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TABLE OF CONTENTS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Number 333-212771 & 333-212771-01
The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 31, 2017
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated July 29, 2016)
$
Tyco Electronics Group S.A.
$ 3.450% Senior Notes due 2024
$ % Senior Notes due 2027
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as described herein, by
TE Connectivity Ltd.
We are offering $ aggregate principal amount of 3.450% Senior Notes due 2024 (the "new 2024 notes") and $ aggregate principal amount of % Senior Notes due 2027 (the "2027 notes" and, together with the new 2024 notes, the "notes"). The new 2024 notes are being offered as additional debt securities under the indenture, as supplemented from time to time, pursuant to which we previously issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of our 3.450% Senior Notes due 2024 (the "existing 2024 notes"). As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "2024 notes" refers to both the new 2024 notes and the existing 2024 notes. The new 2024 notes will be treated as a single series with the existing 2024 notes and will have the same terms as the existing 2024 notes and are expected to bear the same CUSIP number as the existing 2024 notes. The new 2024 notes will vote as one class with the existing 2024 notes under the indenture governing the 2024 notes. Immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the new 2024 notes, we will have $ aggregate principal amount of our 2024 notes outstanding.
Interest on the 2024 notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, with the first payment of interest on the new 2024 notes on February 1, 2018. Interest on the 2027 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, commencing on , 2018. The 2024 notes will mature on August 1, 2024. The 2027 notes will mature on , 2027.
Tyco Electronics Group S.A. ("TEGSA") may redeem some or all of the notes at any time before maturity at the applicable redemption prices discussed under the caption "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesRedemption at TEGSA's Option." As described under "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesChange of Control Triggering Event," if we experience a change of control and a below investment grade rating event, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes from holders unless we have previously redeemed the notes.
The notes will be TEGSA's unsecured senior obligations and will rank without preference or priority among themselves and equally in right of payment with all of its existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that TEGSA may incur. Claims of holders of the notes will be effectively subordinated to the claims of holders of TEGSA's secured debt, if any, with respect to the collateral securing such claims. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by TE Connectivity Ltd. ("TE Connectivity"), the parent of TEGSA, and will rank equally in right of payment with all of TE Connectivity's existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that TE Connectivity may incur.
The notes will not be listed on any exchange or quoted on any automated dealer quotation system. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.
Investing in the notes involves risks. See "Supplemental Risk Factors" on page S-5 herein and "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, filed November 15, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before investing in the notes.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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New 2024 Notes | 2027 Notes | |||||||||||
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Per New 2024 Note |
Total | Per 2027 Note |
Total | |||||||||
Price to public(1) |
% | $ | % | $ | |||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions |
% | $ | % | $ | |||||||||
Proceeds to us(1) |
% | $ | % | $ |
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, and its participants Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., on or about , 2017. Interest on the new 2024 notes will accrue from August 1, 2017 and interest on the 2027 notes will accrue from the date of issuance.
Joint Book-Running Managers
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BofA Merrill Lynch | Citigroup | Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
S-i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.
If the description of this offering or the notes varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. You should also read and consider the additional information under the captions "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation by Reference" in this prospectus supplement.
Tyco Electronics Group S.A. and TE Connectivity Ltd. are responsible only for the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued or authorized by Tyco Electronics Group S.A. and TE Connectivity Ltd.
We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with any information or to make any representation other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus with respect to the offering. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus with respect to the offering filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Tyco Electronics Group S.A., TE Connectivity Ltd. and the underwriters are offering to sell, and are seeking offers to buy, the notes only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the notes and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
Unless otherwise stated, or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement to "we," "us" and "our" are to TE Connectivity and its consolidated subsidiaries, including TEGSA.
S-ii
We have made forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement that are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include, among others, the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential operating performance improvements, acquisitions, divestitures, the effects of competition and the effects of future legislation or regulations. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "believe," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "may" and "should" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements after we file this prospectus supplement except as required by law.
The risk factors discussed under "Supplemental Risk Factors" in this prospectus supplement and under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in TE Connectivity's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, filed November 15, 2016, and under similar headings in TE Connectivity's subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information relating to our business, financial condition and other matters with the SEC. We are required to disclose in such reports certain information, as of particular dates, concerning our operating results and financial condition, officers and directors, principal holders of shares, any material interests of such persons in transactions with us and other matters. Our filed reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports and other information regarding registrants like us that file electronically with the SEC. The address of such site is: http://www.sec.gov. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning our business may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.
Our Internet website is www.te.com. We make available free of charge on our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, reports filed pursuant to Section 16 and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. In addition, we have posted the charters for our Audit Committee, Management Development and Compensation Committee and Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee, as well as our Board Governance Principles, under the heading "Board Documents" in the Leadership section of our website. Other than any documents expressly incorporated by reference, the information on our website and any other website that is referred to in this prospectus supplement is not part of this prospectus supplement.
S-iii
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents set forth below, which TE Connectivity has filed with the SEC, and any future filings made by TE Connectivity and TEGSA with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the termination of this offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless expressly stated to the contrary, none of the information that TE Connectivity discloses under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K or exhibits relating to such disclosure that it has furnished or may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus supplement. The information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and in some cases supersede the information in this prospectus supplement and the documents listed below.
Upon your oral or written request, we will provide you with a copy of any of these filings at no cost. Requests should be directed to Corporate Secretary, TE Connectivity, 1050 Westlakes Drive, Berwyn, PA 19312, telephone number (610) 893-9560.
S-iv
This summary highlights information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. You should read this summary together with the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the information in the documents incorporated by reference herein.
TE Connectivity Ltd.
TE Connectivity Ltd. ("TE Connectivity" or the "Company," which may be referred to as "we," "us," or "our") is a global technology leader. We design and manufacture connectivity and sensor solutions to help build a safer, greener, smarter and more connected world.
We operate through the following reportable segments: Transportation Solutions, Industrial Solutions, and Communications Solutions.
TE Connectivity is a Swiss corporation. Its registered and principal office is located at Rheinstrasse 20, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and its telephone number at that address is +41 (0)52 633 66 61. Its executive office in the United States is located at 1050 Westlakes Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, and its telephone number at that address is (610) 893-9560.
Tyco Electronics Group S.A.
TEGSA is a Luxembourg company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of TE Connectivity. TEGSA's registered and principal office is located at 17, Boulevard Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, L-1331 Luxembourg, and its telephone number at that address is +352 46 43 40 1. TEGSA is a holding company established to directly and indirectly own all of the operating subsidiaries of TE Connectivity, to issue debt securities and to perform treasury operations for TE Connectivity. Otherwise, it conducts no independent business.
S-1
Issuer |
Tyco Electronics Group S.A., or "TEGSA." | |
Guarantor |
The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by TE Connectivity Ltd., the parent of TEGSA. |
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Securities Offered |
$ aggregate principal amount of 3.450% senior notes due 2024. |
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$ aggregate principal amount of % senior notes due 2027. |
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Maturity Date |
The 2024 notes will mature on August 1, 2024. |
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The 2027 notes will mature on , 2027. |
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Interest Rate |
The new 2024 notes will bear interest from August 1, 2017 and the 2027 notes will bear interest from the date of issuance or the most recent interest payment date. |
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Interest on the 2024 notes will accrue at a rate of 3.450% per year. |
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Interest on the 2027 notes will accrue at a rate of % per year. |
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On , 2017, the accrued interest on each new 2024 note will be $ . |
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Interest Payment Dates |
Interest on the 2024 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, with the first payment of interest on the new 2024 notes on February 1, 2018. |
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Interest on the 2027 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, commencing on , 2018. |
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Ranking |
The notes will be TEGSA's unsecured senior obligations and will rank without preference or priority among themselves and equally in right of payment with all of its existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that TEGSA may incur. Claims of holders of the notes will be effectively subordinated to the claims of holders of TEGSA's secured debt, if any, with respect to the collateral securing such claims. |
S-2
Optional Redemption |
TEGSA may redeem the 2024 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time prior to May 1, 2024 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2024 notes) and TEGSA may redeem the 2027 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time prior to , 2027 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2027 notes), in each case at the applicable make-whole redemption price for notes of such series equal to the greater of the principal amount of the notes and the applicable make-whole redemption price described in "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesRedemption at TEGSA's Option, " plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. |
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In addition, TEGSA may redeem the 2024 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time on or after May 1, 2024 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2024 notes) and TEGSA may redeem the 2027 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time on or after , 2027 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2027 notes), in each case at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes of such series to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date. |
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TEGSA may also redeem all, but not less than all, of the notes of a series in the event of certain tax changes affecting such series of notes, as described in "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesRedemption Upon Changes in Withholding Taxes." |
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Sinking Fund |
None. |
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Denominations |
Notes of each series will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
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Form of Notes |
Notes of each series will be issued as fully registered notes, represented by one or more global notes deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global notes through any of DTC or, in their capacity as participants in DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear. |
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Covenants |
The indenture limits TEGSA's ability to create liens to secure certain indebtedness without also securing the notes and to enter into sale and lease-back transactions. The indenture also limits TEGSA's and TE Connectivity's ability to consolidate, merge, or transfer all or substantially all of their respective assets. The covenants are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions. See "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesCovenants." |
S-3
Repurchase upon Change of Control Trigger Event |
If TE Connectivity experiences a change of control (defined herein) and as a result of that change of control a series of notes is rated below investment grade (defined herein) by at least two of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and Fitch Ratings Ltd. ("Fitch") (or the equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody's, S&P and Fitch, respectively), TEGSA will be required to offer to repurchase all of the notes of such series at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. See "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesChange of Control Triggering Event." |
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Use of Proceeds |
The net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $ million, after expenses and the underwriting discount. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes. |
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Risk Factors |
Your investment in the notes will involve risks. You should consider carefully all of the information set forth in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus with respect to this offering filed by us with the SEC and the documents incorporated by reference in any of the foregoing and, in particular, you should evaluate the specific factors set forth in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled "Supplemental Risk Factors" and the section entitled "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, filed November 15, 2016, and under similar headings in TE Connectivity's subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, before deciding whether to purchase any notes in this offering. |
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Listing |
The notes will not be listed on any exchange or quoted on any automated dealer quotation system. |
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Governing Law |
The notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. |
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Trustee |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. |
S-4
You should carefully consider the supplemental risks described below in addition to the risks described in "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, filed November 15, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein, and under similar headings in TE Connectivity's subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, before investing in the notes. You could lose part or all of your investment.
