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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-173395

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to the notes has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This preliminary prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell the notes and it is not soliciting an offer to buy the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 2, 2013

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated April 8, 2011)

RPM INTERNATIONAL INC.

$200,000,000

% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020

 

We are offering $200,000,000 principal amount of our     % Convertible Senior Notes due 2020. The notes will bear interest at a rate of     % per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2014. The notes will mature on December 15, 2020.

Holders may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2014 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 135% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price (as defined below) per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (3) if we call any or all of the notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after June 15, 2020 until the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon conversion, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, as described in this prospectus supplement.

The conversion rate will initially be         shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $         per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, we will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event in certain circumstances.

We may not redeem the notes prior to December 20, 2017. We may redeem for cash all or any portion of the notes, at our option, on or after December 20, 2017 if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 125% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No sinking fund is provided for the notes. If we undergo a fundamental change, holders may require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank senior in right of payment to any of our indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes; equal in right of payment to any of our unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated; effectively junior in right of payment to any of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries.

We do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system. Our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RPM.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on The New York Stock Exchange on November 29, 2013 was $39.60 per share.

 

Investing in the notes involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-13 of this prospectus supplement.

 

		Per Note				Total
Public offering price (1)		$				$
Underwriting discounts and commissions		$				$
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$				$

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest, if any, from December     , 2013.

We have granted the underwriters the right to purchase, exercisable within a 30-day period, up to an additional $5,000,000 principal amount of notes, solely to cover over-allotments.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company on or about December     , 2013.

Joint Book-Running Managers

Wells Fargo Securities		Goldman, Sachs & Co.

The date of this prospectus supplement is December         , 2013.

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You should read this prospectus supplement along with the accompanying prospectus dated April 8, 2011. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form one single document and both contain information you should consider when making your investment decision. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. If the information contained in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. The information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf may only be accurate as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
About This Prospectus Supplement			S-ii
Where You Can Find More Information			S-ii
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			S-iv
Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-13
Use of Proceeds			S-21
Dividend Policy			S-22
Price Range of Common Stock			S-23
Capitalization			S-24
Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges			S-26
Description of Notes			S-27
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences			S-58
Underwriting			S-66
Validity of Notes			S-70
Experts			S-70

Prospectus

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
Risk Factors			4
Use of Proceeds			4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			4
Description of Capital Stock			5
Description of Debt Securities			11
Description of Other Securities			22
Plan of Distribution			22
Validity of Securities			23
Experts			23

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which contains the terms of this offering of notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus dated April 8, 2011, which is part of our Registration Statement on Form S-3.

This prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information in the accompanying prospectus. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with information in the accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement will apply and will supersede that information in the accompanying prospectus. It is important for you to read and consider all information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision.

No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described in this prospectus supplement or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus supplement, or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.

In this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, unless otherwise stated, references to “RPM,” “we,” us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to RPM International Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. With respect to the discussion of the terms of the notes on the cover page, in the section entitled “Summary” and in the section entitled “Description of Notes,” the words “RPM,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer only to RPM International Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The reports, proxy statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC are available to the public free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC, at prescribed rates, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of its Public Reference Room. You can also inspect our reports, proxy statements and other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference, and information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update information in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, as well as our other filings with the SEC. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and/or information incorporated by reference, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under

 

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Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the initial filing of this prospectus supplement and prior to the time that we sell all the securities offered under this prospectus supplement, other than the portions of such documents that by statute, by designation in such documents, or otherwise are not deemed to be filed with the SEC or are not required to be incorporated herein by reference:

 

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Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2013;

 

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Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 31, 2013;

 

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Current report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2013; and

 

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Current report on Form 8-K filed on November 26, 2013.

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered any or all of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost, upon written or oral request. You may request these documents by writing to or telephoning us at the following address and number:

Corporate Secretary

RPM International Inc.

2628 Pearl Road

P.O. Box 777

Medina, Ohio 44258

(330) 273-5090

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including the information incorporated by reference herein and therein) contain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our plans, expectations, estimates and beliefs of future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “target,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pro forma,” “seek” or “continue” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Some of the things that could cause our actual results to differ substantially from our expectations are:

 

—

global markets and general economic conditions, including uncertainties surrounding the volatility in financial markets, the availability of capital and the effect of changes in interest rates, and the viability of banks and other financial institutions;

 

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the prices, supply and capacity of raw materials, including assorted pigments, resins, solvents, and other natural gas- and oil-based materials; packaging, including plastic containers; and transportation services, including fuel surcharges;

 

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continued growth in demand for our products;

 

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legal, environmental and litigation risks inherent in our construction and chemicals businesses and risks related to the adequacy of our insurance coverage for such matters;

 

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the effect of changes in interest rates;

 

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the effect of fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon our foreign operations;

 

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the effect of non-currency risks of investing in and conducting operations in foreign countries, including those relating to domestic and international political, social, economic and regulatory factors;

 

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risks and uncertainties associated with our ongoing acquisition and divestiture activities;

 

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risks related to the adequacy of our contingent liability reserves;

 

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risks and uncertainties associated with the Specialty Products Holding Corp. (“SPHC”) bankruptcy proceedings; and

 

—

other factors referenced in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in our filings with the SEC, including those set forth or discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of those reports.

 

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We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this prospectus supplement to conform them to actual results. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in and incorporated by reference into the section captioned “Risk Factors,” and by any cautionary language, in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We caution you that these risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. We cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can we assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on our businesses or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference therein might not occur.

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before investing in the notes. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business could be harmed. You should refer to the other information set forth or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2013 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 31, 2013 and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Risks Related to the Notes

The notes are effectively subordinated to our secured debt and any liabilities of our consolidated subsidiaries.

The notes will rank senior in right of payment to any of our indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes; equal in right of payment to any of our liabilities that are not so subordinated; effectively junior in right of payment to our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our assets that secure debt ranking senior in right of payment to the notes will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after the secured debt has been repaid in full from these assets. There may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the notes then outstanding. The indenture governing the notes does not prohibit us from incurring additional senior debt or secured debt, nor does it prohibit any of our subsidiaries from incurring additional liabilities.

As of August 31, 2013, our total consolidated indebtedness was $1,424.1 million, of which an aggregate of $5.0 million was secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries, and our subsidiaries had $195.7 million of indebtedness ($150.0 million of which is owed by our RPM UK G.P. subsidiary, $42.7 million of which is related to subsidiary borrowings under our revolving credit facility and $3.0 million of which is related to a separate line of credit guaranteed by us) and other liabilities (including trade payables, but excluding intercompany obligations and liabilities of a type not required to be reflected on a balance sheet of such subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP) which are guaranteed by us and to which the notes would have been structurally subordinated. After giving effect to the issuance of the notes (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and the use of proceeds therefrom, our total consolidated indebtedness would have been $1,424.1 million.

The notes are our obligations only and our operations are conducted through, and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by, our subsidiaries.

The notes are our obligations exclusively and are not guaranteed by any of our operating subsidiaries. A substantial portion of our consolidated assets is held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our ability to service our debt, including the notes, depends on the results of operations of our subsidiaries and upon the ability of such subsidiaries to provide us with cash, whether in the form of dividends, loans or otherwise, to pay amounts due on our obligations, including the notes. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to make payments on the notes or to make any funds available for that purpose. In addition, dividends, loans or other distributions to us from such subsidiaries may be subject to contractual and other restrictions and are subject to other business considerations.

 

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Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations.

Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the notes.

We expect that many investors in, and potential purchasers of, the notes will employ, or seek to employ, a convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to the notes. Investors would typically implement such a strategy by selling short the common stock underlying the notes and dynamically adjusting their short position while continuing to hold the notes. Investors may also implement this type of strategy by entering into swaps on our common stock in lieu of or in addition to short selling the common stock.

The SEC and other regulatory and self-regulatory authorities have implemented various rules and taken certain actions, and may in the future adopt additional rules and take other actions, that may impact those engaging in short selling activity involving equity securities (including our common stock). Such rules and actions include Rule 201 of SEC Regulation SHO, the adoption by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the national securities exchanges of a “Limit Up-Limit Down” program, the imposition of market-wide circuit breakers that halt trading of securities for certain periods following specific market declines, and the implementation of certain regulatory reforms required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Any governmental or regulatory action that restricts the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the notes to effect short sales of our common stock, borrow our common stock or enter into swaps on our common stock could adversely affect the trading price and the liquidity of the notes.

Volatility in the market price and trading volume of our common stock could adversely impact the trading price of the notes.

The stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including in response to the risks described in this section, elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or for reasons unrelated to our operations, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions or negative announcements by our customers, competitors or suppliers regarding their own performance, as well as industry conditions and general financial, economic and political instability. A decrease in the market price of our common stock would likely adversely impact the trading price of the notes. The market price of our common stock could also be affected by possible sales of our common stock by investors who view the notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity that we expect to develop involving our common stock. This trading activity could, in turn, affect the trading price of the notes.

Despite our current debt levels, we may still incur substantially more debt or take other actions which would intensify the risks discussed above.

Despite our current consolidated debt levels, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional debt in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments, some of which may be

 

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secured debt. We will not be restricted under the terms of the indenture governing the notes from incurring additional debt, securing existing or future debt, recapitalizing our debt or taking a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the indenture governing the notes that could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on the notes when due. Our existing credit facility restricts our ability to incur additional indebtedness, including secured indebtedness, but if the facility matures, is amended, or is repaid, we may not be subject to such restrictions under the terms of any subsequent indebtedness.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the notes or to repurchase the notes upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the notes.

Holders of the notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, as described under “Description of Notes—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes.” In addition, upon conversion of the notes, unless we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle such conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we will be required to make cash payments in respect of the notes being converted as described in “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Settlement Upon Conversion.” However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of notes surrendered therefor or notes being converted. In addition, our ability to repurchase the notes or to pay cash upon conversions of the notes may be limited by law, by regulatory authority or by agreements governing our future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture or to pay any cash payable on future conversions of the notes as required by the indenture would constitute a default under the indenture. A default under the indenture or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our existing or future indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the notes or make cash payments upon conversions thereof.

Our future debt may limit our ability to pay any cash amount upon the conversion or repurchase of the notes.

Our future debt may prohibit us from making any cash payments on the conversion or repurchase of the notes if an event of default exists thereunder or if, after giving effect to such conversion or repurchase (and any additional indebtedness incurred in connection with such conversion or a repurchase), we would not be in pro forma compliance with our financial covenants under that facility. Our failure to make cash payments upon the conversion or repurchase of the notes as required under the terms of the notes would permit holders of the notes to accelerate our obligations under the notes.

The conditional conversion feature of the notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

In the event the conditional conversion feature of the notes is triggered, holders of notes will be entitled to convert the notes at any time during specified periods at their option. See “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights.” If one or more holders elect to convert their notes, unless we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we would be required to settle a portion or all of our conversion obligation through the payment of cash, which could adversely affect our liquidity. In addition, even if holders do not elect to convert their notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.

 

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The accounting method for convertible debt securities that may be settled in cash, such as the notes, is the subject of recent changes that could have a material effect on our reported financial results.

In May 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which we refer to as FASB, issued FASB Staff Position No. APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement), which has subsequently been codified as Accounting Standards Codification 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options, which we refer to as ASC 470-20. Under ASC 470-20, an entity must separately account for the liability and equity components of the convertible debt instruments (such as the notes) that may be settled entirely or partially in cash upon conversion in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. The effect of ASC 470-20 on the accounting for the notes is that the equity component is required to be included in the additional paid-in capital section of stockholders’ equity on our consolidated balance sheet, and the value of the equity component would be treated as original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component of the notes. As a result, we will be required to record a greater amount of non-cash interest expense in current periods presented as a result of the amortization of the discounted carrying value of the notes to their face amount over the term of the notes. We will report lower net income in our financial results because ASC 470-20 will require interest to include both the current period’s amortization of the debt discount and the instrument’s coupon interest, which could adversely affect our reported or future financial results, the trading price of our common stock and the trading price of the notes.

In addition, under certain circumstances, convertible debt instruments (such as the notes) that may be settled entirely or partly in cash are currently accounted for utilizing the treasury stock method, the effect of which is that the shares issuable upon conversion of the notes are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share except to the extent that the conversion value of the notes exceeds their principal amount. Under the treasury stock method, for diluted earnings per share purposes, the transaction is accounted for as if the number of shares of common stock that would be necessary to settle such excess, if we elected to settle such excess in shares, are issued. We cannot be sure that the accounting standards in the future will continue to permit the use of the treasury stock method. If we are unable to use the treasury stock method in accounting for the shares issuable upon conversion of the notes, then our diluted earnings per share would be adversely affected.

Future sales of our common stock in the public market could lower the market price for our common stock and adversely impact the trading price of the notes.

In the future, we may sell additional shares of our common stock to raise capital. In addition, a substantial number of shares of our common stock is reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights, and upon conversion of the notes. We cannot predict the size of future issuances or the effect, if any, that they may have on the market price for our common stock. The issuance and sale of substantial amounts of common stock, or the perception that such issuances and sales may occur, could adversely affect the trading price of the notes and the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.

Holders of notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock, but they will be subject to all changes made with respect to them to the extent our conversion obligation includes shares of our common stock.

Holders of notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our common stock) prior to the conversion date relating to such notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), but holders of notes will be subject to all changes affecting our common stock. For example, if an amendment is proposed to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the

 

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conversion date related to a holder’s conversion of its notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), such holder will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although such holder will nevertheless be subject to any changes affecting our common stock.

The conditional conversion feature of the notes could result in your receiving less than the value of our common stock into which the notes would otherwise be convertible.

Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, you may convert your notes only if specified conditions are met. If the specific conditions for conversion are not met, you will not be able to convert your notes, and you may not be able to receive the value of the cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock, as applicable, into which the notes would otherwise be convertible.

Upon conversion of the notes, you may receive less valuable consideration than expected because the value of our common stock may decline after you exercise your conversion right but before we settle our conversion obligation.

Under the notes, a converting holder will be exposed to fluctuations in the value of our common stock during the period from the date such holder surrenders notes for conversion until the date we settle our conversion obligation.

Upon conversion of the notes, we have the option to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. If we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation in cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, the amount of consideration that you will receive upon conversion of your notes will be determined by reference to the volume-weighted average price of our common stock for each trading day in a 30 trading day observation period. As described under “Description of Notes—Settlement Upon Conversion,” this period would be (i) if the relevant conversion date occurs prior to June 15, 2020 and we have not delivered a notice of redemption as described under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption,” the 30 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the second scheduled trading day immediately succeeding such conversion date; (ii) if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after June 15, 2020 and we have not delivered a notice of redemption as described under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption,” the 30 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 32nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date; and (iii) if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after the date we have delivered a notice of redemption (but prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date) as described under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption,” (even if the relevant conversion date occurs after June 15, 2020), the 30 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 32nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date. Accordingly, if the price of our common stock decreases during this period, the amount and/or value of consideration you receive will be adversely affected. In addition, if the market price of our common stock at the end of such period is below the average volume-weighted average price of our common stock during such period, the value of any shares of our common stock that you will receive in satisfaction of our conversion obligation will be less than the value used to determine the number of shares that you will receive.

If we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation solely in shares of our common stock upon conversion of the notes, we will be required to deliver the shares of our common stock, together with cash for any fractional share, on the third business day following the relevant conversion date. Accordingly, if the price of our common stock decreases during this period, the value of the shares that you receive will be adversely affected and would be less than the conversion value of the notes on the conversion date.

 

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The notes are not protected by restrictive covenants.

The indenture governing the notes does not contain any financial or operating covenants or restrictions on the payments of dividends, the incurrence of indebtedness or the issuance or repurchase of securities by us or any of our subsidiaries. The indenture contains no covenants or other provisions to afford protection to holders of the notes in the event of a fundamental change or other corporate transaction involving us except to the extent described under “Description of Notes—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes,” “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change” and “Description of Notes—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.”

The increase in the conversion rate for notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may not adequately compensate you for any lost value of your notes as a result of such transaction.

If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date, under certain circumstances, we will increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of our common stock for notes converted in connection with such make-whole fundamental change. The increase in the conversion rate will be determined based on the date on which the specified corporate transaction becomes effective and the price paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of our common stock in such transaction, as described below under “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.” The increase in the conversion rate for notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may not adequately compensate you for any lost value of your notes as a result of such transaction. In addition, if the price of our common stock in the transaction is greater than $        per share or less than $        per share (in each case, subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate. Moreover, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of notes as a result of this adjustment exceed                  shares of common stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments.”

