As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland | 52-0408290 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
24 Schilling Road, Suite 1
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
(410) 771-7301
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Jeffery D. Schwartz
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
24 Schilling Road, Suite 1
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
(410) 771-7301
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
C. Alex Bahn
Erika L. Robinson
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 663-6000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
PROSPECTUS
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
Common Stock
Common Stock Non-Voting
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell from time to time, together or separately, shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock), shares of our common stock non-voting, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock Non-Voting, and together with the Common Stock, the Equity Securities) or our debt securities described in this prospectus (Debt Securities, and together with the Equity Securities, the Securities). This prospectus may not be used to sell Securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement will specify the terms of the Securities, including their offering prices and the plan of distribution for any particular offering.
We may sell these Securities to or through one or more agents, underwriters and/or dealers, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis.
The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the ticker symbol MKC-V and the Common Stock Non-Voting is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol MKC.
Investing in any of the Securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described under Risk Factors on page 5 of this prospectus, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, before making a decision to invest in the Securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus dated April 3, 2023
Prospectus
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Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and By-Laws |
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Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference |
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this process, we may offer and sell, at any time and from time to time, any combination of the Securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus which we deliver to you. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the Securities which are referred to in the prospectus supplement or to buy the Securities in any circumstances or in any jurisdictions in which the offer or solicitation is unlawful. You should assume that the information provided by this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any document incorporated by reference herein or therein or any free writing prospectus that we may authorize or provide is accurate only as of the date of that document. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement as permitted by the Commissions rules and regulations. For further information, we refer you to the information under the heading Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities we may offer. Each time we offer to sell any of the Securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or a free writing prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the Securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and a prospectus supplement, the information in the prospectus supplement supersedes the information in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus together with the additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.
Except as the context otherwise requires, or as otherwise specified or used in this prospectus, when we refer to McCormick, the Company, we, us or our in this prospectus, we mean McCormick & Company, Incorporated and its subsidiaries.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in it include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in these sections.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking words such as may, will, expect, should, anticipate, intend, believe and plan and similar expressions. You should be aware that these statements are based on our views, expectations and assumptions at the time. Actual events or results may differ substantially.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, suppliers, consumers, customers, and employees; disruptions or inefficiencies in the supply chain, including any impact of COVID-19; the expected results of operations of businesses acquired by us; the expected impact of the inflationary cost environment, including commodity, packaging materials and transportation costs on our business; the expected impact of pricing actions on our results of operations and gross margins; the impact of price elasticity on our sales volume and mix; the expected impact of factors affecting our supply chain, including transportation capacity, labor shortages, and absenteeism; the expected impact of productivity improvements, including those associated with our Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program, streamlining actions, including our Global Operating Effectiveness (GOE) program and global enablement initiative; the impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the potential for broader economic disruption; expected working capital improvements; expectations regarding growth potential in various geographies and markets, including the impact from customer, channel, category, and e-commerce expansion; expected trends in net sales and earnings performance and other financial measures; the expected timing and costs of implementing our business transformation initiative, which includes the implementation of a global enterprise resource planning system; the expected impact of accounting pronouncements; the expectations of pension and postretirement plan contributions and anticipated charges associated with those plans; the holding period and market risks associated with financial instruments; the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations; the adequacy of internally generated funds and existing sources of liquidity, such as the availability of bank financing; the anticipated sufficiency of future cash flows to enable the payments of interest and repayment of short- and long-term debt, working capital needs, planned capital expenditures, and quarterly dividends; our ability to obtain additional short- and long-term financing or issue additional debt securities; and expectations regarding purchasing shares of our common stock under the existing repurchase authorization.
These and other forward-looking statements are based on managements current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Results may be materially affected by factors such as:
| our ability to drive revenue growth; |
| our ability to increase pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressures on the cost of our products; |
| damage to our reputation or brand name; |
| loss of brand relevance; |
| increased private label use; |
| our ability to drive productivity improvements, including those related to our CCI program and streamlining actions, including our GOE program; |
| product quality, labeling, or safety concerns; |
| negative publicity about our products; |
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| actions by, and the financial condition of, competitors and customers; |
| the longevity of mutually beneficial relationships with our large customers; |
| the ability to identify, interpret and react to changes in consumer preference and demand; |
| business interruptions due to natural disasters, unexpected events or public health crises, including COVID-19; |
| issues affecting our supply chain and procurement of raw materials, including fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw and packaging materials; |
| labor shortage, turnover and labor cost increases; |
| the impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the potential for broader economic disruption; |
| government regulation, and changes in legal and regulatory requirements and enforcement practices; |
| the lack of successful acquisition and integration of new businesses; |
| global economic and financial conditions generally, including stability of financial institutions, availability of financing, interest and inflation rates, and the imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other similar restrictions; |
| foreign currency fluctuations; |
| the effects of increased level of debt service following the acquisitions of the parent company of Cholula Hot Sauce® and FONA International, LLC and certain of its affiliates as well as the effects that such increased debt service may have on our ability to borrow or the cost of any such additional borrowing, our credit rating, and our ability to react to certain economic and industry conditions; |
| risks associated with the phase-out of LIBOR; |
| impairments of indefinite-lived intangible assets; |
| assumptions we have made regarding the investment return on retirement plan assets, and the costs associated with pension obligations; |
| the stability of credit and capital markets; |
| risks associated with our information technology systems, including the threat of data breaches and cyber-attacks; |
| our inability to successfully implement our business transformation initiative; |
| fundamental changes in tax laws, including interpretations and assumptions we have made, and guidance that may be issued, and volatility in our effective tax rate; |
| climate change; |
| environmental, social and governance matters; |
| infringement of intellectual property rights, and those of customers; |
| litigation, legal and administrative proceedings; |
| our inability to achieve expected and/or needed cost savings or margin improvements; |
| negative employee relations; and |
| other factors discussed in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein under the caption Risk Factors. |
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We caution you that any forward-looking statements made by us are not guarantees of future performance. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement we make in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free-writing prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein speaks only as of the date on which we make it. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. In any event, these and other important factors, including those set forth under the caption Risk Factors in a prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference therein, may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have no duty, and do not intend, to update or revise the forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the future events or circumstances described in any forward-looking statement we make in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein might not occur.
