UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
☐ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
☐ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 001-40709
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Luxembourg
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
56, rue Charles Martel
L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
+352 26 25 85 55
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Stefan Schellinger
Chief Financial Officer
56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
+352 26 25 85 55
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Ordinary Shares, with a nominal value of €0.01 per share |
AMBP |
New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
None.
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None.
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:
597,699,586 Ordinary Shares, par value €0.01 per share
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act:
Yes ☐ No ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer ☐Accelerated Filer ☒
Non-Accelerated Filer ☐Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ☐ |
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by Other ☐ the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):
Yes ☐ No ☒
Table of Contents
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Group Consolidated Financial Statements – Basis of Preparation |
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Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers |
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Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
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Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities |
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Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds |
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Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees |
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Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
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Item 16I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections |
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F-1 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
4
Definitions and Terminology
Except where the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated, all references to “AMPSA,” the “Group,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
References to legislation are, except where otherwise stated, references to the legislation of the United States of America.
In addition, unless otherwise indicated, or the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F (the “Annual Report”) to:
| ● | “AGSA” are to Ardagh Group S.A., a public limited liability company (société anonyme) incorporated and existing under the laws of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (R.C.S. Luxembourg) under number B 160804; |
| ● | “AMP Business” are to the business of developing, manufacturing, printing, marketing and selling metal beverage cans and ends and related technical and customer services as engaged in by AMPSA and its subsidiaries; |
| ● | “AMP Transfer” are to a series of transactions pursuant to the Transfer Agreement in connection with the Business Combination effected by AGSA on April 1, 2021 that resulted in (a) the equity interests of Ardagh Packaging Holdings Limited, an Irish subsidiary of AGSA, and certain other subsidiaries of AGSA engaged in the metal beverage can business being directly or indirectly owned by AMPSA (all such entities collectively, the “AMP Entities”) and (b) any assets and liabilities relating to the business of AGSA (other than the AMP Business) that are held by the AMP Entities being transferred to subsidiaries of AGSA that are not AMP Entities, and assets and liabilities relating to the AMP Business that are held by subsidiaries of AGSA (other than the AMP Entities) being transferred to the AMP Entities; |
| ● | “Ardagh Group” are to AHSA and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context requires otherwise; |
| ● | “AHSA” are to Ardagh Holdings S.A. (formerly Yeoman Capital S.A.), a public limited liability company (société anonyme) incorporated and existing under the laws of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (R.C.S. Luxembourg) under number B 131609; |
| ● | “Articles” are to the articles of association of AMPSA; |
| ● | “Business Combination” are to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | “Business Combination Agreement” are to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2021, as amended from time to time, by and among GHV, AMPSA, AGSA and MergeCo, and filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 to this Annual Report; |
| ● | “GHV” are to Gores Holdings V, Inc., a Delaware corporation which, following the Merger, was renamed to “Ardagh MP USA Inc.” and has since been dissolved; |
| ● | “GHV Sponsor” are to Gores Sponsor V LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; |
| ● | “MergeCo” are to Ardagh MP MergeCo Inc; |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
5
| ● | “Merger” are to the merger of MergeCo with and into GHV, with GHV surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMPSA, which occurred on August 4, 2021; |
| ● | “NYSE” are to the New York Stock Exchange; |
| ● | “Ordinary Shares” are to ordinary shares of AMPSA, with a nominal value of €0.01 per share; |
| ● | “Paris Agreement” are to the Paris Agreement of 2015 adopted by 196 countries, under which governments mutually pledged to limiting global warming to well-below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels; |
| ● | “PIPE” are to the private placement pursuant to which the Subscribers purchased 69,500,000 Ordinary Shares, for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “PIPE Shares”); |
| ● | “Preferred Shares” are to the 56,306,306 redeemable non-convertible, non-voting 9% cumulative preference shares in the Company, with a par value of €4.44 per share issued in July 2022 and redeemed in December 2025, and any such shares issued from time to time in the Company; |
| ● | “Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement” are to the registration rights and lock-up agreement, dated as of August 4, 2021, by and among AGSA, AMPSA, GHV Sponsor and certain persons associated with GHV Sponsor, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 4.4 to this Annual Report; |
| ● | “Science-Based Sustainability Targets” are to the targets that are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement (limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C); |
| ● | “SBTi” or Science-Based Targets initiative are to the initiative to drive climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets; |
| ● | “Scope 1 emissions” are to greenhouse gas emissions that an organization makes directly from activities; |
| ● | “Scope 2 emissions” are to indirect greenhouse gas emissions that an organization makes through the purchase and use of electricity; |
| ● | “Scope 3 emissions” are to all indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions; |
| ● | “SEC” are to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| ● | “Services Agreement” are to the services agreement, dated as of August 4, 2021, by and between AGSA and AMPSA, related to the provision of certain corporate and business-unit services by AGSA to AMPSA and its subsidiaries and by AMPSA and its subsidiaries to AGSA, filed as Exhibit 4.6 to this Annual Report; |
| ● | “Shareholders Agreement” are to the shareholders agreement entered into by AGSA and AMPSA on August 4, 2021 and filed as Exhibit 4.5 to this Annual Report; |
| ● | “Subscribers” are to the investors that purchased Ordinary Shares in the PIPE; |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
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| ● | “Subscription Agreements” are to the subscription agreements, dated as of February 22, 2021, entered into with the Subscribers and the GHV Sponsor, pursuant to which the Subscribers and the GHV Sponsor agreed to purchase, and AMPSA agreed to sell to the Subscribers and the GHV Sponsor the PIPE Shares for an aggregate cash amount of $600,000,000, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 4.3 to this Annual Report; |
| ● | “Transfer Agreement” are to the transfer agreement, dated as of February 22, 2021, by and between AGSA and AMPSA, filed as Exhibit 4.7 to this Annual Report; |
| ● | “Warrants” are to the warrants of AMPSA, each exercisable for one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement as set forth under “Exhibit 2.7—Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act” to this Annual Report; and |
| ● | “Warrant Agreement” is to the warrant agreement, dated as of August 10, 2020, by and between GHV and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as warrant agent, filed as Exhibit 2.3 to this Annual Report, as assigned to AMPSA and amended in accordance with a warrant assignment, assumption and amendment agreement, dated August 4, 2021, by and among AMPSA, GHV, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., filed as Exhibit 2.2 to this Annual Report. |
General Information
AMPSA was incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg on January 20, 2021 as a public limited liability company (société anonyme) having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L‑2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés de Luxembourg) under number B 251465.
The Company has direct and indirect ownership of 100% of the issued share capital of holding companies which hold all of our principal finance and operating subsidiaries.
On November 13, 2025, the Company announced that on November 12, 2025, AGSA reported that it had completed a comprehensive recapitalization transaction in respect of certain debt of AGSA and its affiliates (the “Recapitalization Transaction”). As part of the Recapitalization Transaction, a debt-for-equity swap was effected pursuant to which certain holders of AGSA’s and its affiliates’ indebtedness acquired indirect ownership of AGSA through AHSA. Following completion of the Recapitalization Transaction, the ultimate controlling company of AMPSA is AHSA, which indirectly owns approximately 76% of our Ordinary Shares.
In connection with the Recapitalization Transaction, ARD Finance S.A., the previous parent company of AGSA, commenced a judicial reorganization proceeding in Luxembourg under Luxembourg Restructuring Law of 7 August 2023 on the preservation of businesses and the modernization of bankruptcy law in respect of its senior secured toggle notes due 2027 (the “Toggle Notes”). This process has been opened by the Luxembourg courts and remains on-going.
In January 2026, certain minority holders of the Toggle Notes have initiated proceedings against (among others) AGSA before the district court of Luxembourg, challenging certain steps taken in respect of the Recapitalization Transaction. AGSA strongly believes that the complaint is without merit and has stated it intends to vigorously defend against the proceedings.
For more information see “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and development of the Company”.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
7
Group Consolidated Financial Statements – Basis of Preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with, and are in compliance with, IFRS® Accounting Standards and related interpretations as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). IFRS Accounting Standards are comprised of standards and interpretations approved by the IASB, and standards and interpretations approved by the predecessor International Accounting Standards Committee that have been subsequently approved by the IASB and remain in effect. References to IFRS Accounting Standards hereafter should be construed as references to IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB.
The audited consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollar, rounded to the nearest million and have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the following:
| ● | Private and Public Warrants and Earnout Shares, as defined in note 22 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, are stated at fair value; |
| ● | derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value; and |
| ● | employee benefit obligations are measured at the present value of the future estimated cash flows related to benefits earned and pension assets valued at fair value. |
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS Accounting Standards requires the use of critical accounting estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and income and expenses. It also requires management to exercise judgment in the process of applying Group accounting policies. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and are subject to continual re-evaluation. However, actual outcomes may differ from these estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the audited consolidated financial statements, are discussed in critical accounting estimates, assumptions and judgments in note 3 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Currencies
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires:
| ● | “$,” “USD” and “U.S. dollar” each refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America; |
| ● | “€,” “EUR” and “euro” each refer to the euro, the single currency of the participating members of the European Economic and Monetary Union pursuant to the Treaty Establishing the European Community, as amended from time to time; and |
| ● | “£” and “pounds” refer to pounds sterling, the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. |
Safe Harbor Statement
This Annual Report does not constitute an offer for sale or subscription of or solicitation or invitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for any securities, including in the United States, and, except to the extent this Annual Report is incorporated by reference into the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3, as amended, this Annual Report shall not be deemed to form part of any such offer, solicitation or invitation. Specifically, this Annual Report does not constitute a “prospectus” within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
8
We routinely post important information on our website https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors. This website and any other websites referenced herein and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this Annual Report.
Market and Industry Data
Within this Annual Report, we reference information and statistics obtained from independent third-party sources. While we believe such information is reliable, we have not independently verified any third-party information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report contains estimates and “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from expectations. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” and the negatives of these words and other similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances.
It is possible that actual events could differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report from our current expectations and projections about future events at the time due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the following:
| ● | an increase in metal beverage packaging manufacturing capacity without a corresponding increase in demand; |
| ● | competition from other metal packaging producers and alternative forms of packaging; |
| ● | concentration of our customers or changes in our customers’ strategic choices, such as whether to prioritize price or volume requirements; |
| ● | a significant write-down of goodwill; |
| ● | varied seasonal demands for our products and unseasonable weather conditions; |
| ● | changes in consumer lifestyle, nutritional preferences, health-related concerns and warnings, health-related drug developments, social media influence and consumer taxation; |
| ● | further consolidation of our existing customer base; |
| ● | availability and any increase in the costs of raw materials, including as a result of changes in tariffs and duties and our inability to fully pass through input costs; |
| ● | stability of energy supply and increase in energy prices, including in Europe as a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war; |
| ● | our relationships with our suppliers, including maintenance of existing payment and credit terms, and reliance on their ability to make timely deliveries due to factors such as supply chain disruption; |
| ● | changes in the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as reducing demand for our products; |
| ● | currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations; |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
9
| ● | any pandemics or disease outbreaks that have had, and in the future may have, adverse impacts on worldwide economic activity and our business; |
| ● | interruption in the operations of our production facilities including through infrastructure failure caused by physical damage; |
| ● | acquisitions, including with respect to successful integration; |
| ● | organized strikes or work stoppages by our unionized employees; |
| ● | dependence on our executive and senior management, and other highly skilled personnel; |
| ● | costs and future funding obligations associated with post-retirement benefits provided to our employees; |
| ● | data protection, data breaches, cyberattacks on our IT systems and network disruptions, including the costs and reputational harm associated with such events; |
| ● | the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools and systems in our operations and the management of related governance, oversight and responsible usage; |
| ● | impact of climate change, both physical and transitional, as well as those associated with the failure to meet our sustainability targets; |
| ● | environmental, health and safety concerns, as well as legal, regulatory or other measures to address such concerns and associated costs to us; |
| ● | legislation and regulation, including costs of compliance and changes to laws and regulations governing our business; |
| ● | workplace injury and illness claims at our production facilities; |
| ● | failure of our control measures and systems that result in faulty or contaminated products and potential related reputational risk; |
| ● | litigation, arbitration and other proceedings; |
| ● | insufficient or prohibitively expensive insurance coverage; |
| ● | failure to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting; |
| ● | the Services Agreement; |
| ● | our capital structure, including our substantial debt profile, ability to raise new financing or refinance existing financing, and ability to comply with the covenants in our financing agreements; |
| ● | the fact that we are ultimately controlled by AHSA and our status as a Luxembourg company and a foreign private issuer; |
| ● | and other risks and uncertainties described herein, including those under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors.” |
In addition, new risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. While we continually review trends and uncertainties affecting our results of operations and financial condition, we do not assume any obligation to update or supplement any particular forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
10
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
This Annual Report contains certain consolidated financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, working capital, net debt, and ratios relating thereto that are not calculated in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). Adjusted EBITDA consists of profit/(loss) for the year before income tax expense/(credit), net finance expense, depreciation and amortization and exceptional operating items.
