SEC Form 424B3 filed by Eastman Kodak Company Common New
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-281403
PROSPECTUS
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
$500,000,000 OF
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS
DEPOSITARY SHARES
PURCHASE CONTRACTS
GUARANTEES
UNITS
This prospectus relates to the offer and sale of our securities from time to time in one or more offerings of up to $500,000,000 in aggregate offering price. This prospectus provides a general description of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts, guarantees and units that may be offered and sold from time to time. Each time we offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. Such a prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the offering. A prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in our securities.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KODK.” On August 21, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $5.03.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should read carefully and consider the risks referenced under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus, as well as the other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement before making a decision to invest in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We may sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities also will be set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement.
Prospectus dated August 21, 2024.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) using a “shelf” registration process. We may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus from time to time.
The types of securities that we may offer and sell from time to time by this prospectus are:
| • | common stock; |
| • | preferred stock; |
| • | debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated and secured or unsecured and which may include guarantees of the debt securities by some or all of our subsidiaries; |
| • | warrants entitling the holders to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities; |
| • | depositary shares; |
| • | purchase contracts; |
| • | guarantees; and |
| • | units. |
We may sell these securities either separately or in units. We may issue debt securities convertible into shares of our common stock or preferred stock. The preferred stock also may be convertible into shares of our common stock or another series of preferred stock. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the specific terms of the securities offered. That prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities. In each prospectus supplement we will include the following information:
| • | the type and amount of securities that we propose to sell; |
| • | the initial public offering price of the securities (in the case of an underwritten offering); |
| • | the names of any underwriters or agents through or to which we will sell the securities, if applicable; |
| • | any compensation of those underwriters or agents, if applicable; and |
| • | information about any securities exchanges or automated quotation systems on which the securities will be listed or traded. |
In addition, any accompanying prospectus supplement also may add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement does not offer to sell or ask for offers to buy any securities other than those to which it relates and it does not constitute an offer to sell or ask for offers to buy any of the securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful, where the person making the offer is not qualified to do so, or to any person who cannot legally be offered the securities. The information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference herein or therein is current only as of its date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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In this prospectus, except as otherwise indicated or as the context otherwise requires, “EKC” refers to Eastman Kodak Company on an unconsolidated basis and the words “Kodak,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “ours” refer to Eastman Kodak Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, and we have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. For further information about us and the securities described in this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement, its exhibits and schedules and our reports, proxy statements, information statements and other information filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov, from which you can electronically access these materials.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information about us and our financial condition to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except any information that is superseded by information that is included in a document subsequently filed with the SEC.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), from the date of this prospectus until the termination of an offering of securities, except that we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (and not filed) with the SEC, including our Compensation Committee report and performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as amended by Amendment Number 1 thereto filed on March 15, 2024, including the portions of our Proxy Statement for our 2024 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein; |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024; |
| • | our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2024; and |
| • | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on September 3, 2013, including the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on September 3, 2013 and incorporated by reference therein, as updated by Exhibit 4.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description. |
Any statement contained in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified will not be deemed to constitute a part hereof, except as so modified, and any statement so superseded will not be deemed to constitute a part hereof.