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An investment in the Securities involves risks. We urge you to carefully consider the risks identified in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and, if applicable, in any accompanying prospectus supplement used in connection with an offering of the Securities, before making an investment decision, including those risks identified under Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2022 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2023, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the Commission in the future. Additional risks, including those that relate to any particular Securities we offer, may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement, any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus or such prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus that we may authorize or provide to you. For a description of these documents, and information about where you can find them, see Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The market or trading prices of the Securities could decline due to any of these risks.
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We are a global leader in flavor. We manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry retailers, food manufacturers and the foodservice business. In fiscal year 2022, approximately 38% of our sales were outside of the U.S. We also are partners in a number of joint ventures that are involved in the manufacture and sale of flavorful products, the most significant of which is McCormick de Mexico.
We operate in two business segments: consumer and flavor solutions. The consumer and flavor solutions segments manufacture, market and distribute spices, herbs, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products throughout the world. Our consumer segment sells to retail channels, including grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount and drug stores, and e-commerce under the McCormick brand and a variety of brands around the world, including Frenchs, Franks RedHot, OLD BAY, Lawrys, Zatarains, Simply Asia, Thai Kitchen, Ducros, Vahine, Cholula, Schwartz, Club House, Kamis, DaQiao, La Drogheria, Stubbs, and Gourmet Garden.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated was formed in 1915 under Maryland law as the successor to a business established in 1889. Our principal executive offices are located at 24 Schilling Road, Suite 1, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 (telephone: (410) 771-7301).
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Except as may be described otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including refinancing existing indebtedness, future acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital. Until we apply the net proceeds for specific purposes, we may invest such net proceeds in short-term or marketable securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The description below summarizes the general terms of the Equity Securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. This section is a summary, and it does not describe every aspect of the Equity Securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of our Charter, as amended and restated (the Charter), and our Amended and Restated By-Laws (the By-Laws), each as may be amended from time to time. See Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.
General
We have two classes of common stock authorized, consisting of 640,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and 640,000,000 shares of Common Stock Non-Voting.
Voting Rights and Special Conversion and Redemption Rights
Holders of Common Stock have full voting rights, except that:
| the voting rights of persons who are deemed by the board of directors to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (a Substantial Stockholder) are limited to 10% of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of shares of Common Stock regardless of how many shares in excess of 10% are held by such person; |
| we have the right to redeem, at any time, any or all shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Non-Voting beneficially owned by any Substantial Stockholder, unless such person acquires more than 90% of the then outstanding shares of each class of our common stock; and |
| at such time as a Substantial Stockholder beneficially owns shares of Common Stock which entitle such Substantial Stockholder to cast more than 50% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock (taking into account the vote limitation on Substantial Stockholders described above), automatically, on a share-for-share basis, all shares of Common Stock Non-Voting will convert into shares of Common Stock. |
Any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of the foregoing provisions, in addition to any other vote or approval required under the Charter or applicable law, requires:
| the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single class, and |
| the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock Non-Voting, voting as a separate class. |
Except as set forth above, holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Any shares beneficially owned by a Substantial Stockholder in excess of 10% of outstanding shares of Common Stock that are subject to the Substantial Stockholder vote limitation described above are excluded from the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for the purposes of (i) establishing a quorum and (ii) determining the proportion of Common Stock required to approve a matter.
Each share of Common Stock Non-Voting has exactly the same rights, terms and conditions as each share of Common Stock, except that holders of shares of Common Stock Non-Voting have no voting rights, except with respect to:
| a consolidation of the Company with another corporation; |
| a merger of the Company into another corporation; |
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| a merger of the Company where the Company is the surviving corporation but the capital stock of the Company is converted into other securities or property; |
| a participation by the Company in a statutory share exchange whereby the capital stock of the Company is converted into other securities or property; |
| a dissolution of the Company; |
| a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company not in the ordinary course of business; and |
| any amendment of the Charter repealing the right of the Common Stock Non-Voting to vote on any of the foregoing matters. |
On matters on which holders of Common Stock Non-Voting are entitled to vote, holders of Common Stock Non-Voting are entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock Non-Voting on all such matters. As to any matter on which holders of Common Stock Non-Voting and Common Stock are entitled to vote, the Common Stock Non-Voting shall vote separately as one class, and the Common Stock shall vote separately as another class.
The voting rights of holders of Common Stock Non-Voting cannot be repealed except by:
| the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock Non-Voting, voting separately as one class, and |
| the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all the outstanding shares of the Common Stock (taking into account the vote limitation on Substantial Stockholders described above), voting separately as another class. |
Amendments to Terms
The provisions of the Charter providing that the Common Stock and the Common Stock Non-Voting vote as separate classes cannot be amended, altered, changed or repealed except by:
| the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (taking into account the vote limitation on Substantial Stockholders described above), voting separately as one class, and |
| the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock Non-Voting, voting separately as another class. |
No Other Conversion or Preemption Rights
Except as set forth above, holders of the Equity Securities, solely by virtue of their holdings, do not have conversion rights or preemptive rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of any class, or to any security convertible into shares of stock of the Company, which we may issue in the future.
Exchange Rights
The Company may, but is not obligated to, allow shareholders to exchange shares of Common Stock for shares of Common Stock Non-Voting on a one-for-one basis. However, we generally do not issue shares of Common Stock in exchange for shares of Common Stock Non-Voting. In certain circumstances, we issue shares of Common Stock in exchange for shares of Common Stock Non-Voting, or issue shares of Common Stock Non-Voting in exchange for shares of Common Stock, typically, in connection with the administration of our employee benefit plans, executive compensation programs and dividend reinvestment/direct purchase plans. Holders who choose to exchange their shares will not receive any consideration for such exchanges, other than shares of Common Stock Non-Voting or Common Stock, as applicable.
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Dividends
Both classes of our common stock are entitled to dividends that may be declared by the board of directors from time to time out of the surplus or profits of the Company, after providing for dividends on preferred stock.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
The Maryland General Corporation Law (the MGCL) provides that our stockholders are generally not obligated to us or our creditors with respect to our stock, except to the extent that the subscription price or other agreed upon consideration has not been paid.
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of both classes of stock shall be entitled to receive, share for share with the other holders of shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Non-Voting on a pro rata basis, all assets then legally available for distribution after payment of debts and liabilities and preferences on preferred stock outstanding, if any.