Non-IFRS financial measures may be considered in addition to IFRS financial information, but should not be used as substitutes for the corresponding IFRS financial measures. The non-IFRS financial measures used by AMPSA may differ from, and not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Part I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not Applicable
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not Applicable
Item 3. Key Information
A.Reserved
B.Capitalization and indebtedness
Not Applicable
C.Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds
Not Applicable
D.Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects and that are described below. In addition, you should consider the interrelationship and compounding effects of two or more risks occurring simultaneously.
Summary Risk Factors
The following summarizes the material risks that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. You should carefully consider all the information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 20-F including, but not limited to, the risks set forth in this “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors.” Our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
11
Risks Relating to Our Business, Products and Industry
| ● | risks relating to an increase in metal beverage packaging manufacturing capacity without a corresponding increase in demand; |
| ● | risks relating to competition from other metal packaging producers and alternative forms of packaging; |
| ● | risks relating to the concentration of our customers or changes in our customers’ strategic choices, such as whether to prioritize price or volume requirements; |
| ● | risks associated with a significant write-down of goodwill; |
| ● | risks relating to the varied seasonal demand for our products and unseasonable weather conditions; |
| ● | risks associated with changes in consumer lifestyle, nutritional preferences, health-related concerns and warnings, health-related drug development, social media influence and consumer taxation; |
| ● | risks associated with the further consolidation of our existing customer base; |
Risks Relating to Our Supply Chain
| ● | risks relating to the availability and any increase in the costs of raw materials, including as a result of changes in tariffs and duties and our inability to fully pass through input costs; |
| ● | risks relating to the stability of energy supply and increase in energy prices, including in Europe as a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war; |
| ● | risks relating to the availability and cost of oil and its by-products as a result of political tension or conflicts, in oil producing regions; |
| ● | risks associated with our relationships with our suppliers, including maintenance of existing payment and credit terms, and reliance on their ability to make timely deliveries due to factors such as supply chain disruption; |
Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters
| ● | risks relating to changes in the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as reducing demand for our products; |
| ● | risks relating to currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations; |
| ● | risks relating to any pandemics or disease outbreaks that have had, and in the future may have, adverse impacts on worldwide economic activity and our business; |
Risks Relating to Our Employees and Operations
| ● | risks relating to any interruption in the operations of our production facilities including infrastructure failure from physical damage; |
| ● | risks relating to organized strikes or work stoppages by our unionized employees; |
| ● | risks relating to our dependence on our executive and senior management, and other highly skilled personnel; |
| ● | risks associated with costs and future funding obligations associated with post-retirement benefits provided to our employees; |
| ● | risks associated with acquisitions, including with respect to successful integration; |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
12
Risks Relating to our Information Technology Systems
| ● | risks associated with data protection, data breaches, cyberattacks on our IT systems and network disruptions, including the costs and reputational harm associated with such events; |
| ● | risks associated with the use of AI tools and systems in our operations and the management of related governance, oversight, and responsible usage. |
Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters
| ● | risks relating to environmental, health and safety concerns, as well as legal, regulatory or other measures to address such concerns and associated costs to us; |
| ● | risks relating to legislation and regulation, including costs of compliance and changes to laws and regulations governing our business; |
| ● | risks relating to the impact of climate change, both physical and transitional, as well as those associated with the failure to meet our sustainability targets; |
| ● | risks associated with workplace injury and illness claims at our production facilities; |
| ● | risks relating to failure of our control measures and systems that result in faulty or contaminated products and potential related reputational risk; |
| ● | risks relating to litigation, arbitration and other proceedings; |
| ● | risks associated with insufficient or prohibitively expensive insurance coverage; |
| ● | risks associated with failure to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting; |
Other
| ● | risks relating to the Services Agreement; |
| ● | risks relating to our capital structure, including our substantial debt profile, ability to raise new financing or refinance existing financing, and ability to comply with the covenants in our financing agreements; |
| ● | risks relating to the ownership of our Ordinary Shares, including those associated with the activities of our controlling shareholder and our position as a company ultimately controlled by AHSA, and our status as a Luxembourg company and a foreign private issuer; and |
| ● | other risks and uncertainties as set forth in this “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors.” |
For a more complete discussion of the material risks facing our business, see below.
Risks Relating to Our Business, Products and Industry
An increase in metal beverage packaging manufacturing capacity, including that of our competitors, without a corresponding increase in demand for metal beverage packaging could cause prices to decline or result in the curtailment or closure of certain of our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The profitability of metal beverage packaging companies is heavily influenced by the supply of, and demand for, metal beverage packaging. We, and certain of our major competitors, have recently undertaken significant and long-term metal beverage packaging capacity expansions in the United States, Europe and Brazil. Such expansions may produce, and have produced in certain localities, excess supply if the demand for metal beverage packaging is weaker than anticipated, and the prices we receive for our products could decline or result in the curtailment or closure of certain of our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
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We cannot assure you that metal beverage packaging manufacturing capacity in any of our markets, including the capacity of our competitors, will not increase further in the future, nor can we assure you that demand for metal beverage packaging will meet or exceed supply.
We face competition from other metal beverage packaging producers, as well as from manufacturers of alternative forms of packaging.
The sectors in which we operate are relatively mature and competitive. Prices for the products manufactured by us are primarily driven by raw material costs. Competition in the market is based on price, as well as on innovation, sustainability, design, quality and service. Increases in productivity, combined with potential surplus capacity from recent or planned new investment in the industry, could result in pricing pressures in the future. Our principal competitors include Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings and CANPACK, and some of our competitors may have greater financial, technical or marketing resources, or may have more desirably located, newly installed or excess capacity. See “—An increase in metal beverage packaging manufacturing capacity, including that of our competitors, without a corresponding increase in demand for metal beverage packaging could cause prices to decline or result in the curtailment or closure of certain of our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business” for a further discussion on the impact of excess capacity in our market. To the extent that any one or more of our competitors becomes more successful with respect to any key competitive factor, our ability to attract and retain customers could be materially adversely affected. Moreover, changes in the global economic environment could result in reductions in demand for our products in certain instances, which could increase competitive pressures. The occurrence of any of the aforementioned events, among others, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Changes to the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” for a further discussion on the impact of the global economic environment on our business.
In addition, we are subject to substantial competition from producers of packaging made from plastic, glass, carton and composites, for example, PET bottles for carbonated soft drinks. Changes in consumer preferences in terms of packaging materials, style and product presentation or a decrease in the costs of alternative packaging products can significantly influence sales, and there can be no assurance that our products will successfully compete against alternative packaging products. An increase in consumer demand for alternative packaging could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Certain of our customers meet some of their metal beverage packaging requirements through self-manufacturing, which reduces their external purchases of packaging. For example, AB InBev manufactures metal beverage packaging through its affiliate, Metal Container Corporation in the United States, as well as directly in Brazil, and Molson Coors manufacture metal beverage packaging through their joint arrangement, Rocky Mountain Metal Container Corporation in the United States, which they operate with Ball Corporation, who also recently announced the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Benepack, a beverage can manufacturer in Europe, expected to complete in 2026. The potential of further vertical integration of our customers could introduce new production capacity in the market, which may create an imbalance between metal beverage packaging supply and demand and could have a material adverse effect on our future performance.
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As our customers are concentrated, our business could be materially adversely affected if we were unable to maintain relationships with our largest customers.
Our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 57% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025. While we believe that we have good relationships with these customers, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain these relationships. Over 80% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025 was backed by multi-year supply agreements, ranging from two to seven years in duration. Although these arrangements have provided, and we expect they will continue to provide, the basis for long-term partnerships with our customers, there can be no assurance that our customers will not cease to purchase our products. These arrangements, unless they are renewed, expire in accordance with their respective terms and may be terminated under certain circumstances, such as our failure to meet quality, volume or other contractual commitments. In addition, if our customers unexpectedly reduce the amount of metal beverage packaging they purchase from us, cease purchasing our metal beverage packaging altogether, or if there are any changes in their strategic choices, such as whether to prioritize price or volume requirements, our revenues could decrease and our inventory levels could increase, both of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. Further, customer concentration could expose us to increased credit risk if our large customers are unable to fulfill their payment obligations to us.
In addition, there can be no assurance that such arrangements will be renewed upon their expiration or that the terms of any renewal will be as favorable to us as the terms of the current arrangements, and there is also the risk that our customers may shift their filling operations to locations in which we do not operate. The loss of one or more of these customers, a significant reduction in sales to these customers, or a significant change in the commercial terms of our relationships with these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business.
A significant write-down of goodwill could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our goodwill as of December 31, 2025 was $1 billion. We evaluate goodwill annually or whenever indicators suggest that impairment may have occurred. The determination of the recoverable amounts of goodwill requires the use of a market approach, which includes estimates and assumptions which are based on comparable companies’ equity valuations. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. As described further in the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, we use the fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”) model for the purposes of our annual goodwill impairment testing. However, if an impairment indicator exists for a cash generating unit (“CGU”), we also use the value in use (“VIU”) model in order to establish the recoverable amount being the higher of the FVLCD model and VIU model when compared to the carrying value of the CGU. Sensitivity analysis is performed reflecting potential variations in assumptions. Future changes in the estimates and assumptions used in the FVLCD or VIU models, general market conditions, or other factors may cause our goodwill to be impaired, resulting in a non-cash charge against results of operations to write-down goodwill for the amount of the impairment. If a significant write-down is required, the charge could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
Demand for our products is seasonal. Unseasonal weather conditions, including as a result of climate change, could lead to unpredictable demand and materially adversely affect our business.
Demand for our products is seasonal and strongest during spring and summer, which means that our sales in North America and Europe are typically, based on historical trends, greater in the second and third quarters of the year and generally lower in the first and fourth quarters. In Brazil, sales are typically strongest in the first and fourth quarters and generally lower in the second and third quarters. However, demand for our products during the quarters with historically greater sales could be reduced if there is unseasonably cool weather in any of these regions.
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Unseasonable weather could become a more frequent occurrence as a result of climate change, which could have an adverse effect on demand for our products. The occurrence of any such events leading to unpredictable demand could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. See “—Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters—Climate change may adversely affect our ability to conduct our business, including the availability and cost of resources required for our production processes” for a more detailed discussion of the ability of extreme weather events to potentially adversely impact our business.
Changes in consumer lifestyle, nutritional preferences, health-related concerns and warnings, health-related drug development, social media influence and consumer taxation could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Changes in consumer demographics, preferences and tastes, including as a result of social media influence, can have an impact on demand for our customers’ products, such as beer, which in turn can lead to reduced demand for our products. Our ability to develop new product offerings for a diverse group of global customers with differing preferences, while maintaining functionality and spurring innovation, is critical to our success. This requires a thorough understanding of our existing and potential customers and end-users on a global basis, particularly in developing or emerging markets. Failure to adapt and deliver quality products that meet our customers’ or end-users’ needs, through research and development or licensing of new technology, ahead of our competitors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
In addition, public health and government officials have become increasingly concerned about the health consequences associated with over-consumption of certain types of beverages, such as alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages, including those produced by certain of our customers. For example, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory statement during 2025 in respect of alcoholic beverages and preventable cancer risks, calling attention to this as a public health issue, which could result in a decrease in demand for those end-products that our customers produce and the World Health Organization has recently released global reports calling on governments to significantly strengthen taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, France and the United Kingdom have introduced taxes on drinks with added sugar and artificial sweeteners that companies produce or import. France has also imposed taxes on energy drinks using certain amounts of taurine and caffeine. As a result of such taxes, demand has decreased in these countries, and the publication of similar public health warnings, imposition of similar health-related taxes on end-products, or changes to public policy programs such as food assistance in the U.S., in the future may lower the demand for certain alcoholic beverages and soft drinks that our customers produce, which may as a result cause our customers to reduce their purchases of our products. In addition, the development of appetite suppressant drugs or weight loss medication may change the demand for certain types of beverages. Any decline in the popularity of any end-products due to lifestyle, nutrition or health considerations, or our inability to adapt to customer needs, could have a significant impact on our customers and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Further consolidation of our customer base may intensify pricing pressures or result in the loss of customers, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Some of our largest customers have acquired companies with similar or complementary product lines in recent years. For example, in 2025 Celsius made two acquisitions, purchasing Alani Nu in April 2025 and the Rockstar Energy brand in the U.S. and Canada from PepsiCo as part of a strategic partnership in August 2025. Separately, in January 2025, Carlsberg acquired Britvic. Prior customer consolidations include the acquisition of Ghost by Keurig Dr Pepper and of Bang Energy by Monster Beverage in 2023; Brasil Kirin by Heineken in 2017 and AB InBev acquired SABMiller in 2016. Such consolidation activities resulted in an increase in the concentration of our sales with our largest customers and if similar consolidations should occur in the future, it could potentially be accompanied by pressure for lower prices. Increased pricing pressures from these customers may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. In addition, any consolidation of our customers may lead to their reliance on a reduced number of suppliers. If, following the combination of one of our customers with another company, a competitor was to be the main supplier to the newly consolidated company, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
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Risks Relating to Our Supply Chain
Our profitability could be adversely affected by the availability and increase in the costs of raw and other input materials, including as a result of changes in tariffs and duties.
