SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
The description in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the heading “Issuance and Sale of Notes” is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
Underwriting Agreement
On June 24, 2024, Waste Management, Inc. (the “Company”) commenced and priced an underwritten public offering of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 (collectively, the “Notes”) under the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-264493). The Notes, which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Waste Management Holdings, Inc. (“WM Holdings”), will be sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into on June 24, 2024 among the Company, WM Holdings and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., Truist Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
The Underwriting Agreement includes the terms and conditions for the issuance and sale of the Notes, indemnification and contribution obligations and other terms and conditions customary in agreements of this type. Certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates in the offering are dealers under the Company’s commercial paper program and may receive 5% or more of the net proceeds of this offering by reason of the repayment of amounts outstanding under the Company’s commercial paper program, which is fully supported by the Company’s $3.5 billion revolving credit facility. Certain of the underwriters or one of their respective affiliates are lenders under the Company’s $3.5 billion revolving credit facility and have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, investment banking, commercial services and brokerage services for the Company, for which they have received or will receive customary fees and expense reimbursements.
A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is being filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Issuance and Sale of Notes
Closing of the issuance and sale of the Notes is expected to occur on July 3, 2024, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Notes will be issued under an indenture dated as of September 10, 1997, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Indenture”). The terms of the Notes and the guarantees by WM Holdings will be set forth with respect to each series of Notes in an officers’ certificate (each, an “Officers’ Certificate”) of the Company, delivered pursuant to the Indenture on the closing date, and guarantee agreements (each, a “Guarantee Agreement”) by WM Holdings delivered on the closing date.
Copies of the Indenture and the forms of the Officers’ Certificates and the Guarantee Agreements are being filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.6 and 4.7, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits |
Exhibit Index
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
| WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
| Date: June 25, 2024 | By: | /s/ Charles C. Boettcher |
| Charles C. Boettcher | ||
| Executive Vice President, | ||
| Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer | ||
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
Waste Management, Inc.
$750,000,000 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027
$750,000,000 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031
Underwriting Agreement
New York, New York
June 24, 2024
To the Representatives named
in Schedule II hereto of the
Underwriters named in
Schedule II hereto
c/o BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
787 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10019
c/o SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10172
c/o Truist Securities, Inc.
3333 Peachtree Road NE, 11th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Waste Management, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes” and, together with the 2027 Notes, the “Notes”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of September 10, 1997, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as the current successor to the initial trustee, Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), and to be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the “Guarantees”) by Waste Management Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) pursuant to guarantees (the “Guarantee Agreements”) in favor of the holders of the Notes to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof). The Notes and the Guarantees are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Securities.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 19 hereof.
At or prior to the Time of Sale, the Company had prepared the following information (the “Time of Sale Information”): the Preliminary Prospectus and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Act) listed on Annex A hereto.
1. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Company and Holdings represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File Number 333-264493) on Form S-3, including a related base prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will next file with the Commission a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b). The Registration Statement, at the Time of Sale, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).
(b) At the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; on the Effective Date the Registration Statement did not, and on the Closing Date the Registration Statement will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date the Indenture did, and on the Closing Date the Indenture will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and on the date of filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made with respect to the Final Prospectus, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).
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(c) The Time of Sale Information at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Final Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Final Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
(d) The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Act or Rule 134 under the Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Final Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex A hereto and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
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(e) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming it was duly executed and delivered by the Trustee, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting rights and remedies of creditors, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and conforms to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus.
(g) The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to you against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will have been validly issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting rights and remedies of creditors, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and the Notes conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus.
(h) The Guarantee Agreements have been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered by Holdings against payment for the Notes in accordance with the terms thereof, will have been validly executed and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding agreements of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting rights and remedies of creditors, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and the Guarantees conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus.
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(i) The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to register or qualify does not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(j) Holdings is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to register or qualify does not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Each of the Company’s “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) (the “Subsidiaries”) is included in the list of subsidiaries on Exhibit 21.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus; and each of the Subsidiaries is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to register or qualify does not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company. All such shares are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature (each, a “Lien”). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, there are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options, calls, convertible or exchangeable securities, commitments of sale, or Liens related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise to acquire any shares of the capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, any Subsidiary.
(m) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and Holdings.
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(n) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body or any arbitrator pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus, or which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or materially and adversely affect the performance of the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are contemplated or threatened. No action has been taken with respect to the Company or any subsidiary, and no statute, rule or regulation or order has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency and no injunction, restraining order or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction has been issued with respect to the Company or any subsidiary that prevents the issuance of the Securities or suspends the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, prevents or suspends the use of the Final Prospectus or prevents or suspends the sale of the Securities in any of the jurisdictions that the Representatives may have specified pursuant to Section 5(h) hereof; and every request of the Commission, or any securities authority or agency of any jurisdiction, for additional information to be included in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or otherwise has been complied with in all material respects.
(o) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), subsequent to the respective dates as of which such information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or entered into any transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
(p) Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus or such as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all property (real and personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus as being owned by it, free and clear of all Liens, except Liens for taxes not yet due and payable and Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus or in a document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. All the property described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus as being held under lease by each of the Company and its subsidiaries is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such Subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), where such violation or default would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(r) Neither the Company nor Holdings has distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) completion of the distribution of the Securities, neither will distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus or other materials, if any, permitted by the Act.
(s) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the right to use all patents, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and rights described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus as being owned by them or any of them or necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses, and the Company is not aware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to the foregoing.
(t) Neither the Company nor Holdings is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, neither will be an “investment company” as defined in the 1940 Act.
(u) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus.
(v) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or bylaws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties.
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(w) The consolidated historical financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein).
(x) Ernst & Young LLP, who have audited certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Act.
(y) Each of the Company and Holdings has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto)) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(z) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, nor is the Company aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(aa) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; (ii) all policies of insurance insuring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments; (iv) there are no claims by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and (v) neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, except in each case as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
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(bb) No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, except as described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(cc) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries possess and are in compliance with all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, authorization or permit, which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(dd) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(ee) Neither the Company nor Holdings has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or Holdings to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
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(ff) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, regulations and requirements relating to pollution, the protection of natural resources, human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, solid wastes, petroleum hydrocarbons or products, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential cost or liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, solid wastes, petroleum hydrocarbons or products, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or cost or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). The environmental reserves described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus reflect in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States the known liabilities and obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under Environmental Laws.
(gg) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license, certificate or other authorization or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(hh) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each “plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations) in which current or former employees of the Company and all members of its controlled group (within the meaning of Section 303(d)(1)(B) of ERISA) are or have been eligible to participate and each such plan is in compliance with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA.
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(ii) No holders of securities of the Company or Holdings have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.
(jj) The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and the statements contained in any such certification are true and correct in all material respects. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, on the part of any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including Section 402 related to loans.
(kk) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), which (i) were designed to ensure, among other things, that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, was made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company by others within those entities, particularly during the periods covered by the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024; (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the periods covered by the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act; and (iii) are effective to ensure that the Company is able to collect, process and disclose the information required to be disclosed in reports filed with the Commission within required time periods.
(ll) Based on the evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the periods covered by the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 and other than as has been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, the Company is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect its ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company.
(mm) The Company maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls.
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(nn) Since March 31, 2024, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(oo) Other than Holdings, no subsidiary of the Company has guaranteed any outstanding senior indebtedness of the Company except for de minimis guarantees made in the ordinary course of business.