Risks Relating to the Notes and this Offering
There is no public market for the 2027 notes; and we do not know if an active trading market will ever develop or, if a market does develop, whether it will be sustained for the 2027 notes, or whether a public trading market for the 2024 notes will be maintained.
The 2027 notes will constitute a new issue of securities for which there is no existing trading market. The 2024 notes are not listed on a securities exchange or stock market and we do not intend to apply for listing or quotation of either series of notes on any securities exchange or stock market. We cannot assure you as to the development or liquidity of any trading market for either series of notes. The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in each series of notes. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so, and any market-making with respect to the notes may be discontinued at any time without notice. If no active trading market develops for the 2027 notes, or if the trading market for the 2024 notes is not maintained, you may be unable to resell your notes at any price or at their fair market value.
Changes in our credit ratings or the debt markets could adversely affect the market price of the existing 2024 notes or the 2027 notes if a trading market develops for the 2027 notes.
The market price for the notes will depend on a number of factors, including:
Credit rating agencies continually review their ratings for the companies that they rate, including us. A negative change in our rating or the outlook for our rating could have an adverse effect on the price or liquidity of the notes. Additionally, credit rating agencies evaluate the industries in which we operate as a whole and may change their credit rating for us based on their overall view of such industries.
In addition, the condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. Such fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the price of the notes.
S-5
The net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $ million, after expenses and the underwriting discount. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.
S-6
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2017 on an unaudited historical basis and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of the notes offered hereby.
You should read this information in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, filed November 15, 2016, and our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended December 30, 2016 filed on January 26, 2017, March 31, 2017 filed on April 26, 2017 and June 30, 2017 filed on July 26, 2017 which are incorporated by reference herein.
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As of June 30, 2017 | ||||||
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(In millions)
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Historical | As Adjusted | |||||
Indebtedness: |
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6.550% senior notes due 2017 |
708 | 708 | |||||
Commercial paper |
168 | 168 | |||||
Other |
1 | 1 | |||||
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Total short-term debt |
877 | 877 | |||||
Long-term debt (less current maturities): |
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3.450% senior notes due 2024 offered hereby |
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% senior notes due 2027 offered hereby |
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2.375% senior notes due 2018 |
325 | 325 | |||||
2.35% senior notes due 2019 |
250 | 250 | |||||
4.875% senior notes due 2021 |
250 | 250 | |||||
3.500% senior notes due 2022 |
500 | 500 | |||||
1.100% euro-denominated senior notes due 2023 |
627 | 627 | |||||
3.450% senior notes due 2024 |
250 | 250 | |||||
3.700% senior notes due 2026 |
350 | 350 | |||||
7.125% senior notes due 2037 |
477 | 477 | |||||
Other |
91 | 91 | |||||
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Total long-term debt |
3,120 | ||||||
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Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs |
(23 | ) | |||||
Effects of fair value hedge-designated interest rate swaps |
17 | 17 | |||||
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Total indebtedness |
3,991 | ||||||
Equity |
9,141 | 9,141 | |||||
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Total capitalization |
$ | 13,132 | $ | ||||
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S-7
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth information regarding our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods shown. For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of (a) interest expense, (b) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness, and (c) a portion of rent expense, which represents an appropriate interest factor.
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Fiscal | ||||||||||||||||
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Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017 |
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2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
13.57 | 8.85 | 10.72 | 12.43 | 7.55 | 6.70 |
S-8
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES
The descriptions in this prospectus supplement contain a description of the material terms of the notes and the indenture but do not purport to be complete. Reference is hereby made to the indenture, the tenth supplemental indenture, the fourteenth supplemental indenture and the form of note for each series of notes, each of which is filed as an exhibit to, or which will be incorporated by reference in, the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, and to the Trust Indenture Act.
In this description of the notes and the guarantees, we refer to Tyco Electronics Group S.A., the issuer of the notes, as TEGSA, and to TE Connectivity Ltd., the guarantor of the notes, as TE, in each case not including their respective consolidated subsidiaries.
TEGSA previously issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.450% Senior Notes due 2024 (the "existing 2024 notes") under the indenture, dated as of September 25, 2007, as supplemented by the tenth supplemental indenture, dated as of July 31, 2014 (the "tenth supplemental indenture"), among TEGSA, as issuer, TE, as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas ("Deutsche Bank"), as trustee. TEGSA will issue $ million aggregate principal amount of 3.450% Senior Notes due 2024 (the "new 2024 notes") in this offering. As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "2024 notes" refers to both the new 2024 notes and the existing 2024 notes. The new 2024 notes will be treated as a single series with the existing 2024 notes and will have the same terms as the existing 2024 notes and are expected to bear the same CUSIP number as the existing 2024 notes. The new 2024 notes will vote as one class with the existing 2024 notes under the indenture governing the 2024 notes. Immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the new 2024 notes, we will have $ aggregate principal amount of our 2024 notes outstanding.
The 2027 notes will be issued under the indenture, dated as of September 25, 2007, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, to be dated as of , 2017 (the "fourteenth supplemental indenture") among TEGSA, as issuer, TE, as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank as trustee. References to the indenture in this description, when referring to the 2024 notes, refer to the indenture as supplemented by the tenth supplemental indenture and references to the indenture, when referring to the 2027 notes, refer to the indenture as supplemented by the fourteenth supplemental indenture.
The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder. TEGSA may issue additional debt securities in the future without the consent of the holders of outstanding notes. If TEGSA issues additional notes of either series offered hereby, those notes will contain the same terms as and be deemed part of such series of notes offered hereby, provided that if the additional notes are not fungible with the notes of such series offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number. The terms and provisions of other series of debt securities that may be issued under the indenture may differ. TEGSA may issue other debt securities separately, upon conversion of or in exchange for other securities or as part of a unit with other securities.
The following description is subject to the detailed provisions of the indenture, copies of which can be obtained upon request from TE. See "Incorporation by Reference." The statements made in this section relating to the indenture, the notes and the guarantees are summaries, are not complete and are subject to all provisions of the indenture, the notes and the guarantees. For a full description of the notes and the guarantees, you should refer to the indenture.
General
TEGSA will issue the notes in an aggregate principal amount of $ , consisting of $ aggregate principal amount of new 2024 notes and $ initial aggregate principal amount of 2027 notes.
S-9
The 2024 notes will mature at par on August 1, 2024 and the 2027 notes will mature at par on , 2027.
Each series of notes will be issued in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will be TEGSA's direct, unconditional, unsecured, and unsubordinated general obligations. The notes will be TEGSA's unsecured senior obligations and will rank without preference or priority among themselves and equally in right of payment with all of its existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that TEGSA may incur. Claims of holders of the notes will be effectively subordinated to the claims of holders of TEGSA's secured debt, if any, with respect to the collateral securing such claims.
The notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.
TEGSA is a holding company and it conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. TEGSA's rights and the rights of its creditors, including holders of the notes, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon a liquidation or reorganization or otherwise of such subsidiary will be effectively subordinated to the claims of such subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that TEGSA or any of its creditors may itself be a creditor of that subsidiary.
Interest Rates
2024 notes. The 2024 notes bear interest at the rate of 3.450% per year from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for. Interest on the 2024 notes is payable on February 1 and August 1 of each year, with the first payment of interest on the new 2024 notes on February 1, 2018, to the holders of record at the close of business on the January 15 and July 15 prior to each interest payment date. Interest on the 2024 notes is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All dollar amounts resulting from this calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent.
