
Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other reports
filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. Some of these risk factors relate principally to our
business. Other factors relate principally to the Sturm
Acquisition and your investment in the notes. Before making any
investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks.
These risks could materially affect our business, results of
operation or financial condition and affect the value of our
securities. In such case, you may lose all or part of your
original investment. The risks described below or incorporated
by reference herein are not the only risks facing us. Additional
risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we
currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, results
of operation or financial condition.
Risks
Related to the Sturm Acquisition
We may
not realize the expected benefits of the Sturm Acquisition
because of integration difficulties and other
challenges.
The success of the Sturm Acquisition will depend, in part, on
our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from integrating
Sturms business with our existing businesses. The
integration process may be complex, costly and time-consuming.
The difficulties of integrating the operations of Sturms
business include, among others:
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failure to implement our business plan for the combined business;
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unanticipated issues in integrating manufacturing, logistics,
information, communications and other systems;
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unanticipated changes in applicable laws and regulations;
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failure to retain key employees;
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failure to retain key customers;
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operating risks inherent in Sturms business and our
business;
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the impact on our internal controls and compliance with the
regulatory requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002; and
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unanticipated issues, expenses and liabilities.
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We may not be able to maintain the levels of revenue, earnings
or operating efficiency that each of TreeHouse and Sturm had
achieved or might achieve separately. In addition, we may not
accomplish the integration of Sturms business smoothly,
successfully or within the anticipated costs or timeframe.
Sturm
is a privately-held company and its new obligations of being a
part of a public company as a result of the acquisition may
require significant resources and management
attention.
Upon consummation of the Sturm Acquisition, Sturm will become a
subsidiary of our consolidated company, and will need to comply
with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and
regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC and the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board. We will need to ensure that
Sturm establishes and maintains effective disclosure controls as
well as internal controls and procedures for financial
reporting, and such compliance efforts may be costly and may
divert the attention of management.
We
will incur significant transaction and acquisition-related costs
in connection with the Sturm Acquisition.
We will incur significant costs in connection with the Sturm
Acquisition. The substantial majority of these costs will be
non-recurring transaction expenses and costs. These
non-recurring costs and expenses are
S-20
not reflected in the pro forma financial information included in
this prospectus. We may incur additional costs to maintain
employee morale and to retain key employees.
Increases
in interest rates will increase the cost of servicing our debt
and could reduce our profitability.
As of December 31, 2009, the aggregate principal amount of
our debt instruments with exposure to interest rate risk was
approximately $98 million. As a result, increases in
interest rates will increase the cost of servicing our financial
instruments with exposure to interest rate risk and could
materially reduce our profitability and cash flows. As of
December 31, 2009 on a pro forma basis giving effect to the
Sturm Acquisition and this note offering, each one percentage
point change in interest rates would result in an approximate
$6.7 million change in the annual cash interest expense
before any principal payment on our financial instruments with
exposure to interest rate risk. See Unaudited Pro Forma
Condensed Combined Financial Statements for details
regarding our pro forma debt balances.
We
have a significant amount, and will have an additional amount
following the Sturm Acquisition, of goodwill and intangible
assets on our consolidated financial statements that is subject
to impairment based upon future adverse changes in our business
or prospects.
At December 31, 2009, the carrying values of goodwill and
identifiable intangible assets on our balance sheet were
$575 million and $153 million, respectively. At
December 31, 2009, as a result of the Sturm Acquisition, we
would have goodwill of $973 million and identifiable
intangible assets of $420. We evaluate indefinite lived
intangible assets and goodwill for impairment annually in the
fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.
Indefinite lived intangible assets are impaired and goodwill
impairment is indicated when their book value exceeds fair
value. We have recorded trademark impairment charges in recent
years, including in 2009. The value of goodwill and intangible
assets from the allocation of purchase price from the Sturm
Acquisition will be derived from our business operating plans
and is susceptible to an adverse change in demand, input costs
or general changes in our business or industry and could require
an impairment charge in the future.
The
historical and unaudited pro forma financial information
included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement may not be
representative of our combined results after the Sturm
Acquisition, and accordingly, you have limited financial
information on which to evaluate the combined company and your
investment decision.
We and Sturm operated as separate companies prior to the Sturm
Acquisition. We have had no prior history as a combined company.
The historical financial statements of Sturm may be different
from those that would have resulted had Sturm been operated as
part of TreeHouse or from those that may result in the future
from Sturm being operated as a part of TreeHouse. The pro forma
financial information, which was prepared in accordance with
Article 11 of the SECs
Regulation S-X,
is presented for informational purposes only and is not
necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of
operations that actually would have occurred had the Sturm
Acquisition been completed at or as of the dates indicated, nor
is it indicative of the future operating results or financial
position of the combined company. The unaudited pro forma
financial information reflects adjustments, which are based upon
preliminary estimates, to allocate the purchase price to
Sturms net assets. The purchase price allocation reflected
in this prospectus supplement is preliminary, and final
allocation of the purchase price will be based upon the actual
purchase price and the fair value of the assets and liabilities
of Sturm as of the date of the completion of the Sturm
Acquisition. The pro forma financial information does not
reflect future nonrecurring charges resulting from the Sturm
Acquisition. The pro forma financial information does not
reflect future events that may occur after the Sturm
Acquisition, including the costs related to the planned
integration of Sturm, and does not consider potential impacts of
current market conditions on revenues or expense efficiencies.
The pro forma financial information presented in this prospectus
supplement is based in part on certain assumptions regarding the
Sturm Acquisition that we believe are reasonable under the
circumstances. We cannot assure you that our assumptions will
prove to be accurate over time.
S-21
We
will incur substantial indebtedness in order to finance the
Sturm Acquisition, which could adversely affect our business and
limit our ability to plan for or respond to changes in our
business.
In order to finance the Sturm Acquisition, we expect to incur
additional borrowings of approximately $582 million through
this offering and under our credit facility. As of
December 31, 2009, on a pro forma basis after giving effect
to the Sturm Acquisition and related financing transactions, our
long-term debt would have been approximately $985 million.
Our substantial debt obligations could have important
consequences to our business. For example:
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we may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our
substantial debt service obligations;
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we may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash
flows from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby
reducing the availability of our cash flow for other purposes,
including business development efforts, capital expenditures or
strategic acquisitions;
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we are exposed to the risk of increased interest rates because a
portion of our borrowings is at variable rates of
interest; and
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our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our
business and industry may be limited, thereby placing us at a
competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have
less indebtedness.
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Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our debt
obligations and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on
our ability to generate cash from our future operations. This,
to a certain extent, is subject to financial, competitive,
legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our
control. In addition, if we cannot service our indebtedness, we
may have to take actions such as selling assets, seeking
additional equity or reducing or delaying capital expenditures,
strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, any of which
could impede the implementation of our business strategy for us
or prevent us from entering into transactions that would
otherwise benefit our business. We may not be able to refinance
our indebtedness or take such other actions, if necessary, on
commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
Risks
Related to the Notes
We may
incur incremental borrowings under our credit facility or a new
facility in order to consummate the Sturm
Acquisition.
In order to finance the Sturm Acquisition, intend to offer
shares of our common stock in an underwritten public offering.
We estimate that the total proceeds of the equity offering,
before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated
expenses, will be approximately $100 million. In the event
that we are unable to complete the equity offering, we may incur
approximately $100 million of incremental borrowings under
our credit facility or a new facility in order to finance the
Sturm Acquisition. If we undertake such borrowings under our
credit facility, the available borrowing capacity under our
credit facility will be significantly reduced and our liquidity
position will be adversely affected. Under these circumstances,
the other risks associated with our substantial indebtedness
will also become stronger. In addition, because our credit
facility requires us to have a minimum level of available
liquidity prior to undertaking acquisitions, our ability to
pursue future strategic acquisition opportunities may be
impaired.
The
indenture governing the notes will contain, and our credit
facility and the note purchase agreement governing our existing
senior notes currently contain, various covenants limiting the
discretion of our management in operating our
business.
The indenture governing the notes, our credit facility and the
note purchase agreement governing our existing senior notes
limit, among other things, our ability to:
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incur additional indebtedness or guarantee obligations;
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repay indebtedness (including the notes) prior to stated
maturities;
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pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments;
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S-22
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make investments or acquisitions;
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create liens or other encumbrances; and
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transfer or sell certain assets or merge or consolidate with
another entity.
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These limitations may prevent us from taking actions that we
believe would be in the best interest of our business and may
make it difficult for us to execute our business strategy
successfully or effectively compete with companies that are not
similarly restricted. These limitations are subject to important
exceptions as described under the caption Description of
the Notes and in the relevant agreements.
Our credit facility requires us to maintain a leverage ratio, as
defined in the credit facility, of 3.5 to 1.0. If we complete a
Permitted Acquisition, as defined in our credit
facility, our maximum leverage ratio is increased to 4.0 to 1.0
for the four fiscal quarters following completion of such
acquisition, provided we also have at least $25 million of
liquidity. The Sturm Acquisition qualifies as a Permitted
Acquisition under our credit facility. In addition, the note
purchase agreement governing our existing senior notes requires
us to maintain a leverage ratio, as defined in the note purchase
agreement, of 3.5 to 1.0, subject to our ability to exceed such
ratio, up to 4.0 to 1.0, for a maximum of six consecutive fiscal
quarters. On a pro forma basis giving effect to this offering,
the equity offering and the Sturm Acquisition, we would have had
a leverage ratio, as calculated in accordance with the credit
facility, of approximately 3.5 to 1.0 as of December 31,
2009. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial
Statements for details regarding our pro forma debt
balances.
If we fail to comply with the various restrictions in the
indenture, our credit facility, the note purchase agreement or
any other subsequent financing agreements, a default may allow
the creditors under the relevant agreements, in certain
circumstances, to accelerate the related debt and to exercise
their remedies thereunder, which will typically include the
right to declare the principal amount of such debt, together
with accrued and unpaid interest and other related amounts
immediately due and payable, to exercise any remedies such
creditors may have to foreclose on any of our assets that are
subject to liens securing such debt and to terminate any
commitments they had made to supply us with further funds.
Moreover, any of our other debt that has a cross-default or
cross-acceleration provision that would be triggered by such
default or acceleration would also be subject to acceleration
upon the occurrence of such default or acceleration.
Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by
events beyond our control, and an adverse development affecting
our business could require us to seek waivers or amendments of
covenants, alternative or additional sources of financing or
reductions in expenditures. We cannot assure you that such
waivers, amendments or alternative or additional financings
could be obtained, or if obtained, would be on terms acceptable
to us. In addition, the holders of the notes will have no
control over any waivers or amendments with respect to any debt
outstanding other than the debt outstanding under the indenture.
Despite
our current levels of debt, we may still be able to incur
substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks
associated with our substantial debt.
We may be able to incur substantial additional debt in the
future. Although our credit facility contains, the note purchase
agreement governing our existing senior notes contains and the
indenture governing the notes will contain restrictions on the
incurrence of additional debt, these restrictions are subject to
a number of qualifications and exceptions and, under certain
circumstances, debt incurred in compliance with these
restrictions could be substantial. In addition, the agreements
governing any additional indebtedness that we incur might
subject us to additional restrictive covenants that could
further affect our financial and operational flexibility. If new
debt is added to our current debt levels, the substantial risks
described above would become stronger.
Federal
and state laws permit courts to void guarantees under certain
circumstances
The notes will be guaranteed by domestic subsidiaries of ours.
The guarantees may be subject to review under U.S. federal
bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent
conveyance laws if a bankruptcy or reorganization case or
lawsuit is commenced by or on behalf of our or one of a
guarantors unpaid creditors. Under these laws, a court
could void the obligations under the guarantee, subordinate the
S-23
guarantee of the notes to that guarantors other debt or
take other action detrimental to holders of the notes and the
guarantees of the notes, if, among other things, the guarantor,
at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its
guarantee:
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issued the guarantee to delay, hinder or defraud present or
future creditors;
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received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair
consideration for issuing the guarantee at the time it issued
the guarantee;
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was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of issuing the
guarantee;
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was engaged, or about to engage, in a business or transaction
for which its remaining unencumbered assets constituted
unreasonable small capital to carry on its business; or
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intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond
its ability to pay as they mature.
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The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent
transfer laws will vary depending upon the law applied in any
proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has
occurred. Generally, however, a guarantor would be considered
insolvent if:
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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was
greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets;
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the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the
amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on
its existing indebtedness, including contingent liabilities, as
they become absolute and mature; or
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it could not pay its indebtedness as it becomes due.
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We cannot be sure as to the standard that a court would use to
determine whether or not a guarantor was solvent at the relevant
time, or, regardless of the standard that the court uses, that
the issuance of the guarantees would not be voided or the
guarantees would not be subordinated to the guarantors
other debt. If such a case were to occur, the guarantee could
also be subject to the claim that, since the guarantee was
incurred for our benefit and only indirectly for the benefit of
the guarantor, the obligations of the applicable guarantor were
incurred for less than fair consideration.
Receipt
of payment on the notes, as well as the enforcement of remedies
under the subsidiary guarantees, may be limited in bankruptcy or
in equity.
An investment in the notes, as in any type of security, involves
insolvency and bankruptcy considerations that investors should
carefully consider. If we or any of our subsidiary guarantors
become a debtor subject to insolvency proceedings under the
bankruptcy code, it is likely to result in delays in the payment
of the notes and in the exercise of enforcement remedies under
the notes or the subsidiary guarantees. Provisions under the
bankruptcy code or general principles of equity that could
result in the impairment of your rights include the automatic
stay, avoidance or preferential transfers by a trustee or a
debtor-in-possession,
substantive consolidation, limitations of collectability of
unmatured interest or attorneys fees and forced
restructuring of the notes.
If a bankruptcy court substantively consolidates us and our
subsidiaries, the assets of each entity would be subject to the
claims of creditors of all entities. This would expose you not
only to the usual impairments arising from bankruptcy, but also
to potential dilution of the amount ultimately recoverable
because of the larger creditor base. Furthermore, forced
restructuring of the notes could occur through the
cram-down provision of the bankruptcy code. Under
this provision, the notes could be restructured over your
obligations as to their general terms, primarily interest rate
and maturity.
S-24
The
notes and the guarantees will not be secured by any of our
assets and therefore will be effectively subordinated to our
future secured indebtedness.
The notes and any guarantees thereof will be general unsecured
obligations ranking effectively junior in right of payment to
all future secured debt of TreeHouse or the guarantor to the
extent of the collateral securing such debt. The indenture
governing the notes will permit the incurrence of additional
debt, some of which may be secured debt. For example, the
indenture governing the notes will permit us to refinance our
$600 million credit facility, which terminates in August
2011, on a fully secured basis and, in certain circumstances, to
refinance other unsecured debt, including the existing senior
notes, on a fully secured basis. See Description of the
Notes. In the event that TreeHouse or the guarantor is
declared bankrupt, becomes insolvent or is liquidated or
reorganized, creditors whose debt is secured by assets of
TreeHouse or the guarantor will be entitled to the remedies
available to secured holders under applicable laws, including
the foreclosure of the collateral securing such debt, before any
payment may be made with respect to the notes or the affected
guarantees. As a result, there may be insufficient assets to pay
amounts due on the notes and holders of the notes may receive
less, ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness.
The
notes are structurally subordinated to the existing and future
liabilities of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes
to the extent of the assets of such non-guarantor
subsidiaries.
The notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the
notes. Therefore, TreeHouses rights and the rights of its
creditors to participate in the assets of any non-guarantor
subsidiary in the event that such a subsidiary is liquidated or
reorganized are subject to the prior claims of such
subsidiarys creditors. As a result, all indebtedness and
other liabilities, including trade payables, of the
non-guarantor 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 TreeHouse in order for TreeHouse to meet its obligations with
respect to the notes. To the extent that TreeHouse may be a
creditor with recognized claims against any subsidiary, its
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 it. TreeHouses subsidiaries may
incur additional indebtedness and other liabilities under the
terms of the indenture governing the notes.
Our
credit ratings may not reflect all risks of your investment in
the notes.
Our credit ratings are an assessment by rating agencies of our
ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or
anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect
the market value of the notes. These credit ratings may not
reflect the potential impact of risks relating to structure or
marketing of the notes. In addition, if any of our outstanding
debt that is rated is downgraded, raising capital will become
more difficult for us and borrowing costs under our credit
facility and other future borrowings may increase. Agency
ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any
security and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the
issuing organization. Each agencys rating should be
evaluated independently of any other agencys rating.
We may
issue additional notes.
Under the terms of the indenture that governs the notes, we may
from time to time without notice to, or the consent of, the
holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes of a new
series which will be equal in rank to the notes in all material
respects so that the new notes may be consolidated and form a
single series with such notes and have the same terms as to
status, redemption or otherwise as such notes.
If
active trading markets do not develop for the notes, you may be
unable to sell your notes or to sell your notes at prices that
you deem sufficient.
The notes are new issues of securities for which there currently
is no established trading market. We do not intend to list the
notes on a national securities exchange. While the underwriters
of the notes have advised us that they intend to make a market
in the notes, the underwriters will not be obligated to do so
and may stop their market making at any time. Any such
market-making will be subject to the limitations imposed by the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
S-25
In addition, we cannot assure you that you will be able to sell
your notes at a particular time or that the prices that you
receive when you sell will be favorable. We also cannot assure
you as to the level of liquidity of the trading market for the
notes. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many
factors, including:
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our operating performance, prospects and financial condition or
the operating performance, prospects and financial condition of
companies in our industry generally;
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the interests of securities dealers in making a market for the
notes; and
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the market for similar securities.
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It is possible that the market for the notes will be subject to
disruptions. Any disruptions may have a negative effect on the
holders of the notes, regardless of our prospects and financial
performance.
We may
not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of
control.
Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control
events, each holder of notes may require us, subject to certain
conditions, to repurchase all or a part of the notes at a price
equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. The terms of our
then-existing indebtedness or other agreements may require
repayment of amounts outstanding in the event of a change of
control and limit our ability to fund the repurchase of the
notes in certain circumstances. If we experience a Change of
Control Repurchase Event, there can be no assurance that we
would have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy
our obligations to repurchase the notes. Our failure to
repurchase the notes as required under the Indenture governing
the notes would result in a default under the Indenture, which
could have material adverse consequences for us and the holders
of the notes. See Description of the
Notes Repurchase at the Option of the
Holders Offer to Repurchase upon Change of
Control.
We may
not be required, or we may not be able, to repurchase the notes
upon an asset sale.
Under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, we may be
required to repurchase all or a portion of the notes following
an asset sale at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal
amount of the notes. However, we are only required to repurchase
the notes from excess proceeds that we do not use to repay other
senior debt or to acquire related businesses or assets. We can
also defer the offer to you until there are excess proceeds in
an amount greater than $25.0 million. In addition, certain
of our other senior debt may also require us to repurchase their
debt in connection with an asset sale. If this is the case, then
the amount of funds available to purchase both the notes and the
other senior debt may be insufficient to repurchase all notes
and other senior debt.
The
change of control put right may not be
enforceable.
In a recent decision, the Chancery Court of Delaware raised the
possibility that a change of control put right occurring as a
result of a failure to have continuing directors
comprising a majority of a board of directors might be
unenforceable on public policy grounds. Therefore, you may not
be entitled to receive this protection under the indenture.
We may
pursue acquisitions, dispositions, investments, dividends, share
repurchases and/or other corporate transactions that we believe
will maximize equity returns of our shareholders but may involve
risks to holders of the notes.
From time to time, we consider opportunities for acquisitions of
businesses (such as the Sturm Acquisition), product lines or
other assets and other strategic transactions. These
transactions may involve risks, such as risks of integration of
acquired businesses. See Risks Related to the
Sturm Acquisition We may not realize the
expected benefits of the Sturm Acquisition because of
integration difficulties and other challenges. In
addition, if our business performs according to our financial
plan, the indenture governing the notes will allow us
substantial flexibility to pay dividends on, or make significant
repurchases of, our common stock. See Description of
Notes Certain
Covenants Restricted Payments. These
transactions will be subject to the discretion of our board of
directors. There can be no assurance that we will effect any of
these transactions, but, if we do, risks to the holders of the
notes may be increased, possibly materially.
S-26
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be
approximately $ after deducting
underwriting discounts and our estimated expenses related to the
offering. The net proceeds will be used to fund a portion of the
cash consideration payable in connection with the Sturm
Acquisition and related fees and expenses. The consummation of
this offering is conditioned on the simultaneous closing of the
Sturm Acquisition, and there can be no assurance that the Sturm
Acquisition will be consummated.
We expect that the total cash consideration payable in
connection with the Sturm Acquisition will be approximately
$660 million. In addition to the net proceeds from this
offering, we expect to use proceeds from the equity offering and
borrowings under our credit facility to finance the Sturm
Acquisition. As of December 31, 2009, we had cash and cash
equivalents of $4.4 million and $293 million of
available borrowings under our credit facility. If the equity
offering is not completed, we may use our credit facility and
cash on hand to partially fund the portion of the cash
consideration represented by the anticipated proceeds from the
equity offering.
S-27
CAPITALIZATION
The below table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash
equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
on an actual basis,
|
|
|
|
on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to (i) our
estimated net proceeds from this offering of notes,
(ii) our borrowing of an estimated $282 million under
our existing credit facility or a new credit facility (in the
event that the equity offering is not completed), (iii) the
repayment of an estimated $531 million of Sturms
existing indebtedness and (iv) consummation of the Sturm
Acquisition as if it had occurred on December 31,
2009 and
|
|
|
|
on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to (i) our
estimated net proceeds from this offering of notes,
(ii) our estimated net proceeds from the equity offering,
(iii) our borrowing of an estimated $182 million under
our credit facility, (iv) the repayment of an estimated
$531 million of Sturms existing indebtedness and
(v) consummation of the Sturm Acquisition as if it had
occurred on December 31, 2009.
|
The actual sources and uses of the funds for the Sturm
Acquisition will vary from estimated amounts depending on
several factors, including (i) the amount of proceeds that
we receive from this offering of notes, (ii) the amount of
proceeds, if any, that we receive from the equity offering and
(iii) changes in Sturms debt balances and net working
capital from December 31, 2009 to the closing. You should
read this table in conjunction with Use of Proceeds,
Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial
Information and our consolidated financial statements and
related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as Adjusted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
For Sturm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as Adjusted
|
|
|
Acquisition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Sturm
|
|
|
and Equity
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
Acquisition
|
|
|
Offering
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
402,546
|
|
|
|
1,080,427
|
|
|
|
985,177
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.01 par value
|
|
|
320
|
|
|
|
320
|
|
|
|
347
|
|
Additional paid in capital
|
|
|
587,598
|
|
|
|
587,598
|
|
|
|
682,821
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
195,262
|
|
|
|
187,012
|
|
|
|
187,012
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(26,951
|
)
|
|
|
(26,951
|
)
|
|
|
(26,951
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity
|
|
|
756,229
|
|
|
|
747,979
|
|
|
|
843,229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
1,158,775
|
|
|
$
|
1,828,406
|
|
|
$
|
1,828,406
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-28
UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
On December 20, 2009, we entered into a definitive Stock
Purchase Agreement to acquire Sturm Foods, Inc., a
privately-owned company majority owned by an affiliate of HM
Capital Partners, pursuant to which TreeHouse will acquire all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Sturm for
aggregate consideration of $660 million in cash, subject to
adjustments for working capital and other items, payable upon
the closing of the Sturm Acquisition. Consummation of the Sturm
Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. The
consummation of this offering of notes is conditioned upon the
closing of the Sturm Acquisition.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Sturm
Acquisition, including related financing. The unaudited pro
forma condensed combined balance sheet combines the historical
balance sheets of TreeHouse and Sturm, giving effect to the
Sturm Acquisition as if it had occurred on December 31,
2009. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income
statements combine the historical income statements of TreeHouse
and Sturm, giving effect to the Sturm Acquisition as if it had
occurred on January 1, 2009. The historical financial
information has been adjusted to give effect to matters that are
(i) directly attributable to the Sturm Acquisition,
(ii) factually supportable, and (iii) with respect to
the statements of income, expected to have a continuing impact
on the operating results of the combined company. The unaudited
pro forma condensed combined financial information should be
read in conjunction with the accompanying Notes to the Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements and:
|
|
|
|
|
the audited historical financial statements of TreeHouse, as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2009, included in
TreeHouses Annual Report on
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010;
|
|
|
|
the audited historical financial statements of Sturm as of and
for the year ended March 31, 2009, included in
TreeHouses Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010; and
|
|
|
|
the unaudited historical financial statements of Sturm as of and
for the nine months ended December 31, 2009, included in
TreeHouses Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010.
|
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
has been prepared using the purchase method of accounting, with
TreeHouse treated as the acquiror. The unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial information will differ from our
final acquisition accounting for a number of reasons, including
the fact that our estimates of fair value are preliminary and
subject to change when our formal valuation and other studies
are finalized. The differences that will occur between the
preliminary estimates and the final acquisition accounting could
have a material impact on the accompanying unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
is presented for informational purposes only. It has been
prepared in accordance with the regulations of the SEC and is
not necessarily indicative of what our financial position or
results of operations actually would have been had we completed
the Sturm Acquisition at the dates indicated, nor does it
purport to project the future financial position or operating
results of the combined company. The unaudited pro forma
condensed combined income statement does not reflect any revenue
or cost savings from synergies that may be achieved with respect
to the combined companies, or the impact of non-recurring items,
including restructuring liabilities, directly related to the
Sturm Acquisition.