We use various raw and other input materials, such as aluminum, in our production. The availability and price of various raw and other input materials depends on global and local supply and demand forces, governmental regulations, level of production, resource availability, transportation and other factors. No assurance can be given that we would be able to secure our raw and other input materials from sources other than our current suppliers on terms as favorable as our current terms, or at all. The cost of any of the principal raw or input materials that we use may also significantly increase as a result of any tariff increases, sanctions, duties, transportation disruptions or delays, or other trade actions. Any such shortages, transportation disruptions or increases in cost could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. Further, the U.S. has signaled its intention to pursue changes to U.S. trade policy, including potentially renegotiating or terminating existing trade agreements and leveraging or expanding tariffs. In February 2025, the U.S. announced both the increase of tariffs on aluminum and the implementation of tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, though the latter was subsequently paused. These tariff actions, as well as potential retaliation by another government against such tariffs or policies, could significantly affect the price of aluminum and other raw materials we use, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
The primary raw material that we use is aluminum, which is, in turn, rolled into coils of sheet aluminum by our suppliers for use in our production process. Our business is exposed to both the availability of aluminum and the volatility of aluminum prices, including associated premia. Aluminum is traded daily as a commodity on the London Metal Exchange, which has historically been subject to significant price volatility. Because aluminum is priced in U.S. dollars, fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/euro rate also affect the euro cost of aluminum. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations may have a material impact on our business” for a detailed description on the currency risks associated with the price volatility of aluminum. While in the past sufficient quantities of aluminum have been generally available for purchase, these quantities may not be available in the future, and, even if available, we may not be able to continue to purchase them at current prices and/or other comparable terms. In addition, any increase in the level of investment in metal beverage packaging capacity expansion by us and our competitors will require a significant increase in sheet aluminum production by the suppliers, which will in turn require them to make significant investment and capital expenditures. Failure by the suppliers to increase capacity could cause supply shortages and significant increases in the cost of aluminum.
While raw materials are generally available from a range of suppliers, they are subject to fluctuations in price and availability based on a number of factors, including general economic conditions, commodity price fluctuations (such as with respect to aluminum on the London Metal Exchange), the demand by other industries, such as automotive, aerospace and construction, for the same raw materials and the availability of complementary and substitute materials. Furthermore, adverse political, economic or financial changes, industrial disputes, financial distress, pandemic-related, weather-related and energy- or utilities-related supply disruptions could impact our suppliers, thereby causing supply shortages or increasing costs for our business. Our raw materials suppliers also operate in relatively concentrated industries, and this concentration can impact raw material costs. Over the last ten years, the number of major aluminum suppliers has decreased and there is a possibility of further consolidation. Further consolidation could hinder our ability to obtain adequate supplies of these raw materials and could lead to higher prices for aluminum. In addition, the relative price of oil and its by-products could also impact our business, by affecting other input materials costs, such as coatings, lacquer and ink. Accordingly, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the related economic sanctions, and political tension and conflicts in the Middle East and other oil producing regions could have a material adverse effect on our operating costs, and in turn, our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
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Matters —Changes to the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” for more details.
See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Although a significant number of our sales contracts with customers include provisions enabling us to pass through increases and reductions in certain input costs, such as aluminum and coatings, we may not be able to pass on all or substantially all raw material and other input price increases or increase our prices to offset increases in raw and other input material costs without suffering reductions in unit volume, revenue and operating income. The perceived certainty of supply at our competitors may also put us at a competitive disadvantage regarding pricing and product volumes. In addition, we may not be able to hedge successfully against raw material cost increases. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations may have a material impact on our business” for a more detailed description on hedging risks associated with commodity prices. Any of the above factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
We are dependent on a reliable and affordable supply of energy, and any shortage of energy supplies to our production facilities or increased energy prices could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We require access to reliable sources of affordable energy as certain energy sources are vital to our operations and we rely on a continuous power supply to effectively conduct our business. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the related sanctions have led to a significant increase in our energy and other input costs, and there may be further adverse impacts on energy supplies and prices, particularly in Europe, as a result of uncertainty with regard to Russia’s production and export of oil and natural gas, or from political tension and conflicts in the Middle East and other oil producing regions. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Changes to the economic, political, credit and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” for more details.
In the event of energy shortages, we may not be able to meet our energy needs. This could lead to production stoppages, shutdowns, a decline in output, and decreased sales. In the event of a prolonged shortfall of adequate energy supplies, we could experience financial distress. In addition, any future increases or fluctuations in energy costs could result in a significant increase in our operating costs, and if we are not able to recover these costs from our customers, or through fixed-price procurement contracts, index tracking procurement contracts and hedging there could be a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
We are reliant on the performance of our suppliers, who may not be able to meet our demands due to supply chain disruption.
We are reliant on our suppliers for the timely delivery of raw materials, such as aluminum for the production of our metal beverage packaging. We also engage third parties for the supply of various services, including, among others, logistics services for the transport of our metal beverage packaging and IT services. If one or more of our suppliers is unable or unwilling to fulfil delivery obligations, for example, due to shortages of necessary raw materials, elevated energy prices or energy shortages, production or operational failures, external conflicts, labor shortages or strikes, capacity allocation to other customers, financial distress, insolvency, government regulations, currency rate fluctuations, natural disasters and adverse weather conditions that are exacerbated by climate change, or other unforeseen circumstances, we could be at risk of production downtime, inventory backlogs and delays in deliveries to customers. The risk of financial distress for our suppliers could become more acute if energy prices increase, or if energy supplies are threatened. As a result, we may need to bear increased costs for such services or to find alternative providers, which may not be available on comparable or suitable terms, or at all. In addition, such suppliers could provide services that do not meet our requirements or fail to provide services in a timely manner, which could cause us to experience disruptions, delays, or product quality issues. If any of the foregoing risks were to materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects.
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Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters
Changes to the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products.
Demand for our packaging depends on demand for the products that use our packaging, which is primarily consumer driven and dependent on general economic conditions. Such macroeconomic conditions can be strongly influenced by geo-political events such as war, insurrection and other such conflicts between nations and state actors and can arise with little warning. Deteriorating general economic conditions may adversely impact consumer confidence resulting in reduced spending on our customers’ products and, thereby, reduced or postponed demand for our products. Any adverse economic conditions may also lead to a limited availability of credit, which could have an adverse effect on the financial condition, particularly on the purchasing ability of some of our customers and distributors. This may result in requests for extended payment terms, credit losses, finished goods obsolescence, insolvencies and diminished available sales channels. Deteriorating general economic conditions could also have an adverse impact on our suppliers, causing them to experience financial distress or insolvency, and jeopardizing their ability to provide timely deliveries of raw materials and other essentials to us, which could in turn have material adverse effects on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. Furthermore, such changes in general economic conditions as described above, among others, may reduce our ability to forecast developments in our industry and plan our operations and costs accordingly, resulting in operational inefficiencies.
Recent events that have had a significant impact on macroeconomic conditions around the world include the changes in trade policies and new and increased tariffs by the United States, the Russia-Ukraine war, political tension and conflicts in the Middle East, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting disruption to the global supply chain and the cost-of-living crises in countries around the world. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the sanctions and export-control measures instituted by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, among others, against Russian and Belarussian persons and entities in response have contributed to heightened inflationary pressures (including increased prices for oil and natural gas), market volatility and economic uncertainty, particularly in Europe, which have affected our business. Government measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant decline in business activity around the world. Inflation rates began rising significantly in the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil in late 2021, remained at high levels through 2022 and 2023 and while inflation rates have declined since then, national inflation rates continue to be monitored very closely for volatility by central banks. Sustained high prices and actions taken by central banks and other state actors to combat rising inflation rates could further undermine economic growth, contribute to regional or global economic recessions, cause declines in consumer spending and confidence and increase borrowing costs, among other effects, each of which could materially adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. See “—Risks Relating to Our Capital Structure—Our substantial debt could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to effectively manage and grow our business” for a detailed discussion on the impact of changes in global economic conditions on our ability to raise new financing or refinance our existing borrowings. The slowdown of the global economy could lead to volatility in exchange rates that could increase the costs of our products. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations may have a material impact on our business” for a further discussion on how this volatility could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Any economic downturn or recession, lower than expected growth, rising inflation or an otherwise uncertain economic outlook, either globally or in the markets in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations may have a material impact on our business.
Our functional currency is the euro and we present our financial information in U.S. dollars. Insofar as possible, we actively manage currency exposures through the deployment of assets and liabilities throughout the Group. Our policy is, where practical, to match net investments in foreign currencies with borrowings and swaps in the same currency.
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When necessary and economically justified, we enter into currency hedging arrangements to manage our exposure to currency fluctuations by hedging against exchange rate changes. However, we may not be successful in limiting such exposure, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. In addition, our presented results may be impacted because of fluctuations in the U.S. dollar exchange rate versus the euro.
We have metal beverage packaging production facilities in nine different countries, and sell products to, and obtain raw materials from, entities located in these and different regions and countries globally. As a result, a significant portion of our consolidated revenue, costs, assets and liabilities are denominated in currencies other than the euro, in particular, the U.S. dollar, the British pound and the Brazilian real. For the year ended December 31, 2025, 74% of our revenue was from countries with currencies other than the euro. The exchange rates between the currencies which we are exposed to have fluctuated significantly in the past and may continue to do so in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Volatility in exchange rates could increase the costs of our products such that we may not be able to pass on the cost to our customers or could impair the purchasing power of our customers in different markets. Such events could result in significant competitive benefit to certain of our competitors that incur a material part of their costs in different currencies than we do, hamper our pricing, increase our hedging costs and limit our ability to hedge our exchange rate exposure. Furthermore, we are exposed to currency transaction risks, where changes in exchange rates affect our ability to purchase equipment and raw materials and sell products at profitable prices, reduce the value of our assets and revenues and increase liabilities and costs.
We are also exposed to interest rate risk, where fluctuations in interest rates may affect our interest expense on existing debt, the cost of new financing or refinancing existing debt. While we principally use fixed rate debt and cross currency interest rate swaps to manage this type of risk, sustained increases in interest rates could nevertheless materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. See “—Risks Relating to Our Capital Structure—Our substantial debt could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to effectively manage and grow our business” for a further discussion on how increases in interest rates could affect our ability to service our indebtedness.
We are also subject to commodity price risk, mainly as a result of fluctuations in the price and availability of raw materials and energy, such as aluminum, natural gas, electricity and diesel. We use fixed price supply and derivative agreements to manage some of the material commodity cost risk. Aluminum has historically been subject to significant price volatility, and as aluminum is priced in U.S. dollars, fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/euro rate also affect the euro cost of aluminum. Where we are unable to pass through increases in certain input costs to our customers, we operate hedging programs to manage the price and foreign currency risk on our aluminum purchases, but increased prices for aluminum could affect customer demand. See “—Risks Relating to Our Supply Chain—Our profitability could be adversely affected by the availability and increase in the costs of raw and other input materials, including as a result of changes in tariffs and duties” for more information on the availability and cost of aluminum.
