As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 20-2311383 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
and subsidiary guarantor registrants identified in the “Table of Subsidiary Guarantors” on the next page
2021 Spring Road, Suite 600
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
(708) 483-1300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrants’ principal executive offices)
Thomas E. O’Neill, Esq.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
2021 Spring Road, Suite 600
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
(708) 483-1300
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Bruce A. Toth, Esq.
Christina T. Roupas, Esq.
Winston & Strawn LLP
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 558-5600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1) | Amount of Registration Fee(2) | ||||
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | — | — | — | — | ||||
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share | — | — | — | — | ||||
Debt Securities | — | — | — | — | ||||
Warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock | — | — | — | — | ||||
Subscription Rights | — | — | — | — | ||||
Stock Purchase Contracts | — | — | — | — | ||||
Stock Purchase Units | — | — | — | — | ||||
Guarantees of Debt Securities(3) | — | — | — | — | ||||
Total | — | — | — | — | ||||
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| (1) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. |
| (2) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), TreeHouse Foods, Inc. is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. |
| (3) | Includes guarantees by the subsidiaries of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. listed below of some or all debt securities. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) of the Securities Act, no separate fee is payable with respect to guarantees of the debt securities being registered. |
TABLE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter | State or Other | I.R.S. Employer | ||
Bay Valley Foods, LLC (1) | Delaware | 20-3041002 | ||
Sturm Foods, Inc. (1) | Wisconsin | 39-0965336 | ||
S.T. Specialty Foods, Inc. (1) | Minnesota | 41-1731014 | ||
Associated Brands, Inc. (1) | New York | 16-1314828 | ||
Protenergy Holdings, Inc. (1) | Delaware | 46-5738786 | ||
Protenergy Natural Foods, Inc. (1) | Delaware | 30-0698193 | ||
TreeHouse Private Brands, Inc. (1) | Missouri | 43-1766315 | ||
Linette Quality Chocolates, Inc. (1) | Georgia | 58-1686770 | ||
Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc. (1) | Delaware | 61-1337548 | ||
Cottage Bakery, Inc. (1) | California | 94-2192936 | ||
The Carriage House Companies, Inc. (1) | Delaware | 13-2875580 | ||
American Italian Pasta Company (1) | Delaware | 84-1032638 | ||
TreeHouse Foods Services, LLC (1) | Delaware | 90-1015157 |
| (1) | Registrant’s address is 2021 Spring Road, Suite 600, Oak Brook, Illinois, 60523. Telephone: (708) 483-1300 |
PROSPECTUS
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Guarantees of Debt Securities
We may offer and sell any of the following securities from time to time, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering:
| • | common stock; |
| • | preferred stock; |
| • | debt securities; |
| • | warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock; |
| • | subscription rights; and |
| • | stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. |
Certain of our domestic subsidiaries may fully and unconditionally guarantee any debt securities that we issue. When we use the term “securities” in this prospectus, we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus, unless we say otherwise.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus or incorporated into this prospectus by reference. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “THS.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors included in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering of securities and in any other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus, in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
When we issue new securities, we may offer them for sale to or through underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers. The applicable prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering, including any required information about the firms we use and the discounts or commissions we may pay them for their services. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” on page 20 of this prospectus.
The date of this prospectus is August 25, 2020.
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS | 27 | |||
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You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and in other offering material, if any, or information contained in documents which you are referred to by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or in other offering material, if any. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not offering to sell any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer and sale are not permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or other offering material is accurate only as of the date of those documents or information, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or information or the time of any sale of the securities. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.
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This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. By using this shelf registration process, we may sell at any time, and from time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with only a general description of the securities we may offer. It is not meant to be a complete description of any security. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. We and any underwriter or agent that we may from time to time retain may also provide other information relating to an offering, which we refer to as “other offering material.” The prospectus supplement as well as the other offering material may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other offering material (including any free writing prospectus) prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of securities, together with additional information described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and any other offering material. Throughout this prospectus, where we indicate that information may be supplemented in an applicable prospectus supplement or supplements, that information may also be supplemented in other offering material. If there is any inconsistency between this prospectus and the information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “TreeHouse,” the “Company,” “us,” “we” or “our” in this prospectus mean TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. When we refer to “you” in this section, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities.
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The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also 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 this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents:
| (a) | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019; |
| (b) | Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020; |
| (c) | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2020 (Item 8.01 only), February 13, 2020 (Item 5.02 only), February 27, 2020 (Item 8.01 only), April 1, 2020, May 5, 2020, May 7, 2020 (Item 8.01 only) and August 25, 2020; |
| (d) | Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020; |
| (e) | The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on May 13, 2005 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as updated by the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.10 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and as amended by any subsequent amendment or any report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and |
| (f) | All documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before all of the securities offered by this prospectus are sold. |
Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC, unless we expressly provide otherwise.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements and information in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The words “believe,” “estimate”, “project”, “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. These forward-looking statements and other information are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by us using information currently available. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. We are making investors aware that such forward-looking statements, because they relate to future events, are by their very nature subject to many important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and other public statements we make. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact of the recent novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak on our business, suppliers, consumers, customers and employees; the success of our restructuring programs; our level of indebtedness and related obligations; disruptions or inefficiencies in the financial markets; interest rates; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; customer concentration and consolidation; raw material and commodity costs; competition; disruptions or inefficiencies in our supply chain and/or operations from the recent COVID-19 outbreak; our ability to continue to make acquisitions in accordance with our business strategy; or effectively changes and developments affecting our industry, including customer preferences; the outcome of litigation and regulatory proceedings to which we may be a party; product recalls; changes in laws and regulations applicable to us; disruptions in or failures of our information technology systems; and labor strikes or work stoppages; and other risks that are described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that such statements are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update, clarify or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, events, circumstances or otherwise.
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Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filing under the Exchange Act, as well as any prospectus supplement relating to a specific security. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. For more information, see the sections entitled “Incorporation By Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” on pages 2 and 31, respectively of this prospectus. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operation or financial condition and affect the value of our securities. You could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, results of operation or financial condition.
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We are a leading manufacturer and distributor of private label foods and beverages in North America. We have 36 production facilities across North America and two in Italy, and our vision is to be the undisputed solutions leader for custom brands for our customers. Our extensive product portfolio includes snacking, beverages, and meal preparation products, available in shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen, and fresh formats. We have a comprehensive offering of packaging formats and flavor profiles, and we also offer clean label, organic, and preservative-free ingredients across almost our entire portfolio. Our purpose is to make high quality food and beverages affordable to all.
