Essential Utilities, Inc. $500,000,000 5.375% Senior Notes due 2034 Underwriting Agreement

 

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

Essential Utilities, Inc.

$500,000,000 5.375% Senior Notes due 2034

Underwriting Agreement

January 4, 2024

RBC Capital Markets, LLC,

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

As representatives (the “Representatives” or “you”) of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto,

 

c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10281

 

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Essential Utilities, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of its 5.375% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Securities”, and the offer and sale of the Securities hereunder being called the “Debt Offering”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to the base indenture, dated as of April 23, 2019, between the Company, as issuer, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to U.S. Bank N.A. (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the first supplemental indenture thereto (the “Base Indenture”), and a related supplemental indenture, to be dated as of the Time of Delivery, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). This Agreement, the Securities, the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture are collectively referred to herein as the “Debt Transaction Documents”. The Debt Offering, including the issuance of the Securities, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Debt Transaction Documents, are referred to herein collectively as the “Debt Transactions”.

1.            The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a)          An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-255235) in respect of the Securities and other securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective on filing; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission, and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company (the base prospectus filed as part of such registration statement, in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the “Basic Prospectus”; any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding Form T-1 and including any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Basic Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof), is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; the form of the final prospectus relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any reference herein to the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of such prospectus; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and any documents filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated therein, in each case after the date of the Basic Prospectus, such Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Securities is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);

(b)          (A) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 9(b));

(c)          For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is 3:50 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement. The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II(c) hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4(a) of this Agreement) will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Time of Delivery will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in the Pricing Disclosure Package or in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(d)          The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; and no such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution of this Agreement, except those listed on Schedule II(b) hereto;

(e)          The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, and as of the Time of Delivery, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions with respect to (i) the Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1 or (ii) made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(f)           Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus, (i) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (ii) there has been no adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (iii) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business), or incurred any liability or obligation (direct or contingent), that, in the case of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus and except as disclosed therein, there has not been (i) any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (A) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus or (B) the issuance, if any, of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.50 per share (“Stock”), upon conversion of Company securities as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) or long term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus;

(g)          Except as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property or have good and valid leasehold title to or hold valid rights to lease or otherwise occupy, use, operate or access all real property and have good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Pricing Prospectus or such as do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries;

(h)          Each of the Company and each of its “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) (“Significant Subsidiaries”) has been (i) duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(i)            The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description of the Stock contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; all of the issued options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued and conform to the description thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens or encumbrances described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(j)            The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver each of the Debt Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder including, without limitation, to issue, sell and deliver the Securities; and the Company has duly and validly taken all corporate action required to be taken by it for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Debt Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Debt Transactions;

(k)          The Securities have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued, executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor as provided herein, will (i) constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (the “Enforceability Exceptions”), (ii) be entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; and (iii) conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

(l)            The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Debt Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Debt Transactions and the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (B) the articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other applicable organizational document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (C) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties except, in the case of (A), for such defaults, breaches, or violations that would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities by the Company contemplated by the Debt Transaction Documents, except (y) such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and (z) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or securities laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;

(m)         (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is in violation of its articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other applicable organization document) and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, in the case of the foregoing clause (ii), for such defaults as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(n)          The statements set forth in (i) the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” and under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” and (ii) Parts I and II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 under the caption “Economic Regulation” (in each place that it appears) and under the caption “Environmental, Health and Safety Regulation and Compliance”, as updated by reports filed by the Company subsequent to such Form 10-K and incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of laws and documents, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects;

(o)          Other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries, would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Debt Transaction Documents, including the issuance and sale of the Securities; and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such proceedings are threatened by governmental authorities or by others;

(p)          The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(q)          (i) (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; and (ii) at the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Securities, and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

(r)           PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(s)           The Company maintains a system of internal control and maintains disclosure controls and procedures, in each case that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and is otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures are each effective, and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus presents fairly the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(t)            Except as disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus, since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company, included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;

(u)          Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (A) made, offered, promised or authorized any contribution, gift, entertainment or other expense (or taken any act in furtherance thereof) in violation of an applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; (B) made, offered, promised or authorized any direct or indirect payment in violation of an applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (C) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law;

(v)          The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the anti-money laundering laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened;

(w)         Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person,” the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or the United Nations Security Council (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions (including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the non-Ukrainian government-controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine, or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria), and the Company will not directly or knowingly indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (A) for the purpose of funding or facilitating any unlawful activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or (B) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions;

(x)          This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(y)          The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company (assuming that the Indenture is a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee), will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions;

(z)           [Reserved]

(aa)        Each of the Debt Transaction Documents conforms or, when and if duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof (if any) contained in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(bb)        The financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; and said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved;

(cc)        [Reserved]

(dd)        Except with respect to taxes that are being contested in good faith or as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus, (i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes required to be paid and filed all tax returns required to be filed, in each case, through the date hereof, except for such failures to pay or file as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets that would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(ee)        The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any material license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any material license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course;

