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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each Class of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Security		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price		Amount of Registration Fee(1)
4.500% Senior Notes due 2022		$1,000,000,000		99.458%		$994,580,000		$113,978.87
Guarantees of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2022		—		—		—		(2)
Total		$1,000,000,000		—		$994,580,000		$113,978.87

 

(1)

This filing fee is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933 and relates to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-181918) filed by the Registrant on June 6, 2012. This filing fee was previously paid on June 7, 2012. The filing of this prospectus supplement relates to the same offering and replaces the prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) on June 7, 2012.

 

(2)	In accordance with Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, no separate fee is payable with respect to guarantees of the senior notes being registered.

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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-181918

 

PROSPECTUS     SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated June 6, 2012)

$1,000,000,000

 

Tyson Foods, Inc.

4.500% Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

 

We are offering $1,000,000,000 principal amount of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2022, which we refer to in this prospectus supplement as our “notes.”

We will pay interest on the notes on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2012. The notes will mature on June 15, 2022. We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time and from time to time at the redemption price described herein.

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding, including all other senior notes issued under the indenture. The notes will be jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of our existing wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor under our revolving credit facility. Each of the guarantees may be released upon the occurrence of certain customary circumstances described in “Description of the Notes—Guarantees.” The notes will be issued only in registered form in denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

		Per Note				Total
Public offering price(1)			99.458	%		$	994,580,000
Underwriting discount			0.650	%		$	6,500,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to us			98.808	%		$	988,080,000

 

(1)

Plus accrued interest, if any, from June 13, 2012, if settlement occurs after that date.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about June 13, 2012.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BofA Merrill Lynch		J.P. Morgan     Morgan Stanley				RBC Capital Markets
Barclays				Rabo Securities

 

 

Co-Managers

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.		HSBC		SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

US Bancorp		Wells Fargo Securities

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is June 6, 2012.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement
		Page
About This Prospectus Supplement			S-ii
Where You Can Find More Information			S-iii
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			S-iv
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-5
Use of Proceeds			S-9
Capitalization			S-10
Description of the Notes			S-11
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations			S-31
Underwriting			S-36
Legal Matters			S-41
Experts			S-41
Prospectus
		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
The Company			3
Risk Factors			4
Use of Proceeds			4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			4
Description of Debt Securities			4
Plan of Distribution			21
Legal Matters			22
Experts			22

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document consists of two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific details regarding this offering and the notes offered hereby. The second part is the prospectus, which describes more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with additional information incorporated by reference herein as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus supplement. If the description of the offering set forth in this prospectus supplement differs in any way from the information set forth in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed materially since those dates. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus constitutes an offer or solicitation on our behalf or on behalf of the underwriters to subscribe for and purchase any of the notes, and neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus may be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus supplement to the terms “we,” “us,” the “Company” or “Tyson” mean Tyson Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and references to “fiscal 2011,” “fiscal 2010” or “fiscal 2009” mean the Company’s fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively.

The representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of the Company’s affairs.

 

 

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our Class A common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or “NYSE.” You may also inspect the information we file with the SEC at the NYSE’s offices at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Information about us, including certain SEC filings, is also available at our website at http://ir.tyson.com. However, the information on our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information in other documents that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus supplement.

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings that we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act,” prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011;

 

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012; and

 

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 18, 2011, February 7, 2012 and June 6, 2012.

You may obtain a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which may have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement (excluding certain exhibits to the documents) at no cost to you by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Investor Relations Department

Tyson Foods, Inc.

2200 Don Tyson Parkway

Springdale, AR 72762-6999

(479) 290-4524

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contains or incorporates by reference a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “intend” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our current views and estimates of our outlook for fiscal 2012, other future economic circumstances, industry conditions in domestic and international markets, our performance and financial results (e.g., debt levels, return on invested capital, value-added product growth, capital expenditures, tax rates, access to foreign markets and dividend policy). These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Among the factors that may cause actual results and experiences to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following: (i) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; (ii) fluctuations in the cost and availability of inputs and raw materials, such as live cattle, live swine, feed grains (including corn and soybean meal) and energy; (iii) market conditions for finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, supply and pricing of competing products and alternative proteins and demand for alternative proteins; (iv) successful rationalization of existing facilities and operating efficiencies of the facilities; (v) risks associated with our commodity purchasing activities; (vi) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vii) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an adverse effect on livestock we own, the availability of livestock we purchase, consumer perception of certain protein products or our ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (viii) changes in availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and our ability to maintain good relationships with employees, labor unions, contract growers and independent producers providing us livestock; (ix) issues related to food safety, including costs resulting from product recalls, regulatory compliance and any related claims or litigation; (x) changes in consumer preference and diets and our ability to identify and react to consumer trends; (xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or loss of one or more large customers; (xii) adverse results from litigation; (xiii) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases due to rising interest rates or changes in debt ratings or outlook; (xiv) compliance with and changes to regulations and laws (both domestic and foreign), including changes in accounting standards, tax laws, environmental laws, agricultural laws and occupational, health and safety laws; (xv) our ability to make effective acquisitions or joint ventures and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvi) effectiveness of our advertising and marketing programs; (xvii) our renewable energy ventures and other initiatives might not be successful; and (xviii) those factors listed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and to the Company’s periodic and current reports filed with the SEC for specific risks which would cause actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. It is not possible to identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the notes involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained herein or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding whether to purchase the notes. In addition, you should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, as the same may be updated from time to time by our filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act that we incorporate by reference herein. The risks and uncertainties described in such incorporated documents and described below are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of those risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations would suffer. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to the Notes

The notes and the subsidiary guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt, to the existing and future secured debt of our subsidiary guarantors, and to the existing and future obligations of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.

The notes will rank senior in right of payment to our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes; equal in right of payment to our existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated; junior in right of payment to any of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness incurred by our non-guarantor subsidiaries. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our assets that secure debt ranking senior or equal in right of payment to the notes will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after the secured debt has been repaid in full from these assets. There may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the notes then outstanding. The indenture governing the notes does not prohibit us from incurring additional senior debt or secured debt, nor does it prohibit any of our subsidiaries from incurring additional liabilities.

As of March 31, 2012, we had approximately $2,220 million of total debt outstanding, on a consolidated basis, $20 million of which was secured indebtedness to which the notes would have ranked junior, and $224 million of which was indebtedness of our non-guarantor subsidiaries to which the notes would have ranked structurally junior. Additionally, a subsidiary guarantor had $180 million outstanding secured debt payable to a non-guarantor subsidiary, and a non-guarantor subsidiary had $163 million outstanding debt payable to Tyson Foods, Inc.

The notes are obligations of Tyson Foods, Inc. only and our operations are conducted through, and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by, our subsidiaries.

The notes are obligations of Tyson Foods, Inc. and are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., our largest subsidiary, and each of our other existing wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor under our revolving credit facility, but are not otherwise guaranteed. Each of the guarantees may be released upon the occurrence of certain customary circumstances described in “Description of the Notes—Guarantees.” A substantial portion of our consolidated assets is held by our non-guarantor subsidiaries. Accordingly, our ability to service our debt, including the notes, depends on the results of operations of our subsidiaries and upon the ability of such subsidiaries to provide us with cash, whether in the form of dividends, loans or otherwise, to pay amounts due on our obligations, including the notes. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to make payments on the notes or to make any funds available for that purpose. In addition, dividends, loans or other distributions to us from such subsidiaries may be subject to contractual and other restrictions and are subject to other business considerations.

 

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Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations.

Despite our current debt levels, we may still incur substantially more debt or take other actions which would intensify the risks discussed above.

Despite our current consolidated debt levels, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional debt in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments, some of which may be secured debt. We will not be restricted under the terms of the indenture governing the notes from incurring additional debt, securing existing or future debt, recapitalizing our debt or taking a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the indenture that could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on the notes when due.

You may not be able to sell your notes if active trading markets for the notes do not develop.

The notes constitute a new issue of securities, for which there is no existing trading market. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or for quotation on any automated quotation system. We cannot provide you with any assurance regarding whether trading markets for the notes will develop, the ability of holders of the notes to sell their notes or the prices at which holders may be able to sell their notes. The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the notes. The underwriters, however, are not obligated to do so, and any market-making activity with respect to the notes may be discontinued at any time without notice. If no active trading markets develop, you may be unable to resell the notes at any price or at their fair market value or at all.

The price at which you will be able to sell your notes prior to maturity will depend on a number of factors and may be substantially less than the amount you originally invest.

We believe that the value of the notes in any secondary market will be affected by the supply and demand of the notes, the interest rate and a number of other factors. Some of these factors are interrelated in complex ways. As a result, the effect of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. The following paragraphs describe what we expect to be the impact on the market value of the notes of a change in a specific factor, assuming all other conditions remain constant.

United States Interest Rates. We expect that the market value of the notes will be affected by changes in United States interest rates. In general, if United States interest rates increase, the market value of the notes may decrease. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.

Our Credit Rating, Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We expect the notes will be rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. Any rating agency that rates the notes may lower our rating or decide not to rate the notes in its sole discretion. Actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings, financial condition or results of operations may affect the market value of the notes. In general, if our credit rating is downgraded, the market value of the notes may decrease. A credit rating is not a recommendation

 

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to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. No person is obligated to maintain any rating on the notes, and, accordingly, we cannot assure you that the ratings assigned to the notes will not be lowered or withdrawn by the assigning rating organization at any time thereafter.

We want you to understand that the impact of one of the factors above, such as an increase in United States interest rates, may offset some or all of any change in the market value of the notes attributable to another factor, such as an improvement in our credit rating.

Our credit ratings may not reflect all risks of an investment in the notes.

The credit ratings assigned to the notes may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to trading markets, if any, for, or trading value of, your notes. In addition, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect any trading market, if any, for, or trading value of, your notes. Accordingly, you should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risks entailed by an investment in the notes and the suitability of investing in the notes in light of your particular circumstances.

There are limited covenants in the indenture.

Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries is restricted from incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including additional senior debt, under the indenture. If we incur additional debt or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the notes could be adversely affected. We expect that we will from time to time incur additional debt and other liabilities. In addition, we are not restricted under the indenture from granting security interests over our assets, except to the extent described under “Description of the Notes—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Liens” in this prospectus supplement, or from paying dividends, making investments or issuing or repurchasing our securities.

