Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-172488
The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not offers to sell these securities nor solicitations of offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, Dated December 4, 2013
Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated February 28, 2011
Mondelēz International, Inc.
Floating Rate Notes due 2015
% Notes due 2017
% Notes due 2021
This is an offering of of Floating Rate Notes due 2015 (the Floating Rate Notes), of % Notes due 2017 (the 2017 Notes) and of % Notes due 2021 (the 2021 Notes and, together with the 2017 Notes, the Fixed Rate Notes) to be issued by Mondelēz International, Inc., a Virginia corporation (Mondelēz International). The Floating Rate Notes and the Fixed Rate Notes are collectively referred to herein as the notes. We will pay interest on the Floating Rate Notes on , , and of each year until maturity, beginning on . The Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to the three-month EURIBOR plus basis points ( %) per annum. We will pay interest on the Fixed Rate Notes annually on of each year, beginning on . The 2017 Notes will bear interest at the rate of % per annum. The 2021 Notes will bear interest at the rate of % per annum. The Floating Rate Notes will mature on , 2015. The 2017 Notes will mature on , 2017. The 2021 Notes will mature on , 2021. The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof.
If we experience a change of control triggering event, we may be required to offer to purchase the notes from holders. See Description of NotesChange of Control in this prospectus supplement. The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. Please read the information provided under the caption Description of Notes in this prospectus supplement and Description of Debt Securities in the accompanying prospectus for a more detailed description of the notes.
See Risk Factors on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement to read about important factors you should consider before buying the notes.
We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange. We expect trading in the notes on the New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 days after the original issue date. Currently there is no public market for the notes.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Public Offering Price |
Underwriting Discount | Proceeds, Before Expenses, to Mondelēz International |
||||||||||
Per Floating Rate Note |
% | % | % | |||||||||
Floating Rate Note total |
| | | |||||||||
Per 2017 Note |
% | % | % | |||||||||
2017 Note total |
| | | |||||||||
Per 2021 Note |
% | % | % | |||||||||
2021 Note total |
| | | |||||||||
Total |
| | |
The initial public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the notes will accrue from and must be paid by the purchasers if the notes are delivered after , 2013.
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers in registered book-entry form and deposited in global form through the facilities of Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. against payment in New York, New York on , 2013.
Joint Book-Running Managers
BofA Merrill Lynch | Credit Suisse | HSBC | ||
Goldman, Sachs & Co. | J.P. Morgan | Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking |
Prospectus Supplement dated December , 2013.
Prospectus Supplement
Page | ||||
S-ii | ||||
S-ii | ||||
S-1 | ||||
S-1 | ||||
S-2 | ||||
S-6 | ||||
S-7 | ||||
S-8 | ||||
S-9 | ||||
S-10 |
S-11 | ||||
S-23 | ||||
S-28 | ||||
S-29 | ||||
S-33 | ||||
S-34 | ||||
S-34 |
Prospectus
Page | ||||
1 | ||||
1 | ||||
1 | ||||
2 | ||||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 |
17 | ||||
19 | ||||
20 | ||||
21 | ||||
22 |
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any permitted free writing prospectus we have authorized for use with respect to this offering. No one has been authorized to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
The financial information presented in this prospectus supplement has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
S-i
In connection with this offering, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited as Stabilizing Manager (or its respective affiliates), may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes at levels which might not otherwise prevail. This stabilizing, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time and will be carried out in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and rules. Any stabilization action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the notes is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue date of the notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the notes.
The notes are offered globally for sale only in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering or sale of the notes in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons who come to possess this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are required by us and the underwriters to inform themselves about and to observe any applicable restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement contains the terms of this offering of notes. This prospectus supplement, or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, may add, update or change information in the accompanying prospectus. If information contained in this prospectus supplement, or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, this prospectus supplement, or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, will apply and will supersede that information in the accompanying prospectus.
It is important for you to read and consider all information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to under the caption Where You Can Find More Information in the accompanying prospectus and under the caption Incorporation by Reference in this prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to Mondelēz International, the Company, we, us and our refer to Mondelēz International, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Trademarks and servicemarks in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus appear in italic type and are the property of or licensed by us.
References herein to $ and dollars are to the currency of the United States. References to and euro are to the lawful currency of the member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted or that adopt the single currency in accordance with the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and certain statements incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement contain a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words, such as goals, expect, plan, drive, focus, believe, anticipate, estimate, may, outlook, guidance, intend, will, would, seek, continue, achieve, growth and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those related to our strategy, in particular, our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance, our expectation to drive substantial growth, our market-leading positions, our expansion plans, sales and earnings growth and our power brands and priority markets; Spin-Off (as defined below) costs;
S-ii
price volatility; cost environment; measures to address increased costs; raw material prices and supply; new laws and regulations; environmental compliance and resolutions; relationships with employees and representatives; our legal matters; Cadbury synergies; restructuring costs; integration costs; deferred tax assets; statements relating to the impact of our segment reorganization; our accounting estimates; U.S. Confections and Europe Biscuits fair value; employee benefit plan net expenses, obligations and assumptions; pension expenses, contributions and assumptions; pension costs related to the Hostess bankruptcy; commodity costs; our liquidity and funding sources; capital expenditures and funding; financial and long-term debt covenants; debt repayment and funding; guarantees; our aggregate contractual obligations; dividends; our 2013 outlook, in particular, 2013 Organic Net Revenue growth and Adjusted EPS (a non-GAAP financial measure we use to evaluate our underlying results, which excludes Spin-Off and other costs); stock repurchase program; receipt and use of proceeds from the Starbucks Coffee Company ruling; and our risk management program, including the use of financial instruments for hedging activities.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and the cautionary statements contained in the Risk Factors found in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, continued volatility of commodity and other input costs, pricing actions, increased competition, consolidation of large retail customers, adverse changes in our supplier or customer base, our ability to innovate and differentiate our products, increased costs of sales, regulatory or legal restrictions, actions or delays, our ability to protect our intellectual property and intangible assets, a shift in our product mix to lower margin offerings, private label, risks from operating globally and in emerging markets, unanticipated disruption to our business, continued consumer weakness, weakness in economic conditions, volatility of capital or other markets, perceived or actual product quality issues or product recalls, acquisitions and divestitures, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, use of information technologies, our labor force, a shift in our pre-tax income between U.S. and/or foreign jurisdictions and tax law changes. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, except as required by applicable law or regulation.
S-iii
We are one of the worlds largest snack companies with global net revenues of $35.0 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $1.6 billion in 2012. Beginning on October 1, 2012, following the spin-off of our North American grocery operations to our shareholders (the Spin-Off), Mondelēz International became a new company in name and strategy, yet we carry forward the values of our legacy organization and the heritage of our iconic brands.
We manufacture and market delicious food and beverage products for consumers in approximately 165 countries around the world and hold leading market shares in every category and every region of the world in which we compete. In 2012, we held the No. 1 position globally in biscuits, chocolate, candy and powdered beverages as well as the No. 2 position in gum and coffee. Our portfolio included nine brands with 2012 revenues exceeding $1 billion each, including: Oreo, Nabisco, and LU biscuits; Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gum; Jacobs coffee; and Tang powdered beverage. In addition, our portfolio of snack foods and refreshments includes 52 brands which each generated annual revenues of more than $100 million in 2012.
Upon completing the Spin-Off, we changed our name from Kraft Foods Inc. to Mondelēz International, Inc. Our name reflects our vision to create a more delicious world in which to live. Following the Spin-Off, on October 2, 2012, our shares began to trade on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the new symbol MDLZ. We remain incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2000 and we continue to be a proud member of the Standard & Poors 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. (For more information on the Spin-Off of Kraft Foods Group, see Significant Divestitures and Acquisitions in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, to the consolidated financial statements.)
We are a Virginia corporation with principal executive offices at Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60093. Our telephone number is (847) 943-4000 and our Internet address is www.mondelezinternational.com. Except for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus as described under the Incorporation by Reference heading in both the accompanying prospectus and this prospectus supplement, the information and other content contained on our website are not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider them to be a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
On November 19, 2013, we commenced a cash tender offer (the Notes Tender Offer) to purchase up to $1.5 billion of our outstanding 6.500% Notes due 2017, 6.125% Notes due 2018, 6.125% Notes due 2018 and 5.375% Notes due 2020, subject to the completion of this offering and other conditions. The consummation of this offering is not contingent upon the successful completion of the Notes Tender Offer. We cannot assure you that the Notes Tender Offer will be completed on the terms described in this prospectus supplement, or at all, nor can we assure you that the Notes Tender Offer will result in any of the notes subject to the Notes Tender Offer being tendered and accepted for purchase. Nothing in this prospectus supplement shall be construed as an offer to purchase any of the outstanding 6.500% Notes due 2017, 6.125% Notes due 2018, 6.125% Notes due 2018 or 5.375% Notes due 2020, as the Notes Tender Offer is being made only to the recipients of, and upon the terms and conditions set forth in, the related offer to purchase and letter of transmittal. We may amend the Notes Tender Offer in any respect in relation to one or more series of notes.
S-1
The following summary contains basic information about this offering and the terms of the notes. It does not contain all the information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding of this offering and the terms of the notes, we encourage you to read this entire prospectus supplement, including the information under the caption Description of Notes, and the accompanying prospectus, including the information under the caption Description of Debt Securities, and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Issuer | Mondelēz International, Inc. | |
Securities Offered | aggregate principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes.
aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Notes.
aggregate principal amount of the 2021 Notes. | |
Maturity Date | , 2015 for the Floating Rate Notes.
, 2017 for the 2017 Notes.
, 2021 for the 2021 Notes. | |
Interest Rate | The Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate per annum of three-month EURIBOR plus basis points ( %) which three-month EURIBOR rate will be reset quarterly.
The 2017 Notes will bear interest at the rate of % per annum and the 2021 Notes will bear interest at the rate of % per annum, in each case payable annually in arrears. | |
Interest Payment Dates | Quarterly on , , and each year, beginning on for the Floating Rate Notes.