2027 notes. The 2027 notes will bear interest at the rate of % per year from the date of issuance or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for. Interest on the notes will be payable on and of each year, commencing , 2018, to the holders of record at the close of business on the and prior to each interest payment date. Interest on the notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All dollar amounts resulting from this calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent.
If any interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date for notes of a series would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if it were made on the date such payment was due. No interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after such date to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day.
For purposes of this prospectus supplement, the following term has the following meaning: "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which Federal or State banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in the city where the office or agency for payment on notes of a series is maintained, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
Guarantees
TE will unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on notes of a series, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration or otherwise. TE's guarantees are the unsecured, unsubordinated obligation of TE and rank without preference or priority among themselves and equally
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in right of payment with all of TE's existing and future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt that TE may incur. The guarantees provide that in the event of a default in payment on a related note, the holder of the note may institute legal proceedings directly against TE to enforce the guarantees without first proceeding against TEGSA.
Redemption at TEGSA's Option
TEGSA may redeem the 2024 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time prior to May 1, 2024 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2024 notes) at the applicable make-whole redemption price equal to the greater of:
plus in each of the above cases, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
In addition, TEGSA may redeem the 2024 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time on or after May 1, 2024 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2024 notes), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date.
TEGSA may redeem the 2027 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time prior to , 2027 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2027 notes) (the "2027 notes par call date"), at the applicable make-whole redemption price equal to the greater of:
plus in each of the above cases, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
In addition, TEGSA may redeem the 2027 notes, in whole or in part, at its option at any time on or after the 2027 notes par call date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.
For purposes of this section "Redemption at TEGSA's Option," the following terms have the following meanings:
"Adjusted Redemption Treasury Rate" with respect to any redemption date means the rate equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a 30/360 day count basis) yield to maturity of the applicable Comparable Redemption Treasury Issue for the notes to be redeemed,
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assuming a price for the Comparable Redemption Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Redemption Treasury Price for the redemption date.
"Comparable Redemption Treasury Issue" means (i) with respect to the 2024 notes, the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as being the most recently issued United States Treasury security that has an actual or interpolated (on a day count basis) maturity comparable to the remaining term of the 2024 notes to be redeemed and (ii) with respect to the 2027 notes, the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as being the most recently issued United States Treasury security that has an actual or interpolated (on a day count basis) maturity comparable to the remaining term of the 2027 notes to be redeemed as if the 2027 notes had matured on the 2027 notes par call date.
"Comparable Redemption Treasury Price" with respect to any redemption date means:
"Quotation Agent" means a Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer appointed as such agent by TEGSA.
"Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer" means four primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the United States selected by TEGSA.
"Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" with respect to each Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date means the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and offer prices at 11:00 a.m. New York City time for the applicable Comparable Redemption Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) for settlement on the redemption date quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
Redemption Upon Changes in Withholding Taxes
TEGSA may redeem all, but not less than all, of the notes of a series under the following conditions:
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Upon the occurrence of each of the bullet points above, TEGSA may redeem the notes of such series at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date and Additional Amounts, if any.
Notice of Redemption
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 90 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes of a series to be redeemed. If TEGSA elects to redeem a portion but not all of the notes of a series, the trustee will select in a fair and appropriate manner the notes to be redeemed.
Unless TEGSA defaults in payment of the redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest on any notes to be redeemed, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on such notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
If any redemption date would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if it were made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after such date to the next succeeding Business Day.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless otherwise required by law, neither TEGSA nor TE will deduct or withhold from payments made with respect to the notes and the guarantees on account of any present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of any Taxing Jurisdiction ("Taxes"). In the event that TEGSA or TE is required to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of any Taxes from any payment made under or with respect to any notes or the guarantees, as the case may be, TEGSA or TE, as the case may be, will pay such additional amounts (which we refer to as "Additional Amounts") so that the net amount received by each holder of notes, including the Additional Amounts, will equal the amount that such holder would have received if such Taxes had not been required to be withheld or deducted. However, Additional Amounts will not be paid with respect to a payment to a holder of notes where such holder is subject
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to taxation on such payment by a relevant Taxing Jurisdiction for any reason other than the holder's mere ownership of a note, nor will we pay additional amounts for or on the account of:
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regulations or other administrative authority promulgated thereunder, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with any of the foregoing and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement;
Additional Amounts also will not be payable to a holder of a note that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, or to a beneficial owner of a note that is not the sole beneficial owner of such note, as the case may be. This exception, however, will apply only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, or a beneficial owner or member of the partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment.
Whenever in the indenture, the notes, the guarantees or in this "Description of the Notes and the Guarantees" there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal, premium, if any, redemption price, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any note, such mention includes the payment of Additional Amounts to the extent payable in the particular context. The foregoing provisions will survive any termination or the discharge of the indenture and will apply to any jurisdiction in which any successor to TEGSA or TE, as the case may be, is organized or is engaged in business for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.
Each of TEGSA and TE, as applicable, also:
At least 30 days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the notes or the guarantees is due and payable, if TEGSA or TE will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment, TEGSA or TE will deliver to the trustee an officer's certificate stating the fact that such Additional Amounts will be payable, the amounts so payable and such other information as is necessary to enable the trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to holders of the notes on the payment date.
In addition, TEGSA will pay any stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes and duties, including interest, penalties and Additional Amounts with respect thereto, payable in Luxembourg or the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the foregoing in respect of the creation, issue, offering, enforcement, redemption or retirement of the notes.
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Change of Control Triggering Event
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to a series of notes, unless TEGSA has exercised its right to redeem such notes as described under "Redemption at TEGSA's Option" or "Redemption Upon Changes in Withholding Taxes," each holder of notes of such series will have the right to require that TEGSA purchase all or a portion of such holder's notes pursuant to the offer described below (the "Change of Control Offer"), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.
Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurred, or at TEGSA's option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, TEGSA must send, by first class mail, a notice to each holder of the notes, with a copy to the trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the "Change of Control Payment Date"). The notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, shall state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders of notes electing to have notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender their notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the note completed, or, with respect to the 2027 notes, such other customary documents of surrender and transfer as TEGSA may reasonably request duly completed, or transfer their notes by book-entry transfer, to the paying agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.
TEGSA will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by TEGSA and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.
Consummation of any such transaction in certain circumstances may require redemption or repurchase of the notes, and TEGSA or the acquiring party may not have sufficient financial resources to effect such redemption or repurchase. Provisions in the indenture relating to a Change of Control Triggering Event may, in certain circumstances, make it more difficult or discourage any leveraged buyout of TE or any of its subsidiaries. The indenture may not afford the holders of notes protection in all circumstances from the adverse aspects of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction.
TEGSA will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that any securities laws or regulations conflict with the "Change of Control" provisions of the indenture, TEGSA shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall be deemed not to have breached its obligations under the "Change of Control" provisions of the indenture by virtue thereof.
"Below Investment Grade Rating Event" means the applicable series of notes is rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of such notes is under publicly-announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall be deemed not to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall be deemed not to be a Below Investment
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Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if the rating agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not publicly announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
"Change of Control Triggering Event" means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction effected to create a holding company for TE will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if: (1) pursuant to such transaction TE becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of such holding company; and (2) 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 TE's voting stock immediately prior to that transaction. Following any such transaction, references in this definition to TE shall be deemed to refer to such holding company. For purposes of this definition, "voting stock" of any specified "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date means 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.
"Fitch" means Fitch Ratings, Ltd.
"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.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
"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 applicable series of notes or fails to make a rating of such notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by TEGSA (as certified by a resolution of TEGSA's Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody's or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.
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"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc.