(ff)          Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries (A) are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, legally binding requirements or judicial or administrative decisions and orders relating to the protection of the environment or natural resources, or human health or safety, to the extent relating to exposure to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), including with respect to any real property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is known or reasonably anticipated to be contaminated with any hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, (B) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, or other legal authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted and (C) have not received written notice of any liability, violation or claim under or relating to any Environmental Laws, including for human exposure to, or the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) (A) there are no judicial or administrative proceedings that are pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such proceedings are threatened, in each case other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $300,000 or more will be imposed, and (B) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(gg)        Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company, its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates (as defined below) are in compliance with ERISA, and (ii) no “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, in either case, other than as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member;

(hh)        Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus and except as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened and (ii) the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers or contractors;

(ii)           The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company believes are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer under a material insurance policy or agent of such insurer that material capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing material insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business;

(jj)           Except as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks and trade names necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks or trade names that in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(kk)        The Company and its subsidiaries (i) have implemented and maintain commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their respective businesses, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to the same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person and (ii) are in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except in each case of (i) and (ii) as would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and

(ll)           The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

2.            Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.241% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, from January 8, 2024 to the Time of Delivery hereunder, in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

3.            Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

4.            (a) The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more definitive global Securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its designated custodian. The Company will deliver the Securities to the Representatives, for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least twenty-four hours in advance, by causing DTC to credit the Securities to the account of RBC Capital Markets, LLC at DTC. The Company will cause the certificates, if any, representing the Securities to be made available for checking at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on January 8, 2024, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date is herein called the “Time of Delivery”.

(b)            The documents to be delivered at the Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross-receipt for the Securities and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(j) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ (the “Closing Location”), and the Securities will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at the Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding the Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Agreement, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

5.            The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a)            To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the date of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus prior to the Time of Delivery which shall be reasonably disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to prepare a final term sheet, containing a description of the Securities, in a form approved by you, and to file such final term sheet pursuant to and within the period required by Rule 433(d); to file promptly all other material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Securities, of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order; and in the event of any such issuance of a notice of objection, promptly to take such steps including, without limitation, amending the Registration Statement or filing a new registration statement, at its own expense, as may be necessary to permit offers and sales of the Securities by the Underwriters (references herein to the Registration Statement shall include any such amendment or new registration statement);

(b)            If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof;

(c)            If by the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to you. If at the Renewal Deadline the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to you and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be;

(d)            Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

(e)            Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify you and upon your request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Securities at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

(f)             To the extent not otherwise provided in the Company’s Exchange Act filings to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(g)            During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the Time of Delivery or such earlier time as the Representatives may notify the Company, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, grant, disposition or filing without the prior written consent of RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc.;

(h)            To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Act;

(i)              To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”; and

(j)              Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Securities (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred.

6.             

(a)          (i) The Company represents and agrees that, other than the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; (ii) each Underwriter represents and agrees that, other than one or more term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information (which, in their final form, will not be inconsistent with the final term sheet) and conveyed to purchasers of Securities, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Commission; (iii) any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) or Schedule II(c) hereto;

(b)            The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and

(c)            The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

7.            The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters and any Debt Transaction Documents (including any compilations thereof), any Blue Sky Memorandum, and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(d) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; provided that the expenses related to the chartering of any airplanes shall be paid 50% by the Company and 50% by the Underwriters; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

8.            The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of the Applicable Time and the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a)            The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act shall have been received; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

(b)            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you their written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated the Time of Delivery and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, with respect to such matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c)            ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated the Time of Delivery and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you;

(d)            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special Pennsylvania counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you;

(e)            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Executive Vice President, General Counsel for the Company (or his successor), shall have furnished to you his written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you;

(f)             On the date of the Prospectus concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at the Time of Delivery, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to you its letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided, however, that the letters delivered at the Time of Delivery shall, in each case, use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to the Time of Delivery;

(g)            (i) None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries have sustained since the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus, there shall not have been any change in or affecting the business, financial position, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(h)            On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company or any of the Company’s securities, or in the rating outlook for the Company, by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

(i)              On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the NYSE; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the NYSE; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus; and

(j)              The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at the Time of Delivery, (i) certificates reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives of the President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, in their capacity as such and not personally, to the effect that (A) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are, at and as of the Applicable Time and the Time of Delivery, true and correct in all respects, (B) the Company has complied in all respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Time of Delivery and (C) subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) such other further certificates and documents as you may reasonably request.

9.            (a)           The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “roadshow” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “roadshow”) or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b)            Each Underwriter will, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. As used in this Agreement with respect to an Underwriter and an applicable document, “Underwriter Information” shall mean the written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: (i) the information contained in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth sentences of the second paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”, (ii) the information contained in the third and fourth sentences of the fifth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” and (iii) the information contained in the seventh and eighth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”.

