424B2 1 d545817d424b2.htm 424B2 424B2
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-216408

 

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, as amended. 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 March 5, 2018

Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated March 2, 2017

C$                

 

LOGO

Mondelēz International, Inc.

C$                     % Notes due 2025

 

 

This is an offering of C$                 of                 % Notes due 2025 (the “notes”) to be issued by Mondelēz International, Inc., a Virginia corporation (“Mondelēz International”).

We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually on                and                of each year, beginning on                 , 2018. The notes will bear interest at the rate of                 % per annum. The notes will mature on                . The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of C$2,000 and integral multiples of C$1,000 in excess thereof.

We may redeem the notes at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus supplement, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.

If we experience a change of control triggering event, we may be required to offer to purchase the notes from holders of the notes. See “Description of Notes—Change 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.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. 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.

 

     Initial Offering Price      Underwriting Discount      Proceeds, Before Expenses,
to Mondelēz International
 

Per note

     %        %        %  

Total(1)

   C$    C$    C$

 

(1) Plus accrued interest from                 , 2018 if delivery of the notes occurs after that date.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers in registered book-entry form and deposited in global form through the facilities of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. for the accounts of its participants on or after                , 2018. Investors may hold their notes outside Canada through Clearstream Banking S.A. and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System.

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

   HSBC    TD Securities

Prospectus Supplement dated                 , 2018


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus Supplement

     S-ii  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     S-ii  

About Mondelēz International

     S-1  

Summary of the Offering

     S-2  

Risk Factors

     S-6  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     S-10  

Use of Proceeds

     S-11  

Currency Conversion

     S-12  

Capitalization

     S-13  

Description of Notes

     S-14  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     S-26  

Underwriting

     S-32  

Incorporation by Reference

     S-36  

Experts

     S-37  

Validity of the Notes

     S-38  

Prospectus

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

About the Company

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     2  

Incorporation by Reference

     2  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     6  

Description of Debt Securities

     7  

Description of Common Stock

     18  

Description of Other Securities

     20  

Plan of Distribution

     21  

Experts

     22  

Validity of the Securities

     23  

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free-writing prospectus that we prepare or authorize contain and incorporate by reference information that you should consider when making your investment decision. 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.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement contains the terms of this offering and of the 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 “$” and “U.S. dollars” are to the currency of the United States. References to “C$” and “CAD” are to the lawful currency of Canada. No representation is made that any CAD amounts converted into U.S. dollars as presented in this prospectus supplement could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at any such exchange rate or at all. The financial information presented in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). References to “SEC” are to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Unless otherwise specified, the CAD/U.S. dollar exchange rate used in this prospectus supplement is C$                 = $1.00, which is the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers as announced by the United States Federal Reserve Board for CAD on                 , 2018.

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 “will,” “may,” “expect,” “would,” “could,” “might,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “deliver,” “drive,” “seek,” “aim,” “potential,” “objective,” “project,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements about: our future performance, including our future revenue growth and margins; our strategy for growing our people, growing our business and growing our impact; price volatility and pricing actions; the cost environment and measures to address increased costs; our tax rate, tax positions and estimates of the impact of U.S. tax reform on our 2017 and future results; market share; the United Kingdom’s planned exit from the European Union and its impact on our results; the costs of, timing of expenditures under and completion of our restructuring program; snack category growth, our effect on demand and our market position; consumer snacking behaviors; commodity prices and supply; investments; research, development and innovation; political and economic conditions and volatility; currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; our operations in Argentina; our e-commerce channel strategies; manufacturing and distribution capacity; changes in laws and regulations and regulatory compliance; matters related to the acquisition of a biscuit operation in Vietnam; potential impacts from changing to highly inflationary accounting in selected countries; overhead costs; pension liabilities related to the JDE coffee business transactions; our JDE ownership interest; the financial impact of the Keurig Dr Pepper transaction and our investment and governance rights in Keurig Dr Pepper following closing of the transaction;

 

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the outcome and effects on us of legal proceedings and government investigations; the estimated value of goodwill and intangible assets; amortization expense for intangible assets; impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and our projections of operating results and other factors that may affect our impairment testing; our accounting estimates and judgments and the impact of new accounting pronouncements; pension obligations, expenses, contributions and assumptions; employee benefit plan expenses, obligations and assumptions; compensation expense; sustainability initiatives; the Brazilian indirect tax matter; remediation efforts related to and the financial and other impacts of the malware incident; our liquidity, funding sources and uses of funding, including our use of commercial paper; interest expense; our risk management program, including the use of financial instruments and the effectiveness of our hedging activities; working capital; capital expenditures and funding; share repurchases; dividends; long-term value and return on investment for our shareholders; compliance with financial and long-term debt covenants; guarantees; and our contractual obligations.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks from operating globally including in emerging markets; changes in currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; continued volatility of commodity and other input costs; weakness in economic conditions; weakness in consumer spending; pricing actions; tax matters including changes in tax rates and laws, disagreements with taxing authorities and imposition of new taxes; use of information technology and third party service providers; unanticipated disruptions to our business, such as the malware incident, cyberattacks or other security breaches; competition; acquisitions and divestitures; the restructuring program and our other transformation initiatives not yielding the anticipated benefits; changes in the assumptions on which the restructuring program is based; protection of our reputation and brand image; management of our workforce; consolidation of retail customers and competition with retailer and other economy brands; changes in our relationships with suppliers or customers; legal, regulatory, tax or benefit law changes, claims or actions; our ability to innovate and differentiate our products; strategic transactions; the timely and successful closing of the Keurig Dr Pepper transaction and the finalization of the terms of our participation in the transaction; significant changes in valuation factors that may adversely affect our impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets; perceived or actual product quality issues or product recalls; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; volatility of and access to capital or other markets; pension costs; and our ability to protect our intellectual property and intangible assets. 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.