(pp) The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Act, in each case at the times specified in the Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.
(qq) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons or entities of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”), including, without limitation, making or taking an act in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, foreign political party or official thereof or candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Laws. The Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(rr) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic of Ukraine, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the non-government controlled areas of the Kherson and the Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or target of Sanctions, or (ii) to fund any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country.
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(ss) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(tt) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are reasonably believed by the Company to be adequate for, and operate and perform as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented, and continue to monitor and develop, commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to prevent, detect, and address the risk of unauthorized use, misuse, intrusion and similar events involving the IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses. To the knowledge of the Company, there have been no breaches or unauthorized uses of or accesses to the IT Systems or Personal Data, and no such incidents are under internal investigation, that individually or in the aggregate, have, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or Holdings and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or Holdings, as the case may be, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase and Sale.
Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of (i) 99.629% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes and (ii) 98.993% of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes, plus, in each case, accrued interest, if any, from July 3, 2024 to the Closing Date, the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s-length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, in connection with the offering of Securities hereby, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.
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3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 10 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus.
5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will file the Final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Act; will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the term sheet in the form of Schedule I hereto) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act; and will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and the Company will furnish copies of the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company shall pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the filing of the Final Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing.
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(c) The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, or any amendment to the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission; (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective; (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(d) If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, (i) any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (ii) it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (1) notify the Representatives of such event, (2) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (b) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and (3) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to the Underwriters in such quantities as they may reasonably request.
(e) If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 5, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.
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(f) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.
(g) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed or conformed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Final Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.
(h) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate, will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and will pay any fee of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, in connection with its review of the offering; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to tax or service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(i) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt securities (excluding commercial paper or bank borrowings) issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until the Closing Date.
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(j) Neither the Company nor Holdings will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(k) The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Act.
6. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such Underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 1(d) or Section 5(b) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Schedule I hereto without the consent of the Company.
(b) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act with respect to the offering of the Securities (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
7. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and Holdings contained herein as of the Time of Sale and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and Holdings made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and Holdings of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) If the filing of the Final Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Final Prospectus, and any such supplement, will be filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) and Section 8A under the Act or otherwise, shall have been instituted or threatened; each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Act to the extent required by Rule 433 thereunder; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
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(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company and Holdings, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) each of the Company and Holdings is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority under such laws to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus and to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement;
(ii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and Holdings;
(iii) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which principles may include implied duties of good faith and fair dealing;
(iv) each of the global certificates representing the Notes is in a form authorized by the Indenture, the Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, assuming the global certificates representing the Notes have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor as specified in this Agreement, the Notes constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which principles may include implied duties of good faith and fair dealing. Each registered holder thereof is entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;
(v) the Guarantee Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Holdings and, assuming the global certificates representing the Notes have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor as specified in this Agreement, the Guarantee Agreements constitute valid and binding agreements of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which principles may include implied duties of good faith and fair dealing, and except for provisions purporting to waive rights to notice, legal defenses, statutes of limitation or other benefits that cannot be waived under applicable law;
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(vi) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;
(vii) the Securities and the Indenture conform as to legal matters in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus;
(viii) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; any required filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;
(ix) no authorization, approval, consent or license of any regulatory body or authority (other than under the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states) and no approval of the stockholders of the Company or Holdings is required for the valid authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company or Holdings, or for the performance of the Indenture;
(x) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or Holdings, or the express terms of any agreement set forth on Annex B hereto (the “Reviewed Agreements”), or any existing applicable laws, rule or regulation (excluding any state securities or state or federal anti-fraud law, rule or regulation);
(xi) the statements set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as such statements purport to constitute a summary of matters of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, accurately summarize the matters described therein in all material respects, subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein; and
(xii) neither the Company nor Holdings is an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act.
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In addition, such counsel shall state that they have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus and have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, with representatives of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and with the Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information, the Final Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although the purpose of such counsel’s professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus, and such counsel has not undertaken to verify independently any of the factual matters in such documents, and although many of the determinations required to be made in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus involve matters of a non-legal nature and, accordingly, such counsel is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained or included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (except to the extent stated in paragraphs (vii) and (xi) above), subject to the foregoing and on the basis of the information such counsel gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, such counsel shall advise that (a) the Registration Statement, as of the latest Effective Date, the Time of Sale Information, as of the Time of Sale, and the Final Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date, appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and (b) nothing came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that (1) the Registration Statement, as of the latest Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (2) the Time of Sale Information, as of the Time of Sale, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (3) the Final Prospectus, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that in each case such counsel has not been asked to, and does not, express any belief with respect to (x) the financial statements or other financial or accounting information contained or included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, (y) representations and warranties and other statements of fact contained in the exhibits to the Registration Statement or to documents incorporated by reference therein or (z) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Trustee’s Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1.
In rendering such opinions, such counsel may (A) state that the opinions are limited in all respects to matters of the contract law of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and applicable federal laws of the United States, each as in effect on the Closing Date, and (B) rely, as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (b) include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
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(c) Courtney A. Tippy, General Counsel – Securities & Governance and Corporate Secretary of the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives her opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) each of the corporate Subsidiaries organized under United States law is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, all of such shares of stock owned by the Company are owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any security holder thereof;
(ii) the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion, and except to the extent that any statement therein is modified or superseded in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus), as of the dates they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(iii) except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (or incorporated by reference therein), such counsel does not know of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation pending or threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or to which the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, in which there is a reasonable probability of a Material Adverse Effect;
(iv) such counsel does not know of any statutes or regulations or any pending or threatened legal or governmental proceedings required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus which are not described as required, nor of any material contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Final Prospectus or to be filed or incorporated as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described and filed or incorporated as required;
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(v) such counsel does not know of any holders of securities of the Company or Holdings that have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement; and
(vi) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee Agreements and the execution and performance of the Indenture (the “Operative Agreements”), the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Operative Agreements and compliance with the terms of the Operative Agreements do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of such counsel, any indenture, mortgage or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or by which they or any of their property is bound, or any existing applicable laws, rule, regulation (excluding any state securities or state or federal anti-fraud law, rule or regulation), or, to the knowledge of such counsel, any judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, that in any case would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Representatives shall have received from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(e) Each of the Company and Holdings shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, signed by the General Counsel – Securities & Governance and Corporate Secretary and the Vice President and Treasurer of the Company in the case of the Company, and signed by the Vice President and Treasurer of Holdings in the case of Holdings, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, any supplements to the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, and this Agreement and that:
(i) in the case of Holdings, the representations and warranties of Holdings in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date;
(ii) in the case of the Company, the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
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(iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and
(iv) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(f) The Company shall have requested and caused Ernst & Young LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Time of Sale and at the Closing Date, letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated respectively as of the Time of Sale and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and stating in effect, among other things, that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;
(ii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, the information included or incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus, and the information included in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation; and
(iii) they have inquired of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters as to whether: (A) at June 21, 2024 there was any change in the capital stock, increase in long-term indebtedness or any decreases in consolidated net current assets or in total equity of the Company as compared with the amounts shown on the March 31, 2024 unaudited consolidated balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; or (B) for the period from April 1, 2024 to June 21, 2024 there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in consolidated operating revenues or in the total or per-share amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the Company.
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References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (f) of this Section 7 include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter. The letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.
(g) Subsequent to the Time of Sale or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 7 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(h) Subsequent to the Time of Sale, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company and Holdings shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 7 shall be delivered at the office of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company and Holdings, at 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, on the Closing Date.
