SEC Form 424B5 filed by Southern Company

9/4/24 10:09:33 AM ET

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424B5 1 so2024bsrnotepreprosup.htm 424B5 Document

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-277138

This Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus relate to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement is not complete and may be changed. This Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated February 16, 2024)

Series 2024B % Senior Notes

due ,

This is a public offering by The Southern Company of $ of Series 2024B % Senior Notes due , (the “Series 2024B Senior Notes”). Interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on and of each year, beginning , 2025.

The Series 2024B Senior Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the option of The Southern Company at redemption prices as described under the caption “Description of the Series 2024B Senior Notes—Optional Redemption.”

The Series 2024B Senior Notes will be direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of The Southern Company, ranking equally with all of The Southern Company’s other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding, and will be effectively subordinated to all secured indebtedness of The Southern Company as described under the caption “Description of the Series 2024B Senior Notes—Ranking.”

See “RISK FACTORS” on page S-3 for a description of certain risks associated with investing in the Series 2024B Senior Notes.



	Per Series 2024B Senior Note	Total
Initial public offering price (1)	%	$
Underwriting discount	%	$
Proceeds, before expenses, to The Southern Company	%	$

(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of original issuance of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, which is expected to be September , 2024.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The Series 2024B Senior Notes are expected to be delivered on or about September , 2024 through the book-entry facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Euroclear Bank SA/NV (“Euroclear”), as operator of the Euroclear system, or Clearstream Banking, S.A., Luxembourg (“Clearstream”).

Joint Book-Running Managers

BofA Securities

Mizuho

Morgan Stanley

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets

September , 2024

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus or any written communication from The Southern Company or the underwriters specifying the final terms of the offering. Neither The Southern Company nor any underwriter takes any responsibility for, nor can it provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and any written communication from The Southern Company or the underwriters specifying the final terms of the offering is an offer to sell only the Series 2024B Senior Notes offered hereby, and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information incorporated by reference or contained in this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and any written communication from The Southern Company or the underwriters specifying the final terms of the offering is current only as of its respective date.

__________________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page
Prospectus Supplement
Risk Factors			S-3
The Company			S-3
Available Information			S-3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			S-3
Selected Financial Information			S-3
Use of Proceeds			S-4
Description of the Series 2024B Senior Notes			S-5
Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-United States Holders			S-9
Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)			S-12

Prospectus
About this Prospectus			1
Risk Factors			1
Available Information			1
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			1
The Southern Company			2
Use of Proceeds			2
Description of the Common Stock			2
Description of the Senior Notes			2
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes			5
Description of the Stock Purchase Contracts and the Stock Purchase Units			10
Plan of Distribution			10
Legal Matters			11
Experts			11

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in the Series 2024B Senior Notes involves risk. Please see the risk factors in The Southern Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”), which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus.

THE COMPANY

The Southern Company (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, and the telephone number is (404) 506-5000. The Company’s internet address is http://www.southerncompany.com. The information on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and should not be considered to be a part of this Prospectus Supplement.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and in accordance with the 1934 Act files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants, including the Company, that file electronically at http://www.sec.gov. Only the Company’s SEC filings referenced below are incorporated by reference herein.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents have been filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and made a part of this Prospectus Supplement:

(a) the Form 10-K;

(b) the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 202 4 and June 30, 202 4;

(c) all information in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 1 2 , 202 4, to the extent incorporated by reference in the Form 10-K; and

(d) the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 1, 2024, February 26, 2024, April 2 9 , 2024, May 3, 2024, May 6, 2024, May 6, 2024 (filed on May 7, 2024), May 7, 2024, May 9, 2024 and May 22, 2024 and Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 16, 2023 (filed on February 6, 2024).

All documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus Supplement and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and made a part of this Prospectus Supplement from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that the Company is not incorporating any information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K unless specifically stated otherwise. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus Supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus Supplement or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus Supplement.

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 2021 through December 31, 2023 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The following selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements and related notes, which are not incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement. The following selected financial data as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2024 has been derived from the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The information set forth below is qualified in its entirety by reference to

S-3

and, therefore, should be read together with management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition, the consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The information set forth below does not reflect the issuance of the Series 2024B Senior Notes offered hereby. See “Use of Proceeds” in this Prospectus Supplement.


												Six Months Ended June 30, 2024(1)
	Year Ended December 31,
		2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
	(Millions)
Operating Revenues		$	21,419	$	20,375	$	23,113	$	29,279	$	25,253	$	13,109
Consolidated Net Income Attributable to the Company(2)		4,739		3,119		2,393		3,524		3,976		2,332


	Capitalization as of June 30, 2024
	Actual		As Adjusted(3)
	(Millions, except percentages)
Common Stockholders’ Equity	$	32,449	$	32,449	33.7	%
Noncontrolling Interests	3,662		3,662		3.8	%
Senior Notes	41,806		41,806		43.5	%
Other Long-Term Debt(4)	18,077		18,233		19.0	%
Total, excluding amounts due within one year of $2.8 billion	$	95,994	$	96,150	100.0	%

______________________________

(1) Due to seasonal variations in demand for energy, operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2024 do not necessarily indicate operating results for the entire year.