Annually on each year, beginning on for the Fixed Rate Notes. | |
Ranking | The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will:
· rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness;
· rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness;
· be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future |
S-2
secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and
· be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of each of our subsidiaries. | ||
Currency of Payments | All payments of interest and principal, including payments made upon any redemption of the notes, will be made in euro. If the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or the euro is no longer used by the member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until such currency is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate for the euro. Any payments in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the terms of the notes or the indenture. | |
Additional Amounts | Subject to certain exceptions and limitations set forth herein, we will pay additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that every net payment on a note to a holder who is not a United States person, after deduction or withholding by us or any of our paying agents for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon or as a result of such payment by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of the United States, will not be less than the amount provided in such note to be then due and payable. See Description of NotesPayment of Additional Amounts. | |
Redemption of Notes for Tax Reasons | We may redeem all, but not part, of a series of the notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events described under Description of NotesRedemption for Tax Reasons. | |
Change of Control | Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Mondelēz International and (ii) a |
S-3
downgrade of the notes below an investment grade rating by each of Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poors Ratings Services and Fitch, Inc. within a specified period, we will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. See Description of NotesChange of Control. | ||
Covenants | We will issue the notes under an indenture containing covenants that restrict our ability, with significant exceptions, to:
· incur debt secured by liens above a certain threshold;
· engage in certain sale and leaseback transactions above a certain threshold; and
· consolidate, merge, convey or transfer our assets substantially as an entirety.
For more information about these covenants, please see the information under the caption Description of Debt SecuritiesRestrictive Covenants in the accompanying prospectus. | |
Use of Proceeds | We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered notes (estimated at ($ based on a /$ exchange rate of ) before expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount) for general corporate purposes, including to fund the Notes Tender Offer. | |
Further Issues | We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of any series of notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally and ratably with such series of notes in all respects, or in all respects except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of those further notes. Any further notes will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes. | |
Form/Clearing System | The notes will be issued only in registered, book-entry form and deposited in global form with a common depository for Euroclear and Clearstream in minimum denominations of 100,000 in principal amount and multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof. |
S-4
Trustee | Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas | |
Paying Agent | Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch | |
Registrar and Transfer Agent | Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. | |
Calculation Agent for the Floating Rate Notes | Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch | |
Markets | The notes are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe and Asia where it is legal to make such offers. See UnderwritingSales Outside the U.S. | |
Listing | We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange. | |
Governing Law | The indenture governing the notes is, and the notes will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. | |
ISIN | ||
Common Code |
S-5
Investing in the notes involves various risks, including the risks described in the documents we incorporate by reference herein. You should carefully consider these risks and the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement before deciding to invest in the notes, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as updated by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings filed after such annual report. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may impair our business operations, financial condition and liquidity.
S-6
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
Nine months ended September 30, 2013 |
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
3.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings available for fixed charges represent earnings before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of accounting change and fixed charges excluding capitalized interest, net of amortization, reduced by undistributed earnings of our less than 50% owned affiliates. Fixed charges represent interest expense, amortization of debt discount and expenses, capitalized interest, plus that portion of rental expense deemed to be the equivalent of interest. Interest expense excludes interest related to uncertain tax positions which has been included in the provision for income taxes.
S-7
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered notes (estimated at ($ based on a /$ exchange rate of ) before expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount) for general corporate purposes, including to fund the Notes Tender Offer.
S-8
The following table sets forth our capitalization on a consolidated basis as of September 30, 2013. We have presented our capitalization:
· | on an actual basis; and |
· | on an as adjusted basis to reflect: |
· | the issuance of (approximately $ based on a /$ exchange rate of ) of notes offered hereby; and |
· | the use of net proceeds (before expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount) from the issuance of notes offered hereby as described under the caption Use of Proceeds. |
You should read the following table along with our financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements, together with managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
September 30, 2013 | ||||||||
Actual | As Adjusted | |||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Short-term borrowings, including current maturities |
$ | 4,830 | $ | 4,830 | ||||
Floating Rate Notes due 2015 |
| |||||||
Notes due 2017 |
| |||||||
Notes due 2021 |
| |||||||
Other long-term debt |
15,089 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total debt |
19,919 | |||||||
Mondelēz International shareholders equity: |
||||||||
Common Stock |
| | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
31,505 | 31,505 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
11,878 | 11,878 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive losses |
(3,318 | ) | (3,318 | ) | ||||
Treasury stock, at cost |
(7,722 | ) | (7,722 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Mondelēz International shareholders equity |
32,343 | 32,343 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 52,262 | $ | |||||
|
|
|
|
S-9
Investors will have to pay for the notes in euro. Principal and interest payments of the notes are payable by us in euro. An investment in the notes which are denominated in, and all payments in respect of which are to be made in, a currency other than the currency of the country in which the purchaser is resident or the currency in which the purchaser conducts its business or activities (the home currency), entails significant risks not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in the home currency. These include the possibility of:
· | significant changes in rates of exchange between the home currency and the euro, and |
· | the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls with respect to the euro. |
We have no control over a number of factors affecting this type of note, including economic, financial and political events that are important in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks and their results. In recent years, rates of exchange for certain currencies, including the euro, have been highly volatile and this volatility may be expected to continue in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative of fluctuations in the rate that may occur during the term of the notes. Depreciation of the euro against the home currency could result in a decrease in the effective yield of the notes below the coupon rate, and in certain circumstances, could result in a loss to you on a home currency basis.
Initial holders will be required to pay for the notes in euro, and all payments of interest and principal, including payments made upon any redemption of the notes, will be payable in euro. If, on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into the U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the then most recent U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate published in The Wall Street Journal on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date, in each case as certified by the Company to the Trustee and Paying Agent pursuant to an officers certificate. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. Neither the trustee nor the paying agent shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the forgoing.
The notes will be governed by New York law. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on the notes would be required to render the judgment in euro. However, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on the notes, investors would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a long time. A U.S. federal court sitting in New York with diversity jurisdiction over a dispute arising in connection with the notes would apply the foregoing New York law.
In U.S. federal or state courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on the notes in many other U.S. federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of euro into U.S. dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment.
This description of foreign currency risks does not describe all the risks of an investment in securities denominated in a currency other than the home currency. You should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risks involved in an investment in the notes.
On December , 2013, the /$ rate of exchange was 1/$ .
S-10
The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth under Description of Debt Securities beginning on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus. The accompanying prospectus contains a detailed summary of additional provisions of the notes and of the indenture, dated as of October 17, 2001, between Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (as successor to The Bank of New York and The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee, under which the notes will be issued. To the extent of any inconsistency, the following description replaces the description of the debt securities in the accompanying prospectus. Terms used in this prospectus supplement that are otherwise not defined will have the meanings given to them in the accompanying prospectus.
We will offer principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes as a series of notes, principal amount of the 2017 Notes as a series of notes and principal amount of the 2021 Notes as a series of notes under the indenture. Unless an earlier redemption has occurred, the entire principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on , 2015. Unless an earlier redemption has occurred, the entire principal amount of the 2017 Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on , 2017. Unless an earlier redemption has occurred, the entire principal amount of the 2021 Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on , 2021.
We will issue the notes in fully registered form only and in minimum denominations of 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof. We may issue definitive notes in the limited circumstances set forth in Certificated Notes below. If we issue definitive notes, principal of and interest on such notes will be payable in the manner described below, the transfer of our notes will be registrable, and our notes will be exchangeable for notes bearing identical terms and provisions, at the office of Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., the transfer agent and registrar for our notes, currently located at Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A, 2 Boulevard Konrad-Adenauer, L-1115 Luxembourg; Email: TSS-GDS.ROW@db.com, Fax: 0207 547 76149, attn.: Debt and Agency Services. The paying agent will be Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch. However, payment of interest, other than interest at maturity, or upon redemption, may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the interest as it appears on the security register at the close of business on the regular record date corresponding to the relevant interest payment date. Notwithstanding this, (1) the depositary, as holder of our notes, or (2) a holder of more than 5 million in aggregate principal amount of notes in definitive form can require the paying agent to make payments of interest, other than interest due at maturity, or upon redemption, by wire transfer of immediately available funds into an account maintained by the holder in the United States, by sending appropriate wire transfer instructions as long as the paying agent receives the instructions not less than ten days prior to the applicable interest payment date. The principal and interest payable in U.S. dollars on such note at maturity, or upon redemption, will be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds against presentation of a note at the office of the transfer agent and registrar.
As used in this prospectus supplement, business day means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in New York or the place of payment, provided such day is also a London banking day and is a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System, or any successor thereto, operates.
Interest on the Floating Rate Notes
Calculation Agent
Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, or such other person appointed by us, will initially act as calculation agent for the Floating Rate Notes.
S-11
Interest Payment Dates
Interest on the Floating Rate Notes will be payable quarterly in arrears on , , , and , beginning on , to the persons in whose names the Floating Rate Notes are registered at the close of business 15 calendar days before the interest payment date (or to the applicable depositary, as applicable), as the case may be (whether or not a business day). If any interest payment date (other than the maturity date or any earlier repayment date) falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment of interest that would otherwise be payable on such date will be postponed to the next succeeding business day and interest will accrue to but excluding the date interest is paid, except that if such business day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the applicable interest payment date will be the immediately preceding business day. If the maturity date or any earlier repayment date of the Floating Rate Notes falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, otherwise payable on such date will be postponed to the next succeeding business day, and no interest on such payment will accrue from and after the maturity date or earlier repayment date, as applicable.
Interest Reset Dates
The interest rate will be reset quarterly on , , , and , beginning on (each an Interest Reset Date). However, if any interest reset date would otherwise be a day that is not a business day, such Interest Reset Date will be the next succeeding day that is a business day, except that if the next succeeding business day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the applicable interest reset date will be the immediately preceding business day.
