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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-147657
The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated September 16, 2010
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated November 28, 2007)
$
% Notes due
_______________________
We will pay interest on the notes on and of each year, beginning , 2011. The notes will mature on . We may redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time at the redemption prices set forth under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”
The notes will be unsecured obligations and rank equally with our existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. The notes will be issued only in registered book-entry form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter.
Investing in these securities involves risks. See risks described herein and those described as risk factors in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 as they may be amended, updated and modified periodically in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
_______________________
| Public Offering Price (1) |
Underwriting Discount |
Proceeds to Nucor (before expenses) (1) |
||||||||||
| Per note |
% | % | % | |||||||||
| Total |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (1) | Plus accrued interest from September , 2010, if settlement occurs after that date. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, on or about September , 2010, against payment therefor in immediately available funds.
| Joint Book-Running Managers | ||||
| BofA Merrill Lynch | Citi | J.P. Morgan | ||
The date of this prospectus supplement is September , 2010
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Prospectus Supplement
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering, the notes and matters relating to us and our financial performance and condition. The second part, the accompanying prospectus dated November 28, 2007, gives more general information, some of which does not apply to this offering.
If the description of this offering and the notes varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. In various places in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, we refer you to sections of other documents for additional information by indicating the caption heading of the other sections. All cross-references in this prospectus supplement are to captions contained in this prospectus supplement and not in the accompanying prospectus, unless otherwise indicated.
Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus supplement to “Nucor,” “the company,” “we” and “our” refer to Nucor Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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WARNING REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements containing words such as “expects,” “plans,” “strategy,” “projects,” “believes,” “opportunity,” “anticipates,” “desires,” and similar expressions are intended to highlight or indicate “forward-looking statements.” Although we believe that the expectations, opinions, projections, and comments reflected in our forward-looking statements reflect our best judgment based on current information, and although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, we can give no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to prevailing steel prices and changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including pig iron and scrap steel; (ii) availability and cost of electricity and natural gas; (iii) market demand for steel products, which, in the case of many of our products, is driven by the level of non-residential construction activity in the U.S.; (iv) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (v) impairment in the recorded value of goodwill, equity investments, inventory, fixed assets or other long-lived assets; (vi) uncertainties surrounding the global economy, including the severe economic downturn in construction markets and excess world capacity for steel production; (vii) fluctuations in currency conversion rates; (viii) U.S. and foreign trade policy affecting steel imports or exports; (ix) significant changes in laws or government regulations affecting environmental compliance, including legislation and regulations that result in greater regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, which could increase our energy costs and our capital expenditures and operating costs; (x) the cyclical nature of the steel industry; (xi) capital investments and their impact on our performance; and (xii) our safety performance. Additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties which may affect our business operations and financial performance can be found in our filings with the SEC.
You should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in their entirety. They contain information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person, including any dealer, salesperson or other individual, to provide you with different information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus nor any sale made hereunder or thereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of our company since the date hereof or that the information contained herein or therein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof.
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Certain persons participating in this offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the notes. Such transactions may include stabilizing the purchase of the notes to cover syndicate short positions and the imposition of penalty bids. For a description of those activities, see “Underwriting.”
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Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities and customers primarily located in North America and, increasingly, internationally. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel – in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; light gauge steel framing; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron and direct reduced iron, supplies ferro-alloys, and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor’s operations also include international trading companies that buy and sell steel and steel products. Nucor is North America’s largest recycler.
Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NUE.”
Recent Developments
On September 15, 2010, Nucor announced that it has selected St. James Parish, Louisiana as the site where it will construct a $750 million iron making facility after the required environmental permits have been issued. The 2,500,000 tons per year capacity facility will use direct reduction technology to convert natural gas and iron ore pellets into direct reduced iron. Nucor will use the direct reduced iron, together with recycled scrap steel, in its steel mills to produce steel products such as sheet, plate and special bar quality steel.
Nucor expects to incur approximately $600 million of additional long term debt in connection with the issuance by a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana of Gulf Opportunity Zone Bonds before the end of the current fiscal year to fund the major portion of the capital costs of this new facility. Gulf Opportunity Zone Bonds are a special category of exempt facility bonds that Congress authorized in the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 to support the rebuilding of local and regional economies in designated parts of the states located on the Gulf of Mexico that were devastated by Katrina and other hurricanes of 2005. Interest on these bonds is exempt in most instances from both federal and state income taxes and not subject to the alternative minimum tax.
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We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ million, after deducting our estimated offering expenses and the underwriters’ discounts. We plan to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes for general corporate purposes, including repayment of debt. The debt we may repay, in whole or in part, at maturity from the net proceeds of this offering includes our 4.875% notes due 2012, our 5.00% notes due 2012 and our 5.00% notes due 2013.
We may temporarily invest any proceeds prior to their use for the above purposes in U.S. government or agency obligations, commercial paper, money market funds, taxable and tax-exempt notes and bonds, variable-rate demand obligations, short-term investment grade securities, bank certificates of deposit or repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government or agency obligations. We may also deposit the proceeds with banks.
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| July 3, 2010 | ||||||
| Actual | As Adjusted | |||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 801,504 | ||||
| Short-term investments |
340,495 | |||||
| Short-term debt |
2,599 | |||||
| Long-term debt: |
||||||
| Revolving credit facility (1) |
— | |||||
| Industrial revenue bonds, 0.28% to 1.90%, variable, due from 2014 to 2038 |
430,200 | |||||
| Notes, 4.875%, due 2012 |
350,000 | |||||
| Notes, 5.00%, due 2012 |
300,000 | |||||
| Notes, 5.00%, due 2013 |
250,000 | |||||
| Notes, 5.75%, due 2017 |
600,000 | |||||
| Notes, 5.85%, due 2018 |
500,000 | |||||
| Notes, 6.40%, due 2037 |
650,000 | |||||
| Notes offered hereby, interest % due |
||||||
| Total long-term debt |
3,080,200 | |||||
| Total debt |
3,082,799 | |||||
| Stockholders’ equity: |
||||||
| Preferred stock, $4 par value, 250,000 shares authorized, none issued |
— | |||||
| Common stock, $0.40 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized |
150,094 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital |
1,691,303 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(98,346 | ) | ||||
| Retained earnings |
7,013,528 | |||||
| Treasury stock |
(1,510,186 | ) | ||||
| Total Nucor stockholders’ equity |
7,246,393 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interests (2) |
208,714 | |||||
| Total equity |
7,455,107 | |||||
| Total capitalization |
$ | 10,537,906 | ||||
| (1) | We have a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility maturing in November 2012 that provides for up to $1.3 billion in unsecured revolving loans and up to $200 million in additional commitments at Nucor’s election in accordance with the terms set forth in the revolving credit facility. No borrowings were outstanding under this revolving credit facility as of the date of this prospectus supplement. |
| (2) | The inclusion of noncontrolling interests in total capitalization has the effect of increasing our total capitalization. Noncontrolling interests primarily represent the 49% interest in Nucor-Yamato Steel Company (Limited Partnership), the 10% interest in Barker Steel Company, Inc. and the 25% interest in Nucor Trading S.A. that we do not own. |
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
We have derived the following results of operations and balance sheet data for and as of the end of our last five fiscal years from our audited consolidated financial statements. The data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 reflects the retrospective application of the amended accounting guidance on accounting and reporting for noncontrolling interests that we adopted on January 1, 2009. The selected financial data for the six months (26 weeks) ended July 4, 2009 and July 3, 2010 have been derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nucor. The unaudited financial information, in the opinion of management, has been prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements and contains all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the periods presented. The results for the six months (26 weeks) ended July 4, 2009 and July 3, 2010 may not be indicative of the results to be achieved for any other interim period or the entire fiscal year. You should read the information set forth below in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Incorporation of Information Filed with the SEC” in this prospectus supplement.