(2) The Company recorded pre-tax charges totaling $1.7 billion ($1.3 billion after tax) in 2021 for estimated probable losses to reflect Georgia Power Company’s revised estimate to complete construction and start-up of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and a $2.6 billion pre-tax ($1.4 billion after tax) gain associated with the sale of Gulf Power Company in 2019.

(3) Reflects an adjustment to “Other Long-Term Debt” related to the issuance by Northern Illinois Gas Company in September 2024 of $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.78% Series First Mortgage Bonds due September 15, 2031, $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Series First Mortgage Bonds due September 15, 2034 and $31,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.58% Series First Mortgage Bonds due September 15, 2059.

(4) Does not include (i) $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 2024A 4.95% Senior Notes due September 15, 2034, guaranteed by Southern Company Gas, which Southern Company Gas Capital Corporation has agreed to issue, which issuance is expected to occur in September 2024, and (ii) $119,000,000 aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds which Northern Illinois Gas Company has agreed to issue in a private placement, which issuance is expected to occur in December 2024.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from the sale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes will be used by the Company to repay all or a portion of its outstanding commercial paper borrowings, which aggregated $943,600,000 as of September 3, 2024. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for other general corporate purposes, which may include investment by the Company in its subsidiaries.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES 2024B SENIOR NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the senior notes set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the caption “Description of the Senior Notes.” The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description in the accompanying Prospectus and the Senior Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 2007, as heretofore supplemented and amended and as further supplemented and amended from time to time (the “Senior Note Indenture”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture Trustee”).

General

The Series 2024B Senior Notes will be issued as a series of senior notes under the Senior Note Indenture. The Series 2024B Senior Notes will initially be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $ . The Company may, at any time and without the consent of the holders of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Series 2024B Senior Notes (except for the public offering price and issue date and the initial interest accrual date and initial Interest Payment Date (as defined below), if applicable). Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the Series 2024B Senior Notes, will constitute a single series of senior notes under the Senior Note Indenture.

Unless earlier redeemed, the entire principal amount of the Series 2024B Senior Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on , . The Series 2024B Senior Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision. The Series 2024B Senior Notes are available for purchase in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Interest

Each Series 2024B Senior Note will bear interest at the rate of % per annum (the “Securities Rate”) from the date of original issuance, payable semiannually in arrears on and of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”) to the person in whose name such Series 2024B Senior Note is registered at the close of business (i) on the Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date if the Series 2024B Senior Notes are in book-entry only form or (ii) on the fifteenth calendar day preceding such Interest Payment Date if the Series 2024B Senior Notes are not in book-entry only form (whether or not a Business Day). The initial Interest Payment Date is , 2025. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Series 2024B Senior Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), with the same force and effect as if made on such date. “Business Day” means a day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Senior Note Indenture Trustee’s corporate trust office is closed for business.

Ranking

The Series 2024B Senior Notes will be direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company ranking equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company from time to time outstanding. Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company and, hence, the right of creditors of the Company (including holders of the Series 2024B Senior Notes) to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary of the Company, whether upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, is structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of each subsidiary. As of June 30, 2024, on a consolidated basis, the Company had approximately $63.3 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), of which approximately $41.7 billion was long-term debt (including securities due within one year) of the Company’s subsidiaries. In addition, as of June 30, 2024, on a consolidated basis, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion of short-term notes payable, all of which was short-term notes payable of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Series 2024B Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to all secured indebtedness of the Company. The Company had no secured debt outstanding at June 30, 2024. The Senior Note Indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries.

Optional Redemption

Prior to , ( month(s) prior to the maturity date of the Series 2024B Senior Notes) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Series 2024B Senior Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

S-5

(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Series 2024B Senior Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus basis points less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Series 2024B Senior Notes to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Series 2024B Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Series 2024B Senior Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

Any redemption of the Series 2024B Senior Notes may be conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more conditions precedent.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted each business day by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semiannual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee shall have no duty to determine, or verify the calculation of, the redemption price.

If notice of redemption is given as aforesaid, the Series 2024B Senior Notes to be redeemed will, on the redemption date (subject, in the case of a conditional redemption, to the satisfaction of all conditions precedent), become due and payable at the applicable redemption price described above together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and from and after such date (unless the Company has defaulted in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest) such Series 2024B Senior Notes shall cease to bear interest. If any Series 2024B Senior Note called for redemption shall not be paid upon surrender thereof for

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redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the redemption date at the Securities Rate. See “Description of the Senior Notes—Events of Default” in the accompanying Prospectus.

Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Series 2024B Senior Notes by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

Book-Entry Only Issuance—The Depository Trust Company

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will act as the initial securities depository for the Series 2024B Senior Notes. The Series 2024B Senior Notes offered hereby will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee, or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or more fully-registered global Series 2024B Senior Notes certificates will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total principal amount of Series 2024B Senior Notes, and will be deposited with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee on behalf of DTC. Investors may hold interests in the Series 2024B Senior Notes offered hereby through DTC if they are participants in DTC or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC, including Euroclear or Clearstream.

