UNH » Topics » Change of Control Offer

These excerpts taken from the UNH 8-K filed Feb 7, 2008.

Change of Control Offer

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the 2011 notes, the 2013 notes, the 2018 notes or the 2038 notes, unless we have exercised our option to redeem such notes as described above, we will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder of the series of notes with respect to which such Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s notes on the terms set forth in such notes. In a Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice will be mailed to the holders of the 2011 notes, to the holders of the 2013 notes, to the holders of the 2018 notes and/or to the holders of the 2038 notes, as the case may be, describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice will, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the applicable Change of Control Payment Date.

“Rating Event” shall mean (A) with respect to the 2011 notes, the rating on the 2011 notes is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the 2011 notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies, (B) with respect to the 2013 notes, the rating on the 2013 notes is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the 2013 notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies, and (C) with respect to the 2018 notes, the rating on the 2018 notes is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the 2018 notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and (D) with respect to the 2038 notes, the rating on the 2038 notes is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the 2038 notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the applicable notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing on the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or our intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

 

Schedule IV-5


Change of Control Offer

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined herein) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes of this series, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Notes of this series to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth herein. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes of this series repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice shall be mailed to Holders of the Notes of this series describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

In order to accept the Change of Control Offer, the Holder must deliver to the Paying Agent, at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, this Note together with the form entitled “Election Form” (which form is annexed hereto) duly completed, or a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth:

(i) the name of the Holder of this Note;

(ii) the principal amount of this Note;

(iii) the principal amount of this Note to be repurchased;

(iv) the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of this Note;

(v) a statement that the Holder is accepting the Change of Control Offer; and

(vi) a guarantee that this Note, together with the form entitled “Election Form” duly completed, will be received by the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

6


Any exercise by a Holder of its election to accept the Change of Control Offer shall be irrevocable. The Change of Control Offer may be accepted for less than the entire principal amount of this Note, but in that event the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after repurchase must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series or portions of such Notes being repurchased.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party purchases all Notes of this series properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Notes of this series if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the Company shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the following terms are applicable:

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or a Subsidiary; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any

 

7


person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the Notes of this series were issued or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Inc., and its successors.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes of this series or fails to make a rating of such Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

 

8


“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes of this series is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Notes of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies on any day during the period (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes of this series is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing on the date of the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

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

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Change of Control Offer

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined herein) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes of this series, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Notes of this series to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth herein. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes of this series repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice shall be mailed to Holders of the Notes of this series describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

In order to accept the Change of Control Offer, the Holder must deliver to the Paying Agent, at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, this Note together with the form entitled “Election Form” (which form is annexed hereto) duly completed,

 

6


or a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth:

(i) the name of the Holder of this Note;

(ii) the principal amount of this Note;

(iii) the principal amount of this Note to be repurchased;

(iv) the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of this Note;

(v) a statement that the Holder is accepting the Change of Control Offer; and

(vi) a guarantee that this Note, together with the form entitled “Election Form” duly completed, will be received by the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

Any exercise by a Holder of its election to accept the Change of Control Offer shall be irrevocable. The Change of Control Offer may be accepted for less than the entire principal amount of this Note, but in that event the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after repurchase must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series or portions of such Notes being repurchased.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party purchases all Notes of this series properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Notes of this series if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change

 

7


of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the Company shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the following terms are applicable:

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or a Subsidiary; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the Notes of this series were issued or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

 

8


“Fitch” means Fitch Inc., and its successors.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes of this series or fails to make a rating of such Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes of this series is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Notes of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies on any day during the period (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes of this series is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing on the date of the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

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

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Change of Control Offer

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined herein) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes of this series, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Notes of this series to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth herein. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes of this series repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice shall be mailed to Holders of the Notes of this series describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

In order to accept the Change of Control Offer, the Holder must deliver to the Paying Agent, at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, this Note together with the form entitled “Election Form” (which form is annexed hereto) duly completed, or a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth:

(i) the name of the Holder of this Note;

(ii) the principal amount of this Note;

(iii) the principal amount of this Note to be repurchased;

(iv) the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of this Note;

(v) a statement that the Holder is accepting the Change of Control Offer; and

(vi) a guarantee that this Note, together with the form entitled “Election Form” duly completed, will be received by the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

6


Any exercise by a Holder of its election to accept the Change of Control Offer shall be irrevocable. The Change of Control Offer may be accepted for less than the entire principal amount of this Note, but in that event the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after repurchase must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series or portions of such Notes being repurchased.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party purchases all Notes of this series properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Notes of this series if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the Company shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the following terms are applicable:

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or a Subsidiary; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any

 

7


person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the Notes of this series were issued or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Inc., and its successors.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes of this series or fails to make a rating of such Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

 

8


“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes of this series is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Notes of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies on any day during the period (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes of this series is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing on the date of the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

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

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Change of Control Offer

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined herein) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes of this series, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Notes of this series to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth herein. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes of this series repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice shall be mailed to Holders of the Notes of this series describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

In order to accept the Change of Control Offer, the Holder must deliver to the Paying Agent, at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, this Note together with the form entitled “Election Form” (which form is annexed hereto) duly completed, or a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth:

(i) the name of the Holder of this Note;

(ii) the principal amount of this Note;

(iii) the principal amount of this Note to be repurchased;

(iv) the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of this Note;

(v) a statement that the Holder is accepting the Change of Control Offer; and

(vi) a guarantee that this Note, together with the form entitled “Election Form” duly completed, will be received by the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

6


Any exercise by a Holder of its election to accept the Change of Control Offer shall be irrevocable. The Change of Control Offer may be accepted for less than the entire principal amount of this Note, but in that event the principal amount of this Note remaining outstanding after repurchase must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes of this series or portions of such Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series or portions of such Notes being repurchased.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party purchases all Notes of this series properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Notes of this series if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the Company shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes of this series, the following terms are applicable:

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or a Subsidiary; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any

 

7


person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the Notes of this series were issued or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Inc., and its successors.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes of this series or fails to make a rating of such Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

 

8


“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes of this series is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Notes of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies on any day during the period (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes of this series is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing on the date of the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

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

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

8-K (5 sections)
Feb 7, 2008

"Change of Control Offer" elsewhere:

Aetna (AET)
Wikinvest © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Use of this site is subject to express Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer. By continuing past this page, you agree to abide by these terms. Any information provided by Wikinvest, including but not limited to company data, competitors, business analysis, market share, sales revenues and other operating metrics, earnings call analysis, conference call transcripts, industry information, or price targets should not be construed as research, trading tips or recommendations, or investment advice and is provided with no warrants as to its accuracy. Stock market data, including US and International equity symbols, stock quotes, share prices, earnings ratios, and other fundamental data is provided by data partners. Stock market quotes delayed at least 15 minutes for NASDAQ, 20 mins for NYSE and AMEX. Market data by Xignite. See data providers for more details. Company names, products, services and branding cited herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The use of trademarks or service marks of another is not a representation that the other is affiliated with, sponsors, is sponsored by, endorses, or is endorsed by Wikinvest.
Powered by MediaWiki