Interest Periods and Interest Rate
The initial interest period will be the period from and including to but excluding the first interest reset date. The interest rate in effect during the initial interest period will be equal to EURIBOR plus basis points ( %), determined two TARGET System Days prior to . A TARGET System Day is any day in which the TARGET System, or any successor thereto, is open for business and a day on which commercial banks are open for dealings in euro deposits in the London interbank market. With respect to notes in certificated form, the reference to business day will also mean a day on which banking institutions generally are open for business in the location of each office of a transfer agent, but only with respect to a payment or other action to occur at that office.
After the initial interest period, the interest periods will be the periods from and including an interest reset date to but excluding the immediately succeeding interest reset date, except that the final interest period will be the period from and including the interest reset date immediately preceding the maturity date to but excluding the maturity date (each an Interest Period). The interest rate per annum for the Floating Rate Notes in any interest period will be equal to EURIBOR plus basis points ( %) (the Interest Rate), as determined by the calculation agent. The Interest Rate in effect for the 15 calendar days prior to any repayment date earlier than the maturity date will be the interest rate in effect on the fifteenth day preceding such earlier repayment date.
The Interest Rate on the Floating Rate Notes will be limited to the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application.
Upon the request of any holder of Floating Rate Notes, the calculation agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective on the next interest reset date.
The calculation agent will determine EURIBOR for each Interest Period on the second TARGET System Day prior to the first day of such interest period (the Interest Determination Date).
EURIBOR, with respect to any Interest Determination Date, will be the offered rate for deposits of euros having a maturity of three months that appears on Reuters Page EURIBOR 01 at
S-12
approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on such interest determination date. If on an interest determination date, such rate does not appear on the Reuters Page EURIBOR 01 as of 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, or if Reuters Page EURIBOR 01 is not available on such date, the calculation agent will obtain such rate from Bloomberg L.P.s page BBAM.
If no offered rate appears on Reuters Page EURIBOR 01 or Bloomberg L.P. page BBAM on an interest determination date, EURIBOR will be determined for such interest determination date on the basis of the rates at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on such interest determination date at which deposits in euros are offered to prime banks in the London inter-bank market by four major banks in such market selected by us (the Reference Banks), for a term of three months commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date and in a principal amount equal to an amount that in the judgment of the calculation agent is representative for a single transaction in euros in such market at such time. The Issuer will ensure the Calculation Agent is provided with the complete contact details if the relevant personnel at each of the Reference Banks that they will be required to contact in order to obtain the relevant Interest Rate. The calculation agent will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such quotations are provided, EURIBOR for such interest period will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are provided, EURIBOR for such interest period will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m. in New York City on such interest determination date by three major banks in New York City, selected by us, for loans in euros to leading European banks, for a term of three months commencing on the applicable interest reset date and in a principal amount equal to an amount that in the judgment of the calculation agent is representative for a single transaction in euros in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected are not quoting as mentioned above, the then-existing EURIBOR rate will remain in effect for such interest period, or, if none, the interest rate will be the initial interest rate.
All percentages resulting from any calculation of any interest rate for the Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-thousandths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 5.8765% (or .058765) would be rounded to 5.877% (or .05877)), and all euro amounts will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward. Each calculation of the interest rate on the Floating Rate Notes by the calculation agent will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding on the noteholders and Mondelēz International.
Accrued Interest
The amount of interest payable in respect of each Note will be calculated by applying the applicable Rate of Interest for such Interest Period to the outstanding principal amount of such Notes, multiplying the product by the actual number of days in such Interest Period and dividing by 360, and rounding the resulting figure to the nearest cent (half a cent being rounded upwards).
Interest on the Fixed Rate Notes
Each 2017 Note we issue will bear interest at a rate of %. Each 2021 Note we issue will bear interest at a rate of %. Interest on the Fixed Rate Notes will accrue from and is payable annually in arrears on of each year, beginning on ; provided that if any such date (other than the maturity date or a date fixed for redemption) is not a business day, the interest payment date will be postponed to the next succeeding business day, and no interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment on amounts payable from and after such interest payment date to the next succeeding business day.
Interest on the Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Fixed Rate Notes (or , if no interest has been paid on the Fixed Rate Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled interest payment date. This payment
S-13
convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association.
We will pay or cause to be paid interest to persons in whose names the Fixed Rate Notes are registered at the close of business 15 calendar days before the interest payment date.
If the maturity date or a date fixed for redemption is not a business day, then payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the scheduled maturity date or such date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment on amounts payable from and after the scheduled maturity date or such redemption date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding business day.
Issuance in Euro
Initial holders will be required to pay for the notes in euro, and principal, premium, if any, and interest payments in respect of the notes will be made in euro.
If the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or the euro is no longer used by the member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until such currency is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate for the euro. Any payments in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the terms of the notes or the indenture.
As used in this prospectus supplement, market exchange rate means the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of euro as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
General
In some circumstances, we may elect to discharge our obligations on the notes through full defeasance or covenant defeasance. See Description of Debt SecuritiesDefeasance beginning on page 14 of the accompanying prospectus for more information.
We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes (except for the issue date, issue price, and, in some cases, the first payment of interest or interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional notes). The additional notes may only be issued if they would be fungible with the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the applicable series of notes offered by this prospectus, will constitute a single series of notes under the indenture. No additional notes may be issued if an event of default has occurred with respect to the applicable series of notes.
We will not be 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 Change of Control, below. We may at any time and from time to time purchase notes in the open market or otherwise.
Change of Control
If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes upon the occurrence of specified events as described below under Redemption for Tax Reasons, holders of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or
S-14
any part (equal to 100,000 or an integral multiple of 1,000 in excess thereof) of their notes pursuant to the offer described below (the Change of Control Offer) on the terms set forth in the notes. In the Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased, to the date of purchase (the Change of Control Payment). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, we will be required to mail a notice to holders of notes (with a copy to the trustee) describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the Change of Control Payment Date), pursuant to the procedures required by the notes and described in such notice. We must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the notes, we will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflicts.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, we will be required, to the extent lawful, to:
· | accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; |
· | deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and |
· | deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased. |
The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the purchase price for the notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any notes surrendered; provided that each new note will be in a principal amount of 100,000 or an integral multiple of 1,000 in excess thereof.
We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.
Our ability to pay cash to holders of notes following the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event may be limited by our then-existing financial resources. Therefore, sufficient funds may not be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.
For purposes of the foregoing discussion of a repurchase at the option of holders, the following definitions are applicable:
Below Investment Grade Rating Event means the notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control (as defined below) until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day 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); provided that a below investment grade rating event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect to a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a below investment grade rating event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event
S-15
hereunder) if the rating agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the below investment grade rating event).
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Mondelēz International and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (as defined below) or group of related persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a Group) other than Mondelēz International or one of its subsidiaries; (ii) the approval by the holders of our common stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Mondelēz International (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of the indenture); (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person or Group becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of Mondelēz Internationals voting stock; or (iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of Mondelēz Internationals Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors (as defined below).
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Mondelēz International and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase substantially all, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require Mondelēz International to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Mondelēz International and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or Group may be uncertain.
Change of Control Triggering Event means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of Mondelēz International who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the notes; or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of Mondelēz Internationals proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).
Fitch means Fitch, Inc.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys (as defined below) and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (as defined below), respectively.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Person has the meaning set forth in the indenture and includes a person as used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
Rating Agencies means (i) each of Fitch, Moodys and S&P; and (ii) if any of Fitch, Moodys or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moodys or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.
S-16
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Payment of Additional Amounts
We will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay to the beneficial owner of any note that is a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined below under U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations) or is a partnership that is not created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that every net payment on such note, after deduction or withholding by us or any of our paying agents for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon or as a result of such payment by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of the United States, will not be less than the amount provided in such note to be then due and payable. However, we will not pay additional amounts if the beneficial owner is subject to taxation solely for reasons other than its ownership of the note, nor will we pay additional amounts for or on account of
(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the existence of any present or former connection (other than the mere fact of being a beneficial owner of a note) between the beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or person holding a power over such beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is an estate or trust, or a partner, member or shareholder of the beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation) of a note and the United States, including, without limitation, such beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, person holding a power, partner, member or shareholder) being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States or treated as being or having been a resident thereof;
(b) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or person holding a power over such beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is an estate or trust, or a partner, member or shareholder of the beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation) (i) being or having been present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the United States, (ii) being treated as having been present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the United States, or (iii) having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States;
(c) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or person holding a power over such beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is an estate or trust, or a partner, member or shareholder of the beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation) being or having been with respect to the United States a personal holding company, a controlled foreign corporation, a passive foreign investment company, a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax-exempt organization, or being a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
(d) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on a beneficial owner that actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all of our classes of stock that are entitled to vote within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code);
(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been so imposed but for the presentation of such note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which such payment is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable by any method other than withholding or deduction by us or any paying agent from payments in respect of such note;
S-17
(g) any gift, estate, inheritance, sales, transfer, personal property or excise tax or any similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(h) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment in respect of any note if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent;
(i) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of a change in law, regulation, or administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than 15 days after the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
(j) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed as a result of the failure of the holder or beneficial owner of a note to comply with a request to comply with applicable certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the holder or beneficial owner of a note, if such compliance is required by statute or regulation of the United States as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(k) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by reason of the failure of the beneficial owner to fulfill the statement requirements of Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code;
(l) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code; or
(m) any combination of items (a) through (l) above.
In addition, we will not pay additional amounts to a beneficial owner of a note that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, or to a beneficial owner of a note that is not the sole beneficial owner of such note, as the case may be. This exception, however, will apply only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, or a beneficial owner, partner or member of the partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner, partner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term beneficial owner includes any person holding a note on behalf of or for the account of a beneficial owner. Except as specifically provided under this heading Payment of Additional Amounts, we will not be required to make any payment for any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or a political subdivision or taxing authority of or in any government or political subdivision.