We have an active hedging strategy to fix a significant proportion of our energy costs through contractual arrangements directly with our suppliers. Our policy is to purchase natural gas and electricity by entering into forward price-fixing arrangements with suppliers for the majority of our anticipated requirements for the year ahead and for further diminishing portions of our anticipated requirements for subsequent years. Such contracts are used exclusively to obtain delivery of our anticipated energy supplies. We do not trade nor look to profit from such activities. We avail ourselves of the own use exemption and, therefore, these contracts are treated as executory contracts. We also occasionally hedge portions of our natural gas, electricity and diesel price risk by entering into derivatives with banks, where it is deemed favorable versus hedging with suppliers. Any natural gas, electricity and diesel that is not purchased under forward fixed price arrangements or hedged with banks is purchased under index tracking contracts or at spot prices. However, there can be no assurance that our strategies will prove effective, given that there are certain circumstances that are beyond our control, such as increased market volatility as a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, or political tension and conflicts in the Middle East and other oil producing regions. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Changes to the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material For a further discussion of these matters and the measures we have taken to seek to protect our business against these risks, see “Item 5.
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adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” for further details. Our costs could be adversely impacted to the extent we are unable to counteract the effects of the aforementioned risks effectively.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Pandemics or disease outbreaks, as well as governmental mandates and restrictions attributable thereto, have had, and in the future may have, an adverse impact on worldwide economic activity and our business.
Pandemics or disease outbreaks, as well as measures enacted to prevent their spread, including restrictions on travel, imposition of quarantines and prolonged closures of workplaces and other businesses, including hospitality, leisure and entertainment outlets, and the related cancelation of events, have impacted and may impact our business in the future in several ways. For example, the various governmental lockdown mandates and other restrictive measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022 reduced global economic activity, which resulted in lower demand for certain of our customers’ products and, therefore, the products we manufacture, although demand for “at-home” consumption increased and therefore demand for many of our customers’ products increased. As a result, the sales of our products proved to be resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse effect on our operations, including disruptions to our supply chain and workforce and the incurrence of increased costs. The impact of any pandemic or disease outbreaks on capital markets could also increase our cost of borrowing. In addition, our customers, distribution partners, service providers or suppliers may experience financial distress, file for bankruptcy protection, go out of business, or suffer disruptions in their businesses due to any future pandemic or disease outbreaks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. There can be no assurance that any future pandemics or disease outbreaks will not have a material adverse effect on global economic activity and on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Risks Relating to Our Employees and Operations
Any interruption in the operations of our production facilities, including infrastructure failure from physical damage, may adversely affect our business.
All of our manufacturing activities take place at production facilities that we own or lease under long-term leases. Our manufacturing processes include cutting, coating and shaping aluminum into containers. These processes, which are conducted at high speeds and involve operating heavy machinery and equipment, entail risks and hazards, including industrial accidents, leaks and ruptures, explosions, fires, mechanical failures and environmental hazards, such as spills, storage tank leaks, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances and gases. Our production facilities also depend on essential utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water. Furthermore, certain of our production facilities are located in geographically vulnerable areas, including in some parts of the United States, and the risk of the occurrence of these hazards is exacerbated by the increasing frequency of extreme weather-related events, such as floods, windstorms and wildfires as well as natural disasters, such as earthquakes. Such hazards could directly, as well as indirectly, impact our production facilities, for example, by affecting the availability of national infrastructure, such as road networks and electrical power grids, that we are reliant upon. These hazards, or disruption to utility services, may cause unplanned business interruptions, unscheduled downtime, transportation interruptions, personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to or the destruction of property and equipment, environmental contamination and other environmental damage, civil, criminal and administrative sanctions and liabilities, and third-party claims, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects.
In addition, it may be increasingly difficult to obtain, renew or maintain permits and authorizations issued by governmental authorities necessary to operate our production facilities, due to the increasing urbanization of the sites where some of them are located.
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Urbanization could lead to more stringent operating conditions for obtaining or renewing the necessary authorizations, the refusal to grant or renew these authorizations, or expropriations of these sites for urban planning projects, any of which could result in the incurrence of significant costs, with no assurance of partial or full compensation from the governmental authorities.
Even though we conduct regular maintenance on our operating equipment, due to the extreme operating conditions inherent in some of our manufacturing processes, we cannot assure you that we will not incur unplanned business interruptions due to equipment breakdowns or similar manufacturing problems. We could also experience disruption to our IT systems and other automated manufacturing processes, including through cybersecurity attacks, which could halt or severely reduce production. See “—Risks Relating to our Information Technology Systems—Our heavy reliance on technology and automated systems to operate our business could mean that any significant failure or disruption of these systems, including as a result of cybersecurity attacks, could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation” for a further discussion on the impact of a cybersecurity attack on our business. There can be no assurance that alternative production capacity would be readily available in the event of an interruption.
If any of the aforementioned failures or disruptions affect any of our major operating lines or production facilities, it may result in a disruption of our ability to supply customers and a consequent loss of revenues. The potential impact of any disruption would depend on the nature and extent of the damage caused to such facility. For example, our industry’s business model typically involves a metal beverage can ends production facility supplying multiple metal beverage can production facilities. A failure or disruption in an ends production facility could therefore impact our ability to supply multiple customers with ends and any inability to source ends from another location could result in a material loss of sales.
To the extent that we experience production disruptions as a result of any of the aforementioned factors, we may also be required to make unplanned capital expenditures even though we may not have available resources at such time, which would result in significant costs and expenses. As a result, our liquidity may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects.
Organized strikes or work stoppages by unionized employees could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Many of our operating companies are party to collective bargaining agreements with trade unions, which cover the majority of our employees. A prolonged work stoppage or strike at any facility with union employees could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. In addition, we cannot ensure that, upon the expiration of our existing collective bargaining agreements, new agreements will be reached without union action or that our operating companies will be able to negotiate acceptable new contracts with trade unions, which could result in strikes by the affected employees and increased operating costs as a result of higher wages or benefits paid to unionized employees. If unionized employees at our operating companies, or our customers or suppliers, were to engage in a strike or other work stoppage, we could experience a significant disruption of operations, higher ongoing labor costs and reputational harm, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
We depend on our executive and senior management as well as other highly skilled personnel, and our operations may be disrupted if we are unable to retain or motivate such personnel.
We depend on our experienced executive team, who are identified under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees,” members of senior management, and other key and skilled personnel. These individuals possess manufacturing, sales, marketing, technical, financial and other specialized skills that are critical to the operation of our business. The loss of services of one or more of the members of our executive team, members of senior management or other key and skilled personnel, or the failure to provide adequate succession plans for such personnel could adversely affect our operations, decision-making processes, core values and organizational behavior, and competitiveness until suitable replacements can be found. Moreover, the hiring of qualified individuals in our industry is highly competitive and there may be a limited number of persons with the requisite skills and experience to serve in these positions, for example, where recruiting for replacements with similar expertise in can-making may not always be possible for our production facility-based roles.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
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Our business may also suffer from various disruptions if we experience high levels of staff turnover across our business, or if our personnel do not adapt effectively to any adjustments or changes that we might make to our operating model. There can be no assurance that we would be able to locate, employ or retain required qualified personnel on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of our operations, cash flows or prospects.
We face costs and future funding obligations associated with post-retirement benefits provided to employees, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
As of December 31, 2025, our accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation, net of employee benefit assets, was approximately $137 million covering our employees in multiple jurisdictions. The costs associated with these and other benefits to employees could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
We operate and contribute to pension and other post-retirement benefit schemes (including both single employer and multiple employer schemes) funded by a range of assets that include property, derivatives, equities and/or bonds. The value of these assets is heavily dependent on the performance of markets, which are subject to volatility. The liability structure of the obligations to provide such benefits is also subject to market volatility in relation to its accounting valuation and management. Additional significant funding of our pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations may be required if market underperformance is severe. Furthermore, for certain of our pension schemes in the United States, under the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) has the authority to terminate pension plans regulated by the PBGC if certain funding requirements are not met; any such termination would further accelerate the cash obligations related to such a pension plan. In addition, we may have to make significant cash payments to some or all of these plans, including under guarantee agreements, in the future to provide additional funding, which would reduce the cash available for our business.
We may not be able to integrate acquisitions effectively.
There is no certainty that any acquired business will be effectively integrated. If we cannot successfully integrate acquired businesses within a reasonable time frame, we may not be able to realize the cost savings, synergies and revenue enhancements that we anticipate either in the anticipated amount or time frame, and the costs of achieving these benefits may be higher than, and the timing may differ from, what we expected. Our ability to realize anticipated cost savings and synergies may be affected by a number of factors, including the use of more cash or other financial resources on integration and implementation activities than we expect, such as restructuring and other exit costs, unanticipated conditions imposed in connection with obtaining required regulatory approvals, and increases in expected acquisition costs and expenses, which may offset the cost savings and other synergies realized from such acquisitions. To the extent we pursue an acquisition that causes us to incur unexpected costs or that fails to generate expected returns, or fail to successfully integrate such businesses, the diversion of management attention and other resources from our existing operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
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Risks Relating to our Information Technology and Operational Technology Systems
Our heavy reliance on technology and automated systems to operate our business could mean that any significant failure or disruption of these systems, including as a result of cybersecurity attacks, could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation.
We depend on automated systems, including cloud-based service providers, and technology to operate our business, including manufacturing, production planning, logistics, accounting, telecommunication and information technology systems. There can be no assurance that these systems will not fail or suffer from substantial or repeated disruptions due to various events, some of which are beyond our control, such as natural disasters, power failures, terrorist attacks, equipment or software failures, user errors or computer viruses. Any such disruptions could severely interrupt the operation of our production facilities for an extended period of time, which could have an adverse effect on the supply of our products and result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects.
Increased global cybersecurity threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime, including through the use of AI enabled attacks, also pose a potentially significant risk to the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data, as well as the confidential data of our employees, customers, suppliers and other third parties that we may hold. As the cyber-threat landscape evolves, these attacks are growing in frequency, sophistication and intensity, including as a result of the use of AI by threat actors. Due to the nature of some of these attacks, there is also a risk that they may remain undetected for a period of time. We have previously been the target of cyberattacks and expect such attempts to continue. In 2021, AGSA announced that it had experienced a cybersecurity incident, the response to which included temporarily shutting down certain IT systems and applications used by us. There can be no assurance that our cybersecurity program will protect us from such threats and prevent disruptions or breaches to our or our third-party providers’ databases or systems that could materially adversely affect our business. See “Item 16K. Cybersecurity” for a further description of our cybersecurity program.
In addition, certain services under our cybersecurity program are provided by AGSA pursuant to the Services Agreement. There can be no assurance that we will be able to find a replacement provider for such services on comparable terms or at all, if such services are no longer provided under the Services Agreement. See “—Risks Relating to the Services Agreement—Our ability to operate our business effectively depends largely on certain administrative and other support functions provided to us by AGSA pursuant to the Services Agreement, which may suffer if we are unable to establish our own administrative and other support functions in a cost effective manner following the termination of the Services Agreement” for a further discussion of the Services Agreement.
Substantial or repeated systems failures or disruptions, including as a result of not effectively remediating system failures, cybersecurity incidents and other disruptions could result in the unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information, improper use of our systems and networks, defective products, harm to individuals or property, contractual or regulatory actions and fines, penalties and potential liabilities, production downtime and operational disruptions and loss or compromise of important or sensitive data. For example, the loss, disclosure, misappropriation of or access to our employees’ or business partners’ information or our failure to meet increasing data privacy, security and incident disclosure obligations could result in lost revenue, increased costs, future legal claims or proceedings, including class actions, liability or regulatory actions or penalties, including, for instance, under the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the California Consumer Privacy Act or the SEC’s rules on cybersecurity risk management strategy, governance and incidence disclosure. The adoption of AI technologies could aggravate these risks by increasing the risk that information is inadvertently or maliciously compromised. Any of the aforementioned risks could result in increased costs, lost revenue, reputational harm and decreased competitiveness, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects, and increased global cybersecurity threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime may further increase this risk.
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The increasing adoption of AI tools and systems in our operations introduces new risks related to governance, oversight, and responsible usage.
Ineffective AI governance or insufficient usage controls may result in the unauthorized deployment of AI technologies, unintended exposure of sensitive data, generation of inaccurate or misleading outputs, breaches of regulatory or contractual compliance, failures to meet privacy obligations, and reputational harm. As AI capabilities evolve, the complexity and potential impact of these risks may increase, particularly in relation to data protection, intellectual property, and ethical standards. Failure to implement robust AI governance frameworks, usage policies, and monitoring mechanisms could expose us to regulatory investigations, legal claims, operational disruptions, and loss of stakeholder trust, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters
We are subject to various environmental and other legal requirements and may be subject to additional requirements that could impose substantial costs on us.