In addition, there are no financial covenants in the indenture. You are not protected under the indenture in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction that may adversely affect you, except to the extent described under “Description of Debt Securities—General” included in the accompanying prospectus.

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control, which would result in a default under the notes.

Holders of the notes may require us to repurchase their notes in certain events upon a “change of control” as defined under “Description of the Notes—Change of Control” in this prospectus supplement. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient financial resources, or will be able to arrange sufficient financing, to pay the purchase price of the notes, particularly if a change of control triggers a similar repurchase requirement for, or results in the acceleration of, our other then existing debt. In addition, our ability to repurchase the notes for cash may be limited by law, or by the terms of other agreements relating to our indebtedness outstanding at that time. Our failure to repurchase the notes as required under the indenture governing the notes would result in a default under the indenture, which could have material adverse consequences for us and for holders of the notes.

Redemption may adversely affect your return on the notes.

We have the right to redeem some or all of the notes prior to maturity, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement. We may redeem the notes at times when prevailing interest rates may be relatively low. Accordingly, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as that of the notes.

 

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The subsidiary guarantees can be released under certain circumstances.

Each of the subsidiary guarantees may be released upon the occurrence of certain customary circumstances described in “Description of the Notes—Guarantees” in this prospectus supplement. If the subsidiary guarantee of any subsidiary is released, then the notes will be effectively subordinated to any and all existing and future obligations of such subsidiary.

A court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to void or subordinate the subsidiary guarantees.

Various applicable fraudulent conveyance laws have been enacted for the protection of creditors. A court may use fraudulent conveyance laws to subordinate or void the subsidiary guarantees of the notes issued by the subsidiary guarantors. It is also possible that under certain circumstances a court could hold that the direct obligations of a subsidiary guaranteeing the notes could be superior to the obligations under such guarantee. To the extent any subsidiary guarantor’s guarantee of the notes is voided as a result of fraudulent conveyance or held unenforceable for any other reason, the noteholders would cease to have any claim in respect of such guarantee.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the net proceeds to us from the sale of the notes will be approximately $986 million, after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund the repurchase of any and all of our $810 million of outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 2014 notes in a contemplated tender offer and/or redemption, including the payment of accrued interest thereon and any applicable premiums related thereto. We intend to use the remainder of the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2012, and as adjusted to give effect to the issuance and sale of the notes and the use of the proceeds from this offering as set forth under “Use of Proceeds” above. This table should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

		March 31, 2012
		Actual				As Adjusted
		($ in millions, except par value)
Cash & cash equivalents (1)		$	723			$	740
Long-term debt:
Revolving credit facility		$	—			$	—
Senior notes:
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due October 2013 (2013 Notes)			458				458
10.50% Senior Notes due March 2014 (2014 Notes)			810				—
6.85% Senior Notes due April 2016 (2016 Notes)			638				638
7.00% Notes due May 2018			120				120
7.00% Notes due January 2028			18				18
Discount on senior notes (2)			(60	)			(37	)
Notes offered hereby			—				1,000
GO Zone tax-exempt bonds (0.19% at 3/31/12)			100				100
Other			136				136
Less current debt			(84	)			(84	)
Total long-term debt		$	2,136			$	2,349
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock ($0.10 par value):
Class A—authorized 900 million shares; issued 322 million shares		$	32			$	32
Convertible Class B—authorized 900 million shares; issued 70 million shares			7				7
Capital in excess of par value			2,266				2,266
Retained earnings (3)			4,094				3,990
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(40	)			(40	)
Treasury stock, at cost—26 million shares			(453	)			(453	)
Total Tyson shareholders’ equity		$	5,906			$	5,802
Noncontrolling interest			29				29
Total shareholders’ equity		$	5,935			$	5,831
Total capitalization		$	8,071			$	8,180

 

(1)

“As adjusted” cash and cash equivalents include net proceeds from this offering, after underwriters’ discounts and estimated offering expenses, of approximately $986 million reduced by $810 million to fund the repurchase of the 2014 notes and $159 million in estimated accrued interest and premium payments to the holders of the 2014 notes.

(2)	“As adjusted” discount on senior notes includes a reduction of $28 million related to the repurchase of the 2014 notes and an increase of $5 million related to the difference between the public offering price and the par value of the notes offered hereby.

(3)	“As adjusted” retained earnings includes $135 million of estimated premium payments, $28 million of unamortized discount charge and $7 million of unamortized discount write-off related to the repurchase of the 2014 notes, assuming a 39% tax rate.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made. Whenever a defined term is referred to and not herein defined, the definition thereof is contained in the accompanying prospectus or in the Indenture referred to therein. In this “Description of the Notes,” unless otherwise indicated, “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” and similar words refer only to Tyson Foods, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries.

General

The $1,000,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “notes”) constitute a single series of debt securities pursuant to a base indenture dated as of June 1, 1995, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as Trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture with respect to the notes, between the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. In this section, we refer to the base indenture (the “base indenture”), as supplemented by the supplemental indenture (the “supplemental indenture”), collectively as the “Indenture.” The terms of the notes include those expressly set forth in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

You can find the definitions of some of the terms used in this description below under the caption “—Certain Definitions.” The defined terms used in this description but not defined below under the caption “—Certain Definitions” have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as Holders of the Notes. You may request copies of the Indenture at our address set forth under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

Brief Description of the Notes

The notes:

 

•

are unsecured senior obligations of the Company;

 

•

are senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes; and

 

•

are guaranteed by each Subsidiary Guarantor on an unsecured senior basis.

On the Issue Date, only those subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement were Subsidiary Guarantors.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

The notes will be initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000 and will mature on June 15, 2022, with accrued and unpaid interest to such date.

The Company will issue the notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any greater integral multiple of $1,000. We are permitted to issue additional notes from time to time without notice to or the consent of the registered holders of the notes. The notes and the related additional notes, if any, will be treated as a single

 

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class for all purposes of the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, provided that if such additional notes are not fungible with the original notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number. Unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of the Indenture and this “Description of the Notes”, references to the notes include any additional notes actually issued.

The notes will bear interest at 4.500% per annum from the date of issuance or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for, payable semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning December 15, 2012, to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding June 15 and December 15, respectively, whether or not such day is a Business Day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Optional Redemption

We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to March 15, 2022 (three months prior to the maturity date) at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

•

100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption; or

 

•

the sum of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the notes being redeemed (not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to its present value as of the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, as determined by the Quotation Agent, plus 45 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.

At any time on or after March 15, 2022 (three months prior to the maturity date), we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Company obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means any of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC and their respective successors. However, if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

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“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Selection and Notice of Redemption

If we are redeeming less than all the notes at any time, the Trustee will select the notes to be redeemed as follows:

 

(1)

if the notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such national securities exchange; or

 

(2)

if the notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee will deem fair and appropriate.

We will redeem notes of $2,000 or less in whole and not in part. We will cause notices of redemption to be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address.

If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. We will issue a new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on notes or portions of them called for redemption.

Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases

We are not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes. However, under certain circumstances, we may be required to offer to purchase notes as described under the caption “—Change of Control”. We may at any time and from time to time purchase notes in the open market or otherwise.

Guarantees

The Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally Guarantee, on a senior unsecured basis, our obligations under the notes and the Indenture. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantees may be released upon the occurrence of certain customary circumstances described below. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee is limited as necessary to prevent that Subsidiary Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See “Risk factors—Risks related to the notes—A court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to void or subordinate the guarantees”.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all guarantied obligations under the Indenture to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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If a Subsidiary Guarantee were rendered voidable, it could be subordinated by a court to all other indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent liabilities) of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, and, depending on the amount of such indebtedness, a Subsidiary Guarantor’s liability on its Subsidiary Guarantee could be reduced to zero. See “Risk factors—Risks related to the notes—A court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to void or subordinate the guarantees”.

Pursuant to the Indenture, (a) a Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with, merge with or into, or transfer all or substantially all its assets to any other Person to the extent described below under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets” and (b) the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor may be sold or otherwise disposed of to another Person; provided, however, that, subject to certain exceptions, in the case of the consolidation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, if such other Person is not the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee must be expressly assumed by such other Person, except that such assumption will not be required in the case of:

 

(1)

the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of a Subsidiary Guarantor, including the sale or disposition of Capital Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company; or

 

(2)

the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor;

in each case, other than to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company and as permitted by the Indenture. Upon any sale or disposition described in clause (1) or (2) above, the obligor on the related Subsidiary Guarantee will be released from its obligations thereunder.

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor also will be permanently released:

 

(1)

upon the release or discharge of all Guarantees and Indebtedness, as applicable, of such Subsidiary Guarantor outstanding as of the Issue Date (i) under the Credit Agreement and (ii) in relation to any Indebtedness of the Company; or

 

(2)

if we exercise our legal defeasance option or our covenant defeasance option as described under “—Defeasance” or if our obligations under the Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

Ranking

Senior Indebtedness versus Notes

The indebtedness evidenced by the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees is unsecured and will rank pari passu in right of payment with the other senior indebtedness of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be. The notes are guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had outstanding, on a consolidated basis, approximately $2,220 million of total debt (net of the unamortized issue discount of $60 million), which included:

 

(1)

approximately $1,996 million of total debt of Tyson and the Subsidiary Guarantors (of which approximately $12 million was secured indebtedness);

 

(2)

approximately $224 million of total debt of subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors, of which approximately $8 million was secured indebtedness (non-guarantor subsidiaries represented approximately 5% of our revenue for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and approximately 20% of our net assets); and

 

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(3)

the Company had aggregate additional availability of $955 million under the Credit Agreement, all of which would be secured indebtedness.

Additionally, a Subsidiary Guarantor had $180 million outstanding secured debt payable to a non-guarantor subsidiary, and a non-guarantor subsidiary had $163 million outstanding debt payable to Tyson Foods, Inc.

The notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. Secured debt and other secured obligations of the Company (including obligations with respect to the Credit Agreement) are effectively senior to the notes to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt or other obligations.