| For the Year Ended | Six Months (26 Weeks) Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2005 |
December 31, 2006 |
December 31, 2007 |
December 31, 2008 |
December 31, 2009 |
July 4, 2009 |
July 3, 2010 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected statement of earnings data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales |
$ | 12,700,999 | $ | 14,751,270 | $ | 16,592,976 | $ | 23,663,324 | $ | 11,190,296 | $5,132,347 | $7,850,808 | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs, expenses and other: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of products sold |
10,108,805 | 11,284,606 | 13,462,927 | 19,612,283 | 11,035,903 | 5,318,228 | 7,329,976 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketing, administrative and other expenses |
459,936 | 574,783 | 553,146 | 714,064 | 348,478 | 172,503 | 200,364 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates |
(476 | ) | 17,690 | 24,618 | 36,920 | 82,341 | 59,798 | 25,749 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment of non-current assets |
— | — | — | 105,183 | 2,800 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net |
4,201 | (37,365 | ) | 5,469 | 90,483 | 134,752 | 64,322 | 75,110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income |
(9,200 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 10,563,266 | 11,839,714 | 14,046,160 | 20,558,933 | 11,604,274 | 5,614,851 | 7,631,199 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests |
2,137,733 | 2,911,556 | 2,546,816 | 3,104,391 | (413,978 | ) | (482,504 | ) | 219,609 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes |
709,834 | 935,653 | 781,368 | 959,480 | (176,800 | ) | (164,210 | ) | 72,197 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) |
1,427,899 | 1,975,903 | 1,765,448 | 2,144,911 | (237,178 | ) | (318,294 | ) | 147,412 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |
110,650 | 219,121 | 293,501 | 313,921 | 56,435 | 4,688 | 25,456 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) attributable to Nucor stockholders |
$ | 1,317,249 | $ | 1,756,782 | $ | 1,471,947 | $ | 1,830,990 | $ | (293,613 | ) | $ | (322,982 | ) | $ | 121,956 | ||||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) per share: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 4.19 | $ | 5.73 | $ | 4.96 | $ | 5.99 | $ | (0.94 | ) | $ | (1.03 | ) | $ | 0.38 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted |
4.15 | 5.68 | 4.94 | 5.98 | (0.94 | ) | (1.03 | ) | 0.38 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected operating data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tons sold to outside customers |
20,465 | 22,118 | 22,940 | 25,187 | 17,576 | 7,824 | 11,052 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Composite sales price per ton (1) |
$ | 621 | $ | 667 | $ | 723 | $ | 940 | $ | 637 | $ | 656 | $ | 710 | ||||||||||||||
| Selected balance sheet data (at period end) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 980,150 | $ | 785,651 | $ | 1,393,943 | $ | 2,355,130 | $ | 2,016,981 | $ | 2,060,203 | $ | 801,504 | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets |
$ | 7,148,845 | $ | 7,893,018 | $ | 9,826,122 | $ | 13,874,443 | $ | 12,571,904 | $ | 12,411,047 | $ | 12,688,180 | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, excluding current maturities |
$ | 922,300 | $ | 922,300 | $ | 2,250,300 | $ | 3,086,200 | $ | 3,080,200 | $ | 3,086,200 | $ | 3,080,200 | ||||||||||||||
| Nucor stockholders’ equity |
$ | 4,312,049 | $ | 4,857,351 | $ | 5,112,917 | $ | 7,929,204 | $ | 7,390,526 | $ | 7,455,218 | $ | 7,246,393 | ||||||||||||||
| Other data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared per share |
$ | 0.93 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.44 | $ | 1.91 | $ | 1.41 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 0.72 | ||||||||||||||
| Return on average stockholders’ equity |
33.8 | % | 38.3 | % | 29.5 | % | 28.1 | % | -3.8 | % | -8.3 | % | 3.3 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures |
$ | 331,466 | $ | 338,404 | $ | 520,353 | $ | 1,018,980 | $ | 390,500 | $ | 240,428 | $ | 163,219 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation |
$ | 375,054 | $ | 363,936 | $ | 403,172 | $ | 479,484 | $ | 494,035 | $ | 242,475 | $ | 255,262 | ||||||||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2) |
56.42 | 68.25 | 42.21 | 20.39 | (3) | (3) | 3.85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Composite sales price per ton is net sales divided by total tons sold to outside customers. |
| (2) | The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, “earnings” consists of pre-tax earnings (loss) before adjustment for noncontrolling interests, plus (less) losses (earnings) from equity investments and plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income of equity investees, less capitalized interest and pre-tax earnings in noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, including capitalized interest and the estimated interest component of rent expense, and amortization of bond issuance costs and settled swaps. |
| (3) | Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the six months ended July 4, 2009 were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The coverage deficiencies for such periods were $397,557 and $432,906, respectively. |
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The following description of the particular terms of the notes offered hereby supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made.
General
The notes will be issued under an indenture, dated as of January 12, 1999, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, to be dated as of September , 2010, between us and the trustee (together, the “indenture”). The terms of the notes include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter.
The following summary of certain provisions of the indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms. Certain provisions of the indenture are summarized in the accompanying prospectus. We encourage you to read the summaries of the notes and the indenture in both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the form of the notes and the indenture. A copy of the indenture is available upon request.
The notes will constitute a single series of debt securities to be issued under the indenture and will be governed by all of the applicable terms and covenants contained in the indenture. The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities (referred to as the “debt securities”) which may be issued thereunder.
After issuance of the notes, we may reopen and issue additional notes from the same series of notes by board resolution without your consent and without notifying you. Any such additional notes will have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date, redemption rights and other terms as the series of notes issued pursuant to this prospectus supplement. Any such additional notes, together with the series of notes offered by this prospectus supplement, will be consolidated with and constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture.
The notes will mature on , unless redeemed prior to that date, as described below under “—Optional Redemption.” Interest on the notes will accrue from the issue date at a rate equal to % per year and will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. We will pay interest on the notes semiannually in arrears on and of each year, beginning on , 2011, to the registered holders of the notes on the preceding and , respectively.
Principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the notes initially will be payable, subject with respect to global notes to compliance with The Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) customary procedures, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the registered holder of the notes or, if no account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The notes will be exchangeable and transfers of the notes will be registrable, subject to the limitations provided in the indenture, at the principal corporate trust office of the trustee in New York, New York.
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If any interest payment date, stated maturity date or earlier redemption date falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then the required payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest may be made on the next succeeding day not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, as if it were made on the date payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that interest payment date, the stated maturity date or earlier redemption date, as the case may be.
The notes will not have the benefit of a sinking fund.
The covenants in the indenture may not protect you from a decline in our credit quality due to highly leveraged or other transactions in which we may engage.
We do not intend to apply for the listing or quotation of the notes on any securities exchange or trading market.
Ranking
The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations. Payment of the principal and interest on the notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt outstanding from time to time. The notes will be subordinated to any secured indebtedness of ours to the extent of any such security. After giving effect to the offering, as of July 3, 2010, we would have had approximately $ million of total consolidated indebtedness and a percentage of indebtedness to total capital (which includes our long-term indebtedness, Nucor stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests) of approximately %. That amount includes approximately $350 million aggregate principal amount of our unsecured 4.875% notes due 2012, $300 million aggregate principal amount of our unsecured 5.00% notes due 2012, $250 million aggregate amount of our unsecured 5.00% notes due 2013, $600 million aggregate principal amount of our unsecured 5.75% notes due 2017, $500 million aggregate amount of our unsecured 5.85% notes due 2018, $650 million aggregate principal amount of our unsecured 6.40% notes due 2037 and $430.2 million aggregate principal amount of secured indebtedness under our industrial revenue bonds.
Except as described under “Covenants Applicable to Our Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus, the indenture does not limit us or any of our Subsidiaries (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) from incurring more indebtedness or issuing more securities and does not contain financial or similar restrictions on us or any of our Subsidiaries. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including holders of the notes, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our Subsidiaries upon the Subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise are effectively subordinated to the claims of the Subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that we or any of our creditors may be a creditor of that Subsidiary. As of July 3, 2010, our Subsidiaries had $2.6 million aggregate principal amount of indebtedness, consisting of trade credit financing arrangements.