Our obligation to increase the conversion rate for notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.

The conversion rate of the notes may not be adjusted for all dilutive events.

The conversion rate of the notes is subject to adjustment for certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of certain stock dividends on our common stock, the issuance of certain rights or warrants, subdivisions, combinations, distributions of capital stock, indebtedness, or assets, cash dividends and certain issuer tender or exchange offers as described under “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments.” However, the conversion rate will not be adjusted for other events, such as a third-party tender or exchange offer or an issuance of common stock for cash, that may adversely affect the trading price of the notes or our common stock. An event that adversely affects the value of the notes may occur, and that event may not result in an adjustment to the conversion rate.

Some significant restructuring transactions and significant changes in the composition of our board may not constitute a fundamental change, in which case we would not be obligated to offer to repurchase the notes.

Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, you have the right to require us to repurchase your notes. However, the fundamental change provisions will not afford protection to holders of notes in the event of other transactions that could adversely affect the notes. For example, transactions such as leveraged recapitalizations, refinancings, restructurings or acquisitions initiated by us may not constitute a fundamental change requiring us to repurchase the notes. In the event of any such transaction, the holders would not have the right to require us to repurchase the notes, even though each of these transactions could increase the amount of our indebtedness, or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or any credit ratings, thereby adversely affecting the holders of notes.

 

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In addition, certain circumstances involving a significant change in the composition of our board, including in connection with a proxy contest where our board does not endorse a dissident slate of directors but approves them as “continuing directors” as defined under “Description of Notes—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes,” may not constitute a fundamental change. In the event of any such significant change in the composition of our board, the holders would not have the right to require us to repurchase the notes and would not be entitled to an increase in the conversion rate upon conversion as described under “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.”

We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the notes.

Prior to this offering, there has been no trading market for the notes, and we do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or to arrange for quotation on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been informed by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in the notes after the offering is completed. However, the underwriters may cease their market-making at any time without notice. In addition, the liquidity of the trading market in the notes, and the market price quoted for the notes, may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for this type of security and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. As a result, we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the notes. If an active trading market does not develop or is not maintained, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. In that case you may not be able to sell your notes at a particular time or you may not be able to sell your notes at a favorable price.

Any adverse rating of the notes may cause their trading price to fall.

If, following rating of the notes, a rating service were to lower its rating on the notes below the rating initially assigned to the notes or otherwise announces its intention to put the notes on credit watch, the trading price of the notes could decline.

Increases in the prevailing interest rate environment could adversely impact the trading price of the notes.

The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, and increases in the prevailing interest rate environment could have an adverse effect on the trading price of the notes.

You may be subject to tax if we make or fail to make certain adjustments to the conversion rate of the notes even though you do not receive a corresponding cash distribution.

The conversion rate of the notes is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including the payment of cash dividends. If the conversion rate is adjusted as a result of a distribution that is taxable to our common stockholders, such as a cash dividend, you may be deemed to have received a dividend subject to U.S. federal income tax without the receipt of any cash. In addition, a failure to adjust (or to adjust adequately) the conversion rate after an event that increases your proportionate interest in us could be treated as a deemed taxable dividend to you. If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date, under some circumstances, we will increase the conversion rate for notes converted in connection with the make-whole fundamental change. Such increase may also be treated as a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a dividend. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.” If you are a non-U.S. holder (as defined in “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”), any deemed dividend would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty, which may be withheld from subsequent payments on the notes. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

 

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Risks Related to Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock historically has been volatile. This volatility may affect the price at which you could sell the common stock you receive upon conversion of your notes, if any, and the sale of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely affect the price of our common stock and the value of your notes.

The market price for our common stock has varied between a high of $40.25 on November 25, 2013 and a low of $28.17 on December 13, 2012 in the twelve-month period ending on November 30, 2013. This volatility may affect the price at which you could sell the common stock, if any, you receive upon conversion of your notes, and the sale of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely affect the price of our common stock and the value of your notes. Our stock price is likely to continue to be volatile and subject to significant price and volume fluctuations in response to market and other factors, including the other factors incorporated by reference from the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2013 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 31, 2013; variations in our quarterly operating results from our expectations or those of securities analysts or investors; downward revisions in securities analysts’ estimates; and announcement by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments.

In addition, the sale of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely impact its price. As of August 31, 2013, we had outstanding options to purchase approximately 140,713 shares of our common stock (all of which were exercisable as of that date). We also had outstanding approximately 3,635,250 stock appreciation rights as of August 31, 2013, of which approximately 1,965,250 were exercisable. The sale or the availability for sale of a large number of shares of our common stock in the public market could cause the price of our common stock, and the value of your notes, to decline.

Delaware law and our charter documents may impede or discourage a takeover, which could reduce the market price of our common stock and the value of your notes.

We are a Delaware corporation, and the anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law impose various impediments to the ability of a third party to acquire control of us, even if a change in control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, our board of directors or a committee thereof has the power, without stockholder approval, to designate the terms of one or more series of preferred stock and issue shares of preferred stock. The ability of our board of directors or a committee thereof to create and issue a new series of preferred stock and certain provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could impede a merger, takeover or other business combination involving us or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer for our common stock, which, under certain circumstances, could reduce the market price of our common stock and the value of your notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $        million (or $        million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to repay, redeem or refinance $200.0 million in principal amount of unsecured senior notes due December 15, 2013, which bear interest at 6.25%, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Pending such use, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to invest in high-quality short-term investments.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

Our stockholders are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may from time to time determine. In the fiscal year ended May 31, 2012, we paid a dividend of $0.21 per share for the first quarter and dividends of $0.215 per share for the remaining quarters of the fiscal year. In the fiscal year ended May 31, 2013, we paid a dividend of $0.215 per share for the first quarter and dividends of $0.225 per share for the remaining quarters of the fiscal year. For the first two quarters of fiscal year 2014, we paid dividends of $0.225 and $0.24 per share, respectively.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RPM.” The high and low sales prices for the shares of common stock for the periods indicated are set forth in the table below.

 

		High				Low
Year Ended May 31, 2012:
First Quarter		$	23.80			$	17.20
Second Quarter		$	23.77			$	17.34
Third Quarter		$	25.90			$	22.76
Fourth Quarter		$	27.70			$	23.60
Year Ended May 31, 2013:
First Quarter		$	28.19			$	24.77
Second Quarter		$	29.47			$	25.53
Third Quarter		$	31.99			$	28.17
Fourth Quarter		$	34.16			$	29.49
Year Ended May 31, 2014:
First Quarter		$	36.39			$	30.85
Second Quarter		$	40.25			$	33.37

The last reported sale price for our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $39.60 per share on November 29, 2013. There were 24,552 holders of record of our common stock as of November 30, 2013.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and our consolidated capitalization as of August 31, 2013 and on an as adjusted basis to reflect the issuance and sale of the notes, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the application of the net proceeds from the sale as described in “Use of Proceeds.” This table should be read in conjunction with the financial information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

		As of August 31, 2013
		Actual				As Adjusted
		(Unaudited, dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	204.9			$		(1)
Long-term debt, including current portion:
$600 million, five-year revolving credit facility through June 29, 2017 (2)		$	58.6			$	58.6
$150 million Accounts Receivable Securitization Program with two banks, through May 30, 2014 (3)			—				—
6.25% Senior Notes due 2013			200.0				—
6.70% Senior Notes issued by RPM United Kingdom G.P. due 2015 fully and unconditionally guaranteed by RPM International Inc. (4)			150.0				150.0
6.50% Notes due 2018 (5)			248.4				248.4
6.125% Notes due 2019 (6)			459.1				459.1
% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (7)			—				200.0
3.450% Notes due 2022			300.0				300.0
Other notes and mortgages payable at various rates of interest			8.0				8.0
Total long-term debt, including current portion			1,424.1
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock (par value $0.01 per share); authorized—50,000,000 shares; none issued			—				—
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share); 300,000,000 shares authorized; 137,457,000 shares issued and 132,923,000 shares outstanding			1.3				1.3
Paid-in capital			770.7				770.7
Treasury stock, at cost			(76.4	)			(76.4	)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)			(174.9	)			(174.9	)
Retained earnings			741.0				741.0
Total stockholders’ equity			1,261.7				1,261.7
Total capitalization		$	2,685.8			$
Ratio of total debt to total capitalization			53.0	%				%

 

 

 

(1)	“Cash and cash equivalents” in the “As Adjusted” column has been decreased to reflect approximately $         million in offering expenses (including the underwriting discounts and commissions).

 

(2)

The credit facility is unsecured and expires on June 29, 2017. The facility is available to refinance existing debt, to finance working capital and capital expenditure needs, and for general corporate purposes. The maximum principal amount of the commitments under the credit facility may be expanded upon our request, subject to certain conditions, to $800.0 million. The credit facility requires us to comply with various customary affirmative and negative covenants, including a leverage covenant and interest coverage ratio.

 

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Under the terms of the leverage covenant, we may not permit our consolidated indebtedness as of any fiscal quarter end to exceed 60% of the sum of such indebtedness and our consolidated shareholders’ equity on such date. The minimum required consolidated interest coverage ratio for EBITDA to interest expense is 3.50 to 1. The interest coverage ratio is calculated at the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended. See Note F to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2013.

 

(3)

The receivables securitization program expires on May 30, 2014, subject to possible earlier termination on certain events. The financial tests applicable to the receivables securitization program are substantially identical to the financial covenants contained in our credit facility. See Note F to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2013.

 

(4)	We entered into a cross-currency swap, which fixed the interest and the principal payments in Euros, resulting in an effective borrowing rate of 5.31%.

 

(5)

The $250 million face amount of the notes due 2018 is adjusted for the original issue discount, which approximated $1.6 million at August 31, 2013. The original issue discount effectively reduced the ultimate proceeds from the financing. The effective interest rate on the notes, including the amortization of the discount, is 6.704%.

 

(6)

Includes the combination of the October 2009 initial issuance of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount and the May 2011 issuance of an additional $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of these notes. The $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the notes due 2019 from the initial issuance is adjusted for the amortization of the original issue discount, which approximated $0.2 million at August 31, 2013. The original issue discount effectively reduced the ultimate proceeds from the October 2009 financing. The effective interest rate on the notes issued in October 2009, including the amortization of the discount, is 6.139%. The additional $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of the notes due 2019 issued in May 2011 is adjusted for the unamortized premium received at issuance, which approximated $9.3 million at August 31, 2013. The premium effectively increased the proceeds from the financing. The effective interest rate on the $150.0 million notes issued in May 2011 is 4.934%.

 

(7)

In accordance with ASC 470-20, convertible debt that may be wholly or partially settled in cash is required to be separated into a liability and an equity component, such that interest expense reflects the issuer’s nonconvertible debt interest rate. Upon issuance, a debt discount is recognized as a decrease in debt and an increase in equity. The debt component accretes up to the principal amount over the expected term of the debt. ASC 470-20 does not affect the actual amount that we are required to repay, and the amount shown in the table above for the notes is the aggregate principal amount of the notes without reflecting the debt discount or fees and expenses that we are required to recognize or the increase in additional paid-in capital.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth the ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

Fiscal Years Ended May 31,										Three Months Ended August 31, 2013 (2)
2009 (1)		2010		2011 (2)		2012 (2)		2013 (2),(3)
3.66		4.67		4.72		4.84		2.86		6.98

 

 

 

(1)	Fiscal year 2009 income from continuing operations before taxes includes the impact of goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges of $15.5 million.

 

(2)	Fiscal year 2011 and all subsequent periods presented reflect income from continuing operations before taxes that include the impact of the deconsolidation of SPHC on May 31, 2010.

 

(3)

Fiscal year 2013 reflects pre-tax impact of (i) revised cost estimates and exit costs related to our industrial segment totaling $11.0 million, (ii) the write-off of our various investments in Kemrock Industries and Exports Ltd. totaling $78.6 million, (iii) the settlement between our Building Solutions Group and the U.S. General Services Administration for $65.1 million, (iv) the strategic repositioning of certain operations in Brazil for $6.1 million and (v) restructuring expense for $23.9 million. Excluding these items, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 4.79 for fiscal year 2013.

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income from continuing operations before taxes and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt issuance costs and an estimation of the interest portion of rental expenses.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

We will issue the notes under a base indenture dated as of February 14, 2008 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as supplemented by a supplemental indenture with respect to the notes. In this section, we refer to the base indenture (the “base indenture”), as supplemented by the supplemental indenture (the “supplemental indenture”), collectively as the “indenture.” This description of the notes supplements and, to the extent it is inconsistent, replaces the description of the general provisions of the notes and the base indenture in the accompanying prospectus. The terms of the notes include those expressly set forth in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

You may request a copy of the indenture from us as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the notes and the indenture and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the notes and the indenture, including the definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. We urge you to read these documents because they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder of the notes.

For purposes of this description, references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to RPM International Inc. and not to its subsidiaries.

General

The notes will:

 

—

be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

—

initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 (or $205,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full);

 

—

bear cash interest from December     , 2013 at an annual rate of     % payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2014;

 

—

be subject to redemption at our option, in whole or in part, on or after December 20, 2017 if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 125% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date;

 

—

be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders following a fundamental change (as defined below under “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes”), at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date;

 

—

mature on December 15, 2020, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased;

 

—

be issued in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000; and

 

—

be represented by one or more registered notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by notes in definitive form. See “—Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance.”

 

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Subject to satisfaction of certain conditions and during the periods described below, the notes may be converted at an initial conversion rate of          shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $        per share of common stock). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment if certain events occur.

We will settle conversions of notes by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, as described under “—Conversion Rights—Settlement Upon Conversion.” You will not receive any separate cash payment for interest, if any, accrued and unpaid to the conversion date except under the limited circumstances described below.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt that may be issued by us or our subsidiaries under the indenture or otherwise. The indenture does not contain any financial covenants and does not restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes” and “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” below and except for the provisions set forth under “—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change,” the indenture does not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders.

We may, without the consent of the holders, reopen the indenture for the notes and issue additional notes under the indenture with the same terms as the notes offered hereby (other than differences in the issue price and interest accrued prior to the issue date of such additional notes) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that if any such additional notes are not fungible with the notes initially offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.

Purchase and Cancellation

We will cause all notes surrendered for payment, repurchase (including as described below), redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion, if surrendered to any person other than the trustee (including any of our agents, subsidiaries or affiliates), to be delivered to the trustee for cancellation. All notes delivered to the trustee shall be cancelled promptly by the trustee. No notes shall be authenticated in exchange for any notes cancelled as provided in the indenture.

We may, to the extent permitted by law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such notes are surrendered to us), repurchase notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by us or our subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties to private agreements, including by cash-settled swaps or other derivatives. We will cause any notes so repurchased (other than notes repurchased pursuant to cash-settled swaps or other derivatives) to be surrendered to the trustee for cancellation, and they will no longer be considered “outstanding” under the indenture upon their repurchase.

Payments on the Notes; Paying Agent and Registrar; Transfer and Exchange

We will pay the principal of, and interest on, notes in global form registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global note.

We will pay the principal of any certificated notes at the office or agency designated by us for that purpose. We have initially designated the trustee as our paying agent and registrar and its agency in New York, New York as a place where notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer. We may, however,

 

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change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and we may act as paying agent or registrar. Interest on certificated notes will be payable (i) to holders having an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the holders of these notes and (ii) to holders having an aggregate principal amount of more than $5,000,000, either by check mailed to each holder or, upon application by such a holder to the registrar not later than the relevant regular record date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to that holder’s account within the United States, which application shall remain in effect until the holder notifies, in writing, the registrar to the contrary.

A holder of notes may transfer or exchange notes at the office of the registrar in accordance with the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents. No service charge will be imposed by us, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but we may require a holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law or permitted by the indenture. We are not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption or surrendered for conversion or required repurchase.

The registered holder of a note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

Interest

The notes will bear cash interest at a rate of         % per year until maturity. Interest on the notes will accrue from December     , 2013 or from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or duly provided for. Interest will be payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2014.