Liabilities of Subsidiaries versus Notes

A substantial portion of our operations is conducted through our subsidiaries. Some of our subsidiaries are not Guaranteeing the notes, and, as described above under “—Guarantees”, Subsidiary Guarantees may be released under certain circumstances. In addition, our future subsidiaries may not be required to Guarantee the notes. Claims of creditors of such non-guarantor subsidiaries, including trade creditors and creditors holding indebtedness or Guarantees issued by such non-guarantor subsidiaries, and claims of preferred stockholders of such non-guarantor subsidiaries generally will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of such non-guarantor subsidiaries over the claims of our creditors, including Holders of the notes, even if such claims do not constitute senior indebtedness. Accordingly, the notes are effectively subordinated to creditors (including trade creditors) and preferred stockholders, if any, of such non-guarantor subsidiaries.

At March 31, 2012, the total liabilities of our subsidiaries (other than the Subsidiary Guarantors) were approximately $931 million, including debt payable to Tyson Foods, Inc. and trade payables.

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company repurchase such Holder’s notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

Within 30 days following the date upon which any Change of Control Triggering Event shall have occurred, we will mail a notice by first-class mail to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the “Change of Control Offer”) or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, stating:

 

(1)

that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require us to purchase such Holder’s notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

 

(2)

the purchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

 

(3)

the instructions, as determined by us, consistent with the covenant described hereunder, that a Holder must follow in order to have its notes purchased.

We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by us and purchases all

 

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notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

We will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the covenant described hereunder, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the covenant described hereunder by virtue of our compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

The Change of Control purchase feature of the notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of the Company and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control purchase feature is a result of negotiations between the Company and the underwriters of the notes. We have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, we could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings. Restrictions on our ability to Incur additional Indebtedness are contained in the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Liens” and “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions”. Such restrictions can only be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding. Except for the limitations contained in such covenants, however, the Indenture will not contain any covenants or provisions that may afford Holders of the notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

The occurrence of certain change of control events with respect to the Company will constitute a default under the Credit Agreement and will restrict our ability to purchase notes. In the event that a Change of Control occurs at a time when we are prohibited by the Credit Agreement from purchasing notes, we may seek the consent of our lenders under the Credit Agreement to purchase the notes or may attempt to refinance the borrowings under the Credit Agreement. If we cannot obtain the consent of such lenders to purchase the notes or successfully refinance such borrowings, we will remain prohibited from purchasing notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, which would constitute a Default under the Indenture, which would, in turn, constitute a default under the Credit Agreement.

Indebtedness that we may Incur may contain prohibitions on the occurrence of certain events that would constitute a Change of Control or require the repurchase of such indebtedness upon a Change of Control. Moreover, the exercise by the Holders of their right to require us to repurchase their notes could cause a default under such indebtedness, even if the Change of Control itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchase on us. Finally, our ability to pay cash to the Holders of notes following the occurrence of a Change of Control may be limited by our then existing financial resources. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all”, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Company. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control has occurred and whether a Holder of notes may require the Company to make an offer to repurchase the notes as described above.

The provisions under the Indenture relative to our obligation to make an offer to repurchase the notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes.

 

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For purposes of the foregoing discussion, the following definitions apply:

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)

the Permitted Holders cease to be the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of a majority in the aggregate of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, whether as a result of issuance of securities of the Company, any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or any direct or indirect transfer of securities of the Company by the Permitted Holders or otherwise (for purposes of this clause (1) and clause (2) below, the Permitted Holders shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a Person (the “specified person”) held by any other Person (the “parent entity”) so long as the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as so defined), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the parent entity);

 

(2)

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in clause (1) above), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company;

 

(3)

the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)) other than to the Company or one of its subsidiaries;

 

(4)

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 such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property;

 

(5)

the first day on which the majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company cease to be Continuing Directors; or

 

(6)

the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (i) the survivor or transferee is a Person that is controlled by the Permitted Holders or (ii) a transaction following which (A) in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such merger or consolidation transaction) own directly or indirectly at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction and (B) in the case of a sale of assets transaction, each transferee becomes an obligor in respect of the notes and a Subsidiary of the transferor of such assets.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

“Continuing Director” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the board of directors of the Company who:

 

(1)

was a member of such board of directors on the date of the Indenture; or

 

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(2)

was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings and its successors.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s), a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) and a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch) and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us under the circumstances permitting us to select a replacement rating agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement rating agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

“Permitted Holders” means (1) Mr. Don Tyson, (2) “members of the same family” of Mr. Don Tyson as defined in Section 447(e) of the Code and (3) any entity (including, but not limited to, any partnership, corporation, trust or limited liability company) in which one or more individuals described in clauses (1) and (2) hereof possess over 50% of the voting power or beneficial interests.

“Rating Agencies” means (i) each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch; and (ii) if any of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act that is selected by us (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, or each of them, as the case may be.

“Rating Event” means, with respect to the notes, (i) the rating of such notes is lowered by two of the three Rating Agencies on any day during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing on the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (b) the first public notice of our intention to effect a Change of Control, and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies), and (ii) such notes are rated below Investment Grade by two of the three Rating Agencies on any day during the Trigger Period; provided that a Rating Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at our request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Event). If a Rating Agency is not providing a rating for the notes at the commencement of such period, the notes will be deemed to have ceased to be rated as investment grade by such Rating Agency during such period.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Certain Covenants

Restrictions on Liens

Reference is made to the sections “Description of Debt Securities—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Liens” and “Description of Debt Securities—Certain Covenants—Certain Definitions” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

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Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

Reference is made to the sections “Description of Debt Securities—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” and “Description of Debt Securities—Certain Covenants—Certain Definitions” in the accompanying prospectus.

Restrictions on Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets

(a) The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

 

(1)

the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental thereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the notes and the Indenture;

 

(2)

immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)

the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

For purposes of this covenant, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

The Successor Company will be the successor to the Company and shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture, and the predecessor Company, except in the case of a lease, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the notes.

(b) The Company will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person (other than any Excluded Transfer) unless:

 

(1)

except in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor (x) that has been disposed of in its entirety to another Person (other than to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), whether through a merger, consolidation or sale of Capital Stock or sale of all or substantially all assets or (y) that, as a result of the disposition of all or a portion of its Capital Stock, ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not such Subsidiary) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Subsidiary was organized or under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person (unless such Person is a Subsidiary Guarantor) shall expressly assume, by a Guarantee Agreement, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary, if any, under its Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(2)

immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

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(3)

the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Guarantee Agreement, if any, complies with the Indenture.

SEC Reports

The Company will file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports which the Company has so filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Filing of any such annual report, information, documents and such other reports on the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) or any other publicly available database maintained by the SEC will be deemed to satisfy this requirement.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Defaults

Each of the following is an Event of Default:

 

(1)

a default in the payment of interest on the notes when due, continued for 30 days;

 

(2)

a default in the payment of principal of any note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required purchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

(3)

the failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its obligations under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets” above;

 

(4)

the failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations in the covenants described above under “—Change of Control” (other than a failure to purchase notes) or under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Liens”, “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions”;

 

(5)

the failure by the Company to comply for 60 days after notice with the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—SEC Reports” or its other agreements contained in the Indenture;

 

(6)

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary (the “bankruptcy provisions”); or

 

(7)

a Subsidiary Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary (or the Subsidiary Guarantees of any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Subsidiary Guarantee) or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee other than by reason of the termination of the Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture.

However, a Default under clause (4) or (5) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes notify the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified after receipt of such notice.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company), the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the

 

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notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and interest on all the notes will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the notes. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the notes and its consequences.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the notes unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder of a note may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the notes unless:

 

(1)

such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(2)

Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)

such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(4)

the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(5)

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

If a Default occurs, is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each Holder of the notes notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is not opposed to the interest of the Holders of the notes. In addition, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

Amendments and Waivers

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the notes) and any past default or compliance with any provisions may also be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding. However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding note affected thereby, an amendment or waiver may not, among other things:

 

(1)

reduce the amount of notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

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(2)

reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any note;

 

(3)

reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any note;

 

(4)

change the provisions applicable to the redemption of any note as described under “—Optional Redemption”;

 

(5)

make any note payable in money other than that stated in the note;

 

(6)

impair the right of any Holder of the notes to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Holder’s notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s notes;

 

(7)

make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions;

 

(8)

make any change in the ranking or priority of any note that would adversely affect the Holders; or

 

(9)

make any change in, or release other than in accordance with the Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee that would adversely affect the Holders.

Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder of the notes, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Trustee may amend the Indenture:

 

(1)

to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2)

to provide for the assumption of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture by a successor to the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(3)

to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes; provided that the uncertificated notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

 

(4)

to add Guarantees with respect to the notes, including any Subsidiary Guarantees, or to secure the notes;

 

(5)

to add to the covenants of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of the notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(6)

to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the notes;

 

(7)

to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(8)

to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the date thereof;

 

(9)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

 

(10)

to conform the text of the Indenture, the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee to any provision of this “Description of the Notes” to the extent that such provision in this “Description of the Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee; or

 

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(11)

to make any amendment to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of notes; provided, however, that (a) compliance with the Indenture as so amended would not result in notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer notes.

The consent of the Holders of the notes is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to mail to Holders of the notes a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all Holders of the notes, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company may, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered to all Holders and is paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Transfer

The notes will be issued in registered form and will be transferable only upon the surrender of the notes being transferred for registration of transfer. We or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge payable in connection with certain transfers and exchanges.

Satisfaction and Discharge

When (1) we deliver to the Trustee all outstanding notes for cancellation or (2) all outstanding notes have become due and payable, whether at maturity or on a redemption date as a result of the mailing of notice of redemption, or will become due and payable within one year, and, in the case of clause (2), we irrevocably deposit with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding notes, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date, and if, in either case, we pay all other sums payable under the Indenture by us, then the Indenture shall, subject to certain exceptions, cease to be of further effect.

Defeasance

At any time, we may terminate all our obligations under the notes and the Indenture (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those owed to the Trustee, those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the notes.

In addition, at any time we may terminate (1) our obligations under “—Change of Control” and under the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants” (other than the covenant described under “—Restrictions on Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets”) and (2) the bankruptcy provisions with respect to Significant Subsidiaries and Subsidiary Guarantors described above under “—Default” (“covenant defeasance”).

We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clauses (4), (5) (solely with respect to SEC reports), or (7) (with respect only to the Company’s Subsidiaries) under “—Defaults” above. If we exercise our legal defeasance option or our covenant defeasance option, each Subsidiary Guarantor will be released from all of its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

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In order to exercise either of our defeasance options, we must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “defeasance trust”) with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred (and, in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable Federal income tax law).