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8. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 7 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 11 hereof (other than as a result of the occurrence of the circumstances in Sections 11(ii) and 11(iii)) or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.
9. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Each of the Company and Holdings, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or in any amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that neither the Company nor Holdings will be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company or Holdings may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and Holdings, each of their respective directors, each of their respective officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls either the Company or Holdings within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company or Holdings to each Underwriter (the “Foregoing Indemnity”), but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the Foregoing Indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. Each of the Company and Holdings acknowledges that the following statements set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the documents referred to in the Foregoing Indemnity: (i) the statements in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and (ii) (A) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (B) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances, and (C) the paragraphs related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids, in each case under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”
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(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and shall not, without the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ a separate counsel (including a local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (ii) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party. An indemnifying party shall not be liable under this Section 9 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by such indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company, Holdings and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively, “Losses”) to which the Company, Holdings and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and Holdings on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company, Holdings and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and Holdings on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company and Holdings shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company and Holdings on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company, Holdings and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this paragraph (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. For purposes of this Section 9, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company or Holdings within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company or Holdings who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company or Holdings shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company or Holdings, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
10. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Notes which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter, the Company or Holdings. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 10, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
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11. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in the Company’s common stock shall have been suspended by the Commission, (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal, New York State or State of Texas authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, or (iv) there shall have occurred any material change in the financial markets or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, insurrection or armed conflict, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company and Holdings or their respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or Holdings or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
13. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to: (i) BNP Paribas Securities Corp., 787 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Debt Syndicate, email: DL.US.Syndicate.Support@us.bnpparibas.com or campbell.andersen@us.bnpparibas.com; (ii) SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attention: Debt Capital Markets; (iii) Truist Securities, Inc., 3333 Peachtree Road NE, 11th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30326; or (iv) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Transaction Management, email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com; or, if sent to the Company or Holdings, will be mailed or delivered to Waste Management, Inc., 800 Capitol Street, Suite 3000, Houston, Texas 77002, Attn: Leslie K. Nagy, Vice President and Treasurer, Email: lnagy@wm.com and GCLegal@wm.com.
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14. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
15. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
16. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Section 16, the following definitions apply:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
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“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (A) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (B) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any instruments, agreements, certificates, legal opinions, negative assurance letters or other documents entered into or delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.
18. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
19. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.
“1940 Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“affiliate” shall mean a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.
“Base Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City or Houston, Texas.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or become effective or are deemed to become effective under Rule 430A, Rule 430B and Rule 430C.
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“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Time of Sale, together with the Base Prospectus.
“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities dated June 24, 2024 that was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) prior to the Time of Sale, together with the Base Prospectus.
“Prospectus Delivery Period” shall mean such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements, as amended at the Time of Sale (or, if not effective at the Time of Sale, in the form in which it shall become effective) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be. Such term shall include any Rule 430 Information deemed to be included therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C.
“Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 430A,” “Rule 430B,” “Rule 430C” and “Rule 462” refer to such rules under the Act.
“Rule 430 Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C that is deemed to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness.
“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) above.
“Time of Sale” shall mean 3:45 P.M. New York City time on June 24, 2024, the time when sales of the Securities were first made.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
20. Miscellaneous. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
[Signature pages follow.]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, Holdings and the several Underwriters.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Name: | Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| WASTE MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Name: | Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | ||
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date
first set forth above.
| BY: | BNP paribas securities Corp. | ||
| By: | /s/ B. Campbell Andersen | ||
| Name: | B. Campbell Andersen | ||
| Title: | Managing Director | ||
| BY: | smbc nikko securities america, inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Thomas Bausand | ||
| Name: | Thomas Bausand | ||
| Title: | Managing Director | ||
| BY: | truist securities, inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert Nordlinger | ||
| Name: | Robert Nordlinger | ||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | ||
| BY: | wells fargo securities, llc | ||
| By: | /s/ Carolyn Hurley | ||
| Name: | Carolyn Hurley | ||
| Title: | Managing Director | ||
For themselves and the other several Underwriters,
if any, named in Schedule II to the foregoing Agreement.
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
SCHEDULE I
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus dated June 24, 2024 relating to the
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated June 24, 2024
to Prospectus dated April 26, 2022
Registration Statement No. 333-264493
Pricing Term Sheet
$750,000,000 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027
$750,000,000 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031
| Issuer: | Waste Management, Inc. |
| Guarantor: | Waste Management Holdings, Inc. |
| Ratings:* | [Omitted in exhibit format] |
| Trade Date: | June 24, 2024 |
| Settlement Date:** | T+7; July 3, 2024 |
| Principal Amount: | 2027 Notes: $750,000,000 2031 Notes: $750,000,000 |
| Maturity Date: | 2027 Notes: July 3, 2027 2031 Notes: July 3, 2031 |
| Coupon: | 2027 Notes: 4.950% 2031 Notes: 4.950% |
| Benchmark Treasury: | 2027 Notes: 4.625% due June 15, 2027 2031 Notes: 4.625% due May 31, 2031 |
| Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield: | 2027 Notes: 100-13 ¼ / 4.474% 2031 Notes: 102-06+ / 4.254% |
| Spread to Benchmark Treasury: | 2027 Notes: +52 basis points 2031 Notes: +80 basis points |
| Yield to Maturity: | 2027 Notes: 4.994% 2031 Notes: 5.054% |
| Price to Public: | 2027 Notes: 99.879% of the principal amount 2031 Notes: 99.393% of the principal amount |
| Net Proceeds (before expenses): | $1,489,665,000 |
| Interest Payment Dates: | 2027 Notes: Semi-annually on January 3 and July 3, commencing on January 3, 2025 2031 Notes: Semi-annually on January 3 and July 3, commencing on January 3, 2025 |
Schedule I-1
| Optional Redemption: | 2027 Notes: Prior to June 3, 2027 (one month prior to the maturity date), the 2027 Notes are redeemable at the option of the issuer, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the 2027 Notes matured on June 3, 2027) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 10 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after June 3, 2027 (one month prior to the maturity date), the 2027 Notes are redeemable at the option of the issuer, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
2031 Notes: Prior to May 3, 2031 (two months prior to the maturity date), the 2031 Notes are redeemable at the option of the issuer, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the 2031 Notes matured on May 3, 2031) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after May 3, 2031 (two months prior to the maturity date), the 2031 Notes are redeemable at the option of the issuer, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date. |
| CUSIP/ISIN: | 2027 Notes: 94106L BX6 / US94106LBX64 2031 Notes: 94106L BY4 / US94106LBY48 |
| Joint Book-Running Managers: | BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. Truist Securities, Inc. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC MUFG Securities Americas Inc. PNC Capital Markets LLC RBC Capital Markets, LLC U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
Schedule I-2
| Co-Managers: | Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Academy Securities, Inc. Loop Capital Markets LLC Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC Stern Brothers & Co. |
* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to review or withdrawal at any time.
** The issuer expects delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about July 3, 2024, which is the seventh business day following the date of pricing of the notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+7”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on any date prior to one business day before delivery will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+7, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisers.
The information in this term sheet supplements the information provided in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 24, 2024. To the extent information in this term sheet conflicts with information in the preliminary prospectus supplement, this term sheet controls. All capitalized terms used in this term sheet shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the preliminary prospectus supplement.