Listing
The Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol MKC-V and the Common Stock Non-Voting is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol MKC.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Equity Securities is Equiniti Trust Company d/b/a EQ Shareowner Services.
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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BY-LAWS
The following summarizes certain material provisions of Maryland law and our Charter and By-Laws. Copies of our Charter and By-Laws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.
Number of Directors; Vacancies; Removal
Our By-Laws provide that the number of directors will be not less than six and not more than twenty. Our By-Laws provide that a majority of our entire board of directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. However, unless our By-Laws are amended by the board of directors, the number of directors may never be more than twenty. Our By-Laws currently provide that any vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a director or the removal of a director by the stockholders without appointing another director in his or her place may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, and that a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the entire board of directors. Any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until a successor is duly elected and qualified.
Our board of directors is not currently classified. However, it would be permissible under the MGCL for our board of directors to classify itself without stockholder approval.
The holders of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
The Charter provides that the board of directors may classify or reclassify any unissued stock into one or more classes or series of common stock or preferred stock by setting or changing the preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, or terms or prices of redemption of the shares. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of the Companys management and possibly deprive the stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares at prices higher than prevailing market prices. Although we have no present intention of doing so, these actions can be taken without stockholder approval, unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. The NYSE currently requires stockholder approval as a prerequisite to issuing shares in several instances, including where the present or potential issuance of shares could result in an increase in the number of shares of common stock or in the amount of voting securities outstanding by at least 20%. If the approval of our stockholders is not required for the issuance of our common stock or preferred stock, our board of directors may determine not to seek stockholder approval.
Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our By-Laws provide that a special meeting may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by the chairman of the board of directors or the president or by a majority of the board of directors. In addition, our By-Laws provide that a special meeting shall be called by the secretary if the holders of not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at such special meeting deliver to the secretary
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one or more written demands for a special meeting, describing the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is to be held and the matters proposed to be acted on at such meeting.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our By-Laws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors. Our By-Laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirers own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.
Action by Stockholders
Under the MGCL, stockholders may take any action that may be taken at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by unanimous written consent.
Dissolution and other Fundamental Transactions
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge or consolidate with, or convert into, another entity, sell all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a statutory share exchange or engage in a similar transaction outside the ordinary course of business unless approved by its board of directors and by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Indemnification and Limitation of Directors and Officers Liability
The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from:
| actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or |
| active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action. |
Our Charter contains a provision that eliminates directors and officers liability for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws and do not generally affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our By-Laws require us to indemnify our directors and officers (and permit us to indemnify certain other parties) to the fullest extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law.
The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our Charter does not). The MGCL also permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those capacities unless it is established that:
| the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
| the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
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| in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification (and then only for expenses). In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporations receipt of:
| written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and |
| a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met. |
We also maintain for the benefit of our directors and officers insurance covering certain liabilities asserted against or incurred by such persons in their capacity as, or as a result of their position as, director or officer. This insurance may afford protection for liabilities not subject to indemnification under our By-Laws and the MGCL.
Additionally, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers, utilizing the standard form of indemnification agreement approved by the board of directors. The indemnification agreements require us to indemnify a director or an executive officer and to advance expenses on behalf of such director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and establish the procedures by which a director or an executive officer may request and receive indemnification. The agreements are in addition to other rights to which a director may be entitled under our Charter, By-Laws and applicable law.
Control Share Acquisitions
The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the Control Share Acquisition Act) provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting of stockholders by a vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiring person, by officers of the corporation or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter.
Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiring person or in respect of which the acquiring person is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiring person to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
| one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
| one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
| a majority or more of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of issued and outstanding control shares, but does not include the acquisition of shares, among others, (i) under the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) under the satisfaction of a pledge or other security interest created in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing the Control Share Acquisition Act or (iii) pursuant to a merger, consolidation or share exchange effected under Subtitle 1 of the Control Share Acquisition Act if the corporation is a party to the merger, consolidation or share exchange.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within fifty days of demand to consider the
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voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may repurchase for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to repurchase control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiring person or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiring person becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiring person in the control share acquisition.
The Control Share Acquisition Act does not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or to acquisitions approved or exempted by the Charter or By-Laws of the corporation. We have not approved or exempted any individuals or transactions through such a provision.
Business Combinations
Under the MGCL, certain business combinations between a Maryland corporation and an Interested Stockholder (as defined in the MGCL) or an affiliate of an Interested Stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless an exemption is available. The MGCL defines an Interested Stockholder as:
| any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporations voting stock; or |
| an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation. |
A person is not an Interested Stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an Interested Stockholder. In approving a transaction, however, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance at or after the time of the approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of directors.
After the five-year prohibition, in addition to the vote required by the MGCL and the Charter, a business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the corporation and (ii) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the corporation other than shares held by the Interested Stockholder (or its affiliate) with whom the business combination is to be effected, unless the corporations stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the Interested Stockholder for its shares.
Marylands business combination statute does not apply to business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of directors prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder. In addition, Marylands business combination statute does not apply to a corporation that opts out of the business combination statute through a provision in its articles of incorporation. We have not elected to opt out of Marylands business combination statute through such a provision.
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Unsolicited Takeovers Act
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL, commonly referred to as the Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act (MUTA), permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors, by provision in its charter or by-laws or a resolution of its board of directors, without obtaining stockholder approval and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or by-laws, to elect to be governed by any or all of the following five provisions:
| a classified board; |
| a two-thirds stockholder vote requirement for removing a director; |
| a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors; |
| a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred; and |
| a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders. |
We have not elected to be governed by these specific provisions, but we currently have more than three independent directors. Through provisions in our Charter and By-Laws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already (i) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directors and (ii) allow stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting to call a special meeting. Our By-Laws currently provide that any vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a director or the removal of a director by the stockholders without appointing another director in his or her place may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, and that a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the entire board of directors. Any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until a successor is duly elected and qualified.
Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and By-laws
The business combination and control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law and certain provisions of our Charter and By-Laws, such as the unanimity requirement for written consent by stockholders and the advance notice provisions of our By-Laws, make it difficult for a potential acquirer to acquire us and discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and may encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. Likewise, if our board of directors were to opt in to any of the provisions of MUTA, such provisions could have similar anti-takeover effects. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging any such acquisition proposals because, among other things, the negotiation of such proposals may improve their terms.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The Debt Securities are to be issued under the Indenture (the Indenture), dated as of July 8, 2011, between McCormick and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), a copy of which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will include in a supplement to this prospectus and/or in a free writing prospectus or pricing supplement authorized by us, the specific terms of each series of Debt Securities being offered. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture and the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the Indenture (including any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time) and the Debt Securities. Capitalized terms are defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. Wherever particular provisions or defined terms of the Indenture are referred to, such provisions or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference. As used in this section, except as the context otherwise requires, or as otherwise specified or used in this section, the terms McCormick, we, our and us refer to McCormick & Company, Incorporated.
General
The Indenture provides that we may issue Debt Securities without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as established from time to time in, or under authority granted by, a resolution of our board of directors or as established in one or more supplemental indentures or officers certificates. We may issue Debt Securities with terms different from those of Debt Securities previously issued. The Debt Securities will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of McCormick.
Please read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the applicable series of Debt Securities for the terms of such Debt Securities, including where applicable:
| the principal amount offered; |
| the title of the securities of the series; |
| any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture; |
| the date or dates on which the principal of the securities is payable; |
| the rate or rates at which the securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on securities of the series shall be payable, any securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange and notices and demands to or upon McCormick in respect of the securities of that series and the Indenture may be served; |
| the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currency unit in which, and the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of McCormick; |
| the obligation, if any, of McCormick to redeem or purchase securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currency unit in which, and the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
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| if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which securities of the series shall be issuable; |
| if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the Indenture; |
| any Events of Default and covenants of McCormick with respect to the securities of that series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth in the Indenture; |
| if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency or currency unit in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the securities of that series shall be made or in which securities of that series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto; |
| if the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the securities of that series are to be payable, at the election of McCormick or a holder thereof, in a currency or currency unit other than that in which such securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency or currency unit in which such securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currency unit in which such securities are to be so payable; |
| if the amount of payments or principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index based on a currency or currency unit other than that in which securities are denominated or stated to be payable or any other index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; |
| if the securities will not be subject to any provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge or defeasance; |
| if the securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such global securities and whether such global securities will be temporary or permanent; and |
| any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture). |
The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities and will be issued only in full registered form without coupons.
Transfer and Exchange
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in either registered form (Registered Securities) or global form. See Book-Entry Securities. Registered Securities may be separated into smaller denominations or combined into larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. (Section 3.5 of the Indenture). This is called an exchange.
You may transfer Registered Securities of a series and you may exchange Debt Securities of a series at the office of the Trustee. The Trustee will act as our agent for registering Registered Securities in the names of holders and transferring Debt Securities. We may designate someone else to perform this function. Whoever maintains the list of registered holders is called the Security Registrar. The Security Registrar also will perform transfers. (Section 3.5 of the Indenture).
You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange Debt Securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or
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exchange will be made only if the Security Registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership. (Section 3.5 of the Indenture).
If we designate additional transfer agents, we will name them in the accompanying prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.
If we redeem less than all of the Debt Securities of a redeemable series, we may block the transfer or exchange of Registered Securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of such Registered Securities and ending on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also decline to register transfers or exchanges of Debt Securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any Debt Security being partially redeemed. (Section 3.5 of the Indenture).
If the offered Debt Securities are redeemable, we will describe the procedures for redemption in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
In this Transfer and Exchange section of this prospectus, you means direct holders and not indirect holders of Debt Securities.
Certain Covenants
Limitations on Liens
Except as described below under Exempted Indebtedness, we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume or suffer to exist any mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien (Lien) of or upon any Principal Property or any shares of capital stock or evidences of indebtedness for borrowed money issued by any Restricted Subsidiary and owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned at the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired, without providing that the Debt Securities shall be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other indebtedness or obligations thereby secured, so long as such indebtedness or obligations shall be so secured.
This restriction does not apply to:
| Liens that exist on the date of the Indenture; |
| Liens on property of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary; |
| Liens in favor of us or any Subsidiary; |
| Liens in favor of governmental bodies to secure progress, advance or other payments pursuant to contract or statute or indebtedness incurred to finance all or a part of construction of or improvements to property subject to such Liens; |
| Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through merger or consolidation), and construction and improvement Liens that are entered into within 180 days from the date of such construction or improvement, provided that in the case of construction or improvement the Lien shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary except substantially unimproved real property on which the property so constructed or the improvement is located; |
| mechanics and similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations not due or being contested in good faith; |
| Liens for taxes, assessments, or governmental charges or levies that are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith; |
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| Liens arising from any legal proceedings that are being contested in good faith; |
| any Liens that (a) are incidental to the ordinary conduct of our business or the ownership of our properties and assets, (b) were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit and (c) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property of McCormick or any Subsidiary or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; |
| Liens securing industrial development or pollution control bonds; and |
| Liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing (or successively extending, renewing or replacing) in whole or in part any of the foregoing. (Section 10.7 of the Indenture). |
Limitations on Sale and Leaseback
Except as described below under Exempted Indebtedness, we will not, nor will we permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing (as lessee) by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal, of not more than three years and except for leases between us and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries) which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or a Restricted Subsidiary to such Person unless either:
| we or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the fifth and eleventh clauses of the covenant described under Limitations on Liens above, to incur a Lien on such property without equally and ratably securing the Debt Securities; or |
| the net proceeds of such sale are at least equal to the fair value of such property and we will apply an amount equal to the net proceeds of such sale to the retirement (other than any mandatory retirement or payment at maturity) of (a) Debt Securities (other than any retirement prohibited by the terms of any Debt Securities pursuant to prohibitions on advance refundings) or (b) our or a Restricted Subsidiarys Funded Debt ranking prior to or on a parity with the Debt Securities, within 120 days of the effective date of any such arrangement. (Section 10.8 of the Indenture). |
Exempted Indebtedness
Notwithstanding the limitations on Liens and sale and leaseback transactions outlined above, we or any Restricted Subsidiary may create, assume or suffer to exist Liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions not otherwise permitted as described above provided that at the time of such event, and after giving effect thereto, the sum of outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money of McCormick and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred after the date of the Indenture and secured by Liens not otherwise permitted as set forth above plus the Attributable Debt in respect of such sale and leaseback transactions entered into by McCormick and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of the Indenture not otherwise permitted as set forth above does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (Sections 1.1, 10.7(b) and 10.8(b) of the Indenture).