 

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ABOUT MONDELĒZ INTERNATIONAL

We are one of the world’s largest snack companies with global net revenues of $25.9 billion and net earnings of $2.9 billion in 2017. We manufacture and market delicious snack food and beverage products for consumers in approximately 160 countries around the world. Our portfolio includes many iconic snack brands including Nabisco, Oreo, LU and belVita biscuits; Cadbury, Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Toblerone chocolate; Trident gum; Halls candy and Tang powdered beverages.

We are proud members of the Standard & Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Our Common Stock trades on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.”

We have been incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2000. Our principal executive offices are located at Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015. 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 this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, 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.



 

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SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING

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

C$                aggregate principal amount of                 % Notes due 2025.

 

Original issue date

March    , 2018.

 

Maturity Date

March    , 2025.

 

Interest Rate

                % per annum, accruing from March    , 2018.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Semi-annually on March    and September    , commencing on September    , 2018.

 

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 future subordinated indebtedness;

 

    be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and

 

    be structurally subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of each of our subsidiaries (including $4.5 billion aggregate amount of indebtedness from our wholly-owned subsidiary, Mondelez International Holdings Netherlands B.V., as of December 31, 2017).

 

Currency of Payments

All payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes will be made in CAD. If CAD are unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until CAD are again available to us. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in CAD will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate for CAD, as determined by us in our sole discretion. Any payments in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the



 

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terms of the notes or the indenture governing the notes. See “Description of Notes—Issuance in CAD; Payment on the Notes” and “Risk Factors—The notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain CAD.”

 

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 a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined below under “Material 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, after deduction or withholding by us or our paying agent 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 Notes—Payment of Additional Amounts.”

 

Optional Redemption

Prior to January    , 2025 (the date that is two months prior to the scheduled maturity date for the notes) (the “Par Call Date”), we may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (in C$1,000 increments, provided that any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least the minimum authorized denomination thereof), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the Canada Yield Price (as defined herein), plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  On or after the Par Call Date, we may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (in C$1,000 increments, provided that any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least the minimum authorized denomination thereof) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”

 

Redemption of Notes for Tax Reasons

We may redeem all, but not part, of the notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events described under “Description of Notes— Redemption for Tax Reasons.”

 

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Mondelēz International and (ii) a downgrade of the notes below an investment grade rating by each of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services 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 Notes—Change of Control.”


 

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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 Securities—Restrictive Covenants” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Use of Proceeds

We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately C$                ($                , based on a CAD/U.S. dollar exchange rate of C$                /$1.00 as of                 , 2018) from the sale of the notes offered hereby, before estimated offering expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered notes for general corporate purposes, including repayment of debt.

 

Further Issues

We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally and ratably with the notes in all respects and having 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). See “Description of Notes—Further Issues.”

 

Denominations

The notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of C$2,000 and integral multiples of C$1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Form/Clearing System

The notes will be issued only in registered, book-entry form and deposited in global form with CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. (“CDS”) and registered in the name of CDS & Co., as nominee of CDS. Investors may hold their notes outside Canada through Clearstream Banking S.A. and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System. See “Description of Notes—Book-Entry System.”

 

Trustee

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.

 

Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company of Canada.

 

Listing

The notes will not be listed on any securities 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.


 

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CUSIP

 

 

ISIN

 

 

Risk Factors

An investment in the notes involves risk. You should consider carefully the specific factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, as well as the other information set forth and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before investing in any of the notes offered hereby.


 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in the notes involves various risks, including the risks described below and 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, 2017, as updated by our 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.

Holders of the notes will receive payments solely in CAD, except under the limited circumstances provided herein.

All payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes will be made in CAD, except under the circumstances described under “Currency Conversion.” We, the underwriters, the trustee and the paying agent with respect to the notes will not be obligated to convert, or to assist any registered owner or beneficial owner of notes in converting, payments of interest, principal, any redemption price or any additional amount in CAD made with respect to the notes into U.S. dollars or any other currency.

Holders of the notes may be subject to the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as possible exchange controls, relating to the CAD.

The initial investors in the notes will be required to pay for the notes in CAD. Neither we nor the underwriters will be obligated to assist the initial investors in obtaining CAD or in converting other currencies into CAD to facilitate the payment of the purchase price for the notes.

An investment in any security denominated in, and all payments with respect to which are to be made in, a currency other than the currency of the country in which an investor in the notes resides or the currency in which an investor conducts its business or activities (the “investor’s home currency”) entails significant risks not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in the investor’s home currency. In the case of the notes offered hereby, these risks may include the possibility of:

 

    significant changes in rates of exchange between the CAD and the investor’s home currency; and

 

    the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls with respect to the CAD or the investor’s home currency.

Even if there are no actual exchange controls, it is possible that the CAD would not be available to us when payments on a note are due because of circumstances beyond our control. As described below under “Currency Conversion,” if the CAD is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the CAD is again available to us.

We have no control over a number of factors affecting the notes offered hereby and foreign exchange rates, including economic, financial and political events that are important in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks and their effects. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates between two currencies result from the interaction over time of many factors directly or indirectly affecting economic and political conditions in the countries issuing such currencies, and economic and political developments globally and in other relevant countries. Foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by, among other factors, existing and expected rates of inflation, existing and expected interest rate levels, the balance of payments between countries, and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in various countries. All of these factors are, in turn, sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of various countries important to international trade and finance.

 

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The exchange rates of an investor’s home currency for CAD and the fluctuations in those exchange rates that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative of the exchange rates or the fluctuations therein that may occur in the future. Depreciation of the CAD against the investor’s home currency would result in a decrease in the investor’s home currency equivalent yield on a note, in the investor’s home currency equivalent of the principal payable at the maturity of that note and generally in the investor’s home currency equivalent market value of that note. Appreciation of the CAD in relation to the investor’s home currency would have the opposite effects.

Canada may, in the future, impose exchange controls and/or modify any exchange controls imposed, which controls could affect exchange rates, as well as the availability of CAD at the time of payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes.

This description of foreign exchange risks does not describe all the risks of an investment in securities, including, in particular, the notes, that are denominated or payable in a currency other than an investor’s home currency. You should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risks involved in an investment in the notes.

The notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain CAD.

If CAD are unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until CAD are again available to us. The amount payable on any date in CAD will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the then most recently available market exchange rate for CAD, as determined by us in our sole discretion. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. There can be no assurance that this exchange rate will be as favorable to holders of notes as the exchange rate otherwise determined by applicable law. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of the notes.

In a lawsuit for payment on the notes, an investor may bear currency exchange risk.

We are located in the United States. The indenture is, and the notes will be, governed by the laws of the State of New York. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on the notes would be required to render the judgment in CAD. However, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. A federal court sitting in New York with diversity jurisdiction over a dispute arising in connection with the notes would apply New York law.

In 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 CAD into U.S. dollars would depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment and when the judgment is rendered.

Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on the notes, investors whose home currency is U.S. dollar would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a significant amount of time, and investors whose home currency is CAD would bear currency exchange risk with respect to the amount of the judgment in U.S. dollars from the time the judgment is entered until the time the judgment is paid.

An active trading market for the notes may not develop.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading markets. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. We cannot assure you that a trading market for the notes will develop or of the ability of

 

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holders of the notes to sell their notes or of the prices at which holders may be able to sell their notes. The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the notes. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so, and any market-making with respect to the notes may be discontinued, in their sole discretion, at any time without notice. If no active trading markets develop, you may be unable to resell the notes at any price or at their fair market value.

If trading markets do develop, changes in our ratings or the financial markets could adversely affect the market prices of the notes.

The market prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    ratings on our debt securities assigned by rating agencies;

 

    the time remaining until maturity of the notes;

 

    the prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies similar to us;

 

    our results of operations, financial condition and prospects; and

 

    the condition of the financial markets.

The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the notes.

Rating agencies continually review the ratings they have assigned to companies and debt securities. Negative changes in the ratings assigned to us or our debt securities could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the notes.

The notes are structurally subordinated to the liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The notes are our obligations exclusively and not of any of our subsidiaries. A significant portion of our operations is conducted through our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate legal entities that have no obligation to pay any amounts due under the notes or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. Except to the extent we are a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, all claims of creditors (including trade creditors) and holders of preferred stock, if any, of our subsidiaries will have priority with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries over our claims (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the notes). Consequently, the notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish.

Our credit ratings may not reflect all risks of your investments in the notes.

Our credit ratings are an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the notes. Agency ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization. Each agency’s rating should be evaluated independently of any other agency’s rating.

We may incur additional indebtedness and we are not subject to financial covenants.

The indenture governing the notes does not prohibit us from incurring additional unsecured indebtedness in the future. We are also permitted to incur additional secured indebtedness, subject to the limitations described in the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Restrictive Covenants—Limitations on Liens” in the accompanying prospectus, that would be effectively senior to the notes. If we incur additional debt or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the notes could be adversely affected. We expect that we will from time to time incur additional debt and other liabilities. In addition, we are not restricted from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our securities under the indenture.

 

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There are no financial covenants in the indenture, and our revolving credit facility agreement contains only limited covenants, which restrict our and our major subsidiaries’ ability to grant liens to secure indebtedness and our ability to effect mergers and sales of our and our subsidiaries’ properties and assets substantially as an entirety. As a result, you are not protected under the indenture in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, a default under our existing indebtedness, restructuring, merger or similar transaction that may adversely affect you, except to the extent described under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our 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.

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2017      2016      2015      2014      2013  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     7.7x        3.1x        10.6x        3.6x        3.1x  

Earnings available for fixed charges represent earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, distributed income from equity investees, and fixed charges excluding capitalized interest, net of amortization. Fixed charges represent interest expense, including amortization of debt discount and debt issue expenses, capitalized interest and the 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.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately C$                 ($                , based on a CAD/U.S. dollar exchange rate of C$                /$1.00 as of                 , 2018) from the sale of the notes offered hereby, before estimated offering expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered notes for general corporate purposes, including repayment of debt.

 

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CURRENCY CONVERSION

All payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes will be payable in CAD, provided that, if CAD are unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until CAD are again available to us. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in CAD will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the then most recently available market exchange rate for CAD, as determined by us in our sole discretion. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. See “Description of Notes—Issuance in CAD; Payment on the Notes” and “Risk Factors—The notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain CAD.”

Investors will be subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal and interest, including payments made upon any redemption of the notes, that may have important economic and tax consequences to them. See “Risk Factors.”

Unless otherwise specified, the CAD/U.S. dollar exchange rate used in this prospectus supplement is C$                 = $1.00, which is the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers as announced by the United States Federal Reserve Board for CAD on                 , 2018.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization on a consolidated basis as of December 31, 2017. We have presented our capitalization:

 

    on an actual basis;

 

    on an as adjusted basis to reflect the issuance of C$                 (approximately $                 based on a CAD/U.S. dollar exchange rate of C$                /$1.00 as of                 , 2018) of notes offered hereby.

You should read the following table along with our financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements, together with management’s 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.

 

     December 31, 2017  
     Actual      As Adjusted  
     (in millions)  
            (unaudited)  

Short-term borrowings, including current maturities

   $ 4,680      $ 4,680  

Notes due 2025 offered hereby(1)

         

Other long-term debt(2)

     12,972        12,972  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

   $ 17,652      $
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mondelēz International shareholders’ equity:

     

Common Stock

   $      $  

Additional paid-in capital

     31,915        31,915  

Retained earnings

     22,749        22,749  

Accumulated other comprehensive losses

     (9,998      (9,998

Treasury stock, at cost

     (18,555      (18,555

Total Mondelēz International shareholders’ equity

     26,111        26,111  

Total capitalization

   $ 43,763      $
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Converted based on a CAD/U.S. dollar exchange rate of C$                /$1.00 as of                , 2018.
(2) The aggregate amount of “other long-term debt” excludes the current portion of such long-term debt.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

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 7 of the accompanying prospectus. The accompanying prospectus contains a detailed summary of additional provisions of the notes and of the indenture, dated as of March 6, 2015, between Mondelēz International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, 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 are offering C$                principal amount of the notes as a series of notes under the indenture. Unless an earlier redemption or repurchase has occurred, the entire principal amount of the notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March    , 2025.