We undertake that, to the extent permitted by law, we will maintain a paying agent in a Member State of the European Union (if any) that will not require withholding or deduction of tax pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced to conform to, such European Council Directive.
If we are required to pay additional amounts with respect to the notes, we will notify the trustee and paying agent pursuant to an officers certificate that specifies the additional amounts payable. If the trustee and the paying agent do not receive such an officers certificate, the trustee and paying agent will be fully protected in assuming that no such additional amounts are payable.
Redemption for Tax Reasons
We may redeem a series of notes prior to maturity in whole, but not in part, on not more than 60 days notice and not less than 30 days notice (with written notice to the trustee no less than 15 days (or such shorter period as agreed by the trustee) prior to the sending of such redemption notice in the event the trustee is engaged by us to send such notice or cause such notice to be sent in our name and at our expense) at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of such notes plus any accrued interest and additional amounts to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption if:
· | as a result of a change in or amendment to the tax laws, regulations or rulings of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States or any change |
S-18
in official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings (including a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States) that is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of the issuance of such notes we have or will become obligated to pay additional amounts with respect to the notes as described above under Payment of Additional Amounts, and we, in our business judgment, determine that such obligations cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures available to us; or |
· | on or after the date of the issuance of such notes, any action is taken by a taxing authority of, or any decision has been rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction in, the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States, including any of those actions specified above, whether or not such action was taken or decision was rendered with respect to us, or any change, amendment, application or interpretation is officially proposed, which, in any such case, in the written opinion of independent legal counsel of recognized standing, will result in a material probability that we will become obligated to pay additional amounts with respect to the notes, and we, in our business judgment, determine that such obligations cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures available to us. |
If we exercise our option to redeem the notes, we will deliver to the trustee a certificate signed by an authorized officer stating that we are entitled to redeem the notes and an opinion of independent tax counsel to the effect that the circumstances described in the above bullets exist.
Further Issues
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of any series of notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally and ratably with such series of notes in all respects, or in all respects except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of those further notes. Any further notes will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes.
Book-Entry System
Global Clearance and Settlement
The notes will be issued in the form of one or more global notes (the Global Notes) in fully registered form, without coupons, and will be deposited on the Closing Date with a common depositary for, and in respect of interests held through, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (Euroclear), and Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme (Clearstream). Except as described herein, certificates will not be issued in exchange for beneficial interests in the Global Notes.
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective nominees.
Beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be represented, and transfers of such beneficial interests will be effected, through accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in Euroclear or Clearstream. Those beneficial interests will be in denominations of 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof. Investors may hold notes directly through Euroclear or Clearstream, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems.
Owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to have notes registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in definitive form. Except as provided below, beneficial owners will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the clearing systems and, if such person is not a participant of the clearing systems, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the
S-19
indenture. Under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or a beneficial owner desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the clearing systems would authorize their participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take action and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners. Conveyance of notices and other communications by the clearing systems to their participants, by the participants to indirect participants and by the participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form. These limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in Global Notes.
Persons who are not Euroclear or Clearstream participants may beneficially own notes held by the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream only through direct or indirect participants in Euroclear and Clearstream. So long as the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream is the registered owner of the Global Note, the common depositary for all purposes will be considered the sole holder of the notes represented by the Global Note under the indenture and the Global Notes.
Certificated Notes
If the applicable depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for any of the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue the notes in definitive form in exchange for the applicable Global Notes. We will also issue the notes in definitive form in exchange for the Global Notes if an event of default has occurred with regard to the notes represented by the Global Notes and has not been cured or waived. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the notes represented by the Global Notes and, in that event, will issue the notes in definitive form in exchange for the Global Notes. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of the notes represented by the Global Notes equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such notes registered in its name. The notes so issued in definitive form will be issued as registered in minimum denominations of 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 thereafter, unless otherwise specified by us. Our definitive form of the notes can be transferred by presentation for registration to the registrar at its office and must be duly endorsed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing, or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to us or the registrar duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. We may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of definitive notes.
Clearing Systems
Euroclear. Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. All operations are conducted by Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V. and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with Euroclear Bank, not the cooperative. The cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters (Euroclear participants). Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with Euroclear Bank are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the
S-20
Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian laws (collectively, the Euroclear Terms and Conditions). The Euroclear Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear and receipts of payment with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. Euroclear Bank acts under the Euroclear Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.
Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Euroclear Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Bank and by Euroclear.
Clearstream. Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depository. Clearstream holds securities for Clearstream participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream also deals with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a professional depository, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream participants are financial institutions around the world including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.
Euroclear and Clearstream Arrangements
So long as Euroclear or Clearstream or their nominee or their common depositary is the registered holder of the Global Notes, Euroclear, Clearstream or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by such Global Notes for all purposes under the indenture and the notes. Payments of principal, interest and additional amounts, if any, in respect of the Global Notes will be made to Euroclear, Clearstream or such nominee, as the case may be, as registered holder thereof. None of us, the trustee, any underwriter and any affiliate of any of the above or any person by whom any of the above is controlled (as such term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933) will have any responsibility or liability for any records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Distributions of principal and interest with respect to the Global Note will be credited in euro to the extent received by Euroclear or Clearstream from the trustee or the paying agent, as applicable, to the cash accounts of Euroclear or Clearstream customers in accordance with the relevant systems rules and procedures.
Because Euroclear and Clearstream can only act on behalf of participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of a person having an interest in the Global Notes to pledge such interest to persons or entities which do not participate in the relevant clearing system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate in respect of such interest.
The holdings of book-entry interests in the Global Notes through Euroclear and Clearstream will be reflected in the book-entry accounts of each such institution. As necessary, the Registrar will adjust
S-21
the amounts of the Global Notes on the register (the Register) for the accounts of the common depositary to reflect the amounts of notes held through Euroclear and Clearstream, respectively.
Initial Settlement
Investors holding their notes through Euroclear or Clearstream accounts will follow the settlement procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form. Notes will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream holders on the settlement date against payment for value on the settlement date.
Secondary Market Trading
Because the purchaser determines the place of delivery, it is important to establish at the time of trading of any notes where both the purchasers and sellers accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired value date.
Secondary market sales of book-entry interests in the notes held through Euroclear or Clearstream to purchasers of book-entry interests in the Global Note through Euroclear or Clearstream will be conducted in accordance with the normal rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in same-day funds.
You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Euroclear and Clearstream on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Euroclear and Clearstream on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the notes, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the notes, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Euroclear or Clearstream is used.
Euroclear and Clearstream will credit payments to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants or Clearstream customers in accordance with the relevant systems rules and procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Clearstream or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a holder under the indenture on behalf of a Euroclear participant or Clearstream customer only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures.
Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of Euroclear and Clearstream. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue those procedures at any time.
Notices
Notices to holders of the notes will be sent by mail or email to the registered holders, or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the applicable depositary.
Registrar and Transfer Agent
The Registrar and Transfer Agent for the notes will be Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.
Governing Law
The indenture governing the notes is, and the notes will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
S-22
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes. This discussion is based upon the 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 with retroactive effect. Unless otherwise indicated, this summary addresses only the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to investors that purchase notes at the time of original issuance at their issue price and applies only to beneficial owners that hold the notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.
This summary does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of the holders individual circumstances or to holders subject to special rules under U.S. federal income tax laws, such as banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, entities and arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and 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, certain U.S. expatriates, and persons holding notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, or other integrated investment. The discussion does not address any foreign, state, local or non-income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the notes.
As used in this prospectus, the term U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of a note that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
· | an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
· | a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
· | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
· | a trust, if (i) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trusts administration and one or more United States persons (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) the trust has in effect a valid election to be treated as a United States person (as defined in the Code). |
The term Non-U.S. Holder means any beneficial owner of a note that is not a U.S. Holder and is not a partnership (including any entity or arrangement properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes). For the purposes of this summary, U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders are referred to collectively as Holders.
If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of a note, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in that partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A beneficial owner of a note that is a partnership and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income and other tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes.
This discussion is for general purposes only. Holders are urged to 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, and local laws and tax treaties, and the possible effects of changes in tax laws.
Payments under Certain Events
We may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay additional amounts in redemption of the notes in addition to the stated principal amount of and interest on the notes (as described in
S-23
Description of NotesChange of Control), or pay additional amounts in respect of certain withholding taxes (as described in Description of NotesPayment of Additional Amounts). Although the issue is not free from doubt, we intend to take the position that the possibility of payment of such additional amounts in redemption of the notes or such additional amounts in respect of certain withholding taxes does not result in the notes being treated as contingent payment debt instruments under the applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. If additional amounts are required to be paid in redemption of the notes as described above, then we intend to take the position that such amounts will be treated as additional proceeds and taxed as described below under U.S. HoldersSale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes and Non-U.S. HoldersSale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes. If additional amounts in respect of certain withholding taxes are required to be paid, then we intend to take the position that such amounts will be treated as ordinary interest income and taxed as described below under U.S. HoldersPayments of Interest and Non-U.S. HoldersPayments of Interest. These positions will be based on our determination that, as of the date of the issuance of the notes, the possibility that additional amounts in redemption of the notes and the possibility that additional amounts in respect of certain withholding taxes will have to be paid are remote or incidental contingencies within the meaning of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Our determination that these contingencies are remote or incidental is binding on a holder, unless such holder explicitly discloses to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on its tax return for the year during which it acquires the notes that it is taking a different position. However, our position is not binding on the IRS. If the IRS takes a contrary position to that described above, the timing and character of a holders income and the timing of our deductions with respect to the notes could be affected. Holders of notes should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the notes being treated as contingent payment debt instruments. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
Payments of Interest
Interest on notes beneficially owned by a U.S. Holder will generally be taxable as ordinary interest income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holders regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of interest income realized by a U.S. Holder that uses the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be the U.S. dollar value of the euro interest payment on the date of receipt (based on the U.S. dollar spot rate for euros on that date), regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. A U.S. Holder that uses the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes will not recognize foreign currency gain or loss upon receipt of such payments, but may have foreign currency gain or loss when such holder actually sells or otherwise disposes of the euros received, as described below. Under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, the spot rate generally means a rate that reflects a fair market rate of exchange available to the public for currency under a spot contract in a free market and involving representative amounts. A spot contract is a contract to buy or sell a currency on or before two business days following the date of the execution of the contract. If such a spot rate cannot be demonstrated, the IRS has the authority to determine the spot rate.