We manufacture and sell the following:
| • | private label products to retailers, such as supermarkets, mass merchandisers, and specialty retailers, for resale under the retailers’ own or controlled labels; |
| • | private label and branded products to the foodservice industry, including foodservice distributors and national restaurant operators; |
| • | branded products under our own proprietary brands, primarily on a regional basis to retailers; |
| • | branded products under co-pack agreements to other major branded companies for their distributions; and |
| • | products to our industrial customer base for repackaging in portion control packages and for use as ingredients by other food manufacturers. |
Effective January 1, 2020, our reportable segments, and the principal products that comprise each segment, are as follows:
| Meal Preparation | Snacking and Beverages | |||||
• Aseptic cheese and pudding
• Baking and mix powders
• Hot cereals
• Jams, preserves and jellies
• Liquid and powdered non-dairy creamer
• Mayonnaise
• Mexican, barbeque, and other sauces | • Pasta
• Pickles and related products
• Powdered soups and gravies
• Refrigerated and shelf stable dressings and sauces
• Refrigerated dough
• Single serve hot beverages
• Skillet dinners
• Table and flavor syrups | • Bars
• Broths
• Candy
• Cookies
• Crackers
• In-store bakery products
• Pita chips
• Powdered drinks
• Pretzels | • Ready-to-drink coffee
• Retail griddle waffles, pancakes, and French toast
• Specialty teas
• Sweeteners | |||
We operate our business as Bay Valley Foods, LLC (“Bay Valley”), Sturm Foods, Inc. (includes Cains Foods, Inc. beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019), S.T. Specialty Foods, Inc., Associated Brands, Inc., TreeHouse Foods Services, LLC, Protenergy Natural Foods, Inc., TreeHouse Private Brands, Inc., American Italian Pasta Company, Linette Quality Chocolates, Inc., Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc., Cottage Bakery, Inc., and The Carriage House Companies, Inc. in the United States, E.D. Smith Foods, Ltd., Associated Brands, Inc., Protenergy Natural Foods Corporation, BFG Canada Ltd., and Western Waffles Corp. in Canada, and Pasta Lensi, S.r.l. in Italy. Bay Valley is a Delaware limited liability company, and a 100% owned subsidiary of TreeHouse. All operating units are directly or indirectly 100% owned subsidiaries of Bay Valley.
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We were incorporated on January 25, 2005 in Delaware following a spin-off from Dean Foods Company of certain specialty businesses to its shareholders, which was completed on June 27, 2005. Our principal executive offices are located at 2021 Spring Road, Suite 600, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523. Our telephone number is 708-483-1300. Our website address is www.treehousefoods.com. The information on or accessible through our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to any securities that we offer through this prospectus.
Certain of our domestic subsidiaries (which we refer to as the “subsidiary guarantors” in this prospectus), may fully and unconditionally guarantee our payment obligations under any series of debt securities offered by this prospectus. Financial information concerning our subsidiary guarantors and any non-guarantor subsidiaries will be included in our consolidated financial statements filed as part of our periodic reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Additional information concerning our subsidiaries and us is included in our periodic reports and other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Please read “Incorporation By Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of our securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, repayment or refinancing of debt and other business opportunities. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. The net proceeds from the sale of securities may be invested temporarily until they are used for their stated purpose. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials related to the offered securities.
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the capital stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of any security. At the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus together with the accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.
The following descriptions of our capital stock and of certain provisions of Delaware law do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”), our Amended and Restated By-laws (“By-laws”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, or the DGCL. Copies of our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws have been filed with the SEC and are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
As used in this “Description of Capital Stock,” the terms “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to TreeHouse Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and not, unless otherwise indicated, to any of our subsidiaries.
As of the date hereof, our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares, of which 90,000,000 shares are common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares are preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of August 21, 2020, we had 56,501,613 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “THS.”
Common Stock
Dividend Rights. Subject to the dividend rights of the holders of any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends out of funds lawfully available therefore at such times and in such amounts as our board of directors may from time to time determine.
Rights Upon Liquidation. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in our assets that are legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts, other liabilities and any liquidation preferences of outstanding preferred stock.
Conversion, Redemption and Preemptive Rights. Holders of our common stock have no conversion, redemption, preemptive or similar rights.
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Voting Rights. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote at all meetings of stockholders, provided, however, that except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of outstanding preferred stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Other than the election of directors, if an action is to be taken by vote of the stockholders, it will be authorized by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote on the action, unless a greater vote is required in our Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at an election.
Preferred Stock
Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our board of directors, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, and to fix the designations, terms, and relative rights and preferences, including the dividend rate, voting rights, conversion rights, redemption and sinking fund provisions and liquidation preferences of each of these series. We may amend from time to time our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. Any such amendment would require the approval of the holders of a majority of our shares entitled to vote.
The particular terms of any series of preferred stock that we offer under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:
| • | the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered; |
| • | the purchase price of the preferred stock; |
| • | the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends will be payable, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the date from which dividends will begin to accumulate; |
| • | any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred stock; |
| • | any conversion, redemption or exchange provisions of the preferred stock; |
| • | the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; and |
| • | any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock. |
You should refer to the certificate of designations establishing a particular series of preferred stock which will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the SEC in connection with any offering of preferred stock.
Each prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock may describe certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such series of preferred stock.
Dividend Rights. The preferred stock will be preferred over our common stock as to payment of dividends. Before any dividends or distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in common stock or other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation) on our common stock or other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation shall be declared and set apart for payment or paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock (unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors or, if dividends are cumulative, full cumulative dividends for the current and all prior dividend periods. We will pay those dividends either in cash, shares of preferred stock or otherwise, at the rate and on the date or dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. With respect to each series of
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preferred stock that has cumulative dividends, the dividends on each share of the series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share unless some other date is set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. Accruals of dividends will not bear interest. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the relative ranking of the particular series of the preferred stock as to the payment of dividends, as compared with then-existing and future series of preferred stock.
Rights Upon Liquidation. The preferred stock of each series will be preferred over our common stock and other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to assets, so that the holders of that series of preferred stock (unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) will be entitled to be paid, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and before any distribution is made to the holders of our common stock and other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock, the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, in this case the holders of preferred stock of that series will not be entitled to any other or further payment. If upon any liquidations, dissolution or winding up, our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock in amounts proportional to the full amounts to which the holders in each series are entitled, subject to any provisions of any series of preferred stock that rank it junior or senior to other series of preferred stock upon liquidation. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the relative ranking of the particular series of the preferred stock upon liquidation, as compared with then-existing and future series of preferred stock.
Conversion, Redemption or Exchange Rights. The shares of a series of preferred stock will be convertible at the option of the holder of the preferred stock, redeemable at our option or the option of the holder, as applicable, or exchangeable at our option, into another security, in each case, to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Voting Rights. Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or as otherwise from time to time required by law, the holders of preferred stock will have no voting rights.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Rights Plan and of Delaware Law
Business Combinations Act
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, 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 person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors or the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A business combination includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the interested stockholder and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an interested stockholder is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Certificate of Incorporation and By-law Provisions
Our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws also contain certain provisions that may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by stockholders. For example, our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws divide our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Under our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may only be filled by vote of a majority of our directors then in office. The classification of our board of directors and the limitations on the removal of directors and filling of vacancies could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from acquiring, control of us.
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Our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws also provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before the meeting and may not be taken by written action in lieu of a meeting. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholders representing at least a majority of the votes which all stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors have the right to call special meetings of stockholders. In addition, our By-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholders’ meeting, stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities. These provisions may also discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our common stock, because even if it acquired a majority of our outstanding voting securities, the third party would be able to take action as a stockholder, such as electing new directors or approving a merger, only at a duly called stockholders’ meeting, and not by written consent.