Our operations and properties are subject to extensive laws, ordinances, regulations and other legal requirements relating to the protection of people and the environment. The laws and regulations which may affect our operations include requirements regarding remediation of contaminated soil, groundwater and buildings, water supply and use, natural resources, water discharges, air emissions, waste management, noise pollution, asbestos and other deleterious materials, the generation, storage, handling, transportation and disposal of regulated materials, product safety, food safety, and workplace health and safety. See “—We are subject to extensive, complex and evolving legal and regulatory frameworks and changes in laws and government regulations and their enforcement may have a material impact on our operations” for a discussion of the product and food safety regulations that are applicable to us and “—Risks Relating to Our Employees and Operations—Any interruption in the operations of our production facilities, including infrastructure failure from physical damage, may adversely affect our business” for a discussion of the risks related to workplace health and safety. These laws and regulations are also subject to constant review by lawmakers and regulators which may result in further, including more stringent, environmental or health and safety legal requirements.
We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, costs to comply with such legal requirements, and these costs may increase in the future. Demands for more stringent pollution control devices could also result in the need for further capital upgrades to our production facilities. For example, under the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU) (“EU IED”), permitted pollutant emissions levels from our production facilities are substantially reduced on a periodic basis. EU member states may continue to introduce lower permitted pollutant emissions levels into national legislation and impose stricter limits in the future. In the United States, certain states are continuing to establish lower permitted pollutant emissions levels, which may require us to incur potentially significant compliance costs. California, in particular, has set ambitious GHG reduction goals, which may result in higher offset purchase prices in the future. Additionally, some municipalities in California are considering further regulations to reduce or potentially eliminate natural gas usage. Additional pollutant or GHG emissions control schemes may be introduced in any jurisdiction on a national and/or local level, which may require additional measures. Further, in order to comply with air emission restrictions, significant capital investments may be necessary at some sites.
We also require a variety of permits to conduct our operations, including operating permits such as those required under various U.S. laws, including the federal Clean Air Act, and the EU IED water and trade effluent discharge permits, water abstraction permits and waste permits. We are in the process of applying for, or renewing, permits at a number of our sites. Failure to obtain and maintain the relevant permits, as well as non-compliance with such permits, could result in criminal, civil and administrative sanctions and liabilities, including substantial fines and orders, or a partial or total shutdown of our operations, as well as litigation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
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Furthermore, changes to the laws and regulations governing the materials that are used in our production facilities may impact the price of such materials or result in such materials no longer being available. For example, the European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (“REACH”) regulations impose stringent obligations on the manufacturers, importers and users of chemical substances. Certain substances that we use in our manufacturing process may be required to be removed from the market under REACH’s authorization and restriction provisions or substituted for alternative substances. Any of the foregoing could adversely impact our operations and result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
In addition, our sites often have a long history of industrial activities and may be, or have been in the past, engaged in activities involving the use of materials and processes that could give rise to contamination and result in potential liability to investigate or remediate, as well as claims for alleged damage to persons, property or natural resources. These legal requirements may apply to contamination at sites that we currently or formerly owned, occupied or operated, or that were formerly owned, occupied or operated by companies we acquired or at sites where we have sent waste to third-party sites for treatment or disposal. There can be no assurance that our due diligence investigations identified or accurately quantified all material environmental matters related to the facilities that we acquired and liability for remediation of any third-party sites may be established without regard to whether the party disposing of the waste was at fault or the disposal activity was legal at the time it was conducted. If we are designated as a potentially responsible party for the clean-up and remediation of any sites, including any “Superfund” sites in the United States, this could impose significant costs on us and result in reputational damage, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Climate change may adversely affect our ability to conduct our business, including the availability and cost of resources required for our production processes.
The impact of climate change, arising from the rising level of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) in the atmosphere presents immediate and long-term risks to us and the markets in which we operate, which are expected to increase over time. Climate risks consist of physical risks and transition risks, either of which may materially adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. Our operations could be exposed to physical risks resulting from chronic and acute climate change and more frequent extreme weather-related events, such as heatwaves, drought, heavy rainfall, wildfires, windstorms including hurricanes and tornadoes, or floods, which may directly damage our physical assets (such as facilities and materials) or otherwise impact their value or productivity, cause raw material shortages (including energy supply) and supply chain disruptions (including delivery), and increase production cost and health and safety risks, among other risks. See “—Risks Relating to Our Employees and Operations—Any interruption in the operations of our production facilities, including infrastructure failure from physical damage, may adversely affect our business” for a further discussion on the impact such damage to our physical assets could have on our business. In addition, unseasonal extreme weather can reduce demand for certain beverages, and as a result, our products. See “—Risks Relating to Our Business, Products and Industry—Demand for our products is seasonal. Unseasonal weather conditions, including as a result of climate change, could lead to unpredictability of demand and materially adversely affect our business” for a more detailed discussion on the impact of unseasonable weather on demand for our products. We are not able to accurately predict the materiality of any potential losses or costs associated with the effects of climate change, and the impact of climate change may also vary by geographic location and other circumstances, including weather patterns.
We could also be exposed to transition risks resulting from changes in policy, technology and market preference to address climate change, such as carbon pricing policies, including increased prices for certain fuels, including natural gas and the introduction of a carbon tax, and power generation shifts from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which may lead to changes in the value of assets. In addition, measures to address climate change through laws and regulations, for example by requiring reductions in emissions of GHGs or introducing compliance schemes, could create economic risks and uncertainties for our businesses, by increasing GHG-related costs, such as the cost of abatement equipment to reduce emissions to comply with legal requirements on GHG emissions or required technological standards, or reducing demand for our products, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. We also monitor rules and regulations related to environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) disclosure obligations, which may expose us to increased costs associated with such additional reporting obligations and risks associated with any non-compliance.
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For example the European Union adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) in 2023. Subsequently, in 2025, the European Commission published a proposed omnibus agreement aimed at simplifying sustainability reporting in Europe. This proposal included change to the scope of the CSRD and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD”), as well as to the content of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (“ESRS”). Amendments to CSRD and CSDDD were published in the Official Journal of the EU in February 2026, which will enter into force in March 2026, with the next step being transposition into national law by EU member states. The changes to the ESRS are expected to be finalized in 2026. See “—We are subject to various environmental and other legal requirements and may be subject to additional requirements that could impose substantial costs upon us” for a more detailed discussion on the risks to our business associated with the introduction of new laws and regulations by governments to combat climate change. Such rules, regulations and reporting requirements are not uniform across jurisdictions, which can increase the complexity and cost of compliance and increase the risk of enforcement or litigation. In 2022, we received approval from the SBTi for our GHG emission reduction targets to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% and to reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions by 12.3% by 2030. The vast majority of our Scope 3 emissions principally arise in the various stages of the manufacturing of the aluminum coils that we purchase to produce our products, which depend on various factors that can be difficult to predict and are often outside of our control. Our ability to meet our sustainability targets also depends on market or competitive conditions that are outside our control, as well as expectations and assumptions that are necessarily uncertain. Failure to meet our SBTi targets and reduce our emissions, or failure to meet any of our other sustainability targets, could result in increased costs for us in the form of carbon taxes and could have a material adverse effect our reputation, customer and investor relationships, or ability to access capital on favorable terms, particularly given investors’ focus on ESG matters. Failure to transition to low carbon manufacturing in the future could result in dedicated action by climate activists which could cause reputational damage or business interruption.
We are subject to extensive, complex and evolving legal and regulatory frameworks and changes in laws and government regulations and their enforcement may have a material impact on our operations.
Our business operates in multiple jurisdictions and is subject to complex legal and regulatory frameworks, including in relation to product requirement, environmental, anti-trust, economic sanctions, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering matters. For a detailed discussion on the various environmental requirements that we are subject to, please see “—We are subject to various environmental and other legal requirements and may be subject to additional requirements that could impose substantial costs on us.” Laws and regulations in these areas are complex and constantly evolving, and enforcement continues to increase. As a result, we may become subject to increasing limitations on our business activities and risks of fines or other sanctions for non-compliance. Additionally, we may become subject to governmental investigations and lawsuits by private parties. Compliance costs associated with current and proposed laws and potential regulations could be substantial, and any failure or alleged failure to comply with these laws or regulations could lead to litigation or government action, all of which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
For example, changes in laws and regulations relating to deposits on, requirements for re-use, and any limits or restrictions to the recycling of, metal packaging could adversely affect our business if implemented on a large scale in the major markets in which we operate. We anticipate continuing efforts to reform or adopt such laws and regulations in the future. Additionally, the effectiveness of new standards, such as the ones related to recycling or deposits on different packaging materials, could result in excess costs, demand disruption or logistical constraints for some of our customers, who could choose to reduce their consumption and limit the use of metal packaging for their products. We could thus be forced to reduce, suspend or even stop the production of certain types of products. These regulatory changes could also affect our prices, margins, investments and activities, particularly if these changes resulted in significant or structural changes in the market for food and beverage packaging that might affect the market shares for metal packaging, the volumes produced or production costs.
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Changes in laws and regulations imposing restrictions on, and conditions for use of, food and beverage contact materials or on the use of materials and agents in the production of our products could likewise adversely affect our business, such as epoxy-based coatings. Changes in regulatory agency statements, adverse information concerning bisphenol A or rulings made in certain jurisdictions may result in restrictions, for example, on bisphenol A in epoxy-based internal liners for some of our products. Such restrictions have required us, together with our respective suppliers and customers, to develop substitutes for relevant products to meet legal and customer requirements. In addition, changes to health and food safety regulations could increase costs and may also have a material adverse effect on revenues if the public attitude toward end-products, for which we provide packaging, were substantially affected as a result.
Environmental, sustainability, food and beverage health and safety, political and ethical concerns could lead government authorities to implement and strictly enforce other regulations that are likely to impose restrictions on us and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. Given the complexity of our supply chains, we may face reputational challenges if we are unable to sufficiently verify the origins of all materials used in the products that we sell or properly address the environmental and human rights impacts of our supply chain. Furthermore, there is significant variation, among countries where we sell our products, in the limitation on certain constituents in packaging, which can have the effect of restricting the types of raw materials we use. In turn, these restrictions can increase our operating costs by requiring increased energy consumption or greater environmental controls.
We could incur significant costs in relation to workplace injury and illness claims at our production facilities arising from our manufacturing processes.
We may face liability claims arising from our manufacturing processes, including alleged personal injury due to workplace injuries and illness at our production facilities. Both the operational profile of our production facilities with its reliance upon machinery as well as the type of activities performed by our employees during the manufacturing process carry an increased risk of accidents. There can be no assurance that the health and safety measures and programs we have implemented will prevent accidents occurring or employees contracting illnesses due to prolonged exposure to workplace hazards, such as hazardous substances, noise, vibrations and stress at our production facilities and injuries from motorized transportation. If an individual successfully brings a claim against us, we may not have adequate insurance to cover such claims or may face increased insurance premiums. See “—Our existing insurance coverage may be insufficient and future coverage may be difficult or prohibitively expensive to obtain” for more details on our insurance coverage. Failure to accurately assess potential risks or assure implementation of effective safety measures may result in increases in the relative frequency or severity of workplace injuries at our production facilities, which may result in increased workers’ compensation claims expense. If our employees or customers perceive us having a poor safety record, it could materially impact our ability to attract and retain new employees and our reputation could suffer. Any substantial increase in such liability claims and related reputational harm could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Failure of our control measures and systems that result in faulty or contaminated products could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We have strict control measures and systems in place to ensure that the maximum safety and quality of our products is maintained. The consequences of a product not meeting these rigorous standards, due to, among other things, accidental or malicious raw materials contamination or due to supply chain contamination caused by human error or equipment fault, could be severe. Such consequences might include adverse effects on consumer health and our reputation, an increase in our litigation exposure and financial costs, and loss of market share and revenues.
If our products fail to meet rigorous standards or warranties that we provide in certain contracts in respect of our products and their conformity to the specific use defined by the customer, we may be required to incur substantial costs in taking appropriate corrective action (up to and including recalling products from consumers) and to reimburse customers and/or end-users for losses that they suffer as a result of this failure. Customers and end-users may seek to recover these losses through litigation and, under applicable legal rules, may succeed in any such claim, despite there being no negligence or other fault on our part.
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In addition, if our packaging fails to preserve the integrity of its contents, it is possible that the manufacturer of the product may allege that our packaging is the cause of the fault or contamination, even if the packaging complies with contractual specifications. This could result in liability to our customers and to third parties for bodily injury or other tangible or intangible damages suffered as a result. If any of these claims are successful, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Furthermore, placing an unsafe product on the market, failing to notify the regulatory authorities of a safety issue, failing to take appropriate corrective action and failing to meet other regulatory requirements relating to product safety could lead to regulatory investigation, enforcement action and/or prosecution. Any product quality or safety issue may also result in adverse publicity, which may damage our reputation. This could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. Although we have not had a regular history of significant or material claims for damages for defective products in the past, and have not conducted any substantial product recalls or other material corrective action, there can be no assurance that these events will not occur in the future.