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) and prospectus supplement with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the prospectus supplement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by contacting: (1) BNP Paribas Securities Corp. toll-free at 1 (800) 854-5674; (2) SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. toll-free at 1 (888) 868-6856; (3) Truist Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1 (800) 685-4786; or (4) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at 1 (800) 645-3751.
Any disclaimers or other notices that may appear below are not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimers were automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent via email or another communication system.
Schedule I-3
SCHEDULE II
Representatives
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
Truist Securities, Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Underwriters
| Principal
Amount of 2027 Notes to be Purchased | Principal
Amount of 2031 Notes to be Purchased | |||||||
| BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | $ | 105,000,000 | $ | 105,000,000 | ||||
| SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. | $ | 105,000,000 | $ | 105,000,000 | ||||
| Truist Securities, Inc. | $ | 105,000,000 | $ | 105,000,000 | ||||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | $ | 105,000,000 | $ | 105,000,000 | ||||
| MUFG Securities Americas Inc. | $ | 54,375,000 | $ | 54,375,000 | ||||
| PNC Capital Markets LLC | $ | 54,375,000 | $ | 54,375,000 | ||||
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC | $ | 54,375,000 | $ | 54,375,000 | ||||
| U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. | $ | 54,375,000 | $ | 54,375,000 | ||||
| Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. | $ | 33,750,000 | $ | 33,750,000 | ||||
| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC | $ | 33,750,000 | $ | 33,750,000 | ||||
| Academy Securities, Inc. | $ | 15,000,000 | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||
| Loop Capital Markets LLC | $ | 15,000,000 | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||
| Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC | $ | 7,500,000 | $ | 7,500,000 | ||||
| Stern Brothers & Co. | $ | 7,500,000 | $ | 7,500,000 | ||||
| TOTAL | $ | 750,000,000 | $ | 750,000,000 | ||||
Schedule II-1
Annex A
Free Writing Prospectuses
Final Pricing Term Sheet, substantially in the form of Schedule I attached to this Agreement.
Annex A-1
Annex B
Reviewed agreements
| 1. | Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated September 10, 1997, among Waste Management, Inc. (formerly known as USA Services Inc.) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as Trustee |
| 2. | Each of the Officers’ Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture dated September 10, 1997 by and between Waste Management, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, which established the terms and form of Waste Management, Inc.’s: (i) 7.00% Senior Notes due 2028, (ii) 7.375% Senior Notes due 2029, (iii) 7.75% Senior Notes due 2032, (iv) 6.125% Senior Notes due 2039, (v) 3.125% Senior Notes due 2025, (vi) 3.90% Senior Notes due 2035, (vii) 4.10% Senior Notes due 2045, (viii) 3.15% Senior Notes due 2027, (ix) 4.15% Senior Notes due 2049, (x) 0.75% Senior Notes due 2025, (xi) 1.15% Senior Notes due 2028, (xii) 1.50% Senior Notes due 2031, (xiii) 2.50% Senior Notes due 2050, (xiv) 2.00% Senior Notes due 2029, (xv) 2.95% Senior Notes due 2041, (xvi) 4.15% Senior Notes due 2032, (xvii) 4.625% Senior Notes due 2030, (xviii) 4.625% Senior Notes due 2033, (xix) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2029 and (xx) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2034 |
| 3. | Each Guarantee Agreement by Waste Management Holdings, Inc. in favor of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee for the holders of Waste Management, Inc.’s: (i) 7.00% Senior Notes due 2028, (ii) 7.375% Senior Notes due 2029, (iii) 7.75% Senior Notes due 2032, (iv) 6.125% Senior Notes due 2039, (v) 3.125% Senior Notes due 2025, (vi) 3.90% Senior Notes due 2035, (vii) 4.10% Senior Notes due 2045, (viii) 3.15% Senior Notes due 2027, (ix) 4.15% Senior Notes due 2049, (x) 0.75% Senior Notes due 2025, (xi) 1.15% Senior Notes due 2028, (xii) 1.50% Senior Notes due 2031, (xiii) 2.50% Senior Notes due 2050, (xiv) 2.00% Senior Notes due 2029, (xv) 2.95% Senior Notes due 2041, (xvi) 4.15% Senior Notes due 2032, (xvii) 4.625% Senior Notes due 2030, (xviii) 4.625% Senior Notes due 2033, (xix) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2029 and (xx) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2034 |
| 4. | $3.5 Billion Seventh Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of May 8, 2024 by and among Waste Management, Inc., Waste Management of Canada Corporation, WM Quebec Inc. and Waste Management Holdings, Inc., certain banks party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, which agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Waste Management, Inc.’s Form 8-K dated May 8, 2024 and filed on May 10, 2024 |
| 5. | Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement, as executed with each of Mizuho Securities USA LLC (dated August 22, 2016), BofA Securities, Inc. (dated August 22, 2016), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (dated August 22, 2016), MUFG Securities Americas Inc. (dated September 17, 2018), Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (dated September 17, 2018), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (dated January 12, 2023), Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC (dated January 12, 2023) and Barclays Capital Inc. (dated October 27, 2023), as Dealer, each of which agreement is substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.11 to Waste Management, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 |
| 6. | Commercial Paper Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement between Waste Management, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association dated October 28, 2022, which agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.11 to Waste Management, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 |
Annex B-1
Exhibit 4.2
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
Officers’ Certificate Delivered Pursuant to
Section 301 of the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997
July 3, 2024
The undersigned, the Vice President and Treasurer, and the Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Waste Management, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify that:
1. This Officers’ Certificate (this “Certificate”) is delivered to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to Sections 102 and 301 of the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997 between the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., and the Trustee (the “Indenture”) in connection with the Company Order dated July 3, 2024 (the “Order”) for the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”).
2. The undersigned have read Sections 102, 103, 301 and 303 of the Indenture and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto.
3. The statements made herein are based either upon the personal knowledge of the persons making this Certificate or on information, data and reports furnished to such persons by the officers, counsel, department heads or employees of the Company who have knowledge of the facts involved.
4. The undersigned have examined the Order, and they have read the covenants, conditions and provisions of the Indenture relating thereto.
5. In the opinion of the persons making this Certificate, they have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable them to express an informed opinion as to whether or not all covenants and conditions provided for in the Indenture with respect to the Order have been complied with.
6. All covenants and conditions (including all conditions precedent) provided in the Indenture to the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes have been complied with, and such Notes may be delivered in accordance with the Order as provided in the Indenture.
7. The terms of the Notes (including the Form of Note) as set forth in Annex A to this Certificate have been approved by officers of the Company as authorized by resolutions duly adopted on March 1, 2022 and August 21, 2023 by the Board of Directors of the Company, which are in full force and effect as of the date hereof.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto executed this Officers’ Certificate as of the date first written above.