Optional Redemption
Before three months prior to the maturity date, the notes will be redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option at a redemption price equal to the greater of:
| • | 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or |
| • | the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such notes (not including the portion of any payments of interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (determined on the third business day preceding the redemption date), |
plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
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Within three months prior to the maturity date, the notes will be redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option at par plus accrued interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date.
“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that redemption date, plus %.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by our choice of Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and its successors, or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, another Reference Treasury Dealer, as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed 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 such notes.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations (as defined below) for that redemption date.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and their respective successors, and two other primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City selected by us (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”); provided however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer or is no longer quoting prices for United States Treasury securities, we will substitute another 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 trustee, 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 trustee by that Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the third business day preceding the redemption date.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but no more than 90 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. The notice of redemption for the notes will state, among other things, the amount of notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of notes to be redeemed. If we redeem less than all of the notes, the trustee will select the particular notes to be redeemed pro rata, by lot, or by another method the trustee deems fair and appropriate. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption on and after the redemption date.
Change of Control Offer to Purchase
If a change of control triggering event occurs, holders of notes may require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such notes to the date of purchase (unless a notice of redemption has been mailed within 30 days after such change of control triggering event stating that all of the notes will be redeemed as described above). We will be required to mail to holders of the notes a notice describing the transaction or transactions constituting the change of control triggering event and offering to repurchase the notes. The notice must be mailed within 30 days after any change of control triggering event, and the repurchase must occur no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the date the notice is mailed.
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On the date specified for repurchase of the notes, we will, to the extent lawful:
| • | accept for payment all properly tendered notes or portions of notes; |
| • | deposit with the paying agent the required payment for all properly tendered notes or portions of notes; and |
| • | deliver to the trustee the repurchased notes, accompanied by an officers’ certificate stating, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of repurchased notes. |
We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations applicable to the repurchase of the notes. To the extent that these requirements conflict with the provisions requiring repurchase of the notes, we will comply with such requirements instead of the repurchase provisions and will not be considered to have breached our obligations with respect to repurchasing the notes. Additionally, if an event of default exists under the indenture (which is unrelated to the repurchase provisions of the notes), including events of default arising with respect to other issues of debt securities, we will not be required to repurchase the notes notwithstanding these repurchase provisions.
We will not be required to comply with the obligations relating to repurchasing the notes if a third party instead satisfies them.
For purposes of the repurchase provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:
“Change of control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) resulting in any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than us or one of our subsidiaries) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of our voting stock or other voting stock into which our voting stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than the number of shares; (b) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in a transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to one or more “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than us or one of our subsidiaries); or (c) the first day on which a majority of the members of our Board of Directors are not continuing directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a change of control if (a) we become a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(y) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the voting stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of our voting stock immediately prior to that transaction or (z) immediately following that transaction no person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting stock of the holding company.
“Change of control triggering event” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event.
“Continuing directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of our Board of Directors who (a) was a member of the Board of Directors on the date the notes were issued or (b) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to the Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors who were members of the Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).
“Investment grade rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB– (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
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“Rating agencies” means (a) each of Moody’s and S&P, and (b) if either Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act) selected by us as a replacement rating agency for a former rating agency.
“Rating event” means the rating on the notes is lowered by each of the rating agencies and the notes are rated below an investment grade rating by each of the rating agencies on any day within the 60-day period (which 60-day period will be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) after the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a change of control and (b) public notice of the occurrence of a change of control or our intention to effect a change of control.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
“Voting stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
Events of Default
The following are “events of default” with respect to the notes:
| • | default in the payment of any interest installment with respect to the notes when due and continuance of the default for a period of fifteen (15) days after receipt by us of written notice of the default from any person; |
| • | default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, the notes when due either at maturity, when called for redemption, by declaration or otherwise; |
| • | default in the making of any payment for a sinking, purchase or analogous fund provided for in respect of the notes as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of ten days after receipt by us of written notice of the default from any person; |
| • | failure by us to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement in respect of the notes for a period of ninety days after the trustee gives us written notice, or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes give us and the trustee written notice of default; and |
| • | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization as more fully described in the Indenture. |
Book-Entry System
The certificates representing the notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global notes without coupons (the “Global Note”) and will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of DTC. Except in limited circumstances, the notes will not be issuable in definitive form. Unless and until they are exchanged in whole or in part for the individual notes represented thereby, any interests in the Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any nominee of DTC to a successor depository or any nominee of such successor. See “Description of Debt Securities—Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (“Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among
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Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations (“Direct Participants”). DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the SEC.
Same-Day Funds Settlement and Payment
Settlement for the notes will be made by the underwriters in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest in respect of notes in book-entry form will be made by us in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC.
Secondary trading in long-term notes and debentures of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearing houses or next-day funds. In contrast, the notes will trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity or until the notes are issued in certificated form, and secondary market trading activity in the notes will therefore be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the notes.
SEC Reports
To the extent information, documents or reports are required to be filed with the SEC and delivered to the trustee or the holders of notes, the availability of such information, documents or reports on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system or the Company’s website shall be deemed to have satisfied such delivery requirements to the trustee or the holders of the notes, as applicable.
The Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon will be the trustee under the indenture. All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the notes will be effected by the trustee at the principal office of the trustee located in New York, New York.
The Bank of New York Mellon is a lender under our unsecured revolving credit facility. Consequently, The Bank of New York Mellon could be faced with potential conflicts of interest and conflicting obligations in the event of a default under, or with regard to other circumstances relating to, any or all of this indebtedness.
The indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor of ours, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to liquidate certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us or any of our affiliates. If the trustee acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act and the notes are in default, it must eliminate that conflict, resign or, if applicable, apply to the SEC to continue.
The trustee or its affiliates have served and may in the future serve as trustee under various of our debt instruments and as an agent and lender under our credit facilities.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes, but does not provide a complete analysis of all potential tax considerations.
The following summary describes, in the case of U.S. Holders (as defined below), the material U.S. federal income tax consequences and, in the case of Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below), the material U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences, of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes. We have based this summary on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated or proposed thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), judicial authority and current administrative rulings and practice, all as of the date hereof and which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, or to different interpretation. This summary applies to you only if you are an initial purchaser of the notes who acquired the notes at their original issue price within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code and if you hold the notes as capital assets. A capital asset is generally an asset held for investment rather than as inventory or as property used in a trade or business.
This summary does not discuss all of the aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation which may be relevant to you in light of your particular investment or other circumstances. This summary also does not discuss the particular tax consequences that might be relevant to you if you are subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws. Special rules apply, for example, if you are:
| • | a bank, thrift, insurance company, regulated investment company or other financial institution or financial service company; |
| • | a broker or dealer in securities or foreign currency; |
| • | an insurance company; |
| • | a real estate investment trust; |
| • | a U.S. person that has a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; |
| • | a partnership or other flow-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| • | a subchapter S corporation; |
| • | a person subject to alternative minimum tax; |
| • | a person who owns the notes as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, constructive sale transaction, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction; |
| • | a trader that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to its securities holdings; |
| • | a tax-exempt entity; |
| • | a person who has ceased to be a U.S. citizen or to be taxed as a resident alien; or |
| • | a person who acquires the notes in connection with employment or other performance of services. |
In addition, the following summary does not address all possible tax consequences related to acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes. In particular, except as specifically provided, it does not discuss any estate, gift, generation-skipping, transfer, state, local or foreign tax consequences, or the consequences arising under any tax treaty. We have not sought, and do not intend to seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with these statements and conclusions.
Investors considering acquiring notes should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdictions or under any applicable tax treaty.
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U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, you are a “U.S. Holder” if you are a beneficial owner of notes and for U.S. federal income tax purposes are:
| • | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| • | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any of the fifty states or the District of Columbia; |
| • | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| • | a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) the trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds the notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, investing in and disposing of the notes through a partnership.