We may be subject to litigation, arbitration and other proceedings that could have an adverse effect on us.
We are currently involved in various litigation matters, and we anticipate that we will continue to be involved in litigation matters from time to time in the future. The risks inherent in our business expose us to litigation, including personal injury, environmental litigation, contractual litigation with customers and suppliers, intellectual property litigation, cybersecurity related litigation, employment litigation, tax or securities litigation, and product liability lawsuits. We cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any claim, regulatory investigation, or other litigation matter, or a combination of these. Any such litigation, arbitration or other proceedings, current or future, whether with or without merit, could be expensive and time consuming, and could divert the attention of senior management, and any adverse outcome in these or other proceedings, could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. For more information on our contingencies for legal proceedings, see note 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Our existing insurance coverage may be insufficient and future coverage may be difficult or prohibitively expensive to obtain.
Our insurance arrangements are subject to the limitations of certain market capacities and the economics of certain types of cover, and may typically exclude certain risks and are subject to certain thresholds and limits. We cannot assure you that the coverage available will be sufficient to protect us from all possible loss or damage resulting from unforeseen events. As a result, our insurance coverage may prove to be inadequate for events that may cause significant disruption to our operations, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. In addition, we may also suffer indirect losses, such as the disruption of our business or third-party claims of damages, as a result of an insured risk event. While we carry business interruption coverage and general liability coverage, such coverage is subject to certain limitations, thresholds and limits, and may not fully cover all indirect losses.
We renew our insurance arrangements on an annual basis, and the cost of coverage may increase to an extent that we may choose to reduce our coverage limits or agree to certain exclusions from our coverage. Among other factors, adverse political developments, limited insurance market capacity, unfavorable trends of increasing claims and settlements in our industry and business, including the underwriting of emerging risks such as AI, security concerns, and natural disasters in any country in which we operate may reduce the availability of insurance coverage and lead to higher premiums and additional exclusions from coverage.
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If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.
We are required to maintain internal controls over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in those controls. If we identify future material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting that is not remediated, or fail to meet our obligations as a listed company, including the requirements of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, or report them within the timeframes required by law or NYSE regulations, which could cause investors to lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our reported financial information, and result in an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and/or the traded price of our notes.
Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we are required to evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and provide a management report as to internal controls over financial reporting and our independent registered public accounting firm is required to issue an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting also could potentially subject us to investigations or sanctions by the SEC, NYSE or other regulatory authorities, or shareholder lawsuits, which could require additional financial and management resources.
Risks Relating to the Services Agreement
Our ability to operate our business effectively depends largely on certain administrative and other support functions provided to us by AGSA pursuant to the Services Agreement, which may suffer if we are unable to establish our own administrative and other support functions in a cost-effective manner following the termination of the Services Agreement.
We rely on certain administrative and other resources provided by AGSA, including information technology, financial reporting, tax, treasury, investor relations, human resources, procurement, logistics, insurance and risk management and legal services, to operate our business. The services covered by the Services Agreement may not be sufficient to meet our needs and may not be provided at the same level as when we were part of AGSA. If AGSA is unable to satisfy its material obligations under the Services Agreement, or if the Services Agreement is terminated in whole or in part, we may not be able to find a replacement for such services at all, or obtain such services on comparable terms, which could result in operational difficulties and in turn a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects. In addition, any failure or significant interruption of the AGSA’s informational technology systems during the term of the Services Agreement could result in unexpected costs or prevent us from meeting customer needs on a timely basis. See “—Risks Relating to Our Information Technology Systems—Our heavy reliance on technology and automated systems to operate our business could mean that any significant failure or disruption of these systems, including as a result of cybersecurity attacks, could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation” for a discussion on the possible impact if there is a disruption to information technology systems.
As of December 31, 2025, the Services Agreement automatically renewed for an additional one-year term, with the fees for the services provided to us calculated based on an allocation of the costs associated with such services. The Services Agreement will renew automatically on an annual basis until terminated by either party with a nine-month prior written notice, or by mutual consent of both parties in writing at any time. We cannot provide any assurance that the fees under the Services Agreement will be more favorable than the price that we would have been able to pay if we had obtained such services from one or more third parties. During the period in which the Services Agreement was negotiated, we did not have a board or a management team that was independent of AGSA and the terms of the Services Agreement were agreed while we were a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGSA and in the context that AGSA would own a controlling interest in us following the Merger. In addition, we also cannot provide any assurance that the price of the services, when adjusted, will not be significantly greater than the fixed price established for these services prior to such adjustment.
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Risks Relating to Our Capital Structure
Our substantial debt could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to effectively manage and grow our business.
We have a substantial amount of debt and significant debt service obligations. As of December 31, 2025, we had total borrowings and net debt of $4.5 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively. Some of the agreements under which we borrow funds contain covenants or provisions that impose certain restrictions on us, such as debt ratios and may prevent us from incurring additional debt. For more information, see the description of our debt facilities and the table outlining our principal financing arrangements in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Our substantial debt could have adverse consequences for us and for our shareholders. For example, our substantial debt could:
| ● | require us to dedicate a large portion of our cash flow from operations to service debt and fund repayments on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; |
| ● | increase our vulnerability to adverse general economic or industry conditions; |
| ● | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or industry; |
| ● | limit our ability to raise additional debt, refinance existing debt or raise equity capital in the future; |
| ● | negatively impact the terms of our supply agreements; |
| ● | restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or exploiting business opportunities; and |
| ● | place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt. |
Further, notwithstanding our current indebtedness levels and restrictive covenants, we may still be able to incur substantial additional debt or make certain restricted payments, which could exacerbate the risks described above.
In addition, pursuant to certain of AGSA’s financing arrangements, the shares of AMPSA are directly pledged for the benefit of certain lenders. In the event of a default under such financing arrangements, the lenders thereunder may have the right to enforce on the security interest over the relevant shares of AMPSA, which may result in a change of control under the terms of certain of our financing arrangements.
Adverse developments in our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects due to deteriorating global economic conditions, increased interest rates or other factors have caused, and could in the future cause ratings agencies to lower the credit ratings, or ratings outlook, of our short- and long-term debt, and, consequently, impair the credit insurance coverage available to our suppliers, impacting our supplier terms, and potentially our ability to raise new financing or refinance our current borrowings and increase our costs of issuing any new debt instruments. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations may have a material impact on our business” for a further discussion on interest rate risk and the potential increase to our cost of borrowing. Additionally, a significant weakening of our financial position or operating results due to changes in global economic conditions or other factors could result in non-compliance with our restrictive covenants in our financing arrangements and reduced cash flow from our operations, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect our business and cash flows. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Changes to the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” and “Item 8.
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Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy” for further details.
We may not be able to raise additional capital or only be able to raise additional capital at significantly increased costs or by diluting our shareholders.
We may require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our current resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or incur debt under credit facilities we may put in place. The sale of additional equity securities could result in the dilution of our current shareholders, potentially triggering a change of control under the terms of our bond indentures, and the incurrence of additional indebtedness could further limit our ability to pay dividends or require us to seek consents for the payment of dividends, increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions and limit our ability to pursue our business strategies. See “—Our substantial debt could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to effectively manage and grow our business” for a further discussion on how the incurrence of indebtedness could reduce the availability of our cash flow, which could materially adversely affect our business.
Furthermore, we cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. For example, deteriorating economic conditions, such as an increase in interest rates or disruptions in global capital markets, could make it more difficult for us to secure financings. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Changes to the economic, political, credit, and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” for further detail on deteriorating economic conditions. If we are unable to raise additional capital, or if the cost of raising additional capital significantly increases, as is the case when central banks raise benchmark interest rates, we may be unable to make necessary or desired capital expenditures, take advantage of investment opportunities, refinance existing indebtedness or meet unexpected financial requirements. This could cause us to default on our indebtedness, delay or abandon anticipated expenditures and investments, or otherwise limit our operations, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or prospects.
Risks Relating to Our Shares
We are ultimately controlled by AHSA, which is principally owned by former holders of certain indebtedness of AGSA and its affiliates, primarily comprising major financial institutions and investment funds, and whose interests may conflict with our interests and the interests of our other shareholders and stakeholders.
As of December 31, 2025, AHSA indirectly owns approximately 76% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares through its direct wholly-owned subsidiary, AGSA and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and, under the Business Combination Agreement, AGSA has the right to receive up to an additional 60,730,000 Ordinary Shares (the “Earnout Shares”) if the trading prices of Ordinary Shares exceed certain specified amounts during specified periods of time. As the controlling shareholder of the Company and AGSA, AHSA is able to exercise significant influence over our business policies and affairs, including the composition of our Board and any action requiring shareholder approval. In addition, as long as AGSA beneficially owns a specified number of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, AGSA has the right to designate a specified number of directors, including the chair, to our Board, receive access to certain information for the benefit of AGSA, approve certain of our significant actions, receive our cooperation with certain matters relating to us, and access certain information for registration rights with respect to its Ordinary Shares. For more information, see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions–B. Related Party Transactions.”
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AHSA’s ultimate shareholders principally comprise former holders of certain indebtedness of AGSA and its affiliates, and are predominantly major financial institutions and investment funds. It is also possible that AHSA’s shareholders have other business interests that conflict with our own business interests, which may cause those shareholders to take actions that are in their own best interests and not in the best interests of the Company or our other shareholders. Further, the owners of AHSA may pursue interests and strategies distinct from those pursued by our previous ultimate controlling shareholders, including seeking liquidity for their shares or to enhance the short-term value of their investment (such as by preferring distributions over capital investments), even though such actions might involve risks to other shareholders or result in an indirect or direct change of control of the Company.
In addition, because we are a controlled company, risks materializing at the parent level, including in relation to litigation, open judicial proceedings or regulatory matters, arising in the normal course of business or in connection with the Recapitalization Transaction, could have an adverse impact on our share price, financial condition, credit ratings or reputation.
See “—Risks Relating to Being a Luxembourg Company and Our Status as a Foreign Private Issuer—We qualify for and rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements” for discussion on the corporate governance exemptions that we avail ourselves of as a controlled company.
The trading price of our Ordinary Shares may be volatile and holders of our securities could incur substantial losses.
The trading price of our Ordinary Shares could be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and the Ordinary Shares may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In addition, the trading price of our Ordinary Shares may not recover and may experience a further decline.
Factors affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
| ● | the realization of any of the risk factors presented in this “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” of this Annual Report; |
| ● | announcements of new products and services by us or our competitors; |
| ● | news regarding any gain or loss of customers by us; |
| ● | announcements of competitive developments, acquisitions or strategic alliances in our industry; |
| ● | changes in the general condition of the global economy and financial markets; |
| ● | general market conditions or other developments affecting us or our industry; |
| ● | cost and availability of raw materials; |
| ● | changes in environmental regulations or other laws or regulations applicable to our business; |
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations; |
| ● | changes in financial or valuation projections or estimates about our financial or operational performance by securities research analysts and the financial community; |
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| ● | changes in investor sentiment toward the stock of packaging companies; |
| ● | changes in investor sentiment toward the outlook of our customers; |
| ● | announcements by third parties of significant claims or proceedings against us, our industry or both, or investigations by regulators into our business or those of our competitors; |
| ● | changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations or principles; |
| ● | any significant change in our management; |
| ● | adverse media reports, including high profile discussions on social-media platforms, about our company, our operational environment, our products, or our directors and officers; |
| ● | public reaction to our press releases, other public announcements or filings with the SEC; |
| ● | changes to our capital structure; |
| ● | a default under the agreements governing our indebtedness; |
| ● | release or expiry of transfer restrictions on our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares; and |
| ● | anticipated sales of additional shares. |
In addition, the stock market may experience periods of unusual volatility that, in some cases, is unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. See “—Risks Relating to Economic, Market and Political Matters—Changes to the economic, political, credit and/or financial environment in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, such as affecting consumer demand for beverage products, which could impact our customers and as a result, reduce the demand for our products” for a more detailed discussion of the global economic environment. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares, regardless of our actual operating performance.
In the past, following periods of market volatility, shareholders have instituted securities class action litigation. Our involvement in securities litigation could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of executive management from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
Future sales of our Ordinary Shares, including by AGSA, the Subscribers and the GHV Sponsor could have an adverse impact on the price of our Ordinary Shares.