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 1934 Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of United States and non-United States equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues and money market instruments (from over 100 countries) that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both United States and non-United States securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both United States and non-United States securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The DTC rules applicable to its Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com. The contents of such website do not constitute part of this Prospectus Supplement.

Purchases of Series 2024B Senior Notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Series 2024B Senior Notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Series 2024B Senior Note (“Beneficial Owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. Beneficial Owners, however, are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased Series 2024B Senior Notes. Transfers of ownership interests in the Series 2024B Senior Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in Series 2024B Senior Notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Series 2024B Senior Notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Series 2024B Senior Notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of Series 2024B Senior Notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any changes in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Series 2024B Senior Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Series 2024B Senior Notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of interest of each Direct Participant in such Series 2024B Senior Notes to be redeemed.

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Although voting with respect to the Series 2024B Senior Notes is limited, in those cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the Series 2024B Senior Notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to the Company 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 Series 2024B Senior Notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

Payments on the Series 2024B Senior Notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from the Company or the Senior Note Indenture Trustee on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Direct or Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Direct or Indirect Participant and not of DTC or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the Company, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner of a global Series 2024B Senior Note will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Series 2024B Senior Notes. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the Series 2024B Senior Notes. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global Series 2024B Senior Note.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the Series 2024B Senior Notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Company. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, Series 2024B Senior Notes certificates will be required to be printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, the Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository) with respect to the Series 2024B Senior Notes. The Company understands, however, that under current industry practices, DTC would notify its Direct and Indirect Participants of the Company’s decision, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from a global Series 2024B Senior Note at the request of each Direct or Indirect Participant. In that event, certificates for the Series 2024B Senior Notes will be printed and delivered to the applicable Direct or Indirect Participant.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Company believes to be reliable, but neither the Company nor any underwriter takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Neither the Company nor any underwriter has any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Direct or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Secondary market trading between Clearstream participants and/or Euroclear system participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and the Euroclear system, as applicable.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream participants or Euroclear system participants on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its United States depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its United States depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear system participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective United States depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of Series 2024B Senior Notes received in Clearstream or the Euroclear system as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such Series 2024B Senior Notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream participant or Euroclear system participant on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or the Euroclear system as a result of sales of the Series 2024B Senior Notes by or through a Clearstream

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participant or a Euroclear system participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or the Euroclear system cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS

The following summary describes material United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes by Non-United States Holders (as defined below), and insofar as it relates to matters of United States federal income tax laws and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes the opinion of the Company’s tax counsel, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP. The following discussion does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential United States federal income tax considerations. This discussion only applies to Series 2024B Senior Notes that are held as capital assets, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that are purchased in the initial offering at the initial offering price, by Non-United States Holders. This summary is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and regulations of the Treasury Department, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this Prospectus Supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not describe all of the United States federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to Non-United States Holders in light of their particular circumstances or to Non-United States Holders subject to special rules, such as certain financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” partnerships or other pass-through entities for United States federal income tax purposes, traders or dealers in securities or commodities, persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the Series 2024B Senior Notes being taken into account in an applicable financial statement, persons holding Series 2024B Senior Notes as part of a hedge or other integrated transaction, certain former citizens or residents of the United States or foreign persons eligible for benefits under an applicable income tax treaty with the United States.

The Company has not and will not seek any rulings or opinions from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a different position concerning the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes or that any such position would not be sustained in court.

For purposes of this summary, a “Non-United States Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Series 2024B Senior Note (other than a partnership, or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership) that, for United States federal income tax purposes, is not a United States person described in (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) (a “United States Person”): (i) an individual that is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes that is created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary control over its administration and one or more United States persons, within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (B) the trust has made an election under the applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States Person. If a partnership, or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, beneficially owns the Series 2024B Senior Notes, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in a partnership that beneficially own the Series 2024B Senior Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the particular United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes applicable to them.

Interest

It is anticipated, and this discussion assumes, that the Series 2024B Senior Notes will be issued with less than a de minimis amount of original issue discount. Except if interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes is effectively connected with the conduct by a Non-United States Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and subject to the potential back-up withholding and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) withholding summarized below, a Non-United States Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes provided that such Non-United States Holder (A) does not directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s stock entitled to vote, (B) is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Company directly or constructively through stock ownership, (C) is not a bank receiving such interest on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, and (D) satisfies certain certification requirements. Such certification requirements will be met if (x) the Non-United States Holder provides its name and address, and certifies on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or a substantially similar form), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States Person or (y) a securities clearing organization or certain other financial

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institutions holding the Series 2024B Senior Notes on behalf of the Non-United States Holder certifies on IRS Form W-8IMY, under penalties of perjury, that such certification has been received by it and furnishes the Company or its paying agent with a copy thereof. In addition, the Company or its paying agent must not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner of the Series 2024B Senior Notes is a United States Person.

If interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-United States Holder of a trade or business within the United States, but such Non-United States Holder does not satisfy the other requirements outlined in the preceding paragraph, interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes generally will be subject to United States withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower applicable treaty rate).

If interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes is effectively connected with the conduct by a Non-United States Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, the Non-United States Holder generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis at the rate applicable to United States Persons generally (and, with respect to corporate Non-United States Holders, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax (or a lower applicable treaty branch profits tax rate)). If interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes is effectively connected with the conduct by a Non-United States Holder of a trade or business within the United States, such interest payments will not be subject to United States withholding tax if the Non-United States Holder provides the Company or its paying agent with the appropriate documentation (generally an IRS Form W-8ECI).

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes

Subject to the “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” summary below, a Non-United States Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal withholding tax with respect to gain, if any, recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. A Non-United States Holder will also generally not be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to such gain, unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-United States Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, or (ii) in the case of a Non-United States Holder that is a nonresident alien individual, such Non-United States Holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied. In the case described in (i) above, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of such Series 2024B Senior Notes generally will be subject to United States federal income taxation in the same manner as if such gain or loss were recognized by a United States Person, and, in the case of a Non-United States Holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower applicable treaty branch profits tax rate). In the case described in (ii) above, the Non-United States Holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or lower applicable treaty rate) on any capital gain recognized on the disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes (after being offset by certain United States source capital losses).

To the extent the amount realized on a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes, such amount generally will be subject to, or exempt from, tax to the same extent as described under “—Interest” above.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information returns will be filed annually with the IRS in connection with the Company’s payment of interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific tax treaty or other agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-United States Holder resides. Unless the Non-United States Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States Person, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, and the Non-United States Holder may be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 24%) on payments of interest on the Series 2024B Senior Notes or on the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from the withholding tax on interest described above will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding tax as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-United States Holder may be allowed as a credit against the Non-United States Holder’s United States federal income tax liability or may entitle the Non-United States Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

FATCA Withholding

Under FATCA and additional guidance issued by the IRS, a United States federal withholding tax of 30% generally will apply to interest on a debt obligation paid to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in the Code), whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such institution enters into an agreement with the United States government to collect and provide to the United States tax authorities substantial information regarding United

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States account holders of such institution (which would include certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with United States owners), or (ii) a foreign entity that is a “non-financial foreign institution” (as specifically defined in the Code), whether such non-financial foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such non-financial foreign entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that the beneficial owner of the payment does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial United States owner of the entity, which generally includes any United States Person who directly or indirectly owns more than 10% of the entity, and certain other specified requirements are met. Certain Non-United States Holders located in a jurisdiction with an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. The Company will not be obligated to pay any additional amounts to “gross up” payments to holders as a result of any withholding or deduction for such taxes. If an interest payment is both subject to withholding under FATCA and subject to the withholding tax discussed above under “—Interest”, the withholding under FATCA may be credited against, and therefore reduce, such other withholding tax. Non-United States Holders of the Series 2024B Senior Notes are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these withholding requirements on their investment in the Series 2024B Senior Notes.

Persons considering the purchase of Series 2024B Senior Notes are urged to consult their tax advisors with regard to the application of the United States federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction. Furthermore, this discussion does not describe the effect of United States federal estate and gift tax laws, the potential application of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or the effect of any applicable foreign, state or local law.

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

Subject to the terms and conditions of an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), the Company has agreed to sell to each of the underwriters named below (the “Underwriters”) for whom BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”) and each of the Underwriters has severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase from the Company the principal amount of the Series 2024B Senior Notes set forth opposite its name below:


Underwriters			Principal Amount of Series 2024B Senior Notes
BofA Securities, Inc.			$
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
PNC Capital Markets LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC












Total			$

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several Underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Series 2024B Senior Notes are subject to, among other things, the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and certain other conditions. In the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all of the Series 2024B Senior Notes offered hereby, if any of the Series 2024B Senior Notes are purchased. The offering of the Series 2024B Senior Notes by the Underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance of the Series 2024B Senior Notes and subject to the Underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

The Underwriters propose to offer the Series 2024B Senior Notes to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement and may offer the Series 2024B Senior Notes to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of % of the principal amount per Series 2024B Senior Note. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of % of the principal amount per Series 2024B Senior Note. After the initial public offering, the initial public offering price and other selling terms may be changed.

The Series 2024B Senior Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Series 2024B Senior Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. The Underwriters may make a market in the Series 2024B Senior Notes after completion of the offering, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Series 2024B Senior Notes or that an active public market for the Series 2024B Senior Notes will develop. If an active public trading market for the Series 2024B Senior Notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Series 2024B Senior Notes may be adversely affected.

The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Company’s expenses associated with the offer and sale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes (not including the underwriting discount) are estimated to be $ .

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The Company has agreed with the Underwriters that, during the period of 15 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement, it will not sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of any Series 2024B Senior Notes, any security convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for the Series 2024B Senior Notes or any debt securities substantially similar to the Series 2024B Senior Notes (except for the Series 2024B Senior Notes issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Representatives. This agreement does not apply to issuances of commercial paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less than one year.

