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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 14, 2024

 

HILLENBRAND, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

  

Indiana   1-33794   26-1342272
(State of Incorporation)  

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

One Batesville Boulevard    
Batesville, Indiana   47006
(Address of Principal Executive Office)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (812) 931-5000

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, without par value   HI   New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by the check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

  

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On February 14, 2024, Hillenbrand, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), completed its previously announced underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”). The Notes were offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus, dated February 7, 2024, forming a part of the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333- 276917), and a prospectus supplement, dated February 7, 2024. The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated July 9, 2010 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 11, dated February 14, 2024, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the Trustee (the “Eleventh Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture and the forms of the Notes provide, among other things, that the Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company.

 

Interest is payable on the Notes on February 15 and August 15 of each year beginning on August 15, 2024, until their maturity date of February 15, 2029.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, prior to February 15, 2026, at its option at the “make-whole” redemption price, as described in the Indenture. The Company may also redeem the Notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or after February 15 of the relevant year listed as follows:

 

·2026 at a redemption price of 103.1250%;

 

·2027 at a redemption price of 101.5625%; and

 

·2028 and thereafter at a redemption price of 100.000%.

 

At any time prior to February 15, 2026, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (as defined in the Indenture) at a redemption price of 106.2500% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed. In each of the above cases, the Company will also pay any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date.

 

Subject to certain limitations, in the event of a change of control repurchase event, the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.

 

The Company’s payment obligations under the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of its subsidiaries that guarantees the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2022, subsequently amended on June 21, 2023 and July 14, 2023, by and among the Company and certain of its affiliates, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended. The Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Indenture also contains certain limitations on the Company’s ability to incur liens or enter into sale leaseback transactions, as well as customary events of default.

 

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repay borrowings under its multi-currency revolving credit facility, without a reduction in commitment, and may use any remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes, including repayment of other indebtedness.

 

 

 

 

A copy of the Base Indenture is referenced as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, a copy of the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture is attached as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and a copy of the form of Notes is attached as Exhibit 4.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and each of the foregoing is incorporated by reference herein. The above description of the material terms of the Base Indenture, the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Exhibits.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Notes and the Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03, insofar as it relates to the creation of a direct financial obligation.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
4.1  Indenture, dated as of July 9, 2010, by and between the Company and the Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Form S-3 filed July 6, 2010)
    
4.2  Supplemental Indenture No. 11, dated as of February 14, 2024, by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the Trustee
    
4.3  Form of the Company’s 6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029 (included in Exhibit 4.2)
    
5.1  Opinion of Ice Miller LLP
    
5.2  Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
    
23.1  Consent of Ice Miller (included in Exhibit 5.1)
    
23.2  Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)
    
104  Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL)

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: February 14, 2024 HILLENBRAND, INC.
     
     
  By: /s/ Nicholas R. Farrell
  Name: Nicholas R. Farrell
  Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2 

 

HILLENBRAND, INC.,

 

AS ISSUER,

 

THE GUARANTORS (AS DEFINED HEREIN)

 

and

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE No. 11

 

Dated as of February 14, 2024

 

to

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 9, 2010

 

among

 

HILLENBRAND, INC.,

 

AS ISSUER

 

and

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

$500,000,000

 

6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029

 

 

 

   

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page
   
   
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
   
SECTION 1.1 Definitions 1
SECTION 1.2 Incorporation by Reference of TIA 6
SECTION 1.3 Rules of Construction 6
   
ARTICLE II THE NOTES 6
   
SECTION 2.1 Creation of Series of Securities 6
SECTION 2.2 Terms of the Notes 7
SECTION 2.3 Transfer and Exchange 8
SECTION 2.4 Application of Supplemental Indenture 8
SECTION 2.5 Effect of Supplemental Indenture 8
   
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS 8
   
SECTION 3.1 Optional Redemption 8
SECTION 3.2 Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event 10
   
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS 11
   
SECTION 4.1 Limitation on Secured Debt 11
SECTION 4.2 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions 11
SECTION 4.3 Reports 12
SECTION 4.4 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees 12
   
ARTICLE V DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 12
   
SECTION 5.1 Events of Default 12
SECTION 5.2 Remedies 13
   
ARTICLE VI SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 14
   
SECTION 6.1 Without Consent of Holders 14
   
ARTICLE VII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 15
   
SECTION 7.1 Amendment to Base Indenture 15
   
ARTICLE VIII GUARANTEES 15
   
SECTION 8.1 Guarantees 15
SECTION 8.2 Subrogation 16
SECTION 8.3 Release of Guarantees 16
SECTION 8.4 Limitation and Effectiveness of Guarantees 16
SECTION 8.5 Notation not Required 16

 

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ARTICLE IX METHODS OF RECEIVING PAYMENTS ON THE NOTES 17
   
SECTION 9.1 Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes 17
   
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 17
   
SECTION 10.1 Term Defined 17
SECTION 10.2 Indenture 17
SECTION 10.3 Governing Law 17
SECTION 10.4 Successors 17
SECTION 10.5 Multiple Counterparts 17
SECTION 10.6 Effectiveness 17
SECTION 10.7 Trustee Disclaimer 17

 

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ELEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of February 14, 2024, by and among Hillenbrand, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to the hereafter defined Base Indenture.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of July 9, 2010 (the “Base Indenture” and, as amended and supplemented from time to time, together with this Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of Securities to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Base Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, Article 9 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the designation, form, terms and conditions of Securities as permitted by Article 9 of the Base Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof the Company desires to establish a new series of Securities, to be designated as the Company’s 6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) pursuant to the Indenture, which Notes shall be senior unsecured obligations of the Company in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Sections 903 of the Base Indenture to the effect that the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted under the Base Indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for in the Base Indenture to the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture to be complied with by the Company have been complied with;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 901 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of any Holders of the Notes; and

 

WHEREAS, all the conditions and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal instrument in accordance with its terms have been performed and fulfilled by the parties hereto and the execution and delivery thereof have been in all respects duly authorized by the parties hereto.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, each party agrees, for the benefit of the others and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.1 Definitions. For the purpose of this Supplemental Indenture, all capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture.

 

Attributable Debt” means, with regard to a sale and leaseback arrangement of a Principal Property, the present value of the total net amount of rent payments to be made under the lease during its remaining term (excluding permitted extensions), discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease, compounded semi-annually. The calculation of the present value of the total net amount of rent payments is subject to adjustments to be specified in the indenture.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the Issue Date of the Notes:

 

(1)   the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(2)   the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the Company’s Voting Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock;

  

(3)   the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes, or is converted into or exchanged for, Voting Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or

 

(4)   the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution.