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares of our capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote to amend or repeal any of the provisions described in the prior two paragraphs.
Certain Effects of Authorized But Unissued Stock
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock may be issued without additional stockholder approval and may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital or to facilitate corporate acquisitions.
The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us. The issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount available for distribution to holders of our common stock or could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of such holders. In certain circumstances, such issuance could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, lender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of management. Such additional shares also could be used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us.
We plan to issue additional shares of common stock in connection with our employee benefit plans. We do not currently have any plans to issue shares of preferred stock.
Limitation of Liability of Directors
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision that limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Such limitation does not, however, affect the liability of a director (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or purchases and
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(4) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. The effect of this provision is to eliminate our rights and the rights of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director (including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior) except in the situations described in clauses (1) through (4) above. This provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of our stockholders to seek non-monetary relief such as an injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care. In addition, our directors and officers have indemnification protection.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Investor Services acts as transfer agent and registrar of our common stock.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
General
As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue separately, upon exercise of a debt warrant, in connection with a stock purchase contract or as part of a stock purchase unit, from time to time. The debt securities offered by this prospectus will be issued under one of two separate indentures among us, the subsidiary guarantors of such debt securities, if any, and a trustee to be named in the applicable indenture. We have filed the forms of indenture as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The senior note indenture and the subordinated note indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” We may also issue debt securities under a separate, new indenture. If that occurs, we will describe any differences in the terms of any such indenture in the prospectus supplement.
The debt securities will be obligations of TreeHouse and will be either senior or subordinated debt securities. We have summarized selected material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities below. This summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indentures. As used in this “Description of Debt Securities,” the terms “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to TreeHouse Foods, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries. Section references included in this summary of our debt securities, unless otherwise indicated, refer to specific sections of the indentures.
We may issue debt securities at any time and from time to time in one or more series under the indentures. The indentures give us the ability to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of the same series. If specified in the prospectus supplement respecting a particular series of debt securities, one or more subsidiary guarantors will fully and unconditionally guarantee that series as described under “— Subsidiary Guarantee” and in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each subsidiary guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of the subsidiary guarantor. A subsidiary guarantee of subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the senior debt of the subsidiary guarantor on the same basis as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to our senior debt.
We will describe the particular material terms of each series of debt securities we offer in a supplement to this prospectus. If any particular terms of the debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus. The terms of our debt securities will include those set forth in the indentures and those made a part of the indentures by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). You should carefully read the summary below the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the indentures that may be important to you before investing in our debt securities.
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Ranking
The senior debt securities offered by this prospectus will:
| • | be general obligations; |
| • | rank equally with all other unsubordinated indebtedness of TreeHouse or any subsidiary guarantor (except to the extent such other indebtedness is secured by collateral that does not also secure the senior debt securities offered by this prospectus); and |
| • | with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries, effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries (except to the extent that the senior debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below). |
The subordinated debt securities offered by this prospectus will:
| • | be general obligations; |
| • | rank subordinated and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the subordinated note indenture to all senior debt of TreeHouse and any subsidiary guarantor; and |
| • | with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries, effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries (except to the extent that the subordinated debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below). |
A substantial portion of our assets are owned through our subsidiaries, many of which may have debt or other liabilities of their own that will be structurally senior to the debt securities. Therefore, unless the debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below, TreeHouse’s rights and the rights of TreeHouse’s creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s other creditors.
In addition, because our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, the cash flow and the consequent ability to service our indebtedness, including the debt securities, are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of those earning or upon the payments of funds by those subsidiaries to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, unless the debt securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below, our subsidiaries have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the debt securities or to make funds available to us, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. In addition, the payment of dividends and the making of loans and advances to us by our subsidiaries may be subject to contractual or statutory restrictions, are contingent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and are subject to various business considerations.
The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. We may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. The indentures also do not limit our ability to incur other debt.
Subject to the exceptions, and subject to compliance with the applicable requirements set forth in the indentures, we may discharge our obligations under the indentures with respect to our debt securities as described below under “— Defeasance.”
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Terms
We will describe the specific material terms of the series of debt securities being offered in a supplement to this prospectus. These terms may include some or all of the following:
| • | the title of the debt securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities; |
| • | whether and the extent to which any subsidiary guarantor will provide a subsidiary guarantee of the debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable and whether the stated maturity date can be extended or the method used to determine or extend those dates; |
| • | any interest rate on the debt securities, any date from which interest will accrue, any interest payment dates and regular record dates for interest payments, or the method used to determine any of the foregoing, and the basis for calculating interest if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| • | the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable, where the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon us relating to the debt securities may be made, if other than the corporate trust office of the trustee; |
| • | the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, |
| • | the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities, if any; |
| • | any provisions for redemption of the debt securities; |
| • | any provisions that would allow or obligate us to redeem or purchase the debt securities prior to their maturity pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of the holder; |
| • | the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000; |
| • | any provisions that would determine payments on the debt securities by reference to an index, formula or other method and the manner of determining the amount of such payments; |
| • | any foreign currency, currencies or currency units in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium and any interest will or may be payable and the manner for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; |
| • | any provisions for payments on the debt securities in one or more currencies or currency units other than those in which the debt securities are stated to be payable; |
| • | the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount; |
| • | if the principal amount to be paid at the stated maturity of the debt securities is not determinable as of one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be the principal amount as of any such date for any purpose; |
| • | any variation of the defeasance and covenant defeasance sections of the indentures and the manner in which our election to defease the debt securities will be evidenced, if other than by a board resolution; |
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| • | whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of temporary or permanent global securities, the depositaries for the global securities, and provisions for exchanging or transferring the global securities; |
| • | whether the interest rate or the debt securities may be reset; |
| • | whether the stated maturity of the debt securities may be extended; |
| • | any deletion or addition to or change in the events of default for the debt securities and any change in the rights of the trustee or the holders or the debt securities arising from an event of default including, among others, the right to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable; |
| • | any addition to or change in the covenants in the indentures; |
| • | any additions or changes to the indentures necessary to issue the debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; |
| • | the appointment of any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | the terms of any right or obligation to convert or exchange the debt securities into any other securities or property, |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the debt securities are secured; |
| • | any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities; |
| • | whether, under what circumstances and the currency in which we will pay any additional amounts on the debt securities as contemplated in the applicable indenture in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts (and the terms of any such option); |
| • | in the case of subordinated debt securities, any subordination provisions and related definitions which may be applicable in addition to, or in lieu of, those contained in the subordinated note indenture, |
| • | the exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities may be listed; and |
| • | any other terms of the debt securities consistent with the indentures. (Section 301). |
Any limit on the maximum total principal amount for any series of the debt securities may be increased by resolution of our board of directors. (Section 301). We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount securities, at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If there are any special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities we sell at an original issue discount, we will describe them in the prospectus supplement. In addition, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any special United States federal income tax considerations and any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars.