Covenants
Affirmative Covenants
Under the indenture, TEGSA will:
Negative Covenants
Limitation on the Ability to Incur Liens
The indenture provides that so long as any of the notes remain outstanding (but subject to defeasance, as provided in the indenture), TEGSA will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness that is secured by a mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien or encumbrance (each a "lien") upon any property that at the time of such issuance, assumption or guarantee constitutes a Principal Property, and TEGSA will not, and will not permit any U.S. subsidiary that at the time of such issuance, assumption or guarantee is a Qualifying Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness that is secured by a lien upon such Qualifying Subsidiary's Accounts Receivable, or any shares of stock of or Indebtedness issued by any such Restricted Subsidiary or such Qualifying Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in each case without effectively providing that, for so long as such lien shall continue in existence with respect to such secured Indebtedness, the notes (together with, if TEGSA determines, any other Indebtedness of TEGSA ranking equally with the notes, it being understood that for purposes hereof, Indebtedness which is secured by a lien and Indebtedness which is not so secured shall not, solely by reason of such lien, be deemed to be of different ranking) shall be equally and ratably secured by a lien ranking ratably with or equal to (or at TEGSA's option prior to) such secured Indebtedness. The foregoing covenant shall not apply to:
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assumed or guaranteed by TEGSA or a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of such Principal Property or improvements or construction thereon, which Indebtedness is incurred, assumed or guaranteed prior to, at the time of or within one year after such acquisition (or in the case of real property, completion of such improvement or construction or commencement of full operation of such property, whichever is later); provided, however, that in the case of any such acquisition, construction or improvement, the lien shall not apply to any Principal Property theretofore owned by TEGSA or a Restricted Subsidiary, other than the Principal Property so acquired, constructed or improved (and accessions thereto and improvements and replacements thereof and the proceeds of the foregoing);
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Although this covenant limits TEGSA's and any Restricted Subsidiary's or Qualifying Subsidiary's ability to incur Indebtedness that is secured by liens on the shares of stock of or Indebtedness issued by any Restricted Subsidiary or Qualifying Subsidiary, it would not prevent other of our subsidiaries from incurring Indebtedness secured by liens on shares of stock of or Indebtedness issued by Restricted Subsidiaries or any Qualifying Subsidiary.
Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions
The indenture provides that so long as any of the notes remain outstanding (but subject to defeasance, as provided in the indenture), TEGSA will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction unless:
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For purposes of this section "Negative Covenants," the following terms have the following meanings:
"Accounts Receivable" of any person means the accounts receivable of such person generated by the sale of inventory to third-party customers in the ordinary course of business.
"Attributable Debt" in connection with a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, as of any particular time, means the aggregate of present values (discounted at a rate that, at the inception of the lease, represents the effective interest rate that the lessee would have incurred to borrow over a similar term the funds necessary to purchase the leased assets) of the obligations of TEGSA or any Restricted Subsidiary for net rental payments during the remaining term of the applicable lease, including any period for which such lease has been extended or, at the option of the lessor, may be extended. The term "net rental payments" under any lease of any period shall mean the sum of the rental and other payments required to be paid in such period by the lessee thereunder, not including any amounts required to be paid by such lessee, whether or not designated as rental or additional rental, on account of maintenance and repairs, reconstruction, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges required to be paid by such lessee thereunder or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee thereunder contingent upon the amount of sales, maintenance and repairs, reconstruction, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges.
"Consolidated Net Worth" at any date means total assets less total liabilities, in each case appearing on the most recently prepared consolidated balance sheet of TE and its subsidiaries as of the end of a fiscal quarter of TE, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date of the consolidated balance sheet.
"Consolidated Tangible Assets" at any date means total assets less all intangible assets appearing on the most recently prepared consolidated balance sheet of TE and its subsidiaries as of the end of a fiscal quarter of TE, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date of the consolidated balance sheet. "Intangible assets" means the amount (if any) stated under the heading "Intangible Assets, Net" or under any other heading of intangible assets separately listed, in each case on the face of such consolidated balance sheet.
"Funded Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness maturing by its terms more than one year from the date of the determination thereof, including any Indebtedness renewable or extendible at the option of the obligor to a date later than one year from the date of the determination thereof.
"Indebtedness" means, without duplication, the principal amount (such amount being the face amount or, with respect to original issue discount bonds or zero coupon notes, bonds or debentures or
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similar securities, determined based on the accreted amount as of the date of the most recently prepared consolidated balance sheet of TE and its subsidiaries as of the end of a fiscal quarter of TE prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date of such consolidated balance sheet) of (i) all obligations for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations evidenced by debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers' acceptances or similar instruments or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto (such instruments to constitute Indebtedness only to the extent that the outstanding reimbursement obligations in respect thereof are collateralized by cash or cash equivalents reflected as assets on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles), (iv) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except (A) trade and similar accounts payable and accrued expenses, (B) employee compensation, deferred compensation and pension obligations, and other obligations arising from employee benefit programs and agreements or other similar employment arrangements, (C) obligations in respect of customer advances received and (D) obligations in connection with earnout and holdback agreements, in each case in the ordinary course of business, (v) all obligations as lessee to the extent capitalized in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, and (vi) all Indebtedness of others consolidated in such balance sheet that is guaranteed by TEGSA or any of its subsidiaries or for which TEGSA or any of its subsidiaries is legally responsible or liable (whether by agreement to purchase indebtedness of, or to supply funds or to invest in, others).
"Principal Property" means any U.S. manufacturing, processing or assembly plant or any U.S. warehouse or distribution facility of TE or any of its subsidiaries that is used by any U.S. subsidiary of TEGSA and (A) is owned by TE or any subsidiary of TE on the applicable initial issue date, (B) the initial construction of which has been completed after the applicable initial issue date, or (C) is acquired after the applicable initial issue date, in each case, other than any such plants, facilities, warehouses or portions thereof, that in the opinion of the Board of Directors of TEGSA, are not collectively of material importance to the total business conducted by TE and its subsidiaries as an entirety, or that has a net book value (excluding any capitalized interest expense), on the date hereof in the case of clause (A) of this definition, on the date of completion of the initial construction in the case of clause (B) of this definition or on the date of acquisition in the case of clause (C) of this definition, of less than the greater of $50,000,000 and 0.50% of Consolidated Tangible Assets on the consolidated balance sheet of TE and its subsidiaries as of the applicable date.
"Qualifying Subsidiary" means a U.S. subsidiary, the total Accounts Receivable of which exceeds the greater of $2.5 million and 0.20% of the amount stated under the heading "Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts," or equivalent, appearing on the most recently prepared consolidated balance sheet of TE and its subsidiaries as of the end of a fiscal quarter of TE, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
"Restricted Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of TEGSA that owns or leases a Principal Property.
"Sale and Lease-Back Transaction" means an arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by TEGSA or a Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property whereby such Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by TEGSA or a Restricted Subsidiary to such person other than TE, TEGSA or any of their respective subsidiaries; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any such arrangement involving a lease for a term, including renewal rights, for not more than three years.
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Limitation on TE's and TEGSA's Ability to Consolidate, Merge and Sell Assets
The indenture provides that neither TEGSA nor TE will merge or consolidate with any other person and will not sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any person, unless:
Events of Default
The following are events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of notes:
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property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
For purposes of this section "Events of Default," the following terms have the following meanings: "Indebtedness" has the definition given to it in the section "Negative Covenants."
"Non-Recourse Indebtedness" means Indebtedness upon the enforcement of which recourse may be had by the holder(s) thereof only to identified assets of TE or TEGSA or any subsidiary of TE or TEGSA and not to TE or TEGSA or any subsidiary of TE or TEGSA personally (subject to, for the avoidance of doubt, customary exceptions contained in non-recourse financings to the non-recourse nature of the obligations thereunder).
Any failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or agreement of TE or TEGSA in respect of notes of a series and the related guarantee with respect to the filing with the trustee of the information filed or required to be filed with the SEC shall not be a default or an Event of Default. Remedies against TE and TEGSA for any such failure or breach will be limited to liquidated damages. If there is such a failure or breach and continuance of such failure or breach for a period of 90 days after the date on which there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to TE and TEGSA by the trustee or to TE, TEGSA and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series, a written notice specifying such failure or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Reporting Noncompliance" under the indenture, TEGSA will pay liquidated damages to all holders of notes, at a rate per year equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of such notes from the 90th day following such notice to and including the 150th day following such notice and at a rate per year equal to 0.5% of the principal amount of such notes from and including the 151st day following such notice, until such failure or breach is cured.
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In any event of default with respect to notes of a series, unless the principal of all such notes has already become due and payable, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series, by notice in writing to TEGSA and TE, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of all such notes of such series to be due and payable immediately.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of a series may waive any default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the indenture with respect to the notes of such series and its consequences, except a default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest. Any such waiver shall cure such default.
Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under the indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the notes if the trustee determines in good faith that the proceeding could result in personal liability. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of a series will have the right to 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 notes of such series, provided that:
A holder of the notes of a series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies if:
The right of any holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or to institute a suit for such payment shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
Modification of the Indenture
TEGSA, TE and the trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures without the consent of any holders of the notes of any series with respect to certain matters, including:
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In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders may be changed by TEGSA, TE and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series at the time outstanding that are affected. However, the following changes may only be made with the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities affected:
An amendment of a provision included solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities does not affect the interests of the holders of any other series of debt securities.
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It will not be necessary for the consent of the holders to approve the particular form of any proposed supplement, amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if the consent approves the substance of it.
Information Concerning the Trustee
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas serves as trustee under the indenture. Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act, if a default occurs with respect to either series of notes, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas would be required to resign as trustee of such series of notes within 90 days of default unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.
The trustee, upon an event of default under the indenture, must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The trustee is not required to spend or risk its own money or otherwise become financially liable while performing its duties if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of the indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
The trustee may resign with respect to one or more series of debt securities by giving a written notice to TEGSA and to the holders of that series of debt securities. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a particular series may remove the trustee by notifying TEGSA and the trustee. TEGSA may remove the trustee if:
If the trustee resigns or is removed or if the office of the trustee is otherwise vacant, TEGSA will appoint a successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.
A resignation or removal of the trustee and appointment of a successor trustee shall become effective only upon the successor trustee's acceptance of the appointment as provided in the indenture.
Payment and Paying Agents
The interest on notes on any interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name such notes (or one or more predecessor notes) are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.
TEGSA may appoint one or more paying agents, other than the trustee, for all or any series of the debt securities. The debt securities of a particular series will be surrendered for payment at the office of the paying agents designated by TEGSA. If TEGSA does not designate such an office, the corporate trust office of the trustee will serve as the office of the paying agent for such series. TEGSA has initially appointed Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to act as paying agent for the notes.
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All funds paid by TE or TEGSA to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the notes which remains unclaimed at the end of one year after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to TE or TEGSA, as the case may be, and the holder of the notes thereafter may look only to TE and TEGSA for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the notes are deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes will be construed in accordance with the laws of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles that would require the application of any other law except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
Satisfaction and Discharge
TEGSA's obligations with respect to any series of notes will be discharged upon TE or TEGSA's irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of funds or governmental obligations sufficient to pay at maturity within one year or upon redemption within one year all of the notes of such series which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, including:
Notwithstanding the above, TEGSA may not be discharged from the following obligations which will survive until the notes of such series mature:
TEGSA also may not be discharged from the following obligations with respect to either series of notes which will survive the satisfaction and discharge of such series of notes:
Defeasance of Covenants Under Certain Circumstances
Upon compliance with specified conditions, TEGSA will not be required to comply with some covenants contained in the indenture and the tenth supplemental indenture, with respect to the 2024 notes, and the fourteenth supplemental indenture, with respect to the 2027 notes, and any omission to comply with the obligations will not constitute a default or event of default relating to the notes of such
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series, or, if applicable, TEGSA's obligations with respect to the notes of such series will be discharged. These conditions include:
Compliance Certificates and Opinions of Counsel
The indenture requires TE or TEGSA to furnish the following to the trustee under certain circumstances:
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Trustee
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will serve as the trustee for the notes. The address of the corporate trust office of the trustee is 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, New York 10005.
Agent for Service of Process
Our agent for service of process in the State of New York for any action relating to the indenture or the notes is CT Corporation System, which currently maintains a New York City office at 111 Eighth Ave., 13th Floor, New York, New York 10011.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Notes of each series will be issued in registered, global form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Each series of notes will be issued at the closing of this offering only against payment in immediately available funds.
Notes of each series initially will be represented by one or more notes in registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the "Global Notes"). The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), in New York, New York, and registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below. Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be held through the Euroclear System, operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. ("Euroclear"), and Clearstream Banking, S.A. ("Clearstream") (as indirect participants in DTC).
Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form ("Certificated Notes") except in the limited circumstances described below. See "Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes."
Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to time.
Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof if:
In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Depositary Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the
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control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. TEGSA takes no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urges investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised TEGSA that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the "Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between the Participants through electronic computerized book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants.
This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) and certain other organizations. Access to DTC's system is also available to other entities such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the "Indirect Participants"). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold interests in the Global Notes on behalf of their participants through customers' securities accounts in their respective names on the books of their respective depositories, which are Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of Euroclear, and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, as operator of Clearstream.
DTC has also advised TEGSA that, pursuant to procedures established by it:
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of the Participants, which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described above, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or "Holders" thereof under the indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder of the notes under the indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, TEGSA and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the notes for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither TEGSA, the trustees nor any of TEGSA's or the trustees' agents have or will have any responsibility or liability for:
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maintaining supervising or reviewing any of DTC's records or any Participant's or Indirect Participant's records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or
DTC has advised TEGSA that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes, is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or TEGSA. Neither TEGSA nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of the Participants or the Indirect Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and TEGSA and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between the Participants will be effected in accordance with DTC's procedures and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear and Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC's rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear and Clearstream.
DTC has advised TEGSA that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an event of default under a series of notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for Certificated Notes, and to distribute the notes of such series to the Participants.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any time by giving reasonable notice to the issuer or agent. None of TEGSA, the trustee or any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
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Luxembourg
The following information is of a general nature only and is based on the laws presently in force in Luxembourg, though it is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice. Prospective investors in the notes should therefore consult their own professional advisers as to the effects of state, local or foreign laws, including Luxembourg tax law, to which they may be subject.
Please be aware that the residence concept used under the respective headings below applies for Luxembourg income tax assessment purposes only. Any reference in the present section to a tax, duty, levy, impost or other charge or withholding of a similar nature, or to any other concepts, refers to Luxembourg tax law and/or concepts only. Also, please note that a reference to Luxembourg income tax encompasses corporate income tax (impôt sur le revenu des collectivités), municipal business tax (impôt commercial communal), a solidarity surcharge (contribution au fonds pour l'emploi) as well as personal income tax (impôt sur le revenu) generally. Investors may further be subject to net wealth tax (impôt sur la fortune) as well as other duties, levies or taxes. Corporate income tax, municipal business tax as well as the solidarity surcharge invariably apply to most corporate taxpayers resident in Luxembourg for tax purposes. Individual taxpayers are generally subject to personal income tax and the solidarity surcharge. Under certain circumstances, where an individual taxpayer acts in the course of the management of a professional or business undertaking, municipal business tax may apply as well.
Withholding Tax
Non-resident Holders of Notes
Under Luxembourg general tax laws currently in force, there is no withholding tax on payments of principal, premium or interest made to non-resident holders of notes, nor on accrued but unpaid interest in respect of the notes, nor is any Luxembourg withholding tax payable upon redemption or repurchase of the notes held by non-resident holders of notes.
Resident Holders of Notes
Under Luxembourg general tax laws currently in force and subject to the law of December 23, 2005, as amended (the "Relibi Law"), there is no withholding tax on payments of principal, premium or interest made to Luxembourg resident holders of notes, nor on accrued but unpaid interest in respect of notes, nor is any Luxembourg withholding tax payable upon redemption or repurchase of notes held by Luxembourg resident holders of notes.
Under the Relibi Law, payments of interest or similar income made or ascribed by a paying agent established in Luxembourg to an individual beneficial owner who is a resident of Luxembourg will be subject to a withholding tax of 20%. Such withholding tax will be in full discharge of income tax if the beneficial owner is an individual acting in the course of the management of his/her private wealth. Responsibility for the withholding of the tax will be assumed by the Luxembourg paying agent. Payment of interest under the notes coming within the scope of the Relibi Law will be subject to a withholding tax at a rate of 20%.
Income Taxation
Non-resident Holders of Notes
A non-resident holder of notes, not having a permanent establishment or permanent representative in Luxembourg to which/whom such notes are attributable, is not subject to Luxembourg income tax on interest accrued or received, redemption premiums or issue discounts, under the notes. A gain realised
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by such non-resident holder of notes on the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of the notes is further not subject to Luxembourg income tax.
A non-resident corporate holder of notes or an individual holder of notes acting in the course of the management of a professional or business undertaking, who has a permanent establishment or permanent representative in Luxembourg to which or to whom such notes are attributable, is subject to Luxembourg income tax on interest accrued or received, redemption premiums or issue discounts, under the notes and on any gains realised upon the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of the notes.
Resident Holders of Notes
Holders of notes who are residents of Luxembourg will not be liable for any Luxembourg income tax on repayment of principal.
Luxembourg Resident Corporate Holder of Notes
A corporate holder of notes must include any interest accrued or received, any redemption premium or issue discount, as well as any gain realised on the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of the notes, in its taxable income for Luxembourg income tax assessment purposes.
A corporate holder of notes that is governed by the law of May 11, 2007 on family estate management companies, as amended, or by the law of December 17, 2010 on undertakings for collective investment, as amended, or by the law of February 13, 2007 on specialised investment funds, as amended, or by the law of July 23, 2016 on reserved alternative investment funds and which does not fall under the special tax regime set out in article 48 thereof is neither subject to Luxembourg income tax in respect of interest accrued or received, any redemption premium or issue discount, nor on gains realised on the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of the notes.
Luxembourg Resident Individual Holder of Notes
An individual holder of notes, acting in the course of the management of his/her private wealth, is subject to Luxembourg income tax at progressive rates in respect of interest received, redemption premiums or issue discounts, under the notes, except if (i) withholding tax has been levied on such payments in accordance with the Relibi Law, or (ii) the individual holder of the notes has opted for the application of a 20% tax in full discharge of income tax in accordance with the Relibi Law, which applies if a payment of interest has been made or ascribed by a paying agent established in a EU Member State (other than Luxembourg), or in a Member State of the European Economic Area (other than a EU Member State). A gain realised by an individual holder of notes, acting in the course of the management of his/her private wealth, upon the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of notes is not subject to Luxembourg income tax, provided this sale or disposal took place more than six months after the notes were acquired. However, any portion of such gain corresponding to accrued but unpaid interest income is subject to Luxembourg income tax, except if tax has been levied on such interest in accordance with the Relibi Law.