Concerning the Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the Trustee under the Indenture. We have appointed the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent with regard to the notes.

The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions; provided, however, that if it acquires any conflicting interest it must either eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions. If an Event of Default occurs (and is not cured), the Trustee is required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any Holder of notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense and then only to the extent required by the terms of the Indenture.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the notes, any Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. Such waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under the U.S. Federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Governing law

The Indenture and the notes are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Book-Entry System

Upon issuance, the notes will be represented by one or more global securities deposited with, or on behalf of the Depositary. The global securities representing the notes will be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Except under the circumstances described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities—Book-Entry System,” the notes will not be issuable in definitive form. So long as the notes are represented by one or more global securities, the depositary or its nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of such notes for all purposes under the Indenture, and the beneficial owners of such notes will be entitled only to those rights and benefits afforded to them in accordance with the depositary’s regular operating procedures. See “Description of Debt Securities—Book-Entry System” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

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A further description of the depositary’s procedures with respect to global securities is set forth in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities—Book-Entry System.” The depositary has confirmed to the Company, the underwriters and the Trustee that it intends to follow such procedures with respect to the notes.

Certain Definitions

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control”, when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Attributable Debt” means, as to any particular lease under which any Person is at the time liable, other than a capital lease, and at any date as of which the amount of such lease is to be determined, the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such Person under such lease during the initial term of such lease as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, discounted from the last date of such initial term to the date of determination at a rate per annum equal to the discount rate which would be applicable to a capital lease with like term in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The net amount of rent required to be paid under any such lease for any such period shall be the aggregate amount of rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of insurance, taxes, assessments, utility, operating and labor costs and similar charges. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated. “Attributable Debt” means, as to a capital lease under which any Person is at the time liable and at any date as of which the amount of such lease is to be determined, the capitalized amount of such lease that would appear on the face of a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

“Business Day” means each day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or Texas.

“Capital Lease Obligation” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests (including partnership interests), rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Commodity Price Protection Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any forward contract, commodity swap, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into with respect to fluctuations in commodity prices.

 

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“Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 9, 2009, as amended and restated as of February 23, 2011, by and among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, the lenders referred to therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and Barclays Capital, as Syndication Agents, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital, Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch, and CoBank, ACB, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch, and CoBank, ACB, as documentation agents, together with the related documents thereto (including any guarantees and security documents), as amended, extended, renewed, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness Incurred to Refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding thereunder or under successor Credit Agreements, whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

“Currency Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement with respect to currency values.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder) or upon the happening of any event:

 

(1)

matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than redeemable only for Capital Stock of such Person which is not itself Disqualified Stock) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(2)

is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock; or

 

(3)

is mandatorily redeemable or must be purchased upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise, in whole or in part;

in each case on or prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the notes; provided, however, that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the notes shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if:

 

(4)

the “asset sale” or “change of control” provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the terms applicable to the notes and described under “—Change of Control”; and

 

(5)

any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the notes, including the purchase of any notes tendered pursuant thereto.

The amount of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date on which the amount of such Disqualified Stock is to be determined pursuant to the Indenture; provided, however, that if such Disqualified Stock could not be required to be redeemed, repaid or repurchased at the time of such determination, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be the book value of such Disqualified Stock as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person.

 

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“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Excluded Transfer” means any disposition by either New Canada Holdings, Inc. or Tyson International Holding Company of Capital Stock of any Person held by it as of the Issue Date to any “controlled foreign corporation” (as defined in the Code).

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination will be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the Issue Date, including those set forth in:

 

(1)

the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;

 

(2)

statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board;

 

(3)

such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession; and

 

(4)

the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such other Person:

 

(1)

to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

(2)

entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);

provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Guarantee Agreement” means a supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which a Subsidiary Guarantor Guarantees the Company’s obligations with respect to the notes on the terms provided for in the Indenture.

“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Price Protection Agreement.

“Holder” means the Person in whose name a note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Incur” means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for.

 

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“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

 

(1)

the principal in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due and payable;

 

(2)

all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable Debt in respect of all sale and lease-back transactions entered into by such Person;

 

(3)

all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but excluding any trade accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business);

 

(4)

all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, bankers’ acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations of other Persons described in clauses (1) through (3) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit);

 

(5)

the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock of such Person or, with respect to any Preferred Stock of any Subsidiary of such Person that is not 100% owned by such Person, the principal amount of such Preferred Stock to be determined in accordance with the Indenture (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

 

(6)

all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (5) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including by means of any Guarantee, other than endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;

 

(7)

all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property or assets and the amount of the obligation so secured; and

 

(8)

to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, the net obligations pursuant to any Hedging Obligations of such Person.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the purchase by the Company or any Subsidiary of any business, the term “Indebtedness” will exclude post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid within 60 days thereafter.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above; provided, however, that, in the case of Indebtedness sold at a discount, the amount of such Indebtedness at any time shall be the accreted value thereof at such time. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the term “Indebtedness” shall not include cash interest thereon.

 

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“Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement with respect to exposure to interest rates.

“Issue Date” means June 15, 2012.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“Preferred Stock”, as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

“principal” of a note means the principal of the note plus the premium, if any, payable on the note which is due or overdue or is to become due at the relevant time.

“Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, purchase, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by:

 

(1)

such Person;

 

(2)

such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or

 

(3)

one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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“Subsidiary Guarantee” means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to the notes.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company that executes the Indenture as a guarantor on the Issue Date and each other Subsidiary of the Company that thereafter Guarantees the notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the Issue Date.

“Trust Officer” means any officer in the corporate trust department of the Trustee, having direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture and also means any officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are not callable at the issuer’s option.

“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the notes to beneficial owners of the notes. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

This discussion applies only to beneficial owners that acquire the notes in connection with their initial issuance at their initial offering price and hold the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that might be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances or the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to special classes of taxpayers, such as banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships (or entities properly classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, persons liable for U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, former citizens or residents of the United States and persons holding the notes as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or a straddle. The discussion does not address any foreign, state, local or non-income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the notes to beneficial owners of the notes.

As used in this discussion, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

•

a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

•

a corporation (or other entity properly classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state within the United States, or the District of Columbia;

 

•

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

•

a trust, if (i) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more “United States persons” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) in the case of a trust that was treated as a domestic trust under the laws in effect before 1997, a valid election is in place under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to treat such trust as a domestic trust.

The term “Non-U.S. Holder” means any beneficial owner of a note who or that is not a U.S. Holder and is not a partnership or other entity properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For the purposes of this discussion, U.S. Holders and Non- U.S. Holders are referred to collectively as “Holders.”

If a partnership or other entity properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of a note, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the entity. Such entities and partners in such entities should consult their own tax advisors about the U.S. federal income and other tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of a note.

Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations and the consequences under federal estate or gift tax laws, as well as foreign, state or local laws and tax treaties, and the possible effects of changes in tax laws.

 

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U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest

Stated interest on notes beneficially owned by a U.S. Holder generally will be taxable as ordinary interest income at the time payments are accrued or are received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. It is expected, and this discussion assumes, that the notes will be issued without original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If, however, the notes’ principal amount exceeds the issue price by an amount that is greater than or equal to ¼ of one percent of the notes’ principal amount, multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, as determined under applicable Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder will be required to include such excess in income as original issue discount, as it accrues, in accordance with a constant-yield method based on a compounding of interest before the receipt of cash payments attributable to this income.

Change of Control Premium

In certain circumstances, we may be obligated to pay a change of control premium on the notes (as described above under “Description of the Notes—Change of Control”. This obligation may implicate the provisions of U.S. Treasury regulations relating to “contingent payment debt instruments.” We intend to take the position that the contingency that such payment will be made is “remote” or “incidental” (within the meaning of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations) and therefore that the notes are not subject to the rules governing contingent payment debt instruments. Although not entirely clear, under our position any change of control premium likely will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as capital gain rather than ordinary income when received or accrued, according to such U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If our position were found to be incorrect and the notes were deemed to be contingent payment debt instruments, a U.S. Holder might, among other things, be required to treat any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of a note as ordinary income rather than capital gain and might be required to report the change of control premium as income when it accrues or becomes fixed, even if such U.S. Holder is a cash method taxpayer. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not treated as contingent payment debt instruments.

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of the Notes

Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, other than amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest (which will be taxed as ordinary interest income to the extent such interest has not been previously included in income), and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes. The amount realized by a U.S. Holder is the sum of cash plus the fair market value of all other property received on such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes generally will be its cost for the notes.

Subject to the discussion above under “—Change of Control Premium,” the gain or loss a U.S. Holder recognizes on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if a U.S. Holder has held the notes for more than 12 consecutive months. For non-corporate U.S. Holders, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. A U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the deductibility of capital losses in its particular circumstances.

Medicare Tax

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, recently enacted legislation generally will impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on a portion or all of the net investment income of certain individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of over $200,000 (or $250,000 in the case of joint filers or $125,000 in the case of married

 

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individuals filing separate returns) and on the undistributed net investment income of certain estates and trusts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally will include interest (including interest paid with respect to a note), dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, net gain attributable to the disposition of property not held in a trade or business (including net gain from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note) and certain other income, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, a U.S. Holder that is not an “exempt recipient” will be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding at the applicable rate (currently 28%) with respect to payments on the notes and the proceeds of a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, unless the U.S. Holder provides its taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is not subject to backup withholding on Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) or a suitable substitute form and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder may be allowed as a credit against such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner. In addition, payments on the notes made to, and the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition by, a U.S. Holder that is not an exempt recipient generally will be subject to information reporting requirements.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest

Subject to the discussion below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on interest paid on the notes so long as:

 

•

the Non-U.S. Holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all of our stock entitled to vote;

 

•

the Non-U.S. Holder is not a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related to us, actually or by attribution, through stock ownership; and

 

•

either (i) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding) or a suitable substitute form that it is not a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code), and provides its name and address, and U.S. taxpayer identification number, if any, or (ii) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the notes on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that the certification referred to in clause (i) has been received from the Non-U.S. Holder or another intermediate financial institution, and furnishes to us a copy thereof.