 

Notwithstanding clauses (1) through (4) above, the transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(i) the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction hold at least a majority of such holding company’s Voting Stock immediately following such transaction and (ii) immediately following such transaction no “person” or “group” (as defined in clause (1) above), other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence, is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses or any provision of the Exchange Act, a “person” or “group” (as defined in clause (1) above) shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting, support, option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Voting Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

 

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2.

 

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

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and, thereafter, means the successor thereto.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity date comparable to the remaining term of the Notes (as measured from the date of redemption and assuming for this purpose that the Notes matured on February 15, 2026) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

 

Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding any indebtedness for money borrowed having a maturity of less than 12 months from the date of the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet but which by its terms is renewable or extendable beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and any other like intangibles, all as set forth on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

 

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Credit Agreement” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2022, by and among the Company and certain of its affiliates, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, amended and restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time.

 

Equity Offering” means any public sale or private issuance by the Company of its common stock, or options, warrants or rights with respect to its common stock, other than (i) public offerings with respect to the Company’s common stock, or options, warrants or rights, registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 and (ii) any issuance by the Company of its common stock to any Subsidiary.

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Funded Debt” means debt that is not junior in right of payment to the debt securities and that matures at or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than 12 months after the date of the creation of such debt.

 

Global Notes” means the Notes in global form and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee that are in the form of Exhibit A.

 

Guarantor” means each Subsidiary that provides a guarantee of the Notes.

 

Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to the payment of interest on the Notes, February 15 and August 15 of each year.

 

Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB-or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company under the circumstances permitting the Company to select a replacement agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”

 

Issue Date” means February 14, 2024.

 

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

 

Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)   Liens on any Principal Property (including capital stock of any Subsidiary owning such Principal Property) acquired, constructed, improved, altered, expanded or repaired by the Company or any Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture which liens are created or assumed contemporaneously with such acquisition, construction, improvement, alteration, expansion or repair, or within 270 days before or after such acquisition (including, without limitation, acquisition through merger or consolidation), construction, improvement, alteration, expansion or repair (or the completion of such construction, alteration, improvement or repair or commencement of commercial operation of such Principal Property, whichever is later), and which are created to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the cost of such acquisition, construction, improvement, alteration, expansion or repair;

 

(2)   Liens on property, assets or shares of capital stock existing at the time of the acquisition of such property, assets or shares of capital stock, including liens on property, assets or shares of capital stock of an entity existing at the time such entity becomes a Subsidiary;

 

(3)   Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(4)   Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

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(5)   Liens in favor of the United States of America or any State, or in favor of any department, agency or instrumentality or political division, or in favor of any other country, or any political subdivision of a foreign country, the purpose of which is to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments, or other obligations, pursuant to any contract or statute, or to secure debts incurred in financing the acquisition or construction of or improvements or alterations to property subject thereto;

 

(6)   Liens imposed by law, for example mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, or other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(7)   pledges or deposits under workmen’s compensation or similar legislation or in certain other circumstances;

 

(8)   Liens in connection with legal proceedings;

 

(9)   Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging the Company’s indebtedness or the indebtedness of any Subsidiary, and legal or equitable encumbrances deemed to exist by reason of negative pledges;

 

(10) Liens for contested taxes or assessments provided, that an adequate reserve as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

 

(11) Liens consisting of restrictions on the use of real property that do not interfere materially with the property’s use; or

 

(12) Liens securing indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary owing to the Company or any other Subsidiary.

 

Principal Property” means any manufacturing plant located within the United States of America (other than its territories or possessions) and owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, the gross book value (without deduction of any depreciation reserves) of which on the date as of which the determination is being made exceeds 2% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, except any such plant which is not of material importance to the business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (as determined by any two of the following: the Chairman or a Vice Chairman of the Board of the Company, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Vice President of Finance, its Treasurer or its Controller).

 

Prospectus Supplement” means the final prospectus supplement dated February 7, 2024 relating to the offering of the Notes.

 

Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s and S&P; provided, that if any of Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to issuers or investors, the Company may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act as a replacement for such Rating Agency; provided, that the Company shall give notice of such appointment to the Trustee.

 

Ratings Eventmeans the Notes are downgraded and are not rated Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing on the earlier of (i) the occurrence of the Change of Control and (ii) the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as any Rating Agency has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change), provided that no such extension shall occur if on such 60th day the Notes have an Investment Grade rating from at least one Rating Agency and are not subject to review for possible downgrade by such Rating Agency, and provided further, that a Ratings Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Company that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Ratings Event). If a Rating Agency is not providing a rating for the Notes during any period, the Notes will be deemed to have ceased to be rated Investment Grade by such Rating Agency during such period.

 

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Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, their respective successors and assigns and one other nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer specified from time to time by the Company, except that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company may designate as a substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

On and after any redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption. Prior to any redemption date, the Company is required to deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, the Notes to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all the Notes, the Trustee under the Indenture must select the Notes to be redeemed by lot.

 

Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any Note, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest thereon that would be due if such Notes were redeemed on February 15, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the related redemption date).

 

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

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w)(1) or (2) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date of issuance of the Notes.

 

Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Note or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Note as the fixed date on which the principal amount of such Note or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified person:

 

(1)            any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person (or a combination thereof);

 

(2)            any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such person or a Subsidiary of such person or (b) the only general partners of which are that person or one or more Subsidiaries of that person (or any combination thereof); or

 

(3)            any limited liability company (a) the manager or managing member of which is such person or a Subsidiary of such person or (b) the only members of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that person (or any combination thereof).

 

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Unless the context otherwise requires, “Subsidiary” as used herein shall mean a Subsidiary of the Company.

  

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the second business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

 

Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and, thereafter, means the successor.

 

Voting Stock” of any person as of any date means the capital stock of that person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such person.

 

SECTION 1.2 Incorporation by Reference of TIA. This Supplemental Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). Whenever this Supplemental Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Supplemental Indenture.

 

All other terms used in this Supplemental Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by the Commission rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them therein.

 

SECTION 1.3 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires, for purposes of this Supplemental Indenture:

 

(1)            a term has the meaning assigned to it herein;

 

(2)            an accounting term not otherwise defined herein has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP or a successor to GAAP;

 

(3)            “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4)            words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(5)            unless otherwise specified, any reference to a Section or an Article refers to such Section or Article of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(6)            provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(7)            “will” and “shall” shall be interpreted to express a command; and

 

(8)            references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the TIA shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.1 Creation of Series of Securities. Pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture, there are hereby created one new series of Securities designated as the “6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029” in an unlimited aggregate principal amount. On the Issue Date, the Company will issue $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

 

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SECTION 2.2 Terms of the Notes.