Future sales of our Ordinary Shares, or Warrants, including by the Subscribers, the GHV Sponsor and AGSA, or the perception that sales may be made by these shareholders could significantly reduce the market price of our Ordinary Shares. Further, even if none of these shareholders sell a large number of our Ordinary Shares into the market, their right to sell their Ordinary Shares as contemplated by the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement and the Subscription Agreements may depress the price of our Ordinary Shares. Substantially all of our Ordinary Shares may be sold in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, which could have the effect of increasing the volatility in the price of our Ordinary Shares or putting significant downward pressure on their price. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions–B. Related Party Transactions.”
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The Warrants are exercisable for our Ordinary Shares, which may increase the number of our Ordinary Shares eligible for future resale in the public market and may result in dilution to our shareholders, and may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares.
Outstanding Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 16,749,984 of our Ordinary Shares are exercisable in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement. The Warrants are exercisable at the exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement as set forth under “Exhibit 2.7—Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.” To the extent such Warrants are exercised, additional Ordinary Shares will be issued, which will result in dilution to the holders of our Ordinary Shares and increase the number of our Ordinary Shares eligible for resale in the public market.
There is no guarantee that the Warrants will not expire worthless and we may redeem unexpired Warrants prior to their exercise at a time that could be disadvantageous to a Warrant holder.
The exercise price for our Warrants is $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement as set forth under “Exhibit 2.7—Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.” The Warrants are exercisable until 5.00 p.m. New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (x) August 4, 2026, or (y) the redemption date as provided in Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, subject to the terms of the Warrant Agreement. Based on the trading price of our Ordinary Shares, it is uncertain if any of our Warrants will be in-the-money at any time prior to their expiration. As a result the Warrants may expire worthless. In addition, we have the ability to redeem outstanding Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, subject to the conditions as set forth under “Exhibit 2.7—Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.” If the Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right at a time that could be disadvantageous to a Warrant holder. Additionally, in November 2025, proceedings were commenced to delist the Warrants from the NYSE due to “abnormally low selling price” levels and therefore, the Warrants are available for trading over-the-counter only. Accordingly, the market liquidity for the Warrants may be adversely impacted.
We have issued and may issue in the future Ordinary Shares or offer options, restricted shares and certain forms of share-based compensation, which have the potential to dilute shareholder value and cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to decline.
We have issued and may issue in the future Ordinary Shares or offer share options, restricted shares and certain forms of share-based compensation to our directors, officers and employees in the future. If we issue additional Ordinary Shares, any options that we issue are exercised, or any restricted shares that we may issue vest, and those shares are sold into the public market, the ownership of our existing shareholders would be diluted and our earnings per share could be reduced, which may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, the availability of Ordinary Shares for award under any equity incentive plan we may introduce, or the grant of share options, restricted shares or other forms of share-based compensation, may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. See “—Risks Relating to Our Capital Structure—We may not be able to raise additional capital or only be able to raise additional capital at significantly increased costs or by diluting our shareholders” for a discussion surrounding circumstances that would results in the issuance of additional Ordinary Shares.
If we do not pay dividends on our Ordinary Shares, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your shares for a price greater than that which you are deemed to have paid for it.
Even though we issued dividends on our Ordinary Shares on a quarterly basis in 2025, the declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends will be determined by our Board. Our Board may take into account general and economic conditions, our financial condition and operating results, our available cash, current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions, implications on the payment of dividends by us to our shareholders and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant. For more information on our policy regarding dividends, see “Item 8.
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Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy.”
In addition, as we are a holding company, our ability to pay dividends on our Ordinary Shares may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain sufficient funds through dividends from subsidiaries, including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing the current indebtedness of us and our subsidiaries or future indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur. Subject to any limitations referred to above, or as prescribed by the provisions of the laws of Luxembourg (“Luxembourg Law”), the declaration of future dividends, if any, will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital expenditure requirements, general financial conditions, legal and contractual restrictions and other factors.
Risks Relating to Being a Luxembourg Company and Our Status as a Foreign Private Issuer
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of U.S. securities laws and rules and are permitted to publicly disclose less information than U.S. public companies are required to disclose, which may limit the information available to holders of our Ordinary Shares. Conversely, if we lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, this could result in significant additional costs and expenses.
We currently qualify as a “foreign private issuer,” as defined under the SEC’s rules and regulations, and, consequently, we are not subject to all of the disclosure requirements applicable to public companies organized within the United States. For example, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that regulate disclosure obligations and procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations applicable to securities registered under the Exchange Act. While our officers and directors are exempt from the “short-swing” profit recovery revisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules thereunder, on March 18, 2026, our officers and directors will no longer be exempt from reporting under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of our Ordinary Shares, such that any such sales will be required to be disclosed in the same manner as they are disclosed by officers and directors of United States public companies. Accordingly, as such sales begin to be disclosed, the price of our Ordinary Shares may be impacted. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. public companies are, and are also not subject to Regulation FD under the Exchange Act, which would prohibit us from selectively disclosing material non-public information to certain persons without concurrently making a widespread public disclosure of such information. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there is for U.S. public companies.
As a foreign private issuer, we are required to file an Annual Report on Form 20-F within four months of the close of each fiscal year ended December 31, and furnish reports on Form 6-K relating to certain material events promptly after we publicly announce these events. However, because of the exemptions for foreign private issuers mentioned above, our shareholders will not be afforded the same information generally available to investors holding shares in public companies that are not foreign private issuers.
We could lose our foreign private issuer status if a majority of our Ordinary Shares are held by residents in the United States, and we fail to meet any one of the additional “business contacts” requirements. The regulatory and compliance costs to us if we are deemed to be a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher than costs we incur as a foreign private issuer. If the Company is not a foreign private issuer, we will be required to file periodic reports and prospectuses on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. For example, we would become subject to the proxy rules under the Exchange Act. In addition, we would be required to change our basis of accounting from IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB to U.S. GAAP, which may be difficult and costly for us to comply with. If we lose our foreign private issuer status and fail to comply with the standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, we may have to de-list from NYSE, and could be subject to investigation by the SEC, NYSE and other regulators, among other potentially materially adverse consequences.
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The SEC is currently reexamining the eligibility criteria for foreign private issuer status and exemptions it provides, particularly as regards those companies which are only listed in the United States. While the SEC has not to date proposed any specific rules and any such rulemaking will require notice and an opportunity for public comment, changes to the eligibility criteria or other rules impacting foreign private issuers could have some or all of the impacts described above or additional unanticipated consequences, any of which could increase our regulatory burden or have other materially adverse consequences.
U.S. investors may have difficulty enforcing civil liabilities against us and our directors and officers.
We are organized under the laws of Luxembourg. In addition, a substantial amount of our assets are located outside the United States, and many of our directors and officers reside outside the United States and will continue to reside outside the United States. As a result, although we have appointed an agent for service of process in the United States, investors may not be able to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons or enforce judgments obtained against us or these persons in U.S. courts, including judgments in actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Likewise, it also may be difficult for an investor to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against us or these persons in courts located in jurisdictions outside the United States, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere are generally not enforceable in Luxembourg.
Any judgments obtained in any U.S. federal or state court against us may have to be enforced in the courts of Luxembourg or other EU member states. As there is no treaty in force on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters between the United States and Luxembourg, courts in Luxembourg will not automatically recognize and enforce a final judgment rendered by a U.S. court. A valid judgment obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States may be entered and enforced through a court of competent jurisdiction in Luxembourg, subject to compliance with the enforcement procedures (exequatur). The enforceability in Luxembourg courts of judgments rendered by U.S. courts will be subject, prior to any enforcement in Luxembourg, to the procedure and the conditions set forth in the Luxembourg procedural code, which conditions may include the following (which may change):
| ● | the judgment of the U.S. court is final and enforceable (exécutoire) in the United States and has not been enforced in the United States; |
| ● | the U.S. court had jurisdiction over the subject matter leading to the judgment (that is, its jurisdiction was in compliance both with Luxembourg private international law and local law rules and with the applicable domestic U.S. federal or state jurisdictional rules); |
| ● | the judgment was granted following proceedings where the counterparty had the opportunity to appear, and if it appeared, to present a defense and other conditions for a fair trial have been complied with taking into account all facts and circumstances whether occurring before, during or after trial or issue and delivery of the judgment, and the judgment has not been obtained by reason of fraud; |
| ● | the U.S. court applied the substantive laws as designated by the Luxembourg conflict of law rules; |
| ● | the U.S. judgment does not contravene international public policy (ordre public) or order, both substantive and procedural, as understood under the laws of Luxembourg or has been given in proceedings of a criminal nature; and |
| ● | the absence of contradiction between such judgment and an already issued judgment of a Luxembourg court. |
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In addition, actions brought in a Luxembourg court against us, the members of our Board or our officers to enforce liabilities based on U.S. federal securities laws may be subject to certain restrictions. In particular, Luxembourg courts generally do not award punitive damages. Litigation in Luxembourg also is subject to rules of procedure that differ from the U.S. rules, including, with respect to the taking and admissibility of evidence, the conduct of the proceedings and the allocation of costs. Proceedings in Luxembourg would have to be conducted in the French or German language, and all documents submitted to the court would, in principle, have to be translated into French or German. For these reasons, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an action in a Luxembourg court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us, the members of our Board or our officers. In addition, even if a judgment against us, the members of our Board or our officers based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws is obtained, a U.S. investor may not be able to enforce it in U.S. or Luxembourg courts.
Our directors and officers have entered into indemnification agreements with us as permitted under our Articles. Under such agreements, our directors and officers are entitled to indemnification from us to the fullest extent permitted by Luxemburg law against liability and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with claims, actions, suits or proceedings in which they become involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of performing or having performed as a director or officer, and against amounts paid or incurred by them in the settlement of such claims, actions, suits or proceedings. Luxembourg Law and our Articles permit us to keep directors indemnified against any expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in connection with liability of a director towards us or a third party for management errors, i.e., for wrongful acts committed during the execution of the mandate (mandat) granted to the director by us, except in connection with criminal offenses, gross negligence, fraud or dishonesty. The rights to and obligations of indemnification among or between us and any of our current or former directors and officers are generally governed by the laws of Luxembourg and subject to the jurisdiction of the Luxembourg courts, unless such rights or obligations do not relate to or arise out of such persons’ capacities listed above. Although there is doubt as to whether U.S. courts would enforce this indemnification provision in an action brought in the United States under U.S. federal or state securities laws, this provision could make it more difficult to obtain judgments outside Luxembourg or from non-Luxembourg jurisdictions that would apply Luxembourg Law against our assets in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg and European insolvency and bankruptcy laws are substantially different from U.S. insolvency and bankruptcy laws and may offer our shareholders less protection than they would have under U.S. insolvency and bankruptcy laws.
As a company organized under the laws of Luxembourg and with its registered office in Luxembourg, we are subject to Luxembourg insolvency and bankruptcy laws in the event any insolvency proceedings are initiated against it including, among other things, Council and European Parliament Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of May 20, 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast). Should courts in another European country determine that the insolvency and bankruptcy laws of that country apply to the Company in accordance with and subject to such European Union regulations, the courts in that country could have jurisdiction over the insolvency proceedings initiated against us. Insolvency and bankruptcy laws in Luxembourg or the relevant other European country, if any, may offer our shareholders less protection than they would have under U.S. insolvency and bankruptcy laws and make it more difficult for them to recover the amount they could expect to recover in a liquidation under U.S. insolvency and bankruptcy laws.
The rights of our shareholders may differ from the rights they would have as shareholders of a U.S. corporation and consequently our shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles and Luxembourg Law, including the Luxembourg Companies Law. The rights of our shareholders and the responsibilities of our directors and officers under Luxembourg Law are different from those applicable to a corporation incorporated in the United States.
In the performance of its duties, the Board is required to act as a collegiate body in the interest of the Company. It is possible that the Company may have interests that are different from interests of the shareholders. If any member of our Board has a direct or indirect financial interest in a matter which has to be considered by the Board that conflicts with the interests of the Company, Luxembourg Law provides that such director will not be entitled to participate in deliberations on, and exercise his vote with respect to the approval of such transaction.
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If the interest of such a member of the Board does not conflict with the interests of the Company, then the applicable director with such interest may participate in deliberations on, and vote on the approval of, that transaction. Further, under Luxembourg Law, there may be less publicly available information about the Company than is regularly published by or about U.S. domestic issuers. In addition, Luxembourg Law governing the securities of Luxembourg companies may not be as extensive as those in effect in the United States, and Luxembourg Law and regulations in respect of corporate governance matters might not be as protective of minority shareholders as state corporation laws in the United States. Therefore, our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in connection with actions taken by its directors and officers or its principal shareholders than they would as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States.