A U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes will accrue interest income on the notes in euros and translate the amount accrued into U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period (or portion thereof within the U.S. Holders taxable year), or, at such holders election, at the spot rate of exchange on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year within such accrual period if the accrual period spans more than one taxable year), or at the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt, if such date is within five business days of the last day of the accrual period. A U.S. Holder that makes such election must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot change the election without the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of
S-24
accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes will recognize U.S. source foreign currency gain or loss, as the case may be, on the receipt of an interest payment made with respect to a note if the exchange rate in effect on the date the payment is received differs from the rate applicable to a previous accrual of that interest income. This foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss but will generally not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the note.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, a U.S. Holder will generally 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 treated as ordinary interest income to the extent such interest has not been previously included in income) and (ii) the U.S. Holders 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. Holders adjusted tax basis in a note will generally equal the U.S. dollar cost of the note to such holder. The U.S. dollar cost of a note for a U.S. Holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the euro purchase price on the date of purchase. If the notes are traded on an established securities market, a U.S. Holder that uses the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and, if it so elects, a U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the euro purchase price paid for such note by translating the amount paid at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the purchase. The conversion of U.S. dollars to euros and the immediate use of the euros to purchase a note will generally not result in taxable gain or loss for a U.S. Holder.
Except as discussed below with respect to foreign currency gain or loss, the gain or loss a U.S. Holder recognizes on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes will generally be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale, exchange, redemption, or other taxable disposition, the U.S. Holders holding period in the notes exceeds one year. 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. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the deductibility of capital losses in light of their particular circumstances. If a U.S. Holder receives a payment in euros on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note, the amount realized will be the U.S. dollar value of the euro amount received calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date of such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition. If the notes are traded on an established securities market, a U.S. Holder that uses the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and if it so elects, a U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the euro amount realized by translating such amount at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition. The election available to accrual basis U.S. Holders in respect of the purchase and sale of foreign currency notes traded on an established securities market, discussed above, must be applied consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot be changed without the consent of the IRS.
The gain or loss a U.S. holder recognizes on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, to the extent attributable to changes in exchange rates during the period in which such holder held the note, will generally be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss to. The amount of gain or loss attributable to changes in exchange rates will generally be equal to the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount of the notes on the date of the disposition minus the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount of the notes on the date the notes were acquired by the U.S. Holder.
Exchange of Euros
Euros received as interest on a note or on a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note will generally have a tax basis equal to the U.S. dollar value of the euros at the
S-25
spot rate on the date of receipt. The tax basis of euros purchased by a U.S. Holder will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the euros at the spot rate on the date of purchase. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of euros will generally be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss.
Additional Tax on Net Investment Income
A tax of 3.8% is imposed on certain net investment income (or undistributed net investment income, in the case of estates and trusts) received by taxpayers with adjusted gross income above certain threshold amounts. Net investment income as defined for U.S. federal Medicare contribution purposes generally includes interest payments and gain recognized from the sale or other disposition of the notes. Tax-exempt trusts, which are not subject to income taxes generally, and foreign individuals will not be subject to this tax. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of this tax in light of their particular circumstances.
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 tax 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 penalty of perjury, that it is not subject to backup withholding on an IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) or a suitable substitute form (or other applicable certificate) 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. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS 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 will generally be subject to information reporting requirements, unless such U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient and appropriately establishes that exemption.
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 income or withholding tax on interest paid on the notes as long as that interest is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States and:
· | the Non-U.S. Holder does not, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote; |
· | the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is related to us, actually or by attribution, through stock ownership; |
· | the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving the interest pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of the Non-U.S. Holders trade or business; and |
· | either (i) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury on IRS Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding) or a suitable substitute form (or other applicable certificate) that it is not a U.S. person, and provides its name, address and certain other required information or (ii) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers securities in the |
S-26
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 an 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 will generally be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on payments of interest on the notes (except as described below with respect to effectively connected income). 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 withholding tax or is exempt from U.S. withholding tax, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes us with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or a suitable substitute form (or other applicable certificate) claiming the reduction or exemption and the Non-U.S. Holder complies with any other applicable procedures.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition 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. Holders conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (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 of the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition, and certain other conditions are met. |
Effectively Connected Income
If interest or gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder on a note is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holders 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 be exempt from the withholding tax on interest previously discussed if the Non-U.S. Holder provides us with a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI (Certificate of Foreign Persons Claim That Income Is Effectively Connected With the Conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States) or a suitable substitute or successor form or such other form as the IRS may prescribe, but the Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest or gain as if it were a United States person (as defined in the Code). In addition to such U.S. federal income tax, if the Non-U.S. Holder is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it may be subject to an additional branch profits tax currently at a rate of 30%, or such lower rate provided by an applicable income tax treaty.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Under current U.S. Treasury regulations, we must report annually to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest paid to the Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of tax withheld, if any, 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
S-27
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 will generally not apply to payments of proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption 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 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 Code) and certain other conditions are met, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Payments of proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable 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 Code) and it satisfies certain other conditions, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder may be allowed as a credit against such Non-U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
Non-U.S. Holders are urged to 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 is included for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a Holders particular situation. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes, including the tax consequences under state, local, estate, foreign and other tax laws and tax treaties and the possible effects of changes in U.S. or other tax laws.
EUROPEAN UNION SAVINGS DIRECTIVE
Under European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income (the Directive), Member States are required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest (or similar income) paid by a person within its jurisdiction to an individual resident in that other Member State or to certain limited types of entities established in that other Member State. However, for a transitional period, Luxembourg and Austria are instead required (unless during that period they elect otherwise) to operate a withholding system in relation to such payments (the ending of such transitional period being dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to information exchange with certain other countries). A number of non-European Union countries and territories including Switzerland have adopted similar measures (a withholding system in the case of Switzerland).
In April 2013, the Luxembourg Government announced its intention to abolish the withholding system with effect from 1 January 2015, in favour of automatic information exchange under the Directive. The European Commission has proposed certain amendments to the Directive, which may, if implemented, amend or broaden the scope of the requirements described above.
S-28
We and Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited, HSBC Bank plc and Merrill Lynch International, as representatives of the underwriters for the offering named below, have entered into an amended and restated underwriting agreement and a terms agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes indicated in the following table.
Underwriter |
Principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes |
Principal amount of the 2017 Notes |
Principal amount of the 2021 Notes | |||
Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited |
||||||
HSBC Bank plc |
||||||
Merrill Lynch International |
||||||
Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
||||||
J.P. Morgan Securities plc |
||||||
Société Générale |
||||||
Total |
||||||
|
|
|
To the extent any underwriter that is not a U-S.-registered broker-dealer intends to effect sales of notes in the United States, it will do so through one or more U.S.-registered broker-dealers in accordance with the applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations.
The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken. Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. If all the notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.
We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $ .
We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The notes are new issues of securities with no established trading market. We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 days after the original issue date. Currently there is no public market for the notes. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.
In connection with the issue of the notes, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited as Stabilizing Manager (or persons acting on its behalf) may over-allot the notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilizing Manager (or persons acting on its behalf) will undertake a stabilization action. Any stabilization action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the notes is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue date of the notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the notes.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering. The underwriters may close out any short positions by purchasing notes in the open market. A short position is more likely to be created if underwriters expect that there may be downward pressure on the price of the notes in the open market while the offering is in progress. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for
S-29
the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.
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.
These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on the date specified on the cover of this prospectus supplement, which will be the fifth business day following the trade date of the notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 under 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. Purchasers of notes who wish to trade any notes on the date hereof 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 cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisor.
The notes are being offered for sale in the United States and in jurisdictions outside the United States, subject to applicable law.
Sales Outside the U.S.
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 it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus 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 dealer or dealers nominated by us for any such offer; or
(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) 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.
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
S-30
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (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 us; 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.
The notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (a) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (b) to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (c) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the 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 within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
The notes offered hereby have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948 as amended, the FIEL) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, 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 FIEL and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the 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 (a) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the SFA, (b) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) 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 is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (ii) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (iii) by operation of law.
Other Relationships
At any given time, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities
S-31
(or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve our securities and/or instruments of our company or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge and others may hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, the 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 short positions could adversely affect current or future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
To the extent that the underwriters or their affiliates own any of the notes subject to the Notes Tender Offer, they may tender such notes pursuant to the terms of the Notes Tender Offer. All or a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering will be used to fund the Notes Tender Offer.
Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are parties to our revolving credit facility. In addition, the underwriters or their affiliates have provided in the past, or are currently providing, other investment and commercial banking and financial advisory services to us and our affiliates. The underwriters or their affiliates may in the future provide various investment and commercial banking and other services to us and our affiliates, for which they would receive customary compensation.
S-32
The SEC allows us to incorporate information into this prospectus supplement by reference, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus supplement. These documents contain important information about Mondelēz International and our financial condition, business and results.
We are incorporating by reference the filings of Mondelēz International listed below and any additional documents that we may file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of the filing of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering; provided, however, that we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K:
· | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2013 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein); |
· | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013; and |
· | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2013, April 5, 2013, May 22, 2013, August 2, 2013, August 7, 2013 (as to Item 8.01 only), August 27, 2013 (as to Item 8.01 only), October 17, 2013, November 12, 2013, November 19, 2013 and December 3, 2013 (two filings). |
You may obtain any of these documents from the SEC at the SECs Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain a free copy of any of these filings from us by telephoning or writing to us at the following address and telephone number:
Mondelēz International, Inc.