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A copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be obtained at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester, New York 14650
Attention: Roger W. Byrd
Phone: (800) 356-3259
We maintain a website at www.Kodak.com. Information about us, including our reports filed with the SEC, is available through that site. Such reports are accessible at no charge through our website and are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that website, or connected to that website, are not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s website or at the SEC’s offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” The information on the SEC’s website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference include “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements include statements concerning Kodak’s plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenue or performance, capital expenditures, liquidity, investments, financing needs and business trends and other information that is not historical information. When used in this document, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “strategy,” “continues,” “goals,” “targets” or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “should,” “could,” or “may,” and similar words and expressions, as well as statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, are intended to identify forward–looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including management’s examination of historical operating trends and data, are based upon Kodak’s current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks and uncertainties described in more detail in this prospectus, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 under the headings “Business,” “Risk Factors,” “Legal Proceedings,” and/or “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations–Liquidity and Capital Resources,” in the corresponding sections of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, and in other filings Kodak makes with the SEC from time to time, as well as the following:
| • | Kodak’s ability to improve and sustain its operating structure, cash flow, profitability and other financial results; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to achieve strategic objectives, cash forecasts, financial projections, and projected growth; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to achieve the financial and operational results contained in its business plans; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to obtain additional or alternate financing if and as needed, Kodak’s continued ability to manage world-wide cash through inter-company loans, distributions and other mechanisms, and Kodak’s ability to provide or facilitate financing for its customers; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to fund continued investments, capital needs and collateral requirements and service its debt and Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock; |
| • | Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, interest rates and tariff rates; |
| • | The impact of the global economic environment, including inflationary pressures, geopolitical issues such as the war in Ukraine and conflicts involving Israel, medical epidemics, and Kodak’s ability to effectively mitigate the associated increased costs of aluminum and other raw materials, energy, labor, shipping, delays in shipment and production times, and fluctuations in demand; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to effectively compete with large, well-financed industry participants or with competitors whose cost structure is lower than Kodak’s; |
| • | The performance by third parties of their obligations to supply products, components or services to Kodak and Kodak’s ability to address supply chain disruptions and continue to obtain raw materials and components available from single or limited sources of supply, which may be adversely affected by the war in Ukraine, the conflicts involving Israel and residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to comply with the covenants in its various credit facilities; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to effectively anticipate technology and industry trends and develop and market new products, solutions and technologies, including products based on its technology and expertise that relate to industries in which it does not currently conduct material business; |
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| • | Kodak’s ability to effect strategic transactions, such as investments, acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures and similar transactions, or to achieve the benefits sought to be achieved from such strategic transactions; |
| • | Kodak’s ability to discontinue, sell or spin-off certain non-core businesses or operations, or otherwise monetize assets; |
| • | The impact of the investigations, litigation and claims arising out of the circumstances surrounding the announcement on July 28, 2020, by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation of the signing of a non-binding letter of interest to provide a subsidiary of Kodak with a potential loan to support the launch of an initiative for the manufacture of pharmaceutical ingredients for essential generic drugs; and |
| • | The potential impact of force majeure events, cyber-attacks or other data security incidents or information technology outages that could disrupt or otherwise harm Kodak’s operations. |
Future events and other factors may cause Kodak’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to Kodak or persons acting on its behalf apply only as of the date of this prospectus or, with respect to any forward-looking statements included in a document incorporated by reference, as of the date thereof and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included or referenced in this prospectus. Kodak undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
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General
Kodak is a global manufacturer focused on commercial print and advanced materials and chemicals. With 79,000 patents earned over 130 years of research and development, Kodak believes in the power of technology and science to enhance what the world sees and creates. Kodak’s innovative, award-winning products, combined with its customer-first approach, make Kodak the partner of choice for commercial printers worldwide. Kodak is committed to environmental stewardship, including industry leadership in developing sustainable solutions for print.
The Company was founded by George Eastman in 1880 and incorporated in 1901 in the State of New Jersey. Kodak is headquartered in Rochester, New York.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at 343 State Street, Rochester, New York 14650, and our telephone number is (800) 356-3259.
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Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file with the SEC, and in other documents which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as the risk factors and other information contained in or incorporated by reference into any accompanying prospectus supplement, before investing in any of our securities. Our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The risks and uncertainties described in the documents incorporated by reference herein are not the only risks and uncertainties that we may face. For more information about our SEC filings, please see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
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Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the net proceeds from any sale by us of the securities to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt, redemption of securities, acquisitions, additions to working capital, capital expenditures and investments in our subsidiaries. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested prior to use. When we offer and sell securities to which this prospectus relates, the prospectus supplement related to such offering will set forth our intended use of the proceeds, if any, received from the sale of such securities.
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General
We are authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 60,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated 5.50% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), none of which are outstanding, 1,000,000 shares have been designated 4.0% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), all of which are outstanding, and up to 1,435,000 shares have been designated 5.0% Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series C Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series A Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”), 1,181,670 of which are currently outstanding. Any additional series of preferred stock designated out of the remaining authorized shares of preferred stock shall have such rights, preferences and limitations as authorized in our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate”) and as determined by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The rights of holders of the common stock shall be subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock that may be issued from time to time, including liquidation rights, special voting rights and preferences with respect to payment of dividends.
Dividends
Subject to applicable law and to the designated preferential rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock that the Board may cause to be issued, from time to time, the holders of common stock will be entitled to dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act.
Holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive cash dividends in an amount equal to the dividend rate of 4.0% per annum of the liquidation preference of $100.00 per share of Series B Preferred Stock. Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock will be paid in cash if the Company has funds legally available for payment and the Board, or an authorized committee thereof, declares a cash dividend payable.
Unless (i) all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock have been paid in full or a sum for such amounts has been set aside for payment or (ii) the Company has fully performed its obligation to redeem in full all outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock, the Company may not declare dividends on shares of common stock or any other shares of the Company’s stock ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock and may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire such shares, subject to certain customary exceptions.
Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive dividends payable “in-kind” in the form of additional shares of the Series C Preferred Stock in an amount equal to 5.0% per annum of the liquidation preference per share of the Series C Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock has an initial liquidation preference of $100.00 per share. If dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock are not declared and paid for any given fiscal quarter, the liquidation preference is automatically increased by the amount of such unpaid dividends. Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are also entitled to participate in any dividends paid on the common stock (other than stock dividends) in an amount equal to the amount of such dividends which would be payable on the number of shares of common stock into which such shares of the Series C Preferred Stock could be converted on the applicable record date, with such dividends on any shares of the Series C Preferred Stock being payable upon conversion of such shares of the Series C Preferred Stock into common stock.
Unless (i) all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock have been paid in full in the form of additional shares of the Series C Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference has been increased by the amount of any unpaid dividends or (ii) the Company has fully performed its obligation to redeem in full all outstanding shares of the Series C Preferred Stock, the Company may not declare dividends on shares of common stock or any other shares of the Company’s stock ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock and may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire such shares, subject to certain customary exceptions.
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Ranking
The common stock ranks junior to the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and distributions of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Company.
Voting Rights
The Fourth Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (the “By-Laws”) provide that each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all matters, including the election of directors, and, except as otherwise required by law or provided in any resolution adopted by our Board with respect to any series of preferred stock, the holders of the shares of common stock will possess all voting power. Generally, all matters to be voted on by the shareholders must be approved by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present, subject to state law and any voting rights granted to any of the holders of preferred stock. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote upon all matters upon which holders of common stock have the right to vote, and will be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of full shares of common stock into which such shares of Series C Preferred Stock could be converted on the applicable record date, such votes to be counted together with shares of common stock and not separately as a class. The Certificate provides for certain limitations on the voting rights of holders of common stock with respect to amendments to the Certificate that affect the terms of outstanding preferred stock, including the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock.
Directors
The By-Laws provide that the number of directors shall be no fewer than seven and not more than 13, as may be determined from time to time by the Board. There are no cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if the nominee receives a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. A nominee receives a majority of the votes cast if the votes “for” such nominee’s election exceed the votes “against” such nominee’s election. However, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in any contested election for directors. A “contested election” is any election in which the number of nominees seeking election is more than the number of directors to be elected. Shareholders will be permitted only to vote “for” or “withhold” authority in a contested election.
If dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more consecutive or non-consecutive dividend periods, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to nominate one director at the next annual shareholder meeting and all subsequent shareholder meetings until all accumulated dividends on such Series B Preferred Stock have been paid in full or set aside, at which time any such director serving on the Board shall resign.
The initial holder of the Series C Preferred Stock was contractually entitled to nominate one director to the Board until February 26, 2024. David P. Bovenzi, who currently serves as one of our directors, was initially elected pursuant to this nomination right. Following February 26, 2024, if dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more consecutive or non-consecutive dividend periods, the initial holder of the Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to nominate one director at the next annual shareholder meeting and all subsequent shareholder meetings until all accumulated dividends on such Series C Preferred Stock have been paid in full in the form of additional shares of Series C Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference has been increased by the amount of any unpaid dividends, at which time any such director serving on the Board shall resign. The foregoing nomination right will automatically terminate upon the initial holder ceasing to directly or indirectly hold at least a majority of the shares of the Series C Preferred Stock purchased or the common stock received upon the conversion of such shares. Such nomination right is exclusive to the initial holder of the Series C Preferred Stock and does not transfer with the Series C Preferred Stock.
Pursuant to a letter agreement, as amended, entered into in connection with debt financing obtained by the Company from certain funds affiliated with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management LLC (“KLIM”) pursuant to
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that certain Credit Agreement among the Company, the lenders party thereto, and Alter Domus (US) LLC, as administrative agent (as amended and restated, the “Credit Agreement”), KLIM has the right to nominate one director at each shareholder meeting until KLIM affiliated funds cease to hold at least $200,000,000 of the original principal amount of the loans outstanding in respect of the Credit Agreement. Darren L. Richman serves as one of our directors pursuant to this right. Until KLIM affiliated funds cease to hold at least $200,000,000 of the original principal amount of the loans outstanding in respect of the Credit Agreement, at any time that KLIM’s designated director is not serving on the Board, KLIM will have the right to designate a non-voting observer to the Board.
Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the Certificate, the By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, in whole or in part, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. The shareholders, by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the shareholders called for such purpose, may adopt, alter, amend or repeal the By-Laws whether made by the Board or otherwise; such amendments adopted by the shareholders may not be amended or repealed by action of the Board without (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the shareholders called for such purpose or (ii) approval by written consent of the shareholders.
Other
The holders of common stock do not have preemptive rights. There are no subscription, redemption, conversion or sinking fund provisions with respect to the common stock. Each series of the Preferred Stock is subject to mandatory redemption on the applicable mandatory redemption date at a redemption price equal to the applicable liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends to, but excluding, the redemption date. Each holder of Preferred Stock has the right at any time to, at its option, convert any or all of such holder’s shares of Preferred Stock at the applicable conversion rate and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable amendment to the Certificate.
Pursuant to section 1123(a)(6) of chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), the Company is prohibited from issuing any non-voting equity securities for so long as section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Company. This restriction on the issuance of non-voting equity securities is included in the Certificate.
For a more detailed description of the terms of our capital stock, please refer to the documents and other information that we incorporate by reference elsewhere in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is Computershare Shareowner Services.
Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue up to 60,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated Series A Preferred Stock and no shares Series A Preferred Stock of are outstanding, 1,000,000 shares have been designated Series B Preferred Stock and are outstanding and 1,435,000 shares have been designated Series C Preferred Stock, 1,181,670 of which are currently outstanding. With respect to the remaining 55,565,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, the Board has the authority to determine the dividend rights, dividend rates, voting rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and sinking fund terms of any series of preferred stock, the number of shares constituting any such series, the designation thereof and any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of such series.
Depositary Shares
The following description summarizes the general terms and provisions of depositary shares and depositary receipts. The particular terms of any depositary shares and any depositary receipts we offer will be described in
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the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read the particular terms of any depositary shares and depositary receipts we offer described in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with any deposit agreement relating to a particular series of preferred stock for provisions that may be important to you. The applicable prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the generalized provisions summarized below do not apply to the depositary shares or depositary receipts being offered.
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. In that event, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any depositary shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the deposit agreement, which we will file with the SEC.
The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and the depositary named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock, including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock as described in the applicable prospectus supplements.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the deposited preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred stock in proportion to the number of such depositary shares owned by such holders.
The depositary will distribute any property received by it other than cash to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto. If the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, it may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
Redemption
If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is to be redeemed, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of such series of preferred stock. The depositary shares will be redeemed by the depositary at a price per depositary share equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable in respect of the shares of preferred stock so redeemed.
Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same date the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by the depositary by lot or ratably or by any other equitable method as we may decide.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Various provisions contained in the Certificate, the By-Laws, and New Jersey law could delay or discourage some transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of the Company or its management. Provisions in the Certificate and the By-Laws:
| • | provide that only a majority of the Board, the Chairman or the President may call a special meeting of the shareholders, except that a special meeting must be called upon the request from at least 20% of the |
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| total number of votes represented by the entire amount of capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting; |
| • | provide an advanced written notice procedure with respect to shareholder proposals and shareholder nomination of candidates for election as directors; and |
| • | provide that directors may fill any vacancies on the Board, including vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors. |
In addition, the Company is subject to Chapter 14A:10A of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, the New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act. Chapter 14A:10A is an anti-takeover statute designed to protect shareholders against coercive, unfair or inadequate tender offers and other abusive tactics and to encourage any person contemplating a business combination with the Company to negotiate with the Board for the fair and equitable treatment of all shareholders. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the statute prohibits an interested stockholder of a corporation from effecting a business combination with the corporation for a period of five years from the date the interested stockholder acquires the corporation’s stock, unless (a) the corporation’s board of directors approved the combination prior to the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder or (b) (i) the corporation’s board of directors approved the transaction or series of transactions causing the stockholder to become an interested stockholder and the corporation’s disinterested directors or a committee of disinterested directors approved the subsequent business combination and (ii) such subsequent business combination was also approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting stock of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder. In addition, but not in limitation of the five-year restriction, if applicable, corporations covered by the New Jersey statute may not engage at any time in a business combination with any interested stockholder of that corporation unless (x) the combination is approved by the board of directors prior to the interested stockholder’s stock acquisition date, (y) the combination receives the approval by affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the voting stock of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder or (z) the combination meets minimum financial terms specified by the statute.