An individual holder of notes acting in the course of the management of a professional or business undertaking must include this interest in its taxable basis. If applicable, the tax levied in accordance with the Relibi Law will be credited against his/her final tax liability.
Net Wealth Taxation
A corporate holder of notes, whether it is a resident of Luxembourg for tax purposes or, if not, it maintains a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in Luxembourg to which/whom such notes are attributable, is subject to Luxembourg wealth tax on such notes, except if the holder of
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notes is governed by the law of May 11, 2007 on family estate management companies, as amended, or by the law of December 17, 2010 on undertakings for collective investment, as amended, or by the law of February 13, 2007 on specialised investment funds, as amended, or by the law of July 23, 2016 on reserved alternative investment funds, or is a securitisation company governed by the law of March 22, 2004 on securitisation, as amended, or is a capital company governed by the law of June 15, 2004 on venture capital vehicles, as amended. Securitisation companies governed by the law of March 22, 2004 on securitisation, as amended, or capital companies governed by the law of June 15, 2004 on venture capital vehicles, as amended, or reserved alternative investment funds governed by the law of July 23, 2016 and which fall under the special tax regime set out under article 48 thereof may, under certain conditions, be subject to minimum net wealth tax.
An individual holder of notes, whether he/she is a resident of Luxembourg or not, is not subject to Luxembourg wealth tax on such notes.
Other Taxes
In principle, neither the issuance nor the transfer, repurchase or redemption of notes will give rise to any Luxembourg registration tax or similar taxes.
However, a fixed or ad valorem registration duty may be due upon the registration of the notes in Luxembourg in the case where the notes are physically attached to a public deed or to any other document subject to mandatory registration, as well as in the case of a registration of the notes on a voluntary basis.
Where a holder of notes is a resident of Luxembourg for tax purposes at the time of his/her death, the notes are included in his/her taxable estate for inheritance tax assessment purposes.
Gift tax may be due on a gift or donation of notes if embodied in a Luxembourg deed passed in front of a Luxembourg notary or recorded in Luxembourg.
Switzerland
Swiss Income Tax
The following information is of a general nature only and is based on the laws currently in force in Switzerland, but it is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice. Prospective investors in the notes should therefore consult their own advisers as to the effects of state, local or foreign laws, including Swiss tax law, to which they may be subject.
Swiss Resident Private Holders
The notes will be classified as ordinary bonds in accordance with Circular No 15 issued by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration on February 7, 2007. Therefore, for private holders resident in Switzerland who hold the notes as private assets (Privatvermögen), the interest payments, including payments of accrued interest upon redemption, are treated as taxable interest and, thus, subject to Swiss federal, cantonal and municipal income taxes at the then prevailing tax rates. Capital gains realized on the sale or redemption of the notes are exempt from Swiss federal, cantonal and municipal income taxes.
Swiss Resident Business Holders
Swiss residents who hold the notes as business assets and foreign residents who hold the notes through a permanent establishment or a fixed place of business (Geschäftsvermögen) situated in Switzerland are in general taxed according to Swiss statutory accounting principles (Massgeblichkeitsprinzip) for purposes of Swiss federal, cantonal and municipal income taxes at the then
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prevailing tax rates. Interest payments are part of the taxable business profit. Capital gains realized on the sale or redemption of the notes are part of their taxable business profit subject to Swiss federal, cantonal and municipal income taxes. This provision also applies to Swiss resident individuals who qualify as so-called professional securities dealers (gewerbsmässige Wertschriftenhändler) for tax purposes.
Non-Swiss Resident Holders
A holder who is not resident in Switzerland and who during the taxable year has not engaged in trade or business through a permanent establishment or a fixed place of business within Switzerland and who is not subject to taxation in Switzerland for any other reason will not be subject to any Swiss federal, cantonal or municipal income or other taxes on income realized on interest payments received or on capital gains resulting from a sale or redemption of the notes.
Swiss Wealth or Net Equity Tax
Swiss resident individuals are required to report their notes as part of their taxable wealth and will be liable for cantonal and municipal net wealth tax (Vermögenssteuer), provided that their aggregate taxable net assets exceeds applicable allowances. No such wealth tax is levied at the federal level.
Legal entities incorporated in Switzerland or persons otherwise subject to taxation in Switzerland are subject to the cantonal and municipal net asset or equity tax (Kapitalsteuer) on the taxable net assets or net equity.
Swiss Federal Transfer Stamp Duty
The issuance and redemption of the notes is not subject to Swiss federal transfer stamp duty (Umsatzabgabe). The sale or transfer against consideration of the notes after issuance may, however, be subject to Swiss transfer stamp duty at the current rate of up to 0.3% if such sale or transfer is made by or through the intermediary of a professional securities dealer as defined in the Swiss Federal Stamp Duty Act and no exception applies. In addition, the sale or transfer of the notes by or through a member of the SIX may be subject to a stock exchange levy.
Swiss Federal Withholding Tax
Under current Swiss law and practice, the payments in respect of the notes by TEGSA are not subject to Swiss Federal Withholding Tax (Verrechnungssteuer), provided that the net proceeds of the notes are used exclusively outside Switzerland.
Automatic Exchange of Information
In 2017, Switzerland introduced the global standard for the automatic exchange of information in tax matters ("AEOI"). The Swiss Federal Act on the AEOI entered into force on January 1, 2017. The AEOI is being introduced in Switzerland through bilateral agreements or multilateral agreements. Switzerland signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (the "MCAA") which is based on the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development/Council of Europe administrative assistance convention. Based on this, Switzerland has signed declarations on the introduction of the AEOI with various partner states. Switzerland will begin to collect data in respect of financial assets, including, as the case may be, notes, held in, and income derived thereon and credited to, accounts or deposits with a financial institution in Switzerland for the benefit of individuals resident in a partner state from, depending on the effective date of the respective agreement, 2017 or 2018, as the case may be, and begin to exchange such data in 2018 or 2019, as the case may be. Switzerland has signed a bilateral agreement with the European Union ("EU") on May 27, 2015 which came into force on January 1, 2017. Based on this, Switzerland and the 28 EU member states shall collect account data
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from 2017 onward and exchange it from 2018 onward. Prospective purchasers of the notes should consult their advisors concerning the impact of the AEOI.
United States
The following is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of the notes. This discussion applies only to notes that are held as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is applicable only to holders who purchased the notes for cash in this offering.
This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including the alternative minimum tax, the 3.8% Medicare tax on certain investment income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, such as:
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) owns notes, the tax treatment of a partner may depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership and on certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner in a partnership considering an investment in the notes, you should consult your tax advisor as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to you.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes.
You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.
A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of a note that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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Qualified Reopening of New 2024 Notes
We will treat the new 2024 notes as being issued in a qualified reopening of the existing 2024 notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes that such treatment is correct. Consequently, the new 2024 notes will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as part of the same issue as the existing 2024 notes.
Taxation of Interest
Stated interest on the notes generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued, depending on your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A portion of the purchase price of the new 2024 notes will be allocable to the amount of interest accrued prior to the date the new 2024 notes are purchased, or "prior accrued interest." A portion of the stated interest payment on February 1, 2018 on the new 2024 notes equal to any prior accrued interest will be treated as a nontaxable return of such prior accrued interest (and not as a payment of interest on the new 2024 notes) and will reduce your tax basis in the new 2024 notes.
If any Additional Amounts are paid on the notes to "gross up" in respect of withholding or deduction for taxes (see "Description of the Notes and the GuaranteesPayment of Additional Amounts"), such amounts will be includable in income of a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time such amount is received or accrued in accordance with such holder's method of tax accounting. Interest income on the notes (including any additional amounts) will be treated as income from sources without the United States and as "passive category income" or under certain circumstances (e.g., income of a financial services entity) as "general category income." If any non-U.S. taxes were to be paid or withheld in respect of payments on the notes, a U.S. holder may be eligible, subject to a number of complex limitations, for a foreign tax credit.
Bond Premium on New 2024 Notes
You will have amortizable bond premium with respect to a new 2024 note if your initial basis in the new 2024 note (excluding any portion attributable to prior accrued interest) exceeds the principal amount of the new 2024 note.
You generally may elect to amortize bond premium over the remaining term of a debt instrument using a constant yield method. Because, however, the new 2024 notes may be redeemed by us prior to maturity at a premium, special rules will apply to defer some or all of the amount of amortizable bond premium that you could otherwise amortize with respect to a new 2024 note in one or more years. Among other things, the application of these rules to a debt instrument with a "make-whole" redemption feature, such as the new 2024 notes, is unclear. You should consult your tax advisor regarding these special rules, including whether it would be advisable to elect to treat all the interest on the new 2024 notes as original issue discount, in which case you would not be subject to these special rules.