S-29
TreeHouse
Foods, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
as of December 31, 2009
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Reported
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition and
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
TreeHouse
|
|
|
Sturm
|
|
|
Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
TreeHouse
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
TreeHouse
|
|
|
|
Foods,Inc.
|
|
|
Foods
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foods,Inc.
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foods, Inc.
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
|
$
|
65,890
|
|
|
$
|
(65,890
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,415
|
|
Receivables, net of allowances
|
|
|
86,557
|
|
|
|
31,431
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
117,988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
117,988
|
|
Inventories, net
|
|
|
264,933
|
|
|
|
43,836
|
|
|
|
3,200
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
311,969
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
311,969
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
3,397
|
|
|
|
686
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,083
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,083
|
|
Assets held for sale
|
|
|
4,081
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,081
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,081
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
7,269
|
|
|
|
870
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,139
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,139
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
370,652
|
|
|
|
142,713
|
|
|
|
(62,690
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,675
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
276,033
|
|
|
|
70,796
|
|
|
|
11,644
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
358,473
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
358,473
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
575,007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
398,019
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
973,026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
973,026
|
|
Identifiable intangible and other assets, net
|
|
|
162,736
|
|
|
|
17,634
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
438,736
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
438,736
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
267,000
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(17,634
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
1,384,428
|
|
|
$
|
231,143
|
|
|
$
|
605,339
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,220,910
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,220,910
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
148,819
|
|
|
$
|
58,803
|
|
|
$
|
(3,428
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
$
|
204,194
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
204,194
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
906
|
|
|
|
4,079
|
|
|
|
(3,900
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
1,085
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,085
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
149,725
|
|
|
|
62,882
|
|
|
|
(7,328
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
205,279
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
205,279
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
401,640
|
|
|
|
523,713
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
1,079,342
|
|
|
|
(95,250
|
)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
984,092
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
260,000
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,250
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(523,261
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
45,381
|
|
|
|
6,474
|
|
|
|
104,205
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
156,060
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
156,060
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
31,453
|
|
|
|
797
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
628,199
|
|
|
|
593,866
|
|
|
|
250,866
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,472,931
|
|
|
|
(95,250
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,377,681
|
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock
|
|
|
320
|
|
|
|
2,309
|
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
320
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
347
|
|
Additional paid in capital
|
|
|
587,598
|
|
|
|
22,711
|
|
|
|
(22,711
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
587,598
|
|
|
|
99,973
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
682,821
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,750
|
)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained earnings (deficit)
|
|
|
195,262
|
|
|
|
(388,007
|
)
|
|
|
388,007
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
187,012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
187,012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,250
|
)
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(26,951
|
)
|
|
|
264
|
|
|
|
(264
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
(26,951
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(26,951
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
756,229
|
|
|
|
(362,723
|
)
|
|
|
354,473
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
747,979
|
|
|
|
95,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
843,229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
1,384,428
|
|
|
$
|
231,143
|
|
|
$
|
605,339
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,220,910
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,220,910
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements
S-30
TreeHouse
Foods, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement
for the Year Ended December 31, 2009
(In thousands except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Reported
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
TreeHouse
|
|
|
Sturm Foods
|
|
|
Acquisition and
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TreeHouse
|
|
|
|
Foods, Inc.
|
|
|
Twelve Months
|
|
|
Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
TreeHouse
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foods, Inc.
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foods, Inc.
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Net Sales
|
|
$
|
1,511,653
|
|
|
$
|
343,411
|
|
|
$
|
(1,608
|
)
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
1,853,456
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,853,456
|
|
Cost of Sales
|
|
|
1,185,283
|
|
|
|
236,532
|
|
|
|
(1,608
|
)
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
1,421,176
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,421,176
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,148
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,179
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
326,370
|
|
|
|
106,879
|
|
|
|
(969
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
432,280
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
432,280
|
|
Operating Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and distribution
|
|
|
107,938
|
|
|
|
12,190
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120,128
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120,128
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
80,466
|
|
|
|
16,005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,471
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,471
|
|
Amortization expense
|
|
|
13,381
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,500
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
26,881
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,881
|
|
Other operating (income) expense, net
|
|
|
(6,224
|
)
|
|
|
1,073
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,151
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,151
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
195,561
|
|
|
|
29,268
|
|
|
|
13,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
238,329
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
238,329
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
130,809
|
|
|
|
77,611
|
|
|
|
(14,469
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193,951
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193,951
|
|
Other (income) expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
18,430
|
|
|
|
25,555
|
|
|
|
(25,555
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
54,755
|
|
|
|
(1,234
|
)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
53,521
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,325
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange
|
|
|
(7,387
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,387
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,387
|
)
|
Other (income) expense, net
|
|
|
(2,263
|
)
|
|
|
1,321
|
|
|
|
(1,220
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
(2,162
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,162
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense
|
|
|
8,735
|
|
|
|
26,876
|
|
|
|
9,550
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,161
|
|
|
|
(1,234
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,927
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes
|
|
|
122,074
|
|
|
|
50,735
|
|
|
|
(24,019
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
148,790
|
|
|
|
1,234
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
150,024
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
40,760
|
|
|
|
20,383
|
|
|
|
(9,247
|
)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
51,896
|
|
|
|
475
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
52,371
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
81,314
|
|
|
$
|
30,352
|
|
|
$
|
(14,771
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
96,895
|
|
|
$
|
759
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
97,654
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
31,982
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,982
|
|
|
|
2,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,685
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
32,798
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,798
|
|
|
|
2,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,501
|
|
Basic earnings per share
|
|
$
|
2.54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3.03
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2.82
|
|
Diluted earnings per share
|
|
$
|
2.48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2.75
|
|
See notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements
S-31
TreeHouse
Foods, Inc.
Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial
Statements
(In thousands)
|
|
Note 1
|
Basis of
Presentation
|
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet was
prepared using the historical balance sheets of TreeHouse as of
December 31, 2009 and Sturm as of December 31, 2009.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of income
was prepared using the historical statements of income of
TreeHouse for the 12 months ended December 31, 2009
and of Sturm for the 12 months ended December 31, 2009.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information was
prepared using the purchase method of accounting. Based on the
terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, TreeHouse is treated as
the acquirer of Sturm. Accordingly, we have adjusted the
historical consolidated financial information to give effect to
the impact of the consideration issued in connection with the
Sturm Acquisition. The purchase price has been allocated in the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet, based on
managements preliminary estimate of their respective
values. Definitive allocations will be performed and finalized
based upon certain valuation and other studies that will be
performed by TreeHouse with the services of outside valuation
specialists after the closing. Accordingly, the purchase price
allocation adjustments and related amortization reflected in the
following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements are preliminary, have been made solely for the
purpose of preparing these statements and are subject to
revision based on a final determination of fair value after the
closing of the Sturm Acquisition. For example, if the value of
the finite-lived intangible assets increased by 10%, annual pro
forma operating income would decrease by approximately $13,842.
|
|
Note 2
|
Preliminary
Purchase Price Allocation
|
The purchase price for the Sturm Acquisition is
$660 million, payable at closing. The purchase price of
$660 million has been allocated to the assets acquired and
the liabilities assumed as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
$
|
31,431
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
47,036
|
|
Other Current Assets
|
|
|
1,556
|
|
Property, Plant and Equipment
|
|
|
82,440
|
|
Identifiable Intangible Assets
|
|
|
267,000
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
398,020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets Acquired
|
|
|
827,483
|
|
Accounts Payable
|
|
|
(38,971
|
)
|
Other Current Liabilities
|
|
|
(16,583
|
)
|
Other Long-term Liabilities
|
|
|
(1,250
|
)
|
Deferred Income Taxes
|
|
|
(110,679
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities Assumed
|
|
|
(167,483
|
)
|
|
|
|
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Total Purchase Price
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$
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660,000
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For the purpose of preparing the unaudited pro forma condensed
combined financial information, certain of the assets acquired
and liabilities assumed have been measured at their estimated
fair values as of December 31, 2009. A final determination
of fair values will be based on the actual assets and
liabilities that will exist on the date of the closing of the
Sturm Acquisition and on our formal valuation and other studies
when they are finalized. Accordingly, the fair values of the
assets and liabilities included in the table above are
preliminary and subject to change pending additional information
that may become known. An increase in the fair value of
inventory, property, plant and equipment, or any identifiable
intangible assets will reduce the
S-32
amount of goodwill in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial information, and may result in increased depreciation,
and or amortization expense.
Of the $267,000 of acquired intangible assets, $250,000 was
assigned to Customer Relationships with an estimated economic
life of 20 years, $12,000 to Trademarks with an indefinite
life, and $5,000 to
formulas/recipes
with an estimated economic life of 5 years. The
determination of fair value for these assets was primarily based
upon expected discounted cash flows. The determination of useful
life was based upon historical acquisition experience, economic
factors, and future cash flows of the combined company. The
estimated annual amortization expense for these acquired
intangible assets is approximately $13,500, using straight line
amortization, and has been included in the unaudited pro forma
condensed combined statement of income for the 12 months
ended December 31, 2009.
Inventories reflect an adjustment of $3,200 to record the
inventory at its estimated fair value. This amount is recorded
in the December 31, 2009 unaudited pro forma condensed
combined balance sheet. The increased inventory will temporarily
impact our cost of sales after closing and therefore it is
considered non-recurring and is not included in the unaudited
pro forma condensed combined statement of income for the
12 months ended December 31, 2009.
Property, plant and equipment reflect an adjustment of $11,644
to record the property, plant and equipment at estimated fair
market value. Total depreciation expense on the revalued
property, plant, and equipment is estimated to be approximately
$10,148.
A preliminary deferred tax adjustment of $104,205 has been
recognized in accordance with accounting for income taxes. The
amount primarily relates to $98,175 recognized as part of the
identifiable intangible assets, plus $6,030 relating to the tax
effect on difference between the values assigned and the
estimated tax basis of assets and liabilities acquired.
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Note 3
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Pro Forma
Adjustments
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The pro forma adjustments give effect to the Sturm Acquisition
under the purchase method of accounting, borrowings under the
TreeHouse credit facility, borrowings through the issuance of
senor unsecured notes, the repayment of Sturms exiting
indebtedness, the proposed offering of $100,000 in shares of
TreeHouse common stock, and the payment of fees and expenses
relating to these transactions.
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Note 4
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Elimination
of Historical Balances
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These adjustments reflect the elimination of the Sturms
identifiable intangible assets, debt (excluding capital leases),
equity and accrued interest as of December 31, 2009 for the
purpose of presenting a pro forma balance sheet assuming the
Sturm Acquisition had occurred on December 31, 2009. Also
eliminated are Sturms historical interest expense,
depreciation expense and amortization of debt issue costs.
According to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement,
Sturms cash balances will remain with the sellers.
Accordingly, we have eliminated Sturms cash balances as of
December 31, 2009.
These adjustments display the expected debt financing required
to fund the Sturm Acquisition and related transaction costs.
These adjustments are contingent upon the closing of the Sturm
Acquisition and therefore may not occur in the event the Sturm
Acquisition is not consummated. For purposes of these unaudited
pro forma condensed combined financial statements, we anticipate
that we will complete a debt financing at the time the Sturm
Acquisition closes. The debt financing is as follows:
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senior unsecured notes payable estimated to be due 2018 totaling
approximately $400,000 with an estimated interest rate of
approximately 7.50%.
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a borrowing under our credit facility of approximately $182,000
at an estimated interest rate of approximately 1.23%.
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S-33
We expect to incur approximately $9,000 of financing fees
associated with the notes, which will be deferred and amortized
over eight years, consistent with the estimated maturity of the
debt. These fees will be funded through the use of our credit
facility.
We expect to undertake a borrowing under our credit facility to
fund the remaining balance of the purchase price (taking into
account the proposed equity offering), which is expected to be
approximately $160,000. We also expect to use our credit
facility to fund our acquisition costs, which we expect to be
approximately $22,000, of which includes $9,000 for debt
issuance, $8,250 in other transaction fees that will be
expensed, and $4,750 of stock issuance costs in connection with
the equity offering. Total expected additional borrowings under
our credit facility related to the Sturm Acquisition are
expected to be $182,000.
In the event TreeHouse is unable to complete the equity offering
to fund the acquisition as described in Note 6, we have
included additional borrowings of $100,000 in the long-term debt
line. These additional borrowings are offset through the
issuance of equity as described in Note 6.
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Note 6
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Equity
Financing
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We intend to issue approximately $100,000 in common stock in a
public offering (net of underwriting fees of approximately
$4,750) to fund a portion of the purchase price. Shares to be
issued of 2,703 were calculated using an estimated price of $37
per share. If the price of TreeHouses common stock
increases or decreases by $1 per share, the number of shares
required to be issued would decrease by 71 shares or
increase by 75 shares, respectively. The net proceeds have
been presented as a reduction to the long-term debt line. The
interest on the additional borrowings, and related tax, has also
been eliminated.
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Note 7
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Statement
of Income Adjustments
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This adjustment eliminates the sales from TreeHouse to Sturm
together with Sturms cost of sales for purchases.
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Note 8
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Statement
of Income Adjustments to Reflect Financing
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The adjustment reflects interest expense relating to
approximately $400,000 of debt issued to fund the Sturm
Acquisition as further described in Note 3. This expense
includes approximately $1,125 over the next 12 months of
amortization expense relating to deferred financing fees
expected to be incurred at the time of closing. Also included in
this amount is additional interest incurred in connection with
the expected borrowing of $282,000 under our credit facility
(assuming there is no equity offering). Total expected interest
is $36,325 (includes $1,125 of amortization for deferred
financing fees), of which $30,000 relates to the $400,000
issuance of notes.
The actual rates of interest can change from those that are
assumed in Note 3. If the actual rates that are incurred
when the notes are issued were to increase or decrease by 0.25%
from the rates we have assumed in estimating the pro forma
interest adjustment, pro forma interest expense could increase
or decrease by approximately $1,000 per year. Likewise, if our
interest rate on our credit facility borrowings were to increase
by 1% from 1.23%, pro forma interest could increase by
approximately $4,800 per year (considering the equity offering).
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Note 9
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Non-Recurring
Acquisition Expenses
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We expect to incur additional transaction costs, including
financial and legal advisory fees of approximately $8,250
through the closing of the Sturm Acquisition. The total of these
costs has been recorded as additional borrowings under our
credit facility and a reduction to retained earnings of $8,250
on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet.
These costs are excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed
combined statement of income for the 12 months ended
December 31, 2009, as they are considered non-recurring.
S-34
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Note 10
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Tax
Adjustments
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For purposes of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements, we used a rate of 38.5%. This rate is an
estimate and does not take into account any possible future tax
events that may occur for the combined company.
S-35
DESCRIPTION
OF CERTAIN OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
We had approximately $403 million of outstanding
indebtedness as of December 31, 2009, including
approximately $298 million under our $600 million
revolving credit facility, which matures on August 31,
2011, and $100 million in our outstanding 6.03% senior
notes due 2013.
Revolving
Credit Facility
In June 2005, we entered into a $500 million revolving
credit facility with a group of participating financial
institutions. All of our obligations under the revolving credit
facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Bay Valley
Foods, LLC. In August 2007, we amended the credit agreement to,
among other things, reduce the available liquidity requirement
with respect to permitted acquisitions and reduce the required
consolidated interest coverage ratio at the end of each fiscal
quarter. We also increased the aggregate commitments under the
revolving credit facility from $500 million to
$600 million. The credit facility provides for a
$75 million letter of credit sublimit, against which
$8.8 million have been issued but undrawn as of
December 31, 2009. Proceeds from the credit facility may be
used for working capital and general corporate purposes,
including acquisition financing. The credit facility terminates
on August 31, 2011.
Interest is payable quarterly or at the end of the applicable
interest period in arrears on any outstanding borrowings at a
customary Eurodollar rate plus the applicable margin, or at a
customary base rate. The underlying rate is defined as the rate
equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate for
eurodollar rate loans, or the higher of the prime lending rate
of the administrative agent or federal funds rate plus 0.5% for
base rate committed loans. The applicable margin for eurodollar
loans is based on our consolidated leverage ratio and ranges
from 0.295% to 0.90%. In addition, a facility fee based on our
consolidated leverage ratio and ranging from 0.08% to 0.225% is
due quarterly on the aggregate commitment under the credit
facility. We have entered into an interest rate swap agreement
with respect to $200 million in floating rate debt under
the credit facility, which results in our total borrowing cost
on this debt being no more than 3.8% until the swap agreement
terminates in November 2010. Our average interest rate on debt
outstanding under our credit facility at December 31, 2009
was 0.91%.
Our credit facility contains various financial and other
restrictive covenants and requires that we maintain leverage and
interest coverage ratios. We are in compliance with our
financial covenants as of December 31, 2009. Our credit
facility requires us to maintain a leverage ratio, as defined in
the credit facility, of 3.5 to 1.0, subject to our ability to
exceed such ratio, up to 4.0 to 1.0, for a period of four fiscal
quarters following the completion of a permitted acquisition (as
defined in our credit facility). Our credit facility also
contains limitations on liens, investments, the incurrence of
subsidiary indebtedness, mergers, dispositions of assets,
acquisitions, material lines of business and transactions with
affiliates. The credit facility restricts certain payments,
including dividends, and prohibits certain agreements
restricting the ability of our subsidiaries to make certain
payments or to guarantee our obligations under the credit
facility. The credit facility contains standard default
triggers, including without limitation failure to pay principal,
interest or other amounts due and payable, failure to maintain
compliance with the financial and other covenants contained in
the credit agreement, default on certain of our other debt, the
existence of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings and a change
of control.
6.03% Senior
Notes
In September 2006, we completed a private placement of
$100 million in aggregate principal of 6.03% senior
notes due 2013, pursuant to a note purchase agreement with a
group of purchasers. In this prospectus supplement, we refer to
these senior notes as our existing notes. All of our
obligations under the existing notes are fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by Bay Valley Foods, LLC. The net
proceeds of the existing note offering were used to repay
outstanding indebtedness under our credit facility. We must pay
interest semi-annually in arrears on March 31 and September 30
of each year. The existing notes mature on September 30,
2013.
S-36
The note purchase agreement contains covenants that limit our
ability to, among other things, merge with other entities,
change the nature of our business, create liens, incur
additional subsidiary indebtedness or sell assets. The note
purchase agreement also requires us to maintain certain
financial ratios. The maximum permitted leverage ratio is 3.5 to
1.0, subject to our ability to exceed such ratio, up to 4.0 to
1.0, for a maximum of six consecutive fiscal quarters. As of
December 31, 2007, we exceeded a leverage ratio of 3.5 to
1.0, requiring an additional interest payment of 1.0% per annum
in 2008. Our leverage ratio was under 3.5 to 1.0 at
December 31, 2008 and, therefore, we did not pay additional
interest in 2009. We are in compliance with the applicable
covenants as of December 31, 2009. The events of default
under the note purchase agreement include, but are not limited
to failure to pay principal or interest, breach of the covenants
or warranties, any payment default or acceleration of
indebtedness exceeding $25 million and events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation.
S-37
DESCRIPTION
OF THE NOTES
You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this
description under the caption Certain
Definitions. In this description, the words
Company, Issuer,
TreeHouse, us,
we and our refer only to
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and not to any of its Subsidiaries.
The Notes will be issued under a base indenture (the
Base Indenture) and supplemental indenture
(the Supplemental Indenture and together with
the Base Indenture, the Indenture), each to
be dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors
and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the
Trustee).
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the
Indenture. It does not include all of the provisions of the
Indenture. We urge you to read the Indenture because it defines
your rights. 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
Trust Indenture Act). The Indenture has
been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which
this prospectus supplement is a part.
A registered holder of a Note (each, a
Holder) will be treated as the owner of it
for all purposes. Only registered Holders will have rights under
the Indenture.
Brief
Description of the Notes and the Guarantees
The
Notes
These Notes will be:
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general unsecured obligations of the Company;
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pari passu in right of payment with all of the Companys
existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness,
including the Credit Agreement and the Existing Senior Notes;
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senior in right of payment to any of the Companys future
Indebtedness that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in
right of payment to the Notes;
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structurally subordinated to all liabilities of the
Companys Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors;
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effectively subordinated to all of the Companys existing
and future secured Indebtedness to the extent of the value of
the assets securing such Indebtedness; and
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will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors.
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The
Subsidiary Guarantees
As of the Issue Date, the Notes will be guaranteed by all of the
Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company, other than the Excluded
Subsidiaries.
The Subsidiary Guarantees of the Notes will be:
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general unsecured obligations of each Guarantor;
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pari passu in right of payment with all existing and
future unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of each Guarantor,
including each Guarantors guarantee of the Credit
Agreement and the Existing Senior Notes;
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senior in right of payment with all existing and future
Indebtedness of each Guarantor that is, by its terms, expressly
subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee of
such Guarantor; and
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effectively subordinated to each Guarantors existing and
future secured Indebtedness to the extent of the value of the
assets securing such Indebtedness.
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S-38
The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee
will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving
effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such
Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or
payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect
of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Subsidiary
Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under the
Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its
Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or
fraudulent transfer under federal or state law. Each Guarantor
that makes a payment for distribution under its Subsidiary
Guarantee is entitled to a contribution from each other
Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on adjusted net
assets of each Guarantor. See Risk FactorsRisks
Related to the NotesFederal and state laws permit courts
to void the guarantees under certain circumstances.
As of December 31, 2009, after giving effect to this
offering and the use of proceeds therefrom and the other
Transactions, the Company and the Guarantors would have had
total secured Indebtedness of approximately
$ million (excluding letters
of credit of $ million). The
Indenture permits us and the Guarantors to incur additional
Indebtedness, including secured Indebtedness. As of the date
hereof, all of our Subsidiaries, including our Foreign
Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries, are Restricted
Subsidiaries. However, under the circumstances described
below under the caption Certain
CovenantsRestricted Payments, we are permitted to
designate certain of our Subsidiaries as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries. Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not subject to
many of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture and will not
guarantee these Notes. As of the Issue Date, all of our
Subsidiaries, except for our Foreign Subsidiaries and Excluded
Subsidiaries, will guarantee the Notes. In the event of a
bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these
non-guarantor Subsidiaries, these non-guarantor Subsidiaries
will pay the holders of their debt and their trade creditors
before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to
us. As of December 31, 2009, the non-guarantor Subsidiaries
had total Indebtedness of approximately
$ million. The non-guarantor
Subsidiaries generated approximately % of
our total net sales and % of our
consolidated operating income for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009 and held
approximately % of our consolidated
assets as of December 31, 2009.
The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:
(1) upon any sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by
way of merger or consolidation), in accordance with the
Indenture, to any Person who is not (either before or after
giving effect to the transaction) the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary;
(2) if such Guarantor merges with and into the Company,
with the Company surviving such merger;
(3) if such Guarantor is designated an Unrestricted
Subsidiary in accordance with the Indenture or otherwise ceases
to be a Restricted Subsidiary (including by way of liquidation
or dissolution) in a transaction permitted by the Indenture;
(4) if we exercise our Legal Defeasance option or Covenant
Defeasance option as described under Legal
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance or if our obligations
under the Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms
of the Indenture as described under Satisfaction and
Discharge; or
(5) if such Guarantor ceases to be a Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary and such Guarantor is not otherwise
required to provide a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes pursuant
to the provisions described under Certain
CovenantsAdditional Subsidiary Guarantees.
Principal,
Maturity and Interest
The Company will issue an aggregate principal amount of
$ million of Notes in this
offering pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture. The Notes are a
series of senior debt securities that the Company may issue
under the Base Indenture. The Base Indenture does not limit the
maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes or other debt
securities that the Company may issue thereunder. From time to
time after this offering,
S-39
the Company may issue additional Notes (the Additional
Notes) having identical terms and conditions as the
Notes being issued in this offering except for issue date, issue
price and first interest payment date. The Notes and any
Additional Notes subsequently issued would be treated as a
single series for all purposes under the Indenture, including,
without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemption and offers
to purchase. Any offering of Additional Notes under the
Indenture is subject to the covenant described below under the
caption Certain CovenantsIncurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
The Notes will be issued only in denominations of $2,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes will
mature
on ,
20 .
Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate
of % per annum from the Issue Date.
Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears
on
and ,
commencing
on ,
2010. The Company will make each interest payment to the Holders
of record of the Notes on the immediately
preceding
and .
Interest on the Notes will accrue from the date of original
issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it
was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day
year comprised of twelve
30-day
months.
Methods
of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Company,
the Company will make, or cause to be made, all principal,
premium and interest payments on the Notes owned by such Holder
in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on
these Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Paying
Agent and Registrar unless the Company elects to make interest
payments by check mailed to the Holders at their respective
addresses set forth in the register of Holders.
We will pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the
Notes in global form registered in the name of The Depository
Trust Company or its nominee in immediately available funds
to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, as the case
may be, as the registered holder of such global Notes.