 

(a)            Form and Dating. Pursuant to Section 201 of the Base Indenture, the Notes shall be substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. The terms and provisions contained in the form of the Notes annexed hereto as Exhibit A, shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture. The Company shall be entitled to issue, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, additional Notes (in any such case, “Additional Notes”) under this Supplemental Indenture, provided that any such Additional Notes that are not fungible with the Initial Notes (as defined below) for United States federal income tax purposes will be issued with a different CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number than the CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number issued to the Initial Notes. Any Additional Notes issued shall have identical terms and conditions as the Initial Notes, other than with respect to the issue price, the date of issuance, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such Additional Notes and the first Interest Payment Date following the issue date of such Additional Notes. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date will be represented initially by one or more Global Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., as a nominee of the Depository, The Depository Trust Company. The Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(b)            Terms of the Notes.

 

(1) Principal Amounts. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “Initial Notes”) that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture on the Issue Date shall be $500,000,000. Any Additional Notes and the Initial Notes shall constitute a single series under the Indenture and will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. All references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes, unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate principal amount of the Additional Notes shall be unlimited.

 

(2) Maturity Date. The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on February 15, 2029.

 

(3) Interest Rate. The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 6.2500% per annum; the date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be the Issue Date, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning August 15, 2024; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the February 1 or August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

(4) Currency. The currency of denomination of the Notes is United States Dollars. Payment of principal of and interest and premium on, if any, the Notes shall be made in United States Dollars.

 

(c)         Additional Notes.      With respect to any Additional Notes, in addition to any other requirements set forth in the Base Indenture, the Company shall set forth in a Board Resolution or in a supplemental indenture or in an officer’s certificate, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(2) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number issued to such Additional Notes; and

 

(3) whether such Additional Notes will be issued as Global Notes or as Certificated Notes and whether and to what extent the Additional Notes will contain additional legends.

 

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SECTION 2.3 Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)            A Holder of the Notes may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder of the Notes, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Notes. Holders of the Notes may be required to pay all taxes or other governmental charge due on transfer. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 2.4 Application of Supplemental Indenture. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, all provisions of this Supplemental Indenture are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and any such provisions shall not be deemed to apply to any other securities issued under the Base Indenture and shall not be deemed to amend, modify or supplement the Base Indenture for any purpose other than with respect to the Notes. Unless otherwise expressly specified, references in this Supplemental Indenture to specific Article numbers or Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections contained in this Supplemental Indenture as they amend or supplement the Base Indenture, and not the Base Indenture or any other document. All Initial Notes and Additional Notes, if any, will be treated as a single series for all purposes of the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

SECTION 2.5 Effect of Supplemental Indenture. With respect to the Notes (and only with respect to the Notes), the Base Indenture shall be supplemented pursuant to Section 901 thereof to establish the terms of the Notes as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, including, without limitation, as follows:

 

(a)            The definition of each term set forth in Section 101 of the Base Indenture is with respect to the Notes (and only with respect to the Notes) deleted and replaced in its entirety by the definition ascribed to such term in Article I of this Supplemental Indenture to the extent any such term is defined in both the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(b)            To the extent that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture conflict with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling, with respect to the Notes (and only with respect to the Notes).

 

(c)            Except as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of the Base Indenture shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the Notes.

 

ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

SECTION 3.1 Optional Redemption of the Notes.

 

(a)            Prior to February 15, 2026, the Company may redeem the Notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at its option, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the redemption price of such Notes on February 15, 2026 and all required payments of interest on such Notes through February 15, 2026, discounted to the date of redemption (excluding interest accrued to the redemption date), on a semi-annual basis, at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes being redeemed to, but not including, the redemption date. Any notice of redemption may be subject to one or more conditions precedent.

 

(b)            On or after February 15, 2026, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, at its option, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on February 15 of the years set forth below:

 

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Period   Redemption
Price
 
2026    103.1250%
2027    101.5625%
2028 and thereafter     100.0000%

 

(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time prior to February 15, 2026, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 106.2500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 120 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each holder of the Notes being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

(d)            If an optional redemption date is on or after a Regular Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. In determining the redemption price and accrued interest, interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions of the Notes called for redemption and those Notes will cease to be outstanding.

 

(e)            The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments, the Treasury Rate or any aspect of such calculations.

 

(f)            If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Notes for redemption in compliance with the requirements of the Depository, or if the Notes are not held through a Depository or the Depository prescribes no method of selection, by lot, in accordance with the Depository’s customary procedures, subject to adjustments so that no Note in an unauthorized denomination remains outstanding after such redemption or purchase; provided, however, that no Note of $2,000 in aggregate principal amount of less shall be redeemed in part.

 

(g)            Notices of optional redemption will be sent by electronic submission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or first class mail at least 10 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 4 of the Base Indenture.

 

(h)            If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion of the principal amount of that Notes that is to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note will be issued in the name of the Holder of the Note upon cancellation of the original Note if such Notes are held in physical form.

 

(i)            The Company and its affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market, by tender offer, negotiated transactions or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 3.2 Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event.

 

(a)            If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company at such time has given notice of redemption under Section 3.1 with respect to all outstanding Notes and all conditions to such redemption have either been satisfied or waived, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.2 (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).

 

(b)            Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, or at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, unless the Company at such time has given notice of redemption under Sections 3.1 with respect to all outstanding Notes, the Company shall send a notice to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), which date will be no earlier than 10 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent, other than as may be required by law, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice. If a Change of Control Payment Date is on or after a Regular Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. The notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3.2 by virtue of such compliance.

 

(c)            On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)            accept or cause a third party to accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)            deposit or cause a third party to deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn; and

 

(3)            deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an officer’s certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or portions of Notes being repurchased by the Company and that all conditions precedent to the Change of Control Offer and to the repurchase by the Company of Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer have been complied with.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(d)            The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer with respect to the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer with respect to such Notes in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all the Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to the Indenture with respect to the Notes under Section 3.1, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.2, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control Triggering Event (whether or not a Ratings Event has occurred), if a definitive agreement is in place for a Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

 

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(e)            No Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COVENANTS

 

This Article IV shall replace and supersede in its entirety Sections 1004 through 1010 of Article 10 of the Base Indenture.

 

SECTION 4.1 Limitation on Secured Debt.