We will issue the notes in fully registered form only and in minimum denominations of C$2,000 and integral multiples of C$1,000 in excess thereof. We may issue definitive notes in the limited circumstances set forth in “—Form, Denomination and Book-Entry” below. If we issue definitive notes, principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the 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 Computershare Trust Company of Canada, the paying agent for our notes. However, payment of interest on certificated notes, if issued, due on any interest payment date (other than on the maturity date or upon redemption or repurchase) may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the register of notes at the close of business 15 days prior to the applicable interest payment date. Notwithstanding this, (1) the depositary, as holder of our notes, or (2) a registered holder of C$10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of certificated notes in definitive form can require the paying agent to make payments of interest, other than interest due at maturity, or upon redemption or repurchase, by wire transfer, by sending appropriate wire transfer instructions in writing to the paying agent as long as the paying agent receives the instructions not less than 15 days prior to the interest payment date.

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.

Business Day

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 Toronto, Ontario, Canada or New York, New York, United States.

Interest on the Notes

Each note will bear interest at a rate of                %.

Interest on the notes will accrue from March    , 2018 and is payable in equal installments semi-annually in arrears on March    and September    of each year, beginning on September    , 2018; provided that if any such date 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.

 

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For a full semi-annual interest period, interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. For an interest period that is not a full semi-annual interest period, interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 365-day year and the actual number of days in such interest period.

Interest on the notes will be calculated from the last date on which interest was paid on the notes (or March     , 2018, if no interest has been paid on the notes) to, but excluding, the next scheduled interest payment date.

We will pay or cause to be paid interest to persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business 15 days prior to the applicable interest payment date (or to the applicable depositary, as the case may be).

If the maturity date or a date fixed for redemption or repurchase is not a business day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes 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 or repurchase, 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 or repurchase date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding business day.

Issuance in CAD; Payment on the Notes

Initial holders of the notes will be required to pay for such notes in CAD, and all payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes will be made in CAD. If CAD are unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of such notes will be made in U.S. dollars until CAD are again available to us. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in CAD will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate for the CAD, as determined by us in our sole discretion. Any payments in respect of such notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the terms of such 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 foregoing. See “Risk Factors—The notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain CAD.” All determinations referred to above in this paragraph made by the Company shall be at the Company’s sole discretion and, in the absence of manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on holders of the notes.

As used in this prospectus supplement, “market exchange rate” means the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of CAD as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Investors will be subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes, that may have important economic and tax consequences to them. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement.

Defeasance

The provisions of the indenture relating to defeasance, which are described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus, will apply to the notes. However, in respect of the notes, the term “United States government obligations” as used in the accompanying prospectus shall instead mean (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the Government of Canada or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the Government of Canada the payment

 

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of which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Government of Canada or the central bank of the Government of Canada, which, in either case (x)(i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (x)(i) or (x)(ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof.

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 any part (equal to C$2,000 or an integral multiple of C$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 C$2,000 or an integral multiple of C$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 of the notes, the following definitions are applicable:

 

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“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 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 International’s voting stock; or (iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of Mondelēz International’s 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 International’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (as defined below) and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (as defined below), respectively.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s 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.

 

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“Rating Agencies” means (i) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (ii) if any of Moody’s 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 Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

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

Payment of Additional Amounts

All payments by us or our paying agent will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States, unless the withholding or deduction of such amounts is required by law or the official interpretation or administration thereof.

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 “Material 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 our paying agent 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 absent such deduction or withholding. 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 treated as present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the United States or (ii) 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 treated as, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 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”);

 

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(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;

(g) any gift, estate, inheritance, sales, transfer, wealth, 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 or any taxing authority therein or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party 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 by reason of the holder or beneficial owner of a note being or having been treated as a bank receiving payments on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, as described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code or any successor provisions;

(m) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed under sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the issue date (or any amended or successor provision that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to current section 1471(b) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above) or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement (or related laws or official administrative practices) implementing the foregoing; or

(n) any combination of items (a) through (m) 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

 

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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.

The notes are subject in all cases to any tax, fiscal or other law or regulation or administrative or judicial interpretation applicable to the notes. 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 with respect to payments on the notes.

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.

Optional Redemption

Prior to January     , 2025 (the date that is two months prior to the scheduled maturity date for the notes) (the “Par Call Date”), we may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (in C$1,000 increments, provided that any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least the minimum authorized denomination thereof), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the Canada Yield Price, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

On or after the Par Call Date, we may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (in C$1,000 increments, provided that any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least the minimum authorized denomination thereof), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on notes that are due and payable on an interest payment date falling on or prior to a redemption date shall be payable to the registered holders of such notes (or one or more predecessor notes) of record at the close of business 15 days prior to the applicable interest payment date, all as provided in the indenture. Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, interest on a note or portion thereof called for redemption will cease to accrue on the applicable redemption date.

“Canada Yield Price” means, in respect of any notes being redeemed, the price, in respect of the principal amount of the notes, calculated by the Company as of the third business day prior to the redemption date of such notes, equal to the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments of interest (not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) and principal on the notes to be redeemed from the redemption date to the Par Call Date using a discount rate equal to the Government of Canada Yield on such business day plus              basis points.

“Government of Canada Yield” means, on any date, the bid-side yield to maturity on such date as determined by the arithmetic average (rounded to three decimal places) of the yields quoted at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) by any two investment dealers in Canada selected by us, assuming semi-annual compounding and calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice, which a non-callable Government of Canada bond maturing on the Par Call Date would carry if issued in CAD in Canada at 100% of its principal amount on such date with a term to maturity that most closely approximates the remaining term to the Par Call Date.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to each note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on each note that would be due after the related redemption date if the note were redeemed on the Par Call Date. If the redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to a note, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment on each note will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued on such note to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

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If money sufficient to pay the redemption price on the notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the paying agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, then on and after such redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on such notes (or such portion thereof) called for redemption.