Paying
Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The Trustee is currently the Paying Agent and Registrar. The
Company may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior
notice to the Holders of the Notes, and the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
Optional
Redemption
On or
after ,
20 , we may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the
redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount
of the Notes) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest
to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on of the years indicated below:
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Redemption Year
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Price
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20
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%
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20
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%
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20 and thereafter
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100.000
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%
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Prior to 2013, we may, at our option, on any one or more
occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Notes issued under the Indenture with the Net Cash Proceeds
of one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price
of % of the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date
(subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest
payment date); provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding after each
such redemption; and
S-40
(2) the redemption occurs within 120 days after the
closing of such Equity Offering.
In addition, at any time prior
to ,
20 , we may, at our option, on any one or more
occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the
Applicable Premium plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to
the redemption date.
Applicable Premium means, with respect to a
Note at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the
principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of
(A) the present value at such time of (1) the
redemption price of such Note
at ,
20 (such redemption price being set forth in the
table above) plus (2) all required interest payments due on
such Note (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to such
redemption date)
through ,
20 , computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate
plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of
such Note.
Treasury Rate means the yield to maturity at
the time of computation of United States Treasury securities
with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most
recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which
has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior
to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no
longer published, any publicly available source or similar
market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the
redemption date
to ,
20 ; provided, however, that if the
period from the redemption date
to ,
20 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United
States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is
given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear
interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year)
from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury
securities for which such yields are given, except that if the
period from the redemption date
to ,
20 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually
traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant
maturity of one year shall be used.
If an optional redemption date is on or after an interest record
date and on or before the related interest payment date, the
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person
in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on
such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to
Holders whose Notes will be subject to redemption by the Company.
Selection
and Notice of Redemption
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time and
the Notes are not in global form, the Trustee will select Notes
for redemption as follows:
(1) if the Notes are listed, in compliance with the
requirements of the principal national securities exchange on
which the Notes are listed; or
(2) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata
basis subject to adjustment for minimum denominations.
No Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notices of
redemption shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but
not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address.
Notices of redemption may not be conditional.
If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of
redemption that relates to that Note shall state the portion of
the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original
Note will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption
become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the
redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions
of them called for redemption.
Mandatory
Redemption
We are not required to make mandatory redemption payments or
sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
S-41
Repurchase
at the Option of the Holders
Offer
to Repurchase upon Change of Control
If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes will have
the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess
thereof) of that Holders Notes pursuant to the
Change of Control Offer. In the Change of Control
Offer, the Company will offer a Change of Control
Payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company
will mail a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee
describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the
Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes on the
Change of Control Payment Date specified in such
notice, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and
described in such notice. The Company will comply with the
requirements of
Rule 14e-1
under 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.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the
extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof
properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) 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
(3) 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 the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly mail 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 integral multiples of
$1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will publicly announce the
results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
The provisions described above that require the Company to make
a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be
applicable regardless of whether or not any other provisions of
the Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with
respect to a Change of Control, the Indenture does not contain
provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that
the Company repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a
takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.
If a Change of Control Offer is made, there can be no assurance
that the Company 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. A Change of
Control may constitute an event of default under the terms of
the Credit Agreement and may also require an offer to repurchase
the Existing Senior Notes. Future Indebtedness of the Company
may contain prohibitions on certain events which would
constitute a Change of Control or require such Indebtedness to
be repurchased upon a Change of Control. In addition, we cannot
assure you that in the event of a Change of Control the Company
will be able to obtain the consents necessary to consummate a
Change of Control Offer from the lenders under agreements
governing outstanding Indebtedness which may prohibit the offer.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control
Offer if (1) 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 the Company and purchases all
Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer or (2) a notice of redemption has been given
prior to the Change of Control pursuant to the Indenture as
described above under the caption Optional
Redemption, unless and until there is a default in payment
of the applicable redemption price.
S-42
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a
Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of
Control and conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of
Control, if a definitive agreement with respect to the Change of
Control is in place at the time the Change of Control Offer is
made.
The definition of Change of Control includes a
phrase relating to the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries 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 the
Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of
the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole
to another Person or group may be uncertain.
Offer
to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds of Asset
Sales
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at
least equal to the fair market value (measured as of the date of
the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Sale) of the
assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed
of, as approved in good faith by the Companys Board of
Directors; and
(2) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset
Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form
of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision only
(and specifically not for the purposes of the definition of
Net Proceeds), each of the following shall be deemed
to be cash:
(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Companys or such
Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet) of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent
liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated
to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by
the transferee of any such assets;
(ii) any securities, notes or other obligations received by
the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such
transferee that within 180 days are converted by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent
of the cash received in that conversion);
(iii) the fair market value of (x) any assets (other
than securities or current assets) received by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary that will be used or useful in a
Related Business, (y) Equity Interests in a Person that is
a Restricted Subsidiary or in a Person engaged in a Related
Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary immediately
upon the acquisition of such Equity Interests by the Company or
the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or (z) a combination
of (x) and (y); provided that the determination of
the fair market value of assets or Equity Interests in excess of
$25.0 million received in any transaction or series of
related transactions shall be evidenced by an officers
certificate delivered to the Trustee; and
(iv) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having
an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other
Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this
clause (iv) since the Issue Date that is at the time
outstanding, not to exceed 5.0% of Consolidated Tangible Assets
at the time of receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration,
with the fair market value of each item of Designated Noncash
Consideration being measured at the time received and without
giving effect to subsequent changes in value.
S-43
Within a period of 360 days (commencing after the Issue
Date) after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale
(provided that if during such
360-day
period after the receipt of any such Net Proceeds, the Company
(or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) enters into a
definitive binding agreement committing it to apply such Net
Proceeds in accordance with the requirements of clause (B)
or (D) of this paragraph after such 360th day, such
360-day
period will be extended with respect to the amount of Net
Proceeds so committed for a period not to exceed 180 days
until such Net Proceeds are required to be applied in accordance
with such agreement (or, if earlier, until termination of such
agreement)), the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its
option, may apply an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such
Asset Sale:
(A) to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase Indebtedness
(other than securities) under Credit Facilities and, if such
Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, effect a
permanent reduction in the availability under such revolving
credit facility (or effect a permanent reduction in the
availability under such revolving credit facility regardless of
the fact that no prepayment is required in order to do so (in
which case no prepayment shall be required));
(B) to acquire Equity Interests in a Person that is engaged
in a Related Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary
immediately upon the acquisition of such Equity Interests by the
Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary;
(C) to make capital expenditures in a Related Business;
(D) to acquire other assets (other than securities or
current assets) that will be used or useful in a Related
Business; or
(E) a combination of prepayments and investments permitted
by the foregoing clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D).
Pending the final application of such Net Proceeds, the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce borrowings
under the Credit Facilities or any other revolving credit
facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any
manner not prohibited by the Indenture. Subject to the last
sentence of the following paragraph, on the 361st day (as
extended pursuant to the provisions in the preceding paragraph)
after an Asset Sale or such earlier date, if any, as the Board
of Directors of the Company or of such Restricted Subsidiary
determines not to apply the Net Proceeds relating to such Asset
Sale as set forth in clause (A), (B), (C), (D) or
(E) of the second preceding sentence (each, a Net
Proceeds Offer Trigger Date), such aggregate amount of
Net Proceeds which have not been applied on or before such Net
Proceeds Offer Trigger Date as permitted in clauses (A), (B),
(C), (D) or (E) of the second preceding sentence (each
a Net Proceeds Offer Amount) shall be applied
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to make an offer to
purchase (the Net Proceeds Offer) on a date
(the Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date) not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days following the applicable
Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, from all Holders (and, if
required by the terms of any other Indebtedness of the Company
ranking pari passu with the Notes in right of payment and
which has similar provisions requiring the Company either to
make an offer to repurchase or to otherwise repurchase, redeem
or repay such Indebtedness with the proceeds from Asset Sales
(the Pari Passu Indebtedness), from the
holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness) on a pro rata
basis (in proportion to the respective principal amounts or
accreted value, as the case may be, of the Notes and any such
Pari Passu Indebtedness) an aggregate principal amount of Notes
(plus, if applicable, an aggregate principal amount or accreted
value, as the case may be, of Pari Passu Indebtedness) equal to
the Net Proceeds Offer Amount. The offer price in any Net
Proceeds Offer shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of
the Notes (or 100% of the principal amount or accreted value, as
the case may be, of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the Net Proceeds Offer
Payment Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time any non-cash
consideration received by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, in connection with any Asset
Sale is converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash
(other than interest received with respect to any such non-cash
consideration), then such conversion or disposition shall be
deemed to constitute an Asset Sale hereunder and the Net
Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance with this
covenant. The Company may defer the Net Proceeds Offer until
there is an aggregate unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount equal
to or in excess of $35.0 million
S-44
resulting from one or more Asset Sales (at which time the entire
unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount, and not just the amount in
excess of $35.0 million, shall be applied as required
pursuant to this paragraph, and in which case the Net Proceeds
Offer Trigger Date shall be deemed to be the earliest date that
the Net Proceeds Offer Amount is equal to or in excess of
$35.0 million).
Each Net Proceeds Offer will be mailed to the record Holders as
shown on the register of Holders within 25 days following
the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, with a copy to the Trustee,
and shall comply with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.
Upon receiving notice of the Net Proceeds Offer, Holders may
elect to tender their Notes in whole or in part in denominations
of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in
exchange for cash. To the extent that the aggregate principal
amount of Notes (plus, if applicable, the aggregate principal
amount or accreted value, as the case may be, of Pari Passu
Indebtedness) validly tendered by the Holders thereof and not
withdrawn exceeds the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, Notes of
tendering Holders (and, if applicable, Pari Passu Indebtedness
tendered by the holders thereof) will be purchased on a pro
rata basis (based on the principal amount of the Notes and,
if applicable, the principal amount or accreted value, as the
case may be, of any such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered and
not withdrawn). To the extent that the aggregate amount of the
Notes (plus, if applicable, the aggregate principal amount or
accreted value, as the case may be, of any Pari Passu
Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer is less
than the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Company may use such
excess Net Proceeds Offer Amount for general corporate purposes
or for any other purpose not prohibited by the Indenture. Upon
completion of any such Net Proceeds Offer, the Net Proceeds
Offer Amount shall be reset at zero. A Net Proceeds Offer shall
remain open for a period of 20 Business Days or such longer
period as may be required by applicable law.
The Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, will comply with the requirements of
Rule 14e-1
under 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 Notes
pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture, the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be
deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset
Sale provisions of the Indenture by virtue thereof.
Certain
Covenants
Covenant
Suspension
If on any date following the Issue Date the Notes have an
Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies and no Default
or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the
Indenture, then beginning on that day and subject to the
provisions of the following paragraph, the provisions
specifically listed under the following captions in this
prospectus supplement will be suspended:
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Repurchase at the Option of the HoldersOffer
to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds of Asset
Sales,
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Restricted Payments,
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Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock,
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Limitations on Layering Indebtedness,
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clause (3) of Certain CovenantsMerger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets,
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Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Subsidiaries and
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Transactions with Affiliates
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(collectively, the Suspended Covenants). The
period during which covenants are suspended pursuant to this
section is called the Suspension Period. The Company
will notify the Trustee of the continuance and termination of
any Suspension Period.
S-45
In the event that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of
time as a result of the second preceding sentence and,
subsequently, one of the Rating Agencies withdraws its ratings
or downgrades the rating assigned to the Notes so that the Notes
no longer have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating
Agencies or a Default or Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
will from such time and thereafter again be subject to the
Suspended Covenants and compliance with the Suspended Covenants
with respect to Restricted Payments made after the time of such
withdrawal, Default or Event of Default will be calculated in
accordance with the terms of the covenant described below under
the caption Restricted Payments and
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock as though such covenant had been in effect during
the entire period of time from the Issue Date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing and any other provision of the Indenture, the
Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, no Default or Event of
Default shall be deemed to exist under the Indenture, the Notes
or the Subsidiary Guarantees with respect to the Suspended
Covenants based on, and none of the Company or any of the
Restricted Subsidiaries shall bear any liability with respect to
the Suspended Covenants for, (a) any actions taken or
events occurring during a Suspension Period (including without
limitation any agreements, Liens, preferred stock, obligations
(including Indebtedness), or of any other facts or circumstances
or obligations that were incurred or otherwise came into
existence during a Suspension Period) or (b) any actions
required to be taken at any time pursuant to any contractual
obligation entered into during a Suspension Period, regardless
of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if
the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during
such period.
Restricted
Payments
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment
or distribution on account of the Companys or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests (including,
without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or
consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the
Companys or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than
(i) dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or (ii) to
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);
(2) purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise
acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in
connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or
indirect parent of the Company, in each case held by Persons
other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase,
repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for
value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees, except a payment of interest or principal
at the Stated Maturity thereof (other than intercompany
Indebtedness between or among the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries); or
(4) make any Restricted Investment;
(all such payments and other actions set forth in
clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively
referred to as Restricted Payments), unless,
at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted
Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted
Payment; and
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted
Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such
Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at
least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of
the covenant described below under the caption
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock;
S-46
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate
amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of the Indenture
(excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clause (2), (3),
(4), (5) or (9) of the next succeeding paragraph), is
less than the sum, without duplication, of:
(i) 50% of the cumulative Consolidated Net Income of the
Company for the period (taken as one accounting period)
commencing on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the
Issue Date occurs to and ending on the last day of the fiscal
quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such calculation
for which internal financial statements are available at the
time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net
Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit);
plus
(ii) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds (including the fair
market value of property other than cash) received by the
Company after the date of the Indenture as a contribution to its
common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and
other than the net proceeds received in connection with the
intended Common Stock offering to be used to fund a portion of
the Sturm Acquisition) or from the issue or sale of Disqualified
Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted
into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity
Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a
Subsidiary of the Company); plus
(iii) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was
made after the date of the Indenture is sold for cash or
otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of
(x) the cash return of capital with respect to such
Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and
(y) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment;
plus
(iv) upon redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of (x) the fair market
value of the Companys Investment in such Subsidiary as of
the date of redesignation and (y) such fair market value as
of the date such Subsidiary was originally designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The preceding provision will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after
the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration
such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
Indenture;
(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or
other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Equity
Interests of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the
substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company
(other than Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount
of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c)(ii) of the
preceding paragraph;
(3) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or
other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified
Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with
the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence
of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or
retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of
the Companys (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)
management pursuant to any management equity subscription
agreement, stock option agreement, employment agreement,
severance agreement or other executive compensation arrangement;
provided that the aggregate price paid for all such
repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests
shall not exceed $5.0 million in any twelve-month period
(provided that the Company may carry over and make in a
subsequent calendar year, commencing with 2011, in addition to
the amounts permitted for such calendar year, up to
S-47
$2.0 million of unutilized capacity under this
clause (4) attributable to the immediately preceding
calendar year;
(5) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon
the exercise of stock options to the extent such Equity
Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those
stock options;
(6) payments to holders of the Companys capital stock
in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of its Capital
Stock;
(7) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or
other acquisition of Disqualified Stock of the Company in
exchange for Disqualified Stock of the Company that is permitted
to be issued as described below under the caption
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock;
(8) the purchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or
other retirement for a nominal value per right of any rights
granted to all the holders of Common Stock of the Company
pursuant to any shareholders rights plan adopted for the
purpose of protecting shareholders from unfair takeover tactics;
provided, that any such purchase, redemption, acquisition,
cancellation or other retirement of such rights is not for the
purpose of evading the limitations of this covenant (all as
determined in good faith by a senior financial officer of the
Company); and
(9) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount since
the Issue Date not to exceed $100.0 million under this
clause (9).
provided that in the case of clauses (4), (5) and (9), no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be
the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of
the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of
any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this
covenant shall be determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors whose resolution with respect thereto shall be
delivered to the Trustee. With respect to any Restricted Payment
permitted pursuant to clause (2), (3) or (7) of the
preceding paragraph, not later than 10 days following the
end of the fiscal quarter in which such Restricted Payment was
made, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an officers
certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted
and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required
by this Restricted Payments covenant were computed.
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary
to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the
definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary if the
designation would not cause a Default. All outstanding
Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
in the designated Unrestricted Subsidiary will be treated as an
Investment made at the time of the designation and will reduce
the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first
paragraph of this covenant or Permitted Investments, as
applicable. All such outstanding Investments will be treated as
Restricted Investments equal to the fair market value of such
Investments at the time of the designation. The designation will
not be permitted if such Restricted Payment would not be
permitted at that time and if such Restricted Subsidiary does
not otherwise meet the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Board of Directors may redesignate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the
definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly
liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to
(collectively, incur) any Indebtedness
(including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any
Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock;
provided, however, that the Company and any of the
Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue Disqualified Stock, and the Guarantors may issue preferred
stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Companys
most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal
financial statements are available immediately preceding the
date on which such additional
S-48
Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred
stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined
on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the
net proceeds therefrom) as if the additional Indebtedness had
been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had
been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such
four-quarter period.
The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the
incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness
(collectively, Permitted Debt):
(1) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit
Facilities in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding (with
letters of credit being deemed to have an amount equal to the
maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greater of
$600.0 million or the Borrowing Base, less the aggregate
amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to repay Indebtedness and
permanently reduce commitments under Credit Facilities pursuant
to the covenant described above under the caption
Repurchase at the Option of the HoldersOffer
to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds of Asset
Sales;
(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of
Indebtedness represented by the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees
to be issued on the Issue Date;
(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease
Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations,
in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any
part of the purchase price or cost of construction or
improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business
of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate
principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed
$25.0 million at any time outstanding;
(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange
for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance
or replace, Indebtedness incurred under clauses (2) or
(3) above or this clause (5) or pursuant to the first
paragraph of this covenant;
(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:
(a) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated
to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with
respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the
Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor, in the case of a
Guarantor; and
(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity
Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a
Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof
and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such
Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed, in each case, to
constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not
permitted by this clause (6);
(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations entered
into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary and not for the purpose of speculation;
provided that in the case of Hedging Obligations relating
to interest rates, (a) such Hedging Obligations relate to
payment obligations on Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be
incurred by this covenant and (b) the notional principal
amount of such Hedging Obligations at the time incurred does not
exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such
Hedging Obligations relate;
S-49
(8) the Guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by
another provision of this covenant and could have been incurred
(in compliance with this covenant) by the Person so Guaranteeing
such Indebtedness;
(9) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from the
honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check,
draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of
daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the
ordinary course of business; provided, however,
that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days
of incurrence;
(10) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of security for
workers compensation claims, payment obligations in
connection with self- insurance, performance, surety and similar
bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business; provided, that the underlying obligation to
perform is that of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
and not that of the Companys Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
provided further, that such underlying obligation is not
in respect of borrowed money;
(11) the incurrence of Indebtedness that may be deemed to
arise as a result of agreements of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company providing for indemnification,
adjustment of purchase price, earn-out or similar Obligations,
in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the
disposition of any business or assets of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary or Equity Interests of a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that (a) any amount of such
Obligations included on the face of the balance sheet of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be permitted
under this clause (11) and (b) the maximum aggregate
liability in respect of all such Obligations outstanding under
this clause (11) shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds
actually received by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
in connection with such disposition;
(12) Indebtedness incurred under commercial letters of
credit issued for the account of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (and
not for the purpose of, directly or indirectly, incurring
Indebtedness or providing credit support or a similar
arrangement in respect of Indebtedness), provided that any
drawing under any such letter of credit is reimbursed in full
within seven days or Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries under letters of credit and bank
guarantees backstopped by letters of credit under the Credit
Facilities;
(13) Indebtedness of Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50.0 million at
any one time outstanding;
(14) any Attributable Indebtedness; provided that the
aggregate Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this
clause (14) shall not exceed $25 million at any time
outstanding;
(15) Indebtedness in respect of Receivables Program
Obligations; and
(16) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate
principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time
outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to this clause (16), not to exceed
$100.0 million.
For purposes of determining compliance with this
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock covenant, in the event that an item of proposed
Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1)
through (16) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant
to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be
permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of
its incurrence (or later reclassify such Indebtedness in whole
or in part) in any manner that complies with this covenant. In
addition, the accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of
original issue discount, the payment of interest on any
Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the
same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock
in the form of additional shares of
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the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be treated as an
incurrence of Indebtedness; provided, in each such case,
that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the
Company as accrued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to the Credit Agreement on the
date of the Indenture will be deemed to have been incurred
pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted
Debt.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum amount of
Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to this covenant
shall not be deemed to be exceeded with respect to any
outstanding Indebtedness due solely to the result of
fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies.
For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar
denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness where
the Indebtedness incurred is denominated in a different
currency, the amount of such Indebtedness will be the
U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of the
incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided,
however, that if any such Indebtedness denominated in a
different currency is subject to a Currency Protection Agreement
with respect to U.S. dollars covering all principal,
premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness, the
amount of such Indebtedness expressed in U.S. dollars will
be as provided in such Currency Protection Agreement. The
principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness being
refinanced will be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the
Indebtedness refinanced, except to the extent that (1) such
U.S. Dollar Equivalent was determined based on a Currency
Protection Agreement, in which case the Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness will be determined in accordance with the preceding
sentence, and (2) if the principal amount of the Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds the principal amount of the
Indebtedness being refinanced, the U.S. Dollar Equivalent
of such excess, as appropriate, will be determined on the date
such Permitted Refinancing Debt is incurred.
Limitations
on Layering Indebtedness
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness
that is or purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any
agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated in right of
payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or of such
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, unless such
Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any
agreement governing such Indebtedness) made expressly
subordinated in the right of payment to the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, to the same
extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is
subordinated in right of payment to such other Indebtedness of
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
For purposes of the foregoing, no Indebtedness will be deemed to
be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary solely by virtue of
being unsecured or secured by a junior priority Lien or by
virtue of the fact that the holders of such Indebtedness have
entered into intercreditor agreements or other arrangements
giving one or more of such holders priority over the other
holders in the collateral held by them, including intercreditor
agreements that contain customary provisions requiring turnover
by holders of junior priority Liens of proceeds of collateral in
the event that the security interests in favor of the holders of
the senior priority in such intended collateral are not
perfected or invalidated and similar customary provisions
protecting the holders of senior priority Liens.
Liens
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (1) assign or
convey any right to receive income on any property or asset now
owned or hereafter acquired or (2) create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness or
trade payables on any property or asset now owned or hereafter
acquired or on any income or profits therefrom other than, in
each case, Permitted Liens, unless the Notes and the Subsidiary
Guarantees, as applicable, are
(1) in the case of any Lien securing an Obligation that
ranks pari passu with the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee,
effective provision is made to secure the Notes or such
Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, at least equally and
ratably with or prior to such Obligation with a Lien on the same
properties or assets of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be; and
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(2) in the case of any Lien securing an Obligation that is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary
Guarantee, effective provision is made to secure the Notes or
such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, with a Lien on
the same properties or assets of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, that is prior to the Lien
securing such subordinated obligation, in each case, for so long
as such Obligation is secured by such Lien.
Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Subsidiaries
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the
ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its
Capital Stock to the Company or any of the Companys
Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest
or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any
Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of the Companys
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of the
Companys Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company
or any of the Companys Restricted Subsidiaries.
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and the
Credit Agreement as in effect on the date of the Indenture and
any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals,
increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings
of those agreements, provided that such amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more
restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and
other payment restrictions than those contained in such
agreements on the Issue Date;
(2) the Indenture, the Notes and the related Subsidiary
Guarantees;
(3) applicable law;
(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock
of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition
(except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred or Capital
Stock was issued in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable
to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other
than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so
acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness,
such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to
be incurred;
(5) customary non-assignment provisions in leases,
licenses, contracts and other agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the
ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the
property so acquired of the nature described in clause (3)
of the preceding paragraph;
(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of all
or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of a Restricted
Subsidiary that restricts distributions by such Restricted
Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or other disposition;
(8) agreements governing Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in
the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
are not materially
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more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the
agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(9) any agreement creating a Lien securing Indebtedness
otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of
the covenant described above under the caption
Liens, to the extent limiting the right of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of the
assets subject to such Lien;
(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or
distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements
and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course
of business;
(11) customary restrictions on a Receivables Subsidiary and
Receivables Program Assets effected in connection with a
Qualified Receivables Transaction;
(12) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth
imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the
ordinary course of business; and
(13) agreements governing Indebtedness incurred in
compliance with clause (4) of the covenant described under
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock, provided that such encumbrances or restrictions
apply only to assets financed with the proceeds of such
Indebtedness.
Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets
(a) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, in a single
transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or
merge with or into any other Person or sell, assign, transfer,
lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of its properties or assets (determined on a consolidated basis)
to any Person or group of affiliated Persons, or permit any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction
or transactions if such transaction or transactions, in the
aggregate, would result in sale, assignment transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any other Person or group of
Persons unless:
(1) either:
(a) the Company shall be the surviving or continuing
corporation or
(b) the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or
merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such
sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition has been made is (the Surviving
Entity) a corporation organized and validly existing
under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the
District of Columbia;
(2) the Surviving Entity, if applicable expressly assumes,
by supplemental indenture (in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the
Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest on all of the Notes and the
performance of every covenant of the Notes and the Indenture on
the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(3) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such
transaction or series of transactions and the assumption
contemplated by clause (2) above (including giving effect
to any Indebtedness and Acquired Debt, in each case, incurred or
anticipated to be incurred in connection with or in respect of
such transaction), the Company or the Surviving Entity, as the
case may be, shall be (a) able to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) pursuant to
the covenant described under Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock or
(b) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that is greater than
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior
to such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition; provided, however, that
this clause (3) shall not apply during any Suspension
Period;
S-53
(4) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or
series of transactions and the assumption contemplated by
clause (2) above (including, without limitation, giving
effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Debt, in each case,
incurred or anticipated to be incurred and any Lien granted in
connection with or in respect of such transaction), no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing; and
(5) the Company or the Surviving Entity, as the case may
be, shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers
certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture
is required in connection with such transaction, such
supplemental indenture, complies with the applicable provisions
of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent in the
Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the merger of the Company with an
Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating
the Company in another jurisdiction shall be permitted without
regard to clause (3) of the immediately preceding
paragraph. For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by
lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or
series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of
the Company the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or
substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company,
shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all
of the properties and assets of the Company.
The Indenture provides that upon any consolidation or merger of
the Company or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company in accordance with the foregoing in which the
Company is not the continuing corporation, the Surviving Entity
formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged
or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance
or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the
Company under the Indenture and the Notes with the same effect
as if such Surviving Entity had been named as such;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be
released from its obligations under the Indenture or the Notes
in the case of a lease.
(b) Each Guarantor will not, and the Company will not cause or
permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, in a single
transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or
merge with or into any Person other than the Company or any
other Guarantor unless:
(1) if the Guarantor was a corporation or limited liability
company under the laws of the United States, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, the entity formed by or surviving
any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor)
is a corporation or limited liability company organized and
existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia;
(2) such entity assumes by supplemental indenture all of
the obligations of the Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing; and
(4) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and
the use of any net proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the
Company could satisfy the provisions of clause (a)(3) of this
covenant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the requirements of the
immediately preceding paragraph will not apply to any
transaction pursuant to which such Guarantor is permitted to be
released from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the
provisions described under the last paragraph of Brief
Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesThe Subsidiary
Guarantees.
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Transactions
with Affiliates
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or
sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets
from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract,
agreement, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (each, an Affiliate
Transaction), unless:
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less
favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary
than those that would have been obtained in a comparable
transaction at such time by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary with a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration
in excess of $10.0 million, a resolution of the Board of
Directors set forth in an officers certificate certifying
that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this covenant and
that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors; and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration
in excess of $20.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness
to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary of such
Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by
an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national
standing.
The following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate
Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the
provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) transactions between or among the Company
and/or its
Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) Restricted Payments that are permitted by the
provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption
Restricted Payments;
(3) reasonable fees and compensation paid to (including
issuances and grants of Equity Interests of the Company,
employment agreements and stock option and ownership plans for
the benefit of), and indemnity and insurance provided on behalf
of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business
as approved in good faith by the Companys Board of
Directors or senior management;
(4) transactions pursuant to any agreement in effect on the
Issue Date and disclosed in this prospectus supplement
(including by incorporation by reference), as in effect on the
Issue Date or as thereafter amended or replaced in any manner,
that, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the
Holders or the Company in any material respect than such
agreement as it was in effect on the Issue Date;
(5) loans or advances to employees and officers of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted by
clause (8) of the definition of Permitted
Investments.
(6) any transaction or series of transactions between the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any of their joint
ventures; provided that (a) such transaction or
series of transactions is in the ordinary course of business
between the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and such joint
venture and (b) with respect to any such Affiliate
Transaction involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$10.0 million, such Affiliate Transaction complies with
clause (1) under this Transactions with
Affiliates section and such Affiliate Transaction has been
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company;
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(7) any service, purchase, lease, supply or similar
agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business
(including, without limitation, pursuant to any joint venture
agreement) between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and
any Affiliate that is a customer, client, supplier, purchaser or
seller of goods or services, so long as the senior management or
Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that
any such agreement is on terms no less favorable to the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained
in a comparable arms-length transaction with an entity
that is not an Affiliate;
(8) the issuance and sale of Qualified Capital
Stock; or
(9) any transaction effected in connection with a Qualified
Receivables Transaction.
Additional
Subsidiary Guarantees
If, after the date of the Indenture, the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic
Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Subsidiary or an Excluded
Subsidiary), then that newly acquired or created Domestic
Subsidiary will become a Guarantor and, within 10 Business Days
of the date on which it was acquired or created, the Company
shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to:
(i) execute and deliver to the Trustee (a) a
supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the
Trustee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall
unconditionally Guarantee all of the Companys obligations
under the Notes and the Indenture and (b) a notation of
Guarantee in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee; and
(ii) deliver to the Trustee one or more Opinions of Counsel
that such supplemental indenture (a) has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary
and (b) constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation
of such Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with its terms.
Limitation
on Sale and Leaseback Transactions
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback
Transaction unless:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be
entitled to:
(a) incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the
Attributable Indebtedness with respect to such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test
in the first paragraph of the covenant described under
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock; and
(b) create a Lien on such property securing such
Attributable Indebtedness without also securing the Notes or the
applicable Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to the covenant
described under Liens;
(2) the gross cash proceeds of such Sale and Leaseback
Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value, as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company and set forth in an officers certificate delivered
to the Trustee, of the property that is the subject of such Sale
and Leaseback Transaction; and
(3) such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is effected in
compliance with the covenant described under
Repurchase at the Option of HoldersOffer to
Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds of Asset
Sales.
Payments
for Consent
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes
for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of
any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the Notes
unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to
all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to
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amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents
relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.
Reports
Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are
outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes
and the Trustee, within the time periods specified in the
SECs rules and regulations for a company subject to
reporting under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act:
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information and
other information that would be required to be contained in a
filing with the SEC on
Forms 10-Q
and 10-K if
the Company were required to file such Forms, including a
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report on the annual financial
statements by the Companys certified independent
accountants; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed
with the SEC on
Form 8-K
if the Company were required to file such reports.
In addition, whether or not required by the SEC, the Company
will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred
to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for
public availability within the time periods specified in the
SECs rules and regulations for a company subject to
reporting under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
(unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such
information available to securities analysts and prospective
investors upon request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the
extent the Company files the information and reports referred to
in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC and such
information is publicly available on the Internet, the Company
shall be deemed to be in compliance with its obligations to
furnish such information to the Holders of the Notes and to make
such information available to securities analysts and
prospective investors. The Company agrees that it will not take
any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any
such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will
not accept the Companys filings for any reason, the
Company will post the reports referred to in the preceding
paragraphs on its website within the time periods that would
apply if the Company were required to file those reports with
the SEC.
In addition, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the
Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Holders and to
securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Events of
Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of
interest on the Notes;
(2) default in payment when due of the principal of or
premium, if any, on the Notes (including default in payment when
due in connection with the purchase of Notes tendered pursuant
to a Change of Control Offer or Net Proceeds Offer on the date
specified for such payment in the applicable offer to purchase);
(3) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under
Certain CovenantsMerger, Consolidation or Sale
of Assets;
(4) a default in the observance or performance of any other
covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or the Notes
which default continues for a period of 60 days after the
Company receives written notice specifying the default (and
demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the
Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) of at least 25% of the
outstanding principal amount of the Notes;
(5) a default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured
or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the
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Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or the
payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company) whether such Indebtedness or
Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if
that default:
(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest
or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration
of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of
such default (a Payment Default); or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to express maturity; and
(c) in each case, the principal amount of any such
Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default
or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$25.0 million, or more;
(6) one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess
of $25.0 million (to the extent not covered by independent
third party insurance as to which the insurer has not disclaimed
coverage) shall have been rendered against the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgments remain
undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 60 days
after such judgment or judgments become final and nonappealable;
(7) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary
Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be
unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in
full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on
behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its Obligations
under its Subsidiary Guarantee; or
(8) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect
to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or group
of Restricted Subsidiaries) that is a Significant Subsidiary.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified
in clause (8) above with respect to the Company) shall have
occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee, by
written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by
written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all
amounts owing under the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such
declaration of acceleration, the aggregate principal of and
accrued and unpaid interest on the outstanding Notes shall
immediately become due and payable.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (8) above occurs
and is continuing with respect to the Company, then all unpaid
principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid
interest on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become
and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or
other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
The Indenture will provide that, at any time after a declaration
of acceleration with respect to the Notes as described in the
two preceding paragraphs, the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Notes may rescind and cancel such declaration and
its consequences:
(1) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment
or decree;
(2) if all existing Events of Default have been cured or
waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has
become due solely because of the acceleration;
(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful,
interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue
principal, which has become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration, has been paid; and
(4) if we have paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation
and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and
advances.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair
any right consequent thereto.
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The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may
waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the
Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment
of the principal of or interest on any Notes.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the
duties of the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the
request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such
Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to
it. Subject to all provisions of the Indenture and applicable
law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes 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 single Holder will have any right
to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or any
remedy thereunder, unless (1) such Holder has notified the
Trustee of a continuing Event of Default; (2) the Holders
of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Notes have made written request, and offered such reasonable
indemnity as the Trustee may require, to the Trustee to
institute such proceeding; (3) the Trustee has failed to
institute such proceeding within 60 days after receipt of
such notice and the Trustee; and (4) within such
60-day
period, the Trustee has not received directions inconsistent
with such written request by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Such limitations will
not apply, however, to a suit instituted by the Holder of a Note
for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on such Note on or after the respective due
dates therefor.
Under the Indenture, we will be required to provide an
officers certificate to the Trustee promptly upon any such
officer obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default
that has occurred and, if applicable, describe such Default or
Event of Default and the status thereof; provided that
such officers shall provide such certification at least annually
whether or not they know of any Default or Event of Default.
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
No past, present or future director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as
such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the
Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture or the
Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of,
or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder
of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration
for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to
waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Legal
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have
all of its obligations discharged with respect to the
outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors
discharged with respect to their Subsidiary Guarantees
(Legal Defeasance) except for:
(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive
payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust
referred to below;
(2) the Companys obligations with respect to the
Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes,
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance
of an office or agency for payment and money for security
payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of
the Trustee, and the Companys obligations in connection
therewith; and
(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.
In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time,
elect to have the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors
released with respect to certain covenants that are described in
the Indenture (Covenant Defeasance) and
thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants shall not
constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the
Notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events
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(not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership,
rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under
Events of Default and Remedies will no longer
constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee,
in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in
U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a
combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient
(without consideration of any reinvestment of interest), in the
opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the
Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the
case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are
being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (a) the Company
has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the Issue Date, there
has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in
either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion
of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding
Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant
Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing either: (a) on the date of such deposit
(other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the
borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit); or
(b) insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or
insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period
ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(5) (such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not
result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default
under the Indenture or any material agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound (other
than any such default under the Indenture resulting solely from
the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);
(6) the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that after the 91st day
following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to
the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors rights
generally;
(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an
officers certificate stating that the deposit was not made
by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of
Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of
defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the
Company or others; and
(8) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an
officers certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal
Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
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Satisfaction
and Discharge
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further
effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of
transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in
the Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when either:
(1) either:
(a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered
(except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced
or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the
Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from
their trust as provided in the Indenture) have been delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation, or
(b) all the Notes that have not been delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason
of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will
become due and payable with one year; and the Company or any
Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited
with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit
of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in
such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
delivered to the Trustee, without consideration of any
reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire
Indebtedness (including all principal and accrued interest) on
the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued
interest to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may
be;
(2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a
result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a
breach or violation of or default under any other instrument to
which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the
Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be
paid all other sums payable under the Indenture; and
(4) The Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to
the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment of the Notes at
maturity or redemption, as the case may be.
In addition, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an
officers certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating
that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to
the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been
complied with.
Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the
Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in
connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer
for, Notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past Default
or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent
of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents
obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or
exchange offer for, Notes).
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or
waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a
non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must
consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, including the
waiver of Defaults or Events of Default, or to a rescission and
cancellation of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes;
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(2) reduce the rate of or change or have the effect of
changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted
interest, on any Notes;
(3) reduce the principal of or change or have the effect of
changing the fixed maturity of any Notes or alter or waive the
provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other
than provisions relating to the covenants described above under
the caption Repurchase at the Option of the
Holders);
(4) make any Notes payable in money other than that stated
in the Notes;
(5) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture
relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to
receive payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any,
on the Notes on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit
to enforce such payment;
(6) change the price payable by the Company for Notes
repurchased pursuant to the provisions described above under
Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control and
Offer to Repurchase by Application of Excess
Proceeds of Asset Sales or after the occurrence of a
Change of Control, modify or change in any material respect the
obligation of the Company to make and consummate a Change of
Control Offer or modify any of the provisions or definitions
with respect thereto;
(7) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of
principal of, or interest or premium on, the Notes; provided
that this clause (7) shall not limit the right of the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Notes to rescind and cancel a declaration of
acceleration of the Notes following delivery of an acceleration
notice as described above under Events of Default
and Remedies;
(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under
its Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture, except as permitted
by the Indenture;
(9) contractually subordinate the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees to any other Indebtedness; or
(10) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver
provisions.
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder
of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend
or supplement the Indenture or the Notes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or
in place of certificated Notes;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Companys
obligations to Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or
consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the
Companys assets;
(4) to make any change that would provide any additional
rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any
such Holder;
(5) to add any Person as a Guarantor;
(6) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act;
(7) to remove a Guarantor which, in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture, ceases to be liable in respect of its
Subsidiary Guarantee;
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of
appointment under the Indenture by a successor Trustee;
(9) to secure all of the Notes;
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(10) to add to the covenants of the Company or any
Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any
right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor;
(11) to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of this Description
of the Notes to the extent that such provision in the
Description of the Notes was intended to be a
verbatim recitation of a provision in the Indenture, the Notes
or the Subsidiary Guarantees;
(12) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in
accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of
the date of the Indenture; and
(13) to comply with the provisions of the DTC or the
Trustee with respect to the provisions in the Indenture and the
Notes relating to transfers and exchanges of Notes or beneficial
interests in Notes.
The consent of the Holders is not necessary under the Indenture
to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is
sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the
proposed amendment. A consent to any amendment or waiver under
the Indenture by any Holder of Notes given in connection with a
tender of such Holders Notes will not be rendered invalid
by such tender. After an amendment under the Indenture becomes
effective, the Company is required to mail to the Holders a
notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure
to give such notice to all of the Holders, or any defect in the
notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.
Concerning
the Trustee
The Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an
Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as
are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the
existence of an Event of Default, the Trustee will exercise such
rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the
same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent
person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions,
the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction
of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to
the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against
any loss, liability or expense.
The Indenture and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should
it come a creditor of the Company, to obtain payments of claims
in certain cases or to realize on certain property received in
respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. Subject to
the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee will be permitted to
engage in other transactions; provided that if the
Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the
Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate such conflict within
90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or
resign.
Governing
Law
The Indenture provides that it and the Notes will be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York.
Certain
Definitions
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture.
Reference is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all
such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein
for which no definition is provided.
Acquired Debt means, with respect to any
specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time
such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary
of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is
incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such
specified Person; and
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(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset
acquired by such specified Person.
Additional Notes means notes, if any, issued
under the Indenture after the Issue Date and forming a single
class of securities with the Notes.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any
other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person. For purposes of this definition, control, as
used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms
controlling, controlled by and
under common control with shall have correlative
meanings.
Asset Sale means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any
assets or rights, including by means of a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, but other than sales of inventory in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices; provided that
the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the
provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption
Repurchase at the Option of the HoldersOffer
to Repurchase upon Change of Control
and/or the
provisions described above under the caption Certain
CovenantsMerger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets and
not by the provisions of the Repurchase at the
Option of the HoldersOffer to Repurchase by Application of
Excess Proceeds of Asset Sales covenant; and
(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests in any of the
Companys Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity
Interests in any of its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be
deemed to be Asset Sales:
(1) any single transaction or series of related
transactions that: (a) involves assets having an aggregate
fair market value of less than $15.0 million; or
(b) results in aggregate net proceeds to the Company and
its Subsidiaries of less than $15.0 million;
(2) a transfer of assets (a) between or among the
Company and its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries,
(b) by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any of its
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) by the Company
or any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries to any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary if, in the case of this clause (c), the
Company or the Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, either retains title to or ownership of the assets being
transferred or receives consideration at the time of such
transfer at least equal to the fair market value of the
transferred assets;
(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary;
(4) any Permitted Investment or any Restricted Payment that
is permitted by the covenant described above under the caption
Certain CovenantsRestricted Payments;
(5) a disposition of products, services, equipment or
inventory in the ordinary course of business or a disposition of
obsolete equipment or equipment that is no longer useful in the
conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in the ordinary course of
business;
(6) the grant of Liens (or foreclosure thereon) permitted
by the covenant described under Certain
CovenantsLiens;
(7) the sale or transfer of Receivables Program Assets or
rights therein in connection with a Qualified Receivables
Transaction;
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(8) the surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the
settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other
litigation claim in the ordinary course of business;
(9) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash
Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;
(10) grants of licenses or sublicenses of intellectual
property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to
the extent not materially interfering with the business of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(11) any exchange of like-kind property pursuant to
Section 1031 of the Code that are used or useful in a
Permitted Business;
(12) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or
personal property in the ordinary course of business; and
(13) the abandonment of intellectual property rights in the
ordinary course of business, which in the reasonable good faith
determination of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries are not material to the conduct of the business of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Attributable Indebtedness, when used with
respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, means, as at the
time of determination, the present value of the total
Obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in any such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction, including any period for which such lease
has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be
extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a
discount rate equal to the rate implicit in such transaction,
determined in accordance with GAAP; provided,
however, that if such Sale and Leaseback Transaction
results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of
Indebtedness represented thereby will be determine in accordance
with the definition of Capital Lease Obligation.
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
such 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, whether such right is currently exercisable or
is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent
condition.
Board of Directors means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the Board of Directors
of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to
act on behalf of such board;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors
of the general partner of the partnership;
(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the
managing member or members or any controlling committee of
managing members or managers thereof; and
(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or
committee of such Person serving a similar function.
Board Resolution means, with respect to any
Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force
and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to
the Trustee.
Borrowing Base means as of any date, an
amount, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance
with GAAP, equal to the sum of (i) 70% of the aggregate
book value of inventory plus (ii) 85% of the aggregate book
value of all accounts receivable (net of bad debt reserves) of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. To the extent that
information is not available as to the amount of inventory or
accounts receivable as of a specific date, the Company shall use
the most recent available information for purposes of
calculating the Borrowing Base.
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Business Day means a day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in
New York are authorized or required by law to close.
Capital Lease Obligation means, at the time
any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the
liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time
be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance
with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of
the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such
lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be
prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
Capital Stock means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any
and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability
company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a
Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses
of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Cash Equivalents means:
(a) marketable direct Obligations issued by, or
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or
issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one
year from the date of acquisition;
(b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time
deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of one
year or less from the date of acquisition issued by any
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or
any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not
less than $500,000,000 and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of
B or better;
(c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least
A-1 by
S&P or
P-1 by
Moodys, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally
recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating
agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers
generally, and maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition;
(d) repurchase obligations of any commercial bank
satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this
definition, having a term of not more than 7 days, with
respect to securities of the type described in clause (a)
of this definition;
(e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the
date of acquisition issued or fully Guaranteed by any state,
commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political
subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth
or territory, the securities of which state, commonwealth,
territory, political subdivision or taxing authority (as the
case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by
Moodys; or
(f) money market mutual or similar funds that invest at
least 95% of their assets in securities satisfying the
requirements of clauses (a) through (e) of this
definition.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any
of the following:
(1) the sale, lease, 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 assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole to any person (as such term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company;
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(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without
limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is
that any person (as defined above) becomes the
Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the
Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather
than number of shares;
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing
Directors; or
(5) the Company consolidates or merges with or into another
Person, other than a merger or consolidation of the Company in
which the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding
immediately prior to the consolidation or merger hold, directly
or indirectly, at least a majority of the Voting Stock of the
surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or
merger.
Common Stock means with respect to any
Person, any and all shares, interests or other participations
in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting
or nonvoting) of such Persons common stock whether or not
outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation,
all series and classes of such common stock.
Consolidated Cash Flow means, with respect to
any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such
Person for such period plus, without duplication:
(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net
loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent
losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
plus
(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the
extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing
such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(3) consolidated net interest expense of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period whether paid or
accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without
limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash
interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment Obligations, the interest component of all payments
associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with
respect to Attributable Indebtedness, commissions, discounts and
other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit
or bankers acceptance financings, and net payments, if
any, pursuant to Hedging Obligations, but excluding amortization
of debt issuance costs), to the extent that any such expense was
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(4) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of
prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and
other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to
the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash
expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash
expense that was paid in a prior period and any non-cash charge,
expense or loss relating to write-offs, write-downs or reserves
with respect to accounts receivable or inventory) of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent
that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses
were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus
(5) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income
for such period, other than items that were accrued in the
ordinary course of business, in each case, on a consolidated
basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries and
determined in accordance with GAAP.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on
the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization
and other non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute
Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company only to the extent that a
corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of
determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted
Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained),
pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements,
instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and
governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its
stockholders.
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Consolidated Net Income means, with respect
to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net
Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with
GAAP; provided that:
(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is
accounted for by the equity method of accounting or is not a
Restricted Subsidiary shall be included only to the extent of
the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the
specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be
excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of
dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary
of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted
without any prior governmental approval (that has not been
obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms
of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree,
order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to
that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;
(3) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the
specified Person or one of its Subsidiaries;
(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principles shall be excluded;
(5) income or loss attributable to discontinued operations
(including, without limitation, operations disposed of during
such period whether or not such operations were classified as
discontinued) shall be excluded; and
(6) in the case of a successor to the referent Person by
consolidation or merger or as a transferee of the referent
Persons assets, any earnings of the successor corporation
prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets shall
be excluded.
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio
means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the
ratio of (i) Senior Secured Indebtedness of such Person on
such date to (ii) Consolidated Cash Flow for the period of
four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial
statements are available immediately preceding the date of the
event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Senior
Secured Leverage Ratio is made (for purposes of this definition,
the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio
Reference Period). In the event that the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes,
Guarantees, repays, repurchase, redeems, defeases or otherwise
discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital
borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock,
in each case, subsequent to the commencement of the Consolidated
Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Reference Period and on or prior
to the date of the event for which the calculation of the
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio is made (for purposes
of this definition, the Consolidated Senior Secured
Leverage Ratio Calculation Date), then the
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall be calculated
giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption,
Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or
other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or
redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds
therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Reference Period.
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Senior
Secured Leverage Ratio:
(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through
mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related
financing transactions, after the first day of the Consolidated
Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Reference Period and on or prior
to the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Calculation
Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Reference Period and
Consolidated Cash Flow for the Consolidated Senior Secured
Leverage Ratio Reference Period shall be calculated without
giving effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the
definition of Consolidated Net Income;
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(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, shall be
excluded; and
(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and
operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Consolidated
Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Calculation Date, shall be
excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving
rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the
specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following
the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio Calculation Date.
Consolidated Tangible Assets means, with
respect to any specified Person as of any date of determination,
the Consolidated Total Assets of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on that date minus the Intangible Assets of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on that date.
Consolidated Total Assets means, with respect
to any specified Person as of any date of determination, the net
book value of all assets of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on such date determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of
determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company who:
(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of
the Indenture; 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.
Credit Agreement means that certain Credit
Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2005 (as amended), by and
among the Company and the banks and other financial institutions
from time to time parties thereto as agents and lenders, and any
related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as
amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced
from time to time.
Credit Facility means, with respect to the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:
(1) the Credit Agreement; and
(2) one or more debt facilities (which may be outstanding
at the same time) or other financing arrangements (including,
without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures)
providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of
credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes,
mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case,
any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions,
renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures
or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that
replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other
credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such
replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that
increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder
(provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under
Certain CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock) or alters the maturity
thereof or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers
or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other
agent, lender or group of lenders.
Currency Protection Agreement means any
currency protection agreement entered into with one or more
financial institutions in the ordinary course of business that
is designed to protect the Person or entity entering into the
agreement against fluctuations in currency exchange rates with
respect to Indebtedness incurred and not for purposes of
speculation.
Default means any event that is, or with the
passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an
Event of Default.
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Designated Noncash Consideration means the
fair market value of noncash consideration received by the
Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with
an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Noncash
Consideration pursuant to an officers certificate, setting
forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal
executive officer and the principal financial officer of the
Company, less the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents received
in connection with a sale of such Designated Noncash
Consideration.