A Non-U.S. Holder that does not qualify for exemption from withholding as described above generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on payments of interest on the notes. A Non-U.S. Holder may be entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty under which interest on the notes is subject to a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax or is exempt from U.S. withholding tax, provided the Non- U.S. Holder furnishes us a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming the reduction or exemption and the Non-U.S. Holder complies with any other applicable procedures.

 

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Sale, Exchange, or Redemption of the Notes

Generally, any gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note (other than amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be treated as described under “—Payments of Interest” above) will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax, unless:

 

•

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States); or

 

•

the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year, and certain other conditions are met.

Effectively Connected Income

If interest, gain or other income recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder on a note is “effectively connected” with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), the Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to the withholding tax discussed above under “—Payments of Interest” if the Non-U.S. Holder provides us with a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (Certificate of Foreign Person’s Claim That Income Is Effectively Connected With the Conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States), but the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest, gain or other income as if it were a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code). In addition to such U.S. federal income tax, if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, it may be subject to an additional 30% (or such lower rate as may be provided for under an applicable treaty) branch profits tax.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to a Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest paid to such Non-U.S. Holder and the tax withheld from those payments. These reporting requirements apply regardless of whether U.S. withholding tax on such payments was reduced or eliminated by any applicable tax treaty or otherwise. Copies of the information returns reporting those payments and the amounts withheld may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country where a Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or agreement.

Under some circumstances, U.S. Treasury regulations require backup withholding and additional information reporting on payments of interest and other “reportable payments.” Such backup withholding and additional information reporting will not apply to payments on the notes made by us or our paying agent to a Non-U.S. Holder if the certification described above under “—Payments of Interest” is received from the Non-U.S. Holder.

Backup withholding and information reporting generally will not apply to payments of proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note made to a Non-U.S. Holder by or through the foreign office of a broker. However, information reporting requirements, and possibly backup withholding, will apply if such broker is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) or has certain other enumerated connections with the United States, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its records that the Non-U.S. Holder is not a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and certain other conditions are met, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Payments of proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note made to a Non-U.S. Holder by or through the U.S. office of a broker are subject to information reporting and backup withholding at the applicable rate unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code)

 

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and satisfies certain other conditions or it otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. A Non-U.S. Holder may obtain a refund or credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules, provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely matter.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if available.

The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above may not be applicable depending upon a Holder’s particular situation. Prospective purchasers of the notes should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of notes, including the tax consequences under state, local, estate, foreign and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in U.S. or other tax laws.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We intend to offer the notes through the underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”), Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”) are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an underwriting agreement between us, the guarantors and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters and the underwriters severally have agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes listed opposite their names below.

 

Underwriter		Principal Amount
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC		$	225,000,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated			225,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC			184,150,000
RBC Capital Markets, LLC			225,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc.			35,000,000
Rabo Securities USA, Inc.			35,000,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.			14,170,000
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.			14,170,000
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.			14,170,000
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.			14,170,000
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC			14,170,000
Total		$	1,000,000,000

The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and may offer the notes to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of 0.40% of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of 0.25% of the principal amount of the notes, to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.

The following table shows the underwriting discount that we will pay to the underwriters in connection with the offering of the notes:

 

		Paid by us
Per note			0.65	%
Total		$	6,500,000

 

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The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated to be $1.8 million and are payable by us.

New Issue of Notes

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the notes after completion of the offering. However, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice. We cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If an active public trading market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering, the underwriters are permitted to engage in transactions that stabilize the market price of the notes. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain the price of the notes. If the underwriters create a short position in the notes in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more notes than are on the cover page of this prospectus, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing notes in the open market. Purchases of a security to stabilize the price or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. In addition, the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to fund the repurchase of any and all of our outstanding 2014 notes in a contemplated tender offer and/or redemption, including the payment of accrued interest thereon and any applicable premiums related thereto (see “Use of Proceeds”). Certain of the underwriters are holders of our 2014 notes and, as a result, may receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering. Further, affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit facility.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of Tyson and/or its affiliates (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with Tyson and/or its affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their

 

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affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

T+5 Settlement Period

We expect to deliver the notes against payment for the notes on or about the date specified in the last paragraph of the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the fifth business day following the date of the pricing of the notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on the date of pricing or the next succeeding business day will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement to prevent a failed settlement.

Selling Restrictions

EEA

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

 

(a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

(b)

to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant underwriter or underwriters nominated by the Company for any such offer; or

 

(c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of notes shall require the Company or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Notes to the public” in relation to any Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

 

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United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

(a)

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company or the Guarantors; and

 

(b)

it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

(A)

it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in Hong Kong, by means of any document, any notes other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance; and

 

(B)

it has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the

 

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SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (A) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (B) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (i) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; (ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; (iii) where the transfer is by operation of law; or as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The legality of the notes and the subsidiary guarantees being offered hereby and certain other matters will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantee of the notes by the subsidiary guarantor organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi will be passed upon for us by Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantee of the notes by the subsidiary guarantor organized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma will be passed upon for us by McAfee & Taft. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantee of the notes by the subsidiary guarantor organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska will be passed upon for us by Husch Blackwell LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantee of the notes by subsidiary guarantors organized under the laws of the States of North Carolina and Missouri will be passed upon for us by Bryan Cave LLP. The legality of the notes and the subsidiary guarantees being offered hereby and certain other matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Tyson Foods, Inc. as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 and for each of the years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of October 1, 2011, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The consolidated financial statements of Tyson Foods, Inc. for the year ended October 3, 2009, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Debt Securities

Guarantees

 

 

We may offer debt securities and related guarantees by one or more of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries from time to time in one or more series. We will provide specific terms of any offering of these debt securities and any related guarantees, together with the terms of the offering, the public offering price and our net proceeds from the sale thereof, in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.

We may sell these debt securities and any related guarantees on a continuous or delayed basis through one or more agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or directly to purchasers or through a combination of these methods. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of debt securities and any related guarantees. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any debt securities and any related guarantees, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of debt securities and any related guarantees will be the public offering price of those debt securities less the applicable discount, in the case of an offering made through an underwriter, or the purchase price of those debt securities less the applicable commission, in the case of an offering through an agent, and, in each case, less other expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of those debt securities and any related guarantees.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the information referred to under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is June 6, 2012.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
The Company			3
Risk Factors			4
Use of Proceeds			4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			4
Description of Debt Securities			4
Plan of Distribution			21
Legal Matters			22
Experts			22

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or any free writing prospectus that we prepare and distribute. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement or any such free writing prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof, that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date, or that any information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC,” as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act.” Under the automatic shelf process, we may, over time, sell the debt securities and any related guarantees described in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement in one or more offerings. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the debt securities and any related guarantees we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the debt securities and related guarantees we may offer. Each time we sell debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of those debt securities and any related guarantees. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to the terms “we,” “us,” the “Company” or “Tyson” mean Tyson Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our Class A common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or “NYSE.” You may also inspect the information we file with the SEC at the NYSE’s offices at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Information about us, including certain SEC filings, is also available at our website at http://ir.tyson.com. However, the information on our website is not a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings that we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act,” prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus (provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

 

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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011;

 

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Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012; and

 

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Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 18, 2011 and February 7, 2012.

You may obtain a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which may have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus (excluding certain exhibits to the documents) at no cost to you by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Investor Relations Department

Tyson Foods, Inc.

2200 Don Tyson Parkway

Springdale, AR 72762-6999

(479) 290-4524

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “intend” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our current views and estimates of our outlook for our 2012 fiscal year, other future economic circumstances, industry conditions in domestic and international markets, our performance and financial results (e.g., debt levels, return on invested capital, value-added product growth, capital expenditures, tax rates, access to foreign markets and dividend policy). These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Among the factors that may cause actual results and experiences to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following: (i) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; (ii) fluctuations in the cost and availability of inputs and raw materials, such as live cattle, live swine, feed grains (including corn and soybean meal) and energy; (iii) market conditions for finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, supply and pricing of competing products and alternative proteins and demand for alternative proteins; (iv) successful rationalization of existing facilities and operating efficiencies of the facilities; (v) risks associated with our commodity purchasing activities; (vi) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vii) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an adverse effect on livestock we own, the availability of livestock we purchase, consumer perception of certain protein products or our ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (viii) changes in availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and our ability to maintain good relationships with employees, labor unions, contract growers and independent producers providing us livestock; (ix) issues related to food safety, including costs resulting from product recalls, regulatory compliance and any related claims or litigation; (x) changes in consumer preference and diets and our ability to identify and react to consumer trends; (xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or loss of one or more large customers; (xii) adverse results from litigation; (xiii) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases due to rising interest rates or changes in debt ratings or outlook; (xiv) compliance with and changes to regulations and laws (both domestic and foreign), including changes in accounting standards, tax laws, environmental laws, agricultural laws and occupational, health and safety laws; (xv) our ability to make effective acquisitions or joint ventures and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvi) effectiveness of our advertising and marketing programs; (xvii) our

 

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renewable energy ventures and other initiatives might not be successful; and (xviii) those factors listed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and to the Company’s periodic and current reports filed with the SEC for specific risks which would cause actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. It is not possible to identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers of this prospectus are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

THE COMPANY

Founded in 1935, Tyson Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries are one of the world’s largest meat protein companies and the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 with one of the most recognized brand names in the food industry. We produce, distribute and market chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods and related allied products. Our operations are conducted in four segments: Chicken, Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods. Some of the key factors influencing our business are customer demand for our products; the ability to maintain and grow relationships with customers and introduce new and innovative products to the marketplace; accessibility of international markets; market prices for our products; the cost of live cattle and hogs, raw materials, grain and feed ingredients; and operating efficiencies of our facilities.

We operate a fully vertically integrated poultry production process. Our integrated operations consist of breeding stock, contract growers, feed production, processing, further-processing, marketing and transportation of chicken and related allied products, including animal and pet food ingredients. Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Cobb-Vantress, Inc., we are one of the leading poultry breeding stock suppliers in the world. Investing in breeding stock research and development allows us to breed into our flocks the characteristics found to be most desirable.

We also process live fed cattle and hogs and fabricate dressed beef and pork carcasses into primal and sub-primal meat cuts, case ready beef and pork and fully-cooked meats. In addition, we derive value from allied products such as hides and variety meats sold to further processors and others.

