| Item 1.01. |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On March 8, 2023, Eastman Chemical Company (the “Company”) issued $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.750% Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”) in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-257008) and a preliminary prospectus supplement and prospectus supplement related to the offering of the Notes, each as previously filed with the SEC.
The Notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of June 5, 2012 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The Notes will mature on March 8, 2033. Interest on the Notes will be paid semi-annually in arrears on March 8 and September 8 of each year, commencing on September 8, 2023, to the persons in whose names such Notes are registered in the security register at the close of business on the February 23 or August 23 preceding the relevant interest payment date, except that interest payable at maturity shall be paid to the same persons to whom principal of the Notes is payable.
Prior to December 8, 2032 (three months prior to the Notes maturity date (the “Par Call Date”)), the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: (1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Notes) plus 30 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
In addition, on and after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
The Indenture and the Notes contain covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company to incur certain secured indebtedness, enter into sale and leaseback transactions and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets and the assets of its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. Upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the Indenture) and a contemporaneous downgrade of the Notes below an investment grade rating by both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Notes rank equally in right of payment with existing and any future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and rank senior in right of payment to any existing and future indebtedness of the Company that is subordinated to the Notes. The Notes are also effectively subordinated to any existing and future secured indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness, and are structurally subordinated to all existing and any future indebtedness and any other liabilities of its subsidiaries.
Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Indenture, which includes payment defaults, defaults in the performance of affirmative and negative covenants and bankruptcy and insolvency-related defaults, the obligations of the Company under the Notes may be accelerated, in which case the entire principal amount of the Notes would be immediately due and payable.
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel to the Company, has issued an opinion to the Company, dated March 8, 2023, regarding the Notes. A copy of this opinion is filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.