Disqualified Stock means any Capital Stock
that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which
it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case
at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of
any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the
option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior
to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the
Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any
Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely
because the holders thereof have the right to require the
Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of
a change of control or an asset sale or as a result of the
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar event of the issuer shall not
constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock
provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem such
Capital Stock pursuant to such provision unless such repurchase
or redemption complies with the covenant described under the
caption Certain CovenantsRestricted
Payments.
Domestic Subsidiary means, with respect to
the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that was formed under the
laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or
that Guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for
any Indebtedness of the Company or its Domestic Subsidiaries.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all
warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but
excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or
exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
Equity Offering means a public or private
sale for cash by the Company of its Common Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock), or options, warrants or rights with respect
to its Common Stock, other than public offerings with respect to
the Companys Common Stock, or options, warrants or rights,
registered on
Form S-4
or S-8.
Excluded Subsidiary means any Domestic
Subsidiary as may be designated by the Company as an
Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to an officers
certificate delivered to the Trustee; provided that each such
Subsidiary shall be an Excluded Subsidiary only if and only for
so long as the Consolidated Total Assets of such Subsidiary is
less than 2.0% of the Companys Consolidated Total Assets.
Existing Indebtedness means the Existing
Senior Notes and any other Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the
Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of the Indenture,
until such amounts are repaid.
Existing Senior Notes means up to
$100.0 million of the Companys 6.03% Senior
Notes due 2013.
fair market value means, with respect to any
asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an
arms-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a
willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is
under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, with
respect to any specified Person for any period (for purposes of
this definition, the Reference Period), the
ratio of Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the Reference
Period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for the Reference
Period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays,
repurchase, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any
Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or
issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock, in each case,
subsequent to the commencement of the Reference Period and on or
prior to the date of the event for which the calculation of the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (for purposes of this
definition, the Calculation Date), then the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma
effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment,
repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of
Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of
preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if
the same had occurred at the beginning of the Reference Period.
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In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio:
(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through
mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related
financing transactions, after the first day of the Reference
Period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed
to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period and
Consolidated Cash Flow for the Reference Period shall be
calculated without giving effect to clause (3) of the
proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net
Income;
(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, shall be
excluded; and
(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and
operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation
Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the
obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be
obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.
Fixed Charges means, with respect to any
Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
(1) the consolidated net interest expense of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or
accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of original
issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest
component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest
component of all payments associated with Capital Lease
Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable
Indebtedness, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers
acceptance financings, and net payments, if any, pursuant to
Hedging Obligations, but excluding amortization of debt issuance
costs; plus
(2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period;
plus
(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person
that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or
one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such
Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus
(4) the product of (a) all dividend payments, whether
or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend
payments on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests
of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a
fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of
which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and
local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal,
in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with
GAAP.
Foreign Subsidiary means, with respect to the
Company, any Subsidiary that was not formed under the laws of
the United States of America or any state thereof.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States of America as in effect on the
Issue Date.
Guarantee means a guarantee other than by
endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the
ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner
including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or
through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
Guarantors means:
(1) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Company on the date of
the Indenture (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries until such
Domestic Subsidiaries no longer qualify as Excluded
Subsidiaries); and
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(2) any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes a
Subsidiary Guarantee and related supplemental indenture in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture;
and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until
such Person is released from its Subsidiary Guarantee in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
Hedging Obligations of any Person means the
obligations of such Person under swap, cap, collar, forward
purchase or similar agreements or arrangements dealing with
interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices,
either generally or under specific contingencies.
Indebtedness means at any time (without
duplication), with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to
all or a portion of the assets of such Person, or non-recourse,
the following:
(i) all indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed or
for the deferred purchase price of property, excluding any trade
payables or other current liabilities incurred in the ordinary
course of business;
(ii) all Obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including
purchase-money obligations);
(iii) all Obligations of such Person with respect to
letters of credit, bankers acceptances or similar
facilities (including reimbursement obligations with respect
thereto, except to the extent such reimbursement Obligation
relates to a trade payable) issued for the account of such
Person;
(iv) all Indebtedness created or arising under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect
to property or assets acquired by such Person (even if the
rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement
in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of
such property or assets);
(v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;
(vi) the maximum fixed redemption, repayment or other
repurchase price of Disqualified Stock in such Person at the
time of determination;
(vii) any Hedging Obligations of such Person at the time of
determination (the amount of any such Obligations to be equal to
the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving
rise to such Obligation that would be payable by such Person at
such time);
(viii) any Attributable Indebtedness; and
(ix) all Obligations of the types referred to in
clauses (i) through (viii) of this definition of
another Person and all dividends and other distributions of
another Person, the payment of which, in either case,
(A) such Person has Guaranteed, directly or indirectly, or
that is otherwise its legal liability or which such Person has
agreed to purchase or repurchase or in respect of which such
Person has agreed contingently to supply or advance funds or
(B) is secured by (or the holder of such Indebtedness or
the recipient of such dividends or other distributions has an
existing right, whether contingent or otherwise, to be secured
by) any Lien upon the property or other assets of such Person,
even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the
payment of such Indebtedness, dividends or other distributions.
For purposes of the foregoing:
(a) the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Disqualified
Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be
calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified
Stock as if such Disqualified Stock was repurchased on any date
on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined
pursuant to this Indenture; provided, however,
that, if such Disqualified Stock is not then permitted to be
repurchased, the repurchase price shall be the book value of
such Disqualified Stock;
(b) the amount outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness
issued with original issue discount is the principal amount of
such Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion of the
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original issue discount of such Indebtedness at such time as
determined in conformity with GAAP, but such Indebtedness shall
be deemed incurred only as of the date of original issuance
thereof;
(c) in the case of any Indebtedness not issued with
original issue discount, the amount of any such Indebtedness
outstanding as of any date will be the principal amount of the
Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness
that is more than 30 days past due;
(d) the amount of any Indebtedness described in clause
(ix)(A) above shall be the maximum liability under any such
Guarantee;
(e) the amount of any Indebtedness described in clause
(ix)(B) above shall be the lesser of (I) the maximum amount
of the Obligations so secured and (II) the fair market
value of such property or other assets; and
(f) except as described in clause (e) above, interest,
fees, premium, and expenses and additional payments, if any,
will not constitute Indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the purchase
or sale by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any
assets or business, the term Indebtedness will
exclude (x) customary indemnification obligations and
(y) post-closing payment adjustments to which the other
party may become entitled to the extent such payment is
determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment is
otherwise contingent; provided, however, that,
such amount would not be required to be reflected on the face of
a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Intangible Assets means assets that are
considered to be intangible assets under GAAP, including,
without limitation, customer lists, goodwill, computer software,
copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, franchises,
licenses, unamortized deferred charges, unamortized debt
discount and capitalized research and development costs.
Investment Grade Rating means, a debt rating
of the Notes of BBB− or higher by S&P and Baa3 or
higher by Moodys or the equivalent of such ratings by
S&P and Moodys or in the event S&P or
Moodys shall cease rating the Notes and the Company shall
select any other Rating Agency, the equivalent of such ratings
by such other Rating Agency.
Investments means, with respect to any
Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons
(including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans
(including Guarantees of Indebtedness or other Obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel
and similar advances to officers and employees made in the
ordinary course of business), prepaid expenses and accounts
receivable, purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of
Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together
with all items that are or would be classified as investments on
a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of
any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or
disposition, such Person is no longer a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have
made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition
equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such
Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as
provided in the penultimate paragraph of the covenant described
above under the caption Certain CovenantsRestricted
Payments.
Issue Date means the date of first issuance
of the Notes under the Indenture.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any
mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance
of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed,
recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including
any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any
lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to
sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or
agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
Moodys means Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. or any successor rating agency.
Net Cash Proceeds with respect to any
issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of
such issuance or sale net of attorneys fees,
accountants fees, underwriters or placement
agents fees,
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listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant
and other fees and charges actually incurred in connection with
such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a
result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any
available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements).
Net Income means, with respect to any Person,
the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance
with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock
dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any
related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or
loss; and
(2) any premiums, fees and expenses paid in connection with
the Transactions.
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash
proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition
of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net
of all costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without
limitation, legal, accounting, investment banking fees and
broker fees, and sales and underwriting commissions, and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or
payable as a result thereof, in each case after taking into
account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax
sharing arrangements and amounts required to be applied to the
repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a
Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that
were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for
adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets
established in accordance with GAAP.
Non-Recourse Debt means Indebtedness:
(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any
kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that
would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or
indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or
(c) constitutes the lender;
(2) default with respect to which (including any rights
that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action
against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice,
lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness
(other than the Notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or
cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to
its Stated Maturity; and
(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing
that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Notes means the notes issued by the Company
on the date of the Indenture.
Obligations means any principal, premium, if
any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the
filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization
relating to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries whether
or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such
proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses,
indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, including
liquidated damages, Guarantees and other liabilities or amounts
payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in
respect thereof.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion
from legal counsel, who may be internal counsel for the Company,
or who is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Trustee,
complying with certain provisions in the Indenture.
Permitted Investments means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
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(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company in a Person engaged in a Related
Business, if as a result of such Investment:
(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company; or
(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with
or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets
to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company;
(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of
non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant
to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the
caption Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Offer to Repurchase by Application of Excess
Proceeds of Asset Sales;
(5) any Investments by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in a Receivables Subsidiary or a Special Purpose
Vehicle or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any
other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables
Transaction; provided, that any Investment in a
Receivables Subsidiary or a Special Purpose Vehicle is in the
form of a Purchase Money Note or an Equity Interest or in the
form of a purchase of Receivables and Receivables Related Assets
pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation;
(6) any Investment solely in exchange for the issuance of
Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(7) Investments in accounts or notes receivable owing to
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary acquired in the
ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in
accordance with customary trade terms; provided,
however, that such trade terms may include such
concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted
Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;
(8) loans and advances to employees and officers of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business for bona fide business purposes not in excess of
$5.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(9) Investments in securities received in settlement of
Obligations of trade creditors or customers in the ordinary
course of business or in satisfaction of judgments or pursuant
to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the
bankruptcy or insolvency of trade creditors or customers;
(10) workers compensation, utility, lease and similar
deposits and prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of business
and endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the
ordinary course of business;
(11) commission, payroll, travel and similar advances to
employees in the ordinary course of business;
(12) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary
course of the Companys or its Restricted
Subsidiaries businesses and not for speculative purposes
and otherwise in compliance with this Indenture;
(13) Investments represented by Guarantees of Indebtedness
that are otherwise permitted under this Indenture; and
(14) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate
fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was
made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value),
when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to
this clause (14) that are at any time outstanding, not to
exceed the greater of (a) $150.0 million and
(b) 10% of Consolidated Tangible Assets.
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Permitted Liens means:
(1) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary provided that the aggregate amount of
Indebtedness secured by this clause (1) shall not exceed
the greater of (a) the greater of
(i) $600.0 million or (ii) the Borrowing Base and
(b) the amount of Indebtedness that, after giving effect to
the incurrence of such Indebtedness secured by such Liens, does
not cause the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio of the
Company to be greater than 2.5 to 1.0;
(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;
(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such
Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided
that such Liens were not entered into in contemplation of
such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets
other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with
the Company or such Subsidiary;
(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition
thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company; provided that such Liens were not entered into
in contemplation of such acquisition and only extend to the
property so acquired;
(5) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including and Capital
Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the second
paragraph of the covenant entitled Certain
CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock covering only the assets financed with
such Indebtedness and additions and improvements thereon;
(6) Liens existing on the Issue Date;
(7) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or
claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted,
provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision
as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been
made therefor;
(8) Deposits and landlords, lessors,
carriers, warehousemens, mechanics,
suppliers, materialmens, repairmens and other
like Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of
business, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted,
provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision
as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been
made therefor;
(9) pledges or deposits made in connection with
workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other
types of social security or similar legislation, or good faith
deposits to secure the performance of bids, tenders, government
contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases
to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party,
deposits to secure statutory obligations or bankers
acceptances of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and
deposits to secure surety and appeal bonds to which the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary is a party, in each case incurred in
the ordinary course of business;
(10) judgment Liens not giving rise to Default or an Event
of Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any
appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated
for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally
terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be
initiated shall not have expired;
(11) easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions and
other similar charges or encumbrances affecting real property
which do not materially adversely affect the value of said
property or interfere in any material respect with the ordinary
conduct of the business of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary;
(12) any interest or title of a lessor under any capital
lease or operating lease; provided that such Liens do not
extend to any property or assets which is not leased property
subject to such lease;
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(13) Liens in favor of custom and revenue authorities
arising as a matter of law to secure payment of non-delinquent
customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(14) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect
to letters of credit incurred in accordance with the Indenture
which encumber documents and other property relating to such
letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;
(15) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing
statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business.
(16) leases or subleases, licenses or sublicenses, granted
to others not interfering in any material respect with the
business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company;
(17) Liens arising out of consignment or similar
arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business;
(18) rights of banks to set off deposits against debts owed
to said bank;
(19) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
which is incurred to refinance, renew, replace, defease or
discharge any Refinanced Indebtedness which has been secured by
a Lien permitted under this Indenture and which has been
incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;
provided, however, that such Liens: (i) are
no less favorable to the Holders in any material respect and are
not more favorable to the lienholders in any material respect
with respect to such Liens than the Liens in respect of such
Refinanced Indebtedness; and (ii) do not extend to or cover
any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries not securing such Refinanced Indebtedness;
(20) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods
and proceeds of any Person securing such Persons
obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or
created for the account of such Person to facilitate the
purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(21) Liens securing Hedging Obligations, currency
agreements and commodities agreements which relate to
Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the
covenant entitled Certain CovenantsIncurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;
(22) Liens on Receivables Program Assets securing
Receivables Program Obligations;
(23) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to
secure liability to insurance carriers;
(24) Liens under licensing agreements for use of
intellectual property entered into in the ordinary course of
business; and
(25) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with
respect to Obligations that do not exceed $15.0 million at
any one time outstanding.
During any Suspension Period, the relevant clauses of the
covenant entitled Certain
CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be in effect solely for
purposes of determining the amount available under
clause (5) above.
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
which are used to refinance, renew, replace, defease or
discharge other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness)
(such other Indebtedness, Refinanced
Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable)
of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the
principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus
accrued
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interest on, the Refinanced Indebtedness (plus the amount of
reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith
including premiums paid, if any, to the holders thereof);
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted
Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted
Average Life to Maturity of the Refinanced Indebtedness;
(3) if the Refinanced Indebtedness is subordinated in right
of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at
least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in
the documentation governing the Refinanced Indebtedness;
(4) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred
either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the
obligor on the Refinanced Indebtedness; and
(5) (a) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness
being refinanced is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the
Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated
Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Refinanced
Indebtedness or (b) if the Stated Maturity of the
Refinanced Indebtedness is later than the Stated Maturity of the
Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated
Maturity at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of
the Notes.
Person means any individual, corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, estate or
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof or any other entity (including any
subdivision or ongoing business of any such entity, or
substantially all of the assets of any such entity, subdivision
or business).
Purchase Money Note means a promissory note
evidencing the obligation of a Receivables Subsidiary or a
Special Purpose Vehicle to pay the purchase price for
Receivables or other Indebtedness to the Company or to any
Restricted Subsidiary (or to a Receivables Subsidiary in the
case of a transfer to a Special Purpose Vehicle) in connection
with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, which note shall be
repaid from cash available to the maker of such note, other than
cash required to be held as reserves pursuant to Receivables
Documents, amounts paid in respect of interest, principal and
other amounts owing under Receivables Documents and amounts paid
in connection with the purchase of newly generated Receivables.
Qualified Capital Stock means any Capital
Stock that is not Disqualified Stock.
Qualified Receivables Transaction means any
transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
pursuant to which the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary
may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to a Receivables
Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries) and any other Person (in the case
of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a
security interest in, any Receivables Program Assets (whether
existing on the Issue Date or arising thereafter); provided that:
(1) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other Obligations
(contingent or otherwise) of a Receivables Subsidiary or Special
Purpose Vehicle
(a) is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary), excluding
Guarantees of Obligations pursuant to Standard Securitization
Undertakings,
(b) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) in
any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization
Undertakings, or
(c) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables
Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise,
to the satisfaction of Obligations incurred in such
transactions, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization
Undertakings;
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(2) neither the Company nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) has any
material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with
a Receivables Subsidiary or a Special Purpose Vehicle (except in
connection with a Purchase Money Note or Qualified Receivables
Transaction) other than on terms no less favorable to the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be
obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the
Company, other than fees payable in the ordinary course of
business in connection with servicing accounts
receivable; and
(3) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
a Receivables Subsidiary) do not have any obligation to maintain
or preserve the financial condition of a Receivables Subsidiary
or a Special Purpose Vehicle or cause such entity to achieve
certain levels of operating results other than Standard
Securitization Undertakings.
Rating Agency means each of S&P and
Moodys, or if S&P or Moodys or both shall not
make a rating on the Notes publicly available (for reasons
outside the control of the Company), a statistical rating agency
or agencies, as the case may be, nationally recognized in the
United States and selected by the Company (as certified by a
resolution of the Board of Directors) which shall be substituted
for S&Ps or Moodys, or both, as the case may be.
Receivables means all rights of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables
Subsidiary) to payments (whether constituting accounts, chattel
paper, instruments, general intangibles or otherwise, and
including the right to payment of any interest or finance
charges), which rights are identified in the accounting records
of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary as accounts
receivable.
Receivables Documents means:
(1) one or more receivables purchase agreements, pooling
and servicing agreements, credit agreements, agreements to
acquire undivided interests or other agreements to transfer or
obtain loans or advances against, or create a security interest
in, Receivables Program Assets, in each case as amended,
modified, supplemented or restated and in effect from time to
time and entered into by the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary
and/or a
Receivables Subsidiary, and
(2) each other instrument, agreement and other document
entered into by the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or a
Receivables Subsidiary relating to the transactions contemplated
by the agreements referred to in clause (a) above, in each
case as amended, modified, supplemented or restated and in
effect from time to time.
Receivables Program Assets means:
(1) all Receivables which are described as being
transferred by the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or a
Receivables Subsidiary pursuant to the Receivables Documents;
(2) all Receivables Related Assets; and
(3) all collections (including recoveries) and other
proceeds of the assets described in the foregoing clauses.
Receivables Program Obligations means:
(1) Indebtedness and other Obligations owing in respect of
notes, trust certificates, undivided interests, partnership
interests or other interests sold, issued
and/or
pledged, or otherwise incurred, in connection with a Qualified
Receivables Transaction; and
(2) related obligations of the Company, a Subsidiary of the
Company or a Special Purpose Vehicle (including, without
limitation, Standard Securitization Undertakings).
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Receivables Related Assets means:
(1) any rights arising under the documentation governing or
relating to Receivables (including rights in respect of Liens
securing such Receivables and other credit support in respect of
such Receivables);
(2) any proceeds of such Receivables and any lockboxes or
accounts in which such proceeds are deposited;
(3) spread accounts and other similar accounts (and any
amounts on deposit therein) established in connection with a
Qualified Receivables Transaction;
(4) any warranty, indemnity, dilution and other
intercompany claim arising out of Receivables Documents; and
(5) other assets which are customarily transferred or in
respect of which security interests are customarily granted in
connection with asset securitization transactions involving
accounts receivable.
Receivables Repurchase Obligation means any
obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than
a Receivables Subsidiary) in a Qualified Receivables Transaction
to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a
representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as
a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to
any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any
kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take
action by or any other event relating to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Subsidiary).
Receivables Subsidiary means a special
purpose Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
created in connection with the transactions contemplated by a
Qualified Receivables Transaction, which Restricted Subsidiary
engages in no activities other than those incidental to such
Qualified Receivables Transaction and which is designated as a
Receivables Subsidiary by the Companys Board of Directors.
Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be
evidenced by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution of the
Company giving effect to such designation and an officers
certificate certifying, to the best of such officers
knowledge and belief after consulting with counsel, such
designation, and the transactions in which the Receivables
Subsidiary will engage, comply with the requirements of the
definition of Qualified Receivables Transaction.
Related Business means the business conducted
by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date and any
and all businesses that in the good faith judgment of the Board
of Directors of the Company are similar or reasonably related,
ancillary or complementary thereto or reasonable extensions
thereof.
Restricted Investment means an Investment
other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any
Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
S&P means Standard &
Poors Rating Services, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., a
New York corporation, or any successor rating agency.
Sale and Leaseback Transactions means with
respect to any Person an arrangement with any bank, insurance
company or other lender or investor or to which such lender or
investor is a party, providing for the leasing by such Person of
any asset of such Person which has been or is being sold or
transferred by such Person to such lender or investor or to any
Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such
lender or investor on the security of such asset.
Senior Secured Indebtedness means the sum of
(i) Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit
Facilities (with letters of credit being deemed to have an
amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder), (ii) the
undrawn availability of revolving credit Indebtedness under
Credit Facilities and (iii) other Indebtedness that is not
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes which is secured
by Lien on any assets or property of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary.
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Significant Subsidiary means (1) any
Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as
defined in Article 1,
Rule 1-02
of
Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, as such Regulation is
in effect on the date hereof and (2) any Restricted
Subsidiary that when aggregated with all other Restricted
Subsidiaries that are not otherwise Significant Subsidiaries
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary under clause (1)
of this definition.
Special Purpose Vehicle means a trust,
partnership or other special purpose Person established by the
Company
and/or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries to implement a Qualified
Receivables Transaction.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means
representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered
into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which, in
the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the
appropriate company, are reasonably customary in an accounts
receivable transaction and includes, without limitation, any
Receivables Repurchase Obligation.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any
installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or
principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any
contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such
interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for
the payment thereof.
Sturm Acquisition means the acquisition
pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
December 20, 2009 of all of the outstanding Common Stock of
Sturm Foods, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, from each of the
shareholders listed on the signature pages to such Stock
Purchase Agreement.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity
(other than a partnership) of which more than 50% of the total
voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard
to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or
more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person (or a combination
thereof); and
(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or
the managing general partner of which is such Person or a
Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners
of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person (or any combination thereof).
Subsidiary Guarantee means, individually, any
Guarantee of payment of the Notes by a Guarantor pursuant to the
terms of the Indenture, and, collectively, all such Guarantees.
Each such Subsidiary Guarantee will be in the form prescribed by
the Indenture.
Transactions means (i) the Sturm
Acquisition, (ii) the offering of the Notes hereby,
(iii) the intended offering of Common Stock of the Company
in an underwritten public offering and (iv) the payment of
fees and expenses related to each of clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) above.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary
of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors as
an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but
only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract,
arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be
obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the
Company;
(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company
nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or
indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity
Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Persons
financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any
specified level of operating results; and
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(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly
provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries unless such Guarantee or
credit support is released upon its designation as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the Trustee by
filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution
giving effect to such designation and an officers
certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
preceding conditions and was permitted by the covenant described
above under the caption Certain
CovenantsRestricted Payments. If, at any time, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding
requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter
cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the
Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be
deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be
incurred as of such date under the covenant described under the
caption Certain CovenantsIncurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock, the Company
shall be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of
the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that
such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of
Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any
outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and
such designation shall only be permitted if (1) such
Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described under the
caption Certain CovenantsIncurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock, calculated
on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the
beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no
Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary of the Company
shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary during any
Suspension Period.
U.S. Dollar Equivalent means, with
respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than
U.S. dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the
amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign
currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at
the spot rate for the purpose of U.S. dollars with the
applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street
Journal in the Exchange Rates column under the
heading Currency Trading on the date two Business
Days prior to such determination.
U.S. Government Obligations means direct
non-callable Obligations of, or Guaranteed by, the United States
of America for the payment of which Guarantee or Obligations the
full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any date
means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time
entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of
such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when
applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years
obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying
(a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking
fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal,
including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by
(b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making
of such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such
Indebtedness.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of any Person
means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the
outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which
(other than directors qualifying shares) shall at the time
be owned by such Person
and/or by
one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
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CERTAIN
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
General
The following discussion is a summary of certain
U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in
the notes. This discussion does not address all aspects of
U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to
particular taxpayers in light of their special circumstances or
taxpayers subject to special treatment under U.S. federal
income tax laws (including dealers in securities or currencies,
financial institutions, cooperatives, regulated investment
companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt
organizations, insurance companies, persons who hold notes as
part of a hedging, integrated straddle, conversion or
constructive sale transaction, persons subject to the
alternative minimum tax, U.S. Holders (as defined below)
whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,
U.S. expatriates, controlled foreign corporations, passive
foreign investment companies, and partnerships (including
entities treated as partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes)). This discussion does not address any aspect of
U.S. federal taxation other than U.S. federal income
taxation or any aspect of state, local or foreign taxation. In
addition, this discussion deals only with certain
U.S. federal income tax consequences to a holder that
acquires the notes in the initial offering at their issue price
and holds the notes as capital assets.
This summary is based on the U.S. federal income tax law in
effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement, which is
subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with
retroactive effect.
EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER OF THE NOTES SHOULD CONSULT ITS
TAX ADVISOR CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND
FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES.