We produce a wide range of fresh, value-added, frozen and refrigerated food products. Our products are marketed and sold primarily by our sales staff to grocery retailers, grocery wholesalers, meat distributors, warehouse club stores, military commissaries, industrial food processing companies, chain restaurants or their distributors, international export companies and domestic distributors who serve restaurants, foodservice operations such as plant and school cafeterias, convenience stores, hospitals and other vendors. Additionally, sales to the military and a portion of sales to international markets are made through independent brokers and trading companies.

We commenced business in 1935, were incorporated in Arkansas in 1947, and were reincorporated in Delaware in 1986. Our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TSN.” Our principal executive office is located at 2200 Don Tyson Parkway, Springdale, Arkansas 72762-6999, and our telephone number at that address is (479) 290-4000. Our website is located at http://www.tyson.com. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our debt securities involves significant risks. Before purchasing any debt securities and any related guarantees, you should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, including the risk factors incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Our business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity could be adversely affected by any of these risks.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt, acquisitions, additions to working capital, capital expenditures and investments in our subsidiaries. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested prior to use.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

		Six Months  Ended March 31, 2012				Fiscal Years
						2011				2010				2009				2008				2007
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)			4.57x				4.50x				4.32x				(b	)			1.57x				2.48x

 

(a)

For purposes of calculating our ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest, and less capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” consist of (i) interest expense, (ii) capitalized interest, (iii) amortization of debt discount expense and (iv) the portion of rental expense representative of interest costs (which we estimate to be one-third of rental expense).

(b)	Earnings were insufficient to cover our fixed charges by $542 million in our 2009 fiscal year due to the recording of a $560 million non-tax deductible charge related to a Beef segment goodwill impairment and a $15 million pretax charge related to closing a prepared foods plant.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of June 1, 1995, as supplemented (the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.)), as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The following statements are subject to the detailed provisions of the Indenture. We have filed a copy of the Indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The Indenture is also available for inspection at the office of the Trustee. Section references are to the Indenture. The following summarizes the material terms of the Indenture; however, the following summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture are not complete. Wherever particular provisions of the Indenture are referred to, such provisions, including definitions of certain terms, are incorporated by reference as part of such summaries or terms, which are qualified in their entirety by such reference to the provisions of the Indenture. Definitions of certain terms used in this “Description of Debt Securities” may be found below under “—Certain Definitions.” In this “Description of Debt Securities,” unless otherwise indicated, “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” and similar words refer to Tyson Foods, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries.

 

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General

The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities which may be issued under the Indenture and provides that the debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series, as authorized from time to time by our Board of Directors, any committee of our Board of Directors or any duly authorized officer. The debt securities will be direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and will rank on a parity with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to our senior secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. Except as described under “Certain Covenants,” the Indenture does not limit other indebtedness or securities which may be incurred or issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or contain financial or similar restrictions on the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Company’s rights and the rights of its creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the latter’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise are effectively subordinated to the claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that the Company or any of its creditors may itself be a creditor of that subsidiary.

The debt securities may be guaranteed by one or more of the wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of the Company (each a “Subsidiary Guarantor”), as described in the applicable prospectus supplement that accompanies this prospectus. Each guarantee of the debt securities will be a general obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor and will rank on a parity with the other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor. The guarantees will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

The particular terms of a series of debt securities will be set forth in an officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture, and described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We urge you to read the Indenture as supplemented by any officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture because the Indenture, as supplemented, and not this section, defines your rights as a holder of the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement which accompanies this prospectus sets forth where applicable the following terms of and information relating to the debt securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered (“Offered Securities”) offered by the prospectus supplement:

 

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the designation of the Offered Securities;

 

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the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities;

 

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the date or dates on which principal of, and premium, if any, on the Offered Securities is payable;

 

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the rate or rates at which the Offered Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate shall be determined, and the basis on which interest shall be calculated if other than a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue and on which such interest will be payable and the related record dates;

 

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if the Offered Securities will be guaranteed by one or more of the subsidiaries of the Company;

 

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if other than the offices of the Trustee, the place where the principal of and any premium or interest on the Offered Securities will be payable;

 

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any redemption, repayment or sinking fund provisions;

 

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if other than denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000, the denominations in which the Offered Securities will be issuable;

 

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if other than the principal amount of such debt security, the portion of the principal amount due upon acceleration;

 

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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which the Offered Securities are denominated or payable;

 

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whether the Offered Securities shall be issued in the form of a global security or securities;

 

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any other specific terms of the Offered Securities; and

 

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the identity of any trustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars with respect to the Offered Securities. (Section 2.3)

The debt securities will be issued either in certificated, fully registered form, without coupons, or as global securities under a book-entry system, as specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement. See “—Book-Entry System.”

Unless otherwise specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement, principal and premium, if any, will be payable, and the debt securities will be transferable and exchangeable without any service charge, at the office of the Trustee. However, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any such transfer or exchange. (Sections 2.7, 4.1 and 4.2)

Unless otherwise specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement, interest on any series of debt securities will be payable on the interest payment dates set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the related record date and will be paid, at the option of the Company, by wire transfer or by checks mailed to such persons. (Sections 2.7 and 4.1)

If the debt securities are issued as Original Issue Discount Securities (as defined in the Indenture) bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates and are to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, the federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to such Original Issue Discount Securities will be generally described in the prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise described in the accompanying prospectus supplement, there are no covenants or provisions contained in the Indenture which afford the holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to any additions to, or modifications or deletions of, the events of default or covenants described below.

Book-Entry System

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global debt securities. Global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series. Global debt securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities, a global debt security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

We anticipate that global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or “DTC,” New York, New York and that global debt securities will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. We also anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to global debt securities. Additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DTC has advised us that it is:

 

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a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

 

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a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

 

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a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

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a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

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a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, which eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and by New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE Amex LLC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). Access to the DTC system is also available to others, sometimes referred to in this prospectus as indirect participants, that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant either directly or indirectly. Indirect participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of debt securities within the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser or beneficial owner of a debt security is, in turn, recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased the debt securities. Transfers of ownership interests in debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the debt securities, unless use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued or in other limited circumstances.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will not change the beneficial ownership of the debt securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited. Those participants may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC or its nominee. If less than all of the debt securities of a series are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the debt securities under its procedures.

In any case where a vote may be required with respect to the debt securities of any series, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will give consents for or vote the global debt securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

 

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Principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the global debt securities will be paid to Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on the payment date. Payments by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to Cede & Co. is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except as described in this prospectus, beneficial owners of interests in a global debt security will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of debt securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the debt securities and the Indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global debt securities.

DTC is under no obligation to provide its services as depositary for the debt securities of any series and may discontinue providing its services at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing DTC. As noted above, beneficial owners of debt securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the debt securities. However, if

 

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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global debt securities of any series or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be,

 

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we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have the debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities, or

 

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an Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series,

we will prepare and deliver certificates for the debt securities of that series in exchange for beneficial interests in the global debt securities. Any beneficial interest in a global debt security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for debt securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary shall direct. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global debt securities.

We obtained the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Certain Covenants

Restrictions on Liens. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined below) to, create, incur or suffer to exist any mortgage or pledge, as security for any indebtedness, on or of any shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary (as defined below) or any Principal Property (as defined below) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such shares of

 

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stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or Principal Property is owned at the date of the Indenture or acquired after the date of the Indenture, unless the Company secures or causes such Restricted Subsidiary to secure the outstanding debt securities equally and ratably with all indebtedness secured by such mortgage or pledge, so long as such indebtedness shall be so secured. This covenant will not apply in the case of:

(i) the creation of any mortgage, pledge or other lien on any shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property acquired after the date of the Indenture (including acquisitions by way of merger or consolidation) by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary contemporaneously with such acquisition, or within 180 days after such acquisition, to secure or provide for the payment or financing of any part of the purchase price of such acquisition, or the assumption of any mortgage, pledge or other lien upon any shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property acquired after the date of the Indenture existing at the time of such acquisition, or the acquisition of any shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property subject to any mortgage, pledge or other lien without the assumption of such mortgage, pledge or other liens, provided that every such mortgage, pledge or lien referred to in this clause (i) will attach only to the shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property so acquired and fixed improvements on such Principal Property;

(ii) any mortgage, pledge or other lien on any shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property existing at the date of this Indenture;

(iii) any mortgage, pledge or other lien on any shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(iv) any mortgage, pledge or other lien on Principal Property being constructed or improved securing loans to finance such construction or improvements;

(v) any mortgage, pledge or other lien on shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any Principal Property incurred in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt governmental obligations; and

(vi) any renewal of or substitution for any mortgage, pledge or other lien permitted by any of the preceding clauses (i) through (v),

provided, in the case of a mortgage, pledge or other lien permitted under clause (i), (ii) or (iv), the indebtedness secured is not increased nor the lien extended to any additional shares of stock, indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary or any additional Principal Property.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may create or assume liens in addition to those permitted by this paragraph, and renew, extend or replace such liens, provided that at the time of such creation, assumption, renewal, extension or replacement, and after giving effect to such creation, assumption, renewal, extension or replacement, Exempted Debt (as defined below) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below). (Section 4.3)

Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell or transfer, directly or indirectly, except to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, any Principal Property as an entirety, or any substantial portion of such property, with the intention of taking back a lease of such property, except a lease for a period of three years or less at the end of which it is intended that the use of such property by the lessee will be discontinued; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell any such Principal Property and lease it back for a longer period (i) if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions described above under “Restrictions on Liens,” to create a mortgage on the property to be leased securing Funded Debt (as defined below) in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt (as defined below) with respect to such sale and lease-back transaction without equally and ratably securing the outstanding debt securities or (ii) if (A) the Company promptly informs the Trustee of such transaction, (B) the net proceeds of such transaction are at least equal to the fair value (as determined by board resolution of the Company) of such

 