An “interested stockholder” is defined to include any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any affiliate or associate of the corporation who within the prior five-year period has at any time owned 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation.
The term “business combination” is defined to include a broad range of transactions including, among other things:
| • | the merger or consolidation of the corporation with the interested stockholder or any corporation that is, or after the merger or consolidation would be, an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, |
| • | the sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to or with an interested stockholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation, or |
| • | the issuance or transfer to an interested stockholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder of 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the stock of the corporation. |
The effect of the statute is to protect non-tendering, post-acquisition minority shareholders from mergers in which they will be “squeezed out” after the merger, by prohibiting transactions in which an acquirer could favor itself at the expense of minority shareholders. The statute generally applies to corporations that are organized under New Jersey law.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a general description of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions described below may apply to those securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We also may sell hybrid securities that combine certain features of debt securities and other securities described in this prospectus. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of a debt security as described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supplement and may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will control. As a result, the statements we make in this section may not apply to the debt security you purchase.
As used in this “Description of the Debt Securities,” the “Company” refers to Eastman Kodak Company, or EKC, and does not, unless the context otherwise indicates, include our subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section have the respective meanings set forth in the applicable indenture.
The debt securities that we offer will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and may be secured or unsecured. We expect to issue senior debt securities under an indenture, which we refer to as the senior indenture, to be entered into between EKC and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We expect to issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture, which we refer to as the subordinated indenture, to be entered into between EKC and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture as the indentures, and to each of the trustees under the indentures as a trustee. In addition, the indentures may be supplemented or amended as necessary to set forth the terms of any debt securities issued under the indentures. You should read the indentures, including any amendments or supplements, carefully to fully understand the terms of the debt securities. The forms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures are subject to, and are governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
The senior debt securities will be EKC’s unsubordinated obligations. They will rank equally with each other and all of our other unsubordinated debt, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior debt. See “—Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities.” The subordinated debt securities will rank equally with each other and all other subordinated debt of EKC, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder and provide that debt securities of any series may be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or securities that we may issue. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue debt securities of the same series at more than one time and, unless prohibited by the terms of the series, we may reopen a series for issuances of additional debt securities, without the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of that series. All debt securities issued as a series, including those issued pursuant to any reopening of a series, will vote together as a single class unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement for such series.
Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the following and other possible terms of each series of the debt securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
(1) the title of the debt securities;
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
(3) the price at which we will issue the debt securities;
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(4) if other than 100% of the principal amount, the portion of their principal amount payable upon maturity of the debt securities;
(5) the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable (or method of determination thereof);
(6) the rate or rates (or method of determination thereof) at which the debt securities will bear interest (including any interest rates applicable to overdue payments), if any, the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue and on which such interest will be payable, the record dates for the determination of the holders to whom interest is payable, and the dates on which any other amounts, if any, will be payable;
(7) if other than as set forth herein, the place or places where the principal of, premium and other amounts, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable;
(8) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;
(9) our obligation, if any, to redeem, repurchase or repay debt securities, whether pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or pursuant to other provisions set forth therein or at the option of a holder thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part;
(10) the denominations in which the debt securities shall be issuable;
(11) the form of such debt securities, including such legends as required by law or as we deem necessary or appropriate, and the form of temporary global security that may be issued;
(12) whether the debt securities are convertible into other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion;
(13) whether there are any authentication agents, paying agents, transfer agents or registrars with respect to the debt securities;
(14) whether the debt securities will be represented in whole or in part by one or more global notes registered in the name of a depository or its nominee;
(15) the ranking of such debt securities as senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;
(16) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies or currency units) in which the debt securities may be purchased and in which payments on the debt securities will be made (which currencies may be different for payments of principal, premium or other amounts, if any, and/or interest, if any);
(17) if the debt securities will be secured by any collateral, a description of the collateral and the terms and conditions of the security and realization provisions;
(18) the provisions relating to any guarantee of the debt securities, including the ranking thereof;
(19) the ability, if any, to defer payments of principal, interest, or other amounts; and
(20) any other specific terms or conditions of the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided for with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
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“Principal” when used herein includes any premium on any series of the debt securities.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, principal and interest, if any, will be payable, and transfers of the debt securities may be registered, at the office or offices or agency we maintain for such purposes, provided that payment of interest on the debt securities will be paid at such place by check mailed to the persons entitled thereto at the addresses of such persons appearing on the security register. Interest on the debt securities, if any, will be payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.