We will, or will cause the trustee or paying agent on our behalf to, mail notice of a redemption to holders of the notes to be redeemed by first-class mail (or otherwise transmit in accordance with applicable procedures of CDS) at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption. On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with the paying agent or set aside, segregate and hold in trust (if we are acting as paying agent), funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, such notes to be redeemed on that redemption date. If fewer than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the paying agent will select, not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the particular notes or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding notes not previously called for redemption by such method as the paying agent deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depositary; provided, however, that no notes of a principal amount of C$2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

Redemption for Tax Reasons

We may redeem the 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 any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of the United States or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation or any change in, or amendment to, an 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 selected by us to the effect that the circumstances described in the above bullets exist. The trustee and the paying agent will accept and will be entitled to conclusively rely upon such officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel as sufficient evidence of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent described above for us to exercise our right to redeem the notes, which determination will be conclusive and binding on the holders of the notes.

 

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Further Issues

We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally and ratably with the notes in all respects and having 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 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 notes.

Open Market Purchases

We may, at any time, and from time to time, acquire the notes at any price or prices by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchase, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of the indenture.

Book-Entry System

The notes will be issued as fully-registered, book-entry global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, CDS and registered, at the request of CDS, in the name of CDS & Co. The notes will settle through CDS. You will not be permitted to withdraw the notes from CDS except in accordance with CDS’ rules and procedures. You may hold interests in a global security through organizations that participate, directly or indirectly, in the CDS system.

For as long as the notes are maintained in book-entry form at CDS, CDS or its nominee will be the registered owner of the notes for all purposes and all payments on the notes will be made to CDS and payments to beneficial owners of notes will be made in accordance with CDS’ procedures and the procedures of its participants. Consequently, you will need to look to CDS and its participants through which you own your interest in the notes for any payment or to exercise any rights in respect of the notes. We have no responsibility for the actions of CDS or its participants, and your ability to receive payments or exercise any rights in respect of the notes will be subject to their procedures.

CDS is Canada’s national securities depository, clearing and settlement hub, supporting Canada’s equity, fixed income and money markets. Functioning as a service utility for the Canadian financial community, CDS provides a wide variety of computer automated services for financial institutions and investment dealers active in domestic and international capital markets. CDS participants include banks, investment dealers and trust companies and may include certain of the underwriters. Indirect access to CDS is available to other organizations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a CDS participant. Transfers of ownership and other interests in notes in CDS, including cash distributions, may only be processed through CDS participants and will be completed in accordance with existing CDS rules and procedures. CDS is headquartered in Toronto and has offices in Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. CDS is a subsidiary of The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, part of TMX Group Limited. It is affiliated with CDS Inc., which provides services to the Canadian Securities Administrators, and CDS Innovations Inc., a commercial marketer of CDS information products such as CDS Bulletins and entitlements information.

You may elect to hold interests in the notes outside Canada through Clearstream Banking S.A., or “Clearstream,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “Euroclear,” if you are a participant in those systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in those systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective sub-custodians. The interests are ultimately held through a CDS participant that acts as sub-custodian for Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.

 

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Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through CDS participants, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream participants or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected in CDS in accordance with CDS rules; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines. The relevant clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to CDS directly or through its Canadian sub-custodian to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving notes in CDS, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for settlement in CDS. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to CDS or the Canadian sub-custodians.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a CDS participant may be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the CDS settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream participants or Euroclear participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a CDS participant will be received with value on the CDS settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in CDS.

Although CDS, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of CDS, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. We will not have any responsibility for the performance by CDS, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

We have obtained the information in this section concerning CDS, Clearstream and Euroclear and the book-entry procedures and settlement from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Form, Denomination and Book-Entry

The notes, subject to certain exceptions, will at all times be represented in the form of one or more fully registered global securities held by, or on behalf of, CDS, as custodian of the global securities (for its participants) and registered in the name of CDS & Co., and registrations of interests in and transfers of the notes will be made only through the book-entry only system of CDS. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in notes will not be entitled to a certificate or other instrument from us or CDS evidencing the purchaser’s ownership thereof, owners of beneficial interests in notes held through CDS and its participants will not be considered the “holders” of those notes under the indenture and no such beneficial owner of notes will be shown on the records maintained by CDS, although we expect that such beneficial interests will be reflected through book-entry accounts of a direct or indirect participant of CDS acting on behalf of such beneficial owners. Each purchaser of notes represented by a global security is expected to receive a customer confirmation of purchase from the underwriter or other registered dealer from which the notes are purchased in accordance with the practices and procedures of the selling underwriter or dealer. The practices of the underwriters may vary but, generally, customer confirmations are issued promptly after execution of a customer order. CDS will be responsible for establishing and maintaining book-entry accounts for its direct participants having interests in global securities, and direct and indirect participants of CDS will be responsible for maintaining book-entry accounts for beneficial owners holding interests in global securities. Sales of interests in a global security can only be completed through participants in the book-entry only depositary service of CDS.

Neither we nor the underwriters will assume any liability for: (a) any aspect of the records relating to the beneficial ownership of the notes held by CDS or any of its direct or indirect participants or the payments relating thereto; (b) maintaining, supervising or retaining any records relating to the notes; or (c) any advice or representation made by, or with respect to, CDS or any action to be taken by CDS or at the direction of its participants.

 

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Notes will be issued in fully registered, certificated form, registered in the names of persons other than CDS or its nominee only if (i) the book-entry only system ceases to exist, (ii) we determine that CDS is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its responsibilities as depositary with respect to the notes and we are unable to locate a qualified successor, (iii) we, at our option, elect to terminate the record book-entry system through CDS, (iv) required by law or (v) an event of default under the indenture with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing.