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property and (C) the Company causes an amount equal to the net proceeds of the sale to be applied to the retirement, within 180 days after receipt of such proceeds, of Funded Debt incurred or assumed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (including the debt securities); provided further that, in lieu of applying all of or any part of such net proceeds to such retirement, the Company may, within 75 days after such sale, deliver or cause to be delivered to the applicable trustee for cancellation either debentures or notes evidencing Funded Debt of the Company (which may include the outstanding debt securities) or of a Restricted Subsidiary previously authenticated and delivered by the applicable trustee, and not previously tendered for sinking fund purposes or called for a sinking fund or otherwise applied as a credit against an obligation to redeem or retire such notes or debentures, and an officers’ certificate (which will be delivered to the Trustee and each paying agent and which need not contain the statements prescribed by the second paragraph of Section 10.4 of the Indenture) stating that the Company elects to deliver or cause to be delivered such debentures or notes in lieu of retiring Funded Debt as provided in the Indenture. If the Company shall so deliver debentures or notes to the applicable trustee and the Company shall duly deliver such officers’ certificate, the amount of cash which the Company will be required to apply to the retirement of Funded Debt under this provision of the Indenture shall be reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate of the then applicable optional redemption prices (not including any optional sinking fund redemption prices) of such debentures or notes or, if there are no such redemption prices, the principal amount of such debentures or notes; provided, that in the case of debentures or notes which provide for an amount less than the principal amount of such debentures or notes to be due and payable upon a declaration of the maturity of such debentures or notes, such amount of cash shall be reduced by the amount of principal of such debentures or notes that would be due and payable as of the date of such application upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such debentures or notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture pursuant to which such debentures or notes were issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into sale and lease-back transactions in addition to those permitted by this paragraph and without any obligation to retire any outstanding debt securities or other Funded Debt, provided that at the time of entering into such sale and lease-back transactions and after giving effect to such transactions, Exempted Debt does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (Section 4.4)

Certain Definitions

The term “Attributable Debt” as defined in the Indenture means, as to any particular lease under which any Person (as defined in the Indenture) is at the time liable, other than a capital lease, and at any date as of which the amount of such lease is to be determined, the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such Person under such lease during the initial term of such lease as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, discounted from the last date of such initial term to the date of determination at a rate per annum equal to the discount rate which would be applicable to a capital lease with like term in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The net amount of rent required to be paid under any such lease for any such period shall be the aggregate amount of rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of insurance, taxes, assessments, utility, operating and labor costs and similar charges. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated. “Attributable Debt” means, as to a capital lease under which any Person is at the time liable and at any date as of which the amount of such lease is to be determined, the capitalized amount of such lease that would appear on the face of a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The term “Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” as defined in the Indenture means the excess over the current liabilities of the Company of all of its assets as determined by the Company and as would be set forth in a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as of a date within 90 days of the date of such determination, after deducting goodwill, trademarks, patents, other like intangibles and minority interests of others.

 

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The term “Exempted Debt” as defined in the Indenture means the sum, without duplication, of the following items outstanding of the date Exempted Debt is being determined:

(i) indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred after the date of the Indenture and secured by liens created, assumed or otherwise incurred or permitted to exist pursuant to the provision described in the last sentence under “Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Liens” and

(ii) Attributable Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of all sale and lease-back transactions with regard to any Principal Property entered into pursuant to the provision described in the last sentence under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.”

The term “Funded Debt” as defined in the Indenture means all indebtedness for money borrowed, including purchase money indebtedness, having a maturity of more than one year from the date of its creation or having a maturity of less than one year but by its terms being renewable or extendible, at the option of the obligor in respect of such indebtedness, beyond one year from its creation.

The term “Principal Property” as defined in the Indenture means:

(i) land, land improvements, buildings and associated factory equipment owned or leased pursuant to a capital lease and used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary primarily for processing, producing, packaging or storing its products, raw materials, inventories or other materials and supplies and located within the United States of America and having an acquisition cost plus capitalized improvements in excess of 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of such determination;

(ii) certain property referred to in the Indenture; and

(iii) any asset held by Tyson Holding Company (which was subsequently merged with and into Tyson Foods, Inc.)

but shall not include any such property or assets described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) that is financed through the issuance of tax exempt governmental obligations, or any such property or assets that has been determined by board resolution of the Company not to be of material importance to the respective businesses conducted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, effective as of the date such resolution is adopted.

The term “Restricted Subsidiary” as defined in the Indenture means any Subsidiary organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America and the principal business of which is carried on within the United States of America which owns or is a lessee pursuant to a capital lease of any Principal Property or owns shares of capital stock or indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary other than:

(i) each Subsidiary the major part of whose business consists of finance, banking, credit, leasing, insurance, financial services or other similar operations, or any combination of such operations; and

(ii) each Subsidiary formed or acquired after the date of the Indenture for the purpose of acquiring the business or assets of another person and which does not acquire all or any substantial part of the business or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

provided, however, the Board of Directors of the Company may declare any such Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary effective as of the date such resolution is adopted.

The term “Subsidiary” as defined in the Indenture means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock (as defined in the Indenture) is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person.

Restrictions on Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets

The Indenture provides that the Company will not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets (as an entirety or

 

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substantially an entirety in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to, any Person (other than a consolidation with or merger with or into a Subsidiary) or permit any Person to merge with or into the Company unless:

(a) either

(i) the Company will be the continuing Person or

(ii) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or that acquired or leased such property and assets of the Company shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America or any jurisdiction of the United States of America and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company on all of the debt securities and the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture complies with this provision and that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with; and

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default (as defined in the Indenture) shall have occurred and be continuing. (Section 5.1)

Events of Default

An “Event of Default,” as defined in the Indenture and applicable to debt securities, will occur with respect to the debt securities of any series if:

(a) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, mandatory repurchase or otherwise;

(b) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or breaches any other covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series and such default or breach continues for a period of 30 consecutive days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series;

(d) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the Company under the federal bankruptcy laws;

(e) the Company

(i) commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law,

(ii) consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or

(iii) effects any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

(f) any other Events of Default set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs. (Section 6.1)

 

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The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default described in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (f) above (if such Event of Default under clause (c) or (f) is with respect to one or more but not all series of debt securities then outstanding) occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, except for any series of debt securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each such series then outstanding under the Indenture (each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the debt securities of any such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) of all debt securities of all such series, and the interest accrued on such debt securities, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (c) or (f) occurs and is continuing with respect to all series of debt securities then outstanding, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the debt securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the debt securities then outstanding under the Indenture (treated as one class), by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the entire principal (or, if any debt securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms of such Original Issue Discount Securities and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) of all the debt securities then outstanding and interest accrued on such debt securities, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (e) occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount (or, if any debt securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms of such Original Issue Discount Securities and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) of all the debt securities then outstanding and interest accrued on such debt securities, if any, shall be and become immediately due and payable, without any notice or other action by any Holder or the Trustee, to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

The provisions described in the paragraph above, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal (or, if the debt securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms of such Original Issue Discount Securities and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) of the debt securities of any series (or of all the debt securities, as the case may be) shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as provided in the Indenture, the Company will pay or will deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the debt securities of each such series (or of all the debt securities, as the case may be) and the principal of any and all debt securities of each such series (or of all the debt securities, as the case may be) which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest or yield to maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the debt securities of each such series and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement to the date of such payment or deposit) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover all amounts owing to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith, and if any and all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of debt securities which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided in the Indenture, then and in every such case the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the debt securities of each such series, or of all the debt securities, in each case voting as a single class, then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to each such series (or with respect to all the debt securities, as the case may be) and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment will extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent on such default. For all purposes under the Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions described above, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled,

 

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the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities will be deemed, for all purposes under the Indenture, to be such portion of the principal of such Original Issue Discount Securities as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal of such Original Issue Discount Securities as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, on such Original Issue Discount Securities and all other amounts owing under the Indenture, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities. (Section 6.2)

The Indenture contains a provision under which, subject to the duty of the Trustee during a default to act with the standard of care required by law:

(i) the Trustee may rely and will be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and the Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;

(ii) before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an officers’ certificate or an opinion of counsel, and the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion;

(iii) the Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care;

(iv) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(v) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers or for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under the Indenture; and

(vi) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any opinion of counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the Indenture in good faith and in reliance on such advice or opinion. (Section 7.2)

Subject to such provisions in the Indenture for the indemnification of the Trustee and certain other limitations, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected (each such series voting as a separate class) may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided, that the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture, that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, or that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not joining in the giving of such direction; and provided further, that the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any directions received from Holders of debt securities pursuant to this paragraph. (Section 6.5)

The Indenture provides that no Holder of any debt security of any series may institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture or the debt securities of such series, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the Indenture, unless:

(i) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of such series;

 

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(ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under the Indenture;

(iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liabilities or expenses to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(v) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such written request.

A Holder may not use the Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over such other Holder. (Section 6.6)

The Indenture contains a covenant that the Company will file annually, not more than 90 days after the end of its fiscal year, with the Trustee a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ performance under the Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture. (Section 4.6)

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The Indenture provides that, except as provided below, the Company may terminate its obligations under the debt securities of any series and the Indenture with respect to debt securities of such series if:

(i) all debt securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered (other than destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of such series that have been replaced or debt securities of such series that are fully paid or debt securities of such series for whose payment money or debt securities have previously been held in trust and subsequently repaid to the Company, as provided in the Indenture) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and the Company has paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture; or

(ii)(A) the debt securities of such series mature within one year or all of them are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for giving the notice of redemption, (B) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders of such debt securities for that purpose, money or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) or a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification of such firm delivered to the Trustee), without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay principal of and interest on the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other sums payable by it under the Indenture, (C) no default with respect to the debt securities of such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit, (D) such deposit does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound and (E) the Company delivers to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.