In order to facilitate the offering of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, the Underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. Specifically, the Underwriters may over-allot in connection with this offering, creating short positions in the Series 2024B Senior Notes for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, the Underwriters may bid for, and purchase, Series 2024B Senior Notes in the open market. Finally, the Underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed to the Underwriters or dealers for distributing Series 2024B Senior Notes in this offering, if the Underwriters repurchase previously distributed Series 2024B Senior Notes in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Series 2024B Senior Notes above independent market levels. The Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time without notice.

In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security.

Neither the Company nor any Underwriter makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. In addition, neither the Company nor any Underwriter makes any representation that the Underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions once commenced will not be discontinued without notice.

It is expected that delivery of the Series 2024B Senior Notes will be made, against payment for the Series 2024B Senior Notes, on or about September , 2024, which will be the business day following the pricing of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the 1934 Act, purchases or sales of securities in the secondary market generally are required to settle within one business day (T+1), unless the parties to any such transactions expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers of the Series 2024B Senior Notes who wish to trade the Series 2024B Senior Notes on the date of this Prospectus Supplement or the next succeeding business day(s) will be required, because the Series 2024B Senior Notes will settle within business days (T+ ), to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Series 2024B Senior Notes who wish to trade on the date of this Prospectus Supplement or the next succeeding business day(s) should consult their own legal advisors.

In the ordinary course of business, the Underwriters and their respective affiliates have from time to time performed and may in the future perform various financial advisory, commercial banking, investment banking, sales and trading, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, asset leasing, treasury services and other financial and non-financial activities and services for the Company and its affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary compensation.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the Underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities), loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the Company or its affiliates. Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with the Company routinely hedge, and certain other of the Underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to the Company consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such Underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in the Company’s securities, including potentially the Series 2024B Senior Notes. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. The Underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Conflicts of Interest

Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates hold a portion of the indebtedness that the Company intends to repay using all or a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. It is possible that one or more of the Underwriters or their affiliates could receive 5% or more of the net proceeds from the sale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, and, in that case, such Underwriter would be deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

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(“FINRA”) Rule 5121. In the event of any such conflict of interest, such Underwriter would be required to conduct the distribution of the Series 2024B Senior Notes in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. If the distribution is conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, such Underwriter would not be permitted to confirm a sale of a Series 2024B Senior Note in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.

Selling Restrictions

Canada

Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that the Series 2024B Senior Notes may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the Underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

European Economic Area

The Series 2024B Senior Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 as amended where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Series 2024B Senior Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Series 2024B Senior Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA, may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the Series 2024B Senior Notes in any member state of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the Series 2024B Senior Notes. This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus are not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.

Hong Kong

Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that the Series 2024B Senior Notes have not been and will not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Series 2024B Senior Notes has been, may be or will be issued or has been, may be or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Series 2024B Senior Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

The contents of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any Hong Kong regulatory authorities, including the Securities and Futures Commission and the Companies Registry of Hong Kong and neither have they been nor will they be registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. The Series 2024B Senior Notes may not be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Prospective investors are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer and, if in doubt about any contents of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus, should obtain independent professional advice. Each person acquiring the Series 2024B Senior Notes will be required,

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and is deemed by the acquisition of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, to confirm that such person is aware of the restriction on offers of the Series 2024B Senior Notes described in this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus and the relevant offering documents and that such person is not acquiring, and has not been offered, the Series 2024B Senior Notes in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions and that such person has complied with all relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to it/him/her and the jurisdiction(s) where such person or its/his/her assets are located.

Japan

The Series 2024B Senior Notes have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Act No. 25 of April 13, 1948, as amended, the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”) and each Underwriter has represented and agreed that it will not offer or sell any Series 2024B Senior Notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used in this paragraph means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to, or for the account or benefit of, others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.

The Republic of Korea

The Series 2024B Senior Notes have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Services Commission of the Republic of Korea (“Korea”) under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act of Korea. Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that the Series 2024B Senior Notes may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Korea (as defined in the Foreign Exchange Transactions Law of Korea and its Enforcement Decree) or to others for re-offering or resale, except as otherwise permitted by applicable Korean laws and regulations. In addition, within one year following the issuance of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, the Series 2024B Senior Notes may not be transferred to any resident of Korea other than a qualified institutional buyer (as such term is defined in the Regulation on Issuance, Public Disclosure, etc. of securities of Korea, a “Korean QIB”) registered with the Korea Financial Investment Association (the “KOFIA”) as a Korean QIB and subject to the requirement of monthly reports with the KOFIA of its holding of Korean QIB bonds as defined in the Regulation on Issuance, Public Disclosure, etc. of notes of Korea, provided that (a) the Series 2024B Senior Notes are denominated, and the principal and interest payments thereunder are made, in a currency other than Korean won, (b) the amount of the securities acquired by such Korean QIBs in the primary market is limited to less than 20% of the aggregate issue amount of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, (c) the Series 2024B Senior Notes are listed on one of the major overseas securities markets designated by the Financial Supervisory Service of Korea, or certain procedures, such as registration or report with a foreign financial investment regulator, have been completed for offering of the securities in a major overseas securities market, (d) the one-year restriction on offering, delivering or selling of securities to a Korean resident other than a Korean QIB is expressly stated in the securities, the relevant purchase agreement, the subscription agreement and the offering circular and (e) the Company and the Underwriters shall individually or collectively keep the evidence of fulfillment of conditions (a) through (d) above after having taken necessary actions therefor.