Leslie K. Nagy | |
| Vice President and Treasurer | |
Courtney A. Tippy | |
| Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
Officers’ Certificate Delivered Pursuant to
Section 301 of the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997
Signature Page
Annex A
Terms of the Notes
Pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 1, 2022 and August 21, 2023 and the Sole Director of Waste Management Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2024, the Company has approved the establishment, issuance, execution and delivery of a new series of Securities (as defined in the Indenture) to be issued under the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997 (the “Indenture”), between the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), the terms of which are set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are used herein as defined in the Indenture.
| (1) | The title of the series of Securities shall be “4.950% Senior Notes due 2027” (the “Notes”). |
| (2) | The Notes shall be general unsecured, senior obligations of the Company. |
| (3) | The initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be $750,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased before or after the issuance of any Notes of such series by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect. |
| (4) | The principal amount of each Note shall be payable on July 3, 2027. |
| (5) | Each Note shall bear interest from July 3, 2024 at the fixed rate of 4.950% per annum; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable shall be January 3 and July 3 of each year, commencing January 3, 2025, until maturity, unless such date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, in which case, such payment shall be made on the next day that is a Business Day. The Regular Record Date for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable shall be December 15 or June 15, respectively, immediately preceding such date, as the case may be. |
| (6) | If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the Notes) occurs, each Holder of the Notes may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of purchase, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Notes. |
| (7) | The Notes are to be issued as Registered Securities only. Each Note is to be issued as a book-entry note (“Book-Entry Note”) but in certain circumstances may be represented by Notes in definitive form. The Book-Entry Notes shall be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more Notes in global form as contemplated by Section 203 of the Indenture. The Depositary with respect to the Book-Entry Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. |
| (8) | Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes representing Book-Entry Notes on any Interest Payment Date or at maturity will be made available to the Trustee by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, unless such date falls on a day which is not a Business Day, in which case such payments will be made available to the Trustee by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next Business Day. As soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to the Depositary. |
| (9) | Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: |
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Notes) plus 10 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
“Par Call Date” means June 3, 2027.
| (10) | The Company shall have no obligation to redeem, purchase or repay the Notes pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof. |
| (11) | The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as contemplated by Section 1302 of the Indenture and to covenant defeasance under Section 1303 of the Indenture. |
| (12) | The Notes shall be entitled to the benefit of the covenants contained in Sections 1008 and 1009 of the Indenture. |
| (13) | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall serve initially as Security Registrar for the Notes. |
| (14) | The Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. |
| (15) | The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Waste Management Holdings, Inc., pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Guarantee Agreement dated July 3, 2024 (the “Guarantee”). The amount of the Guarantee will be limited to the extent required under applicable fraudulent conveyance laws to cause the Guarantee to be enforceable. The terms and conditions of the Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of holders of the Notes until release thereof as set forth in Section 6 of the Guarantee. |
| (16) | The Notes shall be subject to the satisfaction and discharge provisions set forth in Section 401 of the Indenture, as such provisions are supplemented or modified by the terms and conditions set forth in the Notes in accordance with the Indenture. |
Exhibit A
Form of Note
BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY
THIS SECURITY IS A BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION FOR TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
| RGN | Principal Amount | |
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. |
U.S. $ ,
which may be decreased by the Schedule of Exchanges of Definitive Security attached hereto | |
| 4.950% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027 | ||
| CUSIP 94106L BX6 |
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successors under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, at the office or agency of the Company, the principal sum of Million ($ ) U.S. dollars, or such lesser principal sum as is shown on the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Definitive Security, on July 3, 2027 in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest at an annual rate of 4.950% payable on January 3 and July 3 of each year, to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest, which shall be the preceding December 15 or June 15, respectively, payable commencing January 3, 2025, with interest accruing from July 3, 2024, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
The statements in the legends set forth above are an integral part of the terms of this Security and by acceptance hereof the Holder of this Security agrees to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions set forth in each such legend.
This Security is issued in respect of a series of Securities of an initial aggregate of U.S. $750,000,000 in principal amount designated as the 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 of the Company and is governed by the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997, duly executed and delivered by the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association) as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by Board Resolutions (as defined in the Indenture) (such Indenture and Board Resolutions, collectively, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Indenture are incorporated herein by reference. This Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits as definitive Securities under the Indenture.
If and to the extent that any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any other provision of the Indenture that is required to be included in the Indenture or is deemed applicable to the Indenture by virtue of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, such required provision shall control.
The Company hereby irrevocably undertakes to the Holder hereof to exchange this Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture without charge.
This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
| Dated: | WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC., | |
| a Delaware corporation | ||
| By: | ||
| Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| Attest: | ||
| By: | ||
| Courtney A. Tippy | ||
| Vice President and Corporate Secretary | ||
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Date of Authentication: | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust | |
| Company, N.A., as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Authorized Officer | ||
REVERSE OF BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
4.950% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (the “Debt Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise vary as provided in the Indenture. This Security is one of a series designated as the 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 of the Company, in initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 (the “Securities”).
1. Interest.
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate of 4.950% per annum.
The Company will pay interest semi-annually on January 3 and July 3 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing January 3, 2025. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from July 3, 2024. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) and on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate of 4.950% per annum, in each case to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except Defaulted Interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) may be paid to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may then be listed if such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee, as more fully provided in the Indenture. Except as provided below, the Company shall pay principal and interest in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“U.S. Legal Tender”). Payments in respect of a Book-Entry Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository. Payments in respect of Securities in definitive form (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, which initially will be at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10286 or at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders on the Regular Record Date or on the Special Record Date at their addresses set forth in the Security Register of Holders.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar at any time upon notice to the Trustee and the Holders. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may, subject to certain exceptions, act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.
4. Indenture.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities of the Company issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Indenture.
Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect on the date of the Indenture, and those terms stated in the Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee, duly authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company on March 1, 2022 and August 21, 2023 (the “Resolutions”) and the written consent of the Sole Director of Waste Management Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2024 (the “Consent”). The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Indenture, all indentures supplemental thereto, said Act, said Resolutions and said Consent and Officers’ Certificate for a statement of them. The Securities of this series are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited with an initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000.
5. Redemption.
Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 10 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
“Par Call Date” means June 3, 2027.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Company will notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any calculation of the Redemption Price or of any component thereof, or for determining whether manifest error has occurred.
Securities called for redemption become due on the Redemption Date. Notices of redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of record of the Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the Securities will state, among other things, the amount of Securities to be redeemed, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price or, if not ascertainable, the manner of determining the Redemption Price and the place(s) that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Securities to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest will cease to accrue on any Securities that have been called for redemption at the Redemption Date. If less than all the Securities are redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Securities to be redeemed on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. In the case of Securities in global form, the Depositary will determine the allocation of the Redemption Price among beneficial owners in such global Securities in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.
Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
The Securities may be redeemed in part in a minimum principal amount of $2,000, or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Any such redemption will also comply with Article Eleven of the Indenture.
6. Change of Control Offer.
If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Securities as described in Section 5, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Securities to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Securities on the terms set forth herein. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased (a “Change of Control Payment”), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities repurchased to the date of repurchase, subject to the right of holders of record on the applicable record date to receive interest due on the next Interest Payment Date.
Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to Holders of the Securities describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Securities on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice may, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the applicable Change of Control Payment Date.
Upon the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
| · | accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; |
| · | deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered; and |
| · | deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities or portions of Securities being repurchased. |
The Company need not make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party repurchases all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Securities if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.
The Company will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of this Security, the Company will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of this Security by virtue of any such conflict.
For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Securities, the following terms are applicable:
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the preceding, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Fitch” means Fitch Inc. and its successors.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the Securities is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Securities are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Securities are issued in registered form, without coupons, in a minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer of, or exchange, Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Securities Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
8. Person Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of a Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
9. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended or supplemented, and any existing Event of Default or compliance with any provision may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected. Without consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a Security in any material respect. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Security and any Securities which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities.