Subsidiary Guarantee
If specified in the prospectus supplement, one or more subsidiary guarantors will guarantee the debt securities of a series. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to the subsidiary guarantee of the subsidiary guarantor.
Subject to the limitations described below and in the prospectus supplement, one or more subsidiary guarantors will jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all our payment obligations under the indentures and
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the debt securities of a series, whether for principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities or otherwise. The subsidiary guarantors will also pay all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the applicable trustee in enforcing any rights under a subsidiary guarantee with respect to a subsidiary guarantor.
In the case of subordinated debt securities, a subsidiary guarantor’s subsidiary guarantee will be subordinated in right of payment to the senior debt of such subsidiary guarantor on the same basis as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to our senior debt. No payment will be made by any subsidiary guarantor under its subsidiary guarantee during any period in which payments by us on the subordinated debt securities are suspended by the subordination provisions of the subordinated note indenture.
Each subsidiary guarantee will be limited in amount to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the subsidiary guarantor without rendering such subsidiary guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
Each subsidiary guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and will:
| • | remain in full force and effect until either payment in full of all of the applicable debt securities (or such debt securities are otherwise satisfied and discharged in accordance with the provisions of the applicable indenture) or released as described in the following paragraph; |
| • | be binding upon each subsidiary guarantor; and |
| • | inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the applicable trustee, the holders and their successors, transferees and assigns. |
In the event that a subsidiary guarantor ceases to be a subsidiary of TreeHouse, either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance occurs with respect to a series of debt securities, or substantially all of the assets or all of the capital stock of such subsidiary guarantor is sold, including by way of sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise, such subsidiary guarantor will be released and discharged of its obligations under its subsidiary guarantee without further action required on the part of the trustee or any holder, and no other person acquiring or owning the assets or capital stock of such subsidiary guarantor will be required to enter into a subsidiary guarantee. In addition, the prospectus supplement may specify additional circumstances under which a subsidiary guarantor can be released from its subsidiary guarantee.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without coupons. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will only issue debt securities in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount. (Section 302).
Holders generally will be able to exchange debt securities for other debt securities of the same series with the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations. (Section 305).
Holders may present debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for that purpose. The security registrar or designated transfer agent will exchange or transfer the debt securities if it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We will not charge a service charge for any exchange or registration of transfer of debt securities. However, we and the security registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable for the registration of transfer or exchange. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will appoint the trustee as security registrar. We will identify any
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transfer agent in addition to the security registrar in the prospectus supplement. (Section 305). At any time we may:
| • | designate additional transfer agents; |
| • | rescind the designation of any transfer agent; or |
| • | approve a change in the office of any transfer agent. |
However, we are required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities at all times. (Sections 305 and 1002).
lf we elect to redeem a series of debt securities, neither we nor the trustee will be required:
| • | to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities of that series during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption for the series and ending at the close of business on the day the notice is mailed; or |
| • | to register the transfer or exchange of any debt security of that series so selected for redemption, except for any portion not to be redeemed. (Section 305). |
Payment and Paying Agents
Under the indentures, we will pay interest on the debt securities to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for each interest payment. However, unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay the interest payable on the debt securities at their stated maturity to the persons to whom we pay the principal amount of the debt securities. The initial payment of interest on any series of debt securities issued between a regular record date and the related interest payment date will be payable in the manner provided by the terms of the series, which we will describe in the prospectus supplement. (Section 307).
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities at the offices of the paying agents we designate. However, except in the case of a global security (which payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such global security will be made to the depository), we may pay interest:
| • | by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security register; or |
| • | by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the place and account designated in writing at least fifteen days prior to the interest payment date by the person entitled to the payment as specified in the security register. |
We will designate the trustee as the sole paying agent for the debt securities unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement. If we initially designate any other paying agents for a series of debt securities, we will identify them in the prospectus supplement. At any time, we may designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agents. However, we are required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities at all times. (Sections 307 and 1002).
Any money deposited with the trustee or any paying agent in trust for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities that remains unclaimed for one year after the date the payments became due, may be repaid to us upon our request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After we have been repaid, holders entitled to those payments may only look to us for payment as our unsecured general creditors. The trustee and any paying agents will not be liable for those payments after we have been repaid. (Section 1003).
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Restrictive Covenants
We will describe any restrictive covenants for any series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
Under the indentures, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person (as defined below) referred to as a “successor person” unless:
| • | the successor person expressly assumes our obligations with respect to the debt securities and the indentures; |
| • | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
| • | we have delivered to the trustee the certificates and opinions required under the respective indenture. (Section 801). |
Except in a transaction resulting in the release of a subsidiary guarantor under the terms of the indenture, a subsidiary guarantor may not, and we may not permit a subsidiary guarantor to, consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person (other than another subsidiary guarantor or us), referred to as a “successor person” unless:
| • | the successor person expressly assumes the subsidiary guarantor’s obligations with respect to the debt securities and the indentures, and |
| • | the subsidiary guarantor has delivered to the trustee the certificates and opinions required under the respective indenture. (Section 802) |
As used in the indentures, the term “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Events of Default
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will be an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to any series of debt securities:
| • | our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on that series of debt securities when such principal or premium, if any, becomes due; |
| • | our failure to pay any interest on that series of debt securities for 30 days after such interest becomes due; |
| • | our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for 30 days after such payment is due by the terms of that series of debt securities; |
| • | our failure to perform, or our breach, in any material respect, of any other covenant or warranty in the indenture with respect to that series of debt securities, other than a covenant or warranty included in such indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities, for 90 days after either the trustee has given us or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have given us and the trustee written notice of such failure to perform or breach in the manner required by the indentures; |
| • | specified events involving, the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or, if a subsidiary guarantor has guaranteed the series of debt securities, such subsidiary guarantor; |
| • | or any other event of default we may provide for that series of debt securities, provided, however, that no event described in the fourth bullet point above will be an event of default until an officer |
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of the trustee responsible for the administration of the indentures has actual knowledge of the event or until the trustee receives written notice of the event at its corporate trust office. (Section 501). |
An event of default under one series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default under any other series of debt securities. If an event of default for a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series due and immediately payable by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders); provided that, in the case of an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, such acceleration is automatic; and provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, subject to certain conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal have been cured or waived. Upon such acceleration, we will be obligated to pay the principal amount of that series of debt securities.
The right described in the preceding paragraph does not apply if an event of default occurs as described in the sixth bullet point above (i.e., other events of default), which is common to all series of our debt securities then outstanding. If such an event of default occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all series of the debt securities then outstanding, treated as one class, may declare the principal amount of all series of the debt securities then outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders). Upon such declaration, we will be obligated to pay the principal amount of the debt securities.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will generally have no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indentures at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders offer indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. (Section 603). The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will generally have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee for the debt securities of that series, provided that:
| • | the direction is not in conflict with any law or the indentures; |
| • | the trustee may take any other action it deems proper which is not inconsistent with the direction; and |
| • | the trustee will generally have the right to decline to follow the direction if an officer of the trustee determines, in good faith, that the proceeding would involve the trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law. (Section 512). |
A holder of a debt security of any series may only institute proceedings or pursue any other remedy under the indentures if:
| • | the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default; |
| • | holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series make a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings with respect to such event of default; |
| • | the holders offer indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against any costs, liability or expense in complying with such request; |
| • | the trustee fails to institute proceedings within 60 days after receipt of the notice, request and offer or indemnity; and |
| • | during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request. (Section 507). |
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However, these limitations do not apply to a suit by a holder of a debt security demanding payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on a debt security on or after the date the payment is due. (Section 508).