Interest will be paid to the person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on June 1 or December 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date (each, a “regular record date”). Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

If any interest payment date, the maturity date or any earlier required repurchase date upon a fundamental change of a note falls on a day that is not a business day, the required payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no interest on such payment will accrue in respect of the delay. The term “business day” means, with respect to any note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to interest in this prospectus supplement include additional interest, if any, payable at our election as the sole remedy relating to the failure to comply with our reporting obligations as described under “—Events of Default.”

Ranking

The notes will be our general unsecured obligations that rank senior in right of payment to all of our indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes. The notes will rank equal in right of payment to any of our unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated. The notes will effectively rank junior to any of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our assets that secure secured debt will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after all indebtedness under such secured debt has been repaid in full from such assets. The notes will rank structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries (including trade payables but excluding intercompany obligations and liabilities of a type not required to be reflected on a balance sheet of such subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP). We advise you that there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all the notes then outstanding.

 

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As of August 31, 2013, our total consolidated indebtedness was $1,424.1 million, of which an aggregate of $5.0 million was secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries, and our subsidiaries had $195.7 million of indebtedness ($150.0 million of which is owed by our RPM UK G.P. subsidiary, $42.7 million of which is related to subsidiary borrowings under our revolving credit facility and $3.0 million of which is related to a separate line of credit guaranteed by us) and other liabilities (including trade payables, but excluding intercompany obligations and liabilities of a type not required to be reflected on a balance sheet of such subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP) which are guaranteed by us and to which the notes would have been structurally subordinated. After giving effect to the issuance of the notes (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and the use of proceeds therefrom, our total consolidated indebtedness would have been $1,424.1 million.

The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends and make other payments to us is restricted by, among other things, applicable corporate and other laws and regulations as well as agreements to which our subsidiaries may become a party. We may not be able to pay the cash portions of any settlement amount upon conversion of the notes, or to pay cash for the fundamental change repurchase price upon a fundamental change if a holder requires us to repurchase notes as described below. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the notes or to repurchase the notes upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the notes.”

Optional Redemption

No “sinking fund” is provided for the notes, which means that we are not required to redeem or retire the notes periodically. Prior to December 20, 2017, the notes will not be redeemable. On or after December 20, 2017, we may redeem for cash all or part of the notes, at our option, if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 125% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption. In the case of any optional redemption, we will provide not less than 40 nor more than 60 business days’ notice before the redemption date to the trustee, the paying agent and each holder of notes, and the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (unless the redemption date falls after a regular record date but on or prior to the immediately succeeding interest payment date, in which case we will pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to the holder of record as of the close of business on such regular record date, and the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed). The redemption date must be a business day.

If we decide to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding notes, the trustee will select the notes to be redeemed (in principal amounts of $1,000 or multiples thereof) by lot, on a pro rata basis or by another method the trustee considers to be fair and appropriate.

If the trustee selects a portion of your note for partial redemption and you convert a portion of the same note, the converted portion will be deemed to be from the portion selected for redemption.

In the event of any redemption in part, we will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any note so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any note being redeemed in part.

No notes may be redeemed if the principal amount of the notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the redemption date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by us in the payment of the redemption price with respect to such notes).

 

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Conversion Rights

General

Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, the notes will be convertible only upon satisfaction of one or more of the conditions described under the headings “—Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition,” “—Conversion Upon Redemption,” “—Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition,” and “—Conversion Upon Specified Corporate Events.” On or after June 15, 2020 until the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of their notes at the conversion rate at any time irrespective of the foregoing conditions.

The conversion rate will initially be          shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $                per share of common stock). Upon conversion of a note, we will satisfy our conversion obligation by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, all as set forth below under “—Settlement Upon Conversion.” If we satisfy our conversion obligation solely in cash or through payment and delivery, as the case may be, of a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, the amount of cash and shares of common stock, if any, due upon conversion will be based on a daily conversion value (as defined below) calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day in a 30 trading day observation period (as defined below under “—Settlement Upon Conversion”). The trustee will initially act as the conversion agent.

A holder may convert fewer than all of such holder’s notes so long as the notes converted are a multiple of $1,000 principal amount.

If we call notes for redemption, a holder of notes may convert all or any portion of its notes only until the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date unless we fail to pay the redemption price (in which case a holder of notes may convert such notes until the redemption price has been paid or duly provided for).

Upon conversion, you will not receive any separate cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest, if any, except as described below. We will not issue fractional shares of our common stock upon conversion of notes. Instead, we will pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share as described under “—Settlement Upon Conversion.” Our payment and delivery, as the case may be, to you of the cash, shares of our common stock or a combination thereof, as the case may be, into which a note is convertible will be deemed to satisfy in full our obligation to pay:

 

—

the principal amount of the note; and

 

—

accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant conversion date.

As a result, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant conversion date will be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. Upon a conversion of notes into a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, accrued and unpaid interest will be deemed to be paid first out of the cash paid upon such conversion.

Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, if notes are converted after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a regular record date for the payment of interest, holders of such notes at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such regular record date will receive the full amount of interest payable on such notes on the corresponding interest payment date notwithstanding the conversion. Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any regular record date to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the

 

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immediately following interest payment date must be accompanied by funds equal to the amount of interest payable on the notes so converted; provided that no such payment need be made:

 

—

for conversions following the regular record date immediately preceding the maturity date;

 

—

if we have specified a redemption date that is after a regular record date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date;

 

—

if we have specified a fundamental change repurchase date that is after a regular record date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date; or

 

—

to the extent of any overdue interest, if any overdue interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such note.

Therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, all record holders on the regular record date immediately preceding the maturity date will receive the full interest payment due on the maturity date regardless of whether their notes have been converted following such regular record date.

If a holder converts notes, we will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on any issuance of any shares of our common stock upon the conversion, unless the tax is due because the holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name, in which case the holder will pay that tax.

Holders may surrender their notes for conversion under the following circumstances:

Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition

Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, a holder may surrender all or any portion of its notes for conversion at any time during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2014 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 135% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day.

The “last reported sale price” of our common stock on any date means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock is traded. If our common stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “last reported sale price” will be the last quoted bid price for our common stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If our common stock is not so quoted, the “last reported sale price” will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for our common stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by us for this purpose.

“Trading day” means a day on which (i) trading in our common stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on The New York Stock Exchange or, if our common stock (or such other security) is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock (or such other security) is then listed or, if our common stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which our common stock (or such other security) is then traded, and (ii) a last reported sale price for our common stock (or closing sale price for such other security) is available on such

 

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securities exchange or market. If our common stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, “trading day” means a “business day.”

Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition

Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, a holder of notes may surrender all or any portion of its notes for conversion at any time during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the “trading price” per $1,000 principal amount of notes, as determined following a request by a holder of notes in accordance with the procedures described below, for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day.

The “trading price” of the notes on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the bid solicitation agent for $3,000,000 principal amount of notes at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers we select for this purpose; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the bid solicitation agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the bid solicitation agent, that one bid shall be used. If the bid solicitation agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $3,000,000 principal amount of notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer, then the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes will be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate. If we do not, when we are required to, instruct the bid solicitation agent to obtain bids, or if we give such instruction to the bid solicitation agent, and the bid solicitation agent fails to make such determination, then, in either case, the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes will be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each trading day of such failure.

The bid solicitation agent shall have no obligation to determine the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes unless we have requested such determination; and we shall have no obligation to make such request unless a holder of a note provides us with reasonable evidence that the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes would be less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate. At such time, we shall instruct the bid solicitation agent to determine the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes beginning on the next trading day and on each successive trading day until the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate. If the trading price condition has been met, we will so notify the holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee). If, at any time after the trading price condition has been met, the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate for such date, we will so notify the holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee).

The trustee will initially act as the bid solicitation agent.

Conversion Upon Notice of Redemption

If we call any or all of the notes for redemption prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, holders may convert all or any portion of their notes at any time prior to the close of business on the business day prior to the redemption date, even if the notes are not otherwise convertible at such time. After that time, the right to convert such notes will expire, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, in which case a holder of notes may convert all or any portion of its notes until the redemption price has been paid or duly provided for.

 

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Conversion Upon Specified Corporate Events

Certain Distributions

If, prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, we elect to:

 

—

issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of our common stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or

 

—

distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock our assets, securities or rights to purchase our securities, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof, exceeding 10% of the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day preceding the date of announcement for such distribution,

then, in either case, we must notify the holders of the notes at least 40 scheduled trading days prior to the ex-dividend date for such issuance or distribution. Once we have given such notice, holders may surrender all or any portion of their notes for conversion at any time until the earlier of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such issuance or distribution and our announcement that such issuance or distribution will not take place, even if the notes are not otherwise convertible at such time.

Certain Corporate Events

If a transaction or event that constitutes a “fundamental change” (as defined under “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes”) or a “make-whole fundamental change” (as defined under “—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change”) occurs prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2020, regardless of whether a holder has the right to require us to repurchase the notes as described under “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes,” or if we are a party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets, in each case, pursuant to which our common stock would be converted into cash, securities or other assets, all or any portion of a holder’s notes may be surrendered for conversion at any time from or after the date that is 40 scheduled trading days prior to the anticipated effective date of the transaction (or, if later, the business day after we give notice of such transaction) until 35 trading days after the actual effective date of such transaction or, if such transaction also constitutes a fundamental change, until the related fundamental change repurchase date. We will notify holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) (i) as promptly as practicable following the date we publicly announce such transaction but in no event less than 40 scheduled trading days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction; or (ii) if we do not have knowledge of such transaction at least 40 scheduled trading days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction, within one business day of the date upon which we receive notice, or otherwise become aware, of such transaction, but in no event later than the actual effective date of such transaction.

Conversions on or After June 15, 2020

On or after June 15, 2020, a holder may convert all or any portion of its notes at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date regardless of the foregoing conditions.

 

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Conversion Procedures

If you hold a beneficial interest in a global note, to convert you must comply with DTC’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a global note and, if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next interest payment date to which you are not entitled.

If you hold a certificated note, to convert you must:

 

—

complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the note, or a facsimile of the conversion notice;

 

—

deliver the conversion notice, which is irrevocable, and the note to the conversion agent;

 

—

if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and

 

—

if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next interest payment date to which you are not entitled.

We will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax on the issuance of any shares of our common stock upon conversion of the notes, unless the tax is due because the holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name, in which case the holder will pay the tax.

We refer to the date you comply with the relevant procedures for conversion described above as the “conversion date.”

If a holder has already delivered a repurchase notice as described under “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes” with respect to a note, the holder may not surrender that note for conversion until the holder has withdrawn the repurchase notice in accordance with the relevant provisions of the indenture. If a holder submits its notes for required repurchase, the holder’s right to withdraw the repurchase notice and convert the notes that are subject to repurchase will terminate at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the relevant fundamental change repurchase date.

Settlement Upon Conversion

Upon conversion, we may choose to pay or deliver, as the case may be, either cash (“cash settlement”), shares of our common stock (“physical settlement”) or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock (“combination settlement”), as described below. We refer to each of these settlement methods as a “settlement method.”

All conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs on or after June 15, 2020, and all conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs after our issuance of a notice of redemption with respect to the notes and prior to the related redemption date, will be settled using the same settlement method. Except for any conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs after our issuance of a notice of redemption but prior to the related redemption date, and any conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs on or after June 15, 2020, we will use the same settlement method for all conversions with the same conversion date, but we will not have any obligation to use the same settlement method with respect to conversions with different conversion dates. That is, we may choose for notes converted on one conversion date to settle conversions in physical settlement, and choose for notes converted on another conversion date cash settlement or combination settlement.

If we elect a settlement method, we will inform holders so converting through the trustee of the settlement method we have selected no later than the close of business on the trading day immediately following the related conversion date (or in the case of any conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs

 

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(i) after the date of issuance of a notice of redemption as described under “—Optional Redemption” and prior to the related redemption date, in such notice of redemption, or (ii) on or after June 15, 2020, no later than June 15, 2020). If we do not timely elect a settlement method, we will no longer have the right to elect cash settlement or physical settlement and we will be deemed to have elected combination settlement in respect of our conversion obligation, as described below, and the specified dollar amount (as defined below) per $1,000 principal amount of notes will be equal to $1,000. If we elect combination settlement, but we do not timely notify converting holders of the specified dollar amount per $1,000 principal amount of notes, such specified dollar amount will be deemed to be $1,000.

Settlement amounts will be computed as follows:

 

—

if we elect physical settlement, we will deliver to the converting holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of notes being converted a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate;

 

—

if we elect cash settlement, we will pay to the converting holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of notes being converted cash in an amount equal to the sum of the daily conversion values for each of the 30 consecutive trading days during the related observation period; and

 

—

if we elect (or are deemed to have elected) combination settlement, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of notes being converted a “settlement amount” equal to the sum of the daily settlement amounts for each of the 30 consecutive trading days during the related observation period.

The “daily settlement amount,” for each of the 30 consecutive trading days during the observation period, shall consist of:

 

—

cash equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of notes to be received upon conversion as specified in the notice specifying our chosen settlement method (the “specified dollar amount”), if any, divided by 30 (such quotient, the “daily measurement value”) and (ii) the daily conversion value; and

 

—

if the daily conversion value exceeds the daily measurement value, a number of shares equal to (i) the difference between the daily conversion value and the daily measurement value, divided by (ii) the daily VWAP for such trading day.

The “daily conversion value” means, for each of the 30 consecutive trading days during the observation period, one-thirtieth (1/30th) of the product of (1) the conversion rate on such trading day and (2) the daily VWAP for such trading day.

The “daily VWAP” means, for each of the 30 consecutive trading days during the relevant observation period, the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “RPM <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such trading day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of our common stock on such trading day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by us). The “daily VWAP” will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.

 

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The “observation period” with respect to any note surrendered for conversion means:

 

—

if the relevant conversion date occurs prior to June 15, 2020 and we have not delivered a notice of redemption as described under “—Optional Redemption” above, the 30 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the second trading day immediately succeeding such conversion date;

 

—

if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after June 15, 2020 and we have not delivered a notice of redemption as described under “—Optional Redemption” above, the 30 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 32nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date; and

 

—

if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after the date we have delivered a notice of redemption (but prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date) as described under “—Optional Redemption” above (even if the relevant conversion date occurs after June 15, 2020), the 30 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 32nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date.

For the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion only, “trading day” means a day on which (i) there is no “market disruption event” (as defined below) and (ii) trading in our common stock generally occurs on The New York Stock Exchange or, if our common stock is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock is then listed or, if our common stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which our common stock is then listed or admitted for trading. If our common stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “trading day” means a “business day.”

“Scheduled trading day” means a day that is scheduled to be a trading day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading. If our common stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “scheduled trading day” means a “business day.”

For the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion, “market disruption event” means (i) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (ii) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any scheduled trading day for our common stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in our common stock or in any options contracts or future contracts relating to our common stock.

Except as described under “—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change” and “—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock,” we will deliver the consideration due in respect of conversion on the third business day immediately following the relevant conversion date, if we elect physical settlement, or on the third business day immediately following the last trading day of the relevant observation period, in the case of any other settlement method.

We will pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share of common stock issuable upon conversion based on the daily VWAP for the relevant conversion date (in the case of physical settlement) or based on the daily VWAP for the last trading day of the relevant observation period (in the case of combination settlement).

Each conversion will be deemed to have been effected as to any notes surrendered for conversion on the conversion date; provided, however, that the person in whose name any shares of our common stock shall be issuable upon such conversion will become the holder of record of such shares as of the close of business on the conversion date (in the case of physical settlement) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (in the case of combination settlement).

 

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Conversion Rate Adjustments

The conversion rate will be adjusted as described below, except that we will not make any adjustments to the conversion rate if holders of the notes participate (other than in the case of (x) a share split or share combination or (y) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of our common stock and solely as a result of holding the notes, in any of the transactions described below without having to convert their notes as if they held a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of notes held by such holder.

 

(1)	If we exclusively issue shares of our common stock as a dividend or distribution on shares of our common stock, or if we effect a share split or share combination, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

CR1		=		CR0		×		OS1
								OS0

where,

 

CR0 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the ex-dividend date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;

 

CR1 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such ex-dividend date or effective date;

 

OS0 =

the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such ex-dividend date or effective date; and

 

OS1 =

the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.

Any adjustment made under this clause (1) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the effective date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this clause (1) is declared but not so paid or made, the conversion rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors or a committee thereof determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(2)

If we issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of our common stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR1		=		CR0		×		OS0 + X
								OS0 + Y

where,

 

CR0 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such issuance;

 

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CR1 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such ex-dividend date;

 

OS0 =

the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such ex-dividend date;

 

X =	the total number of shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

 

Y =

the number of shares of our common stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.