Merger and Consolidation
We covenant that we will not merge with or consolidate into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety and we will not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into us or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to us unless, among other things:
| the successor Person is organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and assumes our obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indenture, |
| immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default under the Indenture shall have happened and be continuing, and |
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| if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such conveyance, transfer or lease, any Principal Property of McCormick would become subject to a Lien that would not be permitted by the Indenture, we or such successor Person takes such steps as are necessary effectively to secure the Debt Securities equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby. (Section 8.1 of the Indenture). |
Except as described above, the Indenture does not contain any provisions that would afford holders of the Debt Securities protection in the event of:
| a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us; |
| a change in control or a change in our management; or |
| a reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of the Debt Securities. |
In addition, subject to the limitations set forth above, we may, in the future, enter into certain transactions such as the sale of our properties and assets substantially as an entirety or a merger or consolidation with another entity that could increase the amount of our indebtedness or otherwise adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the Debt Securities. We have no present intention of engaging in a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us.
Events of Default
An Event of Default with respect to a series of the Debt Securities is defined in the Indenture as being:
(i) | default in the payment of any interest on the Debt Securities of that series when it becomes due and payable and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
(ii) | default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Debt Securities of that series at its maturity; |
(iii) | default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement in the Indenture included therein for the benefit of such series of Debt Securities and the continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after written notice of such default or breach to McCormick by the Trustee or to McCormick and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of such series of Debt Securities; |
(iv) | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of McCormick; or |
(v) | any other Event of Default specified for a series Debt Securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 5.1 of the Indenture). |
The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default under clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) above shall have occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a series may declare the principal of all the Debt Securities of such series, together with any accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately. (Section 5.2 of the Indenture). If an Event of Default under clause (iv) above shall have occurred and be continuing, then the principal of all the Debt Securities, together with any accrued interest, will be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of a Debt Security. Upon certain conditions such declaration (including a declaration caused by a default in the payment of principal or interest, the payment for which has subsequently been provided) may be annulled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities. (Sections 5.2 and 5.13 of the Indenture).
In addition, prior to the declaration of the acceleration of the maturity of a series of Debt Securities, past defaults may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of such series of Debt Securities, except
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a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Debt Security or in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the approval of each affected holder of such Debt Securities. (Sections 5.2 and 5.13 of the Indenture).
The Indenture contains a provision entitling the Trustee, subject to the duty of the Trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified by the holders of Debt Securities issued thereunder before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the Indenture at the request of the holders of such Debt Securities. (Section 6.3 of the Indenture).
The Indenture also provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a particular series issued thereunder and affected (each series voting as a separate class) may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series. (Section 5.12 of the Indenture).
The Indenture contains a covenant that McCormick will file annually with the Trustee a certificate as to the absence of any default or specifying any default that exists. (Section 10.9 of the Indenture).
Definitions
Attributable Debt with respect to any sale leaseback transaction that is subject to the restrictions described under Certain CovenantsLimitations on Sale and Leaseback means the lesser of:
| the total net amount of rent required to be paid during the remaining base term of the related lease or until the earliest date on which the lessee may terminate such lease upon payment of a penalty or a lump-sum termination payment (in which case the total net rent shall include such penalty or termination payment), discounted at the weighted average interest rate borne by the Outstanding Securities under the Indenture, compounded semi-annually, or |
| the sale price of the property so leased multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the remaining base term of the related lease and the denominator of which is the base term of such lease. |
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means the total assets of McCormick and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the investment in (at equity) and the net amount of advances to and accounts receivable from corporations which are not consolidated subsidiaries less the following:
| current liabilities of McCormick and its consolidated subsidiaries, including an amount equal to indebtedness required to be redeemed by reason of any sinking fund payment due in 12 months or less from the date as of which current liabilities are to be determined; |
| all other liabilities of McCormick and its consolidated subsidiaries other than Funded Debt, deferred income taxes and liabilities for employee post-retirement health plans other than pensions recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification No. 715-60; |
| all depreciation and valuation reserves and all other reserves (except for reserves for contingencies which have not been allocated to any particular purpose) of McCormick and its consolidated subsidiaries; |
| the book amount of all segregated intangible assets of McCormick and its consolidated subsidiaries, including, but without limitation, such items as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents and unamortized debt discount and expense less unamortized debt premium; and |
| appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other persons holding stock in subsidiaries. |
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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Funded Debt means any indebtedness of McCormick or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than inter-company debt that is eliminated in consolidation) for borrowed money having a maturity of more than 12 months from the date such indebtedness was incurred or having a maturity of less than 12 months but by its terms being renewable or extendable beyond 12 months from the date such indebtedness was incurred at the option of the obligor.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Principal Property means any manufacturing or processing plant or warehouse, together with the land upon which it is erected and any fixtures and equipment comprising a part thereof, owned by McCormick or any Restricted Subsidiary and located in the United States, the book value (net of depreciation) of which on the date as of which the determination is being made is an amount which exceeds 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, other than any such manufacturing or processing plant or warehouse or any portion thereof or any such fixture or equipment (together with the land upon which it is erected and any fixtures and equipment comprising a part thereof) (i) which is financed by Industrial Development Bonds or (ii) which, in the opinion of our board of directors, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that owns, operates or leases one or more Principal Properties.
Subsidiary means each corporation of which we, or we and one or more Subsidiaries, or any one or more Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly own securities entitling the holders thereof to elect a majority of the directors, either at all times or so long as there is no default or contingency that permits the holders of any other class or classes of securities to vote for the election of one or more directors.