10. Defaults and Remedies.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding may declare the principal amount of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, however, if at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made and before judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue interest on all Securities, (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate prescribed therefor herein, (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate prescribed therefor herein, and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and (2) all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to the Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities which has become due solely by such declaration acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
11. Trustee Dealings with Company.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company and its Affiliates and any subsidiary of the Company’s Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company and its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
12. Authentication.
This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
13. Abbreviations and Defined Terms.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (tenant in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (Custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
14. CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such number as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
15. Absolute Obligation.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
16. No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Security by the Holder and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Security.
17. Governing Law.
This Security shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
18. Guarantee.
The Securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Waste Management Holdings, Inc., pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Guarantee, dated as of July 3, 2024 (the “Guarantee”). The amount of the Guarantee will be limited to the extent required under applicable fraudulent conveyance laws to cause the Guarantee to be enforceable. The terms and conditions of the Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of holders of the Securities until release thereof as set forth in Section 6 of the Guarantee.
19. Satisfaction and Discharge.
The Securities will be subject to Section 401 of the Indenture; provided, however, that solely with respect to the Securities, the following sentence shall be added to the end of Section 401(1)(B) of the Indenture: “(provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of any make-whole or other premium, (x) the amount of cash that must be deposited shall be determined using an assumed applicable premium calculated as of the date of such deposit and (y) the Company shall deposit any deficit in trust on or prior to the Redemption Date as necessary to pay the applicable premium as determined by such date)”.
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF DEFINITIVE SECURITY
The following exchanges of a part of this Book-Entry Security for definitive Securities have been made:
| Date of Exchange | Amount
of decrease in Principal Amount of this Book-Entry Security |
Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Book-Entry Security |
Principal
Amount |
Signature of authorized officer of Trustee or Security Custodian | ||||
Exhibit 4.3
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
Officers’ Certificate Delivered Pursuant to
Section 301 of the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997
July 3, 2024
The undersigned, the Vice President and Treasurer, and the Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Waste Management, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify that:
1. This Officers’ Certificate (this “Certificate”) is delivered to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to Sections 102 and 301 of the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997 between the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., and the Trustee (the “Indenture”) in connection with the Company Order dated July 3, 2024 (the “Order”) for the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”).
2. The undersigned have read Sections 102, 103, 301 and 303 of the Indenture and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto.
3. The statements made herein are based either upon the personal knowledge of the persons making this Certificate or on information, data and reports furnished to such persons by the officers, counsel, department heads or employees of the Company who have knowledge of the facts involved.
4. The undersigned have examined the Order, and they have read the covenants, conditions and provisions of the Indenture relating thereto.
5. In the opinion of the persons making this Certificate, they have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable them to express an informed opinion as to whether or not all covenants and conditions provided for in the Indenture with respect to the Order have been complied with.
6. All covenants and conditions (including all conditions precedent) provided in the Indenture to the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes have been complied with, and such Notes may be delivered in accordance with the Order as provided in the Indenture.
7. The terms of the Notes (including the Form of Note) as set forth in Annex A to this Certificate have been approved by officers of the Company as authorized by resolutions duly adopted on March 1, 2022 and August 21, 2023 by the Board of Directors of the Company, which are in full force and effect as of the date hereof.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto executed this Officers’ Certificate as of the date first written above.
| Leslie K. Nagy | |
| Vice President and Treasurer | |
| Courtney A. Tippy | |
| Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
Officers’ Certificate Delivered Pursuant to
Section 301 of the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997
Signature Page
Annex A
Terms of the Notes
Pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 1, 2022 and August 21, 2023 and the Sole Director of Waste Management Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2024, the Company has approved the establishment, issuance, execution and delivery of a new series of Securities (as defined in the Indenture) to be issued under the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997 (the “Indenture”), between the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), the terms of which are set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are used herein as defined in the Indenture.
| (1) | The title of the series of Securities shall be “4.950% Senior Notes due 2031” (the “Notes”). |
| (2) | The Notes shall be general unsecured, senior obligations of the Company. |
| (3) | The initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be $750,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased before or after the issuance of any Notes of such series by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect. |
| (4) | The principal amount of each Note shall be payable on July 3, 2031. |
| (5) | Each Note shall bear interest from July 3, 2024 at the fixed rate of 4.950% per annum; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable shall be January 3 and July 3 of each year, commencing January 3, 2025, until maturity, unless such date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, in which case, such payment shall be made on the next day that is a Business Day. The Regular Record Date for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable shall be December 15 or June 15, respectively, immediately preceding such date, as the case may be. |
| (6) | If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the Notes) occurs, each Holder of the Notes may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of purchase, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Notes. |
| (7) | The Notes are to be issued as Registered Securities only. Each Note is to be issued as a book-entry note (“Book-Entry Note”) but in certain circumstances may be represented by Notes in definitive form. The Book-Entry Notes shall be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more Notes in global form as contemplated by Section 203 of the Indenture. The Depositary with respect to the Book-Entry Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. |
| (8) | Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes representing Book-Entry Notes on any Interest Payment Date or at maturity will be made available to the Trustee by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, unless such date falls on a day which is not a Business Day, in which case such payments will be made available to the Trustee by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next Business Day. As soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to the Depositary. |
| (9) | Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: |
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Notes) plus 15 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
“Par Call Date” means May 3, 2031.
| (10) | The Company shall have no obligation to redeem, purchase or repay the Notes pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof. |
| (11) | The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as contemplated by Section 1302 of the Indenture and to covenant defeasance under Section 1303 of the Indenture. |
| (12) | The Notes shall be entitled to the benefit of the covenants contained in Sections 1008 and 1009 of the Indenture. |
| (13) | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall serve initially as Security Registrar for the Notes. |
| (14) | The Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. |
| (15) | The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Waste Management Holdings, Inc., pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Guarantee Agreement dated July 3, 2024 (the “Guarantee”). The amount of the Guarantee will be limited to the extent required under applicable fraudulent conveyance laws to cause the Guarantee to be enforceable. The terms and conditions of the Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of holders of the Notes until release thereof as set forth in Section 6 of the Guarantee. |
| (16) | The Notes shall be subject to the satisfaction and discharge provisions set forth in Section 401 of the Indenture, as such provisions are supplemented or modified by the terms and conditions set forth in the Notes in accordance with the Indenture. |
Exhibit A
Form of Note
BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY
THIS SECURITY IS A BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION FOR TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
| RGN | Principal Amount | |
|
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. |
U.S. $ , which may be decreased by the Schedule of Exchanges of Definitive Security attached hereto | |
| 4.950% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031 | ||
| CUSIP 94106L BY4 |
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successors under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, at the office or agency of the Company, the principal sum of Million ($ ) U.S. dollars, or such lesser principal sum as is shown on the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Definitive Security, on July 3, 2031 in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest at an annual rate of 4.950% payable on January 3 and July 3 of each year, to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest, which shall be the preceding December 15 or June 15, respectively, payable commencing January 3, 2025, with interest accruing from July 3, 2024, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
The statements in the legends set forth above are an integral part of the terms of this Security and by acceptance hereof the Holder of this Security agrees to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions set forth in each such legend.
This Security is issued in respect of a series of Securities of an initial aggregate of U.S. $750,000,000 in principal amount designated as the 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 of the Company and is governed by the Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997, duly executed and delivered by the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association) as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by Board Resolutions (as defined in the Indenture) (such Indenture and Board Resolutions, collectively, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Indenture are incorporated herein by reference. This Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits as definitive Securities under the Indenture.
If and to the extent that any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any other provision of the Indenture that is required to be included in the Indenture or is deemed applicable to the Indenture by virtue of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, such required provision shall control.