Any increase made under this clause (2) will be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such issuance. To the extent that shares of common stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the conversion rate shall be decreased to the conversion rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of common stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the conversion rate shall be decreased to the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such ex-dividend date for such issuance had not occurred.

For the purpose of this clause (2), and for the purpose of the first bullet point under “—Conversion Upon Specified Corporate Events—Certain Distributions,” in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the common stock at less than such average of the last reported sale prices for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of common stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by us for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof.

 

(3)	If we distribute shares of our capital stock, evidences of our indebtedness, other assets or property of ours or rights, options or warrants to acquire our capital stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, excluding:

 

—

dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above;

 

—

dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to clause (4) below; and

 

—

spin-offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this clause (3) shall apply;

then the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR1		=		CR0		×		SP0
								SP0 – FMV

where,

 

CR0 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such distribution;

 

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CR1 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such ex-dividend date;

 

SP0 =

the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such distribution; and

 

FMV =

the fair market value (as determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof) of the shares of capital stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants distributed with respect to each outstanding share of our common stock on the ex-dividend date for such distribution.

Any increase made under the portion of this clause (3) above will become effective immediately after the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the conversion rate shall be decreased to be the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP₀” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each holder of a note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of our common stock, the amount and kind of our capital stock, evidences of our indebtedness, other assets or property of ours or rights, options or warrants to acquire our capital stock or other securities that such holder would have received if such holder owned a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate in effect on the ex-dividend date for the distribution.

With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this clause (3) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on our common stock of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange, which we refer to as a “spin-off,” the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR1		=		CR0		×		FMV0 +  MP0
								MP0

where,

 

CR0 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the end of the valuation period (as defined below);

 

CR1 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately after the end of the valuation period;

 

FMV0 =

the average of the last reported sale prices of the capital stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of our common stock applicable to one share of our common stock (determined by reference to the definition of last reported sale price set forth under “—Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition” as if references therein to our common stock were to such capital stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive trading day period after, and including, the ex-dividend date of the spin-off (the “valuation period”); and

 

MP0 =

the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the valuation period.

The increase to the conversion rate under the preceding paragraph will occur on the last trading day of the valuation period; provided that in respect of any conversion of notes during the valuation period, references in the preceding paragraph with respect to 10 trading days shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the ex-dividend date of such spin-off and the conversion date in determining the conversion rate. If the ex-dividend date of the spin-off is after the 10th trading day immediately preceding, and including, the end of any observation period in respect of a conversion of notes, references in the preceding paragraph to 10 trading days will be deemed to be replaced, solely in respect of that conversion, with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed from, and including, the ex-dividend date for the spin-off to, and including, the last trading day of such observation period.

 

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(4)	If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, other than a regular, quarterly cash dividend that does not exceed $0.24 per share (the “initial dividend threshold”), the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

CR1		=		CR0		×		SP0 – T
								SP0 – C

where,

 

CR0 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution;

 

CR1 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution;

 

SP0 =

the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution;

 

T =	the initial dividend threshold; provided that if the dividend or distribution is not a regular quarterly cash dividend, the initial dividend threshold will be deemed to be zero; and

 

C =	the amount in cash per share we distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock.

The initial dividend threshold is subject to adjustment in a manner inversely proportional to adjustments to the conversion rate; provided that no adjustment will be made to the initial dividend threshold for any adjustment to the conversion rate under this clause (4).

Any increase made under this clause (4) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the conversion rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date our board of directors or a committee thereof determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP₀” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each holder of a note shall receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of our common stock, the amount of cash that such holder would have received if such holder owned a number of shares of our common stock equal to the conversion rate on the ex-dividend date for such cash dividend or distribution.

 

(5)

If we or any of our subsidiaries make a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for our common stock, to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of common stock exceeds the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period commencing on, and including, the trading day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

CR1		=		CR0		×		AC +  (SP1  × OS1)
								OS0 ×  SP1

where,

 

CR0 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;

 

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CR1 =

the conversion rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;

 

AC =	the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof) paid or payable for shares purchased in such tender or exchange offer;

 

OS0 =

the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

 

OS1 =

the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

 

SP1 =

the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period commencing on, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.

The adjustment to the conversion rate under the preceding paragraph will occur at the close of business on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires; provided that in respect of any conversion of notes within the 10 trading days immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references with respect to 10 trading days shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the expiration date of such tender or exchange offer and the conversion date in determining the conversion rate. In addition, if the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires is after the 10th trading day immediately preceding, and including, the end of any observation period in respect of a conversion of notes, references in the preceding paragraph to 10 trading days shall be deemed to be replaced, solely in respect of that conversion, with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed from, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires to, and including, the last trading day of such observation period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a conversion rate adjustment becomes effective on any ex-dividend date as described above, and a holder that has converted its notes on or after such ex-dividend date and on or prior to the related record date would be treated as the record holder of shares of our common stock as of the related conversion date as described under “—Settlement Upon Conversion” based on an adjusted conversion rate for such ex-dividend date, then, notwithstanding the foregoing conversion rate adjustment provisions, the conversion rate adjustment relating to such ex-dividend date will not be made for such converting holder. Instead, such holder will be treated as if such holder were the record owner of the shares of our common stock on an unadjusted basis and participate in the related dividend, distribution or other event giving rise to such adjustment.

Except as stated herein, we will not adjust the conversion rate for the issuance of shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or the right to purchase shares of our common stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities.

As used in this section, “ex-dividend date” means the first date on which the shares of our common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from us or, if applicable, from the seller of our common stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market, and “effective date” means the first date on which the shares of our common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

 

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We are permitted to increase the conversion rate of the notes by any amount for a period of at least 20 business days if our board of directors or a committee thereof determines that such increase would be in our best interest. We may also (but are not required to) increase the conversion rate to avoid or diminish income tax to holders of our common stock or rights to purchase shares of our common stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event.

A holder may, in some circumstances, including a distribution of cash dividends to holders of our shares of common stock, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a result of an adjustment or the nonoccurrence of an adjustment to the conversion rate. For a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an adjustment to the conversion rate, see “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

If we have a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the notes into common stock, you will receive, in addition to any shares of common stock received in connection with such conversion, the rights under the rights plan. However, if, prior to any conversion, the rights have separated from the shares of common stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable rights plan, the conversion rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if we distributed to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, shares of our capital stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants as described in clause (3) above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the conversion rate will not be adjusted:

 

—

upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on our securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of our common stock under any plan;

 

—

upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries;

 

—

upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in the preceding bullet and outstanding as of the date the notes were first issued;

 

—

solely for a change in the par value of the common stock; or

 

—

for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

Adjustments to the conversion rate will be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share.

Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock

In the case of:

 

—

any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our common stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),

 

—

any consolidation, merger or combination involving us,

 

—

any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of ours and our subsidiaries substantially as an entirety, or

 

—

any statutory share exchange,

 

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in each case, as a result of which our common stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “share exchange event” and any such stock, other securities or other property or assets, “reference property”, and the amount of reference property that a holder of one share of our common stock immediately prior to such transaction would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such transaction, a “unit of reference property”), then we or the successor or purchasing company, as the case may be, will execute with the trustee a supplemental indenture providing that, at and after the effective time of the transaction, a holder’s right to convert a note into cash and/or shares of our common stock will be changed into the right to convert a note into cash and/or units of reference property. However, at and after the effective time of the transaction, (i) we will continue to have the right to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of notes, as set forth under “— Settlement upon Conversion” and (ii)(x) any amount payable in cash upon conversion of the notes as set forth under “— Settlement upon Conversion” will continue to be payable in cash, (y) any shares of our common stock that we would have been required to deliver upon conversion of the notes as set forth under “— Settlement upon Conversion” will instead be deliverable in the units of reference property that a holder of that number of shares of our common stock would have received in such transaction and (z) the daily VWAP will be calculated based on the value of a unit of reference property. The supplemental indenture will also provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that are as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments set described under “—Conversion Rate Adjustments” above. If the reference property in respect of any such transaction includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets of a company other than us or the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such transaction, such other company will also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture will contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the holders, including the right of holders to require us to purchase their notes upon a fundamental change as described under “— Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Purchase Notes” below, as the board of directors (or an authorized committee thereof) reasonably considers necessary by reason of the foregoing. If the notes become convertible into reference property, we will notify the trustee and issue a press release containing the relevant information (and make the press release available on our website). If the transaction causes our common stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), the reference property into which the notes will be convertible will be deemed to be (i) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of our common stock that affirmatively make such an election or (ii) if no holders of our common stock affirmatively make such an election, the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of our common stock. If the holders of our common stock receive only cash in such transaction, then for all conversions that occur after the effective date of such transaction (i) the consideration due upon conversion of each $1,000 principal amount of notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the conversion rate in effect on the conversion date (as may be increased as described under “—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change”), multiplied by the price paid per share of common stock in such transaction and (ii) we will satisfy our conversion obligation by paying cash to converting holders on the third business day immediately following the conversion date. We will notify holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) of the weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made. We will agree in the indenture not to become a party to any such transaction unless its terms are consistent with the foregoing.

In connection with any adjustment to the conversion rate described above, we will also adjust the initial dividend threshold (as defined under “—Conversion Rate Adjustments”) based on the number of shares of common stock comprising the reference property and (if applicable) the value of any non-stock consideration comprising the reference property. If the reference property is composed solely of non-stock consideration, the initial dividend threshold will be zero.

Adjustments of Prices

Whenever any provision of the indenture requires us to calculate the last reported sale prices, the daily VWAPs, the daily conversion values or the daily settlement amounts over a span of multiple days (including an observation period and the “stock price” for purposes of a make-whole fundamental change), our board of

 

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directors or a committee thereof will make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the conversion rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the conversion rate where the ex-dividend date of the event occurs, at any time during the period when the last reported sale prices, the daily VWAPs, the daily conversion values or the daily settlement amounts are to be calculated.

Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change

If the “effective date” (as defined below) of a “fundamental change” as set forth in clause (1), (2), (4) or (5) of such definition (determined after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from such definition, but without regard to the proviso in clause (2) of the definition thereof, a “make-whole fundamental change”) occurs prior to the maturity date of the notes and a holder elects to convert its notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for the notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of common stock (the “additional shares”), as described below. A conversion of notes will be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such make-whole fundamental change if the relevant notice of conversion of the notes is received by the conversion agent from, and including, the effective date of the make-whole fundamental change up to, and including, the business day immediately prior to the related fundamental change repurchase date (or, in the case of a make-whole fundamental change that would have been a fundamental change but for the proviso in clause (2) of the definition thereof, the 35th trading day immediately following the effective date of such make-whole fundamental change).

Upon surrender of notes for conversion in connection with a make-whole fundamental change, we will, at our option, satisfy our conversion obligation by physical settlement, cash settlement or combination settlement, as described under “—Conversion Rights—Settlement Upon Conversion.” However, if the consideration for our common stock in any make-whole fundamental change described in clause (2) of the definition of fundamental change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of notes following the effective date of such make-whole fundamental change, the conversion obligation will be calculated based solely on the “stock price” (as defined below) for the transaction and will be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted notes equal to the conversion rate (including any increase to reflect the additional shares as described in this section), multiplied by such stock price. In such event, the conversion obligation will be determined and paid to holders in cash on the third business day following the conversion date. We will notify holders of the effective date of any make-whole fundamental change and issue a press release announcing such effective date no later than five business days after such effective date.

The number of additional shares, if any, by which the conversion rate will be increased will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the make-whole fundamental change occurs or becomes effective (the “effective date”) and the price (the “stock price”) paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of our common stock in the make-whole fundamental change. If the holders of our common stock receive in exchange for their common stock only cash in a make-whole fundamental change described in clause (2) of the definition of fundamental change, the stock price will be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the stock price will be the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the five trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the effective date of the make-whole fundamental change.

The stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the conversion rate of the notes is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is the conversion rate as so adjusted. The number of additional shares as set forth in the table below will be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the conversion rate as set forth under “—Conversion Rate Adjustments.”

 

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The following table sets forth the number of additional shares by which the conversion rate will be increased per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each stock price and effective date set forth below:

 

Stock Price

Effective Date

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

December     , 2013

December 15, 2014

December 15, 2015

December 15, 2016

December 15, 2017

December 15, 2018

December 15, 2019

December 15, 2020

The exact stock prices and effective dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case

 

—

If the stock price is between two stock prices in the table or the effective date is between two effective dates in the table, the number of additional shares by which the conversion rate will be increased will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year.

 

—

If the stock price is greater than $        per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table above), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate.

 

—

If the stock price is less than $        per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table above), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of notes exceed          shares of common stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “—Conversion Rate Adjustments.”

Our obligation to increase the conversion rate for notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.

Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes

If a “fundamental change” (as defined below in this section) occurs at any time, holders will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase for cash all of their notes, or any portion of the principal thereof that is equal to $1,000 or a multiple of $1,000. The fundamental change repurchase date will be a date specified by us that is not less than 20 or more than 35 calendar days following the date of our fundamental change notice as described below.

The fundamental change repurchase price we are required to pay will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date (unless the fundamental change repurchase date falls after a regular record date but on or

 

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prior to the interest payment date to which such regular record date relates, in which case we will instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to the holder of record on such regular record date, and the fundamental change repurchase price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased).

A “fundamental change” will be deemed to have occurred at the time after the notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:

 

(1)

a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than us, our wholly owned subsidiaries and our and their employee benefit plans, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common equity;

 

(2)

the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our common stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which our common stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of us pursuant to which our common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of our wholly owned subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of our common equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of common equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a fundamental change pursuant to this clause (2);

 

(3)	“continuing directors” (as defined below) cease to constitute at least a majority of our board of directors;

 

(4)	our stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of us; or

 

(5)	our common stock (or other common stock underlying the notes) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors).

A transaction or transactions described in clause (2) above will not constitute a fundamental change, however, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by our common stockholders, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions and as a result of such transaction or transactions the notes become convertible into such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares (subject to the provisions set forth above under “—Conversion Rights—Settlement Upon Conversion”).

“Continuing director” means a director who either was a member of our board of directors on the date of this prospectus supplement or who becomes a member of our board of directors subsequent to that date and whose election, appointment or nomination for election by our stockholders is duly approved by a majority of the continuing directors on our board of directors at the time of such approval, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by us on behalf of our entire board of directors in which such individual is named as nominee for director.

On or before the 20th day after the occurrence of a fundamental change, we will provide to all holders of the notes and the trustee and paying agent a notice of the occurrence of the fundamental change and of the resulting repurchase right. Such notice shall state, among other things:

 

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—

the events causing a fundamental change;

 

—

the date of the fundamental change;

 

—

the last date on which a holder may exercise the repurchase right;

 

—

the fundamental change repurchase price;

 

—

the fundamental change repurchase date;

 

—

the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent, if applicable;

 

—

if applicable, the conversion rate and any adjustments to the conversion rate;

 

—

that the notes with respect to which a fundamental change repurchase notice has been delivered by a holder may be converted only if the holder withdraws the fundamental change repurchase notice in accordance with the terms of the indenture; and

 

—

the procedures that holders must follow to require us to repurchase their notes.

Simultaneously with providing such notice, we will publish a notice containing this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on our website or through such other public medium as we may use at that time.

To exercise the fundamental change repurchase right, you must deliver, on or before the business day immediately preceding the fundamental change repurchase date, the notes to be repurchased, duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written repurchase notice, to the paying agent. Each repurchase notice must state:

 

—

if certificated, the certificate numbers of your notes to be delivered for repurchase;

 

—

the portion of the principal amount of notes to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

 

—

that the notes are to be repurchased by us pursuant to the applicable provisions of the notes and the indenture.

If the notes are not in certificated form, such repurchase notice must comply with appropriate DTC procedures.

Holders may withdraw any repurchase notice (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the paying agent prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the fundamental change repurchase date. The notice of withdrawal shall state:

 

—

the principal amount of the withdrawn notes;

 

—

if certificated notes have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn notes; and

 

—

the principal amount, if any, which remains subject to the repurchase notice.

If the notes are not in certificated form, such notice of withdrawal must comply with appropriate DTC procedures.