Three Parkway North
Deerfield, IL 60015
Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (847) 943-4000
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, OR TO WHICH WE HAVE REFERRED YOU, IN MAKING YOUR DECISIONS WHETHER TO INVEST IN THE NOTES. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT DIFFERS FROM THAT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS DATED DECEMBER 4, 2013. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, UNLESS WE OTHERWISE NOTE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
S-33
Mondelēz Internationals financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in the Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) and the financial statement schedule, both incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The validity of the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Certain matters involving the laws of Virginia will be passed upon for us by Hunton & Williams LLP, our Virginia counsel.
S-34
PROSPECTUS
Kraft Foods Inc.
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Depositary Shares
Purchase Contracts
Guarantees
Units
We or selling securityholders may, from time to time, offer to sell debt securities, Class A common stock, which we refer to as common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts, guarantees or units. Each time we or a selling securityholder sells securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the specific terms of the securities offered. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.
Our principal executive offices are located at Kraft Foods Inc., Three Lakes Drive, Northfield, Illinois 60093 and our telephone number is (847) 646-2000.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KFT.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the Risk Factors section of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 28, 2011
Page | ||||
1 | ||||
1 | ||||
1 | ||||
2 | ||||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 | ||||
17 | ||||
19 | ||||
20 | ||||
21 | ||||
22 |
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information with respect to this offering. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. You should only assume that the information in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.
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. By using an automatic shelf registration statement, we may, at any time and from time to time, sell securities under this prospectus in one or more offerings in an unlimited amount. As allowed by the SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement, including its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SECs rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of these matters.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Therefore, if there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
To understand the terms of our securities, you should carefully read this document and the applicable prospectus supplement. Together they give the specific terms of the securities we are offering. You should also read the documents we have referred you to under Where You Can Find More Information below for information about us and our financial statements. You can read the registration statement and exhibits on the SECs website or at the SEC as described under Where You Can Find More Information.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to Kraft Foods, the Company, we, us, and our refer to Kraft Foods Inc. and its subsidiaries.
We manufacture and market packaged food products, including biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, convenient meals and various packaged grocery products, in approximately 170 countries.
We are a Virginia corporation with principal executive officers at Three Lakes Drive, Northfield, IL 60093. Our telephone number is (847) 646-2000 and our Internet website is www.kraftfoodscompany.com. Except for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus as described under the Incorporation by Reference heading, the information and other content contained on our website are not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider them to be a part of this prospectus.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of this information filed with the SEC at the SECs public reference room:
Public Reference Room
100 F Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
For information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings are also available to the public through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or from commercial document retrieval services. Our filings are also available on our website at www.kraftfoodscompany.com. In addition, Kraft Foods common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
1
and similar information concerning us can be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. You are encouraged to read the materials that we file with the SEC, which disclose important information about us. This information includes any filing we have made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
The SEC allows us to incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus. These documents contain important information about Kraft Foods and its financial condition, business and results.
We are incorporating by reference Kraft Foods filings listed below and any additional documents that we may file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date we file this prospectus and prior to the termination of any offering; except we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, unless specifically noted below or in a prospectus supplement:
| our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2011 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein); |
| our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 24, 2011; and |
| the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 9, 2001, including any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description. |
We will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, including any beneficial owner, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to herein that are summarized in this prospectus, if such person makes a written or oral request directed to:
Kraft Foods Inc.
Three Lakes Drive
Northfield, IL 60093
Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (847) 646-2000
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, OR TO WHICH WE HAVE REFERRED YOU, IN MAKING YOUR DECISIONS WHETHER TO INVEST IN THE SECURITIES. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT DIFFERS FROM THAT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. THIS PROSPECTUS IS DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2011. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE AS ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, UNLESS WE OTHERWISE NOTE IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
2
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements. Words such as expects, goals, plans, believes, continues, may, will, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements made regarding expected future operating performance, projected growth, expected synergies from the acquisition of the Cadbury group by us and other events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future and statements expressing general views about future operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, increased competition, pricing actions, continued volatility in commodity costs, increased costs of sales, our indebtedness and our ability to pay such indebtedness, risks from operating globally, our failure to successfully execute in emerging markets, our failure to integrate successfully and recognize the synergies from our combination with Cadbury Limited (formerly Cadbury plc) and tax law changes. You should also note the risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in our filings with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. (See the section entitled Incorporation by Reference.) We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this prospectus except as required by applicable law or regulation.
3
Unless we otherwise state in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, investments in our subsidiaries, possible acquisitions and the repurchase, redemption or retirement of securities, including our common stock. The net proceeds may be temporarily invested or applied to repay short-term or revolving debt prior to use.
4
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 | ||||||
Ratios of earnings to fixed charges |
2.7x | 3.7x | 2.6x | 5.0x | 5.9x |
Earnings available for fixed charges represent earnings before income taxes, noncontrolling interest and cumulative effect of accounting change and fixed charges excluding capitalized interest, net of amortization, reduced by undistributed earnings of our less than 50% owned affiliates. Fixed charges represent interest expense, amortization of debt discount and expenses, capitalized interest, plus that portion of rental expense deemed to be the equivalent of interest. Interest expense excludes interest related to uncertain tax positions, which has been included in the provision for income taxes.
5
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our direct unsecured obligations. The debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture dated as of October 17, 2001 between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (as successor to The Bank of New York and The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee.
This prospectus briefly describes the material indenture provisions. Those descriptions are qualified in all respects by reference to the actual text of the indenture. For your reference, in the summary that follows, we have included references to section numbers of the indenture so that you can more easily locate these provisions.
The material financial, legal and other terms particular to debt securities of each series will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of that series. The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the series will be attached to the front of this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the terms summarized below do not apply to the series of debt securities being offered. You should read the more detailed provisions of the indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. You should also read the particular terms of a series of debt securities, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Prospective purchasers of debt securities should be aware that special United States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations not addressed in this prospectus may be applicable to instruments such as the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe these considerations, if they apply.
Capitalized terms used below are defined under Defined Terms.
General
The debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured debt. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt we may issue and provides that additional debt securities may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount authorized by a board resolution. We may issue the debt securities from time to time in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a discount or at a premium. The prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering, including the particular amount, price and other terms of those debt securities. These terms will include some or all of the following:
| the title of the debt securities; |
| any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable or their manner of determination; |
| if the securities will bear interest: |
| the interest rate or rates; |
| the date or dates from which any interest will accrue; |
| the interest payment dates for the debt securities; and |
| the regular record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| or, in each case, their method of determination; |
| the place or places where the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities will be payable; |
6
| currency or units of two or more currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars, and the holders rights, if any, to elect payment in a foreign currency or a foreign currency unit other than that in which the debt securities are payable; |
| whether the amounts of payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities are to be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, and if so, the manner in which such amounts will be determined; |
| whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of global securities and, if so, the depositary and the global exchange agent for the global securities, whether permanent or temporary; |
| whether the debt securities will be issued as registered securities, bearer securities or both, and any restrictions on the exchange of one form of debt securities for another and on the offer, sale and delivery of the debt securities in either form; |
| if the debt securities are issuable in definitive form upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, the form and terms of such conditions; |
| if denominations other than $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000, the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued; |
| the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms on which any of the debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option, and any remarketing arrangements; |
| the terms on which we would be required to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities required by any sinking fund, mandatory redemption or similar provision; and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the debt securities will be so redeemed, repaid and purchased in whole or in part; |
| the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that is payable on the declaration of acceleration of the maturity, if other than their principal amount; these debt securities could include original issue discount, or OID, debt securities or indexed debt securities, which are each described below; |
| any special tax implications of the debt securities, including whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts under any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax payments, assessments or other governmental charges and whether we have the option to redeem the debt securities which are affected by the additional amounts instead of paying the additional amounts; |
| any addition to or modification or deletion of any provisions for the satisfaction and discharge of our obligations under the indenture and specific series of debt securities; |
| whether and to what extent the debt securities are subject to defeasance on terms different from those described under the heading Defeasance; |
| any trustees, paying agents, transfer agents, registrars, depositaries or similar agents with respect to the debt securities; |
| if the debt securities bear no interest, any dates on which lists of holders of these debt securities must be provided to the trustee; |
| whether the debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable into other securities, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable; |
| any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any event of default or any covenant specified in the indenture; and |
| any other specific terms of the debt securities. |
(Section 301)
7
We may issue debt securities as original issue discount, or OID, debt securities. OID debt securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates and are sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. If we issue OID debt securities, the prospectus supplement will contain the issue price of the securities and the rate at which and the date from which discount will accrete.
We may also issue indexed debt securities. Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, indexed debt securities are determined with reference to the rate of exchange between the currency or currency unit in which the debt security is denominated and any other currency or currency unit specified by us, to the relationship between two or more currencies or currency units, to the price of one or more specified securities or commodities, to one or more securities or commodities exchange indices or other indices or by other similar methods or formulas, all as specified in the prospectus supplement.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
We have agreed not to consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:
| any successor is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; |
| the successor corporation expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant in the indenture that we would otherwise have to perform or observe; |
| immediately after the effective date of the transaction, no event of default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture; and |
| we deliver to the trustee an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and the supplemental indenture comply with these provisions. |
The successor corporation will assume all our obligations under the indenture as if it were an original party to the indenture. After assuming such obligations, the successor corporation will have all our rights and powers under the indenture.