The Company hereby irrevocably undertakes to the Holder hereof to exchange this Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture without charge.
This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
| Dated: | WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC., | |
| a Delaware corporation | ||
| By: | ||
| Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| Attest: | ||
| By: | ||
| Courtney A. Tippy | ||
| Vice President and Corporate Secretary | ||
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Date of Authentication: | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust | |
| Company, N.A., as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Authorized Officer | ||
REVERSE OF BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
4.950% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (the “Debt Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise vary as provided in the Indenture. This Security is one of a series designated as the 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 of the Company, in initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 (the “Securities”).
1. Interest.
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate of 4.950% per annum.
The Company will pay interest semi-annually on January 3 and July 3 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing January 3, 2025. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from July 3, 2024. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) and on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate of 4.950% per annum, in each case to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except Defaulted Interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) may be paid to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may then be listed if such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee, as more fully provided in the Indenture. Except as provided below, the Company shall pay principal and interest in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“U.S. Legal Tender”). Payments in respect of a Book-Entry Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository. Payments in respect of Securities in definitive form (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, which initially will be at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10286 or at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders on the Regular Record Date or on the Special Record Date at their addresses set forth in the Security Register of Holders.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar at any time upon notice to the Trustee and the Holders. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may, subject to certain exceptions, act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.
4. Indenture.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities of the Company issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Indenture.
Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect on the date of the Indenture, and those terms stated in the Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee, duly authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company on March 1, 2022 and August 21, 2023 (the “Resolutions”) and the written consent of the Sole Director of Waste Management Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2024 (the “Consent”). The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Indenture, all indentures supplemental thereto, said Act, said Resolutions and said Consent and Officers’ Certificate for a statement of them. The Securities of this series are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited with an initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000.
5. Redemption.
Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
“Par Call Date” means May 3, 2031.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Company will notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any calculation of the Redemption Price or of any component thereof, or for determining whether manifest error has occurred.
Securities called for redemption become due on the Redemption Date. Notices of redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of record of the Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the Securities will state, among other things, the amount of Securities to be redeemed, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price or, if not ascertainable, the manner of determining the Redemption Price and the place(s) that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Securities to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest will cease to accrue on any Securities that have been called for redemption at the Redemption Date. If less than all the Securities are redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Securities to be redeemed on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. In the case of Securities in global form, the Depositary will determine the allocation of the Redemption Price among beneficial owners in such global Securities in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures.
Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
The Securities may be redeemed in part in a minimum principal amount of $2,000, or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Any such redemption will also comply with Article Eleven of the Indenture.
6. Change of Control Offer.
If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Securities as described in Section 5, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Securities to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Securities on the terms set forth herein. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased (a “Change of Control Payment”), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities repurchased to the date of repurchase, subject to the right of holders of record on the applicable record date to receive interest due on the next Interest Payment Date.
Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to Holders of the Securities describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Securities on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice may, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the applicable Change of Control Payment Date.
Upon the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
| · | accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; |
| · | deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered; and |
| · | deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities or portions of Securities being repurchased. |
The Company need not make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party repurchases all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Securities if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.
The Company will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of this Security, the Company will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of this Security by virtue of any such conflict.
For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Securities, the following terms are applicable:
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the preceding, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Fitch” means Fitch Inc. and its successors.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the Securities is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Securities are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Securities are issued in registered form, without coupons, in a minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer of, or exchange, Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Securities Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
8. Person Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of a Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
9. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended or supplemented, and any existing Event of Default or compliance with any provision may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected. Without consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a Security in any material respect. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Security and any Securities which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities.
10. Defaults and Remedies.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding may declare the principal amount of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, however, if at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made and before judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue interest on all Securities, (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate prescribed therefor herein, (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate prescribed therefor herein, and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and (2) all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to the Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities which has become due solely by such declaration acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
11. Trustee Dealings with Company.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company and its Affiliates and any subsidiary of the Company’s Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company and its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
12. Authentication.
This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
13. Abbreviations and Defined Terms.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (tenant in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (Custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
14. CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such number as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
15. Absolute Obligation.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
16. No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Security by the Holder and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Security.
17. Governing Law.
This Security shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
18. Guarantee.
The Securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Waste Management Holdings, Inc., pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Guarantee, dated as of July 3, 2024 (the “Guarantee”). The amount of the Guarantee will be limited to the extent required under applicable fraudulent conveyance laws to cause the Guarantee to be enforceable. The terms and conditions of the Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of holders of the Securities until release thereof as set forth in Section 6 of the Guarantee.
19. Satisfaction and Discharge.
The Securities will be subject to Section 401 of the Indenture; provided, however, that solely with respect to the Securities, the following sentence shall be added to the end of Section 401(1)(B) of the Indenture: “(provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of any make-whole or other premium, (x) the amount of cash that must be deposited shall be determined using an assumed applicable premium calculated as of the date of such deposit and (y) the Company shall deposit any deficit in trust on or prior to the Redemption Date as necessary to pay the applicable premium as determined by such date)”.
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF DEFINITIVE SECURITY
The following exchanges of a part of this Book-Entry Security for definitive Securities have been made:
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Exhibit 4.6
GUARANTEE
BY WASTE MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC.
(formerly known as Waste Management, Inc.)
in Favor of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as Trustee for the Holders
of Certain Debt Securities of
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
$750,000,000
4.950% Senior Notes due 2027
July 3, 2024
GUARANTEE, dated as of July 3, 2024 (as amended from time to time, this “Guarantee”), made by Waste Management Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Waste Management, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee for the holders of the $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Debt Securities”) of Waste Management, Inc. (formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”).
WITNESSETH:
Section 1. Guarantee.
(a) The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and any amounts and obligations due and payable with respect to the Debt Securities under Section 607 of the Indenture (as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), dated as of September 10, 1997, between the Issuer, as successor to USA Waste Services, Inc., and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Obligations”), according to the terms of the Debt Securities and the Indenture, as applicable.
(b) It is the intention of the Guarantor that this Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to this Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the amount guaranteed by the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor (other than guarantees of the Guarantor in respect of subordinated debt) that are relevant under such laws, result in the Obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. For purposes hereof, “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
Section 2. Guarantee Absolute. The Guarantor guarantees that the Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of holders of the Debt Securities with respect thereto. The liability of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Indenture, the Debt Securities or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Indenture;
(iii) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for all or any of the Obligations; or
(iv) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Issuer or a guarantor.
Section 3. Subordination. The Guarantor covenants and agrees that its obligation to make payments of the Obligations hereunder constitutes an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor ranking (a) pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Guarantor and (b) senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor.
Section 4. Waiver; Subrogation.
(a) The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding filed first against the Issuer, protest or notice with respect to the Debt Securities or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever.
(b) The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Trustee or the holders of any Debt Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Trustee or such holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all Obligations shall have been paid in full.
Section 5. No Waiver, Remedies. No failure on the part of the Trustee or any holder of the Debt Securities to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section 6. Continuing Guarantee; Transfer of Interest. This Guarantee is a continuing guaranty and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the earliest to occur of (A) the date, if any, on which the Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge into the Issuer or any successor thereto, (B) the date, if any, on which the Issuer or any successor thereto shall consolidate with or merge into the Guarantor, (C) payment in full of the Obligations and (D) the release by the lenders under the Seventh Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of May 8, 2024 by and among the Issuer, Waste Management of Canada Corporation, WM Quebec Inc., the Guarantor (as guarantor), certain banks party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (or under any replacement or new principal credit facility of the Issuer), (ii) be binding upon the Guarantor, its successors and assigns, and (iii) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by any holder of Debt Securities, the Trustee, and by their respective successors, transferees, and assigns.