 

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We will be required to repurchase the notes on the fundamental change repurchase date. Holders who have exercised the repurchase right will receive payment of the fundamental change repurchase price on the later of (i) the fundamental change repurchase date and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of the notes. If the paying agent holds money sufficient to pay the fundamental change repurchase price of the notes on the fundamental change repurchase date, then, with respect to the notes that have been properly surrendered for repurchase and have not been validly withdrawn:

 

—

the notes will cease to be outstanding and interest will cease to accrue (whether or not book-entry transfer of the notes is made or whether or not the notes are delivered to the paying agent); and

 

—

all other rights of the holder will terminate (other than the right to receive the fundamental change repurchase price).

In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to a fundamental change repurchase notice, we will, if required:

 

—

comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable;

 

—

file a Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act; and

 

—

otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by us to repurchase the notes;

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes” to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in the indenture.

No notes may be repurchased on any date at the option of holders upon a fundamental change if the principal amount of the notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by us in the payment of the fundamental change repurchase price with respect to such notes).

The repurchase rights of the holders could discourage a potential acquirer of us. The fundamental change repurchase feature, however, is not the result of management’s knowledge of any specific effort to obtain control of us by any means or part of a plan by management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.

The term fundamental change is limited to specified transactions and may not include other events that might adversely affect our financial condition. In addition, the requirement that we offer to repurchase the notes upon a fundamental change may not protect holders in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, merger or similar transaction involving us.

Furthermore, holders may not be entitled to require us to repurchase their notes or entitled to an increase in the conversion rate upon conversion as described under “—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change” in certain circumstances involving a significant change in the composition of our board, including in connection with a proxy contest where our board does not endorse a dissident slate of directors but approves them for purposes of the definition of “continuing directors” above.

The definition of fundamental change includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease or other transfer of “all or substantially all” of our consolidated assets. There is no precise, established definition of the phrase “substantially all” under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of the notes to require us to repurchase its notes as a result of the sale, lease or other transfer of less than all of our assets may be uncertain.

 

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If a fundamental change were to occur, we may not have enough funds to pay the fundamental change repurchase price. Our ability to repurchase the notes for cash may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from our subsidiaries, the terms of our then existing borrowing arrangements or otherwise. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the notes or to repurchase the notes upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the notes.” If we fail to repurchase the notes when required following a fundamental change, we will be in default under the indenture. In addition, we have, and may in the future incur, other indebtedness with similar change in control provisions permitting our holders to accelerate or to require us to repurchase our indebtedness upon the occurrence of similar events or on some specific dates.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The indenture provides that we shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, another person, unless (i) the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if not us) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such corporation (if not us) expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under the notes and the indenture; and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture. Upon any such consolidation, merger or sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if not us) shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, ours under the indenture, and we shall be discharged from our obligations under the notes and the indenture except in the case of any such lease.

Although these types of transactions are permitted under the indenture, certain of the foregoing transactions could constitute a fundamental change permitting each holder to require us to repurchase the notes of such holder as described above.

This “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” section replaces the section of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets” in its entirety.

Events of Default

Each of the following is an event of default with respect to the notes:

 

(1)	default in any payment of interest on any note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(2)	default in the payment of principal of any note when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon optional redemption, upon any required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

(3)	our failure to comply with our obligation to convert the notes in accordance with the indenture upon exercise of a holder’s conversion right;

 

(4)	our failure to give a fundamental change notice as described under “—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes” or notice of a specified corporate transaction as described under “—Conversion Upon Specified Corporate Events,” in each case when due;

 

(5)	our failure to comply with our obligations under “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

 

(6)	our failure for 60 days after written notice from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding has been received to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the notes or indenture;

 

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(7)

any nonpayment at maturity or other default is made under any agreement or instrument relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company (the unpaid principal amount of which is not less than the greater of $50 million or 10% of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity of the Company), and, in any such case, such default (A) continues beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, (B) results in such Indebtedness being accelerated or declared due and payable (or, in the case of nonpayment, occurs at the final maturity of such Indebtedness), and (C) such Indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration or declaration has not been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 30 days after actual receipt by the Company of a Notice of Default from the Trustee or the required Holders of such series; provided, however, that if any such nonpayment or other default shall be cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then the Event of Default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred;

 

(8)	certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of us or any of our significant subsidiaries, as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X; or

 

(9)

any final judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of the greater of $50,000,000 or 7% of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity, either individually or in the aggregate (net of any amounts to the extent that they are covered by insurance), shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries and which shall not have been paid or discharged, and there shall be any period of 60 consecutive days following the entry of the final judgment or order that causes the aggregate amount for all such final judgments or orders outstanding and not paid or discharged against the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries to exceed the greater of $50,000,000 or 7% of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity during which a stay of enforcement of such final judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect.

“Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity” means, at any time, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Company and its subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee by notice to us, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes by notice to us and the trustee, may, and the trustee at the request of such holders shall, declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the notes to be due and payable. In case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, involving us or a significant subsidiary, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the notes will automatically become due and payable. Upon such a declaration of acceleration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture will provide that, to the extent we elect, the sole remedy for an event of default relating to (i) our failure to file with the trustee pursuant to Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act any documents or reports that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (ii) our failure to comply with our obligations as set forth under “—Reports” below, will (x) for the first 90 days after the occurrence of such an event of default (beginning on, and including, the date on which such an event of default first occurs), consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the notes of the relevant series at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of such notes outstanding for each day during such 90-day period on which such an event of default is continuing and (y) for the period from, and including, the 91st day after the occurrence of such an event of default to, and including the 180th day after the occurrence of such an event of default, consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the notes of the relevant series at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of such notes outstanding for each day during such additional 90-day period on which such an event of default is continuing.

If we so elect, such additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the notes. On the 181st day after such event of default (if the event of default relating to the reporting obligations is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the notes will be subject to acceleration as provided above. The provisions of the indenture described in this paragraph will not affect the rights of holders of notes in the event of the occurrence of any other event of default. In the event we do not elect to pay

 

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the additional interest following an event of default in accordance with this paragraph or we elected to make such payment but do not pay the additional interest when due, the notes will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.

In order to elect to pay the additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of an event of default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting obligations in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph, we must notify all holders of notes, the trustee and the paying agent of such election prior to the beginning of such 180-day period. Upon our failure to timely give such notice, the notes will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.

If any portion of the amount payable on the notes upon acceleration is considered by a court to be unearned interest (through the allocation of the value of the instrument to the embedded warrant or otherwise), the court could disallow recovery of any such portion.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may waive all past defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal or interest or with respect to the failure to deliver the consideration due upon conversion) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the notes and its consequences if (i) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all existing events of default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and interest on the notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

Each holder shall have the right to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of:

 

—

the principal (including the redemption price and the fundamental change repurchase price, if applicable) of;

 

—

accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on; and

 

—

the consideration due upon conversion of,

its notes, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, and such right to receive such payment or delivery, as the case may be, on or after such respective dates shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, if an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal or interest when due, or the right to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the indenture or the notes unless:

 

(1)	such holder has previously given the trustee notice that an event of default is continuing;

 

(2)	holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes have requested the trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)	such holders have offered the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(4)	the trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of such security or indemnity; and

 

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(5)	the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes have not given the trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee.

The indenture provides that in the event an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the indenture, the trustee will be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense caused by taking or not taking such action.

The indenture provides that if a default occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder notice of the default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any note or a default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of trust officers of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders. In addition, we are required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any default that occurred during the previous year. We are also required to deliver to the trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events which would constitute certain defaults, their status and what action we are taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.

Payments of the redemption price, the fundamental change repurchase price, principal and interest that are not made when due will accrue interest per annum at the then-applicable interest rate plus one percent from the required payment date.

This “—Events of Default” section replaces the section of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default” in its entirety.

Modification and Amendment

Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture or the notes may be amended with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding note affected, no amendment may, among other things:

 

(1)	reduce the amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment;

 

(2)	reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any note;

 

(3)	reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of any note;

 

(4)	make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any notes;

 

(5)	reduce the redemption price, the fundamental change repurchase price of any note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the holders of notes our obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

 

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(6)	make any note payable in money, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in the note;

 

(7)	change the ranking of the notes;

 

(8)	impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal and interest on such holder’s notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s notes; or

 

(9)	make any change in the amendment provisions that require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions.

Without the consent of any holder, we and the trustee may amend the indenture to:

 

(1)	cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency that does not adversely affect holders of the notes;

 

(2)	provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations under the indenture;

 

(3)	add guarantees with respect to the notes;

 

(4)	secure the notes;

 

(5)	add to our covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon us;

 

(6)	make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder;

 

(7)

in connection with any transaction described under “Conversion Rights—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock” above, provide that the notes are convertible into reference property, subject to the provisions described under “Conversion Rights—Settlement Upon Conversion” above, and make certain related changes to the terms of the notes to the extent expressly required by the indenture;

 

(8)	comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(9)	conform the provisions of the indenture to the “Description of Notes” section in the preliminary prospectus supplement, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet.

Holders do not need to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It will be sufficient if such holders approve the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment under the indenture becomes effective, we are required to mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

This “—Modification and Amendment” section replaces the section of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver” in its entirety.

Discharge

We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the indenture by delivering to the securities registrar for cancellation all outstanding notes or by depositing with the trustee or delivering to the holders, as applicable, after the notes have become due and payable, whether at maturity, at any redemption date, at any fundamental change repurchase date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash or cash and/or shares of common stock, solely to satisfy outstanding conversions, as applicable, sufficient to pay all of the outstanding notes and paying all other sums payable under the indenture by us. Such discharge is subject to terms contained in the indenture.

 

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This “—Discharge” section replaces the section of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in its entirety.

Calculations in Respect of Notes

Except as otherwise provided above, we will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the notes. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the last reported sale prices of our common stock, the daily VWAPs, the daily conversion values, the daily settlement amounts, accrued interest payable on the notes and the conversion rate of the notes. We will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, our calculations will be final and binding on holders of notes. We will provide a schedule of our calculations to each of the trustee and the conversion agent, and each of the trustee and the conversion agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of our calculations without independent verification. The trustee will forward our calculations to any holder of notes upon the request of that holder.

Reports

The indenture provides that any documents or reports that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act must be filed by us with the trustee within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act). Documents filed by us with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR.

Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the trustee, security registrar, paying agent and conversion agent. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in each of its capacities, including without limitation as trustee, security registrar, paying agent and conversion agent, assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning us or our affiliates or any other party contained in this document or the related documents or for any failure by us or any other party to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information.

Governing Law

The indenture provides that it and the notes will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws of such State.

Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance

The Global Notes

The notes will be initially issued in the form of one or more registered notes in global form, without interest coupons (the “global notes”). Upon issuance, each of the global notes will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.

 

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Ownership of beneficial interests in a global note will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC (“DTC participants”) or persons who hold interests through DTC participants. We expect that under procedures established by DTC:

 

—

upon deposit of a global note with DTC’s custodian, DTC will credit portions of the principal amount of the global note to the accounts of the DTC participants designated by the underwriters; and

 

—

ownership of beneficial interests in a global note will be shown on, and transfer of ownership of those interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to interests of DTC participants) and the records of DTC participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the global note).

Beneficial interests in global notes may not be exchanged for notes in physical, certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below.

Book-Entry Procedures for the Global Notes

All interests in the global notes will be subject to the operations and procedures of DTC. We provide the following summary of those operations and procedures solely for the convenience of investors. The operations and procedures of DTC are controlled by that settlement system and may be changed at any time. Neither we nor the underwriters are responsible for those operations or procedures.

DTC has advised us that it is:

 

—

a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;

 

—

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law;

 

—

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

—

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

—

a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters; banks and trust companies; clearing corporations and other organizations. Indirect access to DTC’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies; these indirect participants clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not DTC participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through DTC participants or indirect participants in DTC.

So long as DTC’s nominee is the registered owner of a global note, that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by that global note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global note:

 

—

will not be entitled to have notes represented by the global note registered in their names;

 

—

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical, certificated notes; and

 

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—

will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee under the indenture.

As a result, each investor who owns a beneficial interest in a global note must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights of a holder of notes under the indenture (and, if the investor is not a participant or an indirect participant in DTC, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which the investor owns its interest).

Payments of principal and interest with respect to the notes represented by a global note will be made by the trustee to DTC’s nominee as the registered holder of the global note. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a global note, for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of those interests by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to those interests.

Payments by participants and indirect participants in DTC to the owners of beneficial interests in a global note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of those participants or indirect participants and DTC.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected under DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.

Certificated Notes

Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a beneficial owner of the related notes only if:

 

—

DTC notifies us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days;

 

—

DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; or

 

—

an event of default with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing and such beneficial owner requests that its notes be issued in physical, certificated form.

 

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

This section is a discussion of the material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes and the common stock into which the notes may be converted. This summary does not provide a complete analysis of all potential tax considerations. The information provided below is based on existing U.S. federal income tax authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurances that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning or disposing of the notes or common stock. The summary generally applies only to beneficial owners of the notes that purchase their notes in this offering for an amount equal to the issue price of the notes, which is the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold for money to the public (not including sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers), and that hold the notes and common stock as “capital assets” (generally, for investment). This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular beneficial owner in light of the beneficial owner’s circumstances (for example, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar). Also, it is not intended to be wholly applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules (such as dealers in securities, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting, banks, thrifts, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, tax-deferred or other retirement accounts, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, persons holding notes or common stock as part of a conversion or integrated transaction or a straddle, or persons deemed to sell notes or common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code). Finally, the summary does not address the effects of the U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws or any applicable non-U.S., state or local laws.

INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS, NON-U.S., STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, AND TAX TREATIES.

As used herein, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of the notes or the common stock into which the notes may be converted that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (1) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation, or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States, including the District of Columbia, (3) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (4) a trust if it (x) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one of more U.S. persons or (y) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

A “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of the notes or the common stock into which the notes may be converted (other than a partnership, including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. holder.

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement, domestic or foreign, treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of a note or common stock acquired upon conversion of a note, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A beneficial owner of a note or common stock acquired upon conversion of a note that is a partnership, and partners in such partnership, should consult their own tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of such note or common stock.

 

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U.S. Holders

The following discussion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a U.S. holder.

Taxation of Interest

U.S. holders will be required to recognize as ordinary income any stated interest paid or accrued on the notes, in accordance with their regular method of tax accounting.

In general, if the terms of a debt instrument entitle a holder to receive payments (other than fixed periodic interest) that exceed the issue price of the instrument by more than a de minimis amount, the holder will be required to include such excess in income as “original issue discount” over the term of the instrument, irrespective of the holder’s regular method of tax accounting. We believe, and this discussion assumes, that the notes will not be issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Additional Interest

We may be required to make payments of additional interest to holders of the notes under the circumstances described under “Description of Notes—Events of Default” above. We believe that there is only a remote possibility that we would be required to pay additional interest, or that if such additional interest were required to be paid, it would be an incidental amount, and therefore we intend to take the position that this possible payment of additional interest will not subject the notes to the special rules governing certain contingent payment debt instruments (which, if applicable, would affect the timing, amount and character of income with respect to the notes). Our determination in this regard, while not binding on the IRS, is binding on U.S. holders unless they disclose their contrary position. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not treated as contingent payment debt instruments. If, contrary to expectations, we pay additional interest, although it is not free from doubt, such additional interest should be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is paid in accordance with the U.S. holder’s regular method of tax accounting. In the event we pay additional interest on the notes, U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the treatment of such amounts.

Sale, Exchange, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

A U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss if the holder disposes of a note in a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition (other than conversion of a note solely into shares of our common stock or into cash and shares of our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of which are described under “Conversion of Notes” below, but including a conversion solely into cash or a repurchase by us of the note, if we undergo a “fundamental change”). The U.S. holder’s gain or loss will equal the difference between the proceeds received by the holder (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) and the holder’s tax basis in the note. The proceeds received by the U.S. holder will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any other property received for the note. The U.S. holder’s tax basis in the note generally will equal the amount the holder paid for the note. The portion of any proceeds that is attributable to accrued interest will not be taken into account in computing the U.S. holder’s capital gain or loss. Instead, that portion will be recognized as ordinary interest income to the extent that the U.S. holder has not previously included the accrued interest in income. The gain or loss recognized by the U.S. holder on the disposition of the note will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder held the note for more than one year, or short-term capital gain or loss if the holder held the note for one year or less, at the time of the disposition. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers currently are taxed at reduced rates. Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

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Conversion of Notes

The conversion of a note solely into shares of our common stock will be treated as a transaction in which gain or loss is not realized. In such case, a U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the note would become the tax basis of the shares of common stock resulting from the conversion. The conversion of a note into a combination of cash and shares of our common stock may be treated as in part a payment in retirement for cash of a portion of the note and in part a conversion of a portion of the note into common stock. In such case, a U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the note would be allocated between the portion of the note treated as retired and the portion of the note treated as converted into common stock on a pro rata basis. The U.S. holder generally would recognize capital gain or loss with respect to the portion of the note treated as retired equal to the difference between the amount of cash received by the U.S. holder (other than amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest or a fractional share) and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the portion of the note treated as redeemed, subject to the discussion under “Constructive Distributions” below regarding the possibility that the adjustment to the conversion rate of a note converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may be treated as a taxable stock dividend. See “Sale, Exchange, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes” above. With respect to the portion of the note treated as converted, a U.S. holder generally would not recognize any gain or loss (except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of common stock and common stock received attributable to accrued and unpaid interest), subject to the discussion under “Constructive Distributions” below regarding the possibility that the adjustment to the conversion rate of a note converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may be treated as a taxable stock dividend. The tax basis allocated to the portion of the note treated as converted into common stock would be the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the common stock (including any fractional share for which cash is paid, but excluding shares attributable to accrued interest). The U.S. holder’s holding period in the common stock (other than shares attributable to accrued interest) would include the holding period in the converted note.

Alternatively, the conversion of a note into a combination of cash and shares of our common stock may be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In such case, a U.S. holder would not be permitted to recognize loss, but would be required to recognize gain. Subject to the discussion in the next two paragraphs regarding fractional shares and accrued and unpaid interest, the amount of gain recognized by a U.S. holder would equal the lesser of (i) the excess of any cash received plus the fair market value of our common stock received upon conversion over the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the converted note; and (ii) the amount of cash received upon conversion. Subject to the discussion under “Constructive Distributions” below regarding the possibility that the adjustment to the conversion rate of a note converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may be treated as a taxable stock dividend, the gain recognized by a U.S. holder upon conversion of a note will be long-term capital gain if the holder held the note for more than one year, or short-term capital gain if the holder held the note for one year or less, at the time of the conversion. Except as otherwise noted in the next two paragraphs, a U.S. holder’s (i) tax basis in the common stock received generally would equal the tax basis of the converted note, decreased by the amount of cash received and increased by the amount of gain (if any) recognized upon conversion, and (ii) holding period in the common stock would include the holding period in the converted note.

With respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock, a U.S. holder would likely be treated as if the fractional share were issued and received and then immediately redeemed for cash. Accordingly, the U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the cash received and that portion of the holder’s tax basis in the common stock attributable to the fractional share on a proportionate basis in accordance with its relative fair market value.

Any cash and the value of any portion of our common stock that is attributable to accrued and unpaid interest on the notes not yet included in income by a U.S. holder will be taxed as ordinary income. The basis in any shares of common stock attributable to accrued and unpaid interest will equal the fair market value of such shares when received. The holding period in any shares of common stock attributable to accrued and unpaid interest will begin on the day after the date of conversion.

 

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A U.S. holder that converts a note between a record date for an interest payment and the next interest payment date and consequently receives a payment of cash interest, as described in “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights,” should consult its own tax advisor concerning the appropriate treatment of such payment in the event that the U.S. holder is required to make a corresponding payment to us upon conversion.

If we undergo certain corporate transactions, as described under “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock” above, the conversion obligation may be adjusted so that holders would be entitled to convert the notes into the type of consideration that they would have been entitled to receive upon such corporate transaction had the notes been converted into our common stock immediately prior to such corporate transaction, except that such holders will not be entitled to receive make-whole shares unless such notes are converted in connection with the relevant make-whole fundamental change. Depending on the facts and circumstances at the time of such corporate transaction, such adjustment may result in a deemed exchange of the outstanding notes, which may be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of such an adjustment upon a corporate transaction.

Distributions

Generally, if, after a U.S. holder acquires any of our common stock upon a conversion of a note, we make a distribution in respect of such common stock (other than certain pro rata distributions of common stock to our shareholders) and we have current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), the distribution will be treated as a dividend and will be includible in a U.S. holder’s income when paid. If the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of the U.S. holder’s investment, up to the U.S. holder’s tax basis in its common stock, and any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of the common stock. If the U.S. holder is a U.S. corporation, it would generally be able to claim a dividends received deduction on a portion of any distribution taxed as a dividend, provided that certain holding period requirements are satisfied. Subject to certain exceptions, dividends received by non-corporate U.S. holders are taxed at the reduced rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that certain holding period requirements are met.

Constructive Distributions

The terms of the notes allow for changes in the conversion rate of the notes under certain circumstances. A change in conversion rate that allows holders of notes to receive more shares of common stock on conversion may increase such holders’ proportionate interests in our earnings and profits or assets. In that case, the holders of notes may be treated as though they received a taxable distribution in the form of our common stock. A taxable constructive stock distribution would result, for example, if the conversion rate is adjusted to compensate holders of notes for distributions of cash or property to our stockholders. The adjustment to the conversion rate of notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change, as described under “Description of Notes—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change” above, also may be treated as a taxable stock distribution. If an event occurs that dilutes the interests of stockholders or increases the interests of holders of the notes and the conversion rate of the notes is not adjusted (or not adequately adjusted), this also could be treated as a taxable stock distribution to holders of the notes. Conversely, if an event occurs that dilutes the interests of holders of the notes and the conversion rate is not adjusted (or not adequately adjusted), the resulting increase in the proportionate interests of our stockholders could be treated as a taxable stock distribution to the stockholders. Not all changes in the conversion rate that result in holders of notes receiving more common stock on conversion, however, increase such holders’ proportionate interests in us. For instance, a change in conversion rate could simply prevent the dilution of the holders’ interests upon a stock split or other change in capital structure. Changes of this type, if made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula, are not treated as constructive stock distributions. Any taxable constructive stock distribution resulting from a change to, or failure to change, the conversion rate that is treated

 

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as a distribution of common stock would be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the same manner as a distribution on our common stock paid in cash or other property as described under “Distributions.” U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding whether any taxable constructive stock dividends would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction applicable to corporate U.S. holders or for the reduced rates described in the previous paragraph that are applicable to non-corporate U.S. holders, as the requisite applicable holding periods might not be considered to be satisfied.

Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock

A U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of common stock. The U.S. holder’s gain or loss will equal the difference between the proceeds received by the holder and the holder’s tax basis in the stock. The proceeds received by the U.S. holder will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any other property received for the stock. The gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder on a sale, exchange or other disposition of common stock will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder’s holding period in the common stock is more than one year, or short-term capital gain or loss if the holder’s holding period in the common stock is one year or less, at the time of the disposition. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers are currently taxed at reduced rates. Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Non-U.S. Holders

The following discussion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a non-U.S. holder.

Taxation of Interest

Payments of interest to non-U.S. holders are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or a reduced or zero rate under the terms of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence), collected by means of withholding by the payor.

Payments of interest on the notes to most non-U.S. holders, however, will qualify as “portfolio interest,” and thus will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including withholding of such tax, if the non-U.S. holders certify their nonresident status as described below.

The portfolio interest exemption will not apply to payments of interest to a non-U.S. holder that:

 

—

owns, actually or constructively, shares of our stock representing at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

—

is a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership; or

 

—

is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States to which such interest payments are effectively connected, and, generally, if an income tax treaty applies, such interest payments are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder (see the discussion under “Income or Gains Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business” below).

The portfolio interest exemption, reduction of the withholding rate pursuant to the terms of applicable income tax treaty and several of the special rules for non-U.S. holders described below apply only if the holder certifies its nonresident status. A non-U.S. holder can meet this certification requirement by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or appropriate substitute form to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment. If the non-U.S. holder holds the note through a financial institution or other agent acting on the holder’s

 

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behalf, the holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the agent. The non-U.S. holder’s agent will then be required to provide certification to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries.

Sale, Exchange, Retirement, Conversion or Other Disposition of Notes or Common Stock

Non-U.S. holders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement, conversion or other disposition of notes or common stock (other than with respect to payments attributable to accrued interest, which will be taxed as described under “Taxation of Interest” above), unless:

 

—

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a U.S. trade or business (and, generally, if an applicable income tax treaty requires, the gain is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder), in which case the gain would be subject to tax as described below under “Income or Gains Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”;

 

—

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the year of disposition and certain other conditions apply, in which case, except as otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty, the gain, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, would be subject to a flat 30% tax, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States; or

 

—

the rules of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (or “FIRPTA”) (described below) treat the gain as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.

The FIRPTA rules may apply to a sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of notes or common stock by a non-U.S. holder if we currently are, or were at any time within five years before the sale, exchange, retirement, conversion or other disposition (or, if shorter, the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the notes or common stock disposed of), a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (or “USRPHC”). In general, we would be a USRPHC if interests in U.S. real property comprised at least 50% of the fair market value of our assets. We believe that we currently are not, and will not become in the future, a USRPHC.

Dividends

Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder on any common stock received on conversion of a note, including any taxable constructive stock dividends resulting from certain adjustments (or failures to make adjustments) to the number of shares of common stock to be issued on conversion (as described under “U.S. Holders—Constructive Distributions” above) generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate. The withholding tax on dividends (including any taxable constructive stock dividends), however, may be reduced under the terms of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence. A non-U.S. holder should demonstrate its eligibility for a reduced rate of withholding under an applicable income tax treaty by timely delivering a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or appropriate substitute form. A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding under the terms of an applicable income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Dividends on the common stock that are effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business are discussed below under “Income or Gains Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business.”

Under proposed regulations relating to certain “dividend equivalent” payments, an adjustment to the conversion rate of the notes as a result of a dividend on our common stock may be subject to withholding tax at a different time or in a different amount than described above.

 

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Withholding tax applicable to any taxable constructive stock dividends (or “dividend equivalent payments,” if any, described in the preceding paragraph) received by a non-U.S. holder may be withheld from interest on the notes, distributions on the common stock, shares of common stock or proceeds subsequently paid or credited to the non-U.S. holder.

Income or Gains Effectively Connected With a U.S. Trade or Business

The preceding discussion of the U.S. federal income and withholding tax considerations of the purchase, ownership or disposition of notes or common stock by a non-U.S. holder assumes that the holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If any interest on the notes, dividends on common stock, or gain from the sale, exchange, retirement, conversion or other disposition of the notes or common stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder, then the income or gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates and in the same manner applicable to U.S. holders. If the non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty between the United States and the holder’s country of residence, any “effectively connected” income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the holder in the United States. Payments of interest or dividends that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (and, if a tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base), and therefore included in the gross income of a non-U.S. holder, will not be subject to 30% withholding, provided that the holder claims exemption from withholding by timely filing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), that portion of its earnings and profits that is effectively connected with its U.S. trade or business may be subject to a “branch profits tax.” The branch profits tax rate is generally 30%, although an applicable income tax treaty might provide for a lower rate.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on interest payments, dividend payments, and proceeds of sale of stock or interest-bearing obligations for payments made after the relevant effective date to certain foreign financial institutions that fail to certify their FATCA status, and investment funds and non-financial foreign entities if certain disclosure requirements related to direct and indirect United States shareholders and/or United States accountholders are not satisfied. Pursuant to applicable Treasury regulations and recently-issued IRS guidance, the withholding tax will not apply to debt obligations that are outstanding on July 1, 2014. A debt instrument, such as a note, is treated as outstanding on July 1, 2014 if it has an issue date, as determined under U.S. tax law, before July 1, 2014. Any significant modification (as defined in Treasury regulations issued under Section 1001 of the Code) of a note on or after July 1, 2014 will result in such note being treated as newly issued as of the effective date of such modification. In general, if a note is outstanding on July 1, 2014, and such note is “reopened” on or after July 1, 2014 in a “qualified reopening” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulations issued under Section 1275 of the Code), the notes issued in the reopening will be treated for U.S. tax purposes as having the same issue date as the original issue of notes. Under applicable Treasury regulations, withholding will only be required, subject to certain exceptions, (i) with respect to payments of interest or dividends made on or after July 1, 2014 and (ii) with respect to other “withholdable payments” (including payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of notes or stock) made on or after January 1, 2017. If any amount of, or in respect of, U.S. withholding tax were to be deducted or withheld from payments on the notes or stock as a result of a failure by an investor (or by an institution through which an investor holds the notes or stock) to comply with FATCA, neither the issuer nor any paying agent nor any other person would, pursuant to the terms of the notes and stock, be required to pay additional amounts with respect to any notes or stock as a result of the deduction or withholding of such tax.

 

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Medicare Tax

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, a U.S. holder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. holder’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S. holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals will be between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). A holder’s net investment income will generally include its interest income from the notes, dividend income from the stock, and its net gains from the disposition of notes or stock, unless such income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are a U.S. holder that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in the notes or stock.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

The Code and the Treasury regulations require those who make specified payments to report the payments to the IRS. Among the specified payments are interest, dividends and proceeds paid by brokers to their customers. This reporting regime is reinforced by “backup withholding” rules, which require the payor to withhold from payments subject to information reporting if the recipient has failed to provide a taxpayer identification number to the payor, furnished an incorrect identification number, or repeatedly failed to report interest or dividends on tax returns. The backup withholding rate is currently 28%.

Payments of interest or dividends (including constructive dividends) to U.S. holders of notes or common stock generally will be subject to information reporting, and will be subject to backup withholding, unless the holder (1) is an exempt payee, or (2) in the case of backup withholding but not information reporting, provides the payor with a correct taxpayer identification number and complies with applicable certification requirements. Payments made to U.S. holders by a broker upon a sale of notes or common stock will generally be subject to information reporting and potentially backup withholding. If the sale is made through a foreign office of a foreign broker, however, the sale will generally not be subject to either information reporting or backup withholding. This exception may not apply if the foreign broker is owned or controlled by U.S. persons, or is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.

We (or an applicable withholding agent) must report annually to the IRS the interest and/or dividends (including constructive dividends) paid to each non-U.S. holder and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to such interest and/or dividends, including any tax withheld pursuant to the rules described under “Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Interest” and “Non-U.S. Holders—Dividends” above. Copies of these reports may be made available to tax authorities in the country where the non-U.S. holder resides. Payments to non-U.S. holders of dividends on our common stock or interest on the notes may be subject to backup withholding unless the non-U.S. holder certifies its non-U.S. status on a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or appropriate substitute form. Payments made to non-U.S. holders by a broker upon a sale of the notes or our common stock will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding as long as the non-U.S. holder certifies its non-U.S. status or otherwise establishes an exemption.

Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. holder or non-U.S. holder of notes or common stock under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or can be credited against any U.S. federal income tax liability of the holder, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters for the offering named below, for whom Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are acting as representatives, have entered into an underwriting agreement dated as of the date of this prospectus supplement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to each underwriter, the total principal amount of notes shown in the following table.

 

Underwriter		Principal Amount of Notes
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC		$
Goldman, Sachs & Co.		$
Total		$	200,000,000

The obligations of the several underwriters to purchase the notes offered hereby are subject to certain conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the notes, if they purchase any of them. However, the underwriters are not required to take or pay for the notes covered by the over-allotment option described below. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

Notes sold by the underwriters to the public initially will be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at discounts from the applicable public offering price of up to         % of the principal amount of notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at discounts from the applicable public offering price of up to         % of the principal amount of notes. If all the notes are not sold at the applicable public offering price, the underwriters may change such offering price and the other selling terms.

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $5,000,000 aggregate principal amounts of notes from us to cover sales of notes that exceed the principal amount of notes specified above. If any additional notes are purchased with this over-allotment option, the underwriters will offer such additional notes on the same terms as those on which the notes are being offered.

The following table shows the total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us in respect of the notes. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional $5,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the notes.

 

		Paid by RPM International Inc.
		No exercise				Full exercise
Total		$				$

In addition, we estimate that our expenses for this offering, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $773,000.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for the quotation of the notes in any dealer quotation system. We have been advised that the representatives intend to make a market in the notes, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue such market-making at any time in their sole discretion without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

 

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In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions in the notes and shares of our common stock. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the notes or shares of our common stock in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the notes. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes or shares of our common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions.

Stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the notes or our common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time without notice.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

We have agreed that, for a period of 60 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, we will not, without the prior consent of the representatives:

 

—

offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or publicly announce our intention to engage in any such transaction; or

 

—

enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock or any such other securities;

whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or other such securities, in cash or otherwise.

The above restrictions will not apply to (i) the issuance of the notes sold under this prospectus supplement; (ii) the issuance of shares of common stock by us upon conversion of the notes, if applicable; (iii) the grant of options or other equity-based awards for common stock pursuant to our stock plans existing on the date of the underwriting agreement; and (iv) the issuance of shares of common stock issued upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of the underwriting agreement.

Our directors and our executive officers have agreed that, for a period of 60 days from the date of the underwriting agreement, they will not, without the prior consent of the representatives:

 

—

offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or publicly announce their intention to engage in any such transaction; or

 

—

enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock;

whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or other such securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

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Notwithstanding the above, our directors and executive officers may (i) transfer or sell common stock pursuant to any contract, instruction or plan, including a contract, instruction or plan complying with Rule 10b5-1 of the Regulations of the Exchange Act that has been entered into prior to the execution of the underwriting agreement, as long as the number of shares subject to that contract, instruction or plan is not increased; (ii) enter into any contract, instruction or plan complying with Rule 10b5-1 of the Regulations of the Exchange Act, provided that such contract, instruction or plan does not provide for the sale or disposition of common stock during the 60-day restricted period; or (iii) transfer common stock by gift, will or intestacy; provided that, among other restrictions, in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (iii) above, each donee will sign a similar lock-up letter, the transfer may not involve a disposition for value, and no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made within the 60-day restricted period. In addition, our directors and officers have agreed, for the 60-day restricted period, not to make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market-making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial banking and investment banking services for us and our affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expense reimbursement.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments (including serving as counterparties to certain derivative and hedging arrangements) and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of ours or our affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

The notes are offered for sale in the United States and certain jurisdictions outside the United States in which such offer and sale is permitted.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) no offer of notes may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

 

A.

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

B.

to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors

 

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as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives; or

 

C.

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of notes shall require the Company or the representatives to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Relevant Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither the Company nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Company or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.

For the purpose of the above provisions, the expression “an offer to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in the Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member States) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, notes, debentures and units of notes and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.

VALIDITY OF NOTES

The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Cleveland, Ohio, and for the underwriters by Squire Sanders (US) LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Frederick R. Nance, a partner of Squire Sanders (US) LLP, is a member of our board of directors.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of RPM International Inc. incorporated by reference in RPM International Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended May 31, 2013 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of RPM International Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of May 31, 2013, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PROSPECTUS

RPM INTERNATIONAL INC.

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable supplement carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RPM.”

Investing in our securities involves risks. Please read the risk factors discussed or incorporated by reference under the section of the prospectus captioned “Risk Factors” on page 4.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is April 8, 2011.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
Risk Factors			4
Use of Proceeds			4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			4
Description of Capital Stock			5
Description of Debt Securities			11
Description of Other Securities			22
Plan of Distribution			22
Validity of Securities			23
Experts			23

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration procedure. Pursuant to that procedure and under this prospectus, we may offer and sell:

 

—

Debt Securities;

 

—

Common Stock;

 

—

Preferred Stock;

 

—

Warrants;

 

—

Purchase Contracts; and

 

—

Units

The securities described above may be offered and sold in one or more offerings. Each time we offer and sell securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we will file with the SEC a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” in their entirety. They contain information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

The registration statement that contains this prospectus contains additional information about our company and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The reports, proxy statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC are available to the public free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC, at prescribed rates, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of its Public Reference Room. You can also inspect our reports, proxy statements and other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update information in this prospectus, as well as our other filings with the SEC. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information in this prospectus and/or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the initial filing of the registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to the time that we sell all the securities offered under this prospectus, other than the portions of such documents that by

 

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statute, by designation in such documents, or otherwise are not deemed to be filed with the SEC or are not required to be incorporated herein by reference:

 

—

Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2010;

 

—

Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended August 31, 2010, November 30, 2010 and February 28, 2011;

 

—

Current reports on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2010, July 23, 2010 and October 8, 2010;

 

—

The description of our common stock and rights to purchase shares of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-108647), filed with the SEC on September 9, 2003, and any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating that description; and

 

—

Our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2009, related to the rights.

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered any or all of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost, upon written or oral request. You may request these documents by writing to or telephoning us at the following address and number:

Corporate Secretary

RPM International Inc.

2628 Pearl Road

P.O. Box 777

Medina, Ohio 44258

(330) 273-5090

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or set forth in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering these securities in states where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus (including the information incorporated by reference) contains, and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain, forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our plans, expectations, estimates and beliefs of future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “target,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pro forma,” “seek” or “continue” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Some of the things that could cause our actual results to differ substantially from our expectations are:

 

—

global markets and general economic conditions, including uncertainties surrounding the volatility in financial markets, the availability of capital and the effect of changes in interest rates, and the viability of banks and other financial institutions;

 

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the prices, supply and capacity of raw materials, including assorted pigments, resins, solvents, and other natural gas- and oil-based materials; packaging, including plastic containers; and transportation services, including fuel surcharges;

 

—

continued growth in demand for our products;

 

—

legal, environmental and litigation risks inherent in our construction and chemicals businesses and risks related to the adequacy of our insurance coverage for such matters;

 

—

the effect of changes in interest rates;

 

—

the effect of fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon our foreign operations;

 

—

the effect of non-currency risks of investing in and conducting operations in foreign countries, including those relating to domestic and international political, social, economic and regulatory factors;

 

—

risks and uncertainties associated with our ongoing acquisition and divestiture activities;

 

—

risks related to the adequacy of our contingent liability reserves;

 

—

risks and uncertainties associated with the SPHC bankruptcy proceedings; and

 

—

other factors referenced in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including those set forth or referenced under the caption “Risk Factors.”

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this prospectus to conform them to actual results. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in and incorporated by reference into the section captioned “Risk Factors,” and by any cautionary language in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We caution you that these risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on our businesses or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus might not occur.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding whether to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risks involved in an investment in our securities, as set forth in:

 

—

Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended May 31, 2010; and

 

—

the other risks described in any prospectus supplement or in any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for the repayment of debt and for other general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific issuance of securities. Our general corporate purposes include, but are not limited to, repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, capital expenditures, investments in or loans to subsidiaries and joint ventures, funding of possible acquisitions, working capital, contributions to one or more of our pension plans, satisfaction of other obligations and repurchase of our outstanding debt or equity securities. Pending any such use, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities may be invested in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing instruments. We will include a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of securities under this prospectus.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth the ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

		Fiscal Years Ended May 31,								Nine Months Ended February  28,
2006 (1)		2007 (2)		2008 (3)		2009 (4)		2010		2011 (5)
—		5.40		1.42		3.66		4.67		4.14

 

 

(1)	Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2006. The coverage deficiency for that fiscal year totaled $181.2 million. Fiscal year 2006 income from continuing operations before taxes includes the unfavorable impact of asbestos charges of $380.0 million.

 

(2)	Fiscal year 2007 income from continuing operations before taxes includes the favorable impact of asbestos-related insurance settlement income of $15.0 million.

 

(3)	Fiscal year 2008 income from continuing operations before taxes includes the impact of asbestos-related charges of $288.1 million.

 

(4)	Fiscal year 2009 income from continuing operations before taxes includes the impact of goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges of $15.5 million.

 

(5)	Fiscal year 2011 income from continuing operations before taxes includes the impact of the deconsolidation of Specialty Products Holding Corp. (“SPHC”) on May 31, 2010.

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income from continuing operations before taxes and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt issuance costs and an estimation of the interest portion of rental expense.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our capital stock, amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws is a summary only and is subject to the complete text of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated by-laws, and the rights agreement between us and the rights agent named therein, which we have filed as exhibits to this registration statement.

Common Stock

The following description of our common stock, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our common stock, but is not complete. For the complete terms of the common stock, please refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws and our rights agreement, which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of common stock. As of April 1, 2011, there were 130,430,299 shares of common stock outstanding, net of treasury shares, held by 26,163 direct registered stockholders.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RPM.” The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Its address is P.O. Box 64874, St. Paul, MN 55164-0874, and its telephone number is (800) 988-5238.

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by stockholders generally, including the election of directors. There are no cumulative voting rights, and, as a result, a plurality of stockholders voting are able to elect directors. The Company has adopted a majority voting policy with regard to the election of directors which requires that any director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast for his or her election tender their resignation to the board. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any. The holders of common stock have no preemptive or similar rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Our amended and restated by-laws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called only by the chairman of the board, the president, the majority of the board and the chairman of the board or the president at the written request of stockholders owning a majority of shares of voting stock.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without stockholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the number of shares and terms of each series. The board may determine the designation and other terms of each series, including, among others:

 

—

dividend rights;

 

—

voting powers;

 

—

preemptive rights;

 

—

conversion rights;

 

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—

redemption rights; and

 

—

liquidation rights.

The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desired flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock. It also could affect the likelihood that holders of common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

Rights Plan

On April 21, 2009, we entered into a rights agreement with National City Bank, as rights agent. National City Bank’s duties and obligations under the rights agreement have since been assumed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In connection with the rights agreement, our board of directors declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of common stock. Rights have been issued in connection with each outstanding share of common stock, and rights will be issued in connection with shares of common stock issued subsequently until the distribution date, and, in certain circumstances, for shares of common stock issued after the distribution date referred to below. Each right, when it becomes exercisable as described below, will entitle the registered holder to purchase from us one-tenth of a share of common stock at a price of $7.00 or $70.00 per whole share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. A more detailed description and the terms of the rights are set forth in the rights agreement. The rights will not be exercisable until the distribution date and will expire on the tenth annual anniversary of the rights agreement, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by us. Until a right is exercised, the holder, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder, including the right to vote or to receive dividends.

Distribution Date

Under the rights agreement, the “distribution date” is the earlier of:

 

(1)

the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the first date of public announcement by us that a person or group, including any affiliate or associate of such person or group, has acquired, or has obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of more than 15% of our outstanding voting securities (such person or group being an “acquiring person”), unless provisions preventing accidental triggering of the distribution of the rights apply; and

 

(2)

the close of business on the tenth business day (or, unless the distribution date shall have previously occurred, such later date, if any, as may be designated by our board of directors) following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for more than 15% of the then-outstanding voting securities.

Triggering Event and Effect of Triggering Event

When there is an acquiring person, the rights will entitle each holder, other than such acquiring person, of a right to purchase, at the purchase price, that number of shares of common stock that at the time of such event would have a market value of twice the purchase price.

If we are acquired in a merger or other business combination by an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person, or if 50% or more of our assets or assets representing 50% or more of our earning power are sold to an acquiring person or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person, each right will entitle its holder, other than rights beneficially owned by such acquiring person, to purchase, for the purchase price, that number of shares of common stock of such corporation which at the time of the transaction would have a market value of twice the purchase price.

 

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Any rights that are at any time beneficially owned by an acquiring person, or any affiliate or associate of an acquiring person, will be null and void and nontransferable, and any holder of any such right will be unable to exercise or transfer any such right.

Redemption and Exchange

At any time prior to the close of business on the distribution date, we may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per right, which amount shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the rights agreement. Immediately upon the action of our board of directors ordering the redemption of the rights, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price.

In addition, at any time after the distribution date, our board of directors may elect to exchange each right for consideration per right consisting of one share of common stock, subject to adjustment.

Amendment

At any time prior to the distribution date, we may, without the approval of any holder of any rights, supplement or further amend any provision of the rights agreement, including the date on which the expiration date or distribution date shall occur, the definition of acquiring person or the time during which the rights may be redeemed, except that no supplement or amendment shall be made that changes the redemption price other than under certain adjustments therein.

Certain Effects of the Rights Agreement

The rights agreement is designed to protect our stockholders in the event of unsolicited offers to acquire us and other coercive takeover tactics which, in the opinion of our board of directors, could impair its ability to represent stockholder interests. The provisions of the rights agreement may render an unsolicited takeover of us more difficult or less likely to occur or might prevent such a takeover, even though such takeover may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market rate and may be favored by a majority of our stockholders.

Anti-takeover Effects of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, and the Delaware General Corporation Law

General Corporation Law

There are provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws, and the Delaware General Corporation Law that could discourage potential takeover attempts. They could also make it more difficult for stockholders to change management. These provisions could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. These provisions include:

Authorized but Unissued Stock

The authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock may be issued without stockholder approval (although the board of directors has represented that it will not issue any series of preferred stock for any defensive or anti-takeover purpose without stockholder approval). Authorized but unissued stock may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock could render it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

 

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Staggered Board

Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with regular three-year staggered terms. This classification system increases the difficulty of replacing a majority of the directors and may tend to discourage a third-party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of us. In addition, under Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, our directors may be removed from office by the stockholders only for cause and only in the manner provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. These factors may maintain the incumbency of our board of directors.

Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation

Under Delaware law, in general, to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, the directors of the corporation must first adopt a resolution deeming the amendment advisable and then the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote must vote in favor of the amendment. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not change the effect of Delaware law in this regard, except that the provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the number, election and terms of directors may not be repealed or amended without the vote of the holders of not less than 80% of our voting stock, voting as a single class.

Amendment of By-Laws

Under Delaware law, the power to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws is conferred upon the stockholders. A corporation may, however, in its certificate of incorporation also confer upon the board of directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal its by-laws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws grant our board of directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal our by-laws at any meeting of the board. Our stockholders also may adopt, amend or repeal our by-laws by a vote of a majority of our voting stock, except that the provision in our amended and restated by-laws regarding the number, election and terms of directors may not be repealed or amended without the vote of the holders of not less than 80% of our voting stock, voting as a single class.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our amended and restated by-laws provide that no action that is required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at any annual or special meeting may be taken by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting, and that, unless otherwise prescribed by law, a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, the president, a majority of the board of directors or the chairman of the board or president at the written request of stockholders holding a majority of our voting stock.

Interested Stockholder Rule

We are a Delaware corporation and are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which regulates corporate acquisitions. Section 203 prevents an “interested stockholder,” which is defined generally as a person owning 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock, or any affiliate or associate of that person, from engaging in a broad range of “business combinations” with the corporation for three years after becoming an interested stockholder unless:

 

—

the board of directors of the corporation had previously approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder’s becoming an interested stockholder;

 

—

upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder’s becoming an interested stockholder, that person owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and also

 

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officers and shares owned in employee stock plans in which participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered; or

 

—

following the transaction in which that person became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and at a meeting by the vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

Under Section 203, the restrictions described above also do not apply to specific business combinations proposed by an interested stockholder following the announcement or notification of designated extraordinary transactions involving the corporation and a person who had not been an interested stockholder during the previous three years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of a majority of the corporation’s directors, if such extraordinary transaction is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors.

Section 203 may make it more difficult for a person who would be an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period.

Limitations on Liability; Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Under Delaware law and Article VIII of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except, if required by Delaware law, for liability:

 

—

for any breach of the duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

—

for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;

 

—

for unlawful payment of a dividend or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions; and

 

—

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

As a result, neither we nor our stockholders have the right, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior, except in the situations described above.

Under Delaware law, Delaware corporations may indemnify directors and officers from liability if the person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by such person to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal actions, if the person had no reason to believe his or her action was unlawful. In the case of an action by or on behalf of a corporation, indemnification may not be made if the person seeking indemnification is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification. The indemnification provisions of Delaware law require indemnification of any director or officer who has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding that he or she was a party to by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation. Delaware law permits corporations to advance amounts to directors and officers in payment of expenses. The indemnification authorized by Delaware law is not exclusive and is in addition to any other rights granted to directors under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

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Our indemnification arrangements are set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Article IX of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify any person against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with the defense of either any action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party defendant or any claim of liability asserted against such person by reason of the fact that he or she is or was our director or he or she is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, provided that he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her action was unlawful.

In addition, unless ordered by a court, indemnification shall be made by us only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law. This determination is made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, by (i) a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to or threatened with the action, even though less than a quorum, (ii) a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) the stockholders. The indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is not exclusive of any other rights to which a director or officer may be entitled to under any statute, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. We have also entered into indemnity agreements under which we have agreed, among other things, to indemnify our directors and officers to the maximum extent then authorized or permitted by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or Delaware law.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities (as defined below) sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the Debt Securities so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such Debt Securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of Debt Securities, reference must be made to both the prospectus supplement relating thereto and to the following description.

The Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of February 14, 2008, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”). As used in this prospectus, “Debt Securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we issue and the Trustee authenticates and delivers under the Indenture.

We have summarized certain terms and provisions of the Indenture in this section. The summary is not complete. The Indenture is also an exhibit to the registration statement that included this prospectus. You should read the Indenture for additional information before you buy any Debt Securities. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of the Indenture so that you can more easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this summary have the meanings specified in the Indenture.

General

The Debt Securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. The Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities that we may issue and permits us to issue Debt Securities from time to time. Debt Securities issued under the Indenture will be issued as part of a series that has been established by us pursuant to the Indenture (Section 2.01(b)). Unless a prospectus supplement relating to Debt Securities states otherwise, the Indenture and the terms of the Debt Securities will not contain any covenants designed to afford holders of any Debt Securities protection in a highly leveraged or other transaction involving us that may adversely affect holders of the Debt Securities.

A prospectus supplement relating to a series of Debt Securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

—

the title and type of the Debt Securities;

 

—

any limit on the total principal amount of the Debt Securities;

 

—

the price at which the Debt Securities will be issued;

 

—

the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities will be payable;

 

—

the maturity date of the Debt Securities;

 

—

if the Debt Securities will bear interest, and if so:

 

—

the interest rate on the Debt Securities,

 

—

the date from which interest will accrue,

 

—

the record and interest payment dates for the Debt Securities or the method of determining such rate,

 

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—

the first interest payment date, and

 

—

any circumstances under which we may defer interest payments;

 

—

if the amount of principal, interest or premium, if any, with respect to the Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

—

any optional conversion provisions that would permit us or the Holders (as defined below) of Debt Securities to elect to convert the Debt Securities prior to their final maturity;

 

—

any optional redemption provisions that would permit us or the Holders (as defined below) of Debt Securities to elect redemption of the Debt Securities prior to their final maturity;

 

—

any sinking fund or analogous provisions that would obligate us to redeem, purchase or repay the Debt Securities prior to their final maturity;

 

—

the currency or currencies in which the Debt Securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars;

 

—

any provisions that would permit us or the Holders of the Debt Securities to elect the currency or currencies in which the Debt Securities are paid;

 

—

whether the Debt Securities will be subordinated to our other debt;

 

—

any changes to or additional Events of Default (as defined below);

 

—

any changes to or additional covenants or provisions to the Indenture;

 

—

whether the Debt Securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of Global Securities and, if so, the Depositary for those Global Securities (a “Global Security” means a Debt Security that we issue in accordance with the Indenture to represent all or part of a series of Debt Securities);

 

—

any material United States federal income tax consequences of the Debt Securities; and

 

—

any other terms of the Debt Securities (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of the Indenture).

A “Holder” means the person in whose name a particular Security is registered in the Security Register (Section 1.01).

Payment and Transfer

In the prospectus supplement relating to a series of Debt Securities, we will designate a “Place of Payment” where you can receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities or transfer such Debt Securities. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but we may require you to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities.

All funds which we pay to any paying agent for the payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, with respect to the Debt Securities that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holders of such Debt Securities will thereafter look only to us for payment thereof.

 

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Denominations

Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the Debt Securities will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 each, or multiples of $1,000.

Original Issue Discount

Debt Securities may be issued under the Indenture as Original Issue Discount Securities and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If a Debt Security is an “Original Issue Discount Security,” that means that an amount less than the principal amount of the Debt Security will be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Debt Security pursuant to the Indenture (Section 1.01). The prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and other special factors which should be considered prior to purchasing any Original Issue Discount Securities.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets

The Indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger between us and another company. It also permits the sale or transfer by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets and the purchase by us of all or substantially all of the property and assets of another company. These transactions are permitted if:

 

—

the resulting or acquiring company (if other than us) is a U.S. corporation, partnership or trust which assumes, or has its parent company assume, all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the Indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the Debt Securities and performance of the covenants in the Indenture; and

 

—

immediately after the transaction, no Event of Default exists.

If we consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation or sell all or substantially all of our assets according to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the resulting or acquiring corporation will be substituted for us in the Indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the Indenture. As a result, the successor corporation may exercise our rights and powers under the Indenture, in our name or in its own name and we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the Indenture and under the Debt Securities (Sections 11.01(a) and (b)).

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The following discussion of satisfaction and discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to a series of Debt Securities only if we choose to have them apply to that series. If we do so choose, we will state that in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Satisfaction and Discharge.    The Indenture will be satisfied and discharged if:

 

—

we deliver to the Trustee all Debt Securities then outstanding for cancellation; or

 

—

all Debt Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, are to become due and payable within one year upon their stated maturity or are to be called for redemption within one year and we deposit an amount sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of maturity or redemption as applicable, or deposit (in the case of Debt Securities that have become due and payable), provided that in either case we have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture.

 

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Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.    The Indenture provides, if such provision is made applicable to the Debt Securities of a series, that:

 

—

we may elect either:

 

—

to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to any Debt Security of such series (except for the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such Debt Security, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the Debt Securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) (“defeasance”); or

 

—

to be released from our obligations with respect to certain restrictive covenants that may be applicable for a particular series; and

 

—

that the Events of Default described in the third, fourth (only with respect to those restrictive covenants that no longer apply), fifth and seventh bullets under “Events of Default,” shall not be Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money and/or certain U.S. government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Debt Security, on the scheduled due dates.

In the case of defeasance, the holders of such Debt Securities are entitled to receive payments in respect of such Debt Securities solely from such trust. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the Indenture) to the effect that the holders of the Debt Securities affected thereby will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance described above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the Indenture.

Modification and Waiver

Under the Indenture, certain of our rights and obligations and certain of the rights of Holders of the Debt Securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series of Debt Securities affected by the modification or amendment. The following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any Holder of any outstanding Debt Security affected thereby without its consent:

 

—

a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest;

 

—

a reduction in the principal amount, in the rate of interest or in any premium payable upon redemption;

 

—

a reduction in the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of a Debt Security pursuant to the Indenture;

 

—

a change in the Place of Payment or currency in which any payment on the Debt Securities is payable;

 

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—

an impairment of a Holder’s right to sue us for the enforcement of certain payments due on the Debt Securities;

 

—

a reduction in the percentage of outstanding Debt Securities required to consent to a modification, waiver or amendment of the Indenture; and

 

—

a modification of any of the foregoing requirements or a reduction in the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities required to waive compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or to waive certain defaults under the Indenture (Section 10.02).

Events of Default

The term “Event of Default” when used in the Indenture with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means any of the following:

 

—

failure to pay interest (including defaulted interest, if any) on any Debt Security of that series when due, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

—

failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due;

 

—

failure to make any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Debt Security of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 60 days;

 

—

default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in the Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty, a default in the performance or breach of which is elsewhere specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Debt Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 calendar days after there has been given and actually received by the Company a Notice of Default with respect to such default or breach;

 

—

any nonpayment at maturity or other default is made under any agreement or instrument relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company (the unpaid principal amount of which is not less than the greater of $50 million or 10% of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity of the Company), and, in any such case, such default (A) continues beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, (B) results in such Indebtedness being accelerated or declared due and payable (or, in the case of nonpayment, occurs at the final maturity of such Indebtedness), and (C) such Indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration or declaration has not been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 30 days after actual receipt by the Company of a Notice of Default from the Trustee or the required Holders of such series; provided, however, that if any such nonpayment or other default shall be cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then the Event of Default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred;

 

—

certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or

 

—

any other Event of Default that may be specified for the Debt Securities of that series when that series is created (Section 8.01(a)).

If an Event of Default (other than the Event of Default referred to in the sixth bullet above) for any series of Debt Securities occurs and continues, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series can, subject to certain conditions, rescind the declaration. Upon the occurrence of the Event of Default referred to in the sixth bullet above the

 

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entire principal of, and interest and premium (if any) on, all the Debt Securities of each series shall be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder (Section 8.01(b) and (c)).

The prospectus supplement relating to each series of Debt Securities that are Original Issue Discount Securities will describe the particular provisions that relate to the acceleration of maturity of a portion of the principal amount of such series when an Event of Default occurs and continues.

An Event of Default for a particular series of Debt Securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of Debt Securities issued under the Indenture. The Indenture requires us to file an Officers’ Certificate with the Trustee each fiscal year that states that certain defaults do not exist under the terms of the Indenture (Section 6.05).

Other than its duties in the case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders, unless the Holders offer the Trustee indemnification satisfactory to it (Section 9.02(e)). If such indemnification is provided, then, subject to certain other rights of the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series may, with respect to the Debt Securities of that series, direct the time, method and place of:

 

—

conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee; or

 

—

exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee (Section 8.06).

The Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any other remedy under the Indenture (including the appointment of a receiver or trustee), only if:

 

—

the Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series;

 

—

the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered satisfactory indemnification to, the Trustee to begin such proceeding;

 

—

the Holders have offered the Trustee indemnification to the Trustee’s satisfaction with respect to compliance with the request;

 

—

the Trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and

 

—

the Trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series during those 60 days (Section 8.04).

However, the Holder of any Debt Security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Security when due and to institute suit to enforce such payment (Section 8.09).

“Street Name” and Other Indirect Holders

Investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers generally will not be recognized by us as legal Holders of Debt Securities. This is called holding in “Street Name.” Instead, we would recognize only the bank or broker, or the financial institution that the bank or broker uses to hold its securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along principal, interest and other payments on the Debt

 

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Securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to. If you hold Debt Securities in “Street Name,” you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

—

How it handles payments and notices;

 

—

Whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

—

How it would handle voting if applicable;

 

—

Whether and how you can instruct it to send you Debt Securities registered in your own name so you can be a direct Holder as described below; and

 

—

If applicable, how it would pursue rights under your Debt Securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for Holders to act to protect their interests.

Direct Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the Trustee under the Indenture and those of any third parties employed by us or the Trustee under the Indenture, run only to persons who are registered as Holders of Debt Securities issued under the Indenture. As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold in “Street Name” or other indirect means, either because you choose to hold Debt Securities in that manner or because the Debt Securities are issued in the form of global securities as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered Holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that Holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a “Street Name” customer but does not do so.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream Banking S.A., or “Clearstream,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “Euroclear,” and the book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Debt Securities will be issued as fully-registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global securities through either DTC (in the United States) or (in Europe) through Clearstream or through Euroclear. Investors may hold their interests in the global securities directly if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Interests held through Clearstream and Euroclear will be recorded on DTC’s books as being held by the U.S. depositary for each of Clearstream and Euroclear (the “U.S. Depositories”), which U.S. Depositories will, in turn, hold interests on behalf of their participants’ customers’ securities accounts. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $100,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.

Debt Securities represented by a global security can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:

 

—

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security;

 

—

at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act;

 

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—

we in our sole discretion determine that that global security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form and notify the trustee of our decision;

 

—

an event of default with respect to the Debt Securities represented by that global security has occurred and is continuing; or

 

—

other circumstances exist under which such an exchange is to be permitted as established in accordance with the indenture in connection with issuing Debt Securities.

A global security that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global security as directed by DTC.

We will make principal and interest payments on all Debt Securities represented by a global security to the paying agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the Debt Securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the Indenture. Accordingly, we, the trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for:

 

—

any aspect of DTC’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a Debt Security represented by a global security;

 

—

any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between those participants and the owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those participants; or

 

—

the maintenance, supervision or review of any of DTC’s records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

DTC has advised us that its current practice is to credit participants’ accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on DTC’s records, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The underwriters or agents for the Debt Securities represented by a global security will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in “Street Name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants. Book-entry notes may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical note.

DTC

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the Debt Securities represented by that global security for all purposes of the Debt Securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the Debt Securities will not be entitled to have Debt Securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Debt Securities in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of Debt Securities under the Indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of Debt Securities. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their Debt Securities since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owner’s account.

 

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We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the Indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global security. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Debt Securities will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.

DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York banking law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act.

DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly, also have access to DTC’s book-entry system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

DTC has advised us that the above information with respect to DTC has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

Clearstream

Clearstream has advised us that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, or “Clearstream Participants,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Clearstream’s U.S. Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream.

 

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Euroclear

Euroclear has advised us that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or “Euroclear Participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the “Euroclear Operator,” under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. As such it is regulated by the Belgian Banking, Finance and Insurance Commission (La Commission Bancaire, Financiere et des Assurances) and the National Bank of Belgium (Banque Nationale de Belgique).

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, which we will refer to herein as the “Terms and Conditions.” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to Debt Securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.

Euroclear has further advised us that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the Debt Securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.

What is a Global Security?

A global security is a special type of indirectly held Debt Security as described above under “—‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders.” If we choose to issue Debt Securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only hold the Debt Securities in “Street Name.” We would do this by requiring that the global security be registered in the name of a financial institution we select and by requiring that the Debt Securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct Holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct Holder of the global security is called the “depositary.” Any person wishing to own a Debt Security issued in the form of a global security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate whether a series of Debt Securities will be issued only in the form of global securities and, if so, will describe the specific terms of the arrangement with the depositary.

 

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Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of Debt Securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

An investor should be aware that if a series of Debt Securities are issued only in the form of global securities:

 

—

The investor cannot get Debt Securities of that series registered in his or her own name;

 

—

The investor cannot receive physical certificates for his or her interest in the Debt Securities of that series;

 

—

The investor will be a “Street Name” holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the Debt Securities of that series and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the Debt Securities of that series, as described under “ ‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders”;

 

—

The investor may not be able to sell interests in the Debt Securities of that series to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in the form of physical certificates; and

 

—

The depositary’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in the global security. We and the Trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. We and the Trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way.

Special Situations When The Global Security Will be Terminated

In a few special situations, a global security will terminate, and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing Debt Securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold Debt Securities directly or in “Street Name” will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have their interests in Debt Securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct Holders. The rights of “Street Name” investors and direct Holders in Debt Securities have been previously described in subsections entitled “—‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders” and “—Direct Holders.”

The special situations for termination of a global security are:

 

—

When the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary, and we do not appoint a successor depositary;

 

—

When an Event of Default on the series of Debt Securities has occurred and has not been cured; and

 

—

At any time if we decide to terminate a global security.

The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of Debt Securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, only the depositary is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct Holders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants, purchase contracts, or units that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell any combination of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus through agents, through underwriters or dealers or directly to one or more purchasers, or through a combination of these methods.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If a material arrangement with any underwriter, broker, dealer or agent is entered into for the sale of the offered securities, a prospectus supplement will be filed, if necessary, under the Securities Act disclosing the material terms and conditions of such arrangement. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation (including underwriting discount) will be described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also describe other terms of the offering, including any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be listed.

The distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may occur from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

If the prospectus supplement indicates, we will authorize dealers or our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase offered securities from us pursuant to contracts that provide for payment and delivery on a future date. We must approve all institutions, but they may include, among others:

 

—

commercial and savings banks;

 

—

insurance companies;

 

—

pension funds;

 

—

investment companies; and

 

—

educational and charitable institutions.

An institutional purchaser’s obligations under any contract to purchase our securities will only be subject to the condition that the purchase of the offered securities at the time of delivery is allowed by the laws that govern the purchaser. The dealers and our agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make as a result of those certain civil liabilities.

When we issue the securities offered by this prospectus, they may be new securities without an established trading market. If we sell a security offered by this prospectus to an underwriter for public offering and sale, the underwriter may make a market for that security, but the underwriter will not be obligated to do so and could discontinue any market making without notice at any time. Therefore, we cannot give any assurances to you concerning the liquidity of any security offered by this prospectus.

 

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Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the securities described in this prospectus has been passed upon by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, 1400 KeyBank Center, 800 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of RPM International Inc. incorporated by reference in RPM International Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended May 31, 2010 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of RPM International Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of May 31, 2010 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control as of May 31, 2010 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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RPM International Inc.

$200,000,000

% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020

 

 

PRELIMINARY    PROSPECTUS    SUPPLEMENT

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Wells Fargo Securities

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

 

December     , 2013