Satisfaction and Discharge
McCormick shall be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Debt Securities of any particular series (i) that have become due and payable, (ii) that by their terms are to become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the Securities of such series, or (iii) in certain other circumstances as specified at the time a particular series of Debt Securities is established in accordance with the Indenture, and, so long as no Event of Default shall be continuing, when:
| either: |
| all Debt Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (except destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or |
| with respect to all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, McCormick has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds or Government Obligations, or any combination thereof, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Debt Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for unpaid principal and interest to maturity; |
| McCormick has paid all other sums payable by it under the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; |
| McCormick has delivered to the Trustee an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture to the satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of the Debt Securities of such series under the Indenture have been complied with; and |
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| if the Debt Securities of such series are not to become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of such deposit or are not to be called for redemption within one year of the date of such deposit under arrangements satisfactory to such Trustee as of the date of such deposit, we have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel based on the fact that (x) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, to the effect that the holders of the Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred. (Article IV of the Indenture). |
Covenant Defeasance
The terms of the Debt Securities provide that McCormick need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture (including those described above under Certain Covenants) with respect to a series of Debt Securities if, among other things:
| McCormick deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in the currency or currency unit in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable or Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and interest on the Debt Securities of such series when due; |
| McCormick has delivered to the Trustee an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the contemplated covenant defeasance have been complied with; and |
| if the Debt Securities of such series are not to become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of such deposit or are not to be called for redemption within one year of the date of such deposit under arrangements satisfactory to such Trustee as of the date of such deposit, we have delivered to the Trustee, not later than the date of such deposit, an opinion of counsel confirming that the holders of the Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. (Section 10.11 of the Indenture). |
Modification and Waiver
Without the consent of any holder of the Debt Securities, McCormick and the Trustee may modify or amend the Indenture to clarify or to make certain other changes that would not adversely affect the legal rights of any holder. (Section 9.1 of the Indenture).
With the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of the particular series affected, McCormick and the Trustee may modify or amend the Indenture; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security:
| change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Debt Security or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon, or change the coin or currency in which any Debt Security or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment after the stated maturity thereof; |
| reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or to waive certain defaults; or |
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| modify any of the provisions relating to supplemental indentures requiring the consent of holders or relating to the waiver of past defaults or relating to the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase the percentage of outstanding Debt Securities required for such actions or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security. (Section 9.2 of the Indenture). |
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The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities (the Global Securities) which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (the Depositary) and registered in the name of the Depositarys nominee. Except as set forth below, the Global Securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee. The following description of the operations and procedures of the Depositary is provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the Depositary and are subject to changes by it.
The Depositary has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depositary was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Depositarys participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of which (and/or their representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositarys book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by the Depositary only through participants.
Upon the issuance of Debt Securities by us represented by the Global Securities, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities represented by such Global Securities to the accounts of participants. The accounts credited shall be initially designated by the underwriters or agents. If the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, or if at any time there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities, we will issue Debt Securities in certificated form in exchange for the Global Securities. In addition, we may at any time determine not to have Debt Securities represented by the Global Securities, and, in such event will issue Debt Securities in certificated form in exchange for the Global Securities representing such Debt Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Securities will be entitled to physical delivery in certificated form of Debt Securities equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities registered in its name.
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Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we may sell the Securities to or through one or more agents, underwriters and/or dealers, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis.
The distribution of the Securities offered under the prospectus may occur from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
The Securities may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (i) block transactions (which may involve wall crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of such shares as agent, but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (ii) purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal, and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; (iii) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable NYSE or other stock exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market rules; (iv) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (v) sales at the market to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such shares; and (vi) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.
In connection with the sale of the Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of Securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters may sell the Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the Securities offered under the prospectus may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation (including underwriting discount) will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also describe the other terms of the offering, including any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which the offered Securities may be listed.
We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make as a result of those certain liabilities.
In connection with an offering of the Securities, underwriters may purchase and sell the Securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. An over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying Security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short-covering transactions involve purchases of the Securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the Securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Securities or preventing or slowing a decline in the market price of the Securities. As a result, the price of the Securities may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. In addition, a penalty bid may discourage the immediate resale of the Securities sold in this offering. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the prices of the
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Securities. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
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The consolidated financial statements of McCormick & Company, Incorporated and subsidiaries appearing in McCormick & Company, Incorporateds Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended November 30, 2022 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of McCormick & Company, Incorporateds internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2022, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Certain legal matters in connection with the Securities, including the validity of the Securities, will be passed upon for McCormick by Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxies, information statements and other information regarding registrants, including us, that file electronically with the Commission. Our Commission filings are also available free of charge through our website at ir.mccormick.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed with, or furnished to, the Commission. Information on or connected to our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
The Commission allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus information contained in the documents we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and the information may include documents filed after the date of this prospectus which update and supersede the information you read in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until the completion of the offering in the relevant prospectus supplement to which this prospectus relates or this offering is terminated (in no event, however, will any of the information that we disclose under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus):
| our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2022; |
| our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended February 28, 2023; |
| our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023; |
| the portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on February 17, 2023 incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2022; |
| the description of the Common Stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A dated August 30, 2001, as the description therein has been updated and superseded by the description of the Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4(xiii) to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2021, as filed with the Commission on January 27, 2022, and including any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and |
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| the description of the Common Stock Non-Voting contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A dated April 26, 1999, as the description therein has been updated and superseded by the description of the Common Stock Non-Voting contained in Exhibit 4(xiii) to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2021, as filed with the Commission on January 27, 2022, and including any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon that persons written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents). Requests should be directed to:
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
Attn: Office of the Treasurer
24 Schilling Road, Suite 1
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
(410) 771-7301
Investor Relations: (800) 424-5855, (410) 771-7537
ir.mccormick.com
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Commission and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. You will find additional information about us in the registration statement. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning a contract, agreement or other document of ours is only a summary and is not necessarily complete, and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the Commission for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. You may obtain copies of the registration statement, including exhibits, as noted in the first paragraph above.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Securities being registered.
SEC Registration Fee |
$ | (*) | ||
FINRA Agency Fees |
(**) | |||
Legal Fees and Expenses |
(**) | |||
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
(**) | |||
Printing and Engraving Expenses |
(**) | |||
Trustees and Transfer Agents Fees |
(**) | |||
Miscellaneous |
(**) | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | (**) | ||
|
|
(*) | The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 456(b) and is omitting this information in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act. Any registration fees will be paid subsequently on a pay-as-you-go basis in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act. |
(**) | Estimated expenses not presently determinable. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from:
| actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or |
| active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action. |
Our Charter contains a provision that eliminates directors and officers liability for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws and do not generally affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our By-Laws require us to indemnify our directors and officers (and permit us to indemnify certain other parties) to the fullest extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law.
