Officers Certificate setting forth the terms and form of the Eurobonds

EX-4.3 5 d475431dex43.htm EUROBOND OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE Eurobond Officer's Certificate

Exhibit 4.3

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE ESTABLISHING THE NOTES

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.

€700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.000% Notes due 2035

Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee

The undersigned, Melissa N. Schaeffer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, hereby certifies on behalf of the Company pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 and 11.5 of the Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of April 30, 2020, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), in connection with the issuance of €700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.000% Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”), as follows:

 

  1.

The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

  2.

Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true, correct and complete specimen of the Notes, which complies with the resolutions of the Board of Directors referred to below and which establishes the form and terms of the Notes as required by Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of the Indenture.

 

  3.

The Notes shall be issuable upon original issuance each in the form of Global Securities and in the name of The Bank of New York Depository (Nominees) Limited, as nominee of The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as common depositary for Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking S.A.

 

  4.

The Trustee shall initially be appointed as the Registrar with respect to the Notes. The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch shall initially be appointed as the Paying Agent with respect to the Notes.

 

  5.

The Exchange Rate Agent will be appointed, as necessary, at a later time.


6. I have read and reviewed (i) the relevant provisions of the Indenture including, but not limited to Sections 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 and 11.5 of the Indenture and the definitions set forth in the Indenture as to terms used in those sections, setting forth the conditions relating to the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of the Notes; (ii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors relating to issuance and establishing the form of the Notes and the manner in which the terms thereof are to be determined, (iii) the form of the Notes attached hereto as Exhibit A and (iv) such agreements, certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company and such other documents, certificates and corporate or other records as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as the basis of the opinion herein expressed. In my opinion, I have made such examination or investigation as is necessary for me to express an informed opinion as to whether the covenants and conditions precedent to the execution and authentication by the Trustee of the Notes have been satisfied. In my opinion, all such covenants and conditions precedent to the issuance by the Company and the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of the Notes, as requested in the Company Order, dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which the Company has requested that the Trustee authenticate and deliver the Notes, have been complied with in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

 

[Signature page follows]


AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ Melissa N. Schaeffer
Name:   Melissa N. Schaeffer
Title:   Senior Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 3, 2023


EXHIBIT A

Form of 4.000% Note due 2035

UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR BANK, SA/NV, AS OPERATOR OF THE EUROCLEAR SYSTEM (“EUROCLEAR”), OR CLEARSTREAM BANKING S.A. (“CLEARSTREAM” AND, TOGETHER WITH EUROCLEAR, “EUROCLEAR / CLEARSTREAM”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK DEPOSITORY (NOMINEES) LIMITED OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK DEPOSITORY (NOMINEES) LIMITED OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, THE BANK OF NEW YORK DEPOSITORY (NOMINEES) LIMITED, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR CERTIFICATES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM TO A NOMINEE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM, OR BY A NOMINEE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM TO EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM, OR BY EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.

4.000% Note due 2035

CUSIP 009158 BG0

Common Code ###-###-####

ISIN XS2595036554

Certificate No. [    ]

Interest Payment Date: March 3 of each year, commencing March 3, 2024

Record Date: The date that is the clearing system business day (for these purposes, Monday to Friday inclusive except December 25th and January 1st) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date


Interest Rate: 4.000% per annum

Original Issue Date: March 3, 2023

Maturity Date: March 3, 2035

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to The Bank of New York Depository (Nominees) Limited, as nominee of The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, a common depositary for Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking S.A. (the “Depositary”), or registered assigns, the principal sum of [        ] EUROS (€[        ]) on the Maturity Date specified above or upon earlier redemption or repayment at The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch (the “Paying Agent”), as Paying Agent, currently located at One Canada Square, London E14 5AL, or such other location or locations as may be provided for pursuant to the Indenture referred to herein, in such coin, currency or currency unit specified above as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest annually on the Interest Payment Date in each year and on the Maturity Date or upon earlier redemption or repayment; commencing with the first Interest Payment Date following the Original Issue Date specified above on said principal sum at the Interest Rate specified above from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from the Original Issue Date, until the principal hereof becomes due and payable; provided, however, that any payment of principal, interest, or premium, if any, to be made on an Interest Payment Date, on the Maturity Date or on a date fixed for redemption or repayment which is not a Business Day (as hereinafter defined) shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, on the Maturity Date or on the date fixed for redemption or repayment, as the case may be, and no additional interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment. For purposes of this Note, “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New York, New York or London, England, and on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (the TARGET2 System) or any successor thereto, is open.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date and interest payable on the Maturity Date or upon earlier redemption or repayment will be payable to the person to whom principal is payable, except that, if this Note is issued between a Record Date and the initial Interest Payment Date relating to such Record Date, interest for the period beginning on the Original Issue Date and ending on such initial Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the person to whom this Note shall have been originally issued. Payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on this Note will be made, if at maturity or upon earlier redemption or repayment, on the Maturity Date or the date fixed for redemption or repayment, as applicable, upon surrender of this Note at the office of the Paying Agent. All such payments shall be made in immediately available funds, provided that this Note is presented to the Paying Agent in time for the Trustee to make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Payment of interest on this Note (other than interest paid on the Maturity Date or upon earlier redemption or repayment) will be made by wire transfer to the

 

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person entitled thereto appearing on the register for the Notes on the applicable Record Date; provided that such holder shall have designated such account by written notice to the Trustee no later than the Record Date preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on Global Securities shall be made in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures. Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall be payable as provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

Interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from March 3, 2023, if no interest has been paid on the Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Markets Association.

Pursuant to Section 2.3(12) of the Indenture, payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, of the Notes are payable in euros; provided, however, with the sole exception that if, on or after February 27, 2023, the euro is unavailable to the Issuer due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Issuer or if the euro is no longer being used by the then-member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the Notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to the Issuer or so used. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in euros will be converted into U.S. dollars in accordance with Sections 2.13(e) and (f) of the Indenture. Any payment in respect of the Notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Notes or the Indenture. Section 2.13(b) of the Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Notes.

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS THOUGH FULLY SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

AGENCY FOR PAYMENT: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH

AGENCY FOR TRANSFER: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be signed in its name by its duly authorized officers.

Dated: March 3, 2023

 

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within- mentioned Indenture.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

Date of authentication: March 3, 2023


REVERSE OF NOTE

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of a series of notes of the Issuer (hereinafter called the “Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 30, 2020 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Issuer to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Issuer and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the registered holders or registered holder of the Securities). The Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series (and which securities issued within each series) may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different redemption or repayment provisions (if any), may be subject to different sinking fund or analogous provisions (if any), may be subject to different Events of Default (as defined in the Indenture) and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of a series designated as “4.000% Notes due 2035” (the “Notes”) of the Issuer, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to €[            ], subject to the right of the Issuer to issue unlimited additional Securities under the Indenture having the same term as the Notes without the consent of the holders of any Securities; provided that no additional Notes having such similar terms may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes or if such additional Notes will not be fungible with the previously issued Notes for federal income tax purposes.

This Note will constitute part of the senior debt of the Issuer and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all other unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer. This Note will be issuable in fully registered form in denominations of €100,000 and additional multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof.

In case an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

Optional Redemption

At the Issuer’s option, the Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, upon mailing a notice of such redemption not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the holders of the Notes at their last registered addresses, all as provided in the Indenture.

If the Issuer redeems all or any part of the Notes prior to the Par Call Date (as defined below), it will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest of the Notes being redeemed, that would be due if the Notes matured on the Par Call Date (in each case, not including the amount, if any, of accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) using a discount rate equal to the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 25 basis points; plus, in each case, any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. If the Issuer redeems all or any part of the Notes on or after the Par Call Date, the Issuer will pay a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The redemption price shall be calculated by the Company.

 

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Comparable Government Bond” means, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by the Issuer, a German Bundesanleihe security whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the Notes being redeemed (assuming that the Notes to be redeemed matured on the Par Call Date), or if such independent investment bank in its discretion considers that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German Bundesanleihe security as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, or market makers in, German Bundesanleihe securities selected by such independent investment bank, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.

Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the price, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, 0.0005 being rounded upwards), at which the gross redemption yield on the Notes being redeemed, if they were to be purchased at such price prior to the Par Call Date on the third Business Day prior to the date fixed for redemption, would be equal to the gross redemption yield on such Business Day of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Business Day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by the Issuer.

Par Call Date” means December 3, 2034.

Redemption for Tax Reasons

If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws of the United States or the official interpretation thereof that is announced or becomes effective on or after February 27, 2023, the Issuer becomes or, based upon a written opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel selected by the Issuer, there is a substantial probability that the Issuer will become obligated within 90 days to pay additional amounts as described below with respect to the Notes, then the Issuer may, at any time and at its option, redeem, in whole, but not in part, the Notes on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

The Issuer will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay as additional interest on the Notes such additional amounts as are necessary in order that the net payment by the Issuer or a paying agent of the principal of and interest on the Notes to a holder that is not a United States person (as defined below), after withholding or deduction for any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States or a taxing authority in the United States, will not be less than the amount provided in the Notes to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay additional amounts shall not apply:

 

  (1)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the holder, a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the holder, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being treated as:

 

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  (a)

being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the United States, or having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States;

 

  (b)

having a current or former connection with the United States (other than a connection arising solely as a result of the ownership of the Notes, the receipt of any payment in respect of the Notes or the enforcement of any rights under the Indenture), including being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

  (c)

being or having been a personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign corporation for U. S. federal income tax purposes, a foreign tax exempt organization, or a corporation that has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;

 

  (d)

being or having been a “10-percent shareholder” of the Issuer, as defined in Section 871(h)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or any successor provision; or

 

  (e)

being a bank receiving payments on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3) of the Code or any successor provision;

 

  (2)

to any holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the Notes, or a portion of the Notes, or that is a fiduciary, partnership or limited liability company, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership or limited liability company would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;

 

  (3)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the holder or beneficial owner to comply with certification, identification or information reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the holder or beneficial owner of the Notes, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the United States or any taxing authority therein or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party as a precondition to exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

  (4)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed otherwise than by withholding from the payment;

 

  (5)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for a change in law, regulation, or administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than 15 days after the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

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  (6)

to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth, capital gains or personal property tax or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

  (7)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of or interest on any Note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by any other paying agent;

 

  (8)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the presentation by the holder of any Note, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

  (9)

to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld or deducted that is imposed on a payment pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor version of such Sections that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other official interpretations thereof, any agreement (including any intergovernmental agreement) entered into in connection therewith, or any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any jurisdiction implementing the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) or an intergovernmental agreement in respect of FATCA; or

 

  (10)

in the case of any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9).

Except as specifically provided above, the Issuer will not be required to pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge.

For the purposes of this “Redemption for Tax Reasons” section, “United States” means the United States of America, any state thereof, and the District of Columbia, and the term “United States person” means (i) any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or treated as a domestic corporation under Section 7874(b) of the Code, (iii) any estate the income of which is subject to U. S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) any trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons can control all substantial trust decisions, or if a valid election is in place to treat the trust as a United States person.

Change of Control Offer

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuer will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof) of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the

 

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Issuer will be required to mail (or otherwise transmit in accordance with DTC procedures) a notice to each holder stating:

 

  (1)

that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to the covenant entitled “Change of Control Offer”;

 

  (2)

the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 45 days after the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

  (3)

that any Notes not tendered will continue to accrue interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and this Note;

 

  (4)

that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

  (5)

that holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the fifth Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such holder is unconditionally withdrawing its election to have such Notes purchased; and

 

  (6)

that holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to €100,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes a Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Notes applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents, however designated, of corporate stock or partnership or membership interests, whether common or preferred.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following:

 

  (1)

the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) other than the Issuer or one of its subsidiaries) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Issuer’s outstanding Voting Stock, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

 

  (2)

the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) the Issuer becomes a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (2)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Issuer’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Decline.

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 (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P). In the event that the Issuer shall select any other Rating Agency, the equivalent of such ratings by such Rating Agency shall be used.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s and S&P and any other Rating Agency appointed by the Issuer.

Ratings Decline” means within 60 days after the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by the Issuer to effect a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) (the “Trigger Period”), (a) if two or more Rating Agencies are providing a rating for the Notes at the commencement of any Trigger Period, the rating of the Notes shall be reduced by at least two Rating Agencies and the Notes shall be rated below Investment Grade by each of such Rating Agencies or (b) if only one Rating Agency is providing a rating for the Notes at the commencement of any Trigger Period, the rating of the Notes shall be reduced by such Rating Agency and the Notes shall be rated below Investment Grade by such Rating Agency. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be responsible for monitoring the Issuer’s Investment Grade status or determining whether a Ratings Decline has occurred.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.

Voting Stock” with respect to any person, means securities of any class of Capital Stock of such person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or other relevant equity interest has voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the board of directors of such person.

The Issuer shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation 14E 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

 

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result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, the Issuer shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached the Issuer’s obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes by virtue of any such conflict.

Miscellaneous

The Notes are subject to the provisions set forth in Article Ten of the Indenture. As a condition to effectuating a defeasance of the Notes pursuant to Section 10.2 of the Indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (1) for Federal income tax purposes, the deposit of cash and/or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Securities in trust with the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 10.2 will not cause the holders of the Notes to recognize income, gain or loss at such time and (2) for Federal income tax purposes, such holders (and future holders of the Notes) will be subject to tax in the same manner as if the events described in the preceding clause (A) had not occurred, and (ii) an undertaking providing that the Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee on an after-tax basis against any increase in tax liability caused by the defeasance resulting from any change in Federal, state or local tax law subsequent to the date referred to in the last sentence of paragraph (A) of Section 10.2 to the extent necessary to retire the Notes as provided in the last sentence of clause (A) of Section 10.2.

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note at the office of the Paying Agent or at such other office or agency as is designated by the Issuer, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount and like tenor will be issued to the transferee in exchange therefor, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith; provided, however, that this Note is exchangeable only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statutes or regulations, and the Issuer does not appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after the Issuer received such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility or lack of good standing or (ii) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that this Note shall be exchanged for certificated Notes in definitive form, provided that the definitive Notes so issued in exchange for this Note shall be in authorized denominations and be of like aggregate principal amount and tenor and terms as the portion of this Note to be exchanged.

The Issuer will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks in connection with making payments on this Note by wire transfer, but any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon payments will be borne by the holder hereof.

The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and subject to the provisions on the face hereof, interest hereon, and for all other purposes, and neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall act as the Exchange Rate Agent or have any responsibility for effecting any foreign currency conversions or calculations hereunder.

 

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No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any Note, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof.

Undefined terms used herein which are defined in the Indenture shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

  TEN COM — as tenants in common  
  TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties  
  JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common  
  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT — Custodian  
 

(Cust)            (Minor)

 
 

under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 
    (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list

 

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

PLEASE INSERT TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE

 

the within Note of AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. and hereby does irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

Attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the within-named Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated  

   
 

NOTICE: The signature to this

assignment must correspond with the

name as written upon the face of the

certificate in every particular, without

alteration or enlargement or any change

whatever.

 

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