Transfers of Notes

Transfers of beneficial ownership of notes represented by a global security will be effected only through records maintained by CDS for such global security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of its direct and indirect participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Beneficial owners who are not participants in the book entry only depositary service of CDS, but who desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of or other interests in a global security, may do so only through participants in the book-entry only depositary service of CDS.

The ability of a beneficial owner of an interest in a note represented by a global security to pledge the notes or otherwise take action with respect to such owner’s interest in the notes represented by a global security (other than through a participant) may be limited due to the lack of possession of a certificate representing physical notes.

If certificated notes are issued under the limited circumstances described above, registration of transfers or exchanges of certificated notes may be made by delivery of those certificated notes, duly endorsed or accompanied by instruments of transfer duly endorsed, by the registered holders thereof, at the office of a registrar for the notes.

No book-entry transfer of a beneficial interest in a note will be registered by CDS during the 15 days immediately preceding any date fixed for payment of interest on such note, or payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on such note or 15 days prior to the date of selection by the trustee of any notes to be redeemed. In addition, as described under “Description of Debt Securities—Registration of Transfer” in the accompanying prospectus, the indenture under which the notes will be issued provides that we are not required to (i) 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; (ii) 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 (iii) 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.

Payment of Principal, Interest and other Amounts

As long as CDS or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, CDS or its nominee will be considered the sole owner of a global security for the purposes of receiving payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to such global security. Payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to the notes in book-entry form represented by one or more global securities will be made by us through the paying agent to CDS or its nominee, as the case may be, as the holder of the global security or global securities representing such notes in book-entry form.

We expect that CDS, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to a global security, will credit, on the date such amount is payable, its participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on the records

 

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of CDS. We also expect that payments of principal, interest and other amounts by the participants to the owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such participants in the depositary service of CDS will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participants. Our responsibility and liability in respect of notes represented by a global security is limited to making payment of any principal, interest and other amounts due on such global security to CDS. The rules governing CDS provide that it acts as the agent and depositary for its participants. As a result, such participants must look solely to CDS and beneficial owners of notes must look solely to participants for the payment of the principal, interest and other amounts on the notes paid by or on behalf of us to CDS.

If certificated notes are issued under the limited circumstances described above, we will make payments of principal and the redemption price or repurchase price, if any, thereof upon presentation of the certificated notes at the office of a paying agent for the notes. At our option, payments of interest on certificated notes, if issued, due on any interest payment date (other than on the maturity date or upon redemption or repurchase) may be made by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the register of notes or by wire transfer to the accounts of the holders of such certificated notes if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the paying agent not less than 15 days prior to the applicable interest payment date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will make payments of interest on any interest payment date (other than on the Maturity Date or any redemption date or upon repurchase) to each registered holder of C$10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of certificated notes by wire transfer if the applicable registered holder has delivered appropriate wire transfer instructions in writing to the paying agent not less than 15 days prior to the applicable interest payment date. Any wire transfer instructions received by the paying agent shall remain in effect until revoked by the applicable registered holder.

Notices

Notices to holders of the notes will be sent by first class mail postage prepaid or by email in PDF format to each registered holders’ physical address or email address as it appears in the security register (or otherwise transmit such notice in accordance with the procedures of the applicable depositary). Notices can only be mailed or transmitted to the registered holder of the notes, and consequently holders of beneficial interests will not receive these notices unless we reissue the notes in fully certificated form.

Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent

The paying agent, authenticating agent, registrar and transfer agent for the notes will be Computershare Trust Company of Canada.

Governing Law

The indenture governing the notes is, and the notes for all purposes will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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MATERIAL 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 holder’s 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, persons subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code, 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 or any state or political subdivision thereof;

 

    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 trust’s 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 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.

 

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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 “Description of Notes—Change of Control”), or pay additional amounts in respect of certain withholding taxes (as described in “Description of Notes—Payment 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. Our determination 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 holder’s 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. Holder’s 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 tax accounting will be the U.S. dollar value of the CAD interest payment on the date of receipt (based on the U.S. dollar spot rate for CAD 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 tax accounting 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 CAD 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 tax purposes will accrue interest income on the notes in CAD 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. Holder’s taxable year), or, at the accrual basis U.S. Holder’s 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 accounting for 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 equal to the difference, if any, between the U.S. dollar value of the CAD payment received (determined based on the spot rate of exchange on the date such interest is received) and the U.S. dollar value of the interest income such U.S. Holder previously included in income with respect to such payment, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to U.S. dollars at such time. This foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss.

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,

 

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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. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes. The amount realized by a U.S. Holder is the sum of cash plus the fair market value of all other property received on such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in 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 CAD purchase price on the date of purchase. If the notes are traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. Holder and, if it so elects, an accrual basis U.S. Holder will determine the U.S. dollar value of the CAD 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 CAD and the immediate use of the CAD 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 U.S. source 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. Holder’s 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 CAD on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note, the amount realized will be the U.S. dollar value of the CAD 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 cash basis U.S. Holder (and if it so elects, an accrual basis U.S. Holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the CAD amount realized by translating such amount at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale or other 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.

Despite the foregoing, the gain or loss recognized on the sale or other disposition of the notes will generally be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss to the extent that the gain or loss is attributable to changes in exchange rates during the period in which the U.S. Holder held the notes. 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. However, upon a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder will realize any exchange gain or loss (including with respect to principal and accrued interest) only to the extent of total gain or loss realized by such U.S. Holder on such disposition.

Exchange of CAD

CAD received as interest on a note or on a sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of a note will generally have a tax basis equal to the U.S. dollar value of the CAD at the spot rate on the date of receipt. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange or other disposition of CAD will generally be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss.

Medicare Tax

Legislation requires certain U.S. Holders who are individuals, estates or certain trusts to pay an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on the lesser of (a) the U.S. person’s “net investment income” (or undistributed “net investment income” in the case of an estate or trust) for the relevant taxable year and (b) the excess of the U.S. person’s modified gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals

 

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will be between $125,000 and $250,000 depending on the individual’s circumstances). Net investment income will generally include interest income and net gains from the disposition of the notes, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). A U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust should consult its tax advisor regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to its income and gains in respect of its investment in the notes.