Generally, you may use the amortizable bond premium to offset stated interest otherwise required to be included in income with respect to the new 2024 note. Your tax basis in the new 2024 notes will be decreased by the amount of amortizable bond premium allowable as an offset. An election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable bonds held during or after the taxable year for which the election is made, and can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS.
Taxation of Dispositions of Notes
Upon the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption, or other taxable disposition of a note, you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon such disposition (less any amount attributable to accrued and unpaid stated interest, which, except to the
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extent of prior accrued interest on the new 2024 notes, will be taxable as ordinary income as discussed above to the extent not previously included in income) and the adjusted tax basis of the note. Your adjusted tax basis in a note will, in general, be the amount paid for the note (reduced by any amounts attributable to prior accrued interest and any amount of amortizable bond premium allowed as an offset). Generally, any gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be treated as U.S. source gain or loss. Capital gains of non-corporate holders derived in respect of capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of net capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of stated interest on the notes, and the proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of a note paid to you (unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation).
Backup withholding may apply to any payments described in the preceding sentence if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification that you are not subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Reporting Obligations of Individual Owners of Foreign Financial Assets
Section 6038D of the Code generally requires U.S. individuals and certain entities that have U.S. individual owners to file IRS Form 8938 if they hold certain "specified foreign financial assets," the aggregate value of which exceeds $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year (or the aggregate value of which exceeds $75,000 at any time during the taxable year). The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless not held for investment or held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, the notes.
U.S. holders should discuss these reporting obligations with their tax advisors.
The U.S. federal tax discussion set forth above is included for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a holder's particular situation. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the purchase of notes and the beneficial ownership and disposition of the notes, including the tax consequences under state, local, non-U.S. and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.
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BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase or holding of the notes (or any interest in a note) by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), by plans that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or by persons whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of such plans (each, an "ERISA Plan"). Certain benefit plans may be subject to federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, "Similar Laws") and, accordingly, may be subject to similar risks (together with ERISA Plans, "Plans").
Prohibited Transaction Issues
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons who are, respectively, "parties in interest" or "disqualified persons" (both referred to herein as "parties in interest"), unless an exemption applies. Among other effects, a non-exempt prohibited transaction may have to be rescinded, and any party involved in the transaction, as well as any fiduciary of an ERISA Plan that permits such a transaction may be subject to an excise tax or other penalties and liabilities under ERISA.
Among other potential parties, each underwriter may be a party in interest with respect to an ERISA Plan from time to time. The acquisition and holding of notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which any person (which may include any underwriter or the issuer or any of their affiliates) is considered a party in interest may result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless a statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption applies.
Each underwriter may be a party in interest with respect to ERISA Plans from time to time. The acquisition of notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which any underwriter is considered a party in interest may result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless a statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption applies.
In this regard, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code (as applicable) exempt the involvement of the assets of an ERISA Plan in connection with the sale or exchange of property or extension of credit with a party in interest if: (i) such person is a party in interest solely by reason of providing services to the ERISA Plan or by reason of certain relationships to such a service provider and is not a fiduciary (including by reason of rendering investment advice) with respect to the investment of plan assets involved in the transaction and (ii) the ERISA Plan pays no more and receives no less than adequate consideration (as defined in such Sections).
In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or PTCEs, that may apply to the sale, acquisition and holding of the notes (or an interest therein). These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 (relating to transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTCE 90-1 (relating to transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTCE 91-38 (relating to transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 95-60 (relating to transactions involving life insurance company general accounts) and PTCE 96-23 (relating to transactions determined by in-house asset managers). A purchaser of any notes (or an interest therein) should be aware that there can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied with respect to such purchase or holding of any note, or any interest in a note, and that the scope of the exemptive relief provided by any such exemption might not cover all acts which might be construed as prohibited transactions.
The notes and any interest therein may not be purchased or held by any Plan unless such purchase and holding will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code or a similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws.
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Representation
By acceptance of a note (or any interest therein), a purchaser will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either: (i) no portion of the assets used by such purchaser to acquire or hold the note (or any interest therein) constitutes assets of any Plan or (ii) the purchase and holding of the note (or any interest therein) by such purchaser will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or a similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws. Further, If you are an ERISA Plan, then at any time when regulation 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-21, as modified in 2016, is applicable, the fiduciary making the decision to invest in the notes on your behalf will be required or deemed to represent and warrant that it (a) is a bank, insurance company, registered investment adviser, broker-dealer or other person with financial expertise, in each case as described in 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i); (b) is an independent plan fiduciary within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-21; (c) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies; (d) is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transaction and (e) it is not paying any fee or other compensation to the issuer, the underwriters or the guarantor for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the transaction. In addition, such fiduciary will be required or deemed to acknowledge and agree that it (i) has been informed (and it is hereby expressly confirmed) that none of the issuer, the underwriters or the guarantor, or other persons that provide marketing services, nor any of their affiliates, has provided, and none of them will provide, impartial investment advice and they are not giving any advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with your acquisition of notes and (ii) has received and understands the disclosure of the existence and nature of the financial interests contained in this prospectus supplement and related materials.
The preceding discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all-inclusive. Fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing any notes (or any interest therein) on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan should consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment, including the applicability of any exemption thereto. Each purchaser and holder of the notes (or any interest therein) has exclusive responsibility for ensuring that its purchase and holding of the notes (or such interest) does not violate the fiduciary and prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws, as applicable. The sale of any notes (or any interest therein) to any Plan is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by Plans generally or any particular Plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for Plans generally or any particular Plan.
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We and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the notes. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as representatives of the several underwriters. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes indicated in the following table.
Name
|
Principal Amount of new 2024 notes |
Principal Amount of 2027 notes |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
$ | $ | |||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
|||||||
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith |
|||||||
Total |
$ | $ | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken.
Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the applicable public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the public offering price of up to % of the principal amount of the new 2024 notes and up to % of the principal amount of the 2027 notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount from the public offering price of up to % of the principal amount of the new 2024 notes and up to % of the principal amount of the 2027 notes. If all the notes of a series are not sold at the initial offering prices, the underwriters may change the offering prices and the other selling terms of the notes of such series. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in part.
The 2027 notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters currently intend to make markets in both series of notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue markets making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading markets for the notes.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market.
These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
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We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $ .
We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
Citibank, N.A., an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, act as lenders under the Five-Year Senior Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2011 as amended by the First Amendment to the Five-Year Senior Credit Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2013 and the Second Amendment to the Five-Year Senior Credit Agreement, dated as of December 9, 2015, each among TEGSA, as borrower, TE Connectivity, as guarantor, and the lender parties thereunder (the "Five-Year Senior Credit Agreement"). In connection with the Five-Year Senior Credit Agreement, Bank of America, N.A. acts as administrative agent, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated acted as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners and Citibank, N.A. acted as co-documentation agent.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve our securities and/or instruments. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Sales Outside the United States
European Economic Area
In relation to each state that is a member of the European Economic Area (each a "Member State"), which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, as defined below (each, a "Relevant Member State"), an offer of notes to the public may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State may be made at any time under the following exemptions from the Prospectus Directive:
S-43
provided that no such offer of notes shall require TEGSA, TE Connectivity or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, as defined below, or to supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of notes to the public" in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information relating to the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, which may vary in Member States implementing the Prospectus Directive; the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended), including by Directive 2010/73/EU and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.
This European Economic Area selling restriction is in addition to all other selling restrictions set out below.
United Kingdom
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:
Hong Kong
The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Japan
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Securities and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of,
S-44
and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Singapore
This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA"), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.
Canada
The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts ("NI 33-105"), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Switzerland
This prospectus supplement does not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Article 652a or Article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations and the notes will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Therefore, this prospectus supplement may not comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules (including any additional listing rules or prospectus schemes) of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered to the public in or from Switzerland, but only to a selected and limited circle of investors who do not subscribe to the notes with a view to distribution. Any such investors may be individually approached by the underwriters from time to time.
S-45
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York, New York will pass upon the validity of the notes and the guarantees on behalf of TEGSA and TE Connectivity. The validity of the notes and the guarantees will be passed upon for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Certain matters under the laws of Switzerland related to the guarantees will be passed upon for TE Connectivity by Bär & Karrer AG, Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss counsel to TE Connectivity. Certain matters under the laws of Luxembourg related to the notes will be passed upon by Allen & Overy SCS, Luxembourg counsel to TEGSA. Certain matters under the laws of Bermuda related to TE Connectivity, as guarantor of the notes, will be passed upon by Appleby, Bermuda counsel to TE Connectivity.
The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated herein by reference from the TE Connectivity Ltd. and its subsidiaries' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, and the effectiveness of TE Connectivity Ltd. and its subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-46
PROSPECTUS
TE CONNECTIVITY LTD.