(c)            Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection 9(a) or 9(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)            If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection 9(a) or 9(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection 9(c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection 9(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection 9(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection 9(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection 9(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e)            The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

10.          (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase hereunder, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

(b)            If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection 10(a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c)            If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection 10(a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection 10(b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

11.          The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any officer or director or controlling person of any Underwriter, any broker-dealer affiliate of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

12.          If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, the Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out of pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

13.          In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the Representatives in care of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Brookfield Place, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: DCM Transaction Management/▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Email: ▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇; and Barclays Capital Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Syndicate Registration, Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: General Counsel; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

14.          This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company or any Underwriter, each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter and any broker-dealer affiliate of any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

15.          Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

16.          The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

17.          This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

18.          This Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto agrees that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in The City and County of New York and agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

19.          The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Debt Transactions.

20.          This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

21.          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters’ imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

22.          Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a)          In the event that any Underwriter is a Covered Entity and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b)           In the event that any Underwriter is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(c)          As used in this section:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

23.          The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

[Signature Page Follows]

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

	Very truly yours,
	Essential Utilities, Inc.
	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Executive Vice President, General Counsel

 

Accepted as of the date hereof:
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title: Authorized Signatory
Barclays Capital Inc.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
	Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
	Title: Managing Director
On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter		Principal Amount of the Securities to be Purchased
RBC Capital Markets, LLC		$	85,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc.		$	85,000,000
Huntington Securities, Inc.		$	60,000,000
Citizens JMP Securities, LLC		$	50,000,000
BofA Securities, Inc.		$	50,000,000
PNC Capital Markets LLC		$	50,000,000
TD Securities (USA) LLC		$	40,000,000
▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC		$	40,000,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated		$	10,000,000
Evercore Group L.L.C.		$	10,000,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC		$	10,000,000
Loop Capital Markets LLC		$	10,000,000
Total		$	500,000,000

SCHEDULE II

(a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package:

1.            None.

(b) Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference:

1.            None.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package:

1.            Final term sheet, dated as of the date hereof, prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) of the Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Annex I.

ANNEX I

FORM OF TERM SHEET

[See attached.]

Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Dated January 4, 2024

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus supplementing the

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

dated January 4, 2024 and the

Prospectus dated April 15, 2021

Registration No. 333-255235

Essential Utilities, Inc.

$500,000,000 5.375% Senior Notes due 2034

 

The information in this pricing term sheet relates only to the offering of the Notes and should be read together with (i) the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated January 4, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), and (ii) the related base prospectus dated April 15, 2021, included in the Registration Statement (File No. 333-255235), in each case, including the documents incorporated by reference therein. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

Issuer:		Essential Utilities, Inc. (the “Issuer”)
Expected Ratings of Securities (Moody’s / S&P)*:		[reserved]
Trade Date:		January 4, 2024
Settlement Date:		January 8, 2024 (T+2)
Title of Securities:		5.375% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “Notes”)
Principal Amount:		$500,000,000
Maturity Date:		January 15, 2034
Interest Payment Dates:		January 15 and July 15, commencing July 15, 2024
Record Dates:		January 1 and July 1
Coupon:		5.375% per annum
Benchmark Treasury:		4.500% due November 15, 2033
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:		104-04 / 3.989%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:		T + 140 basis points

 

*A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

Yield to Maturity:		5.389%
Public Offering Price:		99.891% of principal amount
Net Proceeds (After Deducting Underwriting Discount and Before Offering Expenses):		$496,205,000
Optional Redemption:		The Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to October 15, 2033 (three months prior to maturity) at the greater of par and make-whole at Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points; par call at any time on or after October 15, 2033.
CUSIP/ISIN:		29670G AH5 / US29670GAH56
Joint Bookrunners:		RBC Capital Markets, LLC Barclays Capital Inc. Huntington Securities, Inc. Citizens JMP Securities, LLC
Co-Managers:		BofA Securities, Inc. PNC Capital Markets LLC TD Securities (USA) LLC ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated Evercore Group L.L.C. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC Loop Capital Markets LLC
Conflicts of Interest:		Respective affiliates of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and certain of the other underwriters are lenders under the Essential Revolving Credit Facility and may receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering. Consequently, each such underwriter is deemed to have a conflict of interest within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. This offering will therefore be conducted in compliance with the applicable provisions of FINRA Rule 5121, and no such underwriter will confirm any sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the transaction from the account holders. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121(a)(1)(C), the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not required in connection with this offering as the Notes will be investment grade-rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating agencies. See “Use of Proceeds” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

 

The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and the related Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the offering to which this communication relates. You may get these documents for free by visiting ▇▇▇▇▇ on the SEC Web site at ▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus if you request them by calling RBC Capital Markets, LLC toll free at (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ or Barclays Capital Inc. toll free at (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.

This communication should be read in conjunction with the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The information in this communication supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.