With respect to the foregoing clause (i), only the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 of the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series shall survive. With respect to the foregoing clause (ii), only the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.2 (Execution and Authorization), 2.3 (Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series), 2.4 (Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest), 2.5 (Registrar and Paying Agent; Agents Generally), 2.6 (Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust), 2.7 (Transfer and Exchange), 2.11 (Cancellation), 4.2 (Maintenance of Office or Agency), 7.7 (Compensation and Indemnity), 7.8 (Replacement of

 

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Trustee), 8.5 (Repayment by Company) and 8.6 (Reinstatement) of the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series shall survive until the debt securities of such series are no longer outstanding. Once there are no longer any debt securities of a particular series outstanding, only the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.7, 8.5 and 8.6 of the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series shall survive. After any such irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations under the debt securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series except for those surviving obligations specified above. (Section 8.1)

The Indenture provides that, except as provided below, the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series after the period specified in clause (iv)(2)(z) below of this paragraph, and the provisions of the Indenture will no longer be in effect with respect to the debt securities of such series, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same; provided, that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(i) the Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders for payment of the principal of and interest on the debt securities of such series, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination of money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification of such firm delivered to the Trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment and after payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges and assessments in respect of such funds payable by the Trustee, to pay and discharge the principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier redemption (irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee), as the case may be;

(ii) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(iii) no Default (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or at any time during the period specified in clause (iv)(2)(z) below;

(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (1) either (x) a ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this provision of the Indenture and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised or (y) an opinion of counsel to the same affect as the ruling described in clause (x) above and based on a change in law and (2) an opinion of counsel to the effect that (x) the creation of the defeasance trust does not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (y) the Holders of the debt securities of such series have a valid first priority security interest in the trust funds, and (z) after the passage of 123 days following the deposit (except after one year following the deposit, with respect to any trust funds for the account of any Holder of the debt securities of such series who may be deemed to be an “insider” as to an obligor on the debt securities of such series for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code), the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York Debtor and Creditor Law in a case commenced by or against the Company under either such statute, and either (I) the trust funds will no longer remain the property of the Company (and therefore will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally) or (II) if a court were to rule under any such law in any case or proceeding that the trust funds remained in the property of the Company, to the extent not paid to such Holders, the Trustee will hold, for the benefit of such Holders, a valid and perfected first priority security interest in such trust funds that is not avoidable in bankruptcy or otherwise (except for the effect of Section 552(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code on interest on the trust funds accruing after the commencement of a case under such statute) and the Holders of the debt securities of such series will be entitled to receive adequate protection of their interests in such trust funds if such trust funds are used in such case or proceeding;

 

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(v) if the debt securities of such series are then listed on a national securities exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the defeasance contemplated by this provision of the Indenture of the debt securities of such series will not cause the debt securities of such series to be delisted; and

(vi) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an officers, certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision of the Indenture of the debt securities of such series have been complied with. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the end of the 123-day (or one year) period referred to in clause (iv)(2)(z) of this paragraph, none of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series shall be discharged. Subsequent to the end of such 123-day (or one year) period, the Company’s obligations in Sections Sections 2.2 (Execution and Authorization), 2.3 (Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series), 2.4 (Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest), 2.5 (Registrar and Paying Agent; Agents Generally), 2.6 (Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust), 2.7 (Transfer and Exchange), 2.11 (Cancellation), 4.2 (Maintenance of Office or Agency), 7.7 (Compensation and Indemnity), 7.8 (Replacement of Trustee), 8.5 (Repayment by Company) and 8.6 (Reinstatement) of the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series shall survive until such debt securities are no longer outstanding. Once there are no longer any debt securities of a particular series outstanding, only the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.7 (Compensation and Indemnity), 8.5 (Repayment by Company) and 8.6 (Reinstatement) of the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series shall survive. If and when a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel referred to in clause (iv)(1) of this paragraph is able to be provided specifically without regard to, and not in reliance upon, the continuance of the Company’s obligations under Section 4.1 (Payment of Securities) of the Indenture, then the Company’s obligations under such Section 4.1 of the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series shall cease upon delivery to the Trustee of such ruling or opinion of counsel and compliance with the other conditions precedent provided for in this provision of the Indenture relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision of the Indenture. (Section 8.2)

The Indenture provides that the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition described under “—Certain Covenants,” and such omission shall be deemed not to be an Event of Default, with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series if:

(i) the Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders of the debt securities of such series for payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination of money or U.S. Government Obligations in an amount sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification of such firm delivered to the Trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment and after payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges and assessments in respect of such funds payable by the Trustee, to pay and discharge the principal of and interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier redemption (irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee), as the case may be;

(ii) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(iii) no Default with respect to the debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(iv) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) the creation of the defeasance trust does not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (B) the Holders of the debt securities of such series have a valid first-priority security interest in the trust funds, (C) such Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred and (D) after the passage of 123 days following the deposit (except after one year following the deposit,

 

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with respect to any trust funds for the account of any Holder of the debt securities of such series who may be deemed to be an “insider” as to an obligor on the debt securities of such series for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code), the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York Debtor and Creditor Law in a case commenced by or against the Company under either such statute, and either (1) the trust funds will no longer remain the property of the Company (and therefore will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally) or (2) if a court were to rule under any such law in any case or proceeding that the trust funds remained property of the Company, to the extent not paid to such Holders, the Trustee will hold, for the benefit of such Holders, a valid and perfected first priority security interest in such trust funds that is not avoidable in bankruptcy or otherwise (except for the effect of Section 552(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code on interest on the trust funds accruing after the commencement of a case under such statute), and the Holders of the debt securities of such series will be entitled to receive adequate protection of their interests in such trust funds if such trust funds are used in such case or proceeding;

(v) if the debt securities of such series are then listed on a national securities exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision of the Indenture of the debt securities of such series will not cause the debt securities of such series to be delisted; and

(vi) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision of the Indenture of the debt securities of such series have been complied with. (Section 8.3)

Modification of the Indenture

The Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the debt securities of any series without notice to or the consent of any Holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture; provided, that such amendments or supplements shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect;

(ii) to comply with Article 5 (Successor Corporation) of the Indenture;

(iii) to comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(iv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of any or all series by a successor Trustee;

(v) to establish the form or forms or terms of debt securities of any series or of the coupons appertaining to such debt securities as permitted by the Indenture;

(vi) to provide for uncertificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose; or

(vii) to make any change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder. (Section 9.1)

The Indenture also provides that, without prior notice to any Holders, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture and the debt securities of any series outstanding under the Indenture with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (all such series voting as one class). The Indenture also provides that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (all such series voting as one class) by written notice to the Trustee may waive future compliance by the Company with any provision of the Indenture or the debt securities of such series. Notwithstanding the

 

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foregoing provision, without the consent of each Holder of the debt securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, an amendment or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Indenture, may not:

(i) extend the stated maturity of the principal of, or any sinking fund obligation or any installment of interest on, such Holder’s debt security;

(ii) reduce the principal amount of such debt security or the rate of interest on such debt security (including any amount in respect of original issue discount), or any premium payable with respect to such debt security;

(iii) adversely affect the rights of such Holder under any mandatory repurchase provision or any right of repurchase at the option of such Holder;

(iv) reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity of such debt security pursuant to the Indenture or the amount of such debt security provable in bankruptcy;

(v) change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any debt security of such series or any premium or the interest on such debt security is payable;

(vi) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of such debt security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of mandatory repurchase, the date of such repurchase);

(vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt security of such series the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or certain Defaults and their consequences provided for in the Indenture;

(viii) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on, any debt security of such series;

(ix) cause any debt security of such series to be subordinated in right of payment to any obligation of the Company; or

(x) modify any of the provisions of this section of the Indenture, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding debt security of any series affected by such supplemental indenture.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or which modifies the rights of Holders of debt securities of such series with respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of debt securities of any other series or of the coupons appertaining to such debt securities. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this section of the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of such proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this section of the Indenture becomes effective, the Company shall give to the Holders affected by such amendment, supplement or waiver a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. The Company will mail supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect in such notice, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver. (Section 9.2)

Governing Law

The Indenture and the debt securities and any related guarantees will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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Concerning the Trustee

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain ordinary banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A. and its affiliates and a number of other banks. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A. also serves as trustee with respect to certain other outstanding debt securities of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the debt securities:

 

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through underwriters or dealers;

 

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through agents; or

 

•

directly to purchasers.

The debt securities may be sold in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

We will describe in a prospectus supplement the particular terms of any offering of the debt securities, including the following:

 

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the names of any underwriters or agents;

 

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the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

 

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any discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

 

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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

•

any securities exchanges on which the applicable debt securities may be listed.

If we use underwriters in the sale, such underwriters will acquire the debt securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the debt securities in one or more transactions, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

The debt securities may be offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the debt securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the debt securities of the series offered if any of the debt securities are purchased.

We may sell debt securities through agents or dealers designated by us. Any agent or dealer involved in the offer or sale of the debt securities for which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to that agent or dealer will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless indicated in the prospectus supplement, the agents will agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment and any dealer will purchase debt securities from us as principal and may resell those debt securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

We also may sell debt securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the debt securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the debt securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

We may enter into agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make, and to reimburse them for certain expenses.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

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In order to facilitate the offering of the debt securities, any underwriters or agents, as the case may be, involved in the offering of such securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of such securities or other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on the securities. Specifically, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in such securities for their own account. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of such other securities, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may bid for, and purchase, such securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of such securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allotted to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing such securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. The underwriters or agents, as the case may be, are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.

We may solicit offers to purchase debt securities directly from, and we may sell debt securities directly to, institutional investors or others. The terms of any of those sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if utilized, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Some or all of the debt securities may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. We cannot and will not give any assurances as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities.

Members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, may participate in distributions of the offered debt securities. In compliance with the guidelines of FINRA, as of the date of this prospectus, the maximum discount or commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not exceed 8.0% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

The legality of the debt securities and any related guarantees by subsidiary guarantors and certain other matters will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP. Certain legal matters relating to any guarantees by the subsidiary guarantor organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi will be passed upon for us by Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantees by the subsidiary guarantor organized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma will be passed upon for us by McAfee & Taft. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantees by the subsidiary guarantor organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska will be passed upon for us by Husch Blackwell LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the guarantees by the subsidiary guarantors organized under the laws of the States of North Carolina and Missouri will be passed upon for us by Bryan Cave LLP. The legality of the debt securities and any related guarantees and certain other matters for any underwriters, dealers or agents will be passed upon by counsel as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Tyson Foods, Inc. as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 and for each of the years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of October 1, 2011 incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The consolidated financial statements of Tyson Foods, Inc. for the year ended October 3, 2009 incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 1, 2011 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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$1,000,000,000

 

Tyson Foods, Inc.

4.500% Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

PROSPECTUS    SUPPLEMENT

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

BofA Merrill Lynch

J.P. Morgan

Morgan Stanley

RBC Capital Markets

Barclays

Rabo Securities

Co-Managers

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

HSBC

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

US Bancorp

Wells Fargo Securities

June 6, 2012