Reportable Transaction Reporting

Treasury regulations meant to require the reporting of certain tax shelter transactions cover certain transactions generally not regarded as tax shelters, including, in certain circumstances, a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note or CAD received in respect of such a note on IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement) if the holder recognizes a loss that equals or exceeds certain threshold amounts (including, in the case of a foreign currency loss, $50,000 in a single transaction for an individual or trust, and higher amounts for non-individual, non-trust taxpayers). U.S. Holders are advised to consult their tax advisors to determine the reporting obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the notes, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 as part of their U.S. federal income tax returns.

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 24%) 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. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the 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 discussions below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act,” 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. Holder’s 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. Holder’s trade or business; and

 

   

either (i) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, 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

 

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clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the notes on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that the certification referred to in clause (i) has been received from the Non-U.S. Holder or 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 W-8BEN-E, as applicable, 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, subject to the discussion below under “—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act,” any gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note (other than amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be treated as described under “—Payments of Interest” above) will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax, unless

 

    the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), in which case the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the manner described below under “—Effectively Connected Income”; 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 or other disposition, and certain other conditions are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (unless a lower treaty rate applies) on the amount by which its U.S. source capital gains exceed its U.S. source capital losses.

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

 

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

Backup withholding and information reporting will generally not apply to payments of proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note made to a Non-U.S. Holder by or through the foreign office of a broker. However, information reporting requirements, and possibly backup withholding, will apply if such broker is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a “United States person” (as defined in the 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 or other disposition of a note made to a Non-U.S. Holder by or through the U.S. office of a broker are subject to information reporting and backup withholding at the applicable rate unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a “United States person” (as defined in the 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. Holder’s 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.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as “FATCA”), a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax may apply to any interest income paid on the notes and, for a disposition of a note occurring after December 31, 2018, the gross proceeds from such disposition, in each case paid to (a) a foreign financial institution (whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an intermediary), unless such foreign financial institution complies with the requirements imposed by FATCA to collect and report to the United States substantial information regarding such institution’s U.S. account holders and meets certain other specified requirements or (b) a non-financial foreign entity (whether such non-financial foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an intermediary), unless such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” or provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners” and such entity meets certain other specified requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which the notes are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required.

An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the foregoing requirements. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding FATCA and whether it may be relevant to your purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes.

The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is included for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a holder’s 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.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. and TD Securities Inc. as representatives of the underwriters for the offering named below, have entered into an 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.

 

Underwriters

   Principal amount
of the notes
 

Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.

   C$           

HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc.

  

TD Securities Inc.

  
  

 

 

 

Total

   C$           
  

 

 

 

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 investors will initially be offered at the initial 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. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately C$                .

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

The notes are new issues of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. 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 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 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

 

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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.

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.

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, the “Prospectus Directive”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive.

The communication of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and the contents of such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to or otherwise communicated with, and must not be passed on to, any person in the United Kingdom except in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA will not apply. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), or who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). In the United Kingdom, the notes offered hereby are only available to, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents

The underwriters intend to offer the notes for sale in Canada on a private placement basis to “accredited investors” who are also “permitted clients,” each within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Resales of the notes in Canada by purchasers will be subject to restrictions under Canadian securities laws.

Each underwriter has, severally and not jointly, represented to and agreed with us that the sale and delivery of the notes to any purchaser resident in a province of Canada by such underwriter will be made so as to be exempt from the prospectus filing requirements, and so as to be exempt from or made in compliance with applicable dealer registration requirements or all applicable securities laws, regulations, rules, instruments, rulings and orders, including those applicable in each of the provinces of Canada and the applicable policy statements issued by any securities regulator having jurisdiction. Each underwriter has also, severally and not

 

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jointly, represented to and agreed with us that such underwriter has not and will not provide to any purchaser any document or other material that would constitute an offering memorandum (other than the Canadian offering memorandum, dated                , 2018 (and the preliminary version thereof) that incorporates this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus) with respect to the private placement of the notes in the provinces of Canada within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws.

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 (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

 

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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.

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.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

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, 2017;

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 29, 2018, January 31, 2018 (with respect to Item 8.01 only), February 13, 2018 and March 1, 2018; and

 

    the information responsive to part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 provided in our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2017.

You may obtain any of these documents from the SEC at the SEC’s 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

THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS AND ANY FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS THAT WE PREPARE OR AUTHORIZE CONTAIN AND INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN MAKING YOUR INVESTMENT DECISION. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT DIFFERS FROM THAT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. 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, UNLESS WE OTHERWISE NOTE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

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EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in the Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting), incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

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. McCarthy Tétrault LLP has advised us with respect to the laws of Canada, and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP has advised the underwriters with respect to such matters. Certain matters involving the laws of Virginia will be passed upon for us by Hunton & Williams LLP, our Virginia counsel.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Mondelēz International, 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 Mondelēz International, Inc., Three Parkway North, Deerfield, Illinois 60015 and our telephone number is (847) 943-4000.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.”

 

 

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 March 2, 2017


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

About the Company

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     2  

Incorporation by Reference

     2  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     6  

Description of Debt Securities

     7  

Description of Common Stock

     18  

Description of Other Securities

     20  

Plan of Distribution

     21  

Experts

     22  

Validity of the Securities

     23  

 

 

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 accompanying 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.

 

 


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). 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 SEC’s 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 SEC’s 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 “Mondelēz International,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Mondelēz International, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Trademarks and servicemarks in this prospectus appear in italic type and are the property of or licensed by us.

References herein to “$,” “U.S. dollars” and “dollars” are to the lawful currency of the United States.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

We are one of the world’s largest snack companies with global net revenues of $25.9 billion and net earnings of $1.7 billion in 2016. We manufacture and market delicious snack food and beverage products for consumers in approximately 165 countries around the world. Our portfolio includes many iconic snack brands including Nabisco, Oreo, LU and belVita biscuits; Cadbury, Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Toblerone chocolate; Trident gum; Halls candy and Tang powdered beverages.

