RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully the risk factors identified in Part I, Item IA “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“2022 Form 10-K”), the following information about risks, as well as risks arising from any legal proceedings identified or referenced in “Legal Proceedings” in Part 1, Item 3 of our 2022 Form 10-K, as it may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports that we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), together with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment in the notes.
Risks Related to the Notes
We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for either series of notes.
The 2028 notes and the 2033 notes will each be a new issue of securities for which currently there is no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing of either series of notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of either series of notes on any dealer quotation system. We cannot assure you that a trading market will develop for either series of notes. Even if a market for a series of notes does develop, we cannot assure you that there will be liquidity in that market or that such notes might not trade for less than their original value or face amount. The liquidity of any market for a series of notes will depend on the number of holders of such notes, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in such notes and other factors. If a liquid market for a series of notes does not develop, you may be unable to resell such series of notes for a long period of time, if at all. This means you may not be able to readily convert your notes into cash, and such notes may not be accepted as collateral for a loan.
Even if a market for a series of notes develops, trading prices could be higher or lower than the initial offering price. The price of such notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, our operating results and the market for similar securities. Declines in the market prices for debt securities generally may also materially and adversely affect the liquidity of the notes, independent of our financial performance.
Our existing indebtedness, and any future indebtedness, may adversely affect our future financial and operating flexibility and our ability to service the notes.
As of December 31, 2022, we, on an unconsolidated basis, had approximately $5.3 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness outstanding (inclusive of outstanding commercial paper), all of which was unsecured and unsubordinated. Our existing indebtedness and the additional debt we may incur in the future for, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or operating activities may adversely affect our liquidity and, therefore, our ability to make principal and interest payments on either series of notes.
The indenture governing the notes will permit us to incur additional debt, which would be equal in right of payment to the notes. If we incur any additional indebtedness, including trade payables, that ranks equally with the notes, the holders of that debt would be entitled to share ratably with you in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of us. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.
The notes will be structurally subordinated to existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
We hold a significant portion of our assets through our subsidiaries. As a result, we may depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to meet our payment obligations under any debt securities, including the notes and our other obligations. In general, these subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts due on our debt securities or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or otherwise. In addition, provisions of applicable law, such as those
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