Singapore

This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the “MAS”). Accordingly, the Underwriters have represented and agreed that they have not offered or sold any Series 2024B Senior Notes or caused the Series 2024B Senior Notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase nor will they offer or sell the Series 2024B Senior Notes or cause the Series 2024B Senior Notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, nor have they circulated or distributed nor will they circulate or distribute this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Series 2024B Senior Notes, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”), pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) , or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulation 2018 of Singapore or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the Series 2024B Senior Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,

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securities or securities based derivate contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Series 2024B Senior Notes under Section 275 except:

(1) to an institutional investor pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;

(2) (in the case of a corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(3)(c)(ii) of the SFA or (in the case of a trust) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(c)(ii) of the SFA;

(3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(4) where the transfer is by operation of law;

(5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(6) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivative Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B of the SFA and the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 of Singapore (the “CMP Regulations 2018”), the Company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA) that the Series 2024B Senior Notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAAN16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Switzerland

This Prospectus Supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the Series 2024B Senior Notes. The Series 2024B Senior Notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the Series 2024B Senior Notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this Prospectus Supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Series 2024B Senior Notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this Prospectus Supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Series 2024B Senior Notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Taiwan

Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that the Series 2024B Senior Notes have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, The Republic of China (“Taiwan”) pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or relevant laws and regulations that require a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering and sale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes in Taiwan.

United Arab Emirates

The Series 2024B Senior Notes have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus do not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and are not intended to be a public offer. This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus have not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

United Kingdom

The Series 2024B Senior Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (the “UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended, the “EUWA”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation

S-16

(EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Series 2024B Senior Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Series 2024B Senior Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

In the UK, this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus are only being distributed to and are only directed at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at, persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) through (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The Series 2024B Senior Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Series 2024B Senior Notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus or any of their contents.

Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Series 2024B Senior Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company and it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Series 2024B Senior Notes in, from or otherwise involving the UK.

S-17

PROSPECTUS

The Southern Company

Common Stock

Senior Notes

Junior Subordinated Notes

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

________________________________________________________________

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest.

The Southern Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SO.”

See “Risk Factors” on page 1 for information on certain risks related to the purchase of securities offered by this Prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

________________________________________________________________

February 16, 2024

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This Prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) using a “shelf” registration process under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Under the shelf process, The Southern Company (the “Company”) may sell, in one or more transactions,


			l			common stock (the “Common Stock”),

			l			senior notes (the “Senior Notes”),

			l			junior subordinated notes (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”),

			l			stock purchase contracts (the “Stock Purchase Contracts”), or

			l			stock purchase units (the “Stock Purchase Units”).

This Prospectus provides a general description of those securities. Each time the Company sells securities, the Company will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering (“Prospectus Supplement”). The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement together with the additional information under the heading “Available Information.”

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the Company’s securities involves risk. Please see the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”), which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement,” which term encompasses any amendments to the Registration Statement and exhibits to the Registration Statement) under the 1933 Act. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement, to which reference is made.

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and in accordance with the 1934 Act files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants including the Company that file electronically at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by the Company with the Commission are also available on the Company’s website at http://www.southerncompany.com. The information on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and should not be considered to be a part of this Prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents have been filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a part of this Prospectus:

(a) the Form 10-K;

(b) all information in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 14, 2023, to the extent incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and

(c) the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 1, 2024 and Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 16, 2023 (filed on February 6, 2024).

All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a part of this Prospectus from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that the Company is not incorporating any information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K unless specifically stated otherwise. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by

reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (other than the exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this Prospectus). Such requests should be directed to Melissa K. Caen, Assistant Secretary, The Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 506-5000.

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

The Company was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, and the telephone number is (404) 506-5000.

The Company is a holding company that owns all of the outstanding common stock of three traditional electric operating

companies, Southern Power Company (“Southern Power”) and Southern Company Gas. The traditional electric operating companies – Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company and Mississippi Power Company – are each operating public utility companies providing electric service to retail customers in three Southeastern states in addition to wholesale customers in the Southeast. Southern Power is also an operating public utility company. Southern Power develops, constructs, acquires, owns and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects, and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market. Southern Company Gas is an energy services holding company whose primary business is the distribution of natural gas in four states – Illinois, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee – through its natural gas distribution utilities. Southern Company Gas is also involved in several other businesses that are complementary to the distribution of natural gas.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be otherwise described in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Common Stock, the Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Stock Purchase Contracts or the Stock Purchase Units will be used to pay scheduled maturities and/or refundings of its securities, to repay short-term indebtedness to the extent outstanding and for other general corporate purposes, including the investment by the Company in its subsidiaries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON STOCK

The authorized capital stock of the Company currently consists of 1,500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $5 per share. As of December 31, 2023, there were 1,090,814,507 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

All shares of Common Stock of the Company participate equally with respect to dividends and rank equally upon liquidation. Each holder is entitled to one vote for each share held. The vote of two-thirds of the outstanding Common Stock is required to authorize or create preferred stock or to effect certain changes in the charter provisions affecting the Common Stock. No stockholder is entitled to preemptive rights.

The shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Company and, therefore, will not be subject to further calls or assessment by the Company.

The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is currently Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Senior Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Senior Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture Trustee”), as heretofore supplemented and amended and as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to the Senior Note Indenture establishing the Senior Notes of each series (the Senior Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the “Senior Note Indenture”). The terms of the Senior Notes will include those stated in the Senior Note Indenture and those made a part of the Senior Note Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “1939 Act”). Certain capitalized terms used and not defined in this section of the Prospectus are defined in the Senior Note Indenture.

General

The Senior Notes will be issued as unsecured senior debt securities under the Senior Note Indenture and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company. The Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured debt of the Company. The Company had no secured debt outstanding at December 31, 2023. Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company and, hence, the right of creditors of the Company (including holders of Senior Notes) to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary of the Company, whether upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, is subject to prior claims of creditors and preferred stockholders of each subsidiary. As of December 31, 2023, on a consolidated basis, the Company had approximately $60.2 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), of which approximately $40.3 billion was long-term debt (including securities due within one year) of the Company’s subsidiaries. In addition, the Company had approximately $2.3 billion of short-term notes payable, $1.9 billion of which was short-term notes payable of the Company’s subsidiaries.

The Senior Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes that may be issued under the Senior Note Indenture and provides that Senior Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Senior Note Indenture. The Senior Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Senior Notes and issue additional Senior Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Senior Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement: (i) the title of such Senior Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Senior Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Senior Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Senior Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on such Senior Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Senior Notes; (viii) the date or dates, if any, after which such Senior Notes may be converted or exchanged at the option of the holder into or for shares of Common Stock of the Company and the terms for any such conversion or exchange; (ix) the denominations in which such Senior Notes shall be issuable; (x) if other than the principal amount of such Senior Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Senior Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such Senior Notes; (xi) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Senior Note Indenture pertaining to such Senior Notes; (xii) whether such Senior Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; and (xiii) any other terms of such Senior Notes.

The Senior Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Senior Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company or its subsidiaries.

Events of Default

Unless provided otherwise in the supplemental indenture relating to any series, the Senior Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Senior Notes of such series:

(a) failure for 30 days to pay interest on the Senior Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(b) failure to pay principal of, premium, if any, on or interest on the Senior Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Senior Note of such series; or

(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Senior Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Senior Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Senior Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of such series; or

(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Senior Note

Indenture Trustee with respect to the Senior Notes of such series. If a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, then the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the Senior Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Senior Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Senior Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may, by written notice to the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Senior Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note of such series affected.

Registration and Transfer

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Senior Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Senior Notes of such series called for redemption or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Senior Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Senior Note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Senior Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Senior Notes. Principal of and interest on Senior Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or other electronic transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Senior Notes. Payment of interest on Senior Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Senior Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Senior Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Senior Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Senior Notes will from that time forward look only to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.

Modification

The Senior Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of each series affected, to modify the Senior Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Senior Notes of such series; provided that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note affected, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Senior Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Senior Note or the rate of interest on any Senior Note or any premium payable upon the redemption of any Senior Note, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any Senior Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Senior Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Senior Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Senior Note Indenture and their consequences)

provided for in the Senior Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note affected thereby.

In addition, the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of Senior Notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state in the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest on all the Senior Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Senior Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Senior Note Indenture Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Information Concerning the Senior Note Indenture Trustee

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee, prior to a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Senior Note Indenture and, in case a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Senior Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Senior Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Senior Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee also serves as Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee and certain of its affiliates may also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company are outstanding.

Governing Law

The Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Senior Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Senior Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Senior Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of October 1, 2015, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee”), as heretofore supplemented and amended and as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to

the Subordinated Note Indenture establishing the Junior Subordinated Notes of each series (the Subordinated Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the “Subordinated Note Indenture”). The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the Subordinated Note Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized terms used and not defined in this section of the Prospectus are defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture.

General

The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that may be issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture and provides that Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Junior Subordinated Notes and issue additional Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Junior Subordinated Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement: (i) the title of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Junior Subordinated Notes; (viii) the date or dates, if any, after which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be converted or exchanged at the option of the holder into or for shares of Common Stock of the Company and the terms for any such conversion or exchange; (ix) the denominations in which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issuable; (x) if other than the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture pertaining to such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xii) whether such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; (xiii) the right, if any, of the Company to extend the interest payment periods of such Junior Subordinated Notes; and (xiv) any other terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company or its subsidiaries.

Subordination

The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. No payment of principal of (including redemption payments, if any), premium, if any, on or interest on (including Additional Interest (as defined below)) the Junior Subordinated Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended with such default not being cured or waived or otherwise ceasing to exist, or (b) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default, or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise of the Senior Indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.