Payment of Interest
All of the notes bear interest at a fixed rate. You generally must include this interest in your gross income as ordinary interest income:
| • | when you receive it, if you use the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or |
| • | when it accrues, if you use the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
In certain circumstances, we may be obligated to pay you amounts in excess of stated interest or principal on the notes. At our option, we may redeem part or all of the notes, as described in “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption,” for a price that may include an additional amount in excess of the principal amount of such notes. Based on existing Treasury Regulations, we intend to take the position that this option to redeem will be presumed not to be exercised and, accordingly, the premium payable upon a redemption will not affect the yield to maturity or the maturity date of the notes. If, contrary to our expectations, we redeem the notes, any premium paid to you should be taxed as capital gain under the rules described below under “—Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Notes.” You should consult your tax advisor regarding the appropriate tax treatment of the amounts you receive upon the redemption, including any premium you receive.
In addition, upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event, holders of the notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of the notes, as described in “Description of Notes—Change of Control Offer to Purchase,” at a price that may include an additional amount in excess of the principal amount of the notes. Our obligation to pay such excess amounts may cause the IRS to take the position that the notes are “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the IRS is successful in such an assertion, the timing and amount of income included and the character of gain recognized with respect to the notes would likely be different from the consequences discussed herein. Notwithstanding this possibility, we intend to take the position that the likelihood of such a repurchase is remote and accordingly that the possibility of a premium payable upon such a repurchase does not affect the yield to maturity or maturity date of the notes and does not cause the notes to be treated as contingent payment debt instruments. A holder may not take a contrary position unless the holder discloses the contrary position to the IRS in the manner required by applicable Treasury Regulations. If we pay a premium on a repurchase upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event, the premium should be treated as a capital gain under the rules described below under “—Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Notes.”
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Notes
You generally will recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes equal to the difference between (a) the amount of cash proceeds and the fair market value
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of any property you receive (except to the extent attributable to accrued interest income not previously included in income, which will generally be taxable as ordinary income, or attributable to accrued interest previously included in income, which amount may be received without generating further taxable income), and (b) your tax basis in the notes. Your tax basis in a note generally will equal your cost of the note.
Gain or loss on the disposition of notes will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the notes have been held for more than one year at the time of disposition. Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for a reduced rate of tax on long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (or other exempt recipients) of principal and interest on a note and the proceeds of the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note. If you are a U.S. Holder, you may be subject to backup withholding, at a current rate of 28%, when you receive interest with respect to the notes, or when you receive proceeds upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes. In general, you can avoid this backup withholding by properly executing, under penalties of perjury, an IRS Form W-9 or suitable substitute form that provides:
| • | your correct taxpayer identification number; and |
| • | a certification that (a) you are exempt from backup withholding because you are a corporation or come within another enumerated exempt category, (b) you have not been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding, or (c) you have been notified by the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding. |
If you do not provide your correct taxpayer identification number on IRS Form W-9 or suitable substitute form in a timely manner, you may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.
Backup withholding will not apply, however, with respect to payments made to certain holders, including corporations and tax-exempt organizations, provided their exemptions from backup withholding are properly established. Amounts withheld are not an additional tax and may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided you timely furnish required information to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is not a U.S. Holder and is not treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Payment of Interest
Generally, subject to the discussions of backup withholding and new legislation below, if you are a Non-U.S. Holder, interest income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax provided that:
| • | you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the combined voting power of all of our classes of stock entitled to vote; |
| • | you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us actually or constructively through stock ownership; |
| • | you are not a bank that acquired the notes in consideration for an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business; and |
| • | either (a) you provide a Form W-8BEN (or a suitable substitute form) signed under penalties of perjury that includes your name and address and certifies as to your Non-U.S. Holder status, or (b) a securities |
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| clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business provides a statement to us or our agent under penalties of perjury in which it certifies that a Form W-8BEN or W-8IMY (together with appropriate attachments), or a suitable substitute form, has been received by it from you or a qualifying intermediary and furnishes us or our agent with a copy of that form. |
Interest on the notes which is not exempt from U.S. withholding tax as described above and is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate). We may be required to report annually to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest paid to, and any tax withheld with respect to, each Non-U.S. Holder. If a Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. and interest on a note is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base, then such Non-U.S. Holder (although exempt from the 30% withholding tax) will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest at graduated rates on a net income basis in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. In addition, if the Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) of its earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
To claim the benefit of a tax treaty or to claim exemption from withholding because the income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder must provide a properly executed Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, respectively. Under the Treasury Regulations, a Non-U.S. Holder may under certain circumstances be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and make certain certifications to us. Special certification and other rules apply to payments made through qualified intermediaries. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of these certification rules.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Notes
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you generally will not be subject to the U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the note, unless:
| • | the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business (or, where an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base); or |
| • | you are an individual and are present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition (as determined under the Code) and certain other conditions are met. |
If you are described in the first bullet point above, you will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that gain at graduated rates on a net income basis in the same manner as if you were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) of your earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States. If you are described in the second bullet point above, any gain realized by you from the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or lower applicable treaty rate), which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses.
Estate Taxes
If you are an individual Non-U.S. Holder and you hold a note at the time of your death, it will not be includable in your gross estate for U.S. estate tax purposes, provided that you do not at the time of death actually or constructively own 10% or more of the combined voting power of all of our classes of stock entitled to vote,
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and provided that, at the time of death, payments with respect to such note would not have been effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, U.S. backup withholding will not apply to payments of interest on a note if you provide the statement described in “—Non-U.S. Holders—Payment of Interest,” provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that you are a U.S. person. Information reporting requirements may apply, however, to payments of interest on a note with respect to Non-U.S. Holders.
Information reporting will not apply to any payment of the proceeds of the sale of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a “broker” (as defined in applicable Treasury Regulations), unless such broker:
| • | is a U.S. person; |
| • | is a foreign person 50% or more of the gross income of which for certain periods is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States; |
| • | is a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or |
| • | is a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year, one or more of its partners are U.S. persons (as defined in applicable Treasury Regulations) who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interests in the partnership or if, at any time during its tax year, such foreign partnership is engaged in a U.S. trade or business. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of the proceeds of any such sale of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of any broker that is described in the preceding sentence will not be subject to information reporting if the broker has documentary evidence in its records that you are a Non-U.S. Holder and certain other conditions are met, or you otherwise establish an exemption.
Payment of the proceeds of any sale effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a broker is not subject to backup withholding. Payment of the proceeds of any such sale to or through the U.S. office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding requirements, unless you provide the statement described in “—Non-U.S. Holders—Payment of Interest” or otherwise establish an exemption.
New Legislation
Recently enacted legislation regarding foreign account tax compliance, effective for payments made after December 31, 2012, imposes a withholding tax of 30% on interest and gross proceeds from the disposition of certain debt instruments paid to certain foreign entities unless various information reporting and certain other requirements are satisfied. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the implication of this new legislation on your investment in the notes.
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Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, for whom Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as representatives, and these underwriters severally have agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes listed opposite their names below:
| Underwriter |
Principal Amount of Notes | ||
| Banc of America Securities LLC |
$ | ||
| Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
|||
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
|||
| Total |
$ | ||
The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement if any of such notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Commissions and Discounts
The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to dealers at this price less concessions not in excess of % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, discounts not in excess of % of the principal amount of the notes to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed.
The expenses of this offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated to be $ million and are payable by us.
New Issue of Notes
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the notes after completion of the offering. However, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice. We cannot assure the liquidity of the trading markets for the notes or that active public markets for the notes will develop. If active public trading markets for the notes do not develop, the market prices and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.
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Price Stabilization and Short Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters are permitted to engage in transactions that stabilize the market prices of the notes. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain the prices of the notes. If the underwriters create a short position in the notes in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more notes than are on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing the notes in the open market. Purchases of a security to stabilize the price or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the prices of the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Other Relationships
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking, commercial banking and other commercial dealings with us in the ordinary course of business. In particular, the affiliates of some of the underwriters are participants in our multi-year revolving credit facility described in our filings with the SEC. They have received customary fees, commissions or other payments for these transactions.
Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed, severally and not jointly, that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:
| (a) | to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; |
| (b) | to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €443,000,000; and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €450,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; |
| (c) | to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or |
| (d) | in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of notes to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
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United Kingdom
Each underwriter has also represented and agreed, severally and not jointly, that:
| (a) | it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not, if the company was not an authorized person, apply to the company; and |
| (b) | it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom. |
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The legality of the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Moore & Van Allen PLLC, Charlotte, North Carolina, and for the underwriters by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Nucor Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement the information we file with the SEC, which means:
| • | incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus supplement; |
| • | we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and |
| • | information we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus supplement and any information that was previously incorporated. |
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future documents we file with the SEC (File No. 001-04119) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until we terminate this offering:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009; |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended July 4, 2009 (only with respect to that part of exhibit 12.1 reflecting the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the six months ended July 4, 2009), April 3, 2010 and July 3, 2010; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2010, March 1, 2010, May 18, 2010, July 6, 2010, September 14, 2010 and September 15, 2010; and |
| • | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference in this document through us, or from the SEC through the SEC’s web site http://www.sec.gov or at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus supplement. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:
Nucor Corporation
Attn: A. Rae Eagle, Corporate Secretary
1915 Rexford Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211
Telephone: (704) 366-7000
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Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the prospectus supplement.
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Nucor Corporation
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
We may offer to sell debt securities, common stock or preferred stock from time to time. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities for sale, we will provide specific terms of those securities, and the manner in which they are being offered, in a supplement to this prospectus. Any supplement to this prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any related supplement carefully before you invest.
The securities may be offered on a continuous or delayed basis directly to purchasers or to or through one or more underwriters, agents or dealers as designated from time to time. If any underwriters, agents or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable supplement to this prospectus will set forth the names of any underwriters, agents or dealers and any applicable commissions or discounts.
Investing in these securities involves risks. See the risks described in this prospectus and those described as risk factors in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 as they may be amended, updated and modified periodically in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional risks may also be included in a supplement to this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may change. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
This prospectus is dated November 28, 2007.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings at any time and from time to time.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of those securities and that offering. Any supplement to this prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in the prospectus. As a result, the summary descriptions of the securities in this prospectus are subject, and qualified by reference, to the descriptions of the particular terms of any securities contained in an accompanying supplement.
You should carefully read this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in their entirety. They contain information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements containing words such as “expects,” “plans,” “strategy,” “projects,” “believes,” “opportunity,” “anticipates,” “desires,” and similar expressions are intended to highlight or indicate “forward-looking statements.” Although we believe that the expectations, opinions, projections, and comments reflected in our forward-looking statements reflect our best judgment based on current information and circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, we can give no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information or that such statements will prove to be correct. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the results and expectations discussed. A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our business prospects and our ability to achieve the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, (i) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to prevailing steel prices and the changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including scrap
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steel; (ii) availability and cost of electricity and natural gas; (iii) market demand for steel products; (iv) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (v) uncertainties surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production and fluctuations in international conversion rates; (vi) U.S. and foreign trade policy affecting steel imports or exports; (vii) significant changes in government regulations affecting environmental compliance; (viii) the cyclical nature of the steel industry; (ix) capital investments and their impact on our performance; and (x) our safety performance. Additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties which may affect our business operations and financial performance can be found in our filings with the SEC.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any accompanying supplement and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of our company since the date hereof or that the information contained herein or therein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof.
Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “Nucor”, “the company”, “we” and “our” refer to Nucor Corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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Nucor Corporation is principally a domestic manufacturer of steel and steel products with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada and whose customers are located primarily in North America. Principal products produced include carbon and alloy steel—in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; light gauge steel framing; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor is the nation’s largest recycler.
Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NUE.”
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities that may be offered by this prospectus and the applicable supplement for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions, payment of debt, capital expenditures and working capital needs, and for repurchases of shares of our common stock.
We may temporarily invest any proceeds that are not immediately applied to the above purposes in U.S. government or agency obligations, commercial paper, money market funds, taxable and tax-exempt notes and bonds, variable-rate demand obligations, bank certificates of deposit or repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government or agency obligations. We may also deposit the proceeds with banks.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Nucor’s historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges is shown in the table below. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, “earnings” consists of pre-tax earnings before adjustment for minority interests or earnings and losses from equity investments plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income of equity investees, less capitalized interest and minority interests in subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consists of interest expense and amortization of bond issuance costs and settled swaps.
| Fiscal Years Ended | Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended | |||||||||||||
| December 31, 2002 |
December 31, 2003 |
December 31, 2004 |
December 31, 2005 |
December 31, 2006 |
Sept. 30, 2006 |
Sept. 29, 2007 | ||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
11.04x | 3.55x | 57.15x | 56.42x | 68.25x | 70.62x | 46.00x | |||||||
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES
The following description sets forth general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer with this prospectus. We will provide additional terms of the debt securities in the applicable supplement.
We will issue senior debt securities under an Indenture, dated as of January 12, 1999, between Nucor Corporation and The Bank of New York, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the “Indenture.”
The following description summarizes some of the provisions of the Indenture, including definitions of some of the more important terms in the Indenture. However, we have not described every aspect of the debt securities. You should refer to the actual Indenture for a complete description of its provisions and the definitions of terms used in it. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture in this prospectus or in any applicable supplement, we are incorporating by reference those sections or defined terms into this prospectus or the applicable supplement.
The Indenture is an exhibit to the registration statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy of the Indenture.
General Terms of Our Debt Securities.
The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue under the Indenture and provides that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. (Section 2.01). In addition, neither the Indenture nor the debt securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amount of senior indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur.
Under the Indenture, as of November 16, 2007, we have outstanding approximately:
| • | $175 million of 6% Notes due 2009; and |
| • | $350 million of 4.875% Notes due 2012. |
The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations and will rank pari passu with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The debt securities will be subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness and that of our subsidiaries and to any existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries. In other words, if we should default on our debt, we will not make payments on the debt securities until we have fully paid off our secured indebtedness and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries.
The particular terms of each issue of debt securities, as well as any modifications or additions to the general terms of the Indenture applicable to the issue of debt securities, will be described in the applicable supplement.
This description will contain all or some of the following as applicable:
| • | the title of the debt security; |
| • | the aggregate principal amount and denominations; |
| • | the maturity or maturities; |
| • | the offering price and the amount we will receive from the sale of the debt securities; |
| • | the interest rate or rates, or their method of calculation, for the debt securities, which rate or rates may vary from time to time; |
| • | the date or dates on which principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities is payable; |
| • | the date or dates from which interest on the debt securities will accrue and the record date or dates for payments of interest or the methods by which any such dates will be determined; |
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| • | the place or places where principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities is payable; |
| • | the terms of any sinking fund and analogous provisions with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | the respective redemption and repayment rights, if any, of Nucor and of the holders of the debt securities and the related redemption and repayment prices and any limitations on the redemption or repayment rights; |
| • | the conversion price and other terms of any debt securities that a holder may convert into or exchange for our other securities before our redemption, repayment or repurchase of those convertible debt securities; |
| • | any addition to or change in the covenants or events of default relating to any of the debt securities; |
| • | any trustee or fiscal or authenticating or payment agent, issuing and paying agent, transfer agent or registrar or any other person or entity to act in connection with the debt securities for or on behalf of the holders thereof or us or an affiliate; |
| • | whether the debt securities are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any such debt securities are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global security may exchange the interests for debt securities of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur; |
| • | the listing of the debt securities on any securities exchange or inclusion in any other market or quotation or trading system; and |
| • | any other specific terms, conditions and provisions of the debt securities. |
Unless the applicable supplement provides differently, the trustee will register the transfer of any debt securities at its offices. (Section 2.05).
Unless the applicable supplement provides differently, we will issue the debt securities in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, although we may require that purchasers of the debt securities pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the registration. (Sections 2.03 and 2.05).
We may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities, to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. The applicable supplement will describe any special federal income tax and other considerations applicable to these securities.
Covenants Applicable to Our Debt Securities.
Unless stated otherwise in the applicable supplement, debt securities will have the benefit of the following covenants. We have defined several capitalized terms used in this section in the subsection below entitled “Definitions of Key Terms in the Indenture.” Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Indenture.
Restrictions on Secured Indebtedness.
The Indenture provides that as long as we have any debt securities outstanding under the Indenture we will not, and we will not permit any of our Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, assume, issue, guarantee or incur any Secured Indebtedness, unless immediately thereafter the aggregate amount of all Secured Indebtedness, together with the discounted present value of all rentals due in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions, would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. For purposes of the calculation of the discounted present value of all rentals does not include rentals to which Section 5.06 does not apply.
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These restrictions do not apply to the following Secured Indebtedness, which we exclude in computing Secured Indebtedness for the purpose of the restrictions:
| • | Liens on property as to which such series of debt securities are equally and ratably secured with (or, at our option, prior to) that Secured Indebtedness; |
| • | Liens on property, including Shares or Indebtedness, of any entity existing at the time that entity becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or arising thereafter pursuant to contractual commitments entered into prior to and not in contemplation of that entity becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; |
| • | Liens on property, including Shares or Indebtedness, existing at the time of acquisition of that property by us or a Restricted Subsidiary or to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of that property created upon the acquisition of that property by us or a Restricted Subsidiary, or to secure any Secured Indebtedness incurred by us or a Restricted Subsidiary prior to, at the time of, or within one year after the later of the acquisition, the completion of construction (including any improvements, alterations or repairs to existing property) or the commencement of commercial operation of the project of which that property is a part, which Secured Indebtedness is incurred for the purpose of, and the principal amount secured by the Lien does not exceed the cost of, financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or construction or improvements, alterations or repairs thereon; |
| • | Liens securing Secured Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary owing to us or to another Restricted Subsidiary; |
| • | Liens on property of an entity existing at the time that entity is merged or consolidated with us or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of an entity as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a Restricted Subsidiary or arising thereafter pursuant to contractual commitments entered into by that entity prior to and not in contemplation of that merger, consolidation, sale, lease or other disposition; |
| • | Liens on our property or the property of a Restricted Subsidiary in favor of governmental authorities, or any trustee or mortgagee acting on behalf, or for the benefit of any governmental authorities, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of construction of property subject to the Liens, and any other Liens incurred or assumed in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue, private activity or similar bonds issued by a governmental authority on behalf of us or a Restricted Subsidiary; |
| • | Liens existing on the first date on which a debt security is authenticated by the trustee under the Indenture; |
| • | Liens on any property which is not a Principal Property; and |
| • | any extension, renewal or replacement in whole or in part of the foregoing, provided that the principal amount of the Secured Indebtedness being extended, renewed or replaced shall not be increased. |
(Section 5.05).
Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks.
The Indenture provides that we will not, and we will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, unless:
| • | after giving effect to the transaction, the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to all such transactions plus all Secured Indebtedness outstanding to which Section 5.05 of the Indenture is applicable, would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or |
| • | an amount equal to the greater of the amount of the net proceeds to us or such Restricted Subsidiary or the fair market value of such property as determined by our board of directors is applied to retirement of Funded Debt within one year after the consummation of such transaction. |
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This restriction will not apply to, and there will be excluded in computing Attributable Debt for the purpose of the restriction, Attributable Debt with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction if:
| • | such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is entered into in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue, private activity or similar financing; |
| • | if we or a Restricted Subsidiary applies an amount equal to the net proceeds (after repayment of any Secured Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering the Principal Property which Secured Indebtedness existed immediately before the Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of the sale or transfer of the Principal Property leased pursuant to the Sale and Leaseback Transaction to investment in another Principal Property within one year prior or subsequent to the sale or transfer; or |
| • | such Sale and Leaseback Transaction was entered into by an entity prior to the time (i) that the entity became a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) that the entity merged or consolidated with us or a Restricted Subsidiary, or (iii) of a sale, lease or other disposition of the entity’s properties as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a Restricted Subsidiary, or in each case arises thereafter pursuant to contractual commitments entered into by that entity prior to and not in contemplation of the entity becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or that merger, consolidation, sale, lease or other such disposition. |
(Section 5.06).
Definitions of Key Terms in the Indenture.
The Indenture defines the following terms used in this subsection:
“Attributable Debt” means the present value (discounted in accordance with a method of accounting which for financial reporting purposes is consistent with generally accepted accounting principles but at a discount rate of not less than 10% per annum, compounded annually) of the rental payments during the remaining term of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction for which the lessee is obligated (including any period for which such lease has been extended). Such rental payments shall not include amounts payable by the lessee for maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges and for contingent rents (such as those based on sales). In case of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such rental payments shall also include such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets after deducting (i) all current liabilities and (ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles, all as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of Nucor and our subsidiaries.
“Funded Debt” means (a) all indebtedness for money borrowed having a maturity of more than 12 months from the date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined or having a maturity of less than 12 months from such date but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower and (b) any indebtedness for borrowed money which may be payable from the proceeds under or pursuant to an agreement to provide borrowings with a maturity of more than 12 months from the date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined.
“Indebtedness” means, as to any corporation or other person, all indebtedness for money borrowed which is created, assumed, incurred or guaranteed in any manner by such corporation or other person or for which such corporation or other person is otherwise responsible or liable.
“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien or other similar encumbrance.
“Principal Property” means (i) any manufacturing plant located in the United States, or manufacturing equipment located in any such manufacturing plant (together with the land on which that plant is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof), owned or leased on the first date on which a debt security is authenticated by
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the trustee or thereafter acquired or leased by us or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) any Shares issued by, or any interest of ours or any Subsidiary in, any Restricted Subsidiary, other than (a) any property or Shares or interests the book value of which is less than 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, or (b) any property or Shares or interests which our board of directors determines is not of material importance to the total business conducted, or assets owned, by us and our Subsidiaries, as an entirety, or (c) any portion of any property which our board of directors determines not to be of material importance to the use or operation of that property. “Manufacturing plant” does not include any plant owned or leased jointly or in common with one or more person other than us and our Restricted Subsidiaries in which the aggregate direct or indirect interest of ours and our Restricted Subsidiaries does not exceed 50%. “Manufacturing equipment” means manufacturing equipment in those manufacturing plants used directly in the production of our or any Restricted Subsidiary’s products and does not include office equipment, computer equipment, rolling stock and other equipment not directly used in the production of our or any Restricted Subsidiary’s products.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary substantially all the property of which is located within the United States, other than a Subsidiary primarily engaged in investing in and/or financing our or any Subsidiary’s or affiliate’s operations outside the United States.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property of ours or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether that Principal Property is now owned or hereafter acquired (except for leases for a term of not more than three years and except for leases between us and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries and except for leases of property executed prior to, at the time of, or within one year after the later of, the acquisition, the completion of construction, including any improvements or alterations on real property, or the commencement of commercial operations of that property), which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or the Restricted Subsidiary to that person.
“Secured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness secured by any Lien upon property (including Shares or Indebtedness issued by or other ownership interests in any Restricted Subsidiary) owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Shares” means as to any corporation all the issued and outstanding equity shares (except for directors’ qualifying shares) of that corporation.
“Subsidiary” means an entity more than 50% of the outstanding voting interest of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by us and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting interest” in any entity means any equity interest which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors or their equivalent.
(Section 1.01).
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.
Without the consent of the holders of any of the outstanding debt securities, we may consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, or convey or transfer our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, as long as:
| • | the successor is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia; |
| • | the successor corporation assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the Indenture; |
| • | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event that, after notice, lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing; and |
| • | other conditions described in the Indenture are met. (Section 12.01). |
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Accordingly, the holders of debt securities may not have protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders. The existing protective covenants applicable to the debt securities would continue to apply to us in the event of a leveraged buyout initiated or supported by us, our management, or any of our affiliates or their management, but may not prevent such a transaction from taking place.
Events of Default.
The following are “events of default” with respect to debt securities of any series, unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or is specifically deleted or modified in any supplemental indenture under which such series is issued:
| • | default in the payment of any interest installment with respect to debt securities of that series when due and continuance of the default for a period of ten (10) days after receipt by us of written notice of the default from any person; |
| • | default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, debt securities of that series when due either at its maturity, when called for redemption, by declaration or otherwise, and continuance of the default for a period of ten (10) days after receipt by us of written notice of the default from any person; |
| • | default in the making of any payment for a sinking, purchase or analogous fund provided for in respect of any of the debt securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of ten days after receipt by us of written notice of the default from any person; |
| • | failure by us to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement in respect of debt securities of that series for a period of ninety days after the trustee gives us written notice, or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series give us and the trustee written notice of default; and |
| • | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization as more fully described in the Indenture. (Section 7.01). |
The applicable supplement will describe any additional events of default that may be added to the Indenture for a particular series of debt securities. (Section 7.01). No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities issued under the Indenture necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that the trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to debt securities of the series, give to the holders of those debt securities notice of all uncured defaults known to it, provided that except in the case of default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of that series, the trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of that series. The term “default” for the purpose of this provision means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series. (Section 7.08).
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, the portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of the series) of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. (Section 7.01). Prior to any declaration accelerating the maturity of any series of debt securities, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive any past default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series except a default (i) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any debt securities of that series or (ii) in regard to a covenant or provision applicable to that series that cannot be
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modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of that series. (Section 7.07). At any time after making a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series, but before obtaining or entering of a judgment or decree for the payment of money, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series may, in some circumstances, rescind and annul the acceleration. (Section 7.01).
The Indenture provides that, except for the duty of the trustee in the case of an event of default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of these rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee. (Sections 8.01 and 8.02).
The Indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for remedies available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee in respect of that series, except for cases in which the trustee is being advised by counsel that the action or proceeding may not lawfully be taken or would be in conflict with the terms of the Indenture or if the determination is made that the action or proceeding would involve the trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities not joining in the direction. (Section 7.07). Otherwise, a holder of debt securities of a series may not pursue any remedy with respect to the indenture or any debt securities of that series unless:
| • | the holder of debt securities of that series gives us and the trustee written notice of a continuing default; |
| • | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy; |
| • | the holder or holders of debt securities of that series offer the trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against any costs, liability or expense incurred in connection therewith; |
| • | the trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and |
| • | during such 60-day period, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding do not give the trustee a direction that is inconsistent with the request. |
However, these limitations do not apply to the right of any holder of any debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of a series or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the due date expressed in the debt securities, which right shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the holder. (Section 7.04)
We are required to furnish annually to the trustee a statement as to our performance and observance of and compliance with some of our obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in our performance, observance or compliance. (Section 5.08).
Global Securities.
We may issue the debt securities of a series as one or more fully registered global securities. We will deposit the global securities with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable supplement relating to the series. We will register the global securities in the name of the depositary or its nominee. In such case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series represented by the global security or securities. Until any global security is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive certificated form, the depositary or its nominee may not transfer the global certificate except as a whole to each other, another nominee or to their successors and except as described in the applicable supplement. (Section 2.11).
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The applicable supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities that a global security will represent.
Modification of the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that we and the trustee may, without the consent of any holders of debt securities, enter into supplemental indentures for the purposes, among other things, of:
| • | adding further events of default or other covenants, restrictions or conditions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities; |
| • | establishing the form or terms of any other series of debt securities; or |
| • | clarifying or curing ambiguities or inconsistencies in the indenture or making other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture, if those actions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any affected series of debt securities in any material respect. |
(Section 11.01).
We and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series to be affected, may execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or any supplemental indenture or debt security of a series or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities of that series to be affected, except that no supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the holders of all debt securities of that series then outstanding:
| • | change the fixed maturity (which term for these purposes does not include payments due pursuant to any sinking, purchase or analogous fund) of those debt securities, reduce the principal amount thereof, reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date without the consent of the holder of each debt security so affected), or |
| • | reduce the percentage of debt securities of a series required to approve any such supplemental indenture. |
(Section 11.02).
The Effect of Our Corporate Structure on Our Payment of the Debt Securities.
The debt securities are the obligations of Nucor exclusively. Because our operations are currently conducted through subsidiaries, the cash flow and our consequent ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent, in part, upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings to us or upon loans or other payments of funds by those subsidiaries to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. They have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due on the debt securities or to make any funds available for our payment of any amounts due on the debt securities, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. In addition, our subsidiaries’ payments of dividends and making of loans and advances to us may be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions and are contingent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and various business considerations.
Although the Indenture limits the incurrence of Secured Indebtedness, as described above in the subsection “Covenants Applicable to Our Debt Securities,” the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including current liabilities and commitments under leases, if any, of our subsidiaries. Any right of ours to receive assets of any of our subsidiaries upon liquidation or reorganization of the subsidiary (and the consequent right of the holders of the debt securities to participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors (including trade creditors), except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of the subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be subordinated to any security interests in the subsidiary’s assets and any of the subsidiary’s indebtedness senior to that which we hold.
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No Restriction on Sale or Issuance of Stock of Subsidiaries.
The Indenture contains no covenant that we will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, voting stock of any of our subsidiaries. It also does not prohibit any subsidiary from issuing any shares of, securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, the subsidiary’s voting stock.
No Personal Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers, Directors or Employees.
No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities issued under the Indenture or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any of our obligations, covenants or agreements in the Indenture or a supplemental indenture, or in any debt securities issued under the Indenture or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any of our incorporators, stockholders, officers, directors or employees or of any successor person thereof. Each holder, by accepting notes issued under the Indenture, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities. This waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws. (Section 14.01).
Reports to Holders and SEC Reports.
We will file with the trustee and transmit to holders of debt securities the information, documents and other reports required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in that Act. We will also file with the trustee any other information, documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act within 30 days after the information, documents or reports are required to be filed with the SEC. (Section 6.04).
Regarding the Trustee.
The Bank of New York is the trustee under the Indenture. Notice to the trustee should be directed to:
The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Office
101 Barclay Street
New York, New York 10007
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON STOCK
General.
As of November 16, 2007, our authorized capital stock consists of 800,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.40 per share, and 250,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $4.00 per share, 200,000 shares of which have been designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. As of November 12, 2007, 287,967,687 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding (not including treasury shares) and none of our preferred stock was issued and outstanding.
The following description of our common stock and provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and By-laws are only summaries and we encourage you to review complete copies of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, which we have previously filed with the SEC.
The holders of our common stock are entitled to have dividends declared in cash, property, or other securities out of any of our net profits or net assets legally available therefor as and when declared by our board of directors. This dividend right is subject to any preferential dividend rights we may grant to the persons who hold preferred stock, if any. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of our business, the holders of common stock will be entitled to receive ratably the balance of net assets available for distribution after payment of any liquidation or distribution preference payable with respect to any then outstanding shares of our preferred stock. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote with respect to matters brought before the stockholders, except for the election of any directors with respect to which stockholders have cumulative voting rights.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NUE.”
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Certain Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Law Provisions.
The provisions of Delaware law, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our company, including takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock.
Delaware Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the time that the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
| • | before the person became an “interested stockholder,” the board of directors of the corporation approved the transaction in which the “interested stockholder” became an “interested stockholder” or approved the business combination; |
| • | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” the “interested stockholder” owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation that was outstanding at the time the transaction commenced. For purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares owned by employee stock plans, in specified instances, are excluded; or |
| • | at or after the time the person became an “interested stockholder,” the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the “interested stockholder.” |
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A “business combination” is defined generally to include mergers or consolidations between a Delaware corporation and an “interested stockholder,” transactions with an “interested stockholder” involving the assets or stock of the corporation or any majority-owned subsidiary, transactions which increase an “interested stockholder’s” percentage ownership of stock of the corporation or any majority-owned subsidiary, and receipt of various financial benefits from the corporation or any majority-owned subsidiary. In general, an “interested stockholder” is defined as any person or entity that is the beneficial owner of at least 15% of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within the prior three years.
A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. However, we have not opted out of this provision. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change-in-control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Law Provisions
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide:
| • | a staggered board of directors so that it would take three successive annual meetings to replace all directors; |
| • | advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations; |
| • | limitations on the ability of stockholders to amend, alter or repeal the By-laws; |
| • | enhanced voting requirements for certain business combinations and transactions involving greater than 10% stockholders; and |
| • | the authority of our board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock with such terms as our board of directors may determine. |
Limitations of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Article VIII of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally provide that any person who serves or has served as our director, officer, employee or agent, or in such capacity at our request of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by law against (i) expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was acting in such capacity if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful and (ii) expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonable incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was acting in such capacity if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of such person’s duty to the corporation.
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law also state that indemnification provisions described above are not exclusive of any other rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses to which any person may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders
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or disinterested directors or otherwise. We may pay expenses incurred by our directors and officers in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding for which such persons may have a right of indemnification prior to the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding if we receive an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay all amounts advanced unless such person is entitled to be indemnified by us as described above.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for willful or negligent conduct in paying dividends or repurchasing stock out of other than lawfully available funds or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any action or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective.
We maintain insurance for the benefit of directors and officers insuring them against liabilities under the Securities Act and claims that are made against them by reason of any wrongful act (as defined) committed in their capacity as directors or officers.
Rights Plan.
In 2001, our board of directors adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (“Plan”) in which one right (“Right”) was distributed as a dividend for each Nucor common share outstanding. The Plan was amended in 2006 to adjust the purchase price of the Rights for stock splits effected since adoption of the Plan. Each Right entitles Nucor common stockholders to purchase, under certain conditions, one five-thousandth of a share of newly authorized Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (“Preferred Stock”). One five-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock is intended to be the economic equivalent of one share of our common stock. Until the occurrence of certain events, the Rights are represented by and traded in tandem with our common stock. Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of our outstanding common shares or commences a tender or exchange offer, upon the consummation of which such person or group would beneficially own fifteen percent (15%) or more of our outstanding common shares. Upon such an event, the Rights enable dilution of the acquiring person’s or group’s interest by providing that other holders of our common stock may purchase, at an exercise price of $150, our common stock, or in the discretion of the board of directors, Preferred Stock, having double the value of such exercise price. We will be entitled to redeem the Rights at $0.001 per Right under certain circumstances set forth in the Plan. The Rights themselves have no voting power and will expire on March 8, 2011, unless earlier exercised, redeemed or exchanged. Each one five-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock has the same voting rights as one share of our common stock, and each share of Preferred Stock has 5,000 times the voting power of one share of our common stock.
Transfer Agent and Registrar.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK
General.
The following is a summary of some of the important terms of our preferred stock. You should review the applicable Delaware law, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, for a more complete description of our preferred stock.
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue 250,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $4.00 per share, 200,000 shares of which have been designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. We may amend our Restated Certificate of Incorporation from time to time to increase the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. Such an amendment would require the approval of the holders of the voting capital stock entitled to vote on such an amendment in accordance with the terms of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation. As of the date of this prospectus, we had no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
The Board of Directors is authorized to designate the following with respect to each new series of preferred stock:
| • | the title and stated value of the series; |
| • | the number of shares in each series; |
| • | the dividend rates and dates of payment; |
| • | whether dividends will be cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
| • | voluntary and involuntary liquidation preferences and the liquidation price and liquidation premium, if any, applicable to the series; |
| • | redemption prices, if redeemable, and the terms and conditions of such redemption; |
| • | the rights, if any, and the terms and conditions on which shares can be converted into shares of any other class or series; |
| • | the voting rights, if any; and |
| • | any other applicable terms. |
We will pay dividends and make distributions in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up first to holders of our preferred stock and then to holders of our common stock. The Board of Directors’ ability to issue preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely affect the voting powers of holders of common stock and, under some circumstances, may discourage an attempt by others to gain control of us.
The terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. Nevertheless, the description of the terms of any series of preferred stock in a supplement to this prospectus will not be complete. You should refer to the certificate of designation for the series of preferred stock for complete information.
Miscellaneous.
The preferred stock, when issued in exchange for full consideration, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
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We may sell the securities described in this prospectus to or through underwriters, agents or dealers or directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters, agents or dealers.
The accompanying supplement to this prospectus will identify or describe:
| • | any underwriters, agents or dealers; |
| • | their compensation; |
| • | the net proceeds to us; |
| • | the purchase price of the securities; |
| • | the initial public offering price of the securities; and |
| • | any exchange on which the securities are listed or to which application will be made to list the securities. |
We may designate agents to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment and to sell securities on a continuing basis, including pursuant to “at the market offerings”.
We may offer these securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or through underwriters without a syndicate. If underwriters are used, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to customary conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if any of the securities are purchased. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Underwriters and agents may from time to time purchase and sell the securities described in this prospectus and the applicable supplement in the secondary market, but are not obligated to do so. No assurance can be given that there will be a secondary market for the securities or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time, underwriters and agents may make a market in the securities.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of these securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on these securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the debt securities for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
Underwriters named in an applicable supplement are, and dealers and agents named in an applicable supplement may be, deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the securities offered thereby, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on
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their resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. We may have agreements with the underwriters, agents and dealers to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect of these liabilities. Underwriters, agents and dealers may engage in transactions with or perform services for Nucor or our subsidiaries and affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
If indicated in an applicable supplement, we will authorize dealers acting as our agents to solicit offers from some institutions to purchase our securities at the public offering price given in that supplement under “Delayed Delivery Contracts” providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in such supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate principal amount of securities sold under the contracts will not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable supplement. Institutions with whom contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:
| • | the purchase by an institution of the securities covered by its contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject, and |
| • | if the securities are being sold to underwriters, we will have sold to the underwriters the total principal amount of the securities less the principal amount covered by contracts. |
One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms”, may also offer or sell the securities, if the applicable supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the securities. The applicable supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket. Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Unless indicated in the applicable supplement, we do not expect to apply to list the securities on a securities exchange.
The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Moore & Van Allen PLLC, Charlotte, North Carolina. Some attorneys with Moore & Van Allen PLLC own shares of our common stock.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated into this prospectus by reference to Nucor Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 9, 2007 and the consolidated financial statement schedule and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated into this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Nucor Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may obtain any document we file through the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov or at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. Our SEC filings are also available at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 and on our website at http://www.nucor.com. The information on our web site is not a part of this prospectus or any applicable supplement.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means:
| • | incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus; |
| • | we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and |
| • | information we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus and any information that was previously incorporated. |
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future documents we file with the SEC (File No. 001-04119) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until we terminate this offering:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006; |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 29, 2007; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 3, 2007, March 2, 2007, September 6, 2007, September 7, 2007 and November 9, 2007; and |
| • | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus through us, or from the SEC through the SEC’s web site or at the address listed above. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:
Nucor Corporation
Attn: A. Rae Eagle, Corporate Secretary
1915 Rexford Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211
Telephone: (704) 366-7000
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the prospectus.
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$
% Notes due
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
September , 2010
| Joint Book-Running Managers | ||||
BofA Merrill Lynch
Citi
J.P. Morgan