REGISTERED SHARES
WARRANTS
UNITS
GUARANTEES
TYCO ELECTRONICS GROUP S.A.
DEBT SECURITIES
UNITS
TE Connectivity Ltd. ("TE Connectivity") may from time to time offer to sell its registered shares, warrants or units. Warrants may be exercisable for registered shares of TE Connectivity or the debt securities described below. Units may include, be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for registered shares or warrants of TE Connectivity or the debt securities described below. TE Connectivity may from time to time issue guarantees of the debt securities as described below.
Tyco Electronics Group S.A. ("TEGSA") may from time to time offer to sell its debt securities as well as units. The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes or other types of debt. The debt securities issued by TEGSA may be convertible or exchangeable for registered shares or other securities of TE Connectivity. The debt securities issued by TEGSA may also be investment grade. If the debt securities issued by TEGSA are either convertible or exchangeable or are not investment grade, such securities shall be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by TE Connectivity. Units may include, be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for debt securities of TEGSA and registered shares or warrants of TE Connectivity.
TE Connectivity and TEGSA may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. TE Connectivity and TEGSA will provide a specific plan of distribution for any securities to be offered in a supplement to this prospectus. TE Connectivity and TEGSA will provide specific terms of any securities to be offered in a supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
The principal executive offices of TE Connectivity are located at Rheinstrasse 20, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and its telephone number at that address is +41 (0)52 633 66 61. The principal executive offices of TEGSA are located at 17, Boulevard Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, L-1331 Luxembourg, and its telephone number at that address is (352) 464-340-1.
Investing in the securities involves risks. See "Risk Factors" on page 3 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before investing in the securities.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission, nor any similar authority in Switzerland or Luxembourg, has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement that contains a description of those securities.
The date of this prospectus is July 29, 2016
This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that TE Connectivity and TEGSA have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. As allowed by the SEC's rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement, including its exhibits, filed with the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SEC's rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of these matters.
You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we file with the SEC together with any additional information you may need to make your investment decision. You should also read and carefully consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in "Where You Can Find More Information" below. Information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus is considered a part of this prospectus and may add, update or change information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with the information in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus, any supplement or any free writing prospectus we file with the SEC. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with other information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated herein or therein by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
Unless otherwise stated, or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to "we," "us" and "our" are to TE Connectivity and its consolidated subsidiaries, including TEGSA.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information relating to our business, financial condition and other matters with the SEC. We are required to disclose in such reports certain information, as of particular dates, concerning our operating results and financial condition, officers and directors, principal holders of shares, any material interests of such persons in transactions with us and other matters. Our filed reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports and other information regarding registrants like us that file electronically with the SEC. The address of such site is: http://www.sec.gov. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning our business may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.
Our Internet website is www.te.com. We make available free of charge on our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, reports filed pursuant to Section 16 and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we
1
electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. In addition, we have posted the charters for our Audit Committee, Management Development and Compensation Committee and Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee, as well as our Board Governance Principles, under the heading "Board of Directors" in the Investors section of our website. Other than any documents expressly incorporated by reference, the information on our website and any other website that is referred to in this prospectus is not part of this prospectus.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below, which TE Connectivity has filed with the SEC, and any future filings made by TE Connectivity and TEGSA with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless expressly stated to the contrary, none of the information that TE Connectivity discloses under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K or exhibits relating to such disclosure that it has furnished or may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus. The information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and in some cases supersede the information in this prospectus and the documents listed below.
Upon your oral or written request, we will provide you with a copy of any of these filings at no cost. Requests should be directed to Corporate Secretary, TE Connectivity Ltd., 1050 Westlakes Drive, Berwyn, PA 19312, Telephone No. (610) 893-9560.
TE Connectivity Ltd.
TE Connectivity is a global technology leader. We design and manufacture connectivity and sensor solutions that are essential in today's increasingly connected world. We help our customers solve the need for intelligent, efficient, and high-performing products and solutions.
We operate through three reportable segments: Transportation Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Communications Solutions.
TE Connectivity is a Swiss corporation. Its registered and principal office is located at Rheinstrasse 20, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and its telephone number at that address is +41 (0)52 633 66 61. Its executive office in the United States is located at 1050 Westlakes Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, and its telephone number at that address is (610) 893-9560.
2
Tyco Electronics Group S.A.
TEGSA is a Luxembourg company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of TE Connectivity. TEGSA's registered and principal office is located at 17, Boulevard Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, L-1331 Luxembourg, and its telephone number at that address is +352 46 43 40 1. TEGSA is a holding company established to directly and indirectly own all of the operating subsidiaries of TE Connectivity, to issue debt securities and to perform treasury operations for TE Connectivity. Otherwise, it conducts no independent business.
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the discussion of risks and uncertainties under "Part I, Item 1ARisk Factors" in TE Connectivity's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and under similar headings in TE Connectivity's subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See the section entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties discussed in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus are those we currently believe may materially affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have made forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated in this prospectus that are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to our management at the time such statements were made. Forward-looking statements include, among others, the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential operating performance improvements, acquisitions, divestitures, the effects of competition and the effects of future legislation or regulations. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "believe," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "may" and "should" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
The risk factors discussed under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in TE Connectivity's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2015, filed November 10, 2015, and under similar headings in TE Connectivity's subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth information regarding our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods shown. For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of (a) interest expense, (b) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness, and (c) a portion of rent expense, which represents an appropriate interest factor.
|
Fiscal | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nine Months Ended June 24, 2016 |
|||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
7.53 | 10.72 | 12.43 | 7.55 | 6.70 | 8.19 |
Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of any registered shares, warrants, debt securities or units that may be offered hereby for general corporate purposes. Such general corporate purposes may include, but are not limited to, reducing or refinancing our indebtedness or the indebtedness of our subsidiaries, financing possible acquisitions and redeeming outstanding securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an offering will contain a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering of securities.
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the registered shares, warrants, debt securities, guarantees or units that may be offered under this prospectus.
TE Connectivity and TEGSA may offer and sell the securities offered by this prospectus to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. TE Connectivity and TEGSA will provide a specific plan of distribution for any securities to be offered in a supplement to this prospectus.
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
TE Connectivity is a Swiss company, and TEGSA is a Luxembourg company. TE Connectivity and TEGSA have consented in the indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of debt securities to submit to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and state courts in The City of New York and to receive service of process in The City of New York in any legal suit, action or proceeding brought to enforce any rights under or with respect to such indenture and any debt securities or guarantees issued under it. A substantial majority of TE Connectivity's directly held assets consists of shares in TEGSA. Accordingly, any judgment against TEGSA or TE Connectivity in respect of the indenture, the notes or the guarantee, including for civil liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws, obtained in any U.S. federal or state court may have to be enforced in the courts of Luxembourg or Switzerland. Investors should not assume that the courts of Luxembourg or Switzerland would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against TEGSA or TE Connectivity predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws or that such courts would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against TEGSA or TE Connectivity predicated solely upon such laws.
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Luxembourg
TEGSA is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg. Certain members of the board of directors are non-residents of the United States and a substantial portion of TEGSA's assets and those of such directors are located outside the United States. As a result, you may not be able to effect a service of process within the United States on TEGSA or on such persons or to enforce in Luxembourg courts judgments obtained against TEGSA or such persons in U.S. courts, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal and state securities laws or other laws. Likewise, it may also be difficult for an investor to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against TEGSA or such persons in courts in jurisdictions outside the United States, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws.
TEGSA has been advised by Allen & Overy, société en commandite simple, its Luxembourg counsel, that the United States and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg are not currently bound by a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitral awards) rendered in civil and commercial matters. According to such counsel, an enforceable judgment for the payment of monies rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the U.S. securities laws, would not directly be enforceable in Luxembourg. However, a party who received such favorable judgment in a U.S. court may initiate enforcement proceedings in Luxembourg (exequatur) by requesting enforcement of the U.S. judgment before the District Court (Tribunal d'Arrondissement) of Luxembourg sitting in civil matters pursuant to Section 678 of the New Luxembourg Code of Civil Procedure. The president of the District Court will authorize the enforcement in Luxembourg of the U.S. judgment if it is satisfied that all of the following conditions are met:
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York, New York will pass upon the validity of the debt securities, guarantees, warrants and units offered by TE Connectivity or TEGSA. The validity of the registered shares offered by TE Connectivity will be passed upon by Bär & Karrer, Zurich, Switzerland, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference to TE Connectivity Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2015, and the effectiveness of TE Connectivity Ltd. and its subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
6
$
Tyco Electronics Group S.A.
$ 3.450% Senior Notes due 2024
$ % Senior Notes due 2027
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as described herein, by
TE Connectivity Ltd.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
, 2017
Joint Book-Running Managers
BofA Merrill Lynch
Citigroup
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC