Underwriting Agreement, dated April 23, 2020

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Underwriting Agreements
EX-1.1 2 d919320dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.

$500,000,000 2.550% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2050

Underwriting Agreement

April 23, 2020

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

452 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10018

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

and

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

As Representatives of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Travelers Companies, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.550% Senior Notes due 2050 (the “Securities”), having the terms set forth in Schedule 3 hereto. The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of June 16, 2016 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).


1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) on Form S-3 (File No. 333-232050). For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the specified meanings:

“Applicable Time” means 2:45 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement;

“Base Prospectus” means the base prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement, in the form in which it has most recently been amended on or prior to the date hereof, relating to the Securities;

“Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time and identified on Schedule 2 hereto, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus under Rule 433 of the Securities Act;

“Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto relating to the Securities became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities Act (including pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act);

“Final Term Sheet” means the term sheet prepared pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Agreement and substantially in the form attached in Schedule 3 hereto;

“Majority-Owned Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding capital interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or comparable governing body of such entity (irrespective of whether at the time capital interests of any other class or classes of such entity shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Company, by the Company and one or more of its other Majority-Owned Subsidiaries or by one or more of the Company’s other Majority-Owned Subsidiaries;

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the Final Term Sheet;

 

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“Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Securities, including the Base Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto, included in the Registration Statement or as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act and provided to the Representatives for use by the Underwriters;

“Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Securities, including the Base Prospectus and the final prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Securities, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act and provided to the Representatives for use by the Underwriters; and

“Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of the above-referenced registration statement, each as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement.

Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” will be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act prior to or on the date hereof (including, for purposes of this Agreement, any documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date of this Agreement). Any reference to any Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus will be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date when such Registration Statement became effective or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus will be deemed to refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement will be deemed to include any annual report of the Company on Form 10-K, or amendment thereto, filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amounts of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 98.356% of the principal amount thereof for the Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, from April 27, 2020 to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.

 

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(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.

(c) Payment for and delivery of the Securities shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on April 27, 2020 (the “Closing Date”), or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing.

(d) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representatives against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Securities (each a “Global Security”), with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Securities duly paid by the Company.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and agrees (i) on and as of the date hereof, and (ii) on the Closing Date, that:

(a) An “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) on Form S-3 in respect of the Securities (File No. 333-232050) (i) has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act not earlier than the date that is three years prior to the Closing Date and (iii) upon its filing with the Commission, automatically became and is effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto (excluding exhibits to such registration statement but including all documents incorporated by reference in each prospectus contained therein) have been made available by the Company to the Representatives.

(b) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus; and no proceeding for any such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.

 

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(c) The Company has been since the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, and continues to be, a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) and has not been, and continues not to be, an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), in each case at all times relevant under the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(d) The Registration Statement conformed on the Effective Date and conforms, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof and prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities, will, when it becomes effective, conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conforms on the date hereof, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto filed after the date hereof and prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities, will, when they become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act. The documents incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects, to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and no such documents have been filed with the Commission since the close of business of the Commission on the business day immediately prior to the date hereof except for such documents which the Company has shared with the Representatives and to which the Representatives have not reasonably objected.

(e) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.

(f) The Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.

 

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(g) The Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, will not, as of its date and on the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.

(h) The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus did not, and any further documents incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries (as such term is defined under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) has sustained since the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, which is material to the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock (other than (i) issuances of common stock upon the exercise of stock options or pursuant to existing employee compensation plans or (ii) repurchases of shares of capital stock pursuant to the Company’s existing share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors) or long-term debt of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, business, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

 

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(j) Each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries has good and marketable title in fee simple to all material real property and good and marketable title to all material personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such as are described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as would not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries; and any material real property and material buildings held under lease by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and currently proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries;

(k) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota, with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the general affairs, business, prospects, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”); and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; none of the Company’s subsidiaries other than those listed on Schedule 5 hereto are Significant Subsidiaries;

(l) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

 

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(m) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and this Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

(n) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general applicability relating or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

(o) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale to the Underwriters and, when issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, and authenticated by the Trustee and delivered by the Company against payment therefor, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general applicability relating or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; the Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the Securities;

(p) The issuance and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in (i) a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) any violation of the provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or Bylaws of the Company or (iii) any violation of any law, statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to perform its

 

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obligations under the Securities, the Indenture or this Agreement; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;

(q) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is or may be bound, which violation or default might reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(r) The statements set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus as supplemented by the Final Term Sheet, and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Senior Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” (other than the thirteenth to twenty-eighth paragraphs thereunder), insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects; the statements set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, incorporated by reference into the Prospectus under the captions “Item 1. Business – Regulation,” “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and in the Registration Statement under Item 15, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein and the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, are accurate and complete in all material respects;

(s) Other than as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, which could reasonably be expected to individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

 

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(t) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated or as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

(u) KPMG LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and has reviewed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act;

(v) The financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules, notes and supplemental information set forth or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and interpretations thereof and present fairly in all material respects the financial position, the results of operations and the changes in cash flows of such entities in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related schedules, notes and supplemental information have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except for any normal year-end adjustments and except as described therein; the pro forma financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, if any, and the related notes thereto incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder and are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein;

(w) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP; the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;

(x) Since the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;

 

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(y) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide such reasonable assurance;

(z) There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required by the Securities Act;

(aa) The Company possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct in all material respects the business now operated by it, except where the failure to possess such Governmental Licenses would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to have such Governmental Licenses in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is: (A) the target of any economic sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or Her Majesty’s Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (B) located, organized or resident in a

 

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country or territory that is the target of Sanctions (which, as of the date of this Agreement, are Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person for the purpose of funding or facilitating any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the target of Sanctions.

(cc) None of the Company, any of its Majority-Owned Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Majority-Owned Subsidiaries has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company has conducted its business in compliance with the FCPA, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and has instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. The Company shall not use the proceeds of the offering, directly or, to the knowledge of the Company, indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder to the extent applicable to the Company.

(dd) The operations of the Company and its Majority-Owned Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity, in each case to the extent applicable to the Company or its Majority-Owned Subsidiaries and except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the Underwriters:

(a) to prepare the Final Term Sheet, substantially in the form of Schedule 3 hereto and approved by the Representatives and file the Final Term Sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act within the time period prescribed by such Rule; to prepare the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in relation to the Securities in a form approved by the Underwriters and to file or cause to be filed with the Commission such Prospectus, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, within the time period prescribed by such Rule; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date which shall be disapproved by the Underwriters promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Underwriters promptly of any such amendment or supplement after such Closing Date and furnish the Underwriters with copies thereof and to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Securities, and during such same period to advise the Underwriters, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or any supplement to the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(b) promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the issuance and sale of the Securities; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to become subject to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject;

 

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(c) to furnish to the Underwriters such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement, as originally filed and each amendment thereto (excluding exhibits other than this Agreement), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Term Sheet and any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to any of such documents (including any document filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus), in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request;

(d) during the period in which the Prospectus relating to the Securities (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, so far as is necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities as contemplated by the provisions of this Agreement and by the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or file any document to comply with the Securities Act, to promptly notify the Representatives and, subject to Section 4(a) hereof, amend the Registration Statement, amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or file any document (in each case, at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or to effect such compliance, and to furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many written and electronic copies of any such amendment or supplement as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request;

(e) to make generally available to security-holders of the Company as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Securities Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder);

(f) between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates over which it exercises management or voting control, nor any person acting on their behalf will, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities that are substantially similar to the Securities.

 

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(g) to pay the required Commission filing fees related to the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act;

(h) to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”; and

(i) not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

5. Free Writing Prospectuses.

(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that (i) the Company has not made, and will not, make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of the Representatives (which consent being deemed to have been given with respect to (A) the Final Term Sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof and (B) any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus identified on Schedule 2 hereto); (ii) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act; (iii) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus will not, as of its issue date and through the time the Securities are delivered pursuant to Section 2 hereof, include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; and (iv) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the information contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, did not, as of the Applicable Time, does not, as of the date hereof, and will not, as of the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives for use therein.

 

15


(b) Each Underwriter represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company and each other Underwriter that it has not made, and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) required to be filed with the Commission, other than the information contained in the Final Term Sheet, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives.

(c) The Company agrees that if, at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities, any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission.

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in the discretion of the Underwriters, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements by the Company herein are, and as of the Closing Date will be, true and correct, and to the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in a timely fashion in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; all filings (including, without limitation, the filing of the Final Term Sheet) required by Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 of the Securities Act shall have been made within the time periods prescribed by such rule; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Underwriters’ reasonable satisfaction;

 

16


(b) No Underwriter shall have been advised by the Company, or shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company, that the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of the Representatives or of counsel to the Underwriters, is material, or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of the Representatives or of counsel to the Underwriters, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(c) Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Underwriters a written opinion and a letter, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and such other related matters as the Underwriters may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(d) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, outside counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriters a written opinion to the effect set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto, and the letter related to certain matters to the effect set forth in Exhibit A-2 hereto, each dated the Closing Date.

(e) Wendy C. Skjerven, Esq., Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Group General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriters her written opinion to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, dated as of the Closing Date.

(f) On the date hereof and on the Closing Date, KPMG LLP shall have furnished to the Underwriters letters, dated such respective dates, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants “comfort letters” to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and schedules and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date;

(g) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there shall not have been any change in the capital

 

17


stock (other than (i) issuances of common stock upon the exercise of stock options or pursuant to existing employee compensation plans or other than (ii) repurchases of shares of capital stock pursuant to the Company’s existing share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors) or long term debt of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, business, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Underwriters so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

(h) On or after the Applicable Time, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any debt security of the Company or the financial strength or claims paying ability of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced or otherwise given notice to the Company that it has under surveillance, review or watch, with possible negative implications, its rating of any debt security or the financial strength or the claims paying ability of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or of any review for a possible change therein that does not indicate the direction of the possible change;

(i) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the New York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and this Agreement;

 

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(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof with respect to the filing of the Prospectus and the Final Term Sheet;

(k) No injunction, judgment, order, decree or other legal or governmental action prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been issued and remain in effect or shall have been publicly announced by any court or announced, or threatened in writing, by a regulatory agency or other governmental body; and

(l) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Underwriters on the Closing Date certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Underwriters as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at such Closing Date, as to the performance by the Company of all of its respective obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a), (g) and (h) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

7. Agreement of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees severally and not jointly to the selling restrictions set forth in Schedule 4 hereto.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the failure to have an effective Registration Statement relating to the Securities or the failure to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act because the Company failed to provide the Underwriters with a Prospectus for delivery, or arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arise out of or are based upon the engagement of the Underwriters pursuant to, or the performance of the Underwriters of their respective services (including any such services performed on or prior to the date hereof) contemplated by, this Agreement, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are

 

19


incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use therein. The Underwriters shall incur no liability to and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company for, or in respect of, any actions taken, omitted to be taken or suffered to be taken in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Underwriters in reasonable reliance upon the advice of counsel satisfactory to it or instructions from the Trustee (pursuant to the Indenture) or the Company.

(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any

 

20


other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party (or such other release of the indemnified party as shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party) from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the offering of the Securities, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The

 

21


relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director and officer of each Underwriter and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Underwriters and their affiliates; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.

 

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9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities or securities settlement or clearance services shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriter. (a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in this Agreement that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

 

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(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses. (a) The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, any Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters preparing such Blue Sky Memorandum; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws and insurance securities laws as provided in Section 4(b) hereof; (iv) the filing fees in connection with securing any required review by the FINRA of the terms of the issuance and sale of the Securities; (v) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vi) fees, expenses and disbursements of the Trustee, any transfer agent or registrar, any agent of or counsel to any of the foregoing, in connection with the Securities or this Agreement; (vii) any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section and Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters other than fees and expenses to be borne by the Company as specified in subsection (ii) above.

 

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(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 8 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

15. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

 

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16. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 16:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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17. Miscellaneous. (a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives at the addresses set forth in this Agreement. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at 385 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102, Fax: (877) 283-0993, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(d) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(e) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

(f) USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Douglas K. Russell
  Name:   Douglas K. Russell
  Title:  

Senior Vice President,

Corporate Controller and Treasurer

Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement


Accepted:

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:   /s/ Adam D. Bordner
  Name: Adam D. Bordner
  Title: Director

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
By:   /s/ Diane Kenna
  Name: Diane Kenna
  Title: Managing Director
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
By:   /s/ Robert Bottamedi
  Name: Robert Bottamedi
  Title: Executive Director

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
By:   /s/ Carolyn Hurley
  Name: Carolyn Hurley
  Title: Director

For themselves and as

Representatives of the Underwriters

Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement


Schedule 1

 

Underwriters

   Aggregate Principal Amount of
2.550% Senior Notes due 2050
 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 95,000,000  

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     95,000,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     95,000,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     95,000,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     20,000,000  

BofA Securities, Inc.

     20,000,000  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     20,000,000  

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

     20,000,000  

TD Securities (USA) LLC

     20,000,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

     20,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 500,000,000  
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1-1


Schedule 2

ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

Final Term Sheet, dated April 23, 2020, relating to the Securities, as filed pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act and attached as Schedule 3 hereto.

 

Schedule 2-1


Schedule 3

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration No. 333-232050

 

$500,000,000 2.550% Senior Notes due 2050

PRICING TERM SHEET

April 23, 2020

 

 

 

Issuer:

   The Travelers Companies, Inc.

Title of Securities:

   2.550% Senior Notes due 2050

Security Type:

   Senior Unsecured Notes

Legal Format:

   SEC Registered

Expected Ratings:*

   [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

Aggregate Principal Amount:

   $500,000,000

Trade Date:

   April 23, 2020

Settlement Date (T+2):

   April 27, 2020

Interest Payment Dates:

   April 27 and October 27, commencing October 27, 2020

Maturity Date:

   April 27, 2050

Public Offering Price:

   99.231% of the principal amount

Coupon:

   2.550%

Benchmark Treasury:

   2.375% due November 15, 2049

Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield:

   129-17; 1.187%

Re-offer Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

   140 bps

Yield to Maturity:

   2.587%

Optional Redemption:

  

Make-Whole Call:

   Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points (prior to October 27, 2049)

Par Call:

   On or after October 27, 2049 (six months prior to maturity)

CUSIP / ISIN:

   89417E AQ2 / US89417EAQ26

Joint Book-Running Managers:

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Co-Managers:

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

BofA Securities, Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

TD Securities (USA) LLC

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

*

Note: An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and such of their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. The rating of the notes should be evaluated independently from similar ratings of other securities. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.

 

Schedule 3-1


The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by contacting Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at ###-###-####; HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. toll-free at (866) 811-8049; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at ###-###-#### (collect); or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at ###-###-####.

Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.

 

Schedule 3-2


Schedule 4

The Securities 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 Securities 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 (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) 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.

The Securities 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 (“EEA”) or in the United Kingdom. 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”) or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (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 (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 Securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

The Securities may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and any rules made under that Ordinance; 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 Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance; and it has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes

 

Schedule 4-1


of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Securities, 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 Securities 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 under that Ordinance.

The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and each Underwriter has represented and agreed that it will not offer or sell the Securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines of Japan.

Neither the preliminary prospectus nor the prospectus has been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, the underwriters represents, warrants and agrees that it has not offered or sold any senior notes or caused the senior notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any Securities or cause the Securities to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, the preliminary prospectus, the prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the senior notes, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) 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 (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the senior 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, securities (as defined in Section 239(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 senior notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; (3) where the transfer is by operation of law; or (4) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or (4) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (offers of Investments) (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018.

 

Schedule 4-2


This document is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the Securities described herein. The Securities may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

The Securities have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitutes an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan that requires a registration or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorised to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering and sale of the Securities in Taiwan.

This document relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 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 nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for this document. The securities to which this document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

In relation to its use in the DIFC, this document is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC.

The Securities have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and is not intended to be a public offer. This prospectus has not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

 

Schedule 4-3


Schedule 5

Significant Subsidiaries

 

St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (CT)
The Travelers Indemnity Company (CT)
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company (CT)
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (CT)
Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc. (DE)
Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (CT)

 

Schedule 5-1