Section 7. Reinstatement. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any holder of the Debt Securities or the Trustee upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
Section 8. Amendment. The Guarantor may amend this Guarantee at any time for any purpose without the consent of the Trustee or any holder of the Debt Securities; provided, however, that if such amendment adversely affects the rights of the Trustee or any holder of the Debt Securities, the prior written consent of the Trustee shall be required.
Section 9. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PROVISIONS THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICT OF LAWS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
| WASTE MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| By: | ||
| Jeff Bennett | ||
| Assistant Treasurer | ||
Signature Page to Guarantee
(4.950% Senior Notes due 2027)
Exhibit 4.7
GUARANTEE
BY WASTE MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC.
(formerly known as Waste Management, Inc.)
in Favor of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as Trustee for the Holders
of Certain Debt Securities of
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
$750,000,000
4.950% Senior Notes due 2031
July 3, 2024
GUARANTEE, dated as of July 3, 2024 (as amended from time to time, this “Guarantee”), made by Waste Management Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Waste Management, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee for the holders of the $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Debt Securities”) of Waste Management, Inc. (formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”).
WITNESSETH:
Section 1. Guarantee.
(a) The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and any amounts and obligations due and payable with respect to the Debt Securities under Section 607 of the Indenture (as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), dated as of September 10, 1997, between the Issuer, as successor to USA Waste Services, Inc., and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Obligations”), according to the terms of the Debt Securities and the Indenture, as applicable.
(b) It is the intention of the Guarantor that this Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to this Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the amount guaranteed by the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor (other than guarantees of the Guarantor in respect of subordinated debt) that are relevant under such laws, result in the Obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. For purposes hereof, “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
Section 2. Guarantee Absolute. The Guarantor guarantees that the Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of holders of the Debt Securities with respect thereto. The liability of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Indenture, the Debt Securities or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Indenture;
(iii) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for all or any of the Obligations; or
(iv) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Issuer or a guarantor.
Section 3. Subordination. The Guarantor covenants and agrees that its obligation to make payments of the Obligations hereunder constitutes an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor ranking (a) pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Guarantor and (b) senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor.
Section 4. Waiver; Subrogation.
(a) The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding filed first against the Issuer, protest or notice with respect to the Debt Securities or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever.
(b) The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Trustee or the holders of any Debt Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Trustee or such holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all Obligations shall have been paid in full.
Section 5. No Waiver, Remedies. No failure on the part of the Trustee or any holder of the Debt Securities to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section 6. Continuing Guarantee; Transfer of Interest. This Guarantee is a continuing guaranty and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the earliest to occur of (A) the date, if any, on which the Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge into the Issuer or any successor thereto, (B) the date, if any, on which the Issuer or any successor thereto shall consolidate with or merge into the Guarantor, (C) payment in full of the Obligations and (D) the release by the lenders under the Seventh Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of May 8, 2024 by and among the Issuer, Waste Management of Canada Corporation, WM Quebec Inc., the Guarantor (as guarantor), certain banks party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (or under any replacement or new principal credit facility of the Issuer), (ii) be binding upon the Guarantor, its successors and assigns, and (iii) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by any holder of Debt Securities, the Trustee, and by their respective successors, transferees, and assigns.
Section 7. Reinstatement. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any holder of the Debt Securities or the Trustee upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
Section 8. Amendment. The Guarantor may amend this Guarantee at any time for any purpose without the consent of the Trustee or any holder of the Debt Securities; provided, however, that if such amendment adversely affects the rights of the Trustee or any holder of the Debt Securities, the prior written consent of the Trustee shall be required.
Section 9. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PROVISIONS THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICT OF LAWS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
| WASTE MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Leslie K. Nagy | ||
| Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| By: | ||
| Jeff Bennett | ||
| Assistant Treasurer | ||
Signature Page to Guarantee
(4.950% Senior Notes due 2031)
Exhibit 5.1
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910
Louisiana
TEL +1 713.229.1234 FAX +1 713.229.1522 BakerBotts.com |
AUSTIN BRUSSELS DALLAS DUBAI HOUSTON LONDON
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NEW YORK PALO ALTO RIYADH SAN FRANCISCO Singapore WASHINGTON
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June 25, 2024
Waste Management, Inc.
Waste Management Holdings, Inc.
800 Capitol Street, Suite 3000
Houston, Texas 77002
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Waste Management Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), have engaged us to render the opinions expressed below in connection with the Company’s proposed issuance of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.950% Senior Notes due 2027 and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.950% Senior Notes due 2031 (collectively, the “Notes”) and the issuance of the related guarantees of the Notes by Holdings (the “Guarantees”), as contemplated by the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-264493) (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the offering of securities of the Company and of Holdings from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act.
The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and became effective upon filing. The Company’s prospectus dated April 26, 2022 and prospectus supplement dated June 24, 2024 relating to the Notes (collectively, the “Prospectus”) have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act.
The Company and Holdings entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated June 24, 2024, with BNP Paribas Securities Corp., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., Truist Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the issuance and sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Notes to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of September 10, 1997 between the Company, formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as the current successor to Texas Commerce Bank National Association, as trustee.
In our capacity as counsel to the Company and Holdings in connection with the matters referred to above, we have examined the following: (i) the Fourth Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, each as amended to date; (ii) the Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Holdings, each as amended to date; (iii) the Indenture; (iv) the form of Officers’ Certificates to be delivered pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture; (v) the form of Guarantees to be entered into by Holdings in favor of the holders of the Notes concurrently with the issuance of the Notes under the Indenture (the “Guarantee Agreements”); (vi) the Underwriting Agreement; (vii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and (viii) originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of corporate records of the Company and Holdings, certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Company and Holdings, statutes and other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary or advisable as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In giving the opinions set forth below, we have relied, with your consent and without independent investigation or verification, to the extent we deemed appropriate, upon certificates, statements or other representations of officers or other representatives of the Company and Holdings and of governmental and public officials with respect to the accuracy and completeness of the factual matters contained in or covered by such certificates, statements or representations. In making our examination, we have assumed, with your consent and without independent investigation or verification, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, that all signatures on documents examined by us are genuine, all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, all documents submitted to us as copies are true, correct and complete copies of the originals thereof and all information submitted to us was accurate and complete.
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| Waste Management, Inc. | ||
| Waste Management Holdings, Inc. | -2- | June 25, 2024 |
In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that the Notes will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that (i) the Notes will, when they have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly purchased and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which principles may include implied duties of good faith and fair dealing; and (ii) the Guarantees will, when Holdings has duly executed and delivered the Guarantee Agreements and the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly purchased and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Holdings, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which principles may include implied duties of good faith and fair dealing, and except for provisions purporting to waive rights to notice, legal defenses, statutes of limitation or other benefits that cannot be waived under applicable law.
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| Waste Management, Inc. | ||
| Waste Management Holdings, Inc. | -3- | June 25, 2024 |
The opinions set forth in this letter are limited in all respects to matters of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the contract law of the State of New York, each as currently in effect.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof and to the incorporation by reference of this opinion letter into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Baker Botts L.L.P. |