The term “Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any payment due in respect of indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or incurred, created or assumed after such date, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by the Company that,

by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all such obligations under its indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or that ranks equally with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among the Company or its affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company. As of December 31, 2023, the Senior Indebtedness of the Company, on an unconsolidated basis, aggregated approximately $12.2 billion. Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company and, hence, the right of creditors of the Company (including holders of Senior Notes and Junior Subordinated Notes) to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary of the Company, whether upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, is subject to prior claims of creditors and preferred stockholders of each subsidiary. As of December 31, 2023, on a consolidated basis, the Company had approximately $60.2 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), of which approximately $40.3 billion was long-term debt (including securities due within one year) of the Company’s subsidiaries. In addition, the Company had approximately $2.3 billion of short-term notes payable, $1.9 billion of which was short-term notes payable of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Additional Interest

“Additional Interest” is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as any interest due and not paid on an interest payment date, together with interest on such interest due from such interest payment date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.

Certain Covenants

The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that, (i) if at such time the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an interest payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such extension shall be continuing, or (ii) if at such time an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest on, principal of or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company which rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict (i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any reclassification of the Company’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company’s capital stock for another class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (ii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iii) dividends, payments or distributions payable in shares of capital stock, (iv) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock in connection with any employment contract, incentive plan, benefit plan or other similar arrangement of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stock purchase plan, or (v) any declaration of a dividend in connection with implementation of any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any such plan, or the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any such rights pursuant thereto.

Events of Default

Unless provided otherwise in the supplemental indenture relating to any series, the Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series:

(a) failure for 30 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, including any Additional Interest in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity

or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or

(b) failure to pay principal of, or premium, if any, on or interest, including Additional Interest, on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series; or

(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Subordinated Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; or

(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, then the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may, by written notice to the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest (including Additional Interest) or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note of such series affected.

Registration and Transfer

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series called for redemption or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Junior Subordinated Notes. Principal of and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or other electronic transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes will from that time forward look only to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.

Modification

The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of each series affected, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; provided that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Junior Subordinated Note or the rate of interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior Subordinated Note or any premium payable upon the redemption of any Junior Subordinated Note, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any Junior Subordinated Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Junior Subordinated Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Subordinated Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby, or (iv) modify the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to such holder.

In addition, the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of Junior Subordinated Notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Information Concerning the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee

The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, prior to a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee also serves as Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee and certain of its affiliates may also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company are outstanding.

Governing Law

The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Subordinated Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND THE STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

The Company may issue Stock Purchase Contracts, including contracts that obligate holders to purchase from the Company, and the Company to sell to these holders, a specified or varying number of shares of Common Stock at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of Common Stock may be fixed at the time the Stock Purchase Contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the Stock Purchase Contracts. The Stock Purchase Contracts may be issued separately or as a part of Stock Purchase Units consisting of a Stock Purchase Contract and beneficial interests in either debt securities of the Company or debt securities of third parties including, but not limited to, U.S. Treasury securities, that would secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the Common Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts. The Stock Purchase Contracts may require the Company to make periodic payments to the holders of some or all of the Stock Purchase Units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis and may be paid on a current or deferred basis. The Stock Purchase Contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under these Stock Purchase Contracts in a specified manner. The terms of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units being offered will be described in a Prospectus Supplement.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Company may sell the Common Stock, the Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Stock Purchase Contracts and the Stock Purchase Units in one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) to underwriters for resale to the public or to institutional investors; (ii) directly to institutional investors; or (iii) through agents to the public or to institutional investors. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to Common Stock and each series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units will set forth the terms of the offering of such Common Stock, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such Common Stock, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units and the proceeds to the Company from such sale, any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such Common Stock, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units may be listed.

If underwriters participate in the sale, such Common Stock, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold 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.

Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any Common Stock, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such Common Stock, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units, if any are purchased.

Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with the Company to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may engage in

transactions with, or perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business, for which they may receive customary compensation.

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Each series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Common Stock, the Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Stock Purchase Contracts and the Stock Purchase Units and certain matters relating to such securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, New York, New York. From time to time, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP acts as counsel to affiliates of the Company for some matters.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Series 2024B % Senior Notes

due ,

__________________________________

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

September , 2024

__________________________________

Joint Book-Running Managers

BofA Securities

Mizuho

Morgan Stanley

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets

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Date	Price Target	Rating	Analyst
9/20/2024	$94.00	Hold	Jefferies
9/16/2024	$90.00	Outperform → Neutral	Mizuho
8/2/2024		Outperform → Peer Perform	Wolfe Research
4/4/2024		Buy → Neutral	UBS
1/11/2024	$72.00 → $77.00	Market Perform → Outperform	BMO Capital Markets
12/8/2023	$82.00	Buy	Citigroup
11/3/2023	$78.00	Sector Outperform → Sector Perform	Scotiabank
10/16/2023	$78.00	Sector Perform → Sector Outperform	Scotiabank

SEC Form 424B5 filed by Southern Company

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Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Southern, Raises Price Target to $71

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