A U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of a note
that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation) created
or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under
the laws of the United States or any State thereof (including
the District of Columbia);
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of its source; or
a trust, (i) the administration of which is subject to the
primary supervision of a court within the United States and for
which one or more U.S. persons have the authority to
control all substantial decisions, or (ii) that has a valid
election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury
Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
A
Non-U.S. Holder
is a beneficial owner of a note that is not a U.S. Holder
or a partnership. If a partnership (or any other entity treated
as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes)
holds a note, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a
partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and
the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership
holding a note should consult its tax advisor concerning the
U.S. federal income and other tax consequences of an
investment in the notes.
Tax
Consequences to U.S. Holders
Interest. Payments of stated interest on the
notes will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary interest
income at the time such holder receives or accrues such amounts,
in accordance with its regular method of accounting. It is not
expected that the notes will be issued with original issue
discount (OID) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
Sale, Exchange, Retirement or Other Disposition of a
Note. A U.S. Holder will generally recognize
capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, retirement or
other taxable disposition of a note in an amount equal to the
difference between (i) the amount realized (except to the
extent such amount is attributable to accrued interest, which
will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent such
interest has not been previously included in income) and
(ii) such U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the
note. A U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in a note
will generally equal the cost of the note to such holder. Such
capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if
the note was held for more than one year at the time of
disposition. Long-term capital gains generally are subject to
preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax for certain
non-
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corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals). The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant
limitations.
Tax
Consequences to
Non-U.S.
Holders
Interest. Subject to the discussion below
concerning backup withholding, no U.S. federal income or
withholding tax generally will apply to a payment of interest on
a note to a
Non-U.S. Holder,
provided that
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such interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a
trade or business in the United States by the
Non-U.S. Holder;
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such
Non-U.S. Holder
does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to
vote;
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such
Non-U.S. Holder
is not a controlled foreign corporation directly or indirectly
related to us through stock ownership;
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such
Non-U.S. Holder
is not a bank whose receipt of interest on the notes is
described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code;
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either (A) such
Non-U.S. Holder
provides its name and address, and certifies on IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or a substantially similar form), under penalties of perjury,
that it is not a U.S. person or (B) a securities
clearing organization or certain other financial institutions
holding the note on behalf of the
Non-U.S. Holder
certifies on IRS
Form W-8IMY,
under penalties of perjury, that such certification has been
received by it and furnishes us or our paying agent with a copy
thereof; and
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we or our paying agent do not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that the beneficial owner of the note is a U.S. person.
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If all of the foregoing requirements are not met, payments of
interest on a note generally will be subject to
U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower
applicable treaty rate, provided certain certification
requirements are met), subject to the discussion below
concerning interest that is effectively connected with a
Non-U.S. Holders
conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
Sale, Exchange, Retirement or Other Disposition of a
Note. Subject to the discussion below concerning
backup withholding, a
Non-U.S. Holder
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or
withholding tax on the receipt of payments of principal on a
note, or on any gain recognized upon the sale, exchange,
retirement or other disposition of a note, unless in the case of
gain (i) such gain is effectively connected with the
conduct by such
Non-U.S. Holder
of a trade or business within the United States and, if a treaty
applies (and the holder complies with applicable certification
and other requirements to claim treaty benefits), is
attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the
Non-U.S. Holder
within the United States or (ii) such
Non-U.S. Holder
is an individual who is present in the United States for
183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition, and
certain other conditions are met.
United States Trade or Business. If a
Non-U.S. Holder
is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if
interest or gain on a note is effectively connected with the
conduct of such trade or business and, if a treaty applies (and
the holder complies with applicable certification and other
requirements to claim treaty benefits), is attributable to a
permanent establishment maintained by the
Non-U.S. Holder
within the United States, the
Non-U.S. Holder
generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the
receipt or accrual of such interest or the recognition of gain
on the sale or other taxable disposition of the note in the same
manner as if such holder were a U.S. person. Such interest
or gain recognized by a corporate
Non-U.S. Holder
may also be subject to an additional U.S. federal branch
profits tax at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower treaty
rate). In addition, any such gain will not be subject to
withholding tax and any such interest will not be subject to
withholding tax if the
Non-U.S. Holder
delivers to us a properly executed IRS
Form W-8ECI
in order to claim an exemption from withholding tax.
Non-U.S. Holders
should consult their tax advisors with respect to other
U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of
notes.
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Backup
Withholding and Information Reporting
U.S. Holders. Payments of interest and
principal on, or the proceeds of the sale or other disposition
of, a note are generally subject to information reporting unless
the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient (such as a
corporation). Such payments may also be subject to
U.S. federal backup withholding tax at the applicable rate
if the recipient of such payment fails to supply a taxpayer
identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as
well as certain other information or otherwise fails to
establish an exemption from backup withholding. Any amounts
withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a
refund or a credit against that U.S. Holders
U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required
information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Non-U.S. Holders. A
Non-U.S. Holder
may be required to comply with certain certification procedures
to establish that the holder is not a U.S. person in order
to avoid information reporting and backup withholding tax with
respect to our payment of principal and interest on, or the
proceeds of the sale or other disposition of, a note. Any
amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against that
Non-U.S. Holders
U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required
information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. In
certain circumstances, the name and address of the beneficial
owner and the amount of interest paid on a note, as well as the
amount, if any, of tax withheld may be reported to the Internal
Revenue Service. Copies of these information returns may also be
made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or
agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the
Non-U.S. Holder
resides. Proposed legislation recently introduced in the
U.S. Congress would, among other things, require
withholding of tax at a rate of 30 percent on amounts paid
to a non-financial foreign entity unless the entity provides the
withholding agent with a certification identifying the direct
and indirect U.S. owners of the entity.
Non-U.S. Holders
should consult their tax advisors with respect to other
U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of
notes.
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UNDERWRITING
Banc of America Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named
below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
purchase agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed
to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has
agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the
principal amount of notes set forth opposite its name below.
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Principal Amount of
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Underwriter
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Notes
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Banc of America Securities LLC
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$
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Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
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BMO Capital Markets Corp
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Rabo Securities USA, Inc.
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SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.
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Total
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$
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Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the purchase
agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not
jointly, to purchase all of the notes under the purchase
agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If an underwriter
defaults, the purchase agreement provides that the purchase
commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased
or the purchase agreement terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and their
controlling persons against certain liabilities in connection
with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities
Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be
required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale,
when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to
approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the
validity of the notes and other conditions contained in the
purchase agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of
officers certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters
reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the
public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Commissions
and Discounts
The representatives have advised us that the underwriters
propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus
supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a
concession not in excess of % of
the principal amount of the notes. After the initial offering,
the public offering price, concession or any other term of the
offering may be changed.
The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting
discount, are estimated at $ and
are payable by us.
New Issue
of Notes
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the
notes on any national securities exchange or for inclusion of
the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been
advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a
market in the notes after completion of the offering. However,
they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any
market-making activities at any time without any notice. We
cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the notes
or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If
an active public trading market for the notes does not develop,
the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely
affected. If the notes are traded, they may trade at a discount
from their initial offering price, depending on
S-86
prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities,
our operating performance and financial condition, general
economic conditions and other factors.
Settlement
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors
on or about March , 2010,
which will be
the business
day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such
settlement being referred to as T+ ).
Under
Rule 15c6-1
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the
secondary market are required to settle in three business days,
unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise.
Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the
delivery of the notes hereunder will be required, by virtue of
the fact that the notes initially settle in T+ , to
specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any
such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the
notes who wish to trade the notes prior to their date of
delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.
No Sales
of Similar Securities
We have agreed that we will not, for a period of 90 days
after the date of this prospectus supplement, without first
obtaining the prior written consent of Banc of America
Securities LLC, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer to
contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, any debt securities or securities
exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities, except for
the notes sold to the underwriters pursuant to the purchase
agreement.
Short
Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase
and sell the notes in the open market. These transactions may
include short sales and purchases on the open market to cover
positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale
by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of notes than
they are required to purchase in the offering. The underwriters
must close out any short position by purchasing notes in the
open market. A short position is more likely to be created if
the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward
pressure on the price of the notes in the open market after
pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in
the offering.
Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters
purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect
of raising or maintaining the market price of the notes or
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the
notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than
the price that might otherwise exist in the open market.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation
or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect
that the transactions described above may have on the price of
the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters
make any representation that the representatives will engage in
these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced,
will not be discontinued without notice.
Other
Relationships
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged
in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and
other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business
with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the
future receive, customary fees and commissions for these
transactions. In addition, Bank of America, N.A., an affiliate
of Banc of America Securities LLC, serves as administrative
agent under our credit facility, Banc of America Securities LLC
serves as joint lead arranger under our credit facility and BMO
Capital Markets Financing, Inc., an affiliate of BMO Capital
Markets Corp, Coöperatieve Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A.,
Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, an affiliate of
Rabo Securities USA, Inc., SunTrust Bank, an affiliate of
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities LLC, each
serve as co-documentation agents under our credit facility.
These affiliates also serve, along with the affiliates of
certain other underwriters, as lenders under our credit facility.
In connection with our proposed acquisition of Sturm Foods,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, an
affiliate of Banc of America Securities LLC, is acting as our
financial advisor.
S-87
In connection with the equity offering, Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated are serving as bookrunners,
Barclays Capital Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. are
serving as co-lead managers, and BMO Capital Markets Corp,
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., KeyBanc Capital
Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are serving as
co-managers.
Notice to
Prospective Investors in the EEA
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a
Relevant Member State) an offer to the public of any
notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this
prospectus supplement may not be made in that Relevant Member
State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant
Member State of any notes may be made at any time under the
following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they
have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:
(a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to
operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or
regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in
securities;
(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of
(1) an average of at least 250 employees during the
last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more
than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts;
(c) by the underwriters to fewer than 100 natural or legal
persons (other than qualified investors as defined
in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior
consent of the representatives for any such offer; or
(d) in any other circumstances falling within
Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;
provided that no such offer of notes shall result in a
requirement for the publication by us or any representative of a
prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus
Directive.
Any person making or intending to make any offer of notes within
the EEA should only do so in circumstances in which no
obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to produce a
prospectus for such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have
authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of
notes through any financial intermediary, other than offers made
by the underwriters which constitute the final offering of notes
contemplated in this prospectus supplement.
For the purposes of this provision, and your representation
below, the expression an offer to the public in
relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient
information on the terms of the offer and any notes to be
offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any
notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State
by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that
Relevant Member State and the expression Prospectus
Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any
relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
Each person in a Relevant Member State who receives any
communication in respect of, or who acquires any notes under,
the offer of notes contemplated by this prospectus supplement
will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and
with us and each underwriter that:
(A) it is a qualified investor within the
meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing
Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive; and
(B) in the case of any notes acquired by it as a financial
intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the
Prospectus Directive, (i) the notes acquired by it in the
offering have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been
acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any
Relevant Member State other than qualified investors
(as defined in the Prospectus Directive), or in circumstances in
which the prior consent of the representatives has been given to
the offer or resale; or (ii) where notes have been acquired
by it on behalf of persons in any Relevant Member
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State other than qualified investors, the offer of those notes
to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having
been made to such persons.
In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being
distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer
subsequently made may only be directed at person who are
qualified investors (as defined in the Prospectus
Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters
relating to investments falling within Article 19
(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the
Order)
and/or
(ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom
it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within
Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons
together being referred to as relevant persons).
This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United
Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United
Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this
document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in
with, relevant persons.
Notice to
Prospective Investors in Switzerland
This prospectus does not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant
to Article 652a or Article 1156 of the Swiss Code of
Obligations and the notes will not be listed on the SIX Swiss
Exchange. Therefore, this prospectus may not comply with the
disclosure standards of the listing rules (including any
additional listing rules or prospectus schemes) of the SIX Swiss
Exchange. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered to the
public in or from Switzerland, but only to a selected and
limited circle of investors who do not subscribe to the notes
with a view to distribution. Any such investors will be
individually approached by the underwriters from time to time.
Notice to
Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial
Centre
This document relates to an exempt offer in accordance with the
Offered Securities Rule of the Dubai Financial Services
Authority. This document is intended for distribution only to
persons of a type specified in those rules. It must not be
delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The Dubai
Financial Services Authority has no responsibility for reviewing
or verifying any documents in connection with exempt offers. The
Dubai Financial Services Authority has not approved this
document nor taken steps to verify the information set out in
it, and has no responsibility for it. The notes which are the
subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus
supplement may be illiquid
and/or
subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers
of the notes offered should conduct their own due diligence on
the notes. If you do not understand the contents of this
document, you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
S-89
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the notes and the guarantees will be passed upon
for us by Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago, Illinois.
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be
passed upon for the underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial
statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus supplement
by reference from the TreeHouse Foods, Inc.s Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
and the effectiveness of TreeHouse Foods, Inc.s internal
control over financial reporting have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and
financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The audited historical financial statements of Sturm Foods, Inc.
included in TreeHouse Foods, Inc.s Current Report on
Form 8-K
dated February 16, 2010 and incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement have been so incorporated in reliance
on the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified
public accountants, given on the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we
file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be
part of this prospectus.
Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede this information. This means that you must
look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference
to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in
any documents previously incorporated by reference have been
modified or superseded. We incorporate by reference into this
prospectus supplement the following documents:
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(a)
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on
February 16, 2010.
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(b)
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on February 16, 2010.
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All documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before the termination of this
offering.
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Nothing in this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to
incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC
pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of
Form 8-K.
You may request a copy of these filings and any exhibit
incorporated by reference in these filings at no cost, by
writing or telephoning us at the following address or number:
TreeHouse
Foods, Inc.
Two Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 1070
Westchester, IL 60154
(708) 483-1300
Attention: Secretary
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PROSPECTUS
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Stock Purchase
Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Guarantees of Debt
Securities
We may offer and sell any of the following securities from time
to time, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on
terms determined at the time of any such offering:
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common stock;
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preferred stock;
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debt securities;
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warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred
stock;
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subscription rights; and
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stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.
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Certain of our domestic subsidiaries may fully and
unconditionally guarantee any debt securities that we issue.
When we use the term securities in this prospectus,
we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus,
unless we say otherwise.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may
apply to these securities and the general manner in which they
may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be
offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered,
will be described in a supplement to this prospectus or
incorporated into this prospectus by reference. You should read
this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement
carefully before you make your investment decision.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and
trades under the symbol THS. Each prospectus
supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will
be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You
should carefully read and consider the risk factors included in
our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to
a specific offering of securities and in any other documents we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See the
section entitled Risk Factors on page 2 of this
prospectus, in our other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities, or determined if this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
When we issue new securities, we may offer them for sale to or
through underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to
purchasers. The applicable prospectus supplement for each
offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of
distribution for that offering, including any required
information about the firms we use and the discounts or
commissions we may pay them for their services. For general
information about the distribution of securities offered, please
see Plan of Distribution on page 26 of this
prospectus.
The date of this prospectus is February 16, 2010.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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You should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement, and in other offering material, if any, or
information contained in documents which you are referred to by
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or in other
offering material, if any. We have not authorized anyone to
provide you with different information. We are not offering to
sell any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer and
sale are not permitted. The information contained in or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement or other offering material is accurate only as of the
date of those documents or information, regardless of the time
of delivery of the documents or information or the time of any
sale of the securities. Neither the delivery of this prospectus
or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of
securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any
circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any
applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the
date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus
supplement.
i
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf
registration statement that we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a well-known seasoned
issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. By using this
shelf registration process, we may sell at any time, and from
time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the
securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with only a general description of
the securities we may offer. It is not meant to be a complete
description of any security. Each time we sell securities, we
will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific
information about the terms of that offering, including the
specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. We
and any underwriter or agent that we may from time to time
retain may also provide other information relating to an
offering, which we refer to as other offering
material. The prospectus supplement as well as the other
offering material may also add, update or change information
contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read
this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other
offering material (including any free writing prospectus)
prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of
securities, together with additional information described in
the section entitled Where You Can Find More
Information and any other offering material. Throughout
this prospectus, where we indicate that information may be
supplemented in an applicable prospectus supplement or
supplements, that information may also be supplemented in other
offering material. If there is any inconsistency between this
prospectus and the information contained in a prospectus
supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus
supplement.
Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires,
references to TreeHouse, the Company,
us, we or our in this
prospectus mean TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and its consolidated
subsidiaries. When we refer to you in this section,
we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this
prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, whether
they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements and information in this prospectus and the
documents we incorporate by reference may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange
Act. The words believe, estimate,
project, except, anticipate,
plan, intend, foresee,
should, would, could or
other similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical
in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on our
current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments
and their potential effect on us. These forward-looking
statements and other information are based on our beliefs as
well as assumptions made by us using information currently
available. Such statements reflect our current views with
respect to future events and are subject to certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks
or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions
prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected
or intended. We are making investors aware that such
forward-looking statements, because they relate to future
events, are by their very nature subject to many important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those contemplated. Such factors include, but are not
limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory proceedings
to which we may be a party; the impact of product recalls;
actions of competitors; changes and developments affecting our
industry; quarterly or cyclical variations in financial results;
our ability to obtain suitable pricing for our products;
development of new products and services; our level of
indebtedness; the availability of financing on commercially
reasonable terms; cost of borrowing; our ability to maintain and
improve cost efficiency of operations; changes in foreign
currency exchange rates; interest rates and raw material and
commodity costs; changes in economic conditions; political
conditions; reliance on third parties for manufacturing of
products and provision of services; delays in the consummation
of, or the failure to consummate, the proposed Sturm Foods, Inc.
acquisition; general U.S. and global economic conditions;
the financial condition of our customers and suppliers;
consolidations in the retail
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grocery and foodservice industries; our ability to continue to
make acquisitions in accordance with our business strategy or
effectively manage the growth from acquisitions and other risks
that are described in this prospectus under the heading
Risk Factors and in Part I, Item 1A,
Risk Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, our other reports
filed from time to time with the SEC and incorporated by
reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or
other offering material relating to a specific offering of
securities.
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date that such statements
are made. All forward-looking statements contained in this
prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this
prospectus are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are
made, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully
consider the risk factors described in Part I,
Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other reports
filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, as the same may be amended,
supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filing under
the Exchange Act, as well as any prospectus supplement relating
to a specific security. Before making any investment decision,
you should carefully consider these risks as well as other
information we include or incorporate by reference in this
prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. For more
information, see the section entitled Where You Can Find
More Information on page 28 of this prospectus. These
risks could materially affect our business, results of operation
or financial condition and affect the value of our securities.
You could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks
and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently
deem immaterial may also affect our business, results of
operation or financial condition.
TREEHOUSE
FOODS, INC.
We are a leading manufacturer of private label food products in
the United States and Canada. Our products are focused in the
center-of- store, shelf stable food categories. Our three
reportable segments, North American Retail Grocery, Food Away
from Home, and Industrial and Export, supply our products
primarily into the grocery retail, foodservice and industrial
food channels. Our product categories include non-dairy powdered
creamer; soup and infant feeding; pickles; salad dressings; jams
and other sauces; aseptic products; Mexican sauces; and
refrigerated products.
We operate our business as Bay Valley Foods, LLC in the United
States and E.D. Smith Foods, Ltd. in Canada. Bay Valley Foods,
LLC is a Delaware limited liability company, a wholly owned
subsidiary of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and holds all of the real
estate and operating assets related to our business. E.D. Smith
Foods, Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bay Valley Foods,
LLC.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. is a Delaware corporation incorporated on
January 25, 2005 that was created from Dean Foods
spin-off of certain of its specialty businesses to its
shareholders. Our principal executive offices are located at Two
Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 1070, Westchester, IL
60154. Our telephone number is
708-483-1300.
Our website address is www.treehousefoods.com. The information
on or accessible through our website is not part of this
prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with
making any investment decision with respect to any securities
that we offer through this prospectus.
THE
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
Certain of our domestic subsidiaries (which we refer to as the
subsidiary guarantors in this prospectus), may fully
and unconditionally guarantee our payment obligations under any
series of debt securities offered by this prospectus. Financial
information concerning our subsidiary guarantors and any
non-guarantor subsidiaries
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will be included in our consolidated financial statements filed
as part of our periodic reports filed pursuant to the Exchange
Act to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the
SEC.
Additional information concerning our subsidiaries and us is
included in our periodic reports and other documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Please read
Where You Can Find More Information.
CONSOLIDATED
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated:
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Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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5.03
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2.04
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3.25
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5.02
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6.58
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The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing
(i) income from continuing operations before taxes and
fixed charges by (ii) fixed charges. Our fixed charges
consist of interest expense on indebtedness, capitalized
interest, tax interest and the portion of rental expense that we
deem to be representative of the interest factor of rental
payments.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement or other offering materials, we intend to use the net
proceeds of any offering of our securities for working capital
and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions,
repayment or refinancing of debt and other business
opportunities. We will have significant discretion in the use of
any net proceeds. The net proceeds from the sale of securities
may be invested temporarily until they are used for their stated
purpose. We may provide additional information on the use of the
net proceeds from the sale of our securities in an applicable
prospectus supplement or other offering materials related to the
offered securities.
DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the capital
stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, stock
purchase contracts and stock purchase units that we may offer
and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not
meant to be complete descriptions of any security. At the time
of an offering and sale, this prospectus together with the
accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material
terms of the securities being offered.
DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following descriptions of our capital stock and of certain
provisions of Delaware law do not purport to be complete and are
subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to our
certificate of incorporation, our by-laws and the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended, or the DGCL. Copies of our
certificate of incorporation and our by-laws have been filed
with the SEC and are filed as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
As used in this Description of Capital Stock, the
terms we, our, ours and
us refer only to TreeHouse Foods, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and not, unless otherwise indicated, to any of our
subsidiaries.
As of the date hereof, our authorized capital stock consists of
100,000,000 shares, of which 90,000,000 shares are
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and
10,000,000 shares are preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share. As of January 29, 2010, we had
32,000,919 shares of common stock issued and
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outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock issued and
outstanding. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are
fully paid and non-assessable.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol THS.
Common
Stock
Dividend Rights. Subject to the dividend
rights of the holders of any outstanding preferred stock, the
holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive
ratably dividends out of funds lawfully available therefore at
such times and in such amounts as our board of directors may
from time to time determine.
Rights Upon Liquidation. Upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of common
stock are entitled to share ratably in our assets that are
legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts,
other liabilities and any liquidation preferences of outstanding
preferred stock.
Conversion, Redemption and Preemptive
Rights. Holders of our common stock have no
conversion, redemption, preemptive or similar rights.
Voting Rights. Each outstanding share of
common stock is entitled to one vote at all meetings of
stockholders, provided, however, that except as otherwise
required by law, holders of common stock are not entitled to
vote on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation that
relates solely to the terms of outstanding preferred stock. Our
certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative
voting in the election of directors. Other than the election of
directors, if an action is to be taken by vote of the
stockholders, it will be authorized by a majority of the votes
cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote on the action,
unless a greater vote is required in our certificate of
incorporation or by-laws. Directors are elected by a plurality
of the votes cast at an election.
Preferred
Stock
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of
directors, without further stockholder action, to provide for
the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
in one or more series, and to fix the designations, terms, and
relative rights and preferences, including the dividend rate,
voting rights, conversion rights, redemption and sinking fund
provisions and liquidation preferences of each of these series.
We may amend from time to time our certificate of incorporation
to increase the number of authorized shares of preferred stock.
Any such amendment would require the approval of the holders of
a majority of our shares entitled to vote.
The particular terms of any series of preferred stock that we
offer under this prospectus will be described in the applicable
prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred
stock. Those terms may include:
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the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred
stock and the number of shares offered;
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the purchase price of the preferred stock;
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the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which
dividends will be payable, whether dividends shall be cumulative
and, if so, the date from which dividends will begin to
accumulate;
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any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred stock;
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any conversion, redemption or exchange provisions of the
preferred stock;
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the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; and
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any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund
and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and
restrictions of the preferred stock.
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You should refer to the certificate of designations establishing
a particular series of preferred stock which will be filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the SEC in
connection with any offering of preferred stock.
Each prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred
stock may describe certain U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and
disposition of such series of preferred stock.
Dividend Rights. The preferred stock will be
preferred over the common stock as to payment of dividends.
Before any dividends or distributions (other than dividends or
distributions payable in common stock or other stock ranking
junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and
upon liquidation) on the common stock or other stock ranking
junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and
upon liquidation shall be declared and set apart for payment or
paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock
(unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement) will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and
if declared by our board of directors or, if dividends are
cumulative, full cumulative dividends for the current and all
prior dividend periods. We will pay those dividends either in
cash, shares of preferred stock or otherwise, at the rate and on
the date or dates set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement. With respect to each series of preferred stock that
has cumulative dividends, the dividends on each share of the
series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share
unless some other date is set forth in the prospectus supplement
relating to the series. Accruals of dividends will not bear
interest. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the
relative ranking of the particular series of the preferred stock
as to the payment of dividends, as compared with then-existing
and future series of preferred stock.