We are a Virginia corporation with principal executive offices at Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015. 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 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.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of this information filed with the SEC at the SEC’s 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.mondelezinternational.com.

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”).

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

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 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 us and our financial condition, business and results.

We are incorporating by reference our 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 of the filing of this prospectus and prior to the termination of any 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, unless specifically noted below or in a prospectus supplement:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein);

 

    our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017; and

 

    the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 25, 2012, 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:

Mondelēz International, Inc.

Three Parkway North

Deerfield, IL 60015

Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (847) 943-4000

 

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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 MARCH 2, 2017. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, UNLESS WE OTHERWISE NOTE IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference herein contain a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words, such as “will,” “may,” “expect,” “would,” “could,” “might,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “deliver,” “seek,” “aim,” “potential,” “target,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements about: our future performance, including our future revenue growth and margins; our strategy for growing our people, growing our business and growing our impact; price volatility and pricing actions; the cost environment and measures to address increased costs; the United Kingdom’s vote to exit the European Union and its effect on demand for our products and our financial results and operations; the costs of, timing of expenditures under and completion of our restructuring program; snack category growth, our effect on demand and our market position; consumer snacking behaviors; commodity prices and supply; investments; innovation; political and economic conditions and volatility; currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; our operations in Venezuela and Argentina; integration of our EEMEA business into our Europe and Asia Pacific segments; overhead costs; pension liabilities related to the JDE coffee business transactions; our JDE ownership interest; the significance of the coffee category to our future results; the sale of most of our grocery business in Australia and New Zealand; matters related to the acquisition of a biscuit operation in Vietnam; completion of the sale of several manufacturing facilities in France and sale or license of several local confectionery brands; completion of the Keurig purchase price allocation; manufacturing and distribution capacity; legal matters; changes in laws and regulations and regulatory compliance; the estimated value of goodwill and intangible assets; impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and our projections of operating results and other factors that may affect our impairment testing; our accounting estimates and judgments; pension expenses, contributions and assumptions; employee benefit plan expenses, obligations and assumptions; our sustainability initiatives; tax positions; our liquidity, funding sources and uses of funding, including our use of commercial paper; reinvestment of earnings; our risk management program, including the use of financial instruments and the effectiveness of our hedging activities; capital expenditures and funding; share repurchases; dividends; long-term value and return on investment for our shareholders; compliance with financial and long-term debt covenants; guarantees; and our contractual obligations.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and the cautionary statements contained in the “Risk Factors” found in our 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 described in our forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks from operating globally including in emerging markets; changes in currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; continued volatility of commodity and other input costs; weakness in economic conditions; weakness in consumer spending; pricing actions; unanticipated disruptions to our business; competition; acquisitions and divestitures; the restructuring program and our other transformation initiatives not yielding the anticipated benefits; changes in the assumptions on which the restructuring program is based; protection of our reputation and brand image; management of our workforce; consolidation of retail customers and competition with retailer and other economy brands; changes in our relationships with suppliers or customers; legal, regulatory, tax or benefit law changes, claims or actions; strategic transactions; our ability to innovate and differentiate our products; significant changes in valuation factors that may adversely affect our impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets; perceived or actual product quality issues or product recalls; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; volatility of capital or other markets; pension costs; use of information technology and third party service providers; our ability to protect our intellectual property and intangible assets; a shift in our pre-tax income among jurisdictions, including the United States; and tax law changes. 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.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

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.

 

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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,  
     2016      2015      2014      2013      2012  

Ratios of earnings to fixed charges

     3.1        10.6        3.6        3.1        1.7  

Earnings available for fixed charges represent earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, distributed income from equity investees and fixed charges excluding capitalized interest, net of amortization. Fixed charges represent interest expense, including amortization of debt discount and debt issue expenses, capitalized interest and the 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.

We had no preferred stock outstanding for any period presented and accordingly, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and first preferred stock dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

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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 between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, 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;

 

    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;

 

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    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;

 

    whether the debt securities shall be issued with guarantees and, if so, the terms of any guarantee of the payment of principal and interest with respect to the debt securities and any corresponding changes to the indenture; or

 

    any other specific terms of the debt securities.

(Section 301)

 

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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)

 

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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 (with a copy to the trustee);

 

    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 and shall be fully protected in so withholding, 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)

 

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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 indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. 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 officer’s 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.

The indenture requires us to file with the trustee, an officer’s certificate within 30 days of any officer becoming aware of any default specifying such default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

(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;

 

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    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 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)

 

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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)

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 depositary’s 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.

 

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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.

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)

 

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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 person’s 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 written 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)

 

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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;

 

    add guarantees with respect to the securities of such series or confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any such guarantee when such release is permitted by the indenture; 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;

 

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    impair any right of repayment or purchase at the option of any holder of debt securities;

 

    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 and appropriate, by lot or pro rata, in each case subject to the applicable procedures of the depositary. (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 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)

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

We are 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, 2017, there were 1,528,790,172 shares of common stock outstanding and 56,105 shareholders of record, and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2016, there were 60,270,666 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 NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.” 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 Mondelēz International or our management and may limit the ability of our 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 a majority of the board of directors or 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

 

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    provide that our directors may fill any vacancies on our board of directors, including vacancies resulting from a board of directors resolution to increase the number of directors.

In addition, Virginia law contains provisions governing material acquisition transactions (“affiliated transactions”) between us 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, a majority of the disinterested 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 or by a majority of the disinterested directors. 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 corporation’s outstanding shares, any dissolution of Mondelēz International proposed by or on behalf of an interested shareholder or any reclassification, including reverse stock splits, recapitalization or merger of Mondelēz International 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 corporation’s 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, our amended and restated articles of incorporation contain a provision 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.

 

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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 us that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

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.

 

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EXPERTS

Our financial statements, financial statement schedule and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 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.

 

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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the debt securities, and Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond, Virginia, will pass upon the validity of the shares of common stock.

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc.

 

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