that Trigger Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.
“Existing Notes” means the Company’s 3.400% Senior Notes due fiscal 2026 and 4.00% Senior Notes due fiscal 2029.
“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us under the circumstances permitting us to select a replacement agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to its rating agency business.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, association, joint-stock company, joint venture, trust, incorporated or unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s and S&P; provided that if any of 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, we may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act as a replacement for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be; provided that we shall give notice of such appointment to the Trustee.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.
“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means 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.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of Cabot and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise, established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the applicability of the requirement that we offer to repurchase the notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Cabot and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
Our ability to make the Change of Control Payment to holders of the notes following a Change of Control Triggering Event may be limited by our then-existing financial resources. Sufficient funds may not be available when necessary to make any required purchases of notes. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Notes—We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.”
The provisions under the Indenture relative to our obligation to make an offer to purchase the notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event may be waived or modified with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes.
Additional Considerations
These notes are also subject to certain covenants as well as modification provisions, which are described in the accompanying prospectus. For a more detailed description, see “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
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