Rights Upon Liquidation. The preferred stock
of each series will be preferred over the common stock and other
stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to
assets, so that the holders of that series of preferred stock
(unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement) will be entitled to be paid, upon our voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and before
any distribution is made to the holders of common stock and
other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock,
the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
However, in this case the holders of preferred stock of that
series will not be entitled to any other or further payment. If
upon any liquidations, dissolution or winding up, our net assets
are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective
amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock
are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be
distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock
in amounts proportional to the full amounts to which the holders
in each series are entitled, subject to any provisions of any
series of preferred stock that rank it junior or senior to other
series of preferred stock upon liquidation. The applicable
prospectus supplement will indicate the relative ranking of the
particular series of the preferred stock upon liquidation, as
compared with then-existing and future series of preferred stock.
Conversion, Redemption or Exchange Rights. The
shares of a series of preferred stock will be convertible at the
option of the holder of the preferred stock, redeemable at our
option or the option of the holder, as applicable, or
exchangeable at our option, into another security, in each case,
to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Voting Rights. Except as indicated in the
applicable prospectus supplement or as otherwise from time to
time required by law, the holders of preferred stock will have
no voting rights.
Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights
On June 7, 2005, our board of directors declared a dividend
of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share
of our common stock (a right and collectively,
rights). The rights were issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement, dated June 27, 2005, between us and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as rights agent. Each right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from us one one-hundredth of a
share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
$0.01 par value per share, at a purchase price equal to
four times the closing price of our common stock on the first
day of trading following the initial distribution of our common
stock, subject to adjustment. The rights will expire upon the
close of business on June 27, 2010 unless earlier redeemed
or exchanged as described below. The following summary of the
rights agreement is
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qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the rights
agreement and our certificate of incorporation, copies of which
have been filed with the SEC and are filed as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The rights are not currently exercisable and are attached to
certificates representing shares of our common stock. The rights
will separate from the common stock, and the rights distribution
date will occur, upon the earlier of:
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10 days following the first date of a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons,
which we refer to as an acquiring person, has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of our common stock; or
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10 business days following the commencement of a tender offer or
exchange offer that would result in a person or group
beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding common stock.
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The rights distribution date may be deferred in circumstances
determined by our board of directors. In addition, certain
inadvertent acquisitions will not trigger the rights
distribution date. Subject to certain exceptions and except as
otherwise determined by our board of directors, only shares of
common stock issued prior to the rights distribution date will
be issued with rights.
In the event that any person becomes an acquiring person, then,
promptly following the first occurrence of such an event, each
holder of a right shall generally have the right to receive,
upon exercise of each right, a number of shares of common stock
that equals the exercise price of the right divided by 50% of
the current per share market price of a share of our common
stock at the date of the occurrence of the event. Rights are not
exercisable following the event until such time as the rights
are no longer redeemable by us as described below. Following the
occurrence of such an event, all rights that are, or, under
certain circumstances, were, beneficially owned by any acquiring
person will be null and void. Also, when no person owns a
majority of the shares of our outstanding common stock, our
board of directors may exchange the rights (other than rights
owned by the acquiring person which have become void), in whole
or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock,
or one one-hundredth of a share of preferred stock, or of a
share of another class or series of our preferred stock having
equivalent rights, preferences and privileges, per right. The
purchase price payable, and the number of units of preferred
stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of
the rights are subject to adjustment from time to time under
certain circumstances to prevent dilution.
In the event that, at any time after any person becomes an
acquiring person, (i) we are consolidated with, or merged
with and into, another entity and we are not the surviving
entity of the consolidation or merger (other than a
consolidation or merger which follows a permitted offer) or if
we are the surviving entity, but outstanding shares of our
common stock are changed or exchanged for stock or securities of
any other person or cash or any other property, or
(ii) more than 50% of our assets or earning power is sold
or transferred, each holder of a right (except rights which
previously have been voided) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise of each right, that number of shares of
common stock of the acquiring company which equals the exercise
price of the right divided by 50% of the current per share
market price of a share of common stock of the acquiring company
at the date of the occurrence of such event.
As provided in our certificate of designations of the preferred
stock, the preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the
rights will not be redeemable. Each share of preferred stock
will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our
board of directors, a minimum preferential quarterly dividend
payment of $1.00 per share or, if greater, an aggregate dividend
of 100 times the dividend declared per share of common stock. In
the event of liquidation, the holders of the preferred stock
will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment
of $1.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends, or, if greater, will be entitled to an aggregate
payment of 100 times the payment made per share of common stock.
Each share of preferred stock will have 100 votes (subject to
adjustment), voting together with the common stock. In the event
of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
common stock is changed or exchanged, each share of preferred
stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received
per share of common stock. Because of the nature of the
preferred stocks dividend, liquidation and voting rights,
the value
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of one one-hundredth of a share of preferred stock purchasable
upon exercise of each right should approximate the value of one
share of common stock.
At any time prior to a person becoming an acquiring person, we
may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$0.01 per right, which we refer to as the redemption price,
payable in cash or stock. Immediately upon the redemption of the
rights or such earlier time as established by our board of
directors in the resolution ordering the redemption of the
rights, the rights will terminate and the only right of the
holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price. The
rights may also be redeemable following certain other
circumstances specified in the rights agreement.
Until a right is exercised, the holder of a right, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends. Any provision of the
rights agreement, other than the redemption price, may be
amended by our board of directors prior to such time as the
rights are no longer redeemable. Once the rights are no longer
redeemable, the authority of our board of directors to amend the
rights is limited to correcting ambiguities or defective or
inconsistent provisions in a manner that does not adversely
affect the interest of holders of rights.
The rights are intended to protect our stockholders in the event
of an unfair or coercive offer to acquire us and to provide our
board of directors with adequate time to evaluate unsolicited
offers. The rights may have anti-takeover effects, as described
below under Anti-Takeover Effects of
Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and
Rights Plan and of Delaware Law.
Anti-Takeover
Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation,
By-Laws and Rights Plan and of Delaware Law
Business
Combinations Act
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of DGCL.
Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prohibits a
publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business
combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three
years after the person became an interested stockholder, unless
the interested stockholder attained such status with the
approval of our board of directors or the business combination
is approved in a prescribed manner. A business combination
includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation
involving us and the interested stockholder and the sale of more
than 10% of our assets. In general, an interested stockholder is
any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our
outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated
with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Certificate
of Incorporation and By-law Provisions
Our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws also contain
certain provisions that may be deemed to have an anti-takeover
effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or
takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best
interest, including those attempts that might result in a
premium over the market price for the shares held by
stockholders. For example, our certificate of incorporation and
our by-laws divide our board of directors into three classes
with staggered three-year terms. In addition, our certificate of
incorporation and our by-laws provide that directors may be
removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of
75% of our shares of capital stock entitled to vote. Under our
certificate of incorporation and our by-laws, any vacancy on our
board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an
enlargement of our board of directors, may only be filled by
vote of a majority of our directors then in office. The
classification of our board of directors and the limitations on
the removal of directors and filling of vacancies could make it
more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a
third party from acquiring, control of us.
Our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws also provide
that any action required or permitted to be taken by our
stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of
stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before
the meeting and may not be taken by written action in lieu of a
meeting. Our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws
further provide that, except as otherwise required by law,
special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the
chairman of the board, chief executive officer,
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president or our board of directors. In addition, our by-laws
establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals
to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders,
including proposed nominations of persons for election to the
board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only
consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of
meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of
the board of directors or by a stockholder of record on the
record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the
meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper
form to our secretary of the stockholders intention to
bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could
have the effect of delaying until the next stockholders
meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a
majority of our outstanding voting securities. These provisions
may also discourage a third party from making a tender offer for
our common stock, because even if it acquired a majority of our
outstanding voting securities, the third party would be able to
take action as a stockholder, such as electing new directors or
approving a merger, only at a duly called stockholders
meeting, and not by written consent.
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a
majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is
required to amend a corporations certificate of
incorporation or by-laws, unless a corporations
certificate of incorporation or by-laws, as the case may be,
requires a greater percentage. Our certificate of incorporation
and by-laws require the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least 75% of the shares of our capital stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote to amend or repeal any of the
provisions described in the prior two paragraphs.
Rights
Agreement
We have also entered into a rights agreement pursuant to which
our board of directors declared a dividend of a right to
purchase one one-hundredth of a share of our Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock for each outstanding share
of our common stock. The rights are triggered if a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons acquires, or has the
right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our
outstanding common stock or commences a tender offer or exchange
offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning
15% or more of our common stock. The rights are intended to
protect our stockholders in the event of an unfair or coercive
offer to acquire our company and to provide our board of
directors with adequate time to evaluate unsolicited offers. The
rights may have anti-takeover effects. For example, the rights
will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that
attempts to acquire our company without conditioning the offer
on a substantial number of rights being acquired.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by the
provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our by-laws and
our rights agreement, copies of which have been filed with the
SEC and are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of
which this prospectus forms a part.
Certain
Effects of Authorized But Unissued Stock
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred
stock may be issued without additional stockholder approval and
may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including
future offerings to raise additional capital or to facilitate
corporate acquisitions.
The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change in control of us. The issuance
of preferred stock could decrease the amount available for
distribution to holders of our common stock or could adversely
affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of such
holders. In certain circumstances, such issuance could have the
effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved
common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our board of
directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current
management, which could render more difficult or discourage an
attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, lender
offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the
continuity of management. Such additional shares also could be
used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain
control of us.
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We plan to issue additional shares of common stock in connection
with our employee benefit plans. We do not currently have any
plans to issue shares of preferred stock.
Limitation
of Liability of Directors
Our certificate of incorporation contains a provision that
limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL. Such limitation does not, however, affect
the liability of a director (1) for any breach of the
directors duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders,
(2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(3) in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or
stock redemptions or purchases and (4) for any transaction
from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
The effect of this provision is to eliminate our rights and the
rights of our stockholders (through stockholders
derivative suits) to recover monetary damages against a director
for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director
(including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly
negligent behavior) except in the situations described in
clauses (1) through (4) above. This provision does not
limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of our stockholders
to seek non-monetary relief such as an injunction or rescission
in the event of a breach of a directors duty of care. In
addition, our directors and officers have indemnification
protection.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation acts as transfer agent
and registrar of our common stock.
9
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
General
As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the
debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness
that we may issue separately, upon exercise of a debt warrant,
in connection with a stock purchase contract or as part of a
stock purchase unit, from time to time. The debt securities
offered by this prospectus will be issued under one of two
separate indentures among us, the subsidiary guarantors of such
debt securities, if any, and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as Trustee. We have filed the forms of indenture as
exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part. The senior note indenture and the subordinated note
indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus
individually as an indenture and collectively as the
indentures. We may also issue debt securities under
a separate, new indenture. If that occurs, we will describe any
differences in the terms of any such indenture in the prospectus
supplement.
The debt securities will be obligations of TreeHouse and will be
either senior or subordinated debt securities. We have
summarized selected material provisions of the indentures and
the debt securities below. This summary is not complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the indentures. As
used in this Description of Debt Securities, the
terms we, our, ours and
us refer only to TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and not to
any of its subsidiaries. Section references included in this
summary of our debt securities, unless otherwise indicated,
refer to specific sections of the indentures.
We may issue debt securities at any time and from time to time
in one or more series under the indentures. The indentures give
us the ability to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt
securities and issue additional debt securities of the same
series. If specified in the prospectus supplement respecting a
particular series of debt securities, one or more subsidiary
guarantors will fully an unconditionally guarantee that series
as described under Subsidiary Guarantee
and in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each subsidiary
guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of the subsidiary
guarantor. A subsidiary guarantee of subordinated debt
securities will be subordinated to the senior debt of the
subsidiary guarantor on the same basis as the subordinated debt
securities are subordinated to our senior debt.
We will describe the particular material terms of each series of
debt securities we offer in a supplement to this prospectus. If
any particular terms of the debt securities described in a
prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in
this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable
prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this
prospectus. The terms of our debt securities will include those
set forth in the indentures and those made a part of the
indentures by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
You should carefully read the summary below the applicable
prospectus supplement and the provisions of the indentures that
may be important to you before investing in our debt securities.
Ranking
The senior debt securities offered by this prospectus will:
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be general obligations,
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rank equally with all other unsubordinated indebtedness of
TreeHouse or any subsidiary guarantor (except to the extent such
other indebtedness is secured by collateral that does not also
secure the senior debt securities offered by this
prospectus), and
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with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries,
effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our
subsidiaries (except to the extent that the senior debt
securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described
below).
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The subordinated debt securities offered by this prospectus will:
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be general obligations,
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rank subordinated and junior in right of payment, to the extent
set forth in the subordinated note indenture to all senior debt
of TreeHouse and any subsidiary guarantor, and
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with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries,
effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our
subsidiaries (except to the extent that the subordinated debt
securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described
below).
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A substantial portion of our assets are owned through our
subsidiaries, many of which may have debt or other liabilities
of their own that will be structurally senior to the debt
securities. Therefore, unless the debt securities are guaranteed
by our subsidiaries as described below, TreeHouses rights
and the rights of TreeHouses creditors, including holders
of debt securities, to participate in the assets of any
subsidiary upon any such subsidiarys liquidation may be
subject to the prior claims of the subsidiarys other
creditors.
In addition, because our operations are conducted through our
subsidiaries, the cash flow and the consequent ability to
service our indebtedness, including the debt securities, are
dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the
distribution of those earning or upon the payments of funds by
those subsidiaries to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and
distinct legal entities and, unless the debt securities are
guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below, our
subsidiaries have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay
any amounts due pursuant to the debt securities or to make funds
available to us, whether by dividends, loans or other payments.
In addition, the payment of dividends and the making of loans
and advances to us by our subsidiaries may be subject to
contractual or statutory restrictions, are contingent upon the
earnings of those subsidiaries and are subject to various
business considerations.
The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of
debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue
debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each
case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a
discount. We may issue additional debt securities of a
particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt
securities of such series outstanding at the time of issuance.
Any such additional debt securities, together with all other
outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a
single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture.
The indentures also do not limit our ability to incur other debt.
Subject to the exceptions, and subject to compliance with the
applicable requirements set forth in the indentures, we may
discharge our obligations under the indentures with respect to
our debt securities as described below under
Defeasance.
Terms
We will describe the specific material terms of the series of
debt securities being offered in a supplement to this
prospectus. These terms may include some or all of the following:
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the title of the debt securities,
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whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt
securities,
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whether and the extent to which any subsidiary guarantor will
provide a subsidiary guarantee of the debt securities,
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any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities,
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the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities
will be payable and whether the stated maturity date can be
extended or the method used to determine or extend those dates,
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any interest rate on the debt securities, any date from which
interest will accrue, any interest payment dates and regular
record dates for interest payments, or the method used to
determine any of the foregoing, and the basis for calculating
interest if other than a
360-day year
of twelve
30-day
months,
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the place or places where payments on the debt securities will
be payable, where the debt securities may be presented for
registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and where
notices and demands to or upon us relating to the debt
securities may be made, if other than the corporate trust office
of the Trustee,
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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and
the duration of any such deferral period,
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the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities, if any,
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any provisions for redemption of the debt securities,
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any provisions that would allow or obligate us to redeem or
purchase the debt securities prior to their maturity pursuant to
any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of the
holder,
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the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations
in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than
minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000
above that amount,
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any provisions that would determine payments on the debt
securities by reference to an index, formula or other method and
the manner of determining the amount of such payments
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any foreign currency, currencies or currency units in which the
debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any
premium and any interest will or may be payable and the manner
for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars,
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any provisions for payments on the debt securities in one or
more currencies or currency units other than those in which the
debt securities are stated to be payable,
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the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that
will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is
accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount,
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if the principal amount to be paid at the stated maturity of the
debt securities is not determinable as of one or more dates
prior to the stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to
be the principal amount as of any such date for any purpose,
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any variation of the defeasance and covenant defeasance sections
of the indentures and the manner in which our election to
defease the debt securities will be evidenced, if other than by
a board resolution,
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whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of
temporary or permanent global securities, the depositaries for
the global securities, and provisions for exchanging or
transferring the global securities,
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whether the interest rate or the debt securities may be reset,
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whether the stated maturity of the debt securities may be
extended,
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any deletion or addition to or change in the events of default
for the debt securities and any change in the rights of the
Trustee or the holders or the debt securities arising from an
event of default including, among others, the right to declare
the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable,
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any addition to or change in the covenants in the indentures,
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any additions or changes to the indentures necessary to issue
the debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest
coupons,
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the appointment of any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or
paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents
with respect to the debt securities,
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the terms of any right or obligation to convert or exchange the
debt securities into any other securities or property,
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the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the debt
securities are secured,
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any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt
securities,
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if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any
debt security will not be determinable as of any one or more
dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be
deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of
any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount
thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other
than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be
outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in
any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the
principal amount shall be determined),
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whether, under what circumstances and the currency in which we
will pay any additional amounts on the debt securities as
contemplated in the applicable indenture in respect of any tax,
assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will
have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay
such additional amounts (and the terms of any such option),
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in the case of subordinated debt securities, any subordination
provisions and related definitions which may be applicable in
addition to, or in lieu of, those contained in the subordinated
note indenture,
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the exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities may be
listed, and
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any other terms of the debt securities consistent with the
indentures. (Section 301)
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Any limit on the maximum total principal amount for any series
of the debt securities may be increased by resolution of our
board of directors. (Section 301). We may sell the debt
securities, including original issue discount securities, at a
substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If
there are any special United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to debt securities we sell at an
original issue discount, we will describe them in the prospectus
supplement. In addition, we will describe in the prospectus
supplement any special United States federal income tax
considerations and any other special considerations for any debt
securities we sell which are denominated in a currency or
currency unit other than U.S. dollars.
Subsidiary
Guarantee
If specified in the prospectus supplement, one or more
subsidiary guarantors will guarantee the debt securities of a
series. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement,
the following provisions will apply to the subsidiary guarantee
of the subsidiary guarantor.
Subject to the limitations described below and in the prospectus
supplement, one or more subsidiary guarantors will jointly and
severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the punctual
payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, of all our payment obligations under the indentures
and the debt securities of a series, whether for principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities or
otherwise. The subsidiary guarantors will also pay all expenses
(including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the
applicable Trustee in enforcing any rights under a subsidiary
guarantee with respect to a subsidiary guarantor.
In the case of subordinated debt securities, a subsidiary
guarantors subsidiary guarantee will be subordinated in
right of payment to the senior debt of such subsidiary guarantor
on the same basis as the subordinated debt securities are
subordinated to our senior debt. No payment will be made by any
subsidiary guarantor under its subsidiary guarantee during any
period in which payments by us on the subordinated debt
securities are suspended by the subordination provisions of the
subordinated note indenture.
Each subsidiary guarantee will be limited in amount to an amount
not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the
subsidiary guarantor without rendering such subsidiary guarantee
voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance
or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of
creditors generally.
Each subsidiary guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and
will:
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remain in full force and effect until either payment in full of
all of the applicable debt securities (or such debt securities
are otherwise satisfied and discharged in accordance with the
provisions of the applicable indenture) or released as described
in the following paragraph,
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be binding upon each subsidiary guarantor, and
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inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the applicable
Trustee, the holders and their successors, transferees and
assigns.
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In the event that a subsidiary guarantor ceases to be a
subsidiary of TreeHouse, either legal defeasance or covenant
defeasance occurs with respect to a series of debt securities,
or substantially all of the assets or all of the capital stock
of such subsidiary guarantor is sold, including by way of sale,
merger, consolidation or
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otherwise, such subsidiary guarantor will be released and
discharged of its obligations under its subsidiary guarantee
without further action required on the part of the Trustee or
any holder, and no other person acquiring or owning the assets
or capital stock of such subsidiary guarantor will be required
to enter into a subsidiary guarantee. In addition, the
prospectus supplement may specify additional circumstances under
which a subsidiary guarantor can be released from its subsidiary
guarantee.
Form,
Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without
coupons. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus
supplement, we will only issue debt securities in minimum
denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above
that amount. (Section 302)
Holders generally will be able to exchange debt securities for
other debt securities of the same series with the same total
principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized
denominations. (Section 305)
Holders may present debt securities for exchange or for
registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar
or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for that
purpose. The security registrar or designated transfer agent
will exchange or transfer the debt securities if it is satisfied
with the documents of title and identity of the person making
the request. We will not charge a service charge for any
exchange or registration of transfer of debt securities.
However, we and the security registrar may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable for the registration of transfer or exchange. Unless we
inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will
appoint the Trustee as security registrar. We will identify any
transfer agent in addition to the security registrar in the
prospectus supplement. (Section 305). At any time we may:
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designate additional transfer agents,
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rescind the designation of any transfer agent, or
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approve a change in the office of any transfer agent.
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However, we are required to maintain a transfer agent in each
place of payment for the debt securities at all times.
(Sections 305 and 1002)
lf we elect to redeem a series of debt securities, neither we
nor the Trustee will be required:
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to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt
securities of that series during the period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day we mail the
notice of redemption for the series and ending at the close of
business on the day the notice is mailed, or
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to register the transfer or exchange of any debt security of
that series so selected for redemption, except for any portion
not to be redeemed. (Section 305)
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Payment
and Paying Agents
Under the indentures, we will pay interest on the debt
securities to the persons in whose names the debt securities are
registered at the close of business on the regular record date
for each interest payment. However, unless we inform you
otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay the interest
payable on the debt securities at their stated maturity to the
persons to whom we pay the principal amount of the debt
securities. The initial payment of interest on any series of
debt securities issued between a regular record date and the
related interest payment date will be payable in the manner
provided by the terms of the series, which we will describe in
the prospectus supplement. (Section 307)
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we
will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt
securities at the offices of the paying agents we designate.
However, except in the case
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of a global security (which payments of principal, premium, if
any, and interest on such global security will be made to the
Depository), we may pay interest:
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by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the
payment as it appears in the security register, or
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by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the place and
account designated in writing at least fifteen days prior to the
interest payment date by the person entitled to the payment as
specified in the security register.
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We will designate the Trustee as the sole paying agent for the
debt securities unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus
supplement. If we initially designate any other paying agents
for a series of debt securities, we will identify them in the
prospectus supplement. At any time, we may designate additional
paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agents.
However, we are required to maintain a paying agent in each
place of payment for the debt securities at all times.
(Sections 307 and 1002)
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent in
trust for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest
on the debt securities that remains unclaimed for one year after
the date the payments became due, may be repaid to us upon our
request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws.
After we have been repaid, holders entitled to those payments
may only look to us for payment as our unsecured general
creditors. The Trustee and any paying agents will not be liable
for those payments after we have been repaid. (Section 1003)
Restrictive
Covenants
We will describe any restrictive covenants for any series of
debt securities in the prospectus supplement.
Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets
Under the indentures, we may not consolidate with or merge into,
or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any person (as defined below)
referred to as a successor person unless:
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the successor person expressly assumes our obligations with
respect to the debt securities and the indentures,
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immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of
default shall have occurred and be continuing and no event
which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an
event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and
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we have delivered to the Trustee the certificates and opinions
required under the respective indenture. (Section 801)
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Except in a transaction resulting in the release of a subsidiary
guarantor under the terms of the indenture, a subsidiary
guarantor may not, and we may not permit a subsidiary guarantor
to, consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
person (other than another subsidiary guarantor or us), referred
to as a successor person unless:
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the successor person expressly assumes the subsidiary
guarantors obligations with respect to the debt securities
and the indentures, and
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the subsidiary guarantor has delivered to the Trustee the
certificates and opinions required under the respective
indenture. (Section 802)
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As used in the indentures, the term person means any
individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
unincorporated organization, government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
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Events of
Default
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement,
each of the following will be an event of default under the
applicable indenture with respect to any series of debt
securities:
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our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on that series
of debt securities when such principal or premium, if any,
becomes due,
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our failure to pay any interest on that series of debt
securities for 30 days after such interest becomes due,
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our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment after such
payment is due by the terms of that series of debt securities,
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our failure to perform, or our breach, in any material respect,
of any other covenant or warranty in the indenture with respect
to that series of debt securities, other than a covenant or
warranty included in such indenture solely for the benefit of
another series of debt securities, for 90 days after either
the Trustee has given us or holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have
given us and the Trustee written notice of such failure to
perform or breach in the manner required by the indentures,
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specified events involving, the bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of us or, if a subsidiary guarantor has
guaranteed the series of debt securities, such subsidiary
guarantor,
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or any other event of default we may provide for that series of
debt securities,
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provided, however, that no event described in the fourth bullet
point above will be an event of default until an officer of the
Trustee responsible for the administration of the indentures has
actual knowledge of the event or until the trustee receives
written notice of the event at its corporate trust office.
(Section 501)
An event of default under one series of debt securities does not
necessarily constitute an event of default under any other
series of debt securities. If an event of default for a series
of debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee
or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the
principal amount of all the debt securities of that series due
and immediately payable by a notice in writing to us (and to the
trustee if given by the holders); provided that, in the case of
an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization, such acceleration is automatic;
and provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a
judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of that series may, subject to certain conditions,
rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default,
other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal have been
cured or waived. Upon such acceleration, we will be obligated to
pay the principal amount of that series of debt securities.