(Section 801)
Waivers Under the Indenture
Under the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, may on behalf of all holders of that series:
| waive our compliance with certain covenants of the indenture; and |
(Section 1009)
| waive any past default under the indenture, except: |
| a default in the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt securities of the series; and |
| a default under any provision of the indenture which itself cannot be modified without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security of the series. |
(Section 513)
8
Events of Default
When we use the term Event of Default in the indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, we mean any of the following:
| we fail to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after payment was due; |
| we fail to make payment of the principal of, or any premium on, any debt security of that series when due; |
| we fail to make any sinking fund payment when due with respect to debt securities of that series; |
| we fail to perform any other covenant or warranty in the indenture and this failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of it from the trustee or holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; |
| we or a court take certain actions relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; or |
| any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of the series or in the board resolution with respect to the debt securities of that series. |
(Section 501)
The supplemental indenture or the form of security for a particular series of debt securities may include additional Events of Default or changes to the Events of Default described above. The Events of Default applicable to a particular series of debt securities will be discussed in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.
A default with respect to a single series of debt securities under the indenture will not necessarily constitute a default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. A default under our other indebtedness will not be a default under the indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except for defaults that involve our failure to pay principal or interest, if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders. (Section 602)
If an Event of Default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues (other than an Event of Default involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization), either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may require us upon notice in writing to us, to immediately repay the entire principal (or, in the case of (a) OID debt securities, a lesser amount as provided in those OID debt securities or (b) indexed debt securities, an amount determined by the terms of those indexed debt securities), of all the debt securities of such series together with accrued interest on the debt securities.
If an Event of Default occurs which involves our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, then all unpaid principal amounts (or, if the debt securities are (a) OID debt securities, then the portion of the principal amount that is specified in those OID debt securities or (b) indexed debt securities, then the portion of the principal amount that is determined by the terms of those indexed debt securities) and accrued interest on all debt securities of each series will immediately become due and payable, without any action by the trustee or any holder of debt securities. (Section 502)
Subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may rescind a declaration of acceleration if all Events of Default, besides the failure to pay principal or interest due solely because of the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. (Section 502)
Other than its duties in case of a default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee
9
reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of any series of debt securities may, subject to certain limitations, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.
The indenture requires us to file each year with the trustee, an officers certificate that states that:
| the signing officer has supervised a review of the activities and performance under the indenture; and |
| to the best of his or her knowledge, based on the review, we comply with all conditions and covenants of the indenture. |
(Section 1005)
A judgment for money damages by courts in the United States, including a money judgment based on an obligation expressed in a foreign currency, will ordinarily be rendered only in U.S. dollars. New York statutory law provides that a court shall render a judgment or decree in the foreign currency of the underlying obligation and that the judgment or decree shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. If a court requires a conversion to be made on a date other than a judgment date, the indenture requires us to pay additional amounts necessary to ensure that the amount paid in U.S. dollars to a holder is equal to the amount due in such foreign currency. (Section 516)
Payment
We will pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, fully registered securities at the place or places that we will designate for such purposes. We will make payment to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on the close of business on the day or days that we will specify in accordance with the indenture. We will pay the principal of, and any premium on, registered debt securities only against surrender of those debt securities. Any other payments, including payment on any securities issued in bearer form, will be made as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 307)
Restrictive Covenants
The indenture includes the following restrictive covenants:
Limitations on Liens
The indenture limits the amount of liens that we or our Subsidiaries may incur or otherwise create in order to secure indebtedness for borrowed money, upon any Principal Facility or any shares of capital stock that any of our Subsidiaries owning any Principal Facility has issued to us or any of our Subsidiaries. If we or any of our Subsidiaries incur such liens, then we will secure the debt securities to the same extent and in the same proportion as the debt that is secured by such liens. This covenant does not apply, however, to any of the following:
| in the case of a Principal Facility, liens incurred in connection with the issuance by a state or its political subdivision of any securities the interest on which is exempt from United States federal income taxes by virtue of Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code or any other laws and regulations in effect at the time of such issuance; |
| liens existing on the date of the indenture; |
| liens on property or shares of capital stock existing at the time we or any of our Subsidiaries acquire such property or shares of capital stock, including through a merger, share exchange or consolidation, or securing the payment of all or part of the purchase price, construction or improvement of such |
10
property incurred prior to, during, or within 180 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction or improvement or commencement of full operation of such property or within 180 days after the acquisition of such shares for the purpose of financing all or a portion of such purchase of the property or construction or improvement on it; or |
| liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing all or a part of the indebtedness secured by any lien referred to in the previous bullet points or in this bullet point if the extension, removal and replacement is limited to all or a part of the property secured by the original lien. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we and/or any of our Subsidiaries may incur liens that would otherwise be subject to the restriction described above, without securing debt securities issued under the indenture equally and ratably, if the aggregate value of all outstanding indebtedness secured by the liens and the value of Sale and Leaseback Transactions does not at the time exceed the greater of:
| 10% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; or |
| 10% of our Consolidated Capitalization. |
(Section 1007)
Sale and Leaseback Transactions
A Sale and Leaseback Transaction of any Principal Facility is prohibited, unless within 180 days of the effective date of the arrangement, an amount equal to the greater of the proceeds of the sale or the fair value of the property (value) is applied to the retirement of long-term non-subordinated indebtedness for money borrowed with more than one year stated maturity, including our debt securities, except that such sales and leasebacks are permitted to the extent that the value thereof plus the other secured debt referred to in the previous paragraph does not exceed the amount stated in the previous paragraph. (Section 1008)
There are no other restrictive covenants in the indenture. The indenture does not require us to maintain any financial ratios, minimum levels of net worth or liquidity or restrict the payment of dividends, the making of other distributions on our capital stock or the redemption or purchase of our capital stock. Moreover, the indenture does not contain any provision requiring us to repurchase or redeem any debt securities or debt warrants or modify the terms thereof or afford the holders thereof any other protection in the event of our change of control, any highly leveraged transaction or any other event involving us that may materially adversely affect our creditworthiness or the value of the debt securities or debt warrants.
Defined Terms
We define Subsidiaries as any corporation of which at least a majority of all outstanding stock having ordinary voting power in the election of directors of such corporation is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by us or by one or more Subsidiaries or by us and one or more Subsidiaries. (Section 101)
We define Principal Facility as all real property owned and operated by us or any Subsidiary located within the United States and constituting part of any manufacturing plant or distribution facility, including all attached plumbing, electrical, ventilating, heating, cooling, lighting and other utility systems, ducts and pipes but excluding trade fixtures (unless their removal would cause substantial damage to the manufacturing plant or distribution facility), business machinery, equipment, motorized vehicles, tools, supplies and materials, security systems, cameras, inventory and other personal property and materials. However, no manufacturing plant or distribution facility will be a Principal Facility unless its net book value exceeds 0.25% of Consolidated Capitalization. (Section 1007)
We define a Sale and Leaseback Transaction as the sale or transfer of a Principal Facility with the intention of taking back a lease of the property, except a lease for a temporary period of less than 3 years, including renewals, with the intent that the use by us or any Subsidiary will be discontinued on or before the expiration of such period. (Section 1008)
11
We define Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as the excess of all assets over current liabilities appearing on our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet, less goodwill and other intangible assets and the minority interests of others in Subsidiaries. (Section 101)
We define Consolidated Capitalization as the total of all of the assets appearing on our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet, less:
| current liabilities, including liabilities for indebtedness maturing more than 12 months from the date of the original creation thereof, but maturing within 12 months from the date of our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet; and |
| deferred income tax liabilities reflected in such consolidated balance sheet. |
(Section 101)
Global Securities
We may issue the securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue the global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Once a global security is issued, the depositary will credit on its book-entry system the respective principal amounts of the individual securities represented by that global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary. These institutions are known as participants.
The underwriters for the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. However, if we have offered or sold the securities either directly or through agents, we or the agents will designate the appropriate accounts to be credited.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositarys participants or persons that may hold through participants. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities. Those laws may limit the market for beneficial interests in a global security.
So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:
| will not be entitled to have securities represented by global securities registered in their names; |
| will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities in definitive form; and |
| will not be considered owners or holders of these securities under the indenture. |
Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the individual securities registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of that global security.
12
Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to beneficial ownership interests and each of us and the trustee may act or refrain from acting without liability on any information provided by the depositary.
We expect that the depositary, after receiving any payment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, a global security, will immediately credit the accounts of the participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in a global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such participants.
Debt securities represented by a global security will be exchangeable for debt securities in definitive form of like tenor in authorized denominations only if:
| the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as the depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; |
| we deliver to the trustee for securities of such series in registered form a company order stating that the securities of such series shall be exchangeable; or |
| an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to securities of such series. |
Unless and until a global security is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive certificated form, it may not be transferred or exchanged except as a whole by the depositary.
Registration of Transfer
You may transfer or exchange certificated securities at any office that we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. We will not charge a service fee for any transfer or exchange of certificated securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that we are required to pay in connection with a transfer or exchange. (Section 305)
You may effect the transfer of certificated securities and the right to receive the principal of, and any premium and interest on, certificated securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
We are not required to:
| issue, register, transfer or exchange securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day we transmit a notice of redemption of the securities of the series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the transmission; |
| register, transfer or exchange any security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any security being redeemed in part; or |
| exchange any bearer securities selected for redemption except if a bearer security is exchanged for a registered security of the same tenor that is simultaneously surrendered for redemption. |
(Section 305)
13
Exchange
At your option, you may exchange your registered debt securities of any series, except a global security, for an equal principal amount of other registered debt securities of the same series having authorized denominations upon surrender to our designated agent.
We may at any time exchange debt securities issued as one or more global securities for an equal principal amount of debt securities of the same series in definitive registered form. In this case, we will deliver to the holders new debt securities in definitive registered form in the same aggregate principal amount as the global securities being exchanged.
The depositary of the global securities may also decide at any time to surrender one or more global securities in exchange for debt securities of the same series in definitive registered form, in which case we will deliver the new debt securities in definitive form to the persons specified by the depositary, in an aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, each persons beneficial interest in the global securities.