 

(a)            The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur or assume any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) that secures any Debt on any Principal Property of the Company or any Subsidiary, or on capital stock of any Subsidiary that owns a Principal Property (“secured debt”), without securing the Notes (together with, at the option of the Company, any other Debt of the Company or such Subsidiary ranking equally in right of payment with the Notes) equally and ratably with or, at the option of the Company, prior to, such other Debt for so long as such other Debt is so secured. Any Lien that is granted to secure the Notes under this Section 4.1 shall be automatically released and discharged at the same time as the release of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes under this Section 4.1.

 

(b)            The restrictions set forth in Section 4.1(a) do not apply to extensions, renewals or replacements, in whole or in part, of any secured debt (and for the avoidance of doubt, any successive extensions, renewals or replacements of such secured debt), so long as the principal amount of secured debt shall not exceed the amount of secured debt existing at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement (plus an amount equal to any premiums, accrued interest, fees, expenses or other costs payable in connection therewith).

 

(c)            The Company or any Subsidiary may incur or otherwise create secured debt without equally and ratably securing the Notes if, when such secured debt is incurred or created, the total amount of all outstanding secured debt (excluding Debt secured by Permitted Liens) plus Attributable Debt relating to sale and leaseback transactions entered into pursuant to Section 4.2(c)(1) does not exceed 15% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

SECTION 4.2 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

(a)            The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving any Principal Property, unless within 270 days, the Company applies (1) to the purchase, construction, development, expansion or improvement of other property or equipment used or useful in the Company’s business or (2) to the retirement of the Company’s Funded Debt an amount not less than the greater of:

 

(1)            the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property sold and leased back pursuant to the arrangement; and

 

(2)            the amount of Attributable Debt associated with the Principal Property sold and leased back.

 

(b)            The amount required to be applied to the retirement of Funded Debt in satisfaction of clause (2) of the preceding paragraph shall be reduced by (1) the principal amount of any debt securities delivered within 120 days after the sale and leaseback transaction to the Trustee for retirement and cancellation, and (2) the principal amount of Funded Debt, other than debt securities, voluntarily retired by the Company within 120 days after the sale and leaseback transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no retirement of Funded Debt may be effected by payment at maturity or pursuant to any mandatory prepayment provision.

 

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(c)            The limitations contained in Section 4.2(a) shall not apply to the following:

 

(1)            a sale and leaseback transaction if the Company or a Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Debt secured by a lien on the Principal Property to be leased, without equally and ratably securing the Notes, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such sale and leaseback transaction;

 

(2)            leases for a term of not more than three years;

 

(3)            a sale and leaseback transaction between the Company and a Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries; or

 

(4)            if, at the time of the sale and leaseback transaction, after giving effect to the transaction the total Attributable Debt of all sale and leaseback transactions entered into pursuant to Section 4.2(c)(1), plus all outstanding secured debt (excluding Debt secured by Permitted Liens) does not exceed 15% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

SECTION 4.3 Reports.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders of the Notes such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the TIA at the times and in the manner provided in the TIA provided that, unless available on the SEC’s EDGAR reporting system, any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the SEC. The Trustee is not responsible for the review or dissemination of such information, documents, other reports and the related summaries provided hereunder.

 

SECTION 4.4 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

The Company shall cause any Subsidiary that hereafter becomes a guarantor under the Credit Agreement to, within 30 days of the date such Subsidiary becomes a guarantor under the Credit Agreement, to guarantee, on a joint and several basis with the Guarantors, the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture with respect to the Notes and to execute a supplemental indenture containing substantially the terms set forth in Article VIII of this Supplemental Indenture evidencing such guarantee.  The Company’s obligations to cause the issuance of the guarantees hereunder shall only apply with respect to any specific Subsidiary until such time as such Subsidiary has been released from its obligations pursuant to Section 8.3.

 

ARTICLE V

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

This Article V shall replace and supersede in its entirety Article 5 of the Base Indenture with the exception of Sections 501(f), 501(g) and 502 of the Base Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.1 Events of Default.

 

(a)            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 the continuance of such default for 30 days;

 

(2)            default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes when due and payable;

 

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(3)            default for 60 days after written notice specifying the default from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any other agreement in the Indenture not specified above;

 

(4)            an event of default under any indenture or instrument under which the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary has outstanding at least $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debt, which results in the acceleration of that Debt where the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within 30 days after notice pursuant to the Indenture has been provided; or

 

(5)            an Event of Default under Section 501(f) or Section 501(g) of the Base Indenture in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary has occurred.

 

(b)            The Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of the Notes of any default, except with respect to the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers such withholding of notice in the interest of such Holders.

 

SECTION 5.2 Remedies.

 

(a)            If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in Section 5.1(a)(5) above with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice in writing specifying the Event of Default to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.

 

(b)            If an Event of Default described in Section 5.1(a)(5) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Company, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders of the Notes.

 

(c)            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 or the Notes at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any costs, liability and expenses, except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, when due.

 

(d)            The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then 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, with respect to such Notes.

 

(e)            No Holder of the Notes 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)            the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)            such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity against any costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

(5)            the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

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(f)            In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall be required, in the exercise of its powers, to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or the Notes or that the Trustee determines in good faith is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to security or indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all costs, liability and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

(g)            The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes rescind any acceleration or waive any existing or past defaults and its consequences under the Indenture, if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived, except that each Holder of the Notes affected by a default must consent to a waiver of:

 

(1)            a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Notes; and

 

(2)            a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of each Holder of the Notes.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 6.1 Without Consent of Holders.

 

(a)            Without the consent of any Holders of the Notes, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may modify or amend the Indenture, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any, but not limited to, of the following purposes:

 

(1)            to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Notes;

 

(2)            to add provisions for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes , or to surrender any right or power in the Indenture conferred upon the Company;

 

(3)            to add any additional Events of Default;

 

(4)            to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;

 

(5)            to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the Indenture which may be inconsistent with any other provision of the Indenture, or to make any other change; in each case, that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect;

 

(6)            to conform the terms of the Indenture or the Notes to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus Supplement;

 

(7)            to provide for the Notes to become secured (or to release such security as permitted by the Indenture and the applicable security documents);

 

(8)            to provide for additional guarantees of the Notes (or to release such guarantees as permitted by the Indenture); or

 

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(9)            to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 7.1 Amendment to Base Indenture.

 

(a)            The third line of Section 403 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended with respect to the Notes to delete “91st day after the”.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

GUARANTEES

 

SECTION 8.1 Guarantees.

 

(a)            Each of the Guarantors hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees (collectively, the “Guarantees”), on a joint and several basis to each Holder of the Notes and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns on behalf of each Holder of the Notes, the full and punctual payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307 of the Base Indenture) interest on, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes (including obligations to the Trustee), in each case, with respect to Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent pursuant to and in accordance with the Indenture when and as the same shall become due and payable, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Obligations”).  Each Guarantor further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from such Guarantor and that such Guarantor will remain bound under this Article VIII notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation.  All payments under each Guarantee will be made as specified in Section 311 of the Base Indenture.

 

(b)           Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety and shall be absolute, full and unconditional, unaffected by, and irrespective of, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of the Notes, the Base Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of the Notes, the Base Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture, any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto by the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee, or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor (except payment in full).  Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require that the Trustee pursue or exhaust its legal or equitable remedies against the Company prior to exercising its rights under a Guarantee (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any right which a Guarantor may have to require the seizure and sale of the assets of the Company to satisfy the outstanding principal of, interest on or any other amount payable under the Notes prior to recourse against such Guarantor or its assets), protest or notice with respect to the Notes or the Debt evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that its Guarantee will not be discharged with respect to the Notes except by payment in full of the principal thereof and interest thereon or as otherwise provided in the Base Indenture or in this Supplemental Indenture, including Section 8.4.  If at any time any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated as of the date of such rescission, restoration or return as though such payment had become due but had not been made at such times.

 

Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article VIII shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes expressed in this Article VIII are cumulative and exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits that either may have under this Article VIII at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

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(c)           Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes in enforcing any rights under this Section 8.1.

 

(d)           Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary to give effect to this Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 8.2 Subrogation.

 

(a)           Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of the Notes against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders of the Notes by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of its Guarantee.

 

(b)           Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders of the Notes in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Obligations.  Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section 502 of the Base Indenture for the purposes of the Guarantees herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Section 502 of the Base Indenture, such Obligations shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 8.2.

 

SECTION 8.3 Release of Guarantees. A Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released, and the Guarantor that granted such Guarantee shall be automatically and unconditionally released from its Obligations:

 

(a)           in the event that all of the capital stock or other equity interests, or all or substantially all of the assets, of such Guarantor are sold or transferred, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, in a transaction in compliance with the terms of the Indenture;

 

(b)           upon defeasance as provided in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture as provided in Article 4 of the Base Indenture;

 

(c)           upon redemption of the Notes as provided in Section 3.1; or

 

(d)           upon release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee of all indebtedness under the Credit Agreement other than a release by or as a result of payment under such Guarantee.

 

SECTION 8.4 Limitation and Effectiveness of Guarantees. Each Guarantee is limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by such Guarantor that gave such Guarantee without rendering such Guarantee, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or the maximum amount otherwise permitted by law.

 

SECTION 8.5 Notation not Required. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 8.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

METHODS OF RECEIVING PAYMENTS ON THE NOTES

 

SECTION 9.1 Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes. With respect to Notes represented by global notes, the Company will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on such Notes in accordance with the procedures of the depositary. If a Holder of Notes has given wire transfer instructions to the Company, the Company will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder’s Notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar unless the Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their address set forth in the register of Holders.

 

ARTICLE X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 10.1 Term Defined. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise defined or unless the context otherwise requires, terms used in capitalized form in this Supplemental Indenture and defined in the Indenture have the meanings specified in the Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.2 Indenture. Except as amended hereby, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 10.3 Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 10.4 Successors. All agreements of the Company and each Guarantor in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors.

 

SECTION 10.5 Multiple Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be signed in any number of counterparts each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.6 Effectiveness. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture will take effect immediately upon its execution and delivery by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 903 of the Base Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.7 Trustee Disclaimer. The Trustee accepts the amendment of the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture and agrees to execute the trust created by the Indenture as hereby amended, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee, which terms and provisions shall in like manner define and limit its liabilities and responsibilities in the performance of the trust created by the Indenture as hereby amended, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company and the Guarantors, or for or with respect to (i) the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (ii) the proper authorization hereof by the Company and each Guarantor by corporate action or otherwise, (iii) the due execution hereof by the Company and each Guarantor, (iv) the consequences (direct or indirect and whether deliberate or inadvertent) of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

HILLENBRAND, INC.
    
By: /s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:  Vice President and Treasurer

 

U.S. Bank TRUST COMPANY,
National Association,
  as Trustee
    
By: /s/ Richard Krupske
   Name: Richard Krupske
   Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature page to the Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

 

 HILLENBRAND FHN HOLDINGS LLC
    
 By:

/s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.

   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:   Vice President and Treasurer
    
    
 HILLENBRAND INDIANA HOLDINGS LLC
    
 By:

/s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.

   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:   Vice President and Treasurer
    
    
 HILLENBRAND LUXEMBOURG, INC.
    
 By:

/s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.

   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:   Treasurer
    
    
 K-TRON INVESTMENT CO.
    
 By:

/s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.

   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:   Vice President and Assistant   Treasurer
  

 

    
 MILACRON LLC
    
 By:

/s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.

   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
  

Title:  Treasurer

 

    
 MILACRON MARKETING COMPANY LLC
    
 By:

/s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.

   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title: Treasurer 

 

 

 

 

 

 MILACRON PLASTICS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP LLC
    
 By: /s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title: Treasurer
    
    
 PROCESS EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC.
    
 By: /s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:  Treasurer
    
    
 SCHENCK PROCESS HOLDING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    
 By: /s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title: Vice President and Treasurer
    
    
 SCHENCK PROCESS LLC
    
 By: /s/ Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
   Title:  Vice President and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to the Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

(Face of Note) 

6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029

 

[Insert Global Note Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

HILLENBRAND, INC. 

6.2500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

No. [·] CUSIP: 431571 AF5
   ISIN: US431571AF58

 

Hillenbrand, Inc., an Indiana corporation, or its successor, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [·] Dollars ($[·]), or such other amount as provided on the “Schedule of Principal Amount” attached as Schedule A hereto, on February 15, 2029.

 

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2024.

 

Regular Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

 

Reference is made to further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

 

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In WITNESS HEREOF, the undersigned has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

  Dated:
   
  HILLENBRAND, INC.
     
  By:
    Name: Theodore S. Haddad, Jr.
    Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein 

referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

 Date of Authentication:

 

   
U.S. Bank TRUST COMPANY,
National Association,
 
 as Trustee  
   
By:    
  Authorized Officer  

 

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(Reverse of Note) 

6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029 

HILLENBRAND, INC.

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

(1) Interest. Hillenbrand, Inc., an Indiana corporation, or its successor (together, the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note (the “Notes”) at a fixed rate of 6.2500% per annum. The Company will pay interest in United States dollars semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2024 or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including February 14, 2024; provided that if there is no existing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (but after February 14, 2024), interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date, except in the case of the original issuance of the Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. The interest rate on the Notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law of general application.

 

(2) Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest, if any) on the applicable Interest Payment Date to the Persons who are registered Holders of the Notes at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such Regular Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 301 of the Base Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which, initially, will be the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55107, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided written wire transfer instructions to the Company and the Paying Agent (as described below). Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

Any payments of principal of and interest on this Note prior to Stated Maturity shall be binding upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not noted hereon. The amount due and payable at the maturity of this Note shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of this Note at an office of the Trustee or the Trustee’s agent appointed for such purposes.

 

(3) Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to the Notes, shall act as Paying Agent and registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4) Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an indenture dated as of July 9, 2010 (the “Base Indenture” and, as amended and supplemented from time to time, together with that certain eleventh supplemental indenture, dated as of February 14, 2024, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made a part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). To the extent the provisions of this Note are inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture, the Indenture shall govern. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of the Notes are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms.

 

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The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the present value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments, the Treasury Rate or any aspect of such calculations.

 

(5) Sinking Fund. The Company shall not be required to make sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(6) Optional Redemption.

 

Except as set forth below, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option.

 

(a)            Prior to February 15, 2026, the Notes will be redeemable in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the option of the Company, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the redemption price of such Notes on February 15, 2026 and all required payments of interest on such Notes through February 15, 2026, discounted to the date of redemption (excluding interest accrued to the redemption date), on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30 day months), at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 50 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes being redeemed to, but not including, the redemption date. Any notice of redemption may be subject to one or more conditions precedent.

 

(b)            On or after February 15, 2026, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, at its option, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on February 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period   Redemption Price 
2026    103.1250%
2027    101.5625%
2028 and thereafter     100.0000%

 

(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time prior to February 15, 2024, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 106.2500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 120 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each holder of the Notes being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity date comparable to the remaining term of the Notes (as measured from the date of redemption and assuming for this purpose that the Notes matured on February 15, 2026) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

 

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Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Quotations obtained.

  

Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, their respective successors and assigns and one other nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer specified from time to time by the Company, except that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company may designate as a substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

On and after any redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption. Prior to any redemption date, the Company is required to deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, the Notes to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all the Notes , the Trustee under the indenture must select the Notes to be redeemed by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate in accordance with methods generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances.

 

Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any Note, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest thereon that would be due if such Notes were redeemed on February 15, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the related redemption date).

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the second business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

 

(7) Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in initial denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of the Notes may be registered and the Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

(8) Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(9) Defaults and Remedies.

 

(A)            Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default”:

 

(1)            default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, and the continuance of such default for 30 days;

 

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(2)            default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes when due and payable;

 

(3)            default for 60 days after written notice specifying the default from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any other agreement in the Indenture not specified above;

 

(4)            an event of default under any indenture or instrument under which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary has outstanding at least $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of indebtedness for money borrowed, which results in the acceleration of that indebtedness where the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within 30 days after notice pursuant to the Indenture has been provided; or

 

(5)            an Event of Default under Section 501(f) or Section 501(g) of the Base Indenture in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary has occurred.

 

(B)            The Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of the Notes of any default, except with respect to the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers such withholding of notice in the interest of such Holders.

 

(C)            If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (A)(5) above or Section 5.1(a)(5) of the Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice in writing specifying the Event of Default to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.

 

(D)            If an Event of Default described in clause (A)(5) above or Section 5.1(a)(5) of the Supplemental Indenture occurs and is continuing with respect to the Company, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders of the Notes.

 

(E)            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 or the Notes at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any costs, liability and expenses, except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, when due.

 

(F)            The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then 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, with respect to such Notes.

 

(G)            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)            the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)            such Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liability and expenses to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

(5)            the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

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(H)            In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall be required, in the exercise of its powers, to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or the Notes or that the Trustee determines in good faith is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to security or indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all costs, liability and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

(I)            The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes rescind any acceleration or waive any existing or past defaults and its consequences under the Indenture, if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived, except that each Holder of the Notes affected by a default must consent to a waiver of:

 

(1)            a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Notes; and

 

(2)            a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of each Holder of the Notes .

 

(J)            The Company will furnish to the Trustee annual statements as to the fulfillment of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture.

 

(10) Trustee Dealings with the Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(11) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, stockholder or other affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor, as such or in such capacity, shall have any personal liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the subsidiary guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation, by reason of his, her or its status as such director, officer, employee, stockholder or other affiliate. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting the Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuances of the Notes.

 

No recourse may, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Company or under the Indenture or any related documents, any certificate or other writing delivered in connection therewith, against (i) the Trustee in its individual capacity, or (ii) any partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, director, employee, agent, successor or assign of the Trustee, each in its individual capacity, or (iii) any Holder of equity in the Trustee.

 

(12) Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(13) Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

(14) CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-7

 

 

(15) GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE and each Holder by accepting a Security IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.

 

The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.  

One Batesville Boulevard, Batesville, Indiana 47006 

Attention: Secretary 

Facsimile No.: (812) 931-5209

 

A-8

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

   
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)  
   
   
   
   
   
   
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)  
 
and irrevocably appoint    
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

  

   
Date:  
  Your Signature:
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) 

 

Signature guarantee:

 

(Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guarantee medallion program)

 

A-9

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

 

The following decreases or increases in the principal amount of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Decrease
or Increase
  Amount of
Decrease in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note
  Amount of
Increase in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note
  Principal Amount
of this Global Note
Following Such
Decrease (or
Increase)
  Signature of
Authorized Officer
of Trustee or Note
Custodian
             
             
             
             
             

 

A-10

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

February 14, 2024

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

One Batesville Boulevard

Batesville, IN 47006

 

Re: Offering of 6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have served as special counsel to Hillenbrand, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company"), and Hillenbrand Indiana Holdings LLC, an Indiana limited liability company (the "Indiana Guarantor") in connection with the sale to the several underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) by the Company of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "Notes") and the guarantee of the Notes by certain subsidiaries of the Company, including the Indiana Guarantor (the guarantee by the Indiana Guarantor, the "Guarantee," and together with the Notes, the "Securities"), in each case, pursuant to the terms of that certain Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"), dated as of February 7, 2024, by and among the Company and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of themselves and as the representatives of the several underwriters named on Schedule 1 thereto (collectively, the "Underwriters"). Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company and the Underwriters have engaged the Services of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as "qualified independent underwriter" within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. ("FINRA") Rule 5121 in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. The Securities are being issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of July 9, 2010 (the "Base Indenture" and as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below), the "Indenture"), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by that certain Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated February 14, 2024, by and among the Trustee, the Company, the Indiana Guarantor and the other subsidiary guarantors of the Company party thereto (the "Supplemental Indenture").

 

In connection herewith, we have examined:

 

(1)The automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 File No. 333-276917 (the "Registration Statement") covering the Securities, filed by the Company and the subsidiary guarantor registrants named therein with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on February 7, 2024, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

February 14, 2024

Page 2

 

(2)The Underwriting Agreement;

 

(3)The Indenture;

 

(4)The Notes;

 

(5)The Guarantee;

 

(6)The prospectus dated February 7, 2024 (the "Base Prospectus") as supplemented by the Prospectus dated February 7, 2024 related to the Securities (together, the "Prospectus");

 

(7)The articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and articles of organization and operating agreement of the Indiana Guarantor, as in effect on the date hereof and as certified by the applicable Secretary, Assistant Secretary or other appropriate representative of the Company or the Indiana Guarantor (the "Organizational Documents"); and

 

(8)Certificates of the respective Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries or other appropriate representatives of the Company and the Indiana Guarantor, certifying as to resolutions relating to the transactions referred to herein and the incumbency of officers.

 

The documents referenced as items (1) through (5) above are collectively referred to as the "Transaction Documents." The documents referenced as items (1) through (8) above are collectively referred to as the "Reviewed Documents."

 

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other corporate records, agreements and instruments of the Company and of the Indiana Guarantor, certificates of public officials and officers or other appropriate representatives of the Company and the Indiana Guarantor, and such other documents, records and instruments, and we have made such legal and factual inquiries, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for us to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the Reviewed Documents and the foregoing, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal competence and capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies or by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, or which we obtained from the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR") or other sites maintained by a court or government authority or regulatory body, and the authenticity of the originals or such latter documents. If any document we examined in printed, word processed or similar form has been filed with the Commission on EDGAR or such court or governmental authority or regulatory body, we have assumed that the document so filed is identical to the document we examined except for formatting changes. When relevant facts were not independently established, we have relied without independent investigation as to matters of fact upon statements of governmental officials and upon representations made in or pursuant to certificates and statements of appropriate representatives of the Company and the Indiana Guarantor.

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

February 14, 2024

Page 3

 

In connection herewith, we have assumed that, other than with respect to the Company and the Indiana Guarantor, all of the documents referred to in this opinion have been duly authorized by, have been duly executed and delivered by, and constitute the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of, all of the parties thereto, all of the signatories to such documents have been duly authorized by all such parties and all such parties are duly organized and validly existing and have the power and authority (corporate or other) to execute, deliver and perform such documents.

 

Based upon the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and issued and delivered to the Underwriters in exchange for payment for the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will be validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Indiana Guarantor, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with their terms. 

 

In addition to the assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth above, the opinions set forth herein are further limited by, subject to and based upon the following assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions:

 

(a)            Our opinions set forth herein reflect only the application of applicable Indiana and New York State law (excluding, without limitation, (A) all laws, rules and regulations of cities, counties and other political subdivisions of each such State and (B) the securities, blue sky and criminal laws of such states, as to which we express no opinion) (the jurisdictions referred to in this sentence being sometimes together referred to herein as the "Opinion Jurisdictions"). The opinions set forth herein are made as of the date hereof and are subject to, and may be limited by, future changes in the factual matters set forth herein, and we undertake no duty to advise you of the same. The opinions expressed herein are based upon the law in effect (and published or otherwise generally available) on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement these opinions should such law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise. In rendering our opinion, we have not considered, and hereby disclaim any opinion as to, the application or impact of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Opinion Jurisdictions.

 

(b)            Our opinions contained herein are limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or similar laws affecting or relating to the rights and remedies of creditors generally including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

February 14, 2024

Page 4

 

(c)            Our opinions are further subject to the effect of generally applicable rules of law arising from statutes, judicial and administrative decisions, and the rules and regulations of governmental authorities that: (i) limit or affect the enforcement of provisions of a contract that purport to require waiver of the obligations of good faith, fair dealing, diligence and reasonableness; (ii) limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; (iii) limit the enforceability of provisions releasing, exculpating, or exempting a party from, or requiring indemnification of a party for, liability for its own action or inaction, to the extent the action or inaction involves negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct; (iv) may, where less than all of the contract may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange; and (v) govern and afford judicial discretion regarding the determination of damages and entitlement to attorneys' fees.

 

(d)            We express no opinion as to:

 

(i)            the enforceability of (A) any provision of the Indenture or the Securities (together, the "Operative Documents") purporting or attempting to (1) confer exclusive jurisdiction and/or venue upon certain courts or otherwise waive the defenses of forum non conveniens or improper venue, (2) confer subject matter jurisdiction on a court not having independent grounds therefor, (3) modify or waive the requirements for effective service of process for any action that may be brought, (4) waive the right of the Company, the Indiana Guarantor or any other person to a trial by jury, (5) provide that remedies are cumulative or that decisions by a party are conclusive, (6) modify or waive the rights to notice, legal defenses, statutes of limitations, statutes of repose (including the tolling of the same) or other benefits that cannot be waived under applicable law or (7) provide for or grant a power of attorney, or (B) any provision of the Operative Documents relating to choice of law; 

 

(ii)            the enforceability of (A) any rights to indemnification or contribution provided for in the Operative Documents which are violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or the legality of such rights, (B) any provisions in the Operative Documents purporting to provide to the Trustee or any other person the right to receive costs and expenses beyond those reasonably incurred by it, or (C) provisions in the Operative Documents whose terms are left open for later resolution by the parties; or 

 

(iii)            the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any provision in the Operative Documents that (A) purports to create joint and several liability for affiliated obligors except to the extent that each such affiliated obligor may be determined to have benefited from the incurrence of the obligations by its affiliated obligors or whether such benefit may be measured other than by the extent to which the proceeds of the obligations incurred by its affiliated obligors are, directly or indirectly, made available to such affiliated obligor for its corporate, limited liability company or other analogous purposes or (B) seeks to preserve the solvency of the Indiana Guarantor by purporting to limit the amount of the liability of, and/or to provide rights of contribution in favor of, the Indiana Guarantor.

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

February 14, 2024

Page 5

 

(e)            We express no opinion as to whether a subsidiary may guarantee or otherwise be liable for indebtedness incurred by its parent (direct or indirect) (A) where such guarantee is not bona fide under Indiana law, or (B) to the extent that it has not been determined that such subsidiary has benefited from the incurrence of the indebtedness by its parent (direct or indirect) or if any such benefit is measured other than by the extent to which the proceeds of the indebtedness incurred by its parent (direct or indirect) are, directly or indirectly, made available to such subsidiary for its corporate, limited liability company or other analogous purposes.

 

(f)            Enforceability of the Guarantee is further subject to the qualification that certain waivers, procedures, remedies, and other provisions of the Guarantee may be unenforceable under or limited by the laws of the Opinion Jurisdictions; however, such laws do not in our opinion, substantially prevent the practical realization of the benefits intended by the Guarantee, except that the application of principles of guaranty and suretyship to the acts or omissions of the holder of the Guarantee after execution and delivery of such Guarantee may prevent the practical realization of the benefits intended by the Guarantee through a release or discharge of the Indiana Guarantor.

 

We do not render any opinions except as set forth above. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus. We also consent to your filing copies of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement with agencies of such states as you deem necessary in the course of complying with the laws of such states regarding the offering and sale of the Securities. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Ice Miller LLP

 

 

  

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom llp

  One Manhattan West  
  New York, NY 10001 FIRM/AFFILIATE OFFICES
  ________ -----------
    BOSTON
  TEL: (212) 735-3000 CHICAGO
  FAX: (212) 735-2000 HOUSTON
  www.skadden.com LOS ANGELES
    PALO ALTO
    WASHINGTON, D.C.
    WILMINGTON
    -----------
    BEIJING
    BRUSSELS
    FRANKFURT
    HONG KONG
    LONDON
    MUNICH
    PARIS
    SÃO PAULO
    SEOUL
    SHANGHAI
    SINGAPORE
    TOKYO
    TORONTO
     
    February 14, 2024

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

One Batesville Boulevard

Batesville, Indiana 47006

 

Re:          Hillenbrand, Inc. 

6.2500% Notes due 2029

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special United States counsel to Hillenbrand, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the public offering of $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.2500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) to be issued under the Indenture, dated July 9, 2010 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2024 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein (the “Guarantors”) and the Trustee. The Indenture provides that the Notes are to be guaranteed by the Guarantors (such guarantees, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”).

 

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

 

(a)            the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-276917) of the Company relating to debt securities and other securities of the Company and the Guarantors, filed on February 7, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act, allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc. 

February 14, 2024 

Page 2

 

(b)            the prospectus, dated February 7, 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;

 

(c)            the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February 7, 2024 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(d)            the prospectus supplement, dated February 7, 2024 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(e)            an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Securities;

 

(f)            an executed copy of the Supplemental Indenture, including Article VIII thereof, containing the guaranty obligations of the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”);

 

(g)            the global certificate evidencing the Notes, executed by the Company and registered in the name of Cede & Co., delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery (the “Note Certificate”);

 

(h)            executed copies of certificates for each Opinion Party (as defined below) of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Opinion Party, as applicable, dated the date hereof (collectively, the “Secretary’s Certificates”);

 

(i)            copies of each Opinion Party’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Formation, as applicable, as described on Schedule I hereto, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of February 6, 2024, and certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate;

 

(j)            copies of each Opinion Party’s by-laws, as amended and in effect as of the date hereof, or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, as described on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “LLC Agreements”), certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate; and

 

(k)            copies of certain resolutions adopted by the directors, sole member or managing member, as applicable, of each Opinion Party, dated February 5, 2024, and certified pursuant to the applicable Secretary’s Certificate; and

 

(l)            a copy of an Officer’s Certificate, dated as of February 7, 2024, authorizing certain pricing terms.

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

February 14, 2024 

Page 3

 

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Opinion Parties and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Opinion Parties and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

 

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including electronic signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photocopied copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Opinion Parties and others and of public officials, including those in the Secretary’s Certificates and the factual representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and (ii) the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”).

 

As used herein, “Opinion Parties” means the Guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto and “LLC Opinion Party” means each of the Opinion Parties that are limited liability companies.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.            The Guarantees of each Opinion Party have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of such Opinion Party under the DGCL or the DLLCA, as applicable.

 

2.            Each Opinion Party has the corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to execute and deliver the Supplemental Indenture and to consummate the issuance and sale of the Guarantees contemplated thereby under the DGCL or the DLLCA, as applicable.

 

In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions we have assumed that, at all applicable times, the LLC Agreement of each LLC Opinion Party is the only agreement of the members of such LLC Opinion Party, as to the affairs of such LLC Opinion Party and the conduct of its business, and we do not express any opinion with respect to the effect of any other agreement of the members of any LLC Opinion Party as to the affairs of such LLC Opinion Party and the conduct of its business. Further, we have assumed that each LLC Opinion Party has, and since the time of its formation has had, at least one validly admitted and existing member of such LLC Opinion Party and (i) no procedures have been instituted for, and no other event has occurred, including, without limitation, any action taken by any LLC Opinion Party or their respective directors, sole member or members, as applicable, that would result in the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such LLC Opinion Party, (ii) no event has occurred that has adversely affected the good standing of any LLC Opinion Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, and each LLC Opinion Party has taken all actions required by the laws of its jurisdiction of formation to maintain such good standing and (iii) no grounds exist for the revocation or forfeiture of any LLC Opinion Party’s Certificate of Formation.

 

 

 

 

Hillenbrand, Inc.

February 14, 2024

Page 4

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
   
MJZ  

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

 

(1)

Opinion Party Name

(2)

Formation Document

(Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Formation)

(3)

Governing Document

(By-laws or Limited Liability Company

Agreement

Hillenbrand FHN Holdings LLC Certificate of Formation Limited Liability Company Agreement (August 30, 2023)
Hillenbrand Luxembourg Inc. Certificate of Incorporation By-laws
K-Tron Investment Co. Certificate of Incorporation By-laws
Milacron LLC Certificate of Formation Limited Liability Company Agreement (December 14, 2020)
Milacron Marketing Company LLC Certificate of Formation Limited Liability Company Agreement (December 14, 2020)
Milacron Plastics Technologies Group LLC Certificate of Formation Limited Liability Company Agreement (December 14, 2020)
Schenck Process Holding North America, Inc. Certificate of Incorporation By-laws

 

 

 

v3.24.0.1
Cover
Feb. 14, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date Feb. 14, 2024
Entity File Number 1-33794
Entity Registrant Name HILLENBRAND, INC.
Entity Central Index Key 0001417398
Entity Tax Identification Number 26-1342272
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code IN
Entity Address, Address Line One One Batesville Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town Batesville
Entity Address, State or Province IN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 47006
City Area Code 812
Local Phone Number 931-5000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, without par value
Trading Symbol HI
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false

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