The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our Charter does not). The MGCL also permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those capacities unless it is established that:
| the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
| the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
| in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
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However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification (and then only for expenses). In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporations receipt of:
| a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and |
| a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met. |
We also maintain for the benefit of our directors and officers insurance covering certain liabilities asserted against or incurred by such persons in their capacity as, or as a result of their position as, director or officer. This insurance may afford protection for liabilities not subject to indemnification under our By-Laws and the MGCL.
Additionally, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers, utilizing the standard form of indemnification agreement approved by the board of directors. The indemnification agreements require us to indemnify a director or an executive officer and to advance expenses on behalf of such director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and establish the procedures by which a director or an executive officer may request and receive indemnification. The agreements are in addition to other rights to which a director may be entitled under our Charter, By-Laws and applicable law.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
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Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description | |
4.2* | Form of Note. | |
5.1 | Opinion of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. | |
23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | |
23.2 | Consent of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
24.1 | Powers of attorney (included on signature page hereto). | |
25.1 | Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of trustee. | |
107 | Filing Fee Table. |
* | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of specific Securities. |
(P) | Paper exhibits |
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
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(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
(i) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
(ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
(5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act), that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the |
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payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hunt Valley, State of Maryland on this 3rd day of April, 2023.
MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED | ||
By: | /s/ Lawrence E. Kurzius | |
Name: Lawrence E. Kurzius | ||
Title: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer |
We, the undersigned officers and directors of McCormick & Company, Incorporated, a Maryland corporation with offices at 24 Schilling Road, Suite 1, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031, hereby severally constitute and appoint Lawrence E. Kurzius, Michael R. Smith and Jeffery D. Schwartz, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with full power to any of them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below the registration statement on Form S-3 filed herewith and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said registration statement, and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with said registration statement, and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally to do all such things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable McCormick & Company, Incorporated to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys, and each of them, or their substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities on April 3, 2023.
Signature | Title | |
/s/ Lawrence E. Kurzius |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Lawrence E. Kurzius | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/ Michael R. Smith |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
Michael R. Smith | (Principal Financial Officer) | |
/s/ Gregory P. Repas |
Vice President and Controller | |
Gregory P. Repas | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
/s/ Anne L. Bramman |
Director | |
Anne L. Bramman | ||
|
Director | |
Michael A. Conway | ||
/s/ Freeman A. Hrabowski, III |
Director | |
Freeman A. Hrabowski, III | ||
/s/ Patricia Little |
Director | |
Patricia Little |
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Signature | Title | |
/s/ Michael D. Mangan |
Director | |
Michael D. Mangan | ||
/s/ Maritza G. Montiel |
Director | |
Maritza G. Montiel | ||
/s/ Margaret M.V. Preston |
Director | |
Margaret M.V. Preston | ||
/s/ Gary M. Rodkin |
Director | |
Gary M. Rodkin | ||
/s/ Jacques Tapiero |
Director | |
Jacques Tapiero | ||
/s/ W. Anthony Vernon |
Director | |
W. Anthony Vernon |
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Exhibit 5.1
April 3, 2023
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
24 Schilling Road, Suite 1
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) to be filed by McCormick & Company, Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (the Company), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), for the registration of the following securities of the Company (the Securities):
i. | common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock); |
ii. | common stock non-voting, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock Non-Voting); and |
iii. | debt securities (Debt Securities), |
all of which may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act at an indeterminate aggregate offering price, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the base prospectus contained therein (the Prospectus) and any amendments or supplements thereto.
We are acting as counsel for the Company in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. The Debt Securities are to be issued under the Indenture (the Indenture), dated as of July 8, 2011, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee) and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the Trust Indenture Act).
We have examined and relied upon signed copies of the Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission, including the exhibits thereto. We have also examined and relied upon the Charter of the Company (as amended or restated from time to time, the Charter), the By-Laws of the Company (as amended or restated from time to time, the By-Laws) and minutes of meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors of the Company as provided to us by the Company.
In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all signatories, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the authenticity of such original documents and the completeness and accuracy of the corporate minute books of the Company provided to us by the Company.
We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials and officers of the Company, and we have assumed (i) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) one or more prospectus supplements and term sheets, as applicable will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby; (iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement; (iv) in the case of Debt Securities, (a) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, (b) the Trustee will be duly eligible to serve as trustee, and (c) the Debt Securities will be duly authenticated by the Trustee named in the Indenture; (v) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties thereto other than the Company; (vi) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Security being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise; (vii) with respect to shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Non-Voting offered, there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Non-Voting authorized under the Charter and not otherwise reserved for issuance; (viii) if issued in certificated form, valid book-entry notations for the issuance of Common Stock or Common Stock Non-Voting will have been duly made in the share register of the Company; and (ix) at the time of the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Company will be validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.
We are expressing no opinion herein as to the application of any federal or state law or regulation to the power, authority or competence of any party to any agreement with respect to any of the Securities other than the Company. We have assumed that such agreements are, or will be, the valid and binding obligations of each party thereto other than the Company, and enforceable against each such other party in accordance with their respective terms.
We have assumed for purposes of our opinions below that no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company, or, if any such authorization, approval, consent, action, notice or filing is required, it will have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and will be in full force and effect. We have also assumed that there will not have occurred, prior to the date of issuance of the Securities, any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such Securities and that at the time of the issuance and sale of such Securities, the Board of Directors of the Company (or any committee of such Board of Directors or any person acting pursuant to authority properly delegated to such person by the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee of such Board of Directors) shall not have taken any action to rescind or otherwise reduce its prior authorization of the issuance of such Securities.
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Our opinions below are qualified to the extent that they may be subject to or affected by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, usury, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors generally, (ii) duties and standards imposed on creditors and parties to contracts, including, without limitation, requirements of materiality, good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing, (iii) general equitable principles, and (iv) acceleration of the Debt Securities which may affect the collectability of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof that might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon. Furthermore, we express no opinion as to the availability of any equitable or specific remedy upon any breach of any of the agreements as to which we are opining herein, or any of the agreements, documents or obligations referred to therein, or to the successful assertion of any equitable defenses, inasmuch as the availability of such remedies or the success of any equitable defenses may be subject to the discretion of a court. We also express no opinion herein as to the laws of any state or jurisdiction other than the state laws of the State of New York and the Maryland General Corporation Law statute. We also express no opinion herein with respect to compliance by the Company with the securities or blue sky laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States or of any foreign jurisdiction. We express no opinion and make no statement herein with respect to the antifraud laws of any jurisdiction.