The debt securities may be issued only in fully registered form and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. Additionally, the debt securities may be represented in whole or in part by one or more global notes registered in the name of a depository or its nominee and, if so represented, interests in such global note will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the designated depository and its participants.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, the debt securities may be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the same series and date of maturity in such authorized denominations as may be requested upon surrender of the debt securities at an agency of the Company maintained for such purpose and upon fulfillment of all other requirements of such agent. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
The indentures require the annual filing by the Company with the trustee of a certificate as to compliance with certain covenants contained in the indentures.
We will comply with Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable, and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may be applicable, in connection with any obligation to purchase debt securities at the option of the holders thereof. Any such obligation applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto.
The statements made hereunder relating to the indentures and the debt securities are summaries of certain provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all provisions of the indentures and the debt securities and the descriptions thereof, if different, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent
We will maintain an office or agency where the debt securities may be presented for payment, conversion, registration of transfer and exchange. The indenture trustee is appointed security registrar for purposes of registering, and registering transfers of, the debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture trustee also will act as paying agent, and will be authorized to pay principal and interest, if any, on any debt security of any series.
There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we or the indenture trustee may require a holder to pay any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, other than certain exchanges not involving any transfer, and other than certain exchanges or transfers as we may specify.
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Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of subordinated debt securities is subordinated to debt securities of another series or to our other indebtedness. The terms will include a description of:
(1) the indebtedness ranking senior to the debt securities being offered;
(2) the restrictions, if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities being offered while a default with respect to the senior indebtedness is continuing;
(3) the restrictions, if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities being offered following an event of default; and
(4) the provisions requiring holders of the debt securities being offered to remit some payments to the holders of senior indebtedness.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Events of Default
Except as otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series is defined in the indentures as:
(1) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption or repurchase, by declaration or otherwise;
(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant or warranty contained in the debt securities of such series or set forth in the applicable indenture (other than the failure to comply with any covenant or agreement to file with the trustee information required to be filed with the SEC or a default in the performance or breach of a covenant or warranty included in the applicable indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than such series) and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after due notice by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series; or
(4) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company and, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain of our subsidiaries.
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Any failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or agreement by the Company in respect of the debt securities with respect to the filing with the trustee of the information required to be filed with the SEC shall not be a default or an event of default. Remedies against the Company for any such failure or breach will be limited to liquidated damages. If there is such a failure or breach and continuance of such failure or breach for a period of 90 days after the date on which there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the trustee or to the Company and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, a written notice specifying such failure or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Reporting Noncompliance” under the indenture, the Company will pay liquidated damages to all holders of debt securities, at a rate per year equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of such debt securities from the 90th day following such notice to and including the 150th day following such notice and at a rate per year equal to 0.5% of the principal amount of such Securities from and including the 151st day following such notice, until such failure or breach is cured.
Additional Events of Default may be added for the benefit of holders of certain series of debt securities that, if added, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
The indentures provide that the trustee shall notify the holders of debt securities of each series of any continuing default known to the trustee that has occurred with respect to such series within 90 days after the occurrence thereof. The indentures provide that, notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, or interest, if any, on any of the debt securities of such series, the trustee may withhold such notice if the trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of debt securities of such series. In addition, we will be required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each year, a certificate indicating whether the officers signing such certificate on our behalf know of any default with respect to the debt securities of any series that occurred during the previous year, specifying each such default and the nature thereof.
Except as otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, the indentures provide that, if an event of default (other than an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganizations) with respect to any series of debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of such series then outstanding, by notice to the Company, may declare the principal amount of all debt securities of such series and accrued and unpaid interest to be due and payable immediately, but upon certain conditions such declaration may be annulled. Any past defaults and the consequences thereof, except a default in the payment of principal of or interest, if any, on debt securities of such series, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding.