We will be required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement by some of our officers regarding our performance or observance of any of the terms of the indentures and specifying all of our known defaults, if any. (Section 1004).
Modification and Waiver
When authorized by a board resolution, we or any subsidiary guarantor, if applicable, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the trustee without the consent of the holders of the debt securities in order to:
| • | provide for the assumption of our obligations to holders of debt securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of substantially all of our assets; |
| • | add to our or any subsidiary guarantor’s covenants for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities or to surrender any of our rights or powers; |
| • | add any additional events of default for any series of debt securities for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| • | add to, change or eliminate any provision of the indentures applying to one or more series of debt securities, provided that if such action adversely affects the interests of any holder of any series of debt securities in any material respect, such addition, change or elimination will become effective with respect to that series only when no such security of that series remains outstanding; |
| • | secure the debt securities; |
| • | establish the forms or terms of any series of debt securities as permitted by the terms of such indenture; |
| • | provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities; |
| • | evidence and provide for successor trustees and to add to or change any provisions of the indentures to the extent necessary to appoint a separate trustee or trustees for a specific series of debt securities; |
| • | correct any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency under the indentures; |
| • | add subsidiary guarantors; |
| • | make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of debt securities or that does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect under the applicable indenture of any such holders; |
| • | supplement any provisions of the indentures necessary to defease and discharge any series of debt securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect; |
| • | comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or traded; or |
| • | add to, change or eliminate any provisions of the indentures in accordance with any amendments to the TIA, provided that such action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt securities in any material respect. (Section 901). |
When authorized by a board resolution, we or any subsidiary guarantor, if applicable, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the trustee in order to add to, change or eliminate provisions of the indentures
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or to modify the rights of the holders of one or more series of debt securities under such indentures if we obtain the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture, treated as one class. However, without the consent of all holders of each outstanding debt security affected by the supplemental indenture, we may not enter into a supplemental indenture that:
| • | except with respect to the reset of the interest rate or extension of maturity pursuant to the terms of a particular series, changes the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security, or reduces the principal amount of, or any premium or rate of interest on, any debt security; |
| • | reduces the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| • | changes the place or currency of payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest; |
| • | impairs the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after such payment becomes due for any security; |
| • | except as provided in the applicable indenture, releases the subsidiary guarantee of a subsidiary guarantor; |
| • | reduces the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification of the indentures, for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indentures or for waiver of certain defaults of the indentures; |
| • | makes certain modifications to the provisions for modification of the indentures and for certain waivers, except to increase the principal amount of debt securities necessary to consent to any such change or to provide that certain other provisions of the indentures cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security affected by such change; |
| • | makes any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert or exchange any convertible or exchangeable debt security or decreases the conversion or exchange rate or increases the conversion price of such debt security, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such debt securities; or |
| • | changes the terms and conditions pursuant to which any series of debt securities are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of such debt securities in any material respect. (Section 902). |
In addition, the subordinated note indenture may not be amended without the consent of each holder of subordinated debt securities affected thereby to modify the subordination of the subordinated debt securities issued under that indenture in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated debt securities in any material respect.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive past defaults or noncompliance with restrictive provisions of the indentures. However, the consent of all holders of each outstanding debt security of a series is required to:
| • | waive any default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest; or |
| • | waive any covenants and provisions of an indenture that may not be amended without the consent of all holders of each outstanding debt security of the series affected. (Sections 513 and 1006). |
In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have taken an action under an indenture as of a specified date:
| • | the principal amount of an “original issue discount security” that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of that date upon acceleration of the maturity to that date; |
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| • | if, as of that date, the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of a debt security is not determinable, for example, because it is based on an index, the principal amount of the debt security deemed to be outstanding as of that date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for the debt security; |
| • | the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of that date in the manner prescribed for the debt security, of the principal amount of the debt security or, in the case of it debt security described in the two preceding bullet points, of the amount described above; and |
| • | debt securities owned by us, any subsidiary guarantor or any other obligor upon the debt securities or any of our or their affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding. |
An “original issue discount security” means a debt security issued under the indentures which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of maturity. Some debt securities, including those for the payment or redemption of which money has been deposited or set aside in trust for the holders, and those which have been legally defeased under the indentures, will not be deemed to be outstanding.
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under an indenture. In limited circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders of outstanding debt securities. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by holders of a particular series, the action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the requisite principal amount of debt securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such shorter period as we may specify, or the trustee may specify, if it sets the record date. This period may be shortened or lengthened by not more than 180 days. (Section 104).
Conversion and Exchange Rights
The debt securities of any series may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of TreeHouse or another issuer or property or cash on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Defeasance
When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our, or if applicable, any subsidiary guarantor’s obligations under either indenture. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, if we deposit with the trustee funds or government securities sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of a series on the dates those payments are due and payable and comply with all other conditions to defeasance set forth in the indentures, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:
| • | we and any subsidiary guarantor will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series (“legal defeasance”); or |
| • | we and any subsidiary guarantor will no longer have any obligation to comply with the restrictive covenants under the indentures, and the related events of default will no longer apply to us or any subsidiary guarantor, but some of our and any subsidiary guarantors’ other obligations under the indentures and the debt securities of that series, including the obligation to make payments on those debt securities, will survive (a “covenant defeasance”). |
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If we legally defease a series of debt securities, the holders of the debt securities of the series affected will not be entitled to the benefits of the indentures, except for:
| • | the rights of holders of that series of debt securities to receive, solely from a trust fund, payments in respect of such debt securities when payments are due; |
| • | our obligation to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities; |
| • | our obligation to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities; and |
| • | our obligation to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust. |
We may legally defease a series of debt securities notwithstanding any prior exercise of our option of covenant defeasance in respect of such series.
In addition, the subordinated note indenture provides that if we choose to have the legal defeasance provision applied to the subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions of the subordinated note indenture will become ineffective. The subordinated note indenture also provides that if we choose to have covenant defeasance apply to any series of debt securities issued pursuant to the subordinated note indenture we need not comply with the provisions relating to subordination.
If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option, any subsidiary guarantee will terminate.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes and that the holders would be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related defeasance had not occurred. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect. (Sections 1601-1604).
Global Notes, Delivery and Form
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global Notes (as defined below) that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “Depositary”) and registered in the name of the Depositary’s nominee. Global Notes are not exchangeable for definitive note certificates except in the specific circumstances described below. For purposes of this prospectus, “Global Note” refers to the Global Note or Global Notes representing an entire issue of debt securities.