We also express no opinion herein as to any provision of any agreement (i) that may be deemed to or construed to waive any right, defense or counterclaim of the Company, (ii) to the effect that rights and remedies are not exclusive, that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to or with any other right or remedy and does not preclude recourse to one or more other rights or remedies, (iii) relating to the effect of invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of any agreement on the validity or enforceability of any other provision thereof, (iv) that is in violation of public policy, (v) relating to indemnification and contribution with respect to securities law matters, (vi) that provides that the terms of any agreement may not be waived or modified except in writing, (vii) purporting to indemnify any person against his, her or its own negligence or intentional misconduct, (viii) requiring the payment of penalties, consequential damages or liquidated damages or limiting a partys recovery of certain damages or losses, (ix) purporting to establish evidentiary standards or regarding standards for exercising rights and remedies or (x) relating to choice of law or consent to jurisdiction.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when (i) specifically authorized for issuance by proper action of the Board of Directors of the Company or an authorized committee thereof (the Authorizing Resolutions), (ii) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Common Stock have been duly established in conformity with the Charter, By-Laws and Authorizing Resolutions, (iii) the shares of Common Stock have been issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement in
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accordance with the applicable underwriting or other purchase agreement or upon conversion or exercise of any Security offered under the Registration Statement against payment therefor, and (iv) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the Authorizing Resolutions and the applicable underwriting agreement or other purchase agreement and such consideration per share is not less than the par value per share of the Common Stock, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. With respect to shares of Common Stock Non-Voting, when (i) specifically authorized for issuance by the Authorizing Resolutions, (ii) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Common Stock Non-Voting have been duly established in conformity with the Charter, By-Laws and Authorizing Resolutions, (iii) the shares of Common Stock Non-Voting have been issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other purchase agreement or upon conversion or exercise of any Security offered under the Registration Statement against payment therefor, and (iv) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the Authorizing Resolutions and the applicable underwriting agreement or other purchase agreement and such consideration per share is not less than the par value per share of the Common Stock Non-Voting, the Common Stock Non-Voting will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. With respect to the Debt Securities, when (i) specifically authorized for issuance by the Authorizing Resolutions, (ii) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (iii) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and the Authorizing Resolutions and assuming such terms and sale do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iv) such Debt Securities have been duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other purchase agreement against payment therefor, and (v) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the Authorizing Resolutions and the applicable underwriting agreement or other purchase agreement, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters. This opinion is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments that might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.
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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the use of our name therein and in the related Prospectus and in any prospectus supplement under the caption Legal Matters. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP |
WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP |
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Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption Experts in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of McCormick & Company, Incorporated for the registration of common stock, common stock non-voting and debt securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated January 26, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of McCormick & Company, Incorporated, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of McCormick & Company, Incorporated, included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended November 30, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
April 3, 2023
Exhibit 25.1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER
THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Melody M. Scott
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Three James Center 1051 E.Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 343-1560
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
Maryland | 52-0408290 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
24 Schilling Road Suite 1 Hunt Valley, Maryland |
21031 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustees knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 2. |
4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 3. |
5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 5. |
7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2022, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 6. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Richmond, State of Virginia on the 3rd of April, 2023.
By: | /s/ Melody M. Scott | |
Melody M. Scott | ||
Assistant Vice President |
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the Association) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that persons most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a directors term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
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Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Associations stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors and shareholders meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
(1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
(2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
(3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
(4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
(5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
(6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Associations management or committees of the board. |
(7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
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(8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
(9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
(10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
(11) | Make contracts. |
(12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Associations activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Associations board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
|
Jeffrey T. Grubb |
|
Robert D. Sznewajs |
|
Dwight V. Board |
|
P. K. Chatterjee |
|
Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2
()Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS I, Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that: 1 . The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. U.S. Bank Trust Company , National Association, Portland, Oregon (Charter No. 23412), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, January 6, 2023, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia. 2023-00337-C
Exhibit 3
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the OCC) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the Board), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Boards responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Associations fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such persons shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(February 8, 2021)
Exhibit 5
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: April 3, 2023
By: | /s/ Melody M. Scott | |
Melody M. Scott | ||
Assistant Vice President |
Exhibit 6
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 12/31/2022
($000s)
12/31/2022 | ||||
Assets |
||||
Cash and Balances Due From |
$ | 741,758 | ||
Depository Institutions |
||||
Securities |
4,322 | |||
Federal Funds |
0 | |||
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables |
0 | |||
Fixed Assets |
2,186 | |||
Intangible Assets |
581,108 | |||
Other Assets |
163,734 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Assets |
$ | 1,493,108 | ||
Liabilities |
||||
Deposits |
$ | 0 | ||
Fed Funds |
0 | |||
Treasury Demand Notes |
0 | |||
Trading Liabilities |
0 | |||
Other Borrowed Money |
0 | |||
Acceptances |
0 | |||
Subordinated Notes and Debentures |
0 | |||
Other Liabilities |
107,167 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Liabilities |
$ | 107,167 | ||
Equity |
||||
Common and Preferred Stock |
200 | |||
Surplus |
1,171,635 | |||
Undivided Profits |
214,106 | |||
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries |
0 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Equity Capital |
$ | 1,385,941 | ||
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
$ | 1,493,108 |
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
Form S-3
(Form Type)
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule |
Amount Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
Carry Forward Form Type |
Carry Forward File Number |
Carry Forward Initial Effective Date |
Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | |||||||||||||
Newly Registered Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid |
Equity | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) |
(1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid |
Equity | Common Stock Non-Voting, par value $0.01 per share |
Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) |
(1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid |
Debt | Debt Securities | Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) |
(1) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities |
| | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Total Offering Amounts | | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fees Previously Paid | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fee Offsets | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Fee Due | $ |
(1) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. This registration statement also includes such indeterminate amount of identified securities as may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, or pursuant to, convertible or exchangeable securities that provide for exercise or conversion into or purchase of such securities of the registrant. Separate consideration may or may not be received for any securities so issued upon conversion, exchange or redemption. |
(2) | The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 456(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and is omitting this information in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act. Any registration fees will be paid subsequently on a pay-as-you-go basis in accordance with Rule 457(r). |
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