The right described in the preceding paragraph does not apply if
an event of default occurs as described in the sixth bullet
point above (i.e., other events of default), which is common to
all series of our debt securities then outstanding. If such an
event of default occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all series of the
debt securities then outstanding, treated as one class, may
declare the principal amount of all series of the debt
securities then outstanding to be due and payable immediately by
a notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by the
holders). Upon such declaration, we will be obligated to pay the
principal amount of the debt securities.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
will generally have no obligation to exercise any of its rights
or powers under the indentures at the request or direction of
any of the holders, unless the holders offer indemnity
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. (Section 603). The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series will generally 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 for the debt securities of
that series, provided that:
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the direction is not in conflict with any law or the indentures,
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the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper which is
not inconsistent with the direction, and
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the Trustee will generally have the right to decline to follow
the direction if an officer of the Trustee determines, in good
faith, that the proceeding would involve the Trustee in personal
liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law.
(Section 512)
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A holder of a debt security of any series may only institute
proceedings or pursue any other remedy under the
indentures if:
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the holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing
event of default,
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holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of that series make a written request to the
Trustee to institute proceedings with respect to such event of
default,
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the holders offer indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee against any loss, liability or expense in complying with
such request,
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the Trustee fails to institute proceedings within 60 days
after receipt of the notice, request and offer or
indemnity, and
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during that
60-day
period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
debt securities of that series do not give the Trustee a
direction inconsistent with the request. (Section 507)
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However, these limitations do not apply to a suit by a holder of
a debt security demanding payment of the principal, premium, if
any, or interest on a debt security on or after the date the
payment is due. (Section 508)
We will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a
statement by some of our officers regarding our performance or
observance of any of the terms of the indentures and specifying
all of our known defaults, if any. (Section 1004)
Modification
and Waiver
When authorized by a board resolution, we or any subsidiary
guarantor, if applicable, may enter into one or more
supplemental indentures with the Trustee without the consent of
the holders of the debt securities in order to:
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provide for the assumption of our obligations to holders of debt
securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of
substantially all of our assets,
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add to our or any subsidiary guarantors covenants for the
benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities or to
surrender any of our rights or powers,
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add any additional events of default for any series of debt
securities for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt
securities,
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add to, change or eliminate any provision of the indentures
applying to one or more series of debt securities, provided that
if such action adversely affects the interests of any holder of
any series of debt securities in any material respect, such
addition, change or elimination will become effective with
respect to that series only when no such security of that series
remains outstanding,
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secure the debt securities,
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establish the forms or terms of any series of debt securities as
permitted by the terms of such indenture,
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provide for uncertificated securities in addition to
certificated securities,
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evidence and provide for successor Trustees and to add to or
change any provisions of the indentures to the extent necessary
to appoint a separate Trustee or Trustees for a specific series
of debt securities,
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correct any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency under the
indentures,
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add subsidiary guarantors,
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make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the holders of debt securities or that does not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of
debt securities in any material respect under the applicable
indenture of any such holders,
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supplement any provisions of the indentures necessary to defease
and discharge any series of debt securities, provided that such
action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
any series of debt securities in any material respect,
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comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange
or automated quotation system on which any debt securities are
listed or traded, or
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add to, change or eliminate any provisions of the indentures in
accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, provided that such action does not
adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt
securities in any material respect. (Section 901)
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When authorized by a board resolution, we or any subsidiary
guarantor, if applicable, may enter into one or more
supplemental indentures with the Trustee in order to add to,
change or eliminate provisions of the indentures or to modify
the rights of the holders of one or more series of debt
securities under such indentures if we obtain the consent of the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of all series affected by such supplemental
indenture, treated as one class. However, without the consent of
all holders of each outstanding debt security affected by the
supplemental indenture, we may not enter into a supplemental
indenture that:
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except with respect to the reset of the interest rate or
extension of maturity pursuant to the terms of a particular
series, changes the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security,
or reduces the principal amount of, or any premium or rate of
interest on, any debt security,
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reduces the amount of principal of an original issue discount
security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of
the maturity thereof,
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changes the place or currency of payment of principal, premium,
if any, or interest,
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impairs the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or after such payment becomes due for any security,
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except as provided in the applicable indenture, releases the
subsidiary guarantee of a subsidiary guarantor,
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reduces the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt
securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is
required for modification of the indentures, for waiver of
compliance with certain provisions of the indentures or for
waiver of certain defaults of the indentures,
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makes certain modifications to the provisions for modification
of the indentures and for certain waivers, except to increase
the principal amount of debt securities necessary to consent to
any such change or to provide that certain other provisions of
the indentures cannot be modified or waived without the consent
of the holders of each outstanding debt security affected by
such change,
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makes any change that adversely affects in any material respect
the right to convert or exchange any convertible or exchangeable
debt security or decreases the conversion or exchange rate or
increases the conversion price of such debt security, unless
such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such debt
securities, or
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changes the terms and conditions pursuant to which any series of
debt securities are secured in a manner adverse to the holders
of such debt securities in any material respect.
(Section 902)
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In addition, the subordinated note indenture may not be amended
without the consent of each holder of subordinated debt
securities affected thereby to modify the subordination of the
subordinated debt securities issued under that indenture in a
manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated debt
securities in any material respect.
18
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series may waive past defaults or
noncompliance with restrictive provisions of the indentures.
However, the consent of all holders of each outstanding debt
security of a series is required to:
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waive any default in the payment of principal, premium, if any,
or interest, or
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waive any covenants and provisions of an indenture that may not
be amended without the consent of all holders of each
outstanding debt security of the series affected.
(Sections 513 and 1006)
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In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have taken
an action under an indenture as of a specified date:
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the principal amount of an original issue discount
security that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the
amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of that
date upon acceleration of the maturity to that date,
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if, as of that date, the principal amount payable at the stated
maturity of a debt security is not determinable, for example,
because it is based on an index, the principal amount of the
debt security deemed to be outstanding as of that date will be
an amount determined in the manner prescribed for the debt
security,
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the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or
more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to
be outstanding will be the U.S. dollar equivalent,
determined as of that date in the manner prescribed for the debt
security, of the principal amount of the debt security or, in
the case of it debt security described in the two preceding
bullet points, of the amount described above, and
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debt securities owned by us, any subsidiary guarantor or any
other obligor upon the debt securities or any of our or their
affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.
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An original issue discount security means a debt
security issued under the indentures which provides for an
amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and
payable upon a declaration of acceleration of maturity. Some
debt securities, including those for the payment or redemption
of which money has been deposited or set aside in trust for the
holders, and those which have been legally defeased under the
indentures, will not be deemed to be outstanding.
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date
for determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of
any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action under an indenture. In limited
circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date
for action by holders of outstanding debt securities. If a
record date is set for any action to be taken by holders of a
particular series, the action may be taken only by persons who
are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the
record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by
holders of the requisite principal amount of debt securities
within a specified period following the record date. For any
particular record date, this period will be 180 days or
such shorter period as we may specify, or the Trustee may
specify, if it sets the record date. This period may be
shortened or lengthened by not more than 180 days.
(Section 104)
Conversion
and Exchange Rights
The debt securities of any series may be convertible into or
exchangeable for other securities of TreeHouse or another issuer
or property or cash on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Defeasance
When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or
all of our, or if applicable, any subsidiary guarantors
obligations under either indenture. Unless we inform you
otherwise in the prospectus supplement, if we deposit with the
Trustee funds or government securities sufficient to make
payments on the
19
debt securities of a series on the dates those payments are due
and payable and comply with all other conditions to defeasance
set forth in the indentures, then, at our option, either of the
following will occur:
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we and any subsidiary guarantor will be discharged from our
obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series
(legal defeasance), or
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we and any subsidiary guarantor will no longer have any
obligation to comply with the restrictive covenants under the
indentures, and the related events of default will no longer
apply to us or any subsidiary guarantor, but some of our and any
subsidiary guarantors other obligations under the
indentures and the debt securities of that series, including the
obligation to make payments on those debt securities, will
survive (a covenant defeasance).
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If we legally defease a series of debt securities, the holders
of the debt securities of the series affected will not be
entitled to the benefits of the indentures, except for:
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the rights of holders of that series of debt securities to
receive, solely from a trust fund, payments in respect of such
debt securities when payments are due,
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our obligation to register the transfer or exchange of debt
securities,
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our obligation to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
debt securities, and
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our obligation to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for
payment in trust.
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We may legally defease a series of debt securities
notwithstanding any prior exercise of our option of covenant
defeasance in respect of such series.
In addition, the subordinated note indenture provides that if we
choose to have the legal defeasance provision applied to the
subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions of
the subordinated note indenture will become ineffective. The
subordinated note indenture also provides that if we choose to
have covenant defeasance apply to any series of debt securities
issued pursuant to the subordinated note indenture we need not
comply with the provisions relating to subordination.
If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant
defeasance option, any subsidiary guarantee will terminate.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we
will be required to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel
that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the
holders of the debt securities to recognize gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes and that the holders would be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the
deposit and related defeasance had not occurred. If we elect
legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a
ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a
change in law to that effect.
(Sections 1601-1604)
Satisfaction
and Discharge
We may discharge our obligations under the indentures while
securities remain outstanding if (1) all outstanding debt
securities issued under the indentures have become due and
payable, (2) all outstanding debt securities issued under
the indentures will become due and payable at their stated
maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or (3) all
outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures are
scheduled for redemption in one year, and in each case, we have
deposited with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay and
discharge all outstanding debt securities issued under the
indentures on the date of their scheduled maturity or the
scheduled date of the redemption and paid all other amounts
payable under the indentures (Section 401). The
subordinated note indenture provides that if we choose to
discharge our obligations with respect to the subordinated debt
securities, the subordination provisions of the subordinated
note indenture will become ineffective. (Section 1810)
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Global
Notes, Delivery and Form
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt
securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully
registered Global Notes (as defined below) that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York (the
Depository) and registered in the name of the
Depositorys nominee. Global Notes are not exchangeable for
definitive note certificates except in the specific
circumstances described below. For purposes of this prospectus,
Global Note refers to the Global Note or Global
Notes representing an entire issue of debt securities.
Except as set forth below, a Global Note may be transferred by
the Depository, in whole and not in part, only to a nominee on
the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the
Depository or another nominee of the Depository.
The Depository has advised us as follows:
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a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York;
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a banking organization within the meaning of the New
York banking law;
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a member of the Federal Reserve System;
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a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code; and
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a clearing agency registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
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The Depository was created to hold securities of its
participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
securities transactions among its participants through
electronic book entry changes in accounts of its participants,
eliminating the need for physical movements of securities
certificates.
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The Depository participants include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
others, some of whom own the Depository.
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Access to the Depository book-entry system is also available to
others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship
with a participant, either directly or indirectly.
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When we issue a Global Note in connection with the sale thereof
to an underwriter or underwriters, the Depository will
immediately credit the accounts of participants designated by
such underwriter or underwriters with the principal amount of
the debt securities purchased by such underwriter or
underwriters.
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Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note and the
transfers of ownership will be acted only through records
maintained by the Depository (with respect to participants), by
the participants (with respect to indirect participants and
certain beneficial owners) and by the indirect participants
(with respect to all other beneficial owners). The laws of some
states require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery in definitive of securities they purchase.
These laws may limit your ability to transfer beneficial
interests in a Global Note.
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So long as a nominee of the Depository is the registered owner
of a Global Note, such nominee for all purposes will be
considered the sole owner or holder of such debt securities
under the indentures. Except as provided below, you will not be
entitled to have debt securities registered in your name, will
not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt
securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the
owner or holder thereof under the indentures.
Each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must
rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if that person is
not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through
which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a
holder under the indentures. We understand that under existing
industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an
owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note desires to
give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or
take under the indentures, the Depository would
21
authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial
interests to give or take that action, and the participants
would authorize beneficial owners owning through these
participants to give or take that action or would otherwise act
upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Redemption notices shall be sent to the Depository. If less than
all of the debt securities within an issue are being redeemed,
the Depositorys practice is to determine by lot the amount
of the interest of each participant in such issue to be redeemed.
We will make payment of principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on, debt securities represented by a Global Note to the
Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered
owner and holder of the Global Note representing those debt
securities. The Depository has advised us that upon receipt of
any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, a
Global Note, the Depository will immediately credit accounts of
participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of that
Global Note, as shown in the records of the Depository. Standing
instructions and customary practices will govern payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note
held through those participants, as is now the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or
registered in street name. Those payments will be
the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any
statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from
time to time.
Neither we, any subsidiary guarantors, the Trustee nor any of
our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the
records of the Depository, any nominee or any participant
relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial
interests in a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any of the records of the Depository, any nominee or
any participant relating to those beneficial interests.
As described above, we will issue debt securities in definitive
form in exchange for a Global Note only in the following
situations:
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if the Depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue
as depository, defaults in the performance of its duties as
depository, ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and, in each case, a successor
depository is not appointed by us within 90 days after
notice thereof, or
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if, subject to the rules of the Depository, we choose to issue
definitive debt securities.
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In either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a
Global Note will be entitled to have debt securities equal in
principal amount to such beneficial interest registered in its
name and will be entitled to physical delivery of debt
securities in definitive form. Debt securities in definitive
form will be issued in initial denominations of $2,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof and
will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. We will
maintain one or more offices or agencies where debt securities
may be presented for payment and may be transferred or
exchanged. You will not be charged a fee for any transfer or
exchange of such debt securities, but we may require payment of
a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith.
Clearstream. Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme (Clearstream) is
incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional
depository. Clearstream holds securities for its participating
organizations (Clearstream Participants) and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants
with, among other things, services for safekeeping,
administration, clearance and establishment of internationally
traded securities and securities lending and borrowing.
Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. As a professional depository, Clearstream is subject
to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream
Participants are recognized financial institutions around the
world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access
to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks,
brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant
either directly or indirectly.
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Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially
through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of
Clearstream Participants in accordance with the rules and
procedures to the extent received by the Depository for
Clearstream.
Euroclear. Euroclear Bank S.A./N/V.
(Euroclear) was created in 1968 to hold securities
for participants of Euroclear (Euroclear
Participants) and to clear and settle transactions between
Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic
book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the
need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from
lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear
includes various other services, including securities lending
and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. Euroclear operates its system under contract with
Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted
by Euroclear, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts
and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with Euroclear, not
Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc 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 a Belgian bank. As such, it is regulated by the
Belgian Banking and Finance Commission.
Links have been established among the Depository, Clearstream
and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of debt
securities sold outside the United States and cross-market
transfers of the debt securities associated with secondary
market trading.
Although the Depository, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed
to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate
transfers, they are under no obligation to perform these
procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued
at any time.
Clearstream and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of
their participants in much the same way as the Depository, and
the Depository will record the total ownership of each of the
U.S. agents of Clearstream and Euroclear, as participants
in the Depository. When debt securities are to be transferred
from the account of a Depository participant to the account of a
Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant, the
purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear
through a participant at least one day prior to settlement.
Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its
U.S. agent to receive debt securities against payment.
After settlement, Clearstream or Euroclear will credit its
participants account. Credit for the debt securities will
appear on the next day (European time).
Because settlement is taking place during New York business
hours, Depository participants will be able to employ their
usual procedures for sending debt securities to the relevant
U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream or
Euroclear Participants. The sale proceeds will be available to
the Depository seller on the settlement date. As a result, to
the Depository participant, a cross-market transaction will
settle no differently than a trade between two Depository
participants.
When a Clearstream or Euroclear Participant wishes to transfer
debt securities to a Depository participant, the seller will be
required to send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear
through a participant at least one business day prior to
settlement. In these cases, Clearstream or Euroclear will
instruct its U.S. agent to transfer the debt securities
against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in
the account of the Clearstream or Euroclear Participant the
following day, with the proceeds back valued to the value date,
which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New
York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date,
that is, the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream
or Euroclear Participants account will instead be valued
as of the actual settlement date.
You should be aware that you will only be able to make and
receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving
debt securities through Clearstream and Euroclear on the days
when those clearing systems are open for business. Those systems
may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and
other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time zone differences there may be
problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and
Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States.
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The information in this section concerning the Depository,
Clearstream and Euroclear and their book-entry systems has been
obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we
take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Neither we, nor
the Trustee, will have any responsibility for the performance by
the Depository, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective
participants or indirect participants of their respective
obligations under the rules and procedures governing their
operations.
Subordination
Any subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated
note indenture will be subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of TreeHouse
whether existing at the date of the subordinated note indenture
or subsequently incurred. Upon any payment or distribution of
assets of TreeHouse to creditors upon any:
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liquidation;
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dissolution;
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winding-up;
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receivership;
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reorganization;
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assignment for the benefit of creditors;
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marshaling of assets; or
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bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of TreeHouse;
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the holders of Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive
payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on such Senior Debt before the holders of the
subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or
retain any payment to respect of the principal of and any
premium or interest on the subordinated debt securities.
Upon the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt
securities, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the
time a such acceleration will first be entitled to receive
payment in full of all amounts due thereon, including any
amounts due upon acceleration, before the holders of
subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or
retain any payment in respect of the principal (including
redemption payments), or premium, if any, or interest on the
subordinated debt securities.
No payments on account of principal (including redemption
payments), or premium, if any, or interest, in respect of the
subordinated debt securities may be made if:
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there has occurred and is continuing a default in any payment
with respect to Senior Debt; or
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there has occurred and is continuing a default with respect to
any Senior Debt resulting in the acceleration of the maturity
thereof.
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Debt means, with respect to any person:
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all indebtedness of such person for borrowed money;
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all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, including obligations
incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets
or businesses;
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all obligations of such person with respect to letters of
credit, bankers acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such person;
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all obligations of such person to pay the deferred purchase
price of property or services, but excluding accounts payable or
any other indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade
creditors arising in the ordinary course of business in
connection with the acquisition of goods or services;
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all capital lease obligations of such person;
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all Debt of others secured by a lien on any asset by such person;
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all Debt and dividends of others guaranteed by such person to
the extent such Debt and dividends are guaranteed by such
person; and
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all obligations for claims in respect of derivative products.
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Senior Debt means the principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest on Debt of TreeHouse, whether created,
incurred or assumed on, before or after the date of the
subordinated note indenture, unless the instrument creating or
evidencing the Debt provides that such Debt is subordinated to
or pari passu, with the subordinated debt securities.
Notices
Holders will receive notices by mail at their addresses as they
appear in the security register. (Section 106)
Title
We, any subsidiary guarantors, the Trustees and any agent of us,
any subsidiary guarantors or a Trustee may treat the person in
whose name a debt security is registered on the applicable
record date as the owner of the debt security for all purposes,
whether or not it is overdue. (Section 309)
Governing
Law
New York law governs the indentures and the debt securities.
(Section 112)
Regarding
the Trustee
We and affiliates of ours maintain various commercial and
investment banking relationships with Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association and its affiliates in their ordinary course of
business.
If an event of default occurs under the indentures and is
continuing, the Trustee will be required to use the degree of
care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of that
persons own affairs in the exercise of the rights and
powers granted to the Trustee under the indentures. The Trustee
will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the
indentures at the request or direction of any of the holders of
any debt securities issued under the indentures only after those
holders have offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably
satisfactory to it.
If the Trustee becomes one of our creditors, its rights to
obtain payment of claims in specified circumstances, or to
realize for its own account on certain property received in
respect of any such claim as security or otherwise will be
limited under the terms of the indentures (Section 613).
The Trustee may engage in certain other transactions with us or
any of the subsidiary guarantors; however, if the Trustee
acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning specified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended), it will
be required to eliminate the conflict or resign.
(Section 608)
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of our securities that we
may issue from time to time.
The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be
entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant
agent. The terms and conditions of the warrants will be
described in the specific warrant agreement and the applicable
prospectus supplement relating to such warrants. A form of
warrant agreement, including the form of certificate
representing the warrants, which contain provisions to be
included in the specific warrant agreements that will be entered
into with respect to particular offerings of warrants, will be
filed as an exhibit or incorporated by reference into the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A
holder or prospective purchaser of our warrants should refer to
the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement and
prospectus supplement for more specific information.
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DESCRIPTION
OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue subscription rights to purchase debt securities,
preferred stock, common stock or other securities. These
subscription rights may be issued independently or together with
any other security offered hereby and may or may not be
transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription
rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of
subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement
with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to
which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to
purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such
offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific
term of any offering of subscription rights for which this
prospectus is being delivered. A holder or prospective holder of
subscription rights should refer to the applicable prospectus
supplement for more specific information.
DESCRIPTION
OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may issue stock purchase contracts, representing contracts
obligating holders to purchase from us, and requiring us to sell
to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at
a future date or dates.
The price per share of common stock may be fixed at the time the
stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by
reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase
contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately
or as a part of units, or stock purchase units, consisting of a
stock purchase contract and either (x) senior debt
securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated
debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, or
(y) debt obligations of third parties, including
U.S. Treasury securities, in each case, securing the
holders obligations to purchase the common stock under the
stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may
require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock
purchase contracts or vice versa, and such payments may be
unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase
contracts may require holders to secure their obligations
thereunder in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we
may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts, or
prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral
securing such holders obligations under the original stock
purchase contract. The applicable prospectus supplement will
describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock
purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities.
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
TreeHouse may sell common stock, preferred stock, debt
securities, warrants, subscription rights stock purchase
contracts, stock purchase units
and/or
guarantees of debt securities in one or more of the following
ways from time to time:
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to or through underwriters or dealers;
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by itself directly;
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through agents;
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through a combination of any of these methods of sale; or
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through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.
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The prospectus supplements relating to an offering of securities
will set forth the terms of such offering, including:
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the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
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the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to
TreeHouse from the sale;
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any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and
other items constituting underwriters or agents
compensation; and
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any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities
exchanges on which such offered securities may be listed.
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Any initial public offering prices, discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time
to time.
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will
acquire the offered securities for their own account and may
resell them from time to time in one or more transactions,
including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering
price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The
offered securities may be offered either to the public through
underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing
underwriters or by one or more underwriters without a syndicate.
Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, the
obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of
securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and
the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such
series of securities if any are purchased.
In connection with underwritten offerings of the offered
securities and in accordance with applicable law and industry
practice, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions
that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of
the offered securities at levels above those that might
otherwise prevail in the open market, including by entering
stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or
imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below:
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A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting
of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or
maintaining the price of a security.
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A syndicate covering transaction means the placing of any bid on
behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any
purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with
the offering.
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A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing
underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate
member in connection with the offering when offered securities
originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in
syndicate covering transactions.
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These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock
Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise.
Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these
activities, or to continue such activities if commenced.
If a dealer is used in the sale, TreeHouse will sell such
offered securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may
then resell the offered securities to the public at varying
prices to be determined by that dealer at the time for resale.
The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will
be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that
transaction.
Offered securities may be sold directly by TreeHouse to one or
more institutional purchasers, or through agents designated by
TreeHouse from time to time, at a fixed price or prices, which
may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of
sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered
securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will
be named, and any commissions payable by TreeHouse to such agent
will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that
offering, unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus
supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts
basis for the period of its appointment.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under
agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against
certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that
the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in
respect thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be
customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services
for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered
by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through
registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Any person participating in the distribution of common stock
registered under the registration statement that includes this
prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the
Exchange Act, and applicable SEC
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rules and regulations, including, among others,
Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and
sales of any of our common stock by any such person.
Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any
person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage
in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common
stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in
market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
Other than our common stock, which is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, each of the securities issued hereunder will be
a new issue of securities, will have no prior trading market,
and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.
Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will
be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official
notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom TreeHouse sells
securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the
securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so
and may discontinue any market making at any time without
notice. We cannot assure you that there will be a market for the
offered securities.
VALIDITY
OF THE SECURITIES
The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be
passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago,
Illinois.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial
statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
from the TreeHouse Foods, Inc.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and the effectiveness of TreeHouse Foods, Inc.s internal
control over financial reporting have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and
financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, current reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document we file at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please
call the SEC at l-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
public reference room. Our SEC filings, including the
registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto
are also available to the public from the SECs website at
http://www.sec.gov.
You can also access our SEC filings through our website at
www.treehousefoods.com. Except as expressly set forth
below, we are not incorporating by reference the contents of the
SEC website or our website into this prospectus.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we
file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be
part of this prospectus.
Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede this information. This means that you must
look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference
to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in
any documents previously incorporated by reference have been
modified or superseded. We incorporate by reference into this
prospectus the following documents:
(a) Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on
February 16, 2010.
(b) The description of our common stock and preferred stock
purchase rights contained in our Registration Statement on
Form 10 filed pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act.
(c) All documents filed by us under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before the termination of
this offering.
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Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate
information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to
Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of
Form 8-K.
You may request a copy of these filings and any exhibit
incorporated by reference in these filings at no cost, by
writing or telephoning us at the following address or number:
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Two Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 1070
Westchester, IL 60154
(708) 483-1300
Attention: Secretary
29
$
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
% Notes
due 20
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
BofA
Merrill Lynch
Wells
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Capital
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February ,
2010