Except as set forth below, a Global Note may be transferred by the Depositary, in whole and not in part, only to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary.
The Depositary has advised us as follows:
| • | The Depositary is: |
| • | a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York; |
| • | 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. |
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| • | The Depositary was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic book entry changes in accounts of its participants, eliminating the need for physical movements of securities certificates. |
| • | The Depositary participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and others, some of whom own the Depositary. |
| • | Access to the Depositary book-entry system is also available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. |
| • | When we issue a Global Note in connection with the sale thereof to an underwriter or underwriters, the Depositary will immediately credit the accounts of participants designated by such underwriter or underwriters with the principal amount of the debt securities purchased by such underwriter or underwriters. |
| • | Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note and the transfers of ownership will be evidenced only through records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants), by the participants (with respect to indirect participants and certain beneficial owners) and by the indirect participants (with respect to all other beneficial owners). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery in a definitive form of securities they purchase. These laws may limit your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note. |
So long as a nominee of the Depositary is the registered owner of a Global Note, such nominee for all purposes will be considered the sole owner or holder of such debt securities under the indentures. Except as provided below, you will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in your name, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owner or holder thereof under the indentures.
Each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indentures. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indentures, the Depositary would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through these participants to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Redemption notices shall be sent to the Depositary. If less than all of the debt securities within an issue are being redeemed, the Depositary’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each participant in such issue to be redeemed.
We will make payment of principal of, and interest on, debt securities represented by a Global Note to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the Global Note representing those debt securities. The Depositary has advised us that upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or interest on, a Global Note, the Depositary will immediately credit accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of that Global Note, as shown in the records of the Depositary. Standing instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note held through those participants, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time.
Neither we, the trustee nor any of our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the records of the Depositary, any nominee or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests
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in a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of the Depositary, any nominee or any participant relating to those beneficial interests.
As described above, we will issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a Global Note only in the following situations:
| • | if the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, defaults in the performance of its duties as depositary, ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days after notice thereof; or |
| • | if, subject to the rules of the Depository, we choose to issue definitive debt securities. |
In either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be entitled to have debt securities equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form. Debt securities in definitive form will be issued in initial denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. We will maintain one or more offices or agencies where debt securities may be presented for payment and may be transferred or exchanged. You will not be charged a fee for any transfer or exchange of such debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Satisfaction and Discharge
We may discharge our obligations under the indentures while securities remain outstanding if (1) all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures have become due and payable, (2) all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or (3) all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures are scheduled for redemption in one year, and in each case, we have deposited with the trustee an amount sufficient to pay and discharge all outstanding debt securities issued under the indentures on the date of their scheduled maturity or the scheduled date of the redemption and paid all other amounts payable under the indentures (Section 401). The subordinated note indenture provides that if we choose to discharge our obligations with respect to the subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions of the subordinated note indenture will become ineffective. (Section 1810).
Subordination
Any subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated note indenture will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of TreeHouse whether existing at the date of the subordinated note indenture or subsequently incurred. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of TreeHouse to creditors upon any:
| • | liquidation; |
| • | dissolution; |
| • | winding-up; |
| • | receivership; |
| • | reorganization; |
| • | assignment for the benefit of creditors; |
| • | marshaling of assets; or |
| • | bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of TreeHouse; |
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the holders of Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Senior Debt before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment to respect of the principal of and any premium or interest on the subordinated debt securities.
Upon the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of such acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due thereon, including any amounts due upon acceleration, before the holders of subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal (including redemption payments), or premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities.
No payments on account of principal (including redemption payments), or premium, if any, or interest, in respect of the subordinated debt securities may be made if:
| • | there has occurred and is continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior Debt; or |
| • | there has occurred and is continuing a default with respect to any Senior Debt resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof. |
“Debt” means, with respect to any person:
| • | all indebtedness of such person for borrowed money; |
| • | all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; |
| • | all obligations of such person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such person; |
| • | all obligations of such person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, but excluding accounts payable or any other indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods or services; |
| • | all capital lease obligations of such person; |
| • | all Debt of others secured by a lien on any asset by such person; |
| • | all Debt and dividends of others guaranteed by such person to the extent such Debt and dividends are guaranteed by such person; and |
| • | all obligations for claims in respect of derivative products. |
“Senior Debt” means the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on Debt of TreeHouse, whether created, incurred or assumed on, before or after the date of the subordinated note indenture, unless the instrument creating or evidencing the Debt provides that such Debt is subordinated to or pari passu, with the subordinated debt securities.
Notices
Holders will receive notices by mail at their addresses as they appear in the security register. (Section 106).
Title
We, any subsidiary guarantors, the trustees and any agent of us, any subsidiary guarantors or a trustee may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered on the applicable record date as the owner of the debt security for all purposes, whether or not it is overdue. (Section 309).
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Governing Law
New York law governs the indentures and the debt securities. (Section 112).
Regarding the Trustee
If an event of default occurs under the indentures and is continuing, the trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of that person’s own affairs in the exercise of the rights and powers granted to the trustee under the indentures. The trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the indentures at the request or direction of any of the holders of any debt securities issued under the indentures only after those holders have offered the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.
If the trustee becomes one of our creditors, its rights to obtain payment of claims in specified circumstances, or to realize for its own account on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise will be limited under the terms of the indentures (Section 613). The trustee may engage in certain other transactions with us or any of the subsidiary guarantors; however, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning specified under the TIA), it will be required to eliminate the conflict or resign. (Section 608).
We may issue warrants for the purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities that we may issue from time to time.
The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The terms and conditions of the warrants will be described in the specific warrant agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such warrants. Each applicable prospectus supplement relating to such warrants may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such warrants. A form of warrant agreement, including the form of certificate representing the warrants, which contain provisions to be included in the specific warrant agreements that will be entered into with respect to particular offerings of warrants, will be filed as an exhibit or incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A holder or prospective purchaser of our warrants should refer to the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement and prospectus supplement for more specific information.
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific term of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered. Each applicable prospectus supplement may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of such subscription rights. A holder or prospective holder of subscription rights should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for more specific information.
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may issue stock purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and requiring us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates.
The price per share of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units, or stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and either (x) senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, or (y) debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, in each case, securing the holder’s obligations to purchase our common stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase contracts or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts, or prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original stock purchase contract. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities. Each applicable prospectus supplement may also describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities.
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TreeHouse may sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| • | to or through underwriters or dealers; |
| • | by itself directly; |
| • | through agents; |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale; or |
| • | through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement. |
The prospectus supplements relating to an offering of securities will set forth the terms of such offering, including:
| • | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| • | the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to TreeHouse from the sale; |
| • | any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; and |
| • | any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which such offered securities may be listed. |
Any initial public offering prices, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The offered securities may be offered either to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or by one or more underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities if any are purchased.
In connection with underwritten offerings of the offered securities and in accordance with applicable law and industry practice, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below:
| • | A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security. |
| • | A syndicate covering transaction means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering. |
| • | A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when offered securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions. |
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These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise. Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities, or to continue such activities if commenced.