Notwithstanding the above, we will not be required to exchange any debt securities if, as a result of the exchange, we would suffer adverse consequences under any United States law or regulation. (Section 305)
Defeasance
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we can terminate all of our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, other than the obligation to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and certain other obligations, at any time by:
| depositing money or United States government obligations with the trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities to their maturity; and |
| complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of our defeasance. |
In addition, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we can terminate all of our obligations, with minor exceptions, under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, including the obligation to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities, at any time by:
| depositing money or United States government obligations with the trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and the interest and any premium on, the debt securities to their maturity; and |
| complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel stating that there has been a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service, or a change in the United States federal tax law since the date of the indenture, to the effect that holders of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of our defeasance. |
(Sections 402-404)
Payments of Unclaimed Moneys
Moneys deposited with the trustee or any paying agent for the payment of principal of, or any premium and interest on, any debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years will be repaid to us at our request, unless the law requires otherwise. If this happens and you want to claim these moneys, you must look to us and not to the trustee or paying agent. (Section 409)
14
Supplemental Indentures Not Requiring Consent of Holders
Without the consent of any holders of debt securities, we and the trustee may supplement the indenture, among other things, to:
| pledge property to the trustee as security for the debt securities; |
| reflect that another entity has succeeded us and assumed the covenants and obligations of us under the debt securities and the indenture; |
| cure any ambiguity or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities or make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture, as long as the interests of the holders of the debt securities are not adversely affected in any material respect; |
| issue and establish the form and terms of any series of debt securities as provided in the indenture; |
| add to our covenants further covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities, and if the covenants are for the benefit of less than all series of debt securities, stating which series are entitled to benefit; |
| add any additional event of default and if the new event of default applies to fewer than all series of debt securities, stating to which series it applies; |
| change the trustee or provide for an additional trustee; |
| provide additional provisions for bearer debt securities so long as the action does not adversely affect the interests of holders of any debt securities in any material respect; or |
| modify the indenture as may be necessary or desirable in accordance with amendments to the Trustee Indenture Act of 1939. |
(Section 901)
Supplemental Indentures Requiring Consent of Holders
With the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of the debt securities that would be affected by a modification of the indenture, the indenture permits us and the trustee to supplement the indenture or modify in any way the terms of the indenture or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series. However, without the consent of each holder of all of the debt securities affected by that modification, we and the trustee may not:
| modify the maturity date of, or reduce the principal of, or premium on, or change the stated final maturity of, any debt security; |
| reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any debt security or, in the case of OID debt securities, reduce the rate of accretion of the OID; |
| change any of our obligations to pay additional amounts under the indenture; |
| reduce or alter the method of computation of any amount payable upon redemption, repayment or purchase of any debt security by us, or the time when the redemption, repayment or purchase may be made; |
| make the principal or interest on any debt security payable in a currency other than that stated in the debt security or change the place of payment; |
| reduce the amount of principal due on an OID debt security upon acceleration of maturity or provable in bankruptcy or reduce the amount payable under the terms of an indexed debt security upon acceleration of maturity or provable in bankruptcy; |
| impair any right of repayment or purchase at the option of any holder of debt securities; |
15
| reduce the right of any holder of debt securities to receive or sue for payment of the principal or interest on a debt security that would be due and payable at the maturity thereof or upon redemption or adversely affect any applicable right to convert or exchange any debt securities into other securities; or |
| reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series required to supplement the indenture or to waive any of its provisions. |
(Section 902)
A supplemental indenture that modifies or eliminates a provision intended to benefit the holders of one series of debt securities will not affect the rights under the indenture of holders of other series of debt securities.
Redemption
The specific terms of any redemption of a series of debt securities will be contained in the prospectus supplement for that series. Generally, we must send notice of redemption to the holders at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. The notice will specify:
| the principal amount being redeemed; |
| the redemption date; |
| the redemption price; |
| the place or places of payment; |
| the CUSIP number of the debt securities being redeemed; |
| whether the redemption is pursuant to a sinking fund; |
| that on the redemption date, interest, or, in the case of OID debt securities, original issue discount, will cease to accrue; and |
| if bearer debt securities are being redeemed, that those bearer debt securities must be accompanied by all coupons maturing after the redemption date or the amount of the missing coupons will be deducted from the redemption price, or indemnity must be furnished, and whether those bearer debt securities may be exchanged for registered debt securities not being redeemed. |
(Section 1104)
On or before any redemption date, we will deposit an amount of money with the trustee or with a paying agent sufficient to pay the redemption price. (Section 1105)
If less than all the debt securities are being redeemed, the trustee shall select the debt securities to be redeemed using a method it considers fair. (Section 1103) After the redemption date, holders of debt securities which were redeemed will have no rights with respect to the debt securities except the right to receive the redemption price and any unpaid interest to the redemption date. (Section 1106)
Concerning the Trustee
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (as successor to The Bank of New York and The Chase Manhattan Bank) is the trustee under the indenture. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas has performed and will perform other services for us and certain of our subsidiaries in the normal course of its business.
Governing Law
The laws of the State of New York govern the indenture and will govern the debt securities. (Section 112)
16
Kraft Foods is authorized to issue 5,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, without par value, which we refer to as common stock, and 500,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value. As of January 31, 2011, there were 1,748,927,248 shares of common stock outstanding and held of record by 80,245 shareholders, and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. As of January 31, 2011, there were 135,529,384 shares of common stock reserved for outstanding stock options and other stock awards.
The principal stock exchange on which our common stock is listed is the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KFT. All outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The following description of the terms of our common stock is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated articles of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws. To find out where copies of these documents can be obtained, please see the section of this prospectus entitled Where You Can Find More Information.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote on all matters submitted for action by our shareholders. There is no provision for cumulative voting with regard to the election of directors.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Subject to the preferences applicable to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at any time, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors from funds legally available therefore and are entitled, in the event of a liquidation, to share ratably in all assets remaining paid after payment of liquidation.
Other Rights
The holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights and no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities, and our common stock is not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, our By-Laws and Virginia Law
Various provisions contained in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws and Virginia law could delay or discourage some transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of Kraft Foods or its management and may limit the ability of Kraft Foods shareholders to remove current management or approve transactions that our shareholders may deem to be in their best interests. Provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws:
| authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series or classes of undesignated preferred stock, the terms of which can be determined by the board of directors at the time of issuance; |
| do not authorize cumulative voting; |
| provide that only the board of directors and the chairman of the board of directors may call a special meeting of the shareholders, except that the board of directors must call a special meeting upon the request from at least 20% of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares of all classes of our capital stock; |
| provide an advanced written notice procedure with respect to shareholder proposals and shareholder nomination of candidates for election as directors; and |
| allow our directors, and not our shareholders, to fill any vacancies on our board of directors, including vacancies resulting from a board of directors resolution to increase the number of directors. |
17
In addition, Virginia law contains provisions governing material acquisition transactions (affiliated transactions) between Kraft Foods and any holder of more than 10% of any class of its outstanding voting shares (an interested shareholder). In general, these provisions prohibit a Virginia corporation from engaging in an affiliated transaction with an interested shareholder for a period of three years following the date such person became an interested shareholder, unless (1) a majority of the disinterested directors and the holders of at least two-thirds of the remaining voting shares approved the affiliated transaction or (2) before the date that the person became an interested shareholder, the board of directors approved the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. After three years, any such transaction must be at a fair price, as statutorily defined, or must be approved by the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting shares, other than those beneficially owned by the interested shareholder. Affiliated transactions subject to this approval requirement include mergers, share exchanges, material dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of business, the sale of shares of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries to an interested shareholder having an aggregate fair market value of greater than 5% of the aggregate fair market value of the corporations outstanding shares, any dissolution of Kraft Foods proposed by or on behalf of an interested shareholder or any reclassification, including reverse stock splits, recapitalization or merger of Kraft Foods with its subsidiaries, that increases the percentage of voting shares beneficially owned by an interested shareholder by more than 5%.
The shareholders of a Virginia corporation may adopt an amendment to the corporations articles of incorporation or by-laws opting out of the provisions of Virginia law governing affiliated transactions. Neither our amended and restated articles of incorporation nor our amended and restated by-laws contain a provision opting out of the provisions of Virginia law governing affiliated transactions.
Virginia law also contains provisions relating to control share acquisitions, which are transactions causing the voting strength of any person acquiring beneficial ownership of shares of a Virginia public corporation to meet or exceed certain threshold percentages (20%, 33 1/3% or 50%) of the total votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors. Shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights unless (1) the voting rights are granted by a majority vote of all outstanding shares other than those held by the acquiring person or any officer or employee director of the corporation or (2) the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation provide that these Virginia law provisions do not apply to acquisitions of its shares. The acquiring person may require that a special meeting of the shareholders be held to consider the grant of voting rights to the shares acquired in the control share acquisition.
As permitted by Virginia law, Kraft Foods has adopted by-laws opting out of the Virginia anti-takeover law regulating control share acquisitions.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
18
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts, guarantees or units issued by Kraft Foods that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.
19
We may sell the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in any of the following ways:
| directly to one or more purchasers; |
| through agents; |
| through underwriters, brokers or dealers; or |
| through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, brokers, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
In addition, to the extent this prospectus is used by any selling security holder to resell any common stock or debt securities, information with respect to the selling security holder and the plan of distribution will be contained in a supplement to this prospectus, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.
20
Kraft Foods financial statements, financial statement schedule and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports, which contain an explanatory paragraph on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting due to the exclusion of certain elements of the internal control over financial reporting of the Cadbury business Kraft Foods acquired as of December 31, 2010, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
21
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the debt securities, warrants, depository shares, purchase contracts, guarantees and units, and Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond, Virginia, will pass upon the validity of the shares of common and preferred stock.
22
Floating Rate Notes due 2015
% Notes due 2017
% Notes due 2021
Mondelēz International, Inc.
Joint Book-Running Managers
BofA Merrill Lynch | Credit Suisse | HSBC | ||
Goldman, Sachs & Co. | J.P. Morgan | Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking |