Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-273297
The information in
this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus are part of an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they 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 19, 2023
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To prospectus dated July 17, 2023)
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1985252/000121390023058055/image_001.jpg)
HEICO CORPORATION
$ %
Notes due 20
$ %
Notes due 20
HEICO Corporation
(“HEICO,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is offering
$ aggregate principal amount of its % notes due 20
(the “20 notes”) and
$ aggregate principal amount of its
% notes due 20 (the “20 notes” and, together with the 20
notes, the “notes”). Interest on the notes will be payable semiannually in arrears
on and of each year, commencing on , 2024.
The 20 notes will mature on , 20 and the 20
notes will mature on , 20 .
Prior to the applicable
Par Call Date (as defined below), we may redeem at our option the 20 notes and the 20 notes,
at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at the applicable redemption price described under “Description of the
Notes—Optional Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest, to but excluding the redemption date. On or after the
applicable Par Call Date, such notes will be redeemable at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a
redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to but excluding the redemption
date.
The notes will be
our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness.
The notes will be effectively subordinated to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral
securing such indebtedness. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of our existing
and future subsidiaries that guarantee our obligations under the Credit Agreement (as defined below), which includes (i) each of our existing
wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined below) and (ii) any subsidiary that in the future agrees to guarantee obligations
under the Credit Agreement (the “subsidiary guarantors”). The notes and the guarantees will be our and the subsidiary guarantors’ senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and
future senior unsecured debt. The notes will be effectively subordinated to our and the guarantors’ secured debt, to the extent
of the assets securing such debt and structurally subordinated to any existing or future indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not
guarantee the notes.
We, through a newly
formed wholly owned subsidiary, have entered into a Merger Agreement (as defined below) to acquire Wencor Group (“Wencor”),
a large commercial and military aircraft aftermarket company (the “Merger” or the “Wencor Acquisition”). We intend
to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to fund a portion of the purchase price for the Wencor Acquisition, including related
fees and expenses, with any remaining amounts, for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
If the closing of the
Wencor Acquisition has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) February 14, 2024 (subject to extension to such later date to
which the “Termination Date” (as defined in the Merger Agreement) may be extended in accordance with the terms of the
Merger Agreement) and (ii) the date the Merger Agreement, including any amendment thereof, is terminated according to its terms (the
“Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), we will redeem the 20 notes in whole at a redemption price
equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such
notes to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below) (the “Special Mandatory Redemption
Price”) (such redemption, a “Special Mandatory Redemption”). See “Description of the Notes—Special
Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes.”
The notes are new issues of
securities with no established trading markets. We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange or any automated quotation
system.
Investing in the notes
involves risks. You should carefully read the entire accompanying prospectus and this prospectus supplement and the documents
incorporated by reference herein and therein, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” which begins on
page S-13 of this prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities
and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or determined if this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Public Offering
Price(1) | | |
Underwriting Discount | | |
Proceeds to us,
before expenses | |
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Per Note | | |
Total | | |
Per Note | | |
Total | | |
Per Note | | |
Total | |
% Notes due 20 | |
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$ | | | |
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$ | | | |
| | % | |
$ | | |
% Notes due 20 | |
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$ | | | |
| | % | |
$ | | | |
| | % | |
$ | | |
Total: | |
| | | |
$ | | | |
| | | |
$ | | | |
| | | |
$ | | |
(1) | Plus accrued interest from July ,
2023 if delivery of the notes occurs after that date. |
The underwriters expect to deliver
the notes only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking, S.A., on or about July ,
2023.
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Joint Book-Running Managers |
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Truist Securities |
BofA
Securities |
Wells Fargo Securities |
Prospectus Supplement dated
July , 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus
About This Prospectus
Supplement
We provide information to
you about this offering in two separate documents. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of
this offering of notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply
to this offering of notes. This prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information in the accompanying prospectus. If
information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with information in the accompanying prospectus, this prospectus supplement
will apply and will supersede that information in the accompanying prospectus.
This prospectus supplement
and the accompanying prospectus relate to part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), using a shelf registration process. Both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include or incorporate
by reference important information about us and other information you should know before investing in the notes. You should read both
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus as well as additional information described under “Where You Can Find
Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement before making
an investment decision.
You should rely only on the
information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing
prospectus. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information other
than that contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing
prospectus filed by the Company with the SEC. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and
therein, are accurate only as of the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects may have changed since those dates.
Unless otherwise indicated
or unless the context requires otherwise (including when describing the terms of the notes), references in this prospectus supplement
to “HEICO,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” or similar terms are to HEICO
Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Where You Can Find
Additional Information
We file annual, quarterly
and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available at the website maintained by the
SEC at www.sec.gov or on HEICO’s website at www.heico.com. We make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports
on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable
after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information contained on, connected to or that can be
accessed via our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
We have filed with the SEC
a registration statement on Form S-3 regarding the securities we may offer from time to time. This prospectus supplement does not contain
all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding HEICO and the securities offered by this
prospectus supplement, you should review the entire registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, filed under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part,
including its exhibits and schedules, has been filed electronically and can be obtained in any manner listed above.
Extended Settlement
We expect that delivery
of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about , 2023, which will be the
business day following the date of pricing of the notes, or “T+ .” Under Rule 15c6-1
of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any
such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on the date of pricing or the
next succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes
initially settle in T+ , to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed
settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their
advisors.
Incorporation of
Certain Documents By Reference
The SEC allows us to provide
information about our business and other important information to you by “incorporating by reference” the information we file
with the SEC, which means that we can disclose the information to you by referring in this prospectus supplement to the documents we file
with the SEC. Under the SEC’s regulations, any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
is automatically updated and superseded by any information contained in this prospectus supplement, or in any subsequently filed document
of the types described below.
We incorporate into this prospectus
supplement by reference the following documents filed by us with the SEC, each of which should be considered an important part of this
prospectus supplement:
| ● | The
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on December 21, 2022, including portions of
the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2023, to the extent incorporated by reference
into such Annual Report on Form 10-K; |
| ● | Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023; |
| ● | Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023; and |
| ● | The
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2022, March 20, 2023, April 12, 2023, May 15, 2023, May 18, 2023
and July 17, 2023. |
In addition, all documents
subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for the purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document
which also is or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
We will provide to you, upon
request, a copy of each of our filings at no cost. Please make your request by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone
number:
HEICO Corporation
3000 Taft Street
Hollywood, Florida 33021
Tel: (954) 987-4000
You should rely only on the
information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or any subsequently filed supplement. We have not authorized
anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement or any
subsequently filed supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
Special Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus supplement
and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement contain “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements, which in some cases, you can identify
by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,”
“plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,”
“potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, relate to future events or to our future
operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding our operations, cash flows, and financial position. These statements
reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties.
Although we believe that these
statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these statements expressing opinions about future outcomes and non-historical information
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and reflect future business decisions that are
subject to change and, therefore, there is no assurance that the outcomes expressed in these statements will be achieved. Some of the
assumptions, future results and levels of performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements we have made or may make
in the future may not materialize, and unanticipated events may occur which will affect our results. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed
in forward-looking statements contained herein, including as a result of factors including, but not limited to:
| ● | the
severity, magnitude and duration of public health threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (“Health Emergencies”); |
| ● | HEICO’s
liquidity and the amount and timing of cash generation; |
| ● | lower
commercial air travel caused by Health Emergencies and their aftermath, airline fleet changes or airline purchasing decisions, which
could cause lower demand for our goods and services; |
| ● | product
specification costs and requirements, which could cause an increase to our costs to complete contracts; |
| ● | governmental
and regulatory demands, export policies and restrictions, reductions in defense, space or homeland security spending by U.S. and/or foreign
customers or competition from existing and new competitors, which could reduce our sales; |
| ● | our
ability to introduce new products and services at profitable pricing levels, which could reduce our sales or sales growth; |
| ● | product
development or manufacturing difficulties, which could increase our product development and manufacturing costs and delay sales; |
| ● | our
ability to make acquisitions, including obtaining any applicable domestic and/or foreign governmental approvals, and achieve operating
synergies from acquired businesses; |
| ● | interest,
foreign currency exchange and income tax rates; economic conditions, including the effects of inflation, within and outside of the aviation,
defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries, which could negatively impact our costs and revenues; |
| ● | defense
spending or budget cuts, which could reduce our defense-related revenue; and |
| ● | risks
relating to the Wencor Acquisition. |
Given these uncertainties,
you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail
under “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. You should read this prospectus supplement completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially
different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement by these cautionary statements.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as may be required under the securities laws of the United States. You are advised, however, to consult any additional
disclosures we make in our reports filed with the SEC.
Summary
The following summary highlights
information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This summary does
not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in the notes. You should carefully read this entire prospectus
supplement, as well as the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein that are described under “Where
You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
Company Overview
HEICO Corporation through
its subsidiaries believes it is the world’s largest manufacturer of Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) approved
jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts, other than the original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and their subcontractors.
HEICO also believes it is a leading manufacturer of various types of electronic equipment for the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications
and electronics industries. The Company was originally organized in 1957 as a holding company known as HEICO Corporation. As part of a
reorganization completed in 1993, the original holding company (formerly known as HEICO Corporation) was renamed as HEICO Aerospace Corporation
and a new holding corporation known as HEICO Corporation was created. The reorganization did not result in any change in the business
of the Company, its consolidated assets or liabilities or the relative interests of its shareholders.
Our business is comprised
of two operating segments:
The Flight Support Group.
Our Flight Support Group (“FSG”), consisting of HEICO Aerospace Holdings Corp. and HEICO Flight Support Corp. and their
collective subsidiaries, accounted for 57%, 50% and 52% of our net sales in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively and 58% of net sales
for the six months ended April 30, 2023. The FSG uses proprietary technology to design and manufacture jet engine and aircraft component
replacement parts for sale at lower prices than those manufactured by OEMs. These parts are approved by the FAA and are the functional
equivalent of parts sold by OEMs. In addition, the FSG repairs, overhauls and distributes jet engine and aircraft components, avionics
and instruments for domestic and foreign commercial air carriers and aircraft repair companies as well as military and business aircraft
operators. The FSG also manufactures and sells specialty parts as a subcontractor for aerospace and industrial original equipment manufacturers
and the United States (“U.S.”) government. Additionally, the FSG is a leading supplier, distributor, and integrator of military
aircraft parts and support services primarily to the U.S. Department of Defense, defense prime contractors, and foreign military organizations
allied with the U.S. Further, the FSG is a leading manufacturer of advanced niche components and complex composite assemblies for commercial
aviation, defense and space applications. The FSG engineers, designs and manufactures thermal insulation blankets and parts as well as
removable/reusable insulation systems for aerospace, defense, commercial and industrial applications; manufactures expanded foil mesh
for lightning strike protection in fixed and rotary wing aircraft; distributes aviation electrical interconnect products and electromechanical
parts; overhauls industrial pumps, motors, and other hydraulic units with a focus on the support of legacy systems for the U.S. Navy;
and performs tight-tolerance machining, brazing, fabricating and welding services for aerospace, defense and other industrial applications.
The Electronic Technologies
Group. Our Electronic Technologies Group (“ETG”), consisting of HEICO Electronic Technologies Corp. and its subsidiaries,
accounted for 43%, 50% and 48% of our net sales in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 42% of net sales for the six months ended April 30, 2023. The ETG derived approximately 56%, 63% and
66% of its net sales in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 47% of net sales for the six months ended April 30, 2023, from the
sale of products and services to U.S. and foreign military agencies, prime defense contractors and both commercial and defense satellite
and spacecraft manufacturers. The ETG collectively designs, manufactures and sells various types of electronic, data and microwave, and
electro-optical products, including infrared simulation and test equipment, laser rangefinder receivers, electrical power supplies, back-up
power supplies, power conversion products, underwater locator beacons, emergency locator transmission beacons, flight deck annunciators,
panels, and indicators, electromagnetic and radio frequency interference shielding and filters, high power capacitor charging power supplies,
amplifiers, traveling wave tube amplifiers, photodetectors, amplifier modules, microwave power modules, flash lamp drivers, laser diode
drivers, arc lamp power supplies, custom power supply designs, cable assemblies, high voltage power supplies, high voltage interconnection
devices and wire, high voltage energy generators, high frequency power delivery systems; memory products, including three-dimensional
microelectronic and stacked memory, static random-access memory (“SRAM”), and electronically erasable programmable read-only
memory (“EEPROM”); harsh environment electronic connectors and other interconnect products, radio frequency (“RF”)
and microwave amplifiers, transmitters, and receivers and integrated assemblies, sub-assemblies and components; RF sources, detectors
and controllers, wireless cabin control systems, solid state power distribution and management systems, crashworthy and ballistically
self-sealing auxiliary fuel systems, nuclear radiation detectors, communications and electronic intercept receivers and tuners, fuel level
sensing systems, high-speed interface products that link devices, high performance active antenna systems and airborne antennas for commercial
and military aircraft, precision guided munitions, other defense applications and commercial uses; silicone material for a variety of
demanding applications; precision power analog monolithic, hybrid and open frame components; high-reliability ceramic-to-metal feedthroughs
and connectors, technical surveillance countermeasures (“TSCM”) equipment to detect devices used for espionage and information
theft; rugged small-form factor embedded computing solutions; custom high power filters and filter assemblies; test sockets and adapters
for both engineering and production use of semiconductor devices; and radiation assurance services and products.
HEICO has continuously operated
in the aerospace industry for over 65 years. Since assuming control in 1990, our current management has achieved significant sales and
profit growth through a broadened line of product offerings, an expanded customer base, increased research and development expenditures
and the completion of a number of acquisitions. As a result of internal growth and acquisitions, our net sales from continuing operations
have grown from $26.2 million in fiscal 1990 to $2,208.3 million in fiscal 2022, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately
15%. During the same period, we improved our net income from $2.0 million to $351.7 million, representing a compound annual growth rate
of approximately 18%.
Acquisitions have been an
important element of our growth strategy over the past thirty-three years, supplementing our organic growth. Since 1990, we have completed 97 acquisitions complementing the niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics
industries in which we operate. We typically target acquisition opportunities that allow us to broaden our product offerings, services
and technologies while expanding our customer base and geographic presence. Even though we have historically pursued an active acquisition
policy, our disciplined acquisition strategy involves limiting acquisition candidates to businesses that we believe will continue to grow,
offer strong cash flow and earnings potential, and are available at fair prices.
Wencor Acquisition
Merger Agreement
On
May 15, 2023, the Company and its newly formed wholly owned subsidiary Magnolia MergeCo Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”),
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) to acquire Jazz Parent, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
the owner of Wencor, with Wencor and Jazz Topco GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Representative”), solely
in its capacity as representative for purposes of certain provisions of the Merger Agreement. Under the Merger Agreement, the Merger Sub
will merge with and into Wencor, with Wencor continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for an aggregate
purchase price of $1.9 billion in cash, subject to certain working capital, debt and other customary adjustments set forth in the Merger
Agreement (the “Cash Consideration”), and 1,137,656 shares of HEICO Class A Common Stock, or $2.05 billion in the aggregate.
The
Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the closing of the
transactions contemplated thereby, the Company will deposit $20 million of the Cash Consideration with an escrow agent to fund Wencor’s
payment obligations with respect to the working capital, debt and other customary post-closing adjustments contained in the Merger Agreement.
Under
the Merger Agreement, the Company and Wencor have made customary representations and warranties and have agreed to be bound to customary
covenants for transactions of this type, including committing to use reasonable best efforts to obtain necessary approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) and certain other regulatory approvals.
The
completion of the Wencor Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including, among others: (a) the absence of certain legal
impediments to the consummation of the Wencor Acquisition; (b) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the
HSR Act, and the receipt of certain other regulatory approvals; (c) in the case of the Company’s and Wencor’s obligations
to complete the transaction, the accuracy of Wencor’s and the Company’s, respectively, representations and warranties contained
in the Merger Agreement; (d) material compliance by the Company, Wencor and the Representative with certain pre-closing covenants; and
(e) no material adverse change in Wencor’s business since the date of the Merger Agreement. Subject to the satisfaction of the closing
conditions, the Merger is expected to close by the end of calendar 2023.
This offering is not
conditioned on the completion of the Wencor Acquisition. However, if the Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, we will redeem
the 20 notes in whole at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. See “Description of the Notes—Special
Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes.”
Financing of the Wencor Acquisition
We
have an existing $2.0 billion revolving credit agreement (the “Existing Credit Facility”) with a bank syndicate, which also
includes a feature that allows the Company to increase the capacity by $750 million to become a $2.75 billion facility through increased
commitments from existing lenders. The Existing Credit Facility may be used to finance acquisitions and for working capital and other
general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. The Company’s borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility mature in
fiscal 2028. See “Description of Other HEICO Indebtedness—Existing Credit Facility”.
In
connection with the Wencor Acquisition, on May 14, 2023, we entered into a commitment letter (the “Commitment
Letter”) with Truist Bank (the “Bridge Lender”) and Truist Securities, Inc., which was amended and restated on
July 14, 2023, pursuant to which the Bridge Lender has committed to provide a senior unsecured credit facility to the Company, as
the borrower, in an aggregate amount of up to $1.0 billion (the “Bridge Facility”), with a maturity date of 364
days following the closing date. The obligation to fund the Bridge Facility is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set
forth in the Commitment Letter. Our currently committed credit facilities, together with cash on hand, are sufficient to fund the
purchase price for the Wencor Acquisition. If we complete the offering, we do not anticipate drawing upon any amounts
available under the Bridge Facility.
Corporate Information
HEICO’s corporate headquarters
is located at 3000 Taft Street, Hollywood, Florida 33021. Our telephone number is (954) 987-4000 and our Internet website address is www.heico.com.
The information on our website is not a part of, or incorporated in, this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
The Offering
The following summary
contains certain material information about the notes and is not intended to be complete. It does not contain all the information that
is important to you. For a more complete understanding of the notes, please refer to the section entitled “Description of the Notes”
in this prospectus supplement and the section titled “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
Issuer |
HEICO Corporation, a Florida corporation. |
|
|
Securities offered |
$
aggregate principal amount of % notes due 20
$
aggregate principal amount of % notes due 20 |
|
|
Maturity Date |
Unless redeemed prior to maturity as described below,
the 20 notes
will mature on , 20
the 20 notes will mature on
, 20 |
|
|
Interest |
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of %
per annum in the case of the 20 notes and
% per annum in the case of the 20 notes. Interest on the notes
will be payable semiannually in arrears
on and
, commencing on
, 2024. |
|
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Ranking |
The notes will be senior unsecured obligations
of the Company. The payment of the principal of premium, if any, and interest on the notes will:
● rank equally in right of payment
with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness;
● rank senior in right of payment
to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness;
● be structurally subordinated
to all liabilities (including trade payables) of our existing and future subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes; and
● be effectively subordinated
to our and our subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing
such indebtedness.
As of April 30, 2023, before giving effect to the issuance of the notes
and the use of proceeds therefrom (including the Wencor Acquisition) we, together with the subsidiary guarantors, have had approximately
$737.1 million aggregate principal amount of indebtedness, none of which is secured indebtedness. |
Guarantees |
The notes will be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by each of our subsidiaries that are or become guarantors under the
Credit Agreement, which includes (i) each of our existing wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries and (ii) any subsidiary
(including any member of Wencor that is a Material Domestic Subsidiary following consummation of the Wencor Acquisition) that in the
future agrees to guarantee obligations under the Credit Agreement. The guarantees will be senior unsecured obligations of the
guarantors and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the
guarantors, effectively junior to any existing and future secured indebtedness of the guarantors to the extent of the value of the
assets securing such indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the
guarantors. The notes will not be guaranteed by any foreign subsidiaries.
As of April 30, 2023, on an as adjusted basis, after
giving effect to the issuance of the notes and guarantees, and the assumed application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under
“Use of Proceeds,” the guarantees would have ranked:
● equally in right of payment with approximately $737.1 million principal amount of the guarantors’ other unsecured obligations;
and
● effectively subordinate in right of payment to approximately $17.5 million of borrowings by our subsidiaries that are not guarantors.
Our non-guarantor domestic and foreign subsidiaries
accounted for $1.25 billion, or 26%, of our total assets, and $201.3 million, or 12%, of our total liabilities, as of April 30, 2023. |
|
|
Optional Redemption |
Each series of notes will be redeemable at any time prior to the applicable Par Call Date, as a whole or in part, at our option, on at least 10 days’, but not more than 60 days’, prior notice mailed to the registered address of each holder of the notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: |
|
|
|
(i) the
(a) sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption
date (assuming the notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus basis points, in the case of the
20 notes, and basis points, in the case of the 20 notes, less (b)
interest accrued to the date of redemption, and |
|
|
|
(ii) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date. Each series of notes will be redeemable at any time on or after the applicable Par Call Date, as a whole or in part, at our option, on at least 10 days’, but not more than 60 days’, prior notice mailed to the registered address of each holder of the series of notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date. |
Special
Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes |
The completion of this offering is not contingent on the closing of the Wencor Acquisition. If the closing of the Wencor Acquisition has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) February 14, 2024 (subject to extension to such later date to which the “Termination Date” (as defined in the Merger Agreement) may be extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement) and (ii) the dated the Merger Agreement, including any amendment thereof, is terminated, according to its terms (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), we will redeem the 20 notes in whole at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such notes to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date. See “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes”. |
|
|
Change of Control |
If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes in whole as described above, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such holder’s notes on the terms set forth in the notes. We will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. See “Description of the Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event”. |
|
|
Certain Covenants |
The indenture governing the notes will contain certain covenants applicable to HEICO and its restricted subsidiaries, including limitations on liens and mergers, consolidations and sale of assets. Each of these covenants is subject to important exceptions and qualifications. The indenture governing the notes, among other things, includes:
● restrictions
on the ability of HEICO and any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined below) to create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any
indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien on any of our Principal Property
(as defined below);
● restrictions
on any sale and lease-back transactions by HEICO and any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Principal Property;
and
● restrictions on our ability to consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, or lease, sell or transfer all or substantially all of our property and assets to any corporation.
The
indenture governing the notes will also contain requirements relating to additional subsidiary guarantors. These covenants are subject
to important exceptions and qualifications, which are described in “Description of the Notes—Certain Covenants”. |
Use of Proceeds |
We estimate that the net proceeds of
this offering will be approximately $ (after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses). We intend
to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to fund a portion of the purchase price for the Wencor Acquisition, including related
fees and expenses, and, with any remaining amounts, for general corporate purposes.
We may temporarily repay outstanding borrowings under our Existing
Credit Facility and invest funds that are not immediately needed for these purposes in short-term investments, including marketable securities.
See “Use of Proceeds”. |
|
|
No Listing |
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently there are no public markets for the notes. |
|
|
Book-Entry Form |
The notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC (as defined below). Beneficial interests in the notes will be evidenced by, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by participants in DTC. |
|
|
No Public Trading Market; Listing |
The notes are new issues of securities for
which there is no established market. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a market for the notes will develop or as to the
liquidity of any market that may develop. The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the notes.
However, they are not obligated to do so and any market making with respect to the notes may be discontinued without notice. We do
not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange. |
|
|
Governing Law |
State of New York. |
|
|
Trustee |
Truist Bank |
|
|
Risk Factors |
See “Risk Factors” and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for factors you should consider before deciding to invest in the notes. |
|
|
Conflicts |
Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility. Accordingly, to the extent we use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates that are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering (not including underwriting discounts and commissions). Nonetheless, in accordance with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rule 5121, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with this offering. See “Underwriting—Conflicts of Interest.” |
HEICO Summary Consolidated
Financial Data
The following summary consolidated financial information
of HEICO should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
and the audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2022
and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2023, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus.
The summary consolidated financial information
for the years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2022.
The summary consolidated financial information for the six months ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022 are derived from our unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2023. You should read the summary consolidated financial information in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements, the related notes and other financial information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of financial results to be achieved in future periods.
| |
Year Ended October 31, | | |
Six Months Ended April 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2020 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
($ in thousands) | |
(audited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Statement of Operations Information: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Net sales | |
$ | 2,208,322 | | |
$ | 1,865,682 | | |
$ | 1,787,009 | | |
$ | 1,308,756 | | |
$ | 1,029,156 | |
Cost of sales | |
| 1,345,563 | | |
| 1,138,259 | | |
| 1,104,882 | | |
| 798,445 | | |
| 627,717 | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | |
| 365,915 | | |
| 334,523 | | |
| 305,479 | | |
| 223,787 | | |
| 179,840 | |
Operating income | |
| 496,844 | | |
| 392,900 | | |
| 376,648 | | |
| 286,524 | | |
| 221,599 | |
Interest expense | |
| (6,386 | ) | |
| (7,285 | ) | |
| (13,159 | ) | |
| (17,441 | ) | |
| (1,775 | ) |
Other income | |
| 565 | | |
| 1,443 | | |
| 1,366 | | |
| 982 | | |
| 540 | |
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interests | |
| 491,023 | | |
| 387,058 | | |
| 364,855 | | |
| 270,065 | | |
| 220,364 | |
Income tax expense | |
| 100,400 | | |
| 57,300 | | |
| 29,000 | | |
| 52,000 | | |
| 33,000 | |
Net income from consolidated operations | |
| 390,623 | | |
| 329,758 | | |
| 335,855 | | |
| 218,065 | | |
| 187,364 | |
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | |
| 38,948 | | |
| 25,538 | | |
| 21,871 | | |
| 19,918 | | |
| 15,433 | |
Net income attributable to HEICO | |
$ | 351,675 | | |
$ | 304,220 | | |
$ | 313,984 | | |
$ | 198,147 | | |
$ | 171,931 | |
| |
As of October 31, | | |
As of April 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2020 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
($ in thousands) | |
(audited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Information: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
$ | 139,504 | | |
$ | 108,298 | | |
$ | 406,852 | | |
$ | 127,161 | | |
$ | 117,318 | |
Working capital(1) | |
| 731,871 | | |
| 642,505 | | |
| 924,464 | | |
| 899,811 | | |
| 728,533 | |
Total assets | |
| 4,095,496 | | |
| 3,498,407 | | |
| 3,547,711 | | |
| 4,870,199 | | |
| 3,685,333 | |
Current liabilities | |
| 420,859 | | |
| 294,880 | | |
| 241,161 | | |
| 466,828 | | |
| 304,192 | |
Long-term debt, net of current maturities | |
| 288,620 | | |
| 234,983 | | |
| 738,786 | | |
| 735,779 | | |
| 264,095 | |
Shareholders’ equity | |
| 2,648,306 | | |
| 2,296,939 | | |
| 2,010,607 | | |
| 2,859,667 | | |
| 2,420,474 | |
(1) | Working capital is calculated as current assets less current liabilities. |
| |
Year Ended October 31, | | |
As of and for the Six Months
Ended April 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2020 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
($ in thousands, except ratios) | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Other Financial Data | |
| | |
| |
EBITDA(1) | |
$ | 593,742 | | |
$ | 487,362 | | |
$ | 466,575 | | |
$ | 344,290 | | |
$ | 268,846 | |
Total debt | |
| 290,274 | | |
| 236,498 | | |
| 739,831 | | |
| 754,639 | | |
| 265,876 | |
Net debt(1) | |
| 150,770 | | |
| 128,200 | | |
| 332,979 | | |
| 627,478 | | |
| 148,558 | |
Total debt to shareholders’ equity ratio | |
| 11.0 | % | |
| 10.3 | % | |
| 36.8 | % | |
| 26.4 | % | |
| 11.0 | % |
Net debt to shareholders’ equity ratio(1) | |
| 5.7 | % | |
| 5.6 | % | |
| 16.6 | % | |
| 21.9 | % | |
| 6.1 | % |
Total debt to EBITDA (trailing twelve months) ratio(1) | |
| .49 | | |
| .49 | | |
| 1.59 | | |
| 1.13 | | |
| .50 | |
Net
debt to EBITDA (trailing twelve months) ratio(1) | |
| .25 | | |
| .26 | | |
| .71 | | |
| .94 | | |
| .28 | |
| |
Trailing Twelve Months
Ended April 30, | |
| |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
| |
(unaudited) | |
($ in thousands) | |
| |
Net income attributable to HEICO | |
$ | 377,891 | | |
$ | 334,882 | |
EBITDA(1) | |
| 669,186 | | |
| 532,239 | |
(1) | To provide additional information about the Company’s results, we have included in this Summary Financial Data EBITDA (calculated
as net income attributable to HEICO adjusted for depreciation and amortization expense, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests,
interest expense and income tax expense), net debt (calculated as total debt less cash and cash equivalents), net debt to shareholders’
equity ratio (calculated as net debt divided by shareholders’ equity) and net debt to EBITDA ratio (calculated as net debt divided
by EBITDA), which are not prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). |
These non-GAAP measures are included to supplement the Company’s
financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and because the Company uses such measures to monitor and evaluate the performance
of its business and believes the presentation of these measures enhance an investor’s ability to analyze trends in the Company’s
business and to evaluate the Company’s performance relative to other companies in its industry. However, these non-GAAP measures
have limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s financial results as
reported under GAAP. The Company’s non-GAAP measures may not be identical or comparable to measures with the same name presented
by other companies due to differences in calculation, capital structure or other factors.
These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative
to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these
non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. These measures should only be used to evaluate
the Company’s results of operations in conjunction with their corresponding GAAP measures. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation
G of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has provided a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures below.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
($ in
thousands, except ratios)
(unaudited)
| |
Year Ended October 31, | | |
Six Months Ended April 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2020 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
EBITDA | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Net income attributable to HEICO | |
$ | 351,675 | | |
$ | 304,220 | | |
$ | 313,984 | | |
$ | 198,147 | | |
$ | 171,931 | |
Plus: Depreciation and amortization | |
| 96,333 | | |
| 93,019 | | |
| 88,561 | | |
| 56,784 | | |
| 46,707 | |
Plus: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | |
| 38,948 | | |
| 25,538 | | |
| 21,871 | | |
| 19,918 | | |
| 15,433 | |
Plus: Interest expense | |
| 6,386 | | |
| 7,285 | | |
| 13,159 | | |
| 17,441 | | |
| 1,775 | |
Plus: Income tax expense | |
| 100,400 | | |
| 57,300 | | |
| 29,000 | | |
| 52,000 | | |
| 33,000 | |
EBITDA | |
$ | 593,742 | | |
$ | 487,362 | | |
$ | 466,575 | | |
$ | 344,290 | | |
$ | 268,846 | |
| |
As of October 31, | | |
As of April 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2020 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Net Debt | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Total debt | |
$ | 290,274 | | |
$ | 236,498 | | |
$ | 739,831 | | |
$ | 754,639 | | |
$ | 265,876 | |
Less: Cash and cash equivalents | |
| (139,504 | ) | |
| (108,298 | ) | |
| (406,852 | ) | |
| (127,161 | ) | |
| (117,318 | ) |
Net debt | |
| 150,770 | | |
| 128,200 | | |
| 332,979 | | |
| 627,478 | | |
| 148,558 | |
Shareholders’ equity | |
| 2,648,306 | | |
| 2,296,939 | | |
| 2,010,607 | | |
| 2,859,667 | | |
| 2,420,474 | |
Net debt to shareholders’ equity ratio | |
| 5.7 | % | |
| 5.6 | % | |
| 16.6 | % | |
| 21.9 | % | |
| 6.1 | % |
EBITDA (trailing twelve months) | |
| 593,742 | | |
| 487,362 | | |
| 466,575 | | |
| 669,186 | | |
| 532,239 | |
Net debt to EBITDA ratio | |
| .25 | | |
| .26 | | |
| .71 | | |
| .94 | | |
| .28 | |
| |
Trailing Twelve Months
Ended April 30, | |
| |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
EBITDA | |
| |
Net income attributable to HEICO | |
$ | 377,891 | | |
$ | 334,882 | |
Plus: Depreciation and amortization | |
| 106,410 | | |
| 93,807 | |
Plus: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | |
| 43,433 | | |
| 29,521 | |
Plus: Interest expense | |
| 22,052 | | |
| 4,529 | |
Plus: Income tax expense | |
| 119,400 | | |
| 69,500 | |
EBITDA | |
$ | 669,186 | | |
$ | 532,239 | |
Wencor Business
Business Overview
Wencor, founded in 1955, is
an independent aerospace aftermarket solutions provider focusing on non-engine manufacturing, repair, and distribution. Wencor offers
factory-new FAA-approved aircraft replacement parts, value-added distribution of high-use commercial & military aftermarket parts
and aircraft & engine accessory component repair and overhaul services. With over 65 years of experience, Wencor serves as a trusted
partner to airlines, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (“MRO”) facilities, original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”),
and both US and foreign militaries and has solidified its position as an industry leader.
Wencor’s expertise includes
Parts Manufacturer Approval (“PMA”) design and development, CMM and Designated Engineering Representative (“DER”)
Component Maintenance Repair, Program Management & Services, Used Serviceable Material, Rotable Exchanges, and a wide-ranging network
of distribution solutions. These offerings are geared towards enhancing material availability, boosting reliability, and reducing costs
for its customers.
Wencor’s customers include
airlines worldwide, aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul companies, military agencies and defense contractors. Wencor’s parts and
repairs are found in hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic and electro-mechanical, cockpit and galley systems throughout numerous aircraft
models and provide Wencor’s customers with significant cost savings.
Segment Overview
Wencor operates through four
highly complimentary segments: Distribution, Component Repair, PMA, and Defense.
| ● | Distribution:
Value added distribution of high-use aftermarket parts. Focused leadership in highly-technical, consumable product categories. Major
supplier in Bearings, Seals, Filters and other niche categories. |
| ● | Component
Repair: Independent provider of advanced repair solutions utilizing both proprietary alternative parts and CMM repairs. A leading
provider of non-engine DERs. |
| ● | Defense:
Rapidly scaling platform of defense aftermarket-oriented solutions for government and defense supply chain customers. Includes complex
kitting, platform sustainment solutions, SARs, and component repair. |
| ● | PMA:
Leading provider of non-engine PMA components. Focus on consumable parts that have high replacement rates. Includes bearings,
filters, gears, seals, and ballscrews. Wencor has developed over 6,000 PMAs and has established a reputation for developing and engineering
better options for high usage, complex and expensive OEM parts. |
Strategic Growth
Wencor’s success can be attributed
to its strategic approach to growth. Through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, Wencor has broadened its overall
repair capabilities diversified its product offerings, and now offers differentiated supply chain solutions. Additionally, Wencor has
introduced value-added inventory services and customized kitting solutions to meet the evolving demands of its customers.
Wencor strategically focuses
on lowering the cost of aircraft ownership through consistent quality and reliability improvements. With dedicated resources, Wencor aims
at designing solutions, developing programs and delivering results by customizing and scaling solutions to meet its customers’ needs.
Corporate Information
Wencor is based in Peachtree City,
Georgia and provides its parts and services internationally, employing approximately 1,000 team members in 19 facilities around the globe.
Wencor Summary
Consolidated Financial Data
The summary consolidated financial
information for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 are derived from Wencor’s unaudited consolidated financial statements.
The summary consolidated financial information from the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 are derived from Wencor’s
unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of financial
results to be achieved in future periods.
| |
Year Ended December 31, | | |
Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
($ in thousands) | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Statement of operations and comprehensive income data: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Net sales | |
$ | 487,530 | | |
$ | 370,285 | | |
$ | 164,671 | | |
$ | 111,701 | |
Gross profit | |
| 186,664 | | |
| 146,945 | | |
| 62,656 | | |
| 43,128 | |
Capital expenditures | |
| 5,097 | | |
| 6,994 | | |
| 2,175 | | |
| 1,093 | |
Net income | |
| 20,540 | | |
| 6,228 | | |
| 5,451 | | |
| 5,983 | |
| |
As of December 31, | | |
| |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
As of March 31,
2023 | |
($ in thousands) | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Statement of operations and comprehensive income data: | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Total assets | |
$ | 866,113 | | |
$ | 814,684 | | |
$ | 1,049,527 | |
Total shareholders’ equity | |
| 154,721 | | |
| 128,010 | | |
| 175,383 | |
Goodwill | |
| 317,241 | | |
| 310,867 | | |
| 358,224 | |
Total debt(1) | |
| 586,001 | | |
| 588,992 | | |
| 725,932 | |
| |
Year Ended December 31, | | |
Three
Months Ended March 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
($ in thousands, except ratios) | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Other financial data: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
EBITDA(2) | |
$ | 99,227 | | |
$ | 66,864 | | |
$ | 32,637 | | |
$ | 23,621 | |
EBITDA margin(2) | |
| 20.4 | % | |
| 18.1 | % | |
| 19.8 | % | |
| 21.1 | % |
Free cash flow(3) | |
| 58,957 | | |
| 63,138 | | |
| 3,124 | | |
| 5,951 | |
(1) | Total debt is inclusive of both short
and long-term debt. |
(2) | EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial
measure) represents net income attributable to Wencor, plus interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense and amortization expense. |
The following tables provide
a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income attributable to Wencor, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with
GAAP for each of the periods presented and a reconciliation of EBITDA margin (a non-GAAP financial measure defined as EBITDA
as a percentage of net sales).
| |
Year Ended December 31, | | |
Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
($ in thousands, except ratios) | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
| |
| |
Net income | |
$ | 20,540 | | |
$ | 6,228 | | |
$ | 5,451 | | |
$ | 5,983 | |
Add back: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Interest expense | |
| 47,033 | | |
| 36,734 | | |
| 17,558 | | |
| 9,434 | |
Income taxes | |
| 6,644 | | |
| 397 | | |
| 2,655 | | |
| 1,935 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 25,009 | | |
| 23,505 | | |
| 6,972 | | |
| 6,268 | |
EBITDA | |
| 99,227 | | |
| 66,864 | | |
| 32,637 | | |
| 23,621 | |
Net sales | |
| 487,530 | | |
| 370,285 | | |
| 164,671 | | |
| 111,701 | |
EBITDA margin | |
| 20.4 | % | |
| 18.1 | % | |
| 19.8 | % | |
| 21.1 | % |
(3) | Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) is defined
as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. |
The following table provides a reconciliation
of Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable
financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP as for each of the periods presented:
| |
Year Ended December 31, | | |
Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
| |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
($ in thousands) | |
| |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities | |
$ | 17,020 | | |
$ | 33,398 | | |
$ | (12,259 | ) | |
$ | (2,390 | ) |
Interest expense | |
| 47,033 | | |
| 36,734 | | |
| 17,558 | | |
| 9,434 | |
Less: capital expenditures | |
| (5,097 | ) | |
| (6,994 | ) | |
| (2,175 | ) | |
| (1,093 | ) |
Free cash flow | |
| 58,957 | | |
| 63,138 | | |
| 3,124 | | |
| 5,951 | |
The foregoing non-GAAP financial measures provide
Wencor’s management with additional means to understand and evaluate the operating results and trends in its ongoing business by
adjusting for certain expenses and other items. Wencor’s management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional
means of evaluating period-over-period operating performance. In addition, Wencor’s management understands that some investors and
financial analysts find this information helpful in analyzing its financial and operational performance and comparing this performance
to its peers and competitors.
The non-GAAP financial measures described above
are not meant to be considered superior to, or a substitute for, Wencor’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
There are material limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures because they exclude charges or other items that have an effect
on its reported results and, therefore, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be relied upon as the sole financial measures by
which to evaluate its financial results. Wencor’s management compensates and believes that investors should compensate for these
limitations by viewing the non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures. Wencor’s non-GAAP measures
may not be identical or comparable to measures with the same name presented by other companies due to differences in calculation, capital
structure or other factors.
The financial position, results of operations and
cash flows for Wencor presented in the summary consolidated financial data included herein may be different from those that would have
resulted had Wencor been operated as part of our business and different from those that may result in the future from Wencor being operated
as a part of our business.
We are also not providing
unaudited pro forma financial information with respect to the combined entity following the Wencor Acquisition in accordance with Regulation
S-X published by the SEC because we are not yet required to do so under such regulations. We will file with the SEC historical financial
statements with respect to the Wencor Acquisition as well as unaudited pro forma financial information presented in accordance with the
requirements of Regulation S-X no later than 71 days after the date that the initial report on Form 8-K disclosing the completion of the
Wencor Acquisition must be filed. We expect the unaudited pro forma financial information for the Wencor Acquisition to show significant
adjustments from increased interest expense associated with borrowings, eliminating acquisition-related costs directly attributable to the acquisition,
additional amortization expense related to intangible assets acquired and additional depreciation expense related to adjusting acquired assets to fair value.
Risk Factors
Investing in the notes
involves significant risk. Before making a decision to invest in the notes, you should consider carefully the risk factors described below,
and those set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus and which may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information”
and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference,” as well as the other information contained and incorporated by reference
in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus. Each of these risks could have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you
to lose all or part of your investment in the notes. These risks are not the only ones we face. Unforeseen risks could arise and problems
or issues that we now view as minor could become more significant. If we are unable to adequately respond to these risks and uncertainties,
our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
Risks Related to the Notes
If we do not complete the Wencor Acquisition on or before the
Special Mandatory Redemption Date or we notify the trustee that we will not pursue the consummation of the Wencor Acquisition, we will
be required to redeem the notes then outstanding and may not have or be able to obtain all the funds necessary to redeem such notes. In
addition, if we are required to redeem such notes, you may not obtain your expected return on the redeemed notes.
Our ability to consummate
the Wencor Acquisition is subject to various closing conditions, many of which are beyond our control, and we may not be able to consummate
the Wencor Acquisition within the timeframe specified in “Description of Notes— Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes”
or at all. See “— Risks Related to the Wencor Acquisition.”
If the Special Mandatory Redemption
Event occurs, we will redeem the 20 notes in whole at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. However, there is no escrow account or security
interest for the benefit of the noteholders, and it is possible that we will not have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy
our obligations to redeem the notes required to be redeemed in connection with the Special Mandatory Redemption.
In addition, even if we
are able to redeem the 20 notes pursuant to the provisions relating to the Special Mandatory Redemption, you
may not obtain your expected return on the notes to be redeemed in connection therewith and may not be able to reinvest the proceeds
from the Special Mandatory Redemption in an investment that results in a comparable return. Your decision to invest in the 20 notes
is made at the time of the offering of such notes. You will have no rights under the provisions relating to the Special Mandatory
Redemption as long as the Wencor Acquisition is consummated on or prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Termination Date, nor
will you have any right to require us to repurchase your 20 notes if, between the closing of this offering and the
closing of the Wencor Acquisition, we experience any changes (including any material changes) in our business or financial condition
or if the terms of the Wencor Acquisition or financing thereof change (including in material respects). Our obligations to redeem
notes in connection with a Special Mandatory Redemption Event applies only to the 20 notes and not the
20 notes.
Your right to receive payments on the notes
is effectively subordinated to the rights of secured creditors.
The notes will be
effectively subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that
indebtedness. The indenture under which the notes will be issued permits us to incur secured debt under specified circumstances. Any
assets securing any of our secured indebtedness that we incur in the future will be subject to prior claims by our secured
creditors. In the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up, any assets that
secure any of our debt will be available to pay our obligations under the notes only after all debt secured by those assets, as well
as any other obligations ranking senior in right of payment to the notes, have been repaid in full, and holders of the notes would
then only be entitled to participate in our remaining assets, if any, ratably with all of our remaining unsecured senior creditors.
If there are insufficient assets remaining to pay all of these creditors, then all or a portion of the notes then outstanding and
interest thereon would remain unpaid. As of April 30, 2023, we had no outstanding secured indebtedness.
None of our foreign subsidiaries nor our
unrestricted subsidiaries (which includes certain of our non-wholly owned subsidiaries) will be guarantors with respect to the notes,
therefore, any claims you may have in respect of the notes will be structurally subordinated to the liabilities of those subsidiaries.
None of our foreign subsidiaries
nor our unrestricted subsidiaries (which includes certain of our non-wholly owned subsidiaries), will guarantee the notes. If any of such
non-guarantor subsidiaries becomes insolvent, liquidates, reorganizes, dissolves or otherwise winds up, holders of its indebtedness and
its trade creditors generally will be entitled to payment on their claims from the assets of such subsidiary before any of those assets
would be made available to us. Consequently, your claims in respect of the notes will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing
and future liabilities, including trade payables, of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. The indenture governing the notes will not prohibit
us from having subsidiaries that are not guarantors in the future.
The non-guarantor
domestic and foreign subsidiaries accounted for approximately 18% of our total revenues for the year ended October 31, 2022 and
approximately 21% of our total revenues for the six months ended April 30, 2023.
The indenture will not limit
the incurrence of indebtedness by our subsidiaries. In addition, the indenture will not impose any limitation on the incurrence by such
subsidiaries of liabilities that are not considered indebtedness under the indenture.
There are limited covenants in the indenture
that will govern the notes.
The indenture that will govern
the notes contains limited covenants, including those restricting our ability to incur secured indebtedness, enter into certain sale and
lease-back transactions or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets. The restrictions on
secured indebtedness and sale and lease-back covenants contain exceptions that will allow us and our subsidiaries to incur liens with
respect to material assets. See “Description of Debt Securities—Certain Covenants” in the accompanying prospectus.
Furthermore, the indenture
for the notes does not:
| ● | require
us to maintain any financial ratios or specific levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity; |
| ● | limit
our ability to incur indebtedness that is equal in right of payment to the notes; |
| ● | restrict
our subsidiaries’ ability to issue securities or otherwise incur indebtedness that would be senior to our equity interests in our
subsidiaries and therefore rank effectively senior to the notes; |
| ● | limit
the ability of our subsidiaries to service indebtedness; |
| ● | restrict
our ability to repurchase or prepay any other of our securities or other indebtedness; or |
| ● | restrict
our ability to make investments or to repurchase or pay dividends or make other payments in respect of our common stock or other
securities ranking junior to the notes. |
As a result of the foregoing,
when evaluating the terms of the notes, you should be aware that the terms of the indenture and the notes do not restrict our ability
to engage in, or to otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances and events that could have an adverse
impact on your investment in the notes.
Our incurrence of additional indebtedness
may have adverse consequences to you.
We may incur additional indebtedness
in the future, which may have important consequences for you as a holder of the notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy
our obligations with respect to the notes as a result of additional interest payment expenses, a loss in the trading value of your notes
and a risk that the credit rating of your notes may be lowered.
The terms of the indenture and the notes
provide only limited protection against significant corporate events and other actions we may take that could adversely impact your investment
in the notes.
Upon the occurrence of a Change
of Control Triggering Event, you will have the right to require us to repurchase the notes as provided in the indenture and the notes.
However, the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions will not afford you protection in the event of certain highly leveraged transactions
that may adversely affect you. For example, any leveraged recapitalization, refinancing, restructuring or acquisition initiated by us
generally will not constitute a Change of Control (as defined below) that would potentially lead to a Change of Control Triggering Event.
As a result, we could enter into any such transaction even though the transaction could increase the total amount of our outstanding indebtedness,
adversely affect our capital structure or credit rating or otherwise adversely affect the holders of the notes. These transactions may
not involve a change in voting power or beneficial ownership or result in a downgrade in the ratings of the notes, or, even if they do,
may not necessarily constitute a Change of Control Triggering Event that affords you the protections described in this prospectus supplement.
If any such transaction were to occur, the value of your notes could decline.
A payment made under the guarantee by a
subsidiary guarantor could be voided as a fraudulent transfer if the subsidiary is insolvent.
A guarantee by one of our
subsidiary guarantors that is found to be a fraudulent transfer may be voided under the fraudulent transfer laws described below. The
application of these laws requires the making of complex factual determinations and estimates as to which there may be different opinions
and views.
In general, federal and state
fraudulent transfer laws provide that a guarantee by a subsidiary guarantor can be voided, or claims under a guarantee by a subsidiary
guarantor may be subordinated to all other debts of that subsidiary guarantor if, among other things, at the time it incurred the indebtedness
evidenced by its guarantee:
| ● | the
subsidiary guarantor intended to hinder, delay or defraud any present or future creditor; or |
| ● | the
subsidiary guarantor received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the incurrence of the guarantee;
and |
| o | was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence; |
| o | was engaged in a business or transaction for which the subsidiary
guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or |
| o | intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts
beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature. |
In addition, any payment by
that subsidiary guarantor under a guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the subsidiary guarantor or to a fund for the
benefit of the creditors of the subsidiary guarantor.
The measures of insolvency
for purposes of fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the governing law. Generally, a subsidiary guarantor would be considered
insolvent if:
| ● | the
sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets; |
| ● | the
present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing
debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or |
| ● | it
could not pay its debts as they become due. |
We
cannot predict:
| ● | what
standard a court would apply in order to determine whether a subsidiary guarantor was insolvent as of the date it issued the guarantee
or whether, regardless of the method of valuation, a court would determine that the subsidiary guarantor was insolvent on that date;
or |
| ● | whether
a court would determine that the payments under the guarantee constituted fraudulent transfers or conveyances on other grounds. |
In the event that the guarantee
of the notes by a subsidiary guarantor is voided as a fraudulent conveyance, holders of the notes would effectively be subordinated to
all indebtedness and other liabilities of that subsidiary guarantor.
We may be unable to repurchase the notes
upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.
If a Change of Control Triggering
Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes in whole, each holder of notes will have the right to require us
to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such holder’s notes on the
terms set forth in the notes. We will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. See “Description of the Notes —
Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event.” However, we may not have sufficient funds to make the required repurchase
of the notes. If we fail to make or complete a repurchase of the notes in that circumstance, we will be in default under the indenture
governing the notes which could have material adverse consequences for us and holders of the notes. If we are required to repurchase a
significant portion of the notes, we may require third-party financing. We cannot be sure that we would be able to obtain third-party
financing on favorable terms, or at all.
One of the circumstances under
which a “Change of Control” may occur is upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets
of us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole. The phrase “all or substantially all” will likely be interpreted under applicable
state law and will be dependent upon particular facts or circumstances. As a result, there may be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining
whether a sale or disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties or assets has occurred, in which case, the ability
of a holder of the notes to obtain the benefit of the offer for repurchase of all or a portion of the notes held by such holder may be
impacted.
Changes in our credit ratings may adversely
affect the value of the notes.
Our outstanding indebtedness,
including the notes, from time to time may receive credit ratings from certain credit rating agencies. Such ratings are limited in scope
and do not address all risks relating to an investment in the notes, but rather reflect only the view of each rating agency at the time
the rating was issued. An explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained from such rating agencies. Credit ratings are
not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the notes. There can be no assurance that such credit ratings will remain in effect for any
given period of time or that such ratings will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies or placed on a so-called
“watch list” for a possible downgrade or assigned a negative ratings outlook if, in any rating agency’s judgment, circumstances
so warrant. In addition, because we may choose to take actions that adversely affect our credit ratings, such as incurring additional
debt or repurchasing shares of our common stock, there can be no guarantee that our credit ratings will not decline during the term of
the notes. Actual or anticipated changes or downgrades in our credit ratings, including any announcement that our ratings are under review
for a downgrade or have been assigned a negative outlook, could adversely affect the market value of the notes and increase our borrowing
costs.
Our credit ratings may not reflect all risks
of your investment in the notes.
Our credit ratings are an
assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings
will generally affect the market value of the notes.
These credit ratings may not
reflect the potential impact of risks relating to structure or marketing of the notes. Agency ratings are not a recommendation to buy,
sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization. Each agency’s rating should
be evaluated independently of any other agency’s rating.
There are no established trading markets
for the notes and none may develop.
There are currently no established
trading markets for the notes and we do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for inclusion of the
notes in any automated quotation system. Although the underwriters have advised us that they presently intend to make a market in the
notes of each series after completion of the offering, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities
at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure the liquidity of any trading market for the notes or that active markets will
develop. If active trading markets for the notes do not develop, the market prices and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.
Even if active markets do develop, they may cease at any time. As a result, you may not be able to resell your notes for an extended period
of time, if at all. In addition, if the notes are traded, they may trade at discounts from their initial offering prices, depending on
the markets for similar securities, our results of operations and financial condition, general economic conditions and other factors.
Our Existing Credit Facility contains financial
covenants and covenants that may limit our operations. Our failure to comply with these covenants could result in the acceleration of
our obligations under our Existing Credit Facility.
Our Existing Credit
Facility contains certain covenants restricting our operations. We are also subject to financial covenants. Our ability to meet the
financial covenants or requirements in our Existing Credit Agreement may be affected by events beyond our control, and we may not be
able to satisfy such covenants and requirements. A breach of these covenants or our inability to comply with the financial ratios,
tests or other restrictions contained in our Existing Credit Facility could result in an event of default under our Existing Credit
Facility. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, and the expiration of any grace periods, the lenders could elect to declare
all amounts outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If
this were to occur, our assets may not be sufficient to fully repay the amounts due under our Existing Credit Facility or our other
indebtedness, including the notes.
An increase in market interest rates could
result in a decrease in the value of the notes.
In general, as market interest
rates rise, notes bearing interest at a fixed rate generally decline in value because the premium, if any, over market interest rates
will decline. Consequently, if you purchase notes and market interest rates increase, the market value of your notes may decline.
Risks Related to the Wencor Acquisition
Completion
of the Wencor Acquisition is subject to the conditions contained in the Merger Agreement and if these conditions are not satisfied, the
Wencor Acquisition will not be completed.
The
completion of the Wencor Acquisition is subject to various closing conditions, including, among others: (a) the absence of certain legal
impediments to the consummation of the Wencor Acquisition; (b) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the
HSR Act, and the receipt of certain other regulatory approvals; (c) in the case of the Company’s and Wencor’s obligations
to complete the transaction, the accuracy of Wencor’s and the Company’s, respectively, representations and warranties contained
in the Merger Agreement; (d) material compliance by the Company, Wencor and the Representative with certain pre-closing covenants; and
(e) no material adverse change in Wencor’s business since the date of the Merger Agreement.
Many
of the conditions to the closing of the Wencor Acquisition are not within our control, and we cannot predict with certainty when or if
these conditions will be satisfied. The failure to satisfy any of the required conditions could delay the completion of the Wencor Acquisition
or prevent it from occurring. Any delay in completing the Wencor Acquisition could cause us not to realize some or all of the benefits
that we expect to achieve if the Wencor Acquisition is successfully completed within the expected timeframe. There can be no assurance
that the conditions to the closing of the Wencor Acquisition will be satisfied or that the Wencor Acquisition will be completed or that
if completed we will realize the anticipated benefits.
Failure
to complete the Wencor Acquisition could negatively impact our stock price and our future business and financial results.
If
the Wencor Acquisition is not completed for any reason, our ongoing business may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of
the benefits of having completed the Wencor Acquisition, we could be subject to a number of negative consequences, including, among
others: (i) we may be required to pay Wencor a termination fee of $143.5 million in cash upon termination of the Merger Agreement
under specified circumstances, including the failure to obtain regulatory approvals or, among others, if the Company materially
breaches its regulatory covenants such that there is a failure of certain conditions to the Merger, (ii) we may experience negative
reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts on our stock price; (iii) we will still be required to pay certain
significant costs relating to the Wencor Acquisition, including legal, accounting, and financial advisor costs; and (iv) matters
related to the Wencor Acquisition (including integration planning) require substantial commitments of our time and resources, which
could result in our inability to pursue other opportunities that could be beneficial to us. In addition, if the Wencor Acquisition
is not completed, we will be required to redeem the 20 notes as described in “Description of the
Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes”. Accordingly, if the Wencor Acquisition is not
completed or if completion of the Wencor Acquisition is delayed, any of these risks could occur and may adversely affect our
business, financial condition and financial results.
The
Wencor Acquisition will involve substantial costs.
We
have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, a number of costs associated with the Wencor Acquisition. The substantial majority of
these costs will consist of transaction and regulatory costs related to the Wencor Acquisition. We will also incur transaction fees and
costs related to formulating and implementing integration plans, including system consolidation costs and employment-related costs. We
continue to assess the magnitude of these costs, and additional unanticipated costs may be incurred from the Wencor Acquisition and integration.
Although we anticipate that the elimination of duplicative costs and the realization of other efficiencies and synergies related to the
integration should allow us to offset integration-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at
all.
In
connection with the Wencor Acquisition, we will incur additional indebtedness, which could adversely affect us, including our business
flexibility and will increase our interest expense.
We
will have increased indebtedness following completion of the Wencor Acquisition, which could have the effect, among other things, of reducing
our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions and increasing our interest expense. We will also incur various
costs and expenses related to the financing of the Wencor Acquisition. The amount of cash required to pay interest on our increased indebtedness
following completion of the Wencor Acquisition and thereby the demands on our cash resources will be greater than the amount of cash flow
required to service our indebtedness prior to the Wencor Acquisition. The increased levels of indebtedness following completion of the
Wencor Acquisition could also reduce funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes,
and may create competitive disadvantages for us relative to other companies with lower debt levels. If we do not achieve the expected
synergies and cost savings from the Wencor Acquisition, or if our financial performance after the Wencor Acquisition does not meet our
current expectations, then our ability to service the indebtedness may be adversely impacted.
After completion of the Wencor Acquisition,
we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the Wencor Acquisition.
The success of the Wencor
Acquisition will depend, in significant part, on HEICO’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from combining
the businesses of HEICO and Wencor. This success will depend largely on HEICO’s ability to successfully integrate the business of
Wencor. If HEICO is not able to successfully integrate the businesses of Wencor within the anticipated time frame, or at all, the anticipated
cost savings and other benefits of the Wencor Acquisition may not be realized fully, or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected,
the combined business may not perform as expected and our business, financial condition and financial results may be adversely affected.
HEICO and Wencor have operated
and, until completion of the Wencor Acquisition, will continue to operate independently, and there can be no assurances that their businesses
can be integrated successfully. HEICO and Wencor will be required to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating
their business practices and operations. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key HEICO or Wencor employees,
the loss of customers, the disruption of either company’s or both companies’ ongoing businesses, unexpected integration issues
or liabilities, higher than expected integration costs, and an overall post-completion integration process that takes longer than originally
anticipated. The difficulties of combining the operations of the companies include, among others:
| ● | experiencing
unforeseen expenses or delays associated with the integration; |
| ● | the
integration of certain of the companies’ operations, financial, reporting and corporate functions; |
| ● | integrating
the companies’ technologies; |
| ● | identifying
and eliminating redundant and underperforming functions and assets; |
| ● | harmonizing
the companies’ operating practices, employee development and compensation programs, internal controls and other policies, procedures
and processes; |
| ● | maintaining
existing agreements with customers and suppliers; |
| ● | addressing
possible differences in corporate cultures and management philosophies; |
| ● | consolidating
the companies’ administrative and information technology infrastructure; |
| ● | coordinating
sales, distribution and marketing efforts; |
| ● | moving
certain businesses and positions to different locations; |
| ● | coordinating
geographically separate organizations; and |
| ● | effecting
potential actions that may be required in connection with obtaining regulatory approvals. |
In addition, at times, the
attention of certain members of either company’s or both companies’ management and resources may be focused on the integration
of the businesses of the two companies and diverted from day-to-day business operations, which may disrupt each company’s ongoing
business and the business of the combined company. If HEICO does not successfully manage these issues and the other challenges inherent
in integrating businesses of the size and complexity of HEICO and Wencor, then HEICO may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the Wencor
Acquisition on a timely basis or at all and HEICO’s revenue, expenses, operating results and financial condition could be materially
and adversely affected.
Use of Proceeds
We estimate that the net
proceeds of this offering will be approximately $ (after deducting the underwriting
discounts and estimated offering expenses).
We intend to use the net proceeds
from the sale of the notes to fund a portion of the purchase price for the Wencor Acquisition, including related fees and expenses, and,
with any remaining amounts, for general corporate purposes. We may temporarily repay outstanding borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility
and invest funds that are not immediately needed for these purposes in short-term investments, including marketable securities.
The completion of this offering
is not contingent on the closing of the Wencor Acquisition. However, if the Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, we will redeem
the 20 notes in whole at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. See “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption
of the 20 Notes.”
Certain of the underwriters
and/or their affiliates are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility. Accordingly, to the extent we use a portion of the net proceeds
from this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates
that are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering (not including underwriting
discounts and commissions). Nonetheless, in accordance with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rule 5121, the appointment
of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with this offering. See “Underwriting—Conflicts of Interest.”
Capitalization
The following table sets forth
a summary of our consolidated cash and capitalization on:
| ● | an
actual basis as of April 30, 2023; and |
| ● | on
an as adjusted basis as of April 30, 2023 after (i) giving effect to this offering, and (ii) giving effect to the Wencor Acquisition,
including the use of approximately $ of the proceeds of this offering to pay the cash portion of the consideration for the Wencor
Acquisition. |
You should read this table
in conjunction with the information contained in “Use of Proceeds,” as well as our consolidated financial statements and the
related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the consolidated financial statements and related notes of
Wencor in this prospectus supplement. You should also read this table in conjunction with the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements included in this prospectus supplement. You should not place undue reliance on the pro forma as adjusted information included
in this prospectus supplement because this offering is not contingent upon any of the transactions reflected in the adjustments included
therein.
| |
As of April 30, 2023 | |
($ in thousands) | |
Actual | | |
As Adjusted | |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
$ | 127,161 | | |
$ | | |
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt | |
| 18,860 | | |
| | |
Long-term debt (net of current maturities): | |
| | | |
| | |
Existing Credit Facility | |
| 723,000 | | |
| | |
Finances leases and note payable(1) | |
| 12,779 | | |
| | |
Offered Notes(2): | |
| | | |
| | |
% Notes due 20 , offered hereby | |
| ⸺ | | |
| | |
% Notes due 20 , offered hereby | |
| ⸺ | | |
| | |
Total Debt | |
| 754,639 | | |
| | |
Total shareholders’ equity | |
| 2,859,667 | | |
| | |
Total Capitalization | |
$ | 3,614,306 | | |
$ | | |
(1) | Excludes current maturities of $1,618. |
(2) | Excludes the underwriters’ discounts and estimated offering
expenses payable by us. |
Description of
Other HEICO Indebtedness
Existing
Credit Facility
On
November 6, 2017, the Company entered into the Existing Credit Agreement with a bank syndicate. The Existing Credit Facility may be used to finance acquisitions and for working capital
and other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. In December 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to
increase the capacity by $200 million to $1.5 billion. In April 2022, the Company entered
into a second amendment to extend the maturity date of its Existing Credit Facility by one year to November 2024 and to replace the
Eurocurrency Rate with Adjusted Term SOFR as an election in which borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility accrue interest, as
such capitalized terms are defined in the Existing Credit Facility. On July 14, 2023, the Company
entered into a third amendment to, among other things, (i) increase the capacity by $500 million to $2.0 billion, (ii) extend the
maturity date to July 14, 2028, and (iii) increase the applicable rate with respect to certain total leverage ratio tiers in the
pricing grid. The Existing Credit Facility includes a feature that will allow the Company to increase the capacity by $750 million
to become a $2.75 billion facility through increased commitments from existing lenders.
Borrowings
under the Existing Credit Facility accrue interest at the Company’s election of the Base Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR, plus in
each case, the Applicable Rate (based on the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio) (each as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement). The Base Rate for any day is a fluctuating rate
per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Prime Rate; (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus .50%; and (iii) Adjusted Term SOFR for an
Interest Period of one month plus 100 basis points. Adjusted Term SOFR is the rate per annum equal to Term SOFR plus a Term SOFR
Adjustment of 0.10%; provided that Adjusted Term SOFR as so determined shall never be less than 0%, as such capitalized terms are
defined in the Existing Credit Facility. The Applicable Rate for SOFR Loans ranges from 1.125% to 2.00%. The
Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans ranges from 0.125% to 1.00%. A fee is charged on the amount of the unused commitment
ranging from .150% to .350% (depending on the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio). The Existing Credit Facility also
includes $100 million sublimit for borrowings made in foreign currencies and a $200 million sublimit for swingline borrowings,
and a $100 million sublimit for letters of credit. Outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts payable
under the Existing Credit Facility may be accelerated upon an event of default, as such events are described in the Existing Credit
Facility. The Existing Credit Facility is unsecured and contains covenants that require, among other things, the maintenance of a
Total Leverage Ratio and an Interest Coverage Ratio (each as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement).
The
Company’s borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility mature in July 2028. As of April 30, 2023 and October 31 2022, the weighted
average interest rate on borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility was 6.1% and 4.6%, respectively.
Bridge Facility
In
connection with the Wencor Acquisition, on May 14, 2023, we entered into a Commitment Letter with the Bridge Lender and Truist
Securities, Inc., which was amended and restated on July 14, 2023, pursuant to which the Bridge Lender has committed to provide a $1.0
billion aggregate amount Bridge Facility to the Company, with a maturity date of 364 days following the closing date. The obligation to
fund the Bridge Facility is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Commitment Letter. Our currently committed
credit facilities, together with cash on hand, are sufficient to fund the purchase price for the Merger. If we complete the offering,
we do not anticipate drawing upon any amounts available under the Bridge Facility.
Description of
The Notes
The summary herein of
certain provisions of the indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to, all the provisions of the indenture, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus
supplement forms a part. The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements the description of the general
terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth under “Description of Debt Securities” beginning on page 10 of the
accompanying prospectus.
You can find the definitions
of certain terms used in this description under “—Certain Definitions.” Defined terms used in this description but not
defined below under “—Certain Definitions” or elsewhere in this description have the meanings assigned to them in the
indenture (as defined below). In this description, the “Company,” “us,” “we” and “our”
refer only to HEICO Corporation, and not any of its subsidiaries, except where the context requires otherwise.
We will issue our
% notes due 20 (the “20
notes”) and % notes due 20 (the
“20 notes” and, together with the 20 notes, the “notes”)
under an indenture, to be dated as of July , 2023 (the “base indenture”), between the
Company, the guarantors party thereto and Truist Bank (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a first supplemental
indenture, to be dated as of July , 2023, between the Company, the guarantors party thereto and
the Trustee, as it may be further supplemented from time to time (the base indenture, as so supplemented, the
“indenture”).
The following description
is a summary of the material provisions of the notes and the indenture and it is intended to supplement and, to the extent of any inconsistencies,
replace the description of the general terms and provisions of debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus, to which we refer
you. It does not restate that agreement in its entirety. We urge you to read the indenture because it contains additional information
that may be of importance to you. A form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus
supplement is a part and can be obtained as indicated under “Where You Can Find More Information.” The indenture contains
provisions that define your rights under the notes. In addition, the indenture governs our obligations under the notes. The terms of the
notes include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Each series of the notes
will be issued as a new and separate series under the indenture, with the 20 notes in an initial aggregate principal amount of $ and
the 20 notes in an initial aggregate principal amount of $ .
The notes will be senior unsecured
obligations of the Company only and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding
of the Company.
The notes will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by each of our subsidiaries that are or become guarantors
under the Credit Agreement (as defined below), which includes (i) each of our existing wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries (as
defined below) and (ii) any subsidiary (including any member of Wencor that is a Material Domestic Subsidiary following consummation
of the Wencor Acquisition) that in the future agrees to guarantee obligations under the Credit Agreement (the “subsidiary guarantors”).
We will issue the notes only
in fully registered form without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Trustee
will initially act as paying agent and registrar for the notes. The notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at
the offices of the registrar, which initially will be the Trustee’s corporate trust office. We may change any paying agent and registrar
without notice to holders of the notes and we may act as paying agent or registrar. We will pay principal (and premium, if any) on the
notes at the Trustee’s corporate trust office in the contiguous United States. At our option, interest may be paid at the Trustee’s
corporate trust office or by check mailed to the registered address of the holders.
The indenture does not limit
the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under it and provides that debt securities may be issued under it
from time to time in one or more series; provided that any additional notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP, if any, as existing
notes unless such additional notes are fungible with the existing notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Except as described below
under “— Certain Covenants,” the indenture does not include covenants restricting our ability to enter into a highly
leveraged transaction, including a reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect
the holders of the notes, if such transaction is a permissible consolidation, merger or similar transaction. In addition, except as described
below under “—Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event,” the indenture does not afford the holders
of the notes the right to require us to repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a highly leveraged transaction. See “—
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.”
We have significant operations
conducted through our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our cash flow and the consequent ability to service our debt, including the notes, are
substantially dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings to us, whether by dividends, loans
or otherwise. The payment of dividends and the making of loans and advances to us by our subsidiaries may be subject to statutory or contractual
restrictions, are contingent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and are subject to various business considerations. Any right we
have to receive assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization (and the consequent right of the holders of
the notes to participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors (including
trade creditors), except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be
subordinate to any security interests in the assets of such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to that held by
us.
Maturity and Interest
The notes will mature
on , 20 in the case of the 20 notes
and , 20 in the case of the 20 notes. Interest on the notes will
accrue at the rate of % per annum in the case of the 20 notes and % per annum in the case of the 20
notes. Interest on the notes will be payable semiannually in arrears on
and , commencing on , 2024. We
will pay interest to those Persons who were holders of record on
and , as the case may be, immediately preceding each interest payment date.
Interest on the notes will
accrue from the Issue Date or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Such interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
If an interest payment date
for the notes falls on a date that is not a business day, then interest will be paid on the next day that is a business day, and no interest
on such payment will accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date.
If the maturity date for any
note falls on a date that is not a business day, the related payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest may be made on the next
succeeding business day, and no additional interest will accumulate on the amount payable for the period from and after the maturity date.
Subsidiary Guarantees
Our obligations under the
notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the subsidiary guarantors, which
include our existing wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiaries and any future subsidiary (including any member of Wencor that
is a Material Domestic Subsidiary following the Wencor Acquisition) that guarantee our obligations under the Credit Agreement.
Each subsidiary guarantee
will rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future liabilities of the applicable subsidiary guarantor that are not subordinated.
Each subsidiary guarantee will effectively rank junior to any secured indebtedness of its respective subsidiary guarantor to the extent
of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. Under the terms of any subsidiary guarantee, holders of the notes will not
be required to exercise their remedies against us before they proceed directly against the subsidiary guarantors.
For purposes of the foregoing
discussion of the guarantee provisions of the indenture, “Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as
of November 6, 2017, by and among the Company and the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time who are a party
thereto, and Truist Bank, as amended and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented, refinanced, refunded or replaced from time
to time, including any such refinancing, refunding or replacement that increases the amount of borrowings thereunder or alters the maturity
thereof.
Under the indenture, holders
of the notes will be deemed to have consented to the release of a subsidiary guarantee provided by a subsidiary guarantor, without any
action required on the part of the trustee or any holder of the notes, upon such subsidiary guarantor ceasing to guarantee or to be an
obligor with respect to the Credit Agreement. Accordingly, if the lenders under the Credit Agreement release a subsidiary guarantor from
its guarantee of, or obligations as a borrower under, the Credit Agreement, the obligations of the subsidiary guarantors to guarantee
the notes will immediately terminate. We will give prompt written notice to the trustee of the release of any subsidiary guarantor. If
any of our future subsidiaries incur obligations under the Credit Agreement while the notes are outstanding, then such subsidiary will
be required to guarantee the notes.
In addition, a subsidiary
guarantor will be released and relieved from all its obligations under its subsidiary guarantee in the following circumstances, each of
which is permitted by the indenture:
| ● | upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation
or merger), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of a majority of the total Voting Stock of such subsidiary guarantor
(other than to us or any of our affiliates); or |
| ● | upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the
property of such subsidiary guarantor (other than to any of our affiliates or another subsidiary guarantor); |
provided, however,
that, in each case, such transaction is permitted by the Credit Agreement and after giving effect to such transaction, such subsidiary
guarantor is no longer liable for any subsidiary guarantee or other obligations in respect of the Credit Agreement.
The subsidiary guarantee of
a subsidiary guarantor also will be released if we exercise our legal defeasance, covenant defeasance option or discharge the indenture,
each as described under “—Defeasance.” At our written instruction, the Trustee will execute and deliver any documents,
instructions or instruments evidencing any such release.
Further Issuances
We may, from time to time,
without notice to or consent of the holders of notes, create additional notes under the indenture. These additional notes would have substantially
the same terms as the notes offered hereby in all respects (or in all respects except in some cases for the payment of interest accruing
prior to the Issue Date (as defined below) of the additional notes or except for the first payment of interest following the Issue Date
of the additional notes) so that the additional notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the notes offered hereby.
Ranking
The notes will be senior unsecured
obligations of the Company. The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes will:
| ● | rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing
and future senior indebtedness; |
| ● | rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and
future subordinated indebtedness; |
| ● | be structurally subordinated to all liabilities (including trade payables) of our existing and future
subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes; and |
| ● | be effectively subordinated to our and our subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness
to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. |
The subsidiary guarantee of
each subsidiary guarantor will:
| ● | be a senior unsecured obligation of such subsidiary guarantor; |
| ● | be structurally subordinated to all liabilities (including trade payables) of such subsidiary guarantor’s
existing and future subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes; |
| ● | be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of such subsidiary guarantor to the extent of
the value of the collateral securing such secured indebtedness; |
| ● | rank equally in right of payment with such subsidiary guarantor’s existing and future senior unsecured
indebtedness; and |
| ● | rank senior in right of payment to the subsidiary guarantor’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness. |
As of April 30, 2023, before
giving effect to the issuance of the notes and the use of proceeds therefrom (including the Wencor Acquisition) we, together with the
subsidiary guarantors, have had approximately $737.1 million aggregate principal amount of indebtedness, none of which is secured indebtedness.
Optional Redemption
Each series of notes will
be redeemable at any time prior to the applicable Par Call Date (as defined below), as a whole or in part, at our option, on at least
10 days’, but not more than 60 days’, prior notice mailed to the registered address of each holder of the notes to be redeemed,
at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| ● | the (a) sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest
thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus basis
points, in the case of the 20 notes, and basis points, in the
case of the 20 notes, less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and |
| ● | 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued
and unpaid interest, if any, on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date. Each series
of notes will be redeemable at any time on or after the applicable Par Call Date, as a whole or in part, at our option, on at least 10
days’, but not more than 60 days’, prior notice mailed to the registered address of each holder of the series of notes to
be redeemed, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.
“Par Call
Date” means , 20 , in the case of the 20
notes ( months prior to maturity), and
, 20 , in the case of the 20
notes ( months prior to maturity).
“Treasury Rate”
means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by us in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be
determined by us after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields
for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication)
(“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any
successor caption or heading). In determining the Treasury Rate, we will select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant
maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the applicable Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”);
or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding
to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15
immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and will interpolate to the applicable Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using
the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant
maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to
the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 will be deemed to
have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption
date.
If on the third business day
preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, we will calculate the Treasury
Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second
business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to,
the applicable Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the applicable Par Call Date but
there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the applicable Par Call Date, one with
a maturity date preceding the applicable Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the applicable Par Call Date, we will select
the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the applicable Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States
Treasury securities maturing on the applicable Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of
the preceding sentence, we will select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security
that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00
a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity
of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage
of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
Our actions and determinations
in determining the redemption price will be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Trustee will have no obligation
to calculate or verify the calculation of the redemption price payable on the notes.
We will send by electronic
delivery or mail otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC notice of any redemption at least 10 days but not more than 60 days
before the redemption date to each holder of the series of notes to be redeemed. Once the notice of redemption is sent, the notes called
for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest
to the redemption date, subject to any conditions precedent specified in such notice. If such redemption is subject to satisfaction of
one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any
or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or otherwise waived on or prior to the business day immediately preceding the relevant
redemption date. We will notify holders of any such rescission as soon as practicable after we determine that such conditions precedent
will not be able to be satisfied or we are not able or willing to waive such conditions precedent. In addition, we may provide in such
notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of our obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another
Person.
In the case of a partial redemption
of a series of notes, selection of the notes of such series for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the
Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the note will state the portion of the principal
amount of the note to be redeemed. A new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the note will be issued in the
name of the holder of the note upon surrender for cancellation of the original note. For so long as the notes are held by DTC (or another
depositary), the redemption of the notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.
Except as set forth
below under “—Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes” and “—Offer to
Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event,” the notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any mandatory
redemption, repurchase or sinking fund.
Unless the Company defaults
in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called
for redemption.
Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open
Market Purchases
Except as set forth
below under “—Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes,” we are not required to make any
mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes. In addition, other than as required under “Offer to
Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event,” we will not be required to offer to repurchase or redeem or otherwise
modify the terms of any of the notes upon a change in control of, or other events involving, us or any of our subsidiaries which may
adversely affect the creditworthiness of the notes. We and our affiliates may at any time and from time to time acquire the notes by
means other than a redemption, whether pursuant to a tender offer, purchases in the open market, in privately negotiated
transactions or otherwise.
Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes
If the closing of the Wencor
Acquisition has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) February 24, 2024 (subject to extension to such later date to which the
“Termination Date” (as defined in the Merger Agreement) may be extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement)
and (ii) the date the Merger Agreement, including any amendment thereof, is terminated, according to its terms (each, a “Special
Mandatory Redemption Event”), we will redeem the 20 notes in whole at a Special Mandatory Redemption Price equal to 101% of the
aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such notes to but excluding the
Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below) (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”). Upon the occurrence of a
Special Mandatory Redemption Event, we will promptly (but in no event later than ten (10) business days following such Special Mandatory
Redemption Event) cause notice to be delivered electronically or mailed, with a copy to the Trustee, to each holder of the 20 notes at
its registered address (such date of notification to the holders, the “redemption notice date”). The notice will inform holders
that the 20 notes will be redeemed on the tenth calendar day (or if such day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter)
following the redemption notice date (such date, the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) and that all of the outstanding
20 notes to be redeemed will be redeemed at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date automatically
and without any further action by the holders of the 20 notes. On the business day immediately preceding the Special Mandatory Redemption
Date, we will deposit with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. If such deposit is made as provided
above, the 20 notes to be redeemed will cease to bear interest on and after the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.
There is no escrow account
for, or security interest in, the proceeds of the offering for the benefit of holders of the 20 notes. For the avoidance of doubt, our
obligations to redeem notes in connection with a Special Mandatory Redemption Event applies only to the 20 notes and not the 20 notes.
Upon the completion of the Wencor Acquisition, the foregoing provisions regarding Special Mandatory Redemption will cease to apply.
Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control
Triggering Event
If a Change of Control Triggering
Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes in whole as described above, each holder of notes will have the right
to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such holder’s
notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) on the terms set forth in the notes. In the Change
of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).
Within 30 days following any
Change of Control Triggering Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending
Change of Control, we will send a notice to holders of notes describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than
30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the
procedures required by the notes and described in such notice. The notice, if sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of
Control, will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change
of Control Payment Date.
On the Change of Control Payment
Date, we will be required, to the extent lawful, to:
| ● | accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control
Offer; |
| ● | deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes
or portions of notes properly tendered; and |
| ● | deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the notes properly
accepted together with an Officer's Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being repurchased. |
We will not be required to
make a Change of Control Offer with respect to the notes 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 us and such third party purchases all the notes properly tendered and not
withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control
Payment Date an event of default under the indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment on the Change
of Control Payment Date.
If holders of not less than
90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes validly tender and do not withdraw such notes in a Change of Control Offer
and we, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of us, as described above, purchases all of the notes validly tendered
and not withdrawn by such holders, we will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not
more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all notes that remain outstanding
following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the
relevant interest payment date).
The definition of Change of
Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially
all” of the properties or assets of us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting
the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly,
the ability of a holder of notes to require us to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition
of less than all of the assets of us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
If a Change of Control Offer
is made, there can be no assurance that we will have available funds sufficient to make the Change of Control Payment for all of the notes
that may be tendered for repurchase.
We must comply with the requirements
of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations
are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that
the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the notes, we will be required
to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change
of Control provisions of the notes by virtue of any such conflict.
For purposes of the foregoing
discussion of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the notes, the following definitions are applicable:
“Change of Control”
means the occurrence of any of the following after the date of issuance of the notes:
| ● | the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger
or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of us and our subsidiaries
taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)
other than to us or one of our subsidiaries; |
| ● | the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the
result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,
of our Voting Stock representing a majority of the voting power of our then outstanding Voting Stock; |
| ● | we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with
or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of our outstanding Voting Stock or Voting Stock of such other Person
is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where our Voting Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such transaction constitutes, or is converted into or exchanged for, Voting Stock representing a majority of the
voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or |
| ● | the adoption by our stockholders of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
a transaction (or series of related transactions) will not be deemed to involve a change of control under clause (2) above if (i) we become
a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such
holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of our Voting Stock immediately prior
to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no “person” or “group” (as those terms are used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial
owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such
holding company.
“Change of Control Triggering
Event” means, with respect to a series of notes, the rating of such notes is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies
below Investment Grade on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing on the earlier of (a) the occurrence
of a Change of Control and (b) the first public announcement by us of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control), and ending
60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of
Control for so long as any of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change); provided that
a Change of Control Triggering Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control if each applicable
Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee at our or 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 Change of Control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until
such Change of Control has actually been consummated.
“Fitch” means
Fitch Ratings Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“Investment Grade”
means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating
of BBB- or better by S&P and Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P or Fitch, as applicable), and
the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us under the circumstances
permitting us to select a replacement rating agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement rating agency, in each case as set forth
in the definition of “Rating Agency.”
“Moody’s”
means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.
“Rating Agency”
means each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; provided, that if Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to
issuers or investors, we may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of
Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act as a replacement for such Rating Agency; provided further, that we give notice of such appointment
to the Trustee.
“S&P” means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and its successors.
“Voting Stock”
of any specified Person 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.
Certain Covenants
Restrictions on Secured Debt
The indenture provides that
neither we nor any Restricted Subsidiary will create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money secured by
a mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien (which we refer to herein, collectively, as a “mortgage”) on or upon any Principal
Property or any capital stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that owns any Principal Property, whether owned at the date
of the indenture or acquired after the date of the indenture, without ensuring that the notes (together with, if we decide, any other
indebtedness created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed by us or any Restricted Subsidiary that owns Principal Property then existing
or thereafter created) will be secured by such mortgage equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) such indebtedness, so long
as such indebtedness shall be so secured. This restriction will not apply to indebtedness secured by any of the following:
| ● | mortgages existing on the Issue Date; |
| ● | mortgages on any property acquired, constructed or improved by, or on any capital stock or indebtedness
acquired by, us or any Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the indenture to (i) secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase
price of such property, capital stock or indebtedness upon the acquisition thereof or (ii) secure indebtedness incurred, assumed or guaranteed
for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the purchase price of such property, capital stock or indebtedness or of
the cost of any construction or improvements on such properties, in each case, to the extent that the indebtedness is incurred, assumed
or guaranteed prior to or within 365 days after the later of the applicable acquisition, construction or improvement of such property,
as the case may be, provided, that in the case of any such acquisition, construction or improvement the mortgage shall not apply to any
property, capital stock or indebtedness theretofore owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than, in the case of any such construction
or improvement, any theretofore unimproved or substantially unimproved real property on which the property so constructed or the improvement
is located; |
| ● | except to the extent created in anticipation of the acquisition of any Person, mortgages on any property,
capital stock or indebtedness existing at the time we or any Restricted Subsidiary acquire any of such Person; |
| ● | except to the extent created in anticipation of the merger or consolidation with any Person, mortgages
on property of a Person existing at the time we or any Restricted Subsidiary merge or consolidate with such Person or at the time we or
any Restricted Subsidiary acquire all or substantially all of the properties of such Person; |
| ● | mortgages on any property of, or capital stock or indebtedness of, a Person existing at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; |
| ● | mortgages to secure indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary to us or another Restricted Subsidiary or
Subsidiary; |
| ● | mortgages in favor of certain governmental bodies to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments
pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure indebtedness incurred or guaranteed to finance or refinance all or any part of the purchase
price of the property, capital stock or indebtedness subject to such mortgages, or the cost of constructing or improving the property
subject to such mortgage; |
| ● | mortgages for taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,
provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on our books in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| ● | mortgages imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s,
repairmen’s or other like mortgages arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 30
days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; |
| ● | mortgages to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and
appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; |
| ● | mortgages in favor of only us or one or more of our Restricted Subsidiaries; |
| ● | mortgages in favor of the Trustee securing indebtedness owed under the indenture to the Trustee and granted
in accordance with the indenture; |
| ● | mortgages to secure (i) interest rate swap agreements (whether from
fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; (ii) other agreements
or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; (iii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against
fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices; and (iv) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations
in equity prices; |
| ● | judgment liens, so long as the finality of such judgment is being contested in good faith and execution
thereon is stayed; |
| ● | easements or similar encumbrances, the existence of which does not impair the use of the property subject
thereto for the purposes for which it is held or was acquired; |
| ● | leases and landlords’ mortgages on fixtures and movable property located on premises leased in the
ordinary course of business, so long as the rent secured thereby is not in default; |
| ● | extensions, renewals or replacements of any mortgage existing on the date of the indenture or any mortgage
referred to above; however, the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby may not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so
secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and such extension, renewal or replacement will be limited to all or a
part of the property (plus improvements and construction on such property), capital stock or indebtedness which was subject to the mortgage
so extended, renewed or replaced; and |
| ● | other liens permitted under the Credit Agreement. |
Notwithstanding the restriction
outlined above, we or any Restricted Subsidiary may, without having to equally and ratably secure the notes, issue, assume or guarantee
indebtedness secured by a mortgage not excepted from the restriction if the total amount of the following does not at the time exceed
the greater of (i) 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets and (ii) $300.0 million:
| ● | all other indebtedness that we and our Restricted Subsidiaries have incurred or have guaranteed existing
at such time and secured by mortgages not so excepted; plus |
| ● | the Attributable Debt existing in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions existing at such time. |
Attributable Debt with respect
to the following types of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions will not be included for the purposes of calculating Attributable Debt in the
preceding sentence:
| ● | Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in respect of which an amount (equaling at least the greater of the net
proceeds of the sale of property or the fair market value of the property) is used within 365 days after the effective date of the arrangement
to make non-mandatory prepayments on unsubordinated long-term indebtedness, retire unsubordinated long-term indebtedness or acquire, construct
or improve a manufacturing plant or facility which is, or upon completion will be, a Principal Property; and |
| ● | Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in which the property involved would have been permitted to be mortgaged
under the first or sixth bullet point of the first paragraph under this heading. |
Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions
The indenture provides that
neither we nor any Restricted Subsidiary will enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property unless:
| ● | we or such Restricted Subsidiary are entitled under the provisions
described in the first or sixth bullet point in the first paragraph under “—Restrictions on Secured Debt” to create,
issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased without having to equally and ratably secure
the notes; |
| ● | we or such Restricted Subsidiary are entitled under the provisions
described in the last paragraph under “—Restrictions on Secured Debt” to create, issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness
secured by a mortgage on such property in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt in respect of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
without having to equally and ratably secure the notes; or |
| ● | we apply an amount (equaling at least the greater of the net
proceeds of the sale of property or the fair market value of the property) within 365 days after the effective date of the arrangement
to make non-mandatory prepayments on Funded Debt, retire Funded Debt or acquire, construct or improve a manufacturing plant or facility
which is, or upon completion will be, a Principal Property. |
Future subsidiary guarantees
The indenture provides
that if, after the Issue Date, the Credit Agreement is or becomes guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries (including any member of
Wencor that is a Material Domestic Subsidiary following consummation of the Wencor Acquisition) then, if such subsidiary is not
already a subsidiary guarantor, we will cause such subsidiary within 30 days after such subsidiary guarantees the Credit Agreement
to (a) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such subsidiary will fully and unconditionally
guarantee all of our obligations under the indenture and (b) deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that (i)
such supplemental indenture and guarantee of the notes has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (ii) such supplemental
indenture and guarantee of the notes constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such subsidiary, except insofar as
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to
general principles of equity and (iii) such supplemental indenture complies with the terms of the indenture.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
The indenture provides that
we may not consolidate with or merge into any other person, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets, unless:
| ● | (i) we are the surviving person or (ii) resulting, surviving or transferee person, if other than us is
a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by supplemental
indenture all of our, relevant responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including the punctual payment of all amounts due
on the notes and performance of the covenants in the indenture; |
| ● | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, as defined below, exists; and |
| ● | we deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an opinion of
counsel, each stating that consolidation, merger, transfer or lease complies with the indenture. |
If, upon any such consolidation
or merger, or upon any such lease, sale or transfer, any of our Principal Property or any capital stock or indebtedness of any Restricted
Subsidiary, owned immediately prior to the transaction, would thereupon become subject to any mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien
securing any indebtedness for borrowed money of, or guaranteed by, such other corporation (other than any mortgage, security interest,
pledge or lien permitted as described under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Secured Debt” above), we or such
Restricted Subsidiary (to the extent a subsidiary guarantor), as applicable, prior to such consolidation, merger, lease, sale or transfer,
will, by executing and delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, secure the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and
any premium and interest on, the notes (together with, if we decide, any other indebtedness of, or guaranteed by, us or any Restricted
Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created) equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) the indebtedness secured by such
mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien.
If any consolidation or merger
or any lease, sale, or transfer of all or substantially all our assets occurs in accordance with the indenture, the successor person will
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of ours under the indenture with the same effect as if such
successor person had been named in our place in the indenture. The predecessor person will (except in the case of a lease) be discharged
from all obligations and covenants under the indenture and any debt securities issued thereunder.
This “—Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to any transfer of assets between or among us and any one or more of our subsidiary
guarantors or between or among any one or more of our subsidiary guarantors.
Reports
We will file with the Trustee,
within 15 days after we have filed the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other
reports (or copies thereof as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which we may be required to file
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if we are not required to file information, documents
or reports under those Sections, then we will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed
from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant
to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed
from time to time in those rules and regulations. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under the indenture is
for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive
notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including our compliance with any of its
covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer's Certificate).
Events of Default
With respect to the notes,
an “Event of Default” is defined in the indenture as being:
| ● | a failure to pay interest upon the notes that continues for a period of 30 days after payment is due; |
| ● | a failure to pay the principal or premium, if any, on the notes when due upon maturity, redemption (including
as described under “—Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes”), acceleration or otherwise; |
| ● | a failure by us or any subsidiary guarantor to comply with any of our or such subsidiary guarantor’s,
as applicable, other agreements contained in the indenture applicable to the notes for a period of 90 days after written notice to us
of such failure from the Trustee (or to us and the Trustee from the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the notes then
outstanding); |
| ● | a failure to make any payment at maturity, including any applicable grace period, of any indebtedness
of the Company or any subsidiary guarantor in an amount in excess of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount and continuance of this failure
to pay or (b) a default on any of the Company’s or a subsidiary guarantor’s indebtedness which default results in the acceleration
of indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $150,000,000 without such indebtedness having been discharged or the acceleration
having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled; provided, however, that if the failure, default or acceleration referred to in clause
(a) or (b) above shall cease or be cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then the Event of Default shall be deemed cured; |
| ● | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us or any subsidiary guarantor;
or |
| ● | any guarantee of any subsidiary guarantor is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid
or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect in all material respects (other than in accordance with the terms of such guarantee
and the indenture) or any subsidiary guarantor denies its liability under its subsidiary guarantee (other than by reason of release of
a subsidiary guarantor from its subsidiary guarantee in accordance with the terms of the indenture and such subsidiary guarantee). |
The indenture provides that
if there is a continuing Event of Default with respect to the notes (other than an Event of Default regarding certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization relating to us), either the Trustee by notice to the Company or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding
principal amount of the notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee may declare the principal amount of all of the notes to be due
and payable immediately. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization
relating to us, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding notes will become and be immediately due
and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of outstanding notes. At any time after the
Trustee or the holders, as the case may be, declare an acceleration with respect to the notes, but before the applicable Person has obtained
a judgment or decree based on such acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may, under certain
conditions, cancel such acceleration if we have cured all Events of Default (other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal) with
respect to such notes or all such Events of Default have been waived as provided in the indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults,
see “— Modification and Waiver.”
The indenture provides that
if there is a continuing Event of Default, the Trustee need not exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request
or direction of any of the holders of notes, unless such holders have offered, and, if requested, provided to the Trustee security or
indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion. Subject to such provisions for security or indemnification of the Trustee
and certain other conditions, 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
the Trustee holds with respect to the notes of that series.
No holder of any note will
have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture unless:
| ● | a holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect
to the notes; |
| ● | the holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes have made
a written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder; |
| ● | such holder or holders have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory
to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; |
| ● | the Trustee has failed to institute proceedings 60 days after the receipt of such notice, request and
offer of indemnity; and |
| ● | no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given for 60 days by the holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes. |
However, the holder of any
note will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and any premium or interest on, such note on
or after the date or dates they are to be paid as expressed in such note and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.
We are required to furnish
to the Trustee annually a statement as to the absence of certain defaults under the indenture. The indenture provides that the Trustee
need not provide holders of notes notice of any default (other than the nonpayment of principal or any premium or interest) if it considers
it in the interest of the holders of notes not to provide such notice.
Modification and Waiver
We and the Trustee may amend
the indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding notes of each series affected by
the amendment. However, no such amendment may, without the consent of the holders of all then outstanding notes of the affected series:
| ● | change the due date of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, the notes
of that series; |
| ● | reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest rate on, the notes of that series; |
| ● | change the currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, the notes of that series; |
| ● | reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any note or change the time at which any note may or
shall be redeemed in accordance with the indenture; |
| ● | other than in accordance with the provisions of the indenture, eliminate any existing subsidiary guarantee
of the notes or alter in any material respect adverse to the holders of the notes the terms of any existing subsidiary guarantee; |
| ● | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the notes
of that series after the due date thereof; or |
| ● | reduce the percentage in principal amount of the notes of that series then outstanding, the consent of
whose holders is required for amendment of the indenture, for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver
of certain defaults. |
The holders of a majority
of the principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series may waive, insofar as that series is concerned, future compliance by us
with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of
any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series, except a failure by us to pay the principal of,
or any premium or interest on, any notes of that series or a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders
of all outstanding notes of the affected series.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Stockholders
No director, officer, employee
or stockholder of ours will have any liability for any of our obligations under the notes or the indenture or for any claim based on,
in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes.
Defeasance
Defeasance and Discharge
The Company may discharge
its obligations under the indenture in respect of the notes when either:
| ● | either (a) all outstanding notes (except (i) mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid
to us and (ii) notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by us and thereafter
repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation or (b) all such notes not
so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year
or are to be called for redemption within one year, and we have deposited with the Trustee in trust an amount of cash or U.S. government
obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such notes, including interest to the
stated maturity or applicable redemption date; and |
|
● |
we have paid all other sums due under the indenture with respect to the notes to be discharged and delivered an Officer's Certificate and opinion of counsel to the Trustee stating that all related conditions have been satisfied. |
Defeasance of Certain Covenants and Certain
Events of Default
The notes may be defeased
at any time in accordance with the terms set forth in the indenture and described briefly below. Any defeasance may terminate all of our
and the subsidiary guarantors’ obligations (with limited exceptions) with respect to the notes, the guarantees and the indenture
(“legal defeasance”), or it may terminate only our obligations under any restrictive covenant which may be applicable to the
notes (“covenant defeasance”).
We may exercise our legal
defeasance option even though we have also exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise the legal defeasance option, the notes
may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If we exercise the covenant defeasance option, the notes may not be accelerated
by reference to any restrictive covenants which apply to the notes and each subsidiary guarantor will be released from its obligations
with respect to its subsidiary guarantee.
To exercise either defeasance
option, we must:
| ● | irrevocably deposit in trust with the applicable Trustee or
another trustee money or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal
of and any premium and interest or other amounts due on the notes on the stated maturities or redemption dates therefor; |
| ● | deliver a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants or investment bankers expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due on
the deposited U.S. government obligations, plus any deposited money, will provide cash at the times and in the amounts necessary to pay
the principal of and premium and interest when due on all the notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and |
| ● | comply with certain other conditions, including that there
be no Event of Default at the time of deposit or Event of Default due to bankruptcy on or prior to the 90th day after the deposit date.
In particular, in the case of legal defeasance, we must obtain an opinion of tax counsel, based on a change in the applicable U.S. federal
income tax law or a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service, that the defeasance will not result in recognition of any gain or loss to
holders for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit. |
Covenant Defeasance and Certain Other Events
of Default
If we exercise our option
to effect a covenant defeasance as described above and the notes are thereafter declared due and payable because of an Event of Default
(other than an Event of Default caused by failing to comply with the covenants that are defeased), the amount of money and securities
we have deposited with the Trustee would be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes on their respective due dates but may not be sufficient
to pay amounts due on the notes at the time of acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, we would remain liable for
such payments. The Company must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel confirming that the beneficial owners of the outstanding
notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject
to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance
had not occurred;
Governing Law
The indenture is, and the
notes and the subsidiary guarantees will be, governed by the laws of the State of New York.
The Trustee
Truist Bank is the Trustee
under the indenture. The Trustee and its affiliates have engaged, currently are engaged, and may in the future engage in financial or
other transactions with the Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, subject to the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended.
Except during the continuance
of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. If an Event of Default
shall have occurred and continues that is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it under
the indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in
the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below is a summary
of certain of the defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the indenture for the full definition of all such terms as
well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided. Unless the context otherwise requires, an accounting
term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
“Attributable Debt”
means, in the context of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, what we believe in good faith to be the present value, discounted at the interest
rate implicit in the lease involved in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of the lessee’s obligation under the lease for rental
payments during the remaining term of such lease, as it may be extended. For purposes of this definition, any amounts lessee must pay,
whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates
or similar charges or any amounts lessee must pay under the lease contingent upon the amount of sales, maintenance and repairs, insurance,
taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges are not included in the determination of lessee’s obligations under the lease.
“business day”
means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required
by law to close.
“Commission” means
the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution
of this indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the
body performing such duties at such time.
“Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets” means the total amount of assets minus:
| ● | all applicable reserves; |
| ● | all current liabilities (excluding any liabilities which are by their terms extendible or renewable at
the option of the obligor to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed and excluding
current maturities of long-term indebtedness); and |
| ● | all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangible
assets, all as shown in our audited consolidated balance sheet contained in our then most recent annual report to stockholders. |
“Default” means
any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Domestic Subsidiary”
means any Subsidiary that is organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state in the United States or the District
of Columbia.
“Event of Default”
has the meaning set forth under “—Events of Default.”
“Funded Debt”
means all indebtedness for money borrowed which by its terms matures more than 12 months after the time of the computation of this amount
or which is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor on this indebtedness to a time more than 12 months after the time of
the computation of this amount or which is classified, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as long-term
debt on the consolidated balance sheet for the most-recently ended fiscal quarter (or if incurred subsequent to the date of such balance
sheet, would have been so classified) of the person for which the determination is being made.
“Issue Date” means
the date on which the notes are initially issued.
“Material Domestic Subsidiary”
means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.
“Material Subsidiary”
means any “Material Subsidiary” of the Company as defined in the Credit Agreement. On the Issue Date, the Material Subsidiaries
consisted of each Restricted Subsidiary which (a) had total assets of 3% or more of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Unrestricted Subsidiaries thereof), or (b) had annual consolidated total revenue of 5% or more of the
consolidated total revenue of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Unrestricted Subsidiaries thereof), in each case,
determined as of April 30, 2023.
“Officer” means
the Chief Executive Officer, a President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the specified
Person.
“Officer’s
Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Senior Officer, the Treasurer or the General Counsel of such Person that,
if required by the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.
“Person” means
any individual, corporation, company (including a limited liability company), partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Principal Property”
means any plant, warehouse, office building, facility or parcel of real property owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary which is located
within the United States and has a gross book value in excess of 2% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of determination,
except for any such plant, warehouse, office building, facility or parcel of real property or any portion of such plant, warehouse, office
building, facility or parcel of real property which, in the opinion of our board of directors, is not of material importance to the total
business conducted by us and our Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company
that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction” means the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property, whether owned at the date of the indenture
or acquired after the date of the indenture (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal term, of up to three years
and except for leases between us and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries), which property has been or is to be
sold or transferred by us or such Restricted Subsidiary to any party with the intention of taking back a lease of such property.
“Senior Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer, a President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company or any other officer or officers designated in a board resolution delivered to the Trustee.
“Subsidiary” means
any Person, a majority of the combined voting power of the total outstanding ownership interests in which is, at the time of determination,
beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more other Subsidiaries. For this purpose, “voting
power” means power to vote in an ordinary election of directors (or, in the case of a Person that is not a corporation, ordinarily
to appoint or approve the appointment of Persons holding similar positions), whether at all times or only as long as no senior class of
ownership interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary”
means each Subsidiary of the Company designated as such by the Company to the Trustee from time to time; provided that a Subsidiary shall
only be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if the Company has also designated such Subsidiary as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary”
(or any substantially similar designation) pursuant to the Credit Agreement. We may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary for purposes of the indenture at any time if we have also designated such Subsidiary as a “Restricted Subsidiary”
(or any substantially similar designation) pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
Book-Entry; Delivery
And Form
The notes of each series initially
will be represented by one or more permanent global certificates in definitive, fully registered, book-entry form (the “Global Notes”).
The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”) and registered
in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, in the form of a global certificate.
The Global Notes
DTC has advised us that, pursuant
to procedures established by it, (i) upon the issuance of the Global Notes, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal system,
the principal amount at maturity of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Notes to the respective accounts of
persons who have accounts with DTC (“participants”) and (ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will
be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect
to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Ownership
of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be limited to participants or persons who hold interests through participants. Holders
may hold their interests in the Global Notes directly through DTC if they are participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations
that are participants in such system.
So long as DTC, or its nominee,
is the registered owner or holder of the notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the notes represented by such Global Notes for all purposes under the indenture governing the notes. Accordingly, each owner of a beneficial
interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such owner is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant
through which it owns its beneficial interest to exercise any rights of a holder of notes under the indenture. No beneficial owner of
an interest in the Global Notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s procedures, in addition to
those provided for under the indenture with respect to the notes.
Payments of the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest) on, the Global Notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case
may be, as the registered owner of the Global Notes. None of Wencor, the Trustee, Truist Bank, or any paying agent under the indenture
governing the notes will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of
beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interest.
DTC has advised us that its
present practice is, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest) on the Global
Notes, to credit immediately participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests
in the principal amount of the Global Notes as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests
in the Global Notes held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility
of such participants.
Transfers between participants
in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way through DTC’s same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled
in same-day funds. If a holder requires physical delivery of a certificated security for any reason, including to sell notes to persons
in states which require physical delivery of the notes, or to pledge such securities, such holder must transfer its interest in a Global
Note in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set forth in the indenture governing the notes.
DTC has advised us that it
will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes, including the presentation of notes for exchange as described below,
only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited and only in respect
of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction.
However, if there is an event of default under the indenture governing the notes, DTC will exchange the Global Notes for certificated
securities, which it will distribute to its participants.
DTC has advised us as follows:
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within
the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning
of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “Clearing Agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A
of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need
for physical movement of certificates. Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies
and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system is available to others such as U.S. and non-U.S. banks,
brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly
(“indirect participants”). The Rules applicable to DTC and participants are on file with the SEC.
Although DTC has agreed to
the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants of DTC, it is under no obligation
to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility
for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures
governing their operations.
Clearstream. Clearstream
is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations
(“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants
through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and establishment
of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries.
As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream Participants are
recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others,
such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant
either directly or indirectly.
Euroclear. Euroclear
was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions
between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services,
including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several markets in several countries. Euroclear is
operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian
cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities
clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes
policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers
and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available
to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator is
regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking Commission.
Links have been established
among DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the notes sold outside of the United States and cross-market
transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading.
Although DTC, Clearstream
and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures described herein in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform
these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.
Payments, deliveries, transfers,
exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in the Global Notes owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must
comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and
other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.
You will be able to make and
receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in
the Global Notes held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business
on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone
differences, investors who hold their interests in the Global Notes through Clearstream or Euroclear and wish on a particular day to transfer
their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, may find that
the transaction will not be effected until the next business day. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular
day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Clearstream or Euroclear
may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchase or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems,
and those transactions may settle later than would be the case for transactions within one clearing system.
Certificated Securities
Certificated securities will
be issued in exchange for beneficial interests in the Global Notes if (i) DTC (x) notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as depository for the Global Notes or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case,
we fail to appoint a successor depository within 90 days of such notice or cessation, (ii) we, at our option, notify the Trustee
that we have elected to cause the issuance of such certificated securities in exchange for any or all of the notes represented by the
Global Notes or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the notes.
Certain Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is
a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the notes.
This discussion only applies to notes that are held as capital assets, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), and that are purchased in the initial offering at the initial offering price, by U.S. Holders
and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below). This discussion is based on interpretations of the Code, Treasury regulations
issued thereunder, and rulings and decisions currently in effect, all of which are subject to change. Any such change may be applied retroactively
and may adversely affect the U.S. federal income tax considerations described herein.
This summary does not discuss
all U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders in light of their particular
circumstances or that may be relevant to certain beneficial owners that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income
tax law (including, for example, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, dealers
in securities, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, real estate investment trusts,
regulated investment companies, individual retirement accounts, qualified pension plans, persons who hold the notes as part of a straddle,
constructive sale, conversion, or other integrated transaction, U.S. Holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, controlled
foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, inverted corporations, corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S.
federal income tax, pass-through entities (e.g., partnerships) or persons who hold the notes through pass-through entities, or persons
subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the notes being taken into account in
an applicable financial statement). Furthermore, this summary does not discuss any alternative minimum tax considerations, and does not
address any aspects of federal non-income taxation or state, local, or foreign taxation. In the case of any Non-U.S. Holder
who is an individual, this summary assumes that this individual was not formerly a United States citizen, and was not formerly a resident
of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
As used in this discussion,
the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of the notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a) an individual
who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof,
or the District of Columbia, or is otherwise treated as a domestic corporation, (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S.
federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (d) a trust (i) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision
of a court within the United States and all substantial decisions of which are subject to the control of one or more United States persons
as described in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (each, a “United States person”), or (ii) that has a valid election
in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
A “Non-U.S. Holder”
means a beneficial owner of notes that is not a U.S. Holder and is not a partnership (including any entity or arrangement properly classified
as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).
If a partnership (including
an entity or arrangement properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds notes, the tax treatment of
a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of a partnership holding
the notes should consult their own tax advisors.
No ruling has been or will
be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to the matters discussed below. As a result, no assurance
can be given that the IRS will not assert, or that a court will not sustain, a position contrary to the conclusions set forth below.
This discussion does
not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to beneficial owners in light of their particular circumstances
or to investors subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, nor does it deal with federal non-income taxation
or the tax consequences under the laws of any foreign, state or local taxing jurisdictions. Accordingly, prospective investors are urged
to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences of investing in the notes, as well
as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction to which they may be subject.
Effect of Certain Contingent Payments
In certain circumstances,
we may be obligated to make payments on the notes in excess of stated interest and principal, or prior to their scheduled payment dates
(see “Description of the Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event” and “Description of
the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption of the 20 Notes”). Treasury regulations provide special rules for the treatment of
debt instruments that provide for contingent payments. Under these regulations, a contingency is disregarded if the contingency is remote
or incidental. We believe that the likelihood that we will make any of the contingent payments referred to above is remote or incidental
and, therefore, we intend to take the position that the notes are not contingent payment debt instruments under applicable Treasury regulations.
A successful challenge of this position by the IRS could affect the timing and amount of income inclusions with respect to the notes,
and could also cause any gain from the sale or other disposition of a note to be treated as ordinary income rather than as capital gain.
Our position is binding on a beneficial owner of a note, unless the beneficial owner discloses in the proper manner to the IRS that it
is taking a different position.
Beneficial owners of the notes
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the contingent payment debt instrument rules to the notes.
The remainder of this summary assumes that the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments.
U.S. Holders
Interest on the Notes
Interest payments on the notes
will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s
regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The notes are not expected to be issued with an amount equal to or
greater than de minimis original issue discount (“OID”). However, if the notes are issued at a discount that
equals or exceeds de minimis OID, each U.S. Holder generally will be required to include OID in income (as interest)
as it accrues, regardless of its regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes, using a constant yield method, before
such U.S. Holder receives any payment attributable to such income. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not issued
with an amount equal to or greater than de minimis OID.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other
Taxable Disposition of the Notes
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption
or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between
the amount realized (other than any amount representing accrued but unpaid interest, which will be treated as ordinary income to the extent
not previously included in income) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. The amount realized by a U.S. Holder will
be the sum of the cash plus the fair market value of all other property received on such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition.
A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will equal the purchase price of the note.
Any gain or loss so recognized
generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if such U.S. Holder has held such note for more than
one year at the time of such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition. Net long-term capital gain of certain non-corporate U.S.
Holders (including individuals) generally is subject to preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax. The deductibility of capital losses
is subject to limitations.
Net Investment Income Tax
U.S. Holders who are individuals,
estates or certain trusts may be subject to a 3.8% net investment income tax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. person’s “net
investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S. person’s modified adjusted gross income
for the taxable year over certain thresholds that vary depending on the individual’s circumstances. Net investment income generally
will include interest income and net gains from the disposition of the notes, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in
the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading
activities). A U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust should consult its tax advisor regarding the applicability of the net
investment income tax to its interest income and gains in respect of its investment in the notes.
Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting
In general, a U.S. Holder
that is not an “exempt recipient” will be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding tax at the applicable rate with respect
to payments on the notes and the proceeds of a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, unless the U.S. Holder
provides its taxpayer identification number to the applicable withholding agent and certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is not
subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9 or an applicable successor form and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements
of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a
U.S. Holder may be allowed as a credit against such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. Holder
to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
In addition, payments on the
notes made to, and the proceeds of a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition by, a U.S. Holder generally will be subject
to information reporting requirements, unless such U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient and appropriately establishes that exemption.
Non-U.S. Holders
Interest on the Notes
Subject to the discussions
below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”,
interest payments on the notes to Non-U.S. Holders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax if
the following conditions are satisfied:
| ● | the Non-U.S. Holder does not actually or constructively
own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)
of the Code, |
| ● | the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is related to us through actual or constructive ownership, |
| ● | such interest is not effectively connected with a trade or
business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States (or, in the case of an applicable income tax treaty, is not
attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base that the Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States), and |
| ● | either (a) the Non-U.S. Holder provides a correct,
complete and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8EXP or Form W-8IMY (or suitable
successor or substitute form) with all of the attachments required by the IRS or (b) the Non-U.S. Holder holds its notes
through a qualified intermediary (generally a foreign financial institution or clearing organization or a non-U.S. branch or office of
a U.S. financial institution or clearing organization that is a party to a withholding agreement with the IRS), which has provided an
IRS Form W-8IMY (or suitable successor or substitute form) stating that it is a qualified intermediary and has received documentation
upon which it can rely to treat the payment as made to a foreign person. |
If any of the conditions described
above are not satisfied, interest on the notes will be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid, unless either the Non-U.S. Holder
provides a correct, complete and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E claiming that an income tax treaty reduces
or eliminates the tax, or the interest is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business and the Non-U.S. Holder
provides a correct, complete and executed IRS Form W-8ECI. If interest is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted
by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States (or, in the case of an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent
establishment or a fixed base that the Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States), Non-U.S. Holders generally
will be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to all income from the notes in the same manner as a United States person. In
addition, Non-U.S. Holders that are corporations could be subject to a 30% branch profits tax (or a lower rate under an applicable
income tax treaty) on such income.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other
Taxable Disposition of the Notes
Subject to the discussions
below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”,
gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes by a Non-U.S. Holder generally will
not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless:
| ● | the gain with respect to the notes is effectively connected
with a trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax
treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or a fixed base that the Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the U.S.),
in which case the gain will be taxed in the same manner as interest that is effectively connected to such trade or business, or |
| ● | the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual
who holds the notes as a capital asset and is present in the United States for more than 182 days in the taxable year of the sale, exchange,
redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes and certain other conditions are satisfied, in which case the gain will be subject
to a 30% tax (or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty). |
To the extent the amount realized
on a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the notes,
such amount generally will be subject to, or exempt from, tax to the same extent as described above under ”—Non-U.S. Holders—Interest
on the Notes.”
Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting
Backup withholding will not
be required with respect to interest paid to Non-U.S. Holders, so long as the applicable withholding agent has received from
the Non-U.S. Holder a correct and complete IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8ECI, Form
W-8EXP or Form W-8IMY (or suitable successor or substitute form) with all of the attachments required by the IRS and provided
that the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the Non-U.S. Holder is a United
States person. Interest paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be reported on IRS Form 1042-S, which is filed with the IRS
and sent to Non-U.S. Holders.
Information reporting and
backup withholding may apply to the proceeds of a sale of the notes by a Non-U.S. Holder made within the United States or conducted
through certain U.S. related financial intermediaries, unless the applicable withholding agent receives one of the IRS tax forms described
above and provided that the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the Non-U.S. Holder
is a United States person.
Backup withholding is not
an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder may be allowed as a credit against
such Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided
the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner. The information reporting requirements may apply regardless of whether
withholding is required. For Non-U.S. Holders, copies of the information returns reporting such interest and withholding also
may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which a Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of
an applicable income tax treaty or agreement.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Under the “Foreign Account
Tax Compliance Act” (“FATCA”) and guidance issued by the IRS, a United States federal withholding tax of 30% generally
applies to interest on a debt obligation, including a note, paid to certain non-United States entities (including, in some circumstances,
where such an entity is acting as an intermediary) that fail to comply with certain certification and information reporting requirements.
Although withholding under FATCA would have applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable
disposition of the notes on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross
proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury regulations until final Treasury regulations are issued. If
an interest payment is both subject to withholding under FATCA and subject to the withholding tax discussed above under ”—Non-U.S. Holders—Interest
on the Notes,” the withholding under FATCA may be credited against, and therefore reduce, such other withholding tax. The rules
described above may be modified by an intergovernmental agreement entered into between the United States and another jurisdiction. Prospective
holders of the notes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of the FATCA rules for them based on their particular
circumstances.
Underwriting
Truist Securities, Inc., BofA
Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in a firm commitment underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the
underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the aggregate principal amount
of the notes set forth opposite its name below.
Underwriter | |
Principal
Amount of 20 Notes | | |
Principal
Amount of 20 Notes | |
Truist Securities, Inc. | |
$ | | | |
$ | | |
BofA Securities, Inc. | |
| | | |
| | |
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | |
| | | |
| | |
Total | |
$ | | | |
$ | | |
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the notes sold under the underwriting
agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments
of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and
their controlling persons against certain liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act,
or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the notes, subject
to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity
of the notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s
certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders
in whole or in part.
Commissions and Discounts
The representatives have advised
us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price for that series set forth on
the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of, for the 20 notes,
% of the principal amount of such series of notes, and for the 20 notes, % of the principal amount of such series
of notes. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concessions, reallowance discount or any other term of the offering may
be changed.
The expenses of the offering,
not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $ and are payable by us.
New Issue of Notes
Each series of notes is a new issue of securities
with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for inclusion of
the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market
in the notes after completion of the offering. However, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities
at any time without any notice. We cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active public market for
the notes will develop. If an active public trading market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of such notes
may be adversely affected. If the notes are traded, it may trade at a discount from its initial offering price, depending on prevailing
interest rates, the market for similar securities, our operating performance and financial condition, general economic conditions and
other factors.
No Sales of Similar Securities
We have agreed that we will not, through and including
the business day following the closing of this offering, without first obtaining the prior written consent of the representatives, directly
or indirectly, issue, offer, sell, offer to sell or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of any debt securities
or securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities, except for the notes sold to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting
agreement.
Short Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters
may purchase and sell the notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales and purchases on the open market to cover
positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of the notes than they
are required to purchase in the offering. The underwriters must close out any short position by purchasing the notes in the open market.
A short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the
notes in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’
purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the notes or preventing
or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that might otherwise
exist in the open market.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any
representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price
of the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these
transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Other Relationships
The underwriters and certain of their 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.
The underwriters and certain of their affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various commercial
and investment banking and financial advisory services for us and our subsidiaries for which they received or may in the future receive
customary fees and expenses. In particular, affiliates of certain underwriters are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility.
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 securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. If any of the
underwriters or their affiliates has 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, those 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.
Conflicts of Interest
Certain of the underwriters and/or
their affiliates are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility. Accordingly, to the extent we use a portion of the net proceeds from
this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates
that are lenders under the Existing Credit Facility may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering (not including underwriting
discounts and commissions). Nonetheless, in accordance with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rule 5121, the appointment
of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with this offering.
Settlement
We expect that delivery of
the notes will be made to investors on or about , 2023, which will be the
business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement being referred to as “T+ ”).
Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in two business days,
unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the delivery
of the notes hereunder will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+ , to specify
an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to
trade the notes prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.
Offering Restrictions
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 and the accompanying
prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contain 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.
European Economic Area
The notes are not intended to be offered, sold
or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic
Area (the “EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as
defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); (ii) a customer within the meaning
of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a
professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation
(EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation
(EU) No. 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available
to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any
retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have
been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any member state of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus
Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
are not prospectuses for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.
United Kingdom
The notes are not intended to be offered, sold
or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom
(the “UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined
in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018 (the “EUWA”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(as amended, the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that
customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it
forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129
as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information
document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”)
for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering
or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.
This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under
the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. This prospectus supplement is not a prospectus
for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
Switzerland
This prospectus supplement is not intended to
constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes.
The notes may not be publicly offered, directly
or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will
be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus
supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither
this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise
made publicly available in Switzerland.
Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus relate to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”).
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered
Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing
or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. The notes to which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate may be illiquid and/or subject
to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the notes offered should conduct their own due diligence on the notes. If you
do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus you should consult an authorized financial
advisor.
Hong Kong
The notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong
by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance
(Cap. 571 of the laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder; or (b) in other circumstances which do
not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance
(Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “CO”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the
CO; and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the
purposes of issue, 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 of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes
which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined
in the SFO 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 (Law No. 25 of 1948 of Japan, as amended, the “FIEL”). In respect
of the solicitation relating to the notes in Japan, no securities registration statement under Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the FIEL has
been filed since this solicitation constitutes a “solicitation targeting QIIs” as defined in Article 23-13, Paragraph 1 of
the FIEL (the “solicitation targeting QIIs”). The notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to,
or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan, or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the
benefit of, any resident of Japan, except through a solicitation constituting a solicitation targeting QIIs, which will be exempt from
the registration requirements of the FIEL, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEL and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial
guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.
Any investor desiring to acquire the notes must
be aware that the notes may not be Transferred to any other person unless such person is a QII.
In this section:
| ● | “QII” means a qualified institutional investor
as defined in the Cabinet Ordinance Concerning Definitions under Article 2 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Ordinance
No. 14 of 1993 of the Ministry of Finance of Japan, as amended). |
| ● | “Transfer” means a sale, exchange, transfer, assignment,
pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition of all or any portion of notes, either directly or indirectly, to another person.
When used as a verb, the terms “Transfer” and “Transferred” shall have correlative meanings. |
| ● | “Resident of Japan” means any person resident
in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan. |
Singapore
This prospectus supplement has not been registered
as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold or made the subject of an
invitation for subscription or purchase, and this prospectus supplement or 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, whether directly or indirectly,
to any person in Singapore other than:
(a) to an institutional investor (as defined in
Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”))
pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA;
(b) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2)
of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with
the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; or
(c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with
the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under
Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:
(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited
investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) 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 of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,
(c) securities or securities-based derivatives
contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever
described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant
to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:
(i) to an institutional investor or to a relevant
person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;
(ii) where no consideration is or will be given
for the transfer;
(iii) where the transfer is by operation of law;
(iv) as specified in Section 276(7) of the
SFA; or
(v) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities
and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.
Singapore SFA Product Classification—In
connection with Section 309B of the SFA and the CMP Regulations 2018, unless otherwise specified before an offer of notes, we have
determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA), that the notes are “prescribed
capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA
04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).
Taiwan
The notes have not been, and will not be, registered
with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China (“Taiwan”) pursuant to applicable securities laws
and regulations. No person or entity in Taiwan is authorized to distribute or otherwise intermediate the offering of the notes or the
provision of information relating to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The notes may be made available for purchase
outside Taiwan by investors residing in Taiwan (either directly or through properly licensed Taiwan intermediaries acting on behalf of
such investors), but may not be issued, offered or sold in Taiwan. No subscription or other offer to purchase the notes shall be binding
on us until received and accepted by us or any underwriter outside of Taiwan (the “Place of Acceptance”), and the purchase/sale
contract arising therefrom shall be deemed a contract entered into in the Place of Acceptance.
Republic of Korea
The notes may not be offered, sold and delivered
directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in South Korea or to any resident
of South Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of South Korea, including the Financial Investment Services and
Capital Markets Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The notes have not been registered
with the Financial Services Commission of South Korea for public offering in South Korea. Furthermore, the Notes may not be re-sold to
South Korean residents unless the purchaser of the notes complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited
to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection
with their purchase.
Legal Matters
The validity of the notes
and certain other legal matters relating to the offering will be passed upon for us by Akerman LLP, Miami, Florida. Certain legal matters
in connection with New Hampshire law will be passed upon for us by Devine, Millimet & Branch, Professional Association, Manchester,
New Hampshire. Certain legal matters in connection with Arizona law and Minnesota law will be passed upon for us by Ballard Spahr
LLP, Phoenix, Arizona. Certain legal matters in connection with Iowa law will be passed upon for us by Hartzog Conger Cason LLP, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. Certain legal matters in connection with Oregon law will be passed upon for us by Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, Oregon. Certain
legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by King & Spalding LLP, Atlanta, Georgia.
Experts
The consolidated financial
statements of HEICO Corporation and subsidiaries as of October 31, 2022 and 2021, and for each of the three years in the period ended
October 31, 2022 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and the effectiveness of HEICO Corporation’s internal control over
financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their
report. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority
as experts in accounting and auditing.
PROSPECTUS
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1985252/000121390023058055/image_003.jpg)
Common Stock
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Guarantees of Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Units
HEICO Corporation may offer Common Stock, Class A Common Stock, preferred
stock, debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, depositary shares, warrants and units (collectively, the “securities”)
from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering. These securities also may
be offered by shareholders, if so provided in a prospectus supplement hereto. We will provide specific information about any selling shareholders
in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from sales of Common Stock or Class A Common Stock by
the selling shareholders.
This prospectus describes
the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we and the selling shareholders will offer the securities. The
specific terms of any securities we or the selling shareholders offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus
supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we and the selling shareholders will offer the securities. The prospectus
supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplements
or other offering materials carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus
supplement.
Our Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)
under the symbol “HEI.” The last reported sale price of our Common Stock on July 14, 2023, was $170.49 per share. Our Class
A Common Stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “HEI.A.” The last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock on
July 14, 2023 was $135.40 per share. We have not determined whether we will list any of the other securities we may offer on any exchange
or over-the-counter market. If we decide to seek the listing of any securities, the supplement will disclose the exchange or market.
Investing in these securities
involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described under the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning
on page 3, our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and any applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither the SEC nor any
state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
July 17, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of
a Registration Statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf
registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
These securities also may be offered by shareholders, if so, provided in a prospectus supplement hereto. We will provide specific information
about any selling shareholders in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description
of the securities we and the selling shareholders may offer. Each time we or the selling shareholders sell securities, we will provide
a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. Material
federal income tax considerations applicable to the offered securities will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement
as necessary. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both
this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where
You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
This prospectus does not contain
all of the information set forth in the registration statement, portions of which we have omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations
of the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete.
You should refer to the copy of each contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement for a complete description.
You should rely only on the
information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplements filed with the SEC.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information and, if you are given any information or representation
about these matters that is not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement, you must not rely
on that information. The selling shareholders will offer to sell and seek offers to buy shares of our Common Stock and Class A Common
Stock only in jurisdictions in which offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as
of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of Common Stock or Class A Common Stock.
Unless the context otherwise
requires, all references in this prospectus to “HEICO,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and
“our” refer to HEICO Corporation and our consolidated subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated or indicated by context, the phrase
“this prospectus” refers to the prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information
contained elsewhere in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein. It is not complete and may not contain all of
the information that you should consider before investing in these securities. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including
the “Risk Factors” section, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any prospectus supplement.
HEICO Corporation
HEICO Corporation through
its subsidiaries (collectively, “HEICO,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”)
believes it is the world’s largest manufacturer of Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) approved jet engine and aircraft
component replacement parts, other than the original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and their subcontractors. HEICO also
believes it is a leading manufacturer of various types of electronic equipment for the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications
and electronics industries. The Company was originally organized in 1957 as a holding company known as HEICO Corporation. As part of a
reorganization completed in 1993, the original holding company (formerly known as HEICO Corporation) was renamed as HEICO Aerospace Corporation
and a new holding corporation known as HEICO Corporation was created. The reorganization did not result in any change in the business
of the Company, its consolidated assets or liabilities or the relative interests of its shareholders.
Our business is comprised
of two operating segments:
The Flight Support Group.
Our Flight Support Group (“FSG”), consisting of HEICO Aerospace Holdings Corp. and HEICO Flight Support Corp. and their
collective subsidiaries, accounted for 57%, 50% and 52% of our net sales in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 58% of net sales
for the six months ended April 30, 2023. The FSG uses proprietary technology to design and manufacture jet engine and aircraft component
replacement parts for sale at lower prices than those manufactured by OEMs. These parts are approved by the FAA and are the functional
equivalent of parts sold by OEMs. In addition, the FSG repairs, overhauls and distributes jet engine and aircraft components, avionics
and instruments for domestic and foreign commercial air carriers and aircraft repair companies as well as military and business aircraft
operators. The FSG also manufactures and sells specialty parts as a subcontractor for aerospace and industrial original equipment manufacturers
and the United States (“U.S.”) government. Additionally, the FSG is a leading supplier, distributor, and integrator of military
aircraft parts and support services primarily to the U.S. Department of Defense, defense prime contractors, and foreign military organizations
allied with the U.S. Further, the FSG is a leading manufacturer of advanced niche components and complex composite assemblies for commercial
aviation, defense and space applications. The FSG engineers, designs and manufactures thermal insulation blankets and parts as well as
removable/reusable insulation systems for aerospace, defense, commercial and industrial applications; manufactures expanded foil mesh
for lightning strike protection in fixed and rotary wing aircraft; distributes aviation electrical interconnect products and electromechanical
parts; overhauls industrial pumps, motors, and other hydraulic units with a focus on the support of legacy systems for the U.S. Navy;
and performs tight-tolerance machining, brazing, fabricating and welding services for aerospace, defense and other industrial applications.
The Electronic Technologies
Group. Our Electronic Technologies Group (“ETG”), consisting of HEICO Electronic Technologies Corp. and its subsidiaries,
accounted for 43%, 50% and 48% of our net sales in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 42% of net sales for the six months
ended April 30, 2023. The ETG derived approximately 56%, 63% and 66% of its net sales in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and
47% of net sales for the six months ended April 30, 2023, from the sale of products and services to U.S. and foreign military agencies,
prime defense contractors and both commercial and defense satellite and spacecraft manufacturers. The ETG collectively designs, manufactures
and sells various types of electronic, data and microwave, and electro-optical products, including infrared simulation and test equipment,
laser rangefinder receivers, electrical power supplies, back-up power supplies, power conversion products, underwater locator beacons,
emergency locator transmission beacons, flight deck annunciators, panels, and indicators, electromagnetic and radio frequency interference
shielding and filters, high power capacitor charging power supplies, amplifiers, traveling wave tube amplifiers, photodetectors, amplifier
modules, microwave power modules, flash lamp drivers, laser diode drivers, arc lamp power supplies, custom power supply designs, cable
assemblies, high voltage power supplies, high voltage interconnection devices and wire, high voltage energy generators, high frequency
power delivery systems; memory products, including three-dimensional microelectronic and stacked memory, static random-access memory
(SRAM), and electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM); harsh environment electronic connectors and other interconnect
products, radio frequency (“RF”) and microwave amplifiers, transmitters, and receivers and integrated assemblies, sub-assemblies
and components; RF sources, detectors and controllers, wireless cabin control systems, solid state power distribution and management
systems, crashworthy and ballistically self-sealing auxiliary fuel systems, nuclear radiation detectors, communications and electronic
intercept receivers and tuners, fuel level sensing systems, high-speed interface products that link devices, high performance active
antenna systems and airborne antennas for commercial and military aircraft, precision guided munitions, other defense applications and
commercial uses; silicone material for a variety of demanding applications; precision power analog monolithic, hybrid and open frame
components; high-reliability ceramic-to-metal feedthroughs and connectors, technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM) equipment to
detect devices used for espionage and information theft; rugged small-form factor embedded computing solutions; custom high power filters
and filter assemblies; test sockets and adapters for both engineering and production use of semiconductor devices; and radiation assurance
services and products.
HEICO has continuously operated
in the aerospace industry for over 65 years. Since assuming control in 1990, our current management has achieved significant sales and
profit growth through a broadened line of product offerings, an expanded customer base, increased research and development expenditures
and the completion of a number of acquisitions. As a result of internal growth and acquisitions, our net sales from continuing operations
have grown from $26.2 million in fiscal 1990 to $2,208.3 million in fiscal 2022, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately
15%. During the same period, we improved our net income from $2.0 million to $351.7 million, representing a compound annual growth rate
of approximately 18%.
Acquisitions have been an important element of
our growth strategy over the past thirty-three years, supplementing our organic growth. Since 1990, we have completed approximately 97
acquisitions complementing the niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries
in which we operate. We typically target acquisition opportunities that allow us to broaden our product offerings, services and technologies
while expanding our customer base and geographic presence. Even though we have historically pursued an active acquisition policy, our
disciplined acquisition strategy involves limiting acquisition candidates to businesses that we believe will continue to grow, offer
strong cash flow and earnings potential, and are available at fair prices.
Corporate Information
HEICO’s corporate headquarters
is located at 3000 Taft Street, Hollywood, Florida 33021. Our telephone number is (954) 987-4000 and our Internet website address is www.heico.com.
The information on our website is not a part of, or incorporated in, this prospectus.
RISK FACTORS
Investing
in our securities involves certain risks. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties
that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our control. We have identified, or will identify, a number of these factors
under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q, as well as in other information or reports included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement. Before making a decision to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider these risks, as well as the other information
included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. For additional information, see below under the
heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Guarantor Group Summarized Financial Information
In this section, the
term “Company” refers solely to HEICO Corporation (and not to any of its affiliates, including subsidiaries). The debt
securities that may be issued by the Company may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a secured or
unsecured, subordinated or unsubordinated basis, subject to certain customary guarantor release conditions, by the Company’s
domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Company’s revolving credit facility (each a “Guarantor,”
collectively, the “Guarantors” and, the Guarantors together with the Company, the “Guarantor Group”). The
other subsidiaries of the Company (the “non-guarantor subsidiaries”) are not registering for possible issuance any
guarantees of the Company’s debt securities by the non-guarantor subsidiaries. For a brief description of the general terms of
the debt securities that we may offer and the guarantees that the Guarantor may offer, see the information under the heading
“Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees” in this prospectus.
The Company conducts operations
almost entirely through its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the Guarantor Group’s cash flow and ability to service any guaranteed registered
debt securities will depend on the earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings to the Guarantor
Group, including the earnings of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, whether by dividends, loans or otherwise. Holders of the guaranteed registered
debt securities will have a direct claim only against the Guarantor Group.
The following tables include
summarized financial information for the Guarantor Group. The information for the Guarantor Group is presented on a combined basis, excluding
intercompany balances and transactions between the Company and the Guarantor and excluding investments in and equity in the earnings
of non-guarantor subsidiaries. The Guarantor Group’s amounts
due from, amounts due to, and transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries have been presented in separate line items.
|
|
As of October 31,
2022 |
|
|
As of
April 30,
2023 |
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets (excluding net intercompany receivable from non-guarantor subsidiaries) |
|
$ |
898,522 |
|
|
$ |
975,286 |
|
Noncurrent assets |
|
|
2,612,503 |
|
|
|
2,642,878 |
|
Net intercompany (payable to) / receivable from non-guarantor subsidiaries |
|
|
(10,836 |
) |
|
|
171,783 |
|
Current liabilities (excluding net intercompany payable to non-guarantor subsidiaries) |
|
|
327,700 |
|
|
|
358,849 |
|
Noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
662,948 |
|
|
|
1,104,574 |
|
Redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|
|
254,348 |
|
|
|
252,673 |
|
Noncontrolling interests |
|
|
33,993 |
|
|
|
32,969 |
|
|
|
For the
Fiscal Year
Ended
October 31,
2022 |
|
|
For the Six
Months Ended
April 30,
2023 |
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
1,816,612 |
|
|
$ |
1,036,524 |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
683,669 |
|
|
|
390,192 |
|
Operating income |
|
|
398,168 |
|
|
|
232,401 |
|
Net income attributable to HEICO |
|
|
286,361 |
|
|
|
162,680 |
|
|
|
For the Fiscal
Year Ended
October 31,
2022 |
|
|
For the Six
Months Ended
April 30,
2023 |
|
(in
thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intercompany revenue |
|
$ |
1,908 |
|
|
$ |
1,184 |
|
Intercompany management fee |
|
|
2,383 |
|
|
|
1,205 |
|
Intercompany
interest income |
|
|
265 |
|
|
|
2,621 |
|
Intercompany dividends |
|
|
57,541 |
|
|
|
31,263 |
|
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”). These statements, which in some cases, you can identify by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,”
“could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,”
“projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements,
relate to future events or to our future operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances
or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding our operations,
cash flows, and financial position. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions
and subject to risks and uncertainties.
Although we believe that these
statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these statements expressing opinions about future outcomes and non-historical information
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and reflect future business decisions that are
subject to change and, therefore, there is no assurance that the outcomes expressed in these statements will be achieved. Some of the
assumptions, future results and levels of performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements we have made or may make
in the future inevitably will not materialize, and unanticipated events may occur which will affect our results. Investors are cautioned
that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from
the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements contained herein. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail under “Risk Factors”
discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed
under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information
appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus completely and with the understanding
that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in this
prospectus by these cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the securities laws of the United States. You are advised,
however, to consult any additional disclosures we make in our reports filed with the SEC.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will describe our intended use of the net proceeds from any particular
offering in the related prospectus supplement. We will not receive any proceeds from sales of Common Stock or Class A Common Stock by
the selling shareholders.
SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS
If
the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is used by selling shareholders for the resale of any securities registered
thereunder, information about such selling shareholders, their beneficial ownership of the securities and their relationship with us
will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference to such registration statement.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK
General
We are authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, 150,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
par value $.01 per share. As of July 13, 2023, (i) 54,705,934 shares of Common Stock were outstanding and such shares were held by approximately
277 holders of record and (ii) 82,307,444 shares of Class A Common Stock were outstanding and such shares were held by approximately 276
holders of record. None of the Preferred Stock is outstanding.
The transfer agent and registrar
for the Common Stock and Class A Common Stock is Broadridge Financial Solutions, telephone number (800) 353-0103.
The following descriptions
of the Common Stock, the Class A Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, are based on our Articles and Bylaws and applicable Florida law.
Common Stock
Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share
owned of record on all matters presented to the shareholders. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
the holders of Common Stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in the assets of the Company, if any, remaining after the payment
of all of our debts and liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding Preferred Stock. The Common Stock has no preemptive
rights, no cumulative voting rights and no redemption, sinking fund or conversion provisions. As of July 13, 2023, 6,463,406 shares are
reserved for issuance as either Common Stock or Class A Common Stock under our existing stock option plans.
Class A Common Stock
Each holder of Class A Common
Stock is entitled to the identical rights as the holders of Common Stock except that each share of Common Stock will entitle the holder
thereof to one vote in respect of matters submitted for the vote of holders of Common Stock, whereas each share of Class A Common Stock
will entitle the holder thereof to one-tenth of a vote on such matters.
Dividend Rights
The Florida Business Corporation
Act and our Articles of Incorporation do not require our Board of Directors to declare dividends on our Common Stock or Class A Common
Stock. The declaration of any dividend on our Common Stock or Class A Common Stock is a matter to be acted upon by our Board of Directors
in its sole discretion. Our payment of dividends on our Common Stock or Class A Common Stock in the future will be determined by our Board
of Directors in its sole discretion and will depend on business conditions, our financial condition, earnings and liquidity, and other
factors.
The Florida Business Corporation
Act authorizes the Board of Directors to make distributions, including repurchases of stock, to its shareholders subject to restrictions
in the corporation’s articles of incorporation. The Florida Business Corporation Act also provides that a corporation may not make
distributions to its shareholders if, after giving effect to the dividend or distribution, the corporation would be unable to pay its
debts as they become due in the usual course of business, or if the total assets of the corporation would be less than the sum of its
total liabilities plus the amount needed, if the corporation were dissolved at the time the distribution was paid, to satisfy the preferential
rights of shareholders whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the corporation are greater than those of the shareholders receiving
the dividend.
Shareholders of Common Stock
and Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available
therefor, subject to the dividend and liquidation rights of any Preferred Stock that may be issued and outstanding and subject to any
dividend restrictions in our revolving credit facility. No dividends or other distributions (including redemptions or repurchases of shares
of capital stock) may be made if, after giving effect to any such dividends or distributions, we would not be able to pay our debts as
they become due in the usual course of business or our total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the amount
that would be needed at the time of a liquidation to satisfy the preferential rights of any holders of Preferred Stock.
We have historically
paid semi-annual cash dividends on both our Class A Common Stock and Common Stock. During fiscal 2022, we paid an aggregate cash
dividend of $.18 per share, which represents a 6% increase over the aggregate cash dividend of $.17 per share paid during fiscal
2021. In December 2022, our Board of Directors declared our 89th consecutive semi-annual cash dividend of $.10 per share paid in
January 2023. This cash dividend represents an 11% increase over the prior semi-annual per share amount of $.09. Also, in June 2023, our Board of Directors declared our 90th consecutive semi-annual cash dividend of $.10 per share paid in July 2023.
Our Board of
Directors will continue to review our dividend policy and will regularly evaluate whether dividends should be paid in cash or stock, as
well as what amounts should be paid. Our ability to pay dividends could be affected by future business performance, liquidity, capital
needs, alternative investment opportunities and loan covenants under our revolving credit facility.
Preferred Stock
Our Board of Directors is
authorized, without further shareholder action, to designate and issue from time to time one or more series of Preferred Stock. The Board
of Directors may fix and determine the designations, preferences and relative rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
any series of Preferred Stock so established, including voting powers, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, redemption rights and
conversion privileges. Because the Board of Directors has the power to establish the preferences and rights of each series of Preferred
Stock, it may afford the holders of any series of Preferred Stock preferences and rights, voting or otherwise senior to the rights of
holders of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Board of Directors has not issued any Preferred
Stock.
Anti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions
of Florida Law, Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
Articles and Bylaws. Some
of the provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may be deemed to have anti-takeover effects and may discourage, delay,
defer or prevent a takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in its best interest. These provisions
do the following:
| ● | establish
advance notice procedures for the nomination of candidates for election as directors and
for shareholder proposals to be considered at annual shareholders’ meetings; |
| ● | provide
that special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors
or the President of HEICO or by a majority of the Board of Directors and shall be called
by the President or the Secretary at the request of a majority of the Board of Directors
then in office or at the request of the holders of not less than one-tenth (1/10th) of all
the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote at the meeting; |
| ● | authorize
the issuance of 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock with the designations, rights, preferences
and limitations as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; |
| ● | authorize
the issuance of 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock having one vote per share; and |
| ● | authorize
the issuance of 150,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock having 1/10th vote per share.
Accordingly, without shareholder approval, the Board of Directors can, among other things, |
| ● | issue
preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could
adversely affect the voting powers or other rights of holders of our Common Stock and Class
A Common Stock; and |
| ● | help
maintain the voting power of existing Common Stock shareholders and deter or frustrate takeover
attempts that existing holders of Common Stock might consider to be in their best interest
by issuing additional shares of Class A Common Stock. |
Florida Law. Furthermore,
some of the provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in
control.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES
The following description,
together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions
of the debt securities and any applicable guarantees that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below
will generally apply to any future debt securities and any applicable guarantees we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe
the particular terms of any debt securities and any applicable guarantees that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus
supplement. The terms of any debt securities and any applicable guarantees we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the
terms we describe below.
We may offer debt securities
in the form of either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities
are together referred to in this prospectus as the “debt securities.” Unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus,
the senior debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities generally will be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. See “Description
of Debt Securities and Guarantees -Subordination” below.
The
debt securities may have the benefit of guarantees (each, a “guarantee”), by one or more of our subsidiaries (each, a “guarantor”).
If a guarantor issues guarantees, the guarantees may be secured or unsecured and, if guaranteeing senior debt securities, unsubordinated
or, if guaranteeing subordinated debt securities, subordinated obligations of the respective guarantors. Unless otherwise expressly stated
or the context otherwise requires, as used in this section, the term “guaranteed debt securities” means debt securities that,
as described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, are guaranteed by one or more guarantors pursuant to the applicable indenture.
The debt securities will be
issued under an indenture between us and a trustee. We have summarized below the general features of the debt securities to be governed
by the indenture. The form of summary is not complete. The form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement
that we have filed with the SEC, of which this prospectus forms a part. We encourage you to read the applicable prospectus supplements
related to the debt securities (including any applicable guarantees) that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the indenture.
Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the indenture.
General
The terms of each series of
debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, and set forth or
determined in the manner provided in an officers’ certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt
securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series, including any pricing supplement.
We can issue an unlimited
amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium
or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities
being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities:
| ● | the
principal amount being offered, and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total
amount outstanding; |
| ● | any
limit on the amount that may be issued; |
| ● | whether
or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form and, if so, the terms and
who the depositary will be; |
| ● | the
principal amount due at maturity, and whether the debt securities will be issued with any
original issue discount; |
| ● | whether
and the extent the debt securities will be guaranteed by the guarantors, the ranking of any
such guarantee, the terms of such subordination, if applicable, of any such guarantee and
the form of any such guarantee; |
| ● | whether
and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities
held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem
the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts; |
| ● | the
annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate,
the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular
record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| ● | whether
or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| ● | the
terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; |
| ● | the
place where payments will be payable; |
| ● | restrictions
on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| ● | our
right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| ● | provisions
for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any; |
| ● | the
date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory
sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option
to purchase, the series of debt securities; |
| ● | a
discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable
to the debt securities; |
| ● | information
describing any book-entry features; |
| ● | the
procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
| ● | the
denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations
of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| ● | if
other than dollars, the currency in which the series of debt securities will be denominated;
and |
| ● | any
other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt
securities, including any events of default that are in addition to those described in this
prospectus or any covenants provided with respect to the debt securities that are in addition
to those described above, and any terms which may be required by us or be advisable under
applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt
securities. |
We may issue debt securities
that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity
pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special
considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Conversion of Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the prospectus
supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other securities
of ours or a third-party, including the conversion or exchange rate, as applicable, or how it will be calculated, and the applicable conversion
or exchange period. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our
option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of our securities or the securities of a third-party that the holders of
the series of debt securities receive upon conversion or exchange would, under the circumstances described in those provisions, be subject
to adjustment, or pursuant to which those holders would, under those circumstances, receive other property upon conversion or exchange,
for example in the event of our merger or consolidation with another entity.
Certain Covenants
The indenture includes certain
customary covenants requiring us, among other things, to:
| ● | pay the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the debt securities when due; |
| ● | maintain a place of payment; |
| ● | deliver an officer’s certificate to the trustee following the end of each fiscal year stating whether
we are in default of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture; |
| ● | preserve and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence, except as otherwise provided in the
indenture; and |
| ● | deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for any principal, interest or
premium, if any. |
Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets
The
indenture provides that we may not consolidate with or merge into any other person, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially
all of our assets, unless:
| ● | we
are the surviving person in the case of a merger, or the person formed by such consolidation
or into which we merge or the person which acquires or leases, all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company (the “successor company”), is a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia and
expressly assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including
the punctual payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants
in the indenture. |
| ● | immediately
after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default (as defined below), and no event
which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, exists; and |
| ● | we
deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating
that all related conditions have been satisfied. |
Upon any consolidation
or merger, or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with the indenture,
the successor company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of ours under the indenture with
the same effect as if the successor company had been named in our place in the indenture. The predecessor person will (except in the case
of a lease) be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the indenture and any debt securities issued thereunder.
Events of Default
With respect to the debt securities
of any series, an “Event of Default” means:
| ● | default
in the payment of any interest upon debt securities of such series that continues for a period
of 30 days after payment is due; |
| ● | default
in the payment of the principal or premium, if any, on any debt securities of such series
upon maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise; |
| ● | default
in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due under the terms of the debt securities
of such series that continues for a period of 30 days after the date such deposit is due; |
| ● | default
in the performance, or breach of, any covenant in the indenture and continuance of such default
or breach for a period of 90 days after written notice to us of such default or breach from
the trustee (or to us and the trustee from the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount
of debt securities then outstanding under the indenture); |
| ● | certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; |
| ● | with respect to any series of debt securities that is guaranteed, such guarantee shall cease to be enforceable
for any reason, except as contemplated or permitted in the indenture governing such debt security and such event continues for 10 Business Days; or |
| ● | any
other Event of Default specified in the terms of such series. |
If there is
a continuing Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series (other than an Event of Default regarding certain events
of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us), either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal
amount of the debt securities of such series may declare the principal amount of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and
payable immediately. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating
to us, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due
and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time
after the trustee or the holders, as the case may be, declare an acceleration with respect to the debt securities of any series, but before
a judgment or decree based on such acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of such series may, under certain conditions, cancel such acceleration if we have cured all Events of Default (other than the
nonpayment of accelerated principal) with respect to the debt securities of such series or all such Events of Default have been waived
as provided in the indenture.
The indenture
provides that if there is a continuing Event of Default, the trustee need not exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture
at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities, unless such holders have offered, and if requested, provided, to
the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee in its sole discretion. Subject to such provisions for security or indemnification
of the trustee and certain other conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
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 the trustee holds with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of
any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under
the indenture unless:
| ● | such
holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing Event of Default
with respect to the debt securities of that series; |
| ● | the
holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of that series have made a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect
of such Event of Default in its own name as trustee under the indenture; |
| ● | such
holder or holders have offered, and if requested, provided to the trustee security or indemnity
reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in compliance with such request; |
| ● | the
trustee has failed to institute proceedings 60 days after the receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity; and |
| ● | no
direction inconsistent with such written request has been given for 60 days by the holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. |
The holder
of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and any premium or interest
on, such debt security on or after the date or dates they are to be paid as expressed in such debt security and to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment.
We are required
to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to the absence of certain defaults under the indenture. The indenture provides that
the trustee need not provide holders of debt securities notice of any default (other than the nonpayment of principal or any premium or
interest) if it considers it in the interest of the holders of debt securities not to provide such notice.
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may amend
the indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each
series affected by the amendment. However, no such amendment may, without the consent of the holders of all then outstanding debt securities
of the affected series:
| ● | change
the due date of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, the
debt securities of that series; |
| ● | reduce
the principal amount of, interest rate on, premium payable upon redemption of, or amount
of principal due and payable upon any declaration of acceleration of the debt securities
of that series; |
| ● | change
the currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, the debt securities
of that series; |
| ● | impair
the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the
debt securities of that series after the due date or redemption date of such debt securities,
or alter the method of computation of interest; |
| ● | reduce
the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding,
the consent of whose holders is required for amendment of the indenture, for waiver of compliance
with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults and the related
consequences; |
| ● | if
the debt securities of any series are convertible, make any change that adversely affects
in any material respect the right to convert such debt securities or decrease the conversion
rate or increase the conversion price of such debt securities, unless such decrease or increase
is permitted by the terms of such debt securities. |
| ● | modify
the ranking or priority of the debt securities or any guarantee; or |
| ● | release
any guarantor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the relevant indenture otherwise
than in accordance with the terms of such indenture. |
The holders of a majority
of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive, insofar as that series is concerned, future
compliance by us with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture. The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default or Event of Default under the indenture with respect to that
series, except a failure by us to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt securities of that series or a provision
that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of all outstanding debt securities of the affected series.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The
indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of any series when:
| ● | either
(a) all outstanding debt securities of such series (except (i) mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment
money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us and (ii) debt securities for
whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust
by us and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the
trustee cancelled or for cancellation or (b) all such debt securities not so delivered to
the trustee cancelled or for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and
payable at their stated maturity within one year, or are to be called for redemption within
one year, and we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash or
U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient to pay the entire
indebtedness of such debt securities, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable
redemption date; and |
| ● | we
have paid all other sums due under the indenture with respect to such series of debt securities
and delivered an officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel to the Trustee stating
that all related conditions have been satisfied. |
Notwithstanding
the above, certain provisions of the indenture will survive, including with respect to certain rights, obligations and immunities of the
trustee.
Defeasance
The
debt securities or any series of debt securities may be defeased at any time in accordance with the terms set forth in the indenture.
Any defeasance may terminate all of our obligations (with limited exceptions) and all obligations of any guarantors of such debt securities
will also be discharged with respect to the guarantees of such debt securities with respect to such debt securities and the indenture
(“legal defeasance”), or it may terminate only our obligations under any restrictive covenant that may be applicable to such
debt securities (“covenant defeasance”).
We
may exercise our legal defeasance option even though we have also exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance
option, the debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If we exercise the covenant defeasance option, the
debt securities may not be accelerated by reference to any restrictive covenants which apply to the debt securities.
To
exercise either defeasance option, we must:
| ● | irrevocably
deposit in trust with the trustee or another trustee money or U.S. government obligations
or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal of and
any premium and interest or other amounts due on the debt securities on the stated maturities
or redemption dates therefor; |
| ● | deliver
a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment
bankers expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due on
the deposited U.S. government obligations, plus any deposited money, will provide cash at
the times and in the amounts necessary to pay the principal of and premium and interest when
due on all the debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and |
| ● | comply
with certain other conditions, including that in the case of legal defeasance, we must obtain an opinion of tax
counsel, based on a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law or a ruling by the
Internal Revenue Service, that the defeasance will not result in recognition of any gain
or loss to holders for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit. |
If
we exercise our option to effect a covenant defeasance as described above and the debt securities are thereafter declared due and payable
because of an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default caused by failing to comply with the covenants that are defeased), the
amount of money and securities we have deposited with the trustee would be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities on their
respective due dates but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of acceleration resulting from such
Event of Default. However, we would remain liable for such payments.
Upon
the effectiveness of defeasance with respect to any series of guaranteed debt securities, each guarantor of the debt securities of such
series shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all of its obligations under its guarantee of the debt
securities of such series and all of its other obligations under the applicable indenture in respect of the debt securities of that series,
without any action by the Company, any guarantor or the trustee and without the consent of the holders of any debt securities.
Subordination
Unless indicated differently
in a prospectus supplement, our subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all our senior debt. This means that upon:
| ● | any
distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization
in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, or |
| ● | the
acceleration of the maturity of the subordinated debt securities, or |
| ● | a
failure to pay any senior debt or interest thereon when due and the continuance of that default
beyond any applicable grace period, or |
| ● | the
acceleration of the maturity of any senior debt as a result of a default, the holders of
all of our senior debt will be entitled to receive: |
| ● | in
the case of the first two bullet points above, payment of all amounts due or to become due
on all senior debt, and |
| ● | in
the case of the second two bullet points above, payment of all amounts due on all senior
debt, |
before the holders of any of the subordinated
debt securities are entitled to receive any payment. So long as any of the events in the bullet points above has occurred and is continuing,
any amounts payable on the subordinated debt securities will instead be paid directly to the holders of all senior debt to the extent
necessary to pay the senior debt in full and, if any payment is received by the subordinated indenture trustee under the subordinated
indenture or the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities before all senior debt is paid in full, the payment or distribution
must be paid over to the holders of the unpaid senior debt. Subject to paying the senior debt in full, the holders of the subordinated
debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior debt to the extent that payments are made to the holders
of senior debt out of the distributive share of the subordinated debt securities.
The term “senior debt”
means with respect to the subordinated debt securities, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and any other payment
in respect of indebtedness due pursuant to any of the following, whether outstanding on the date the subordinated debt securities are
issued or thereafter incurred, created or assumed:
| ● | all
of our indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other securities sold by us
for money or other obligations for money borrowed; |
| ● | all
indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding bullet point assumed by or
guaranteed in any manner by us or in effect guaranteed by us through an agreement to purchase,
contingent or otherwise, as applicable; and |
| ● | all
renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the kinds described in either of the
first two bullet points above, |
unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness,
renewal, extension or refunding, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the assumption or guarantee of the same by its terms
provides that such indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in right of payment to or is pari passu with such securities.
Due to the subordination,
if our assets are distributed upon insolvency, certain of our general creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of subordinated
debt securities. The subordination provisions will not apply to money and securities held in trust under the satisfaction and discharge
and the defeasance provisions of the applicable subordinated indenture.
The subordinated debt securities
and the subordinated indenture do not limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that will rank senior
to the subordinated debt securities. We may incur substantial additional amounts of indebtedness in the future.
Guarantees
The debt securities of any
series may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries. However, the applicable indenture governing the debt securities will not
require that any of our subsidiaries be a guarantor of any series of debt securities and, if guaranteed, it may not necessarily be guaranteed
by all of our subsidiaries. As a result, a series of debt securities may not have any guarantors and the guarantors of any series of guaranteed
debt securities may differ from the guarantors of any other series of guaranteed debt securities. If we issue a series of guaranteed debt
securities, the identity of the specific guarantors of the debt securities of that series will be identified in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
If we issue a series of guaranteed
debt securities, a description of some of the terms of guarantees of those debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of guaranteed debt securities, each guarantor
of the debt securities of such series will unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on each debt security of such series, all in accordance with the terms of such debt securities and the applicable
indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of guaranteed debt securities, the applicable indenture will
contain provisions to the effect that the obligations of each guarantor under its guarantees and such indenture shall be limited to the
maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such guarantor, result in the obligations
of such guarantor under such guarantees and such indenture not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable
law. However, there can be no assurance that, notwithstanding such limitation, a court would not determine that a guarantee constituted
a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. If that were to occur, the court could void the applicable guarantor’s
obligations under that guarantee, subordinate that guarantee to other debt and other liabilities of that guarantor or take other action
detrimental to holders of the debt securities of the applicable series, including directing the holders to return any payments received
from the applicable guarantor.
The applicable prospectus
supplement relating to any series of guaranteed debt securities will specify other terms of the applicable guarantees.
If the applicable prospectus
supplement relating to a series of our senior debt securities provides that those senior debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee
by any or all of our subsidiaries, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such guarantee will be the
unsubordinated obligation of the applicable guarantor.
If the applicable prospectus
supplement relating to a series of our subordinated debt securities provides that those subordinated debt securities will have the benefit
of a guarantee by any or all of our subsidiaries, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such guarantee
will be the subordinated obligation of the applicable guarantor.
Governing Law
Unless otherwise described
in any prospectus supplement, the indenture and the debt securities (and any guarantees thereof) will be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
This section describes the
general terms of the depositary shares we may offer and sell by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement
will contain the material terms and conditions for the depositary shares. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update, or change
the terms and conditions of the depositary shares as described in this prospectus.
General
We may, at our option, elect
to offer depositary shares, each representing a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series
of preferred stock) of a share of a particular class or series of preferred stock as described below. In the event we elect to do so,
depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares will be issued to the public.
The shares of any class or
series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement among us, a depositary selected
by us, and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United
States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of
a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary
share, to all of the rights and preferences of the shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, including dividend,
voting, redemption and liquidation rights.
The depositary shares will
be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons
purchasing the fractional shares of the related class or series of preferred shares in accordance with the terms of the offering described
in the related prospectus supplement.
Pending the preparation of
definitive depositary receipts, the depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical
to, and entitling the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to, the definitive depositary receipts but not in definitive form.
Definitive depositary receipts will be prepared without unreasonable delay, and temporary depositary receipts will be exchangeable for
definitive depositary receipts without charge to the holder.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute
all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in
proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date; provided, however, that if we or the depositary
is required by law to withhold an amount on account of taxes, then the amount distributed to the holders of depositary shares shall be
reduced accordingly. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary
shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the
depositary for distribution to holders of the depositary shares.
If there is a non-cash distribution,
the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as
possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that
it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute
the net proceeds from such sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or
similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.
Withdrawal of Shares
Upon surrender of the depositary
receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary, unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption,
converted or exchanged into our other securities, the holder of the depositary shares evidenced thereby is entitled to delivery of the
number of whole shares of the related class or series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by such depositary
shares. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related class or series of preferred stock on the
basis set forth in the prospectus supplement for such class or series of preferred stock, but holders of such whole shares of preferred
stock will not thereafter be entitled to exchange them for depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence
a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock
to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of
depositary shares. In no event will fractional shares of preferred stock be delivered upon surrender of depositary receipts to the depositary.
Conversion, Exchange and Redemption
If any class or series of
preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts representing
the shares of preferred stock being converted or exchanged will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares
represented by the depositary receipts.
Whenever we redeem or convert
shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem or convert, at the same time, the number of depositary shares
representing the preferred stock to be redeemed or converted. The depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds it receives
from the corresponding redemption of the applicable series of preferred stock. The depositary will mail notice of redemption or conversion
to the record holders of the depositary shares that are to be redeemed between 30 and 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or
conversion. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share on the
applicable class or series of preferred stock. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary will select which
shares are to be redeemed by lot on a pro rata basis or by any other equitable method as the depositary may decide.
After the redemption or conversion
date, the depositary shares called for redemption or conversion will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer
outstanding, all rights of the holders will end, except the right to receive money, securities or other property payable upon redemption
or conversion of the depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock
When the depositary receives
notice of a meeting at which the holders of the particular class or series of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will
mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record
date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary
will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions.
We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit
Agreement
We and the depositary may
agree at any time to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes
or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement
or (b) otherwise materially adversely affects any substantial existing rights of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until
such amendment is approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. Any holder of depositary shares
that continues to hold its shares after such amendment has become effective will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.
We may direct the depositary
to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days before termination.
The depositary may terminate the deposit agreement if 90 days have elapsed after the depositary delivered written notice of its election
to resign and a successor depositary is not appointed. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:
| ● | the
depositary has redeemed all related outstanding depositary shares; |
| ● | all
outstanding shares of preferred stock have been converted into or exchanged for common stock;
or |
| ● | we
have liquidated, terminated or wound up our business and the depositary has distributed the
preferred stock of the relevant series to the holders of the related depositary shares. |
Reports and Obligations
The depositary will forward
to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required
by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our amended and restated articles of incorporation to furnish to the holders
of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances
beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations to performance
in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. The depositary assumes no obligation and will not be subject to liability
under the deposit agreement except to perform such obligations as are set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or class
or series of preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with a satisfactory indemnity.
In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely and act upon the advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information
provided to us by a person presenting shares for deposit, any holder of a receipt, or any other document believed by us or the depositary
to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
Payment of Fees and Expenses
We will pay all fees, charges
and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders
of depositary shares will pay taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
At any time, the depositary
may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 90 days
after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United
States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
This section describes the
general terms of the warrants that we may offer and sell by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement
will contain the material terms and conditions for each warrant. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the
terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.
General
We may issue warrants to purchase
debt securities or equity securities, including Common Stock, Class A Common Stock or preferred stock. Warrants may be issued independently
or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements
to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement
relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not
have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. A copy of the warrant
agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the warrants.
Debt Warrants
We may issue warrants for
the purchase of our debt securities. As explained below, each debt warrant will entitle its holder to purchase debt securities at an exercise
price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or
together with debt securities.
The debt warrants are to be
issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into between us, and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, as
will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt warrants being offered by the prospectus supplement and this prospectus.
A copy of the debt warrant agreement, including a form of the debt warrant certificate representing the debt warrants, will be filed with
the SEC in connection with the offering of the debt warrants.
The particular terms of each
issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants
will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| ● | the
title of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the
initial offering price; |
| ● | the
title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise
of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the
currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are
payable; |
| ● | the
title and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and
the number of the debt warrants issued with each debt security; |
| ● | the
date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be
separately transferable; |
| ● | the
principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the
price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of
each debt warrant; |
| ● | if
applicable, the minimum or maximum number of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| ● | the
date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which
the right will expire; |
| ● | if
applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations
applicable to the debt warrants; |
| ● | whether
the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered
or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered; |
| ● | anti-dilution
provisions of the debt warrants, if any; |
| ● | redemption
or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; and |
| ● | any
additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating
to the exchange and exercise of the debt warrants. |
Debt warrant certificates
will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be presented for registration
of transfer, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent or any other office indicated
in the related prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not be entitled to payments
of principal, of premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, or to enforce
any of the covenants in the indenture.
Equity Warrants
We may issue warrants for
the purchase of our equity securities, such as our Common Stock, Class A Common Stock or preferred stock. As explained below, each equity
warrant will entitle its holder to purchase equity securities at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in,
the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.
The equity warrants are to
be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent,
as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the equity warrants being offered by the prospectus supplement and this
prospectus. A copy of the equity warrant agreement, including a form of the equity warrant certificate representing the equity warranty,
will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the equity warrants.
The particular terms of each
issue of equity warrants, the equity warrant agreement relating to the equity warrants and the equity warrant
certificates representing equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:
| ● | the
title of the equity warrants; |
| ● | the
initial offering price; |
| ● | the
aggregate number of equity warrants and the aggregate number of shares of the equity security
purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants; |
| ● | the
currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are
payable; |
| ● | if
applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants
are issued, and the number of equity warrants issued with each equity security; |
| ● | the
date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will
be separately transferable; |
| ● | if
applicable, the minimum or maximum number of the equity warrants that may be exercised at
any one time; |
| ● | the
date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which
the right will expire; |
| ● | if
applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations
applicable to the equity warrants; |
| ● | anti-dilution
provisions of the equity warrants, if any; |
| ● | redemption
or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and |
| ● | any
additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating
to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants. |
Holders
of equity warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice
as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights
whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of equity warrants.
DESCRIPTION
OF UNITS
We
may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, common stock, shares of preferred stock, and
warrants in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in
the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under
which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or
at any time before a specified date.
The
prospectus supplement may describe:
| ● | the
designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including
whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | any
provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
| ● | any
provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of
the securities comprising the units. We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct
series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the units that apply generally to all
series. |
Unit
Agreements
We
will issue the units under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit
agent. We may add, replace or terminate unit agents from time to time. We will identify the unit agreement under which each series of
units will be issued and the unit agent under that agreement in the prospectus supplement.
The
following provisions will generally apply to all unit agreements unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement.
Enforcement
of Rights
The
unit agent under a unit agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the units issued under that agreement. The unit agent
will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of those units or of the securities comprising
those units. The unit agent will not be obligated to take any action on behalf of those holders to enforce or protect their rights under
the units or the included securities.
Except
as indicated in the next paragraph, a holder of a unit may, without the consent of the unit agent or any other holder, enforce its rights
as holder under any security included in the unit, in accordance with the terms of that security and the indenture, warrant agreement
or other instrument under which that security is issued.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a unit agreement may limit or otherwise affect the ability of a holder of units issued under that agreement to enforce
its rights, including any right to bring a legal action, with respect to those units or any securities, other than debt securities that
are included in those units. Limitations of this kind will be described in the prospectus supplement.
Modification
Without Consent of Holders
Unless
provided otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, we and the applicable unit agent may amend any unit or unit agreement without
the consent of any holder:
| ● | to
correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or, |
| ● | to
make any other change that we believe is necessary or desirable and will not adversely affect
the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
We
do not need any approval to make changes that affect only units to be issued after the changes take effect. We may also make changes
that do not adversely affect a particular unit in any material respect, even if they adversely affect other units in a material respect.
In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected unit; we need only obtain any required approvals
from the holders of the affected units.
Modification
With Consent of Holders
Unless
provided otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, we may not amend any particular unit or a unit agreement with respect to any
particular unit unless we obtain the consent of the holder of that unit, if the amendment would:
| ● | impair
any right of the holder to exercise or enforce any right under a security included in the
unit if the terms of that security require the consent of the holder to any changes that
would impair the exercise or enforcement of that right, or |
| ● | reduce
the percentage of outstanding units or any series or class the consent of whose holders is
required to amend that series or class, or the applicable unit agreement with respect to
that series or class, as described below. |
Unless
provided otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, any other change to a particular unit agreement and the units issued under
that agreement would require the following approval:
| ● | If
the change affects only the units of a particular series issued under that agreement, the
change must be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of that series,
or |
| ● | If
the change affects the units of more than one series issued under that agreement, it must
be approved by the holders of a majority of all outstanding units of all series affected
by the change, with the units of all the affected series voting together as one class for
this purpose. |
These
provisions regarding changes with majority approval also apply to changes
affecting any securities issued under a unit agreement, as the governing document.
In
each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.
Unit
Agreements Will Not Be Qualified Under The Trust Indenture Act
No
unit agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no unit agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture
Act. Therefore, holders of units issued under unit agreements will not have the protections of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to
their units.
Title
We
and the unit agents and any of our respective agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of
the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested,
despite any notice to the contrary.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We and the selling shareholders
may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions:
| ● | to
underwriters for public offering and sale by them; |
| ● | through
a combination of any of the foregoing methods of sale. |
We
and the selling shareholders may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
| ● | a
fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| ● | market
prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | prices
related to such prevailing market prices; or |
Direct
Sales
We
and the selling shareholders may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others. A prospectus supplement will describe
the terms of any sale of securities we are offering hereunder.
To
Underwriters
The
applicable prospectus supplement will name any underwriter involved in a sale of securities. Underwriters may offer and sell securities
at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices or at negotiated prices. Underwriters may be
deemed to have received compensation from us from sales of securities in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also
receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent.
Underwriters
may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions
from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
Unless
otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase securities or any series of securities
will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.
Through
Agents and Dealers
We and the selling shareholders
will name any agent involved in a sale of securities, as well as any commissions payable by us to such agent, in a prospectus supplement.
Unless we indicate differently in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable efforts basis for the period
of its appointment.
If
a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer,
as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of
resale.
Delayed
Delivery Contracts
If
we so specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters, dealers and agents will be authorized to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase securities pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on future dates. Such contracts will be
subject to only those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The
underwriters, dealers and agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of the contracts. We will set forth in the prospectus
supplement relating to the contracts the price to be paid for the securities, the commissions payable for solicitation of the contracts
and the date in the future for delivery of the securities.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Underwriters, dealers and
agents participating in a sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts
and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions, under the Securities Act. We and the selling shareholders may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to
indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimburse them for certain expenses.
Underwriters
or agents and their associates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary
course of business.
Unless
we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, we will not list the securities on any securities exchange, other than shares of
our Common Stock and Class A Common Stock. The securities, except for our Common Stock and Class A Common Stock, will be a new issue
of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters that purchase securities for public offering and sale may make a market
in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
We make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the trading markets for any securities.
The
filing of the registration statement in which this prospectus is included does not preclude us from issuing securities in a transaction
that is exempt from the registration provisions of the securities laws.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain legal matters
relating to the offering will be passed upon for us and the selling shareholders by Akerman LLP, Miami, Florida. Certain legal
matters in connection with New Hampshire law will be passed upon for us by Devine, Millimet, & Branch, Professional Association,
Manchester, New Hampshire. Certain legal matters in connection with Arizona law and Minnesota law will be passed upon for us by
Ballard Sphar LLP, Phoenix Arizona. Certain legal matters in connection with Iowa law will be passed upon for us by Hartzog
Conger Cason LLP, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Certain legal matters in connection with Oregon law will be passed upon for us by Stoel
Rives LLP, Portland, Oregon.
EXPERTS
The
consolidated financial statements of HEICO Corporation and subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the effectiveness
of HEICO Corporation and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, Such financial statements are incorporated by reliance upon the reports
of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are currently subject to
the information requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. Our SEC filings will also be available to you on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We have filed with
the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act to register with the SEC the securities described herein to be offered
by us or the selling shareholders. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information
set forth in the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our securities, we refer you to the registration
statement and the exhibits that were filed with the registration statement. Anyone may obtain the registration statement and its exhibits
and schedules from the SEC as described above.
Our website is www.heico.com.
We make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports
on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably
practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information contained on, connected to or
that can be accessed via our website is not part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to provide
information about our business and other important information to you by “incorporating by reference” the information we file
with the SEC, which means that we can disclose the information to you by referring in this prospectus to the documents we file with the
SEC. Under the SEC’s regulations, any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus is automatically
updated and superseded by any information contained in this prospectus, or in any subsequently filed document of the types described below.
We
incorporate into this prospectus by reference the following documents filed by us with the SEC, each of which should be considered an
important part of this prospectus:
| ● | The
Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on December 21, 2022,
including portions of the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule
14A, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2023, to the extent incorporated by reference
into such Annual Report on Form 10-K; |
| ● | Our
Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023; |
| ● | Our
Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023; |
| ● | The
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December
21, 2022, March
20, 2023, April
12, 2023, May
15, 2023, May
18, 2023 and July 17, 2023; |
| ● | The
description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed
with the SEC on April 28, 1993, as amended January
27, 1999, and as further amended by the description of our Common Stock set forth in
Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2019, including
any further amendments thereto or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description;
and |
| ● | The
description of our Class A Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
filed with the SEC on April
8, 1998, as amended January
27, 1999, and as further amended by the description of our Class A Common Stock set forth
in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended October 31, 2019, including any further
amendments thereto or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description. |
In
addition, all documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing
of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents. Any statement in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for the purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently
filed document which also is or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
We
will provide to you, upon request, a copy of each of our filings at no cost. Please make your request by writing or telephoning us at
the following address or telephone number:
HEICO
Corporation
3000 Taft Street
Hollywood, Florida 33021
Tel: (954) 987-4000
You
should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement. We have not authorized
anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement
is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1985252/000121390023058055/image_002.jpg)
HEICO Corporation
|
Prospectus Supplement dated July ,
2023
|
|
Joint Book-Running Managers
Truist Securities |
|
BofA Securities |
|
Wells Fargo Securities |
July , 2023
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