Subject to the provisions of the indentures relating to the duties of the trustee, in case an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities shall occur and be continuing, the trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by the indentures at the request or direction of any of the holders of such series, unless such holders shall have offered to such trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to such trustee. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected and then outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee under the applicable indenture or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series; provided that the trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is in conflict with any law or such indenture and subject to certain other limitations.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of the indentures to institute any proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise with respect to the indentures or for any remedy thereunder, unless such holder shall have previously given the trustee written notice of an event of default with respect to debt securities of such series and unless the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series shall also have made written request,
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and offered reasonably satisfactory indemnity, to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the trustee shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days after its receipt of such request, and the trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series a direction inconsistent with such request. However, the right of a holder of any debt security to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such debt security on or after the due dates expressed in such debt security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.
Merger
Each indenture provides that the Company may consolidate with, sell, convey or lease all or substantially all of its assets to, or amalgamate or merge with or into, any other corporation, if:
(1) either (a) the Company is the continuing company or (b) the successor company is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, a member state of the European Union or any political subdivision thereof and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the debt securities outstanding under such indenture according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of such indenture to be performed or observed by us; and
(2) the Company or such continuing or successor company, as the case may be, is not, immediately after such amalgamation, merger, consolidation, sale, conveyance or lease, in material default in the performance or observance of any such covenant or condition.
Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indentures
The indenture with respect to any series of debt securities (except for certain specified surviving obligations, including our obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series) will be discharged and cancelled upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the payment of all the debt securities of such series or the deposit with the trustee under such indenture of cash or appropriate government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient for such payment or redemption in accordance with the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities of such series.
Modification of the Indentures
The indentures contain provisions permitting the Company and the trustee thereunder, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series at the time outstanding under the applicable indenture affected thereby, to execute supplemental indentures adding certain provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, the applicable indenture or any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities of each such series; provided that, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, no such supplemental indenture may:
(1) extend the final maturity date of any debt security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof, or impair or affect the right of any holder of debt securities to institute suit for payment thereof or, if the debt securities provide therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the holders of the debt securities, without the consent of the holder of each debt security so affected;
(2) reduce the aforesaid percentage of debt securities of such series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of all debt securities of such series so affected; or
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(3) reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity date of any original issue discount security.
Additional amendments requiring the consent of each holder affected thereby may be added for the benefit of holders of certain series of debt securities and, if added, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
Additionally, in certain circumstances prescribed in the indenture governing the relevant series of debt securities, the Company and the trustee may execute supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities.
Defeasance
The indentures provide, if such provision is made applicable to the debt securities of any series, that the Company may elect to terminate, and be deemed to have satisfied, all of its obligations with respect to such debt securities (except for the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities, to compensate and indemnify the trustee and to punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest, if any, on all debt securities of such series when due) (“defeasance”) upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust for such purpose, of funds and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide funds in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the outstanding debt securities of such series, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor. Such a trust may be established only if the Company complies with certain conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe these or other provisions, if any, permitting defeasance with respect to the debt securities of any series.
Global Debt Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository (a “Debt Depository”) identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless otherwise provided in such prospectus supplement, debt securities that are represented by a global security will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. Payments of principal of, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a global security will be made by the Company to the trustee under the applicable indenture, and then forwarded to the Debt Depository.
We anticipate that any global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and that such global securities will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee. We further anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to any such global securities. Any additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities issued in the form of global securities.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole holder of the debt securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global
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security will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by such global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form; accordingly, such laws may limit the transferability of beneficial interests in a global security.
If DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act if so required by applicable law or regulation, and, in either case, we do not appoint a successor Debt Depository within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities in certificated form in exchange for the global securities. In addition, we may determine, at any time and subject to the procedures of DTC, not to have any debt securities represented by one or more global securities, and, in such event, will issue individual debt securities in certificated form in exchange for the relevant global securities. Beneficial interests in global securities will also be exchangeable for individual debt securities in certificated form in the event of a default or an Event of Default or upon prior written notice to the trustee by or on behalf of DTC or at the request of the owner of such beneficial interests, in accordance with the indenture. In any of the foregoing circumstances, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities in certificated form of like tenor and rank, equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest, and to have such debt securities in certificated form registered in its name. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities so issued in certificated form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof, and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (“Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations (“Direct Participants”). DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, and banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt security (“Beneficial Owner”) is in turn recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. A Beneficial Owner does not receive written confirmation from DTC of its purchase, but is expected to receive a written confirmation providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of its holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owner entered into the action. Transfers of ownership interests in debt securities are accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners do not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except as described above.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, the debt securities are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of the debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the debt securities; DTC records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
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Delivery of notice and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners are governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. consents or votes with respect to the debt securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails a proxy (an “Omnibus Proxy”) to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date (identified on a list attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Principal and interest payments, if any, on the debt securities will be made to DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings as shown on DTC’s records, unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the payment date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners are governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and are the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest, if any, to DTC is our or the trustee’s responsibility, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is DTC’s responsibility, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not appointed, debt security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, debt security certificates will be printed and delivered.