If a dealer is used in the sale, TreeHouse will sell such offered securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by that dealer at the time for resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that transaction.
Offered securities may be sold directly by TreeHouse to one or more institutional purchasers, or through agents designated by TreeHouse from time to time, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by TreeHouse to such agent will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering, unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
Other than our common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, each of the securities issued hereunder will be a new issue of securities, will have no prior trading market, and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom TreeHouse sells securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that there will be a market for the offered securities.
The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Certain Minnesota legal matters relating to the guarantees are being passed upon for us by Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Certain Wisconsin legal matters relating to the guarantees are being passed upon for us by Foley & Lardner LLP. Certain Missouri legal matters relating to the guarantees are being passed upon for us by Spencer Fane LLP. Certain Georgia legal matters relating to the guarantees are being passed upon for us by Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
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The financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
With respect to the unaudited interim financial information which is incorporated herein by reference, Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, have applied limited procedures in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) for a review of such information. However, as stated in their reports included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein, they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Deloitte & Touche LLP are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because those reports are not “reports” or a “part” of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings, including the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can also access our SEC filings through our website at www.treehousefoods.com. Except as expressly set forth below, we are not incorporating by reference the contents of the SEC website or our website into this prospectus.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.
Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any documents previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. See “Incorporation by Reference.”
Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC, unless we expressly provide otherwise.
You may request a copy of these filings and any exhibit incorporated by reference in these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or number:
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
2021 Spring Road, Suite 600
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
(708) 483-1300
Attention: Secretary
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 14. | OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION |
The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the Registrants in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:
| Amount to be paid | ||||
Registration fee * | $ | |||
Legal fees and expenses** | ||||
Trustee fees and expenses** | ||||
Accounting fees and expenses** | ||||
Printing fees** | ||||
Rating agency fees** | ||||
Miscellaneous** | ||||
|
| |||
Total | $ | |||
|
| |||
| * | Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act. |
| ** | Estimated expenses are not currently known. |
| ITEM 15. | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
Delaware
TreeHouse, Bay Valley, Protenergy Holdings, Inc. (“Protenergy Holdings”), Protenergy Natural Foods, Inc. (“Protenergy Natural”), Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc. (“Ralcorp”), The Carriage House Companies, Inc. (“The Carriage House”), American Italian Pasta Company (“American Italian”), and TreeHouse Foods Services, LLC (“Treehouse Foods Services”) are formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances.
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act. Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act empowers a Delaware limited liability company to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager of the limited liability company from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.
Governing Documents. Our Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of our directors to us and our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a
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director, except to the extent prohibited by the DGCL. Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that we will indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by us or in our right), by reason of the fact that such person is, was or had agreed to become a director or officer of us or is or was serving or had agreed to serve at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in another similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection therewith, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that we will indemnify any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by us or in our right, by reason of the fact that such person is, was or had agreed to become a director or officer of us or is or was serving or had agreed to serve at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in another similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection therewith, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged to be liable to us, unless, and only to the extent, that the Court of Chancery of Delaware determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) the Court of Chancery of Delaware deems proper.
Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that we shall pay the expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, subject to such person providing us with certain undertakings.
The indemnification provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation are not exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
We maintain directors and officers liability insurance providing coverage to our directors and officers, as authorized by our Certificate of Incorporation.
Under the governing documents for Bay Valley, Protenergy Holdings, Protenergy Natural, Ralcorp, The Carriage House, American Italian, and TreeHouse Foods Services, the respective companies have each agreed to indemnify their respective members, officers and directors and advance expenses to such indemnified persons in defending proceedings, suits and actions relating to such indemnified persons’ acts, omissions, or alleged acts or omissions arising out of their activities on behalf of Bay Valley, Protenergy Holdings, Protenergy Natural, Ralcorp, The Carriage House, American Italian, or TreeHouse Foods Services, LLC, as applicable.
Minnesota
S.T. Specialty Foods, Inc. (“S.T. Specialty Foods”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
Minnesota Business Corporation Law. Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”) generally provides for the indemnification of directors, officers or employees of a corporation made or
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threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity of the person against judgments, penalties and fines (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) where such person (i) has not been indemnified by another organization, (ii) acted in good faith, (iii) received no improper personal benefit and, if applicable, satisfied the statutory standard regarding director conflicts of interest, (iv) with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, and (v) reasonably believed that he or she was acting in the best interest of the corporation, or if serving a role with another entity or an employee benefit plan at the direction of the corporation, reasonably believed that his or her conduct was not opposed to the best interest of the corporation. Section 302A.521 of the MBCA further requires payment, upon written request, of reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of the proceeding in certain circumstances.
Governing Documents. S.T. Specialty Foods’ bylaws provide that S.T. Specialty Foods shall indemnify such persons, for such expenses and liabilities, in such manner, under such circumstances, and to such extent, as permitted by Section 302A.521 of the MBCA.
Wisconsin
Sturm Foods, Inc. (“Sturm”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Business Corporation Law. Under Section 180.0851(1) of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the “WBCL”), Sturm is required to indemnify its directors and officers, to the extent that he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of a proceeding, for all reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding if the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer of the corporation. In other cases, under Section 180.0851(2) of the WBCL, Sturm is nevertheless required to indemnify its directors and officers, unless liability was incurred because the director or officer breached or failed to perform a duty that he or she owes to the corporation and the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following: (i) a willful failure to deal fairly with the corporation or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest; (ii) a violation of the criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; (iii) a transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal profit; or (iv) willful misconduct. In addition, Section 180.0858(1) of the WBCL provides that, subject to certain limitations, the director or officer may have additional rights to indemnification or allowance of expenses under the corporation’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, director or shareholder resolutions, or other written agreement with the corporation.
Section 180.0859 of the WBCL provides that it is the public policy of the State of Wisconsin to require or permit indemnification, allowance of expenses and insurance to the extent required or permitted under Sections 180.0850 to 180.0858 of the WBCL for any liability incurred in connection with a proceeding involving a federal or state statute, rule or regulation regulating the offer, sale or purchase of securities.
Section 180.0828 of the WBCL provides that, with certain exceptions, a director is not liable to a corporation, its shareholders, or any person asserting rights on behalf of the corporation or its shareholders, for damages, settlements, fees, fines, penalties or other monetary liabilities arising from a breach of, or failure to perform, any duty resulting solely from his or her status as a director, unless the person asserting liability proves that the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the four exceptions to mandatory indemnification under Section 180.0851(2) referred to above.
Under Section 180.0833 of the WBCL, directors of a corporation against whom claims are asserted with respect to the declaration of an improper dividend or other distribution to shareholders to which they assented are entitled to contribution from other directors who assented to such distribution and from shareholders who knowingly accepted the improper distribution, as provided therein.
Governing Documents. Under the governing documents for Sturm, Sturm has agreed to indemnify its officers and directors, to the fullest extent permitted under the WBCL, who are, were or are threatened to be
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made party to an action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Sturm or was serving in such capacity on behalf of Sturm.
New York
Associated Brands, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York.
New York Business Corporation Law. Sections 721 to 725 of the New York Business Corporation Law (“NYBCL”) provides for indemnification of directors and officers, subject to certain limitations, for liabilities and expenses in connection with actions or proceedings involving them in such capacity. Pursuant to Section 721 of the NYBCL, no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his or her acts were committed in bad faith or were the results of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled. Section 402(b) of the NYBCL permits a certificate of incorporation to set forth a provision limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors to a corporation or its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity, provided that no such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to him or her establishes that his or her acts were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or (ii) that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled, or (iii) in certain other cases specified in Section 719 of the NYBCL.
Our charter and by-laws provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by the NYBCL, we will indemnify our present and future directors and officers against all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by them as a result of their being threatened with or otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding (other than an action commenced on our own behalf) by virtue of the fact that they are or were one of our officers or directors.
Missouri
Treehouse Private Brands, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri.
Missouri General and Business Corporation Law. Section 351.355 of the Missouri General and Business Corporation Law provides for permissible and mandatory indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents in certain circumstances. Section 351.355.1 provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to 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 the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the 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 the person’s conduct was unlawful. Section 351.355.1 further provides that the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the 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 reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 351.355.2 provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to 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 the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
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employee or agent of another entity against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the 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 the person’s duties to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
Section 351.355.3 provides that except to the extent otherwise provided in the corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 351.355.1 and 351.355.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, that person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
Section 351.355.4 provides that any indemnification under Sections 351.355.1 and 351.355.2 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 351.355.
Section 351.355.5 provides that expenses incurred in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
Section 351.355.6 provides that indemnification and advancement of expenses provided under Section 351.355 are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Section 351.355.8 provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 351.355.
Georgia
Linette Quality Chocolates, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia.
Georgia Business Corporation Code. Subsection (a) of Section 14-2-851 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (“GBCC”) provides that a corporation may indemnify an individual who is party to a proceeding because he or she is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (i) such individual conducted himself or herself in good faith; and (ii) such individual reasonably believed (A) in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity, that such conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, (B) in all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and (C) in the case of any criminal proceeding, that the individual had no reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful. Subsection (d) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC provides that a corporation may not indemnify a director in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of
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conduct, or in connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which he or she was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him or her, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to Section 14-2-854 of the GBCC, a court may order a corporation to indemnify a director if such court determines, in view of all the relevant circumstances, that it is fair and reasonable to indemnify or advance expenses to the director, even if the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC, failed to comply with Section 14-2-853 of the GBCC, or was adjudged liable in a proceeding referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC but if the director was adjudged so liable, the indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.
Section 14-2-852 of the GBCC provides that a corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.
Section 14-2-857 of the GBCC provides that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is an officer of the corporation to the same extent as a director. If the officer is not a director (or if the officer is a director but the sole basis on which he or she is made a party to the proceeding is an act or omission solely as an officer), the corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to such officer to such further extent as may be provided by the articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the corporation, by a resolution of the board of directors of the corporation, or by contract, except for liability arising out of conduct that constitutes: (1) the appropriation, in violation of their duties, of any business opportunity of the corporation; (2) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) the types of liability set forth in Section 14-2-832 of the GBCC; or (4) receipt of an improper personal benefit. An officer of a corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 14-2-852 of the GBCC and may apply to a court under Section 14-2-854 of the GBCC for indemnification or advances, in each case to the same extent to which a director may be entitled to indemnification under those provisions. Finally, a corporation may also indemnify an employee or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with public policy that may be provided by its articles of incorporation or bylaws, by general or specific action by its board of directors or by contract.
California
Cottage Bakery, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of California.
California Corporations Code. Section 317 of the California Corporations Code provides for indemnification of a corporation’s directors and officers under certain circumstances. California law does not permit the elimination or limitation of director monetary liability for: (i) breaches of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law; (iii) the payment of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions or (iv) transactions in which the director received an improper personal benefit.
The California Corporations Code permits a California corporation to indemnify, on certain terms and conditions, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action.
Our articles of incorporation authorize us to provide indemnification of any person who is or was our director, officer, employee or other agent, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or
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agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor corporation of us or of another enterprise at the request of the predecessor corporation, through our bylaws, resolutions of our board of directors, agreements with agents, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification otherwise permitted by Section 317 of the California Corporations Code, subject only to the applicable limits set forth in Section 204 of the California Corporations Code. Our articles of incorporation also eliminate the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permissible by California law. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution regarding our policy of indemnification and we maintain insurance which insures our directors and officers against certain liabilities.
| ITEM 16. | EXHIBITS |
The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
| * | To be filed by amendment as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference therein in connection with an offering of securities. |
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| ITEM 17. | UNDERTAKINGS |
| (a) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
| (ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; |
| (iii) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
| (A) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (B) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide |
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| offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
| (5) | That for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (b) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (d) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| TreeHouse Foods, Inc. |
/s/ William J. Kelley Jr. |
| By: William J. Kelley Jr. |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley Jr William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
/s/ Patrick O’Donnell Patrick O’Donnell | August 25, 2020 | Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Principal Accounting Officer | ||
/s/ Gary D. Smith Gary D. Smith | August 25, 2020 | Chairman of the Board | ||
/s/ Linda K. Massman Linda K. Massman | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Mark R. Hunter Mark R. Hunter | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
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/s/ Frank J. O’Connell Frank J. O’Connell | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Matthew E. Rubel Matthew E. Rubel | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Ann M. Sardini Ann M. Sardini | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Jean E. Spence Jean E. Spence | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Jason J. Tyler Jason J. Tyler | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ David B. Vermylen David B. Vermylen | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Bay Valley Foods, LLC |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||
| TreeHouse Foods, Inc. | August 25, 2020 | Sole Member | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill By: Thomas E. O’Neill Its: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Sturm Foods, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley, Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| S.T. Specialty Foods, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
| Thomas E. O’Neill | ||||
II-14
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Associated Brands, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President & Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-15
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Protenergy Holdings, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President & Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-16
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Protenergy Natural Foods, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-17
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| TreeHouse Private Brands, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-18
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Linette Quality Chocolates, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-19
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-20
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| Cottage Bakery, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-21
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| The Carriage House Companies, Inc. |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-22
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| American Italian Pasta Company |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Director | ||
II-23
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duty authorized, in the City of Oak Brook, State of Illinois, on August 25, 2020.
| TreeHouse Foods Services, LLC |
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill |
| By: Thomas E. O’Neill |
| Its: Executive Vice President and Secretary |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint Steven Oakland and William J. Kelley Jr., and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendments filed pursuant to 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do or perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or of his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do to cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Steven Oakland Steven Oakland | August 25, 2020 | President | ||
/s/ William J. Kelley, Jr. William J. Kelley Jr. | August 25, 2020 | Executive Vice President | ||
/s/ Thomas E. O’Neill Thomas E. O’Neill | August 25, 2020 | Executive Vice President and Secretary | ||
II-24