We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
None of us, any underwriter or agent, the trustee or any applicable paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interest.
Trustee
A trustee under the indentures will be appointed. The Company and its subsidiaries may maintain accounts and conduct other banking transactions with affiliates of the trustee.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator, shareholder, member, manager or partner of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the debt securities of any series or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities of any series by accepting such debt securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of such securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants, purchase contracts, guarantees or units that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus. The warrants, purchase contracts, guarantees and units and each warrant agreement, purchase contract agreement, guarantee and unit agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
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We may sell the offered securities through agents, through underwriters, brokers or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods of sale, including in an “at the market” type of transaction. If so, a prospectus supplement will include the following information:
| • | the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| • | the purchase price of securities from us and, if the purchase price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the currency or composite currency in which the purchase price is payable; |
| • | the net proceeds to us from the sale of securities; |
| • | any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| • | any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any commissions paid to agents. |
Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers
If we use underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. If we utilize an underwriter or underwriters in the sale, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the time of sale to them. Any underwriters will use a prospectus supplement in connection with any offers or sales of securities pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
We may make sales of our common stock to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents in at- the-market offerings and will do so pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement between the underwriters, dealers or agents and us. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to a distribution agreement, we will issue and sell shares of our common stock to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such distribution agreement, we may sell shares on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters, dealers or agents. The distribution agreement may provide that any shares of our common stock sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for our securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding net proceeds to us or commissions to be paid are impossible to determine and will be described in a prospectus supplement. Pursuant to the terms of the distribution agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters, dealers or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our common stock. The terms of each such distribution agreement will be set forth in more detail in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. To the extent that any named underwriter, dealer or agent acts as principal pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, or if we offer to sell shares of our common stock through another dealer acting as underwriter, then such named underwriter may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock. We will describe any such activities in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any named dealer or agent acts as agent on a best efforts basis pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, such dealer or agent will not engage in any such stabilization transactions.
In connection with any particular offering pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, an underwriter may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate
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covering transactions and penalty bids. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price.
Over-allotment involves sales by an underwriter of shares in excess of the number of shares an underwriter is obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by an underwriter is not greater than the number of shares that it may purchase in an over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in an over-allotment option. An underwriter may close out any short position by either exercising its over-allotment option and/or purchasing shares in the open market.
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of shares of our common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, an underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which it may purchase shares through an over-allotment option. If an underwriter sells more shares than could be covered by an over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if an underwriter is concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Penalty bids permit representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when shares of our common stock originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to the dealers as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in a prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
At-the-Market Offerings
We could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the- market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
To the extent that we make sales through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents in “at-the-market” offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement or other “at-the-market” offering arrangement with such underwriters or agents. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell securities through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell securities on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. The agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for such securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of securities. The terms of each such
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agreement will be set forth in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. In the event that any underwriter or agent acts as principal, or any broker-dealer acts as underwriter, it may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. Any such activities will be described in the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus relating to the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents
We may sell the securities directly, without the involvement of underwriters, dealers or agents. We also may sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time, who may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined in the Securities Act. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities, and we will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in a prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement would describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, securities must be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, some states may restrict us from selling securities unless the securities have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
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Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the validity of the common stock or preferred stock being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Day Pitney LLP, Parsippany, New Jersey, and the validity of the other securities being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements of Eastman Kodak Company appearing in Eastman Kodak Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the effectiveness of Eastman Kodak Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES
DEPOSITARY SHARES
WARRANTS
PURCHASE CONTRACTS
GUARANTEES
UNITS
PROSPECTUS
August 21, 2024