Neither our Articles nor Luxembourg Law provides for appraisal rights for dissenting shareholders in certain extraordinary corporate transactions that may otherwise be available to shareholders under certain U.S. state laws. As a result of these differences, our shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests than they would as shareholders of a U.S. domestic issuer.
Our Articles include compulsory share transfer provisions that may not provide our minority shareholders with the same benefits as they would have in a merger of a Delaware corporation.
We have included in our Articles provisions that give the holder of 75% or more of the number of our outstanding Ordinary Shares (which would include AHSA for so long as it indirectly holds the requisite number of our Ordinary Shares) the right to acquire our outstanding Ordinary Shares held by all other holders at such time for a purchase price payable in cash that is equal to the fair market value of such Ordinary Shares, as determined by an independent investment banking firm of international reputation in accordance with the procedures contained in our Articles. These procedures include a dispute resolution provision permitting holders of at least 10% of the Ordinary Shares held by our minority shareholders at that time to dispute the purchase price proposed by the acquiring shareholder. It is uncertain whether our minority shareholders will be able to coordinate with each other in a manner that will enable them to take full advantage of these provisions. There can be no assurance that these provisions would result in a price as favorable to our minority shareholders as they would receive in a transaction subject to Delaware law and appraisal rights.
Anti-takeover provisions in our Articles might discourage or delay attempts to acquire it.
Our Articles contain provisions that may make acquisition of the Company more difficult, including the following:
| ● | Classified Board. Our Board is classified into three classes of directors that are, as nearly as possible, of equal size. Each class of directors will be elected for a three-year term of office, but the terms are staggered so that the term of only one class of directors expires at each annual general meeting of shareholders. The existence of a classified board could impede a proxy contest or delay a successful tender offeror from obtaining majority control of the Board, and the prospect of that delay might deter a potential offeror. |
| ● | Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals. Luxembourg Law and our Articles provide that one or more shareholders together holding at least 10% of the Company’s share capital may request the addition of one or more items to the agenda of any general meeting. The request must be sent to the registered office by registered mail, at least five clear days before the meeting is held. Our Articles also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These requirements may make it difficult for our shareholders to bring matters before a general meeting. |
| ● | Special Resolutions. Our Articles require special resolutions adopted at an extraordinary general meeting for any of the following matters, among other things: (a) an increase or decrease of the authorized or issued capital, (b) |
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| an amendment to the Articles and (c) dissolving the Company. Pursuant to our Articles, for any special resolutions to be considered at an extraordinary general meeting the quorum is in excess of one-half (1∕2) of the share capital in issue present in person or by proxy unless otherwise mandatorily required by Luxembourg Law. If such quorum is not met at a first extraordinary general meeting, a second meeting may be convened, and such second meeting shall validly deliberate regardless of the proportion of the capital represented. Any special resolution may be adopted at an extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present (except as otherwise provided by mandatory law) by the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds (2∕3) of the votes validly cast on such resolution by shareholders entitled to vote. |
These anti-takeover provisions could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of the Company, even if such transaction would benefit its shareholders.
We qualify for and rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
We are exempt from certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE by virtue of being a “foreign private issuer” as such term is defined under U.S. securities laws and a “controlled company” as such term is defined under the corporate governance standards of the NYSE (the “NYSE Standards”) and are not subject to all the disclosure requirements applicable to public companies organized within the United States. As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practice of our home country in lieu of certain provisions of the NYSE Standards. See “—As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of U.S. securities laws and rules and are permitted to publicly disclose less information than U.S. public companies are required to disclose, which may limit the information available to holders of our Ordinary Shares. Conversely, if we lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, this could result in significant additional costs and expenses” and “Item 16G. Corporate Governance” for more information.
As we are a controlled company within the meaning of the NYSE Standards, we are not required to comply with the following requirements:
| ● | a majority of the Board consist of independent directors; |
| ● | the nominating and governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; |
| ● | the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and |
| ● | there be an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and governance and compensation committees. |
We currently avail ourselves of the exemption that allows our compensation committee and nominating and governance committees not to be composed entirely of independent directors. There can be no assurance that we will not avail ourselves of other controlled company exemptions in the future. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices—Controlled Company” and “Item 16G. Corporate Governance” for more information.
As a result of the foregoing exemptions afforded to us as a foreign private issuer and controlled company, we can cease voluntary compliance at any time, and our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE Standards.
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Holders generally will be subject to a 15% withholding tax on payment of dividends made on the Ordinary Shares under current Luxembourg tax law.
Under current Luxembourg tax law, payments of dividends made on the Ordinary Shares generally are subject to a 15% Luxembourg withholding tax. Certain exemptions or reductions in the withholding tax may apply, but it will be up to the holders to claim any available refunds from the Luxembourg tax authority. For more information on the taxation implications, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”
Item 4. Information on the Company
A.History and development of the Company
Ardagh Group traces its origins back to 1932 in Dublin, Ireland, when the Irish Glass Bottle Company was founded and listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. Ardagh Group operated a single glass plant in Dublin, largely serving the domestic beverage and food customer base until 1998, when Yeoman International took an initial stake in Ardagh Group.
Since 1999, Ardagh Group has played a major role in the consolidation of the global metal and glass packaging industries, completing 24 acquisitions and significantly increasing its scope, scale, and geographic presence.
AMPSA was incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg on January 20, 2021 as a public limited liability company (société anonyme) having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés de Luxembourg) under number B 251465. As at December 31, 2025, we operated 23 production facilities globally, located in Europe (twelve), North America (eight) and Brazil (three). These comprise 18 facilities producing beverage cans, four facilities producing can ends and one facility producing both cans and ends. The history and development of our production facility footprint has been as follows:
| ● | In June 2016, Ardagh Group acquired the assets required to be divested by Ball Corporation and Rexam PLC to gain approval for the acquisition of Rexam PLC by Ball Corporation. The divested assets comprised 22 production facilities, located in Europe (twelve), North America (eight) and Brazil (two). |
| ● | The twelve production facilities acquired by Ardagh Group in Europe comprised ten former Ball Corporation plants, as well as two former Rexam PLC production facilities. Ball Corporation had established and grown its presence in Europe, principally through the acquisition of Schmalbach-Lubeca in 2008, at the time the second largest manufacturer of beverage cans in Europe. Rexam PLC had established and grown its beverage can business in Europe through the acquisitions of PLM, AB, Swedish-listed beverage can and glass bottle manufacturer, acquired in 1999, and American National Can Corporation, acquired in 2000, as well as organic investments in new capacity. The eight production facilities acquired in North America represented part of the former Rexam PLC business. Finally, the two production facilities in Brazil were formerly owned by Latapack-Ball, a joint venture in which Ball Corporation had held an approximately 60% stake. In December 2015, Ball Corporation acquired full ownership of this joint venture, prior to divesting these two production facilities. |
| ● | In 2018, the construction of a greenfield production facility in Manaus, Brazil was completed, which supplies can ends to our can production facilities in Jacarei, Brazil and Alagoinhas, Brazil. |
| ● | In October 2020, Ardagh Group announced a $1.5 billion growth investment program to grow its metal packaging business. In February 2021, in response to the positive demand outlook we announced our decision to undertake additional investments increasing the total amount of the growth investment program to $1.8 billion for the period from 2021 to 2024. |
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| ● | In December 2020, we acquired a large brownfield and building site in Huron, Ohio, which was converted into a new beverage can and ends plant. Ends production commenced in November 2021 and beverage can production began in July 2022. |
| ● | In February 2021, the combination with GHV was announced, whereby we would be separately listed on the NYSE. This combination with GHV was completed in August 2021, and we began trading on the NYSE under the ticker “AMBP.” As at December 31, 2025, AHSA indirectly owns approximately 76% of our Ordinary Shares. |
| ● | In November 2021, we announced the acquisition of Quebec-based Hart Print, a North America based innovator in digital printing services to the beverage market. We further expanded our digital printing capabilities through the acquisition of a majority stake in February 2023 in NOMOQ, a Switzerland based start-up. |
| ● | In November 2023, after a thorough review and analysis of our production capabilities, we announced that we planned to close our manufacturing facility in Whitehouse, Ohio in the first quarter of 2024. This was completed in February 2024. |
| ● | In November 2025, the Ardagh Group completed the Recapitalization Transaction. As part of the Recapitalization Transaction, a debt-for-equity swap was effected pursuant to which certain holders of AGSA’s and its affiliates’ indebtedness acquired indirect ownership of AGSA through AHSA. Following completion of the Transaction, the ultimate controlling company of AMPSA is AHSA, which indirectly owns approximately 76% of our Ordinary Shares. |
The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports and information statements and other information regarding registrants like us that file electronically with the SEC.
We routinely post important information on our website https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Our agent for service in the United States is: Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp., 8770 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631 (Telephone: +1 (773) 399-3000).
B. Business Overview
We are one of the leading suppliers of consumer metal beverage packaging in the world and believe that we hold the #2 or #3 market positions in Europe, the United States and Brazil. The global beverage can industry is a large, consumer-driven industry with attractive growth characteristics. Our end-use categories include beer, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, sparkling waters, hard seltzers, juices, pre-mixed cocktails, teas and wine. Our customers include a wide variety of leading beverage products, which value our packaging products for their convenience, quality and sustainability, as well as the end-user appeal they offer through design, innovation and brand promotion. With our significant invested capital base, supported by consistent levels of re-investment, our extensive technical capabilities and manufacturing know-how, we believe we are well-positioned to continue to meet the dynamic needs of our global customers.
The global metal packaging industry is worth more than $140 billion, with the metal can packaging market representing nearly 60%, according to an October 2024 report from Smithers Pira, a leading independent market research firm with extensive specialized experience in the packaging, paper and print industries. We compete in the beverage can sector of the consumer and metal packaging industry. Because the consumer metal packaging industry primarily supplies packaging for food, drinks and other basic needs, it is considered to be a relatively stable market sector that is less sensitive to economic cycles than many other industries.
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We serve over 200 customers across more than 40 countries, comprised of multi-national companies and large national and regional companies. In our target regions of Europe, North America and Brazil, our customers include a wide variety of companies owning some of the best-known brands in the world. We have a stable customer base with long-standing relationships and over 80% of our sales are generated under multi-year contracts, with the remainder largely subject to annual arrangements. A significant portion of our sales volumes are supplied under contracts which include input cost pass through provisions, which help us deliver generally consistent absolute margins.
As at December 31, 2025, we operated 23 production facilities in nine countries and employed approximately 6,500 personnel. Our production facilities are generally located to serve our customers’ filling locations. Certain production facilities may also be dedicated to specific end-use categories, enhancing product-specific expertise and generating benefits of scale and production efficiency. Significant capital has been invested in our extensive network of long-lived production facilities, which, together with our skilled workforce and related manufacturing process know-how, supports our competitive positions.
We are committed to market-leading innovation and product development and maintain dedicated innovation, development and engineering centers in the United States and Europe to support these efforts. These facilities focus on three main areas: (i) innovations that provide enhanced product design, differentiation and user experience for our customers and end-use consumers; (ii) innovations that reduce input costs to generate cost savings for both our customers and us (e.g. downgauging); and (iii) developments to meet evolving product safety standards and regulations.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a core part of our business, and our sustainability strategy is built upon three pillars – Emissions, Ecology and Social, focusing on minimizing our GHG emissions, reducing our environmental footprint and promoting circularity to ensure minimal impact on the planet. We are committed to investing in our people and the communities where we operate. Our focus on sustainability has been recognized by various external organizations. In 2025, Ardagh Group was awarded a platinum rating from EcoVadis. AMPSA received management ratings of B for water management and climate change and A for supplier engagement from CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project).
Emissions
The Emissions pillar of our sustainability strategy aligns to the SBTi and aims to minimize our GHG emissions and other potential emissions to air. We are targeting to reduce our Scope 1& 2 and Scope 3 emissions by 42% and 12.3% respectively by 2030 from a 2020 baseline, in line with the Paris Agreement, under which select governments pledged to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. These targets were approved by the SBTi in 2022. We have launched a wide range of initiatives to work towards achieving these targets, including procuring electricity from renewable sources.
We also take a holistic approach across our operations and supply chains working in close collaboration with our industry associations to increase recycled content and reduce emissions from our materials and operations. Recycling rates for aluminum beverage cans are relatively high in the geographies in which we operate, estimated at 43% in the United States, 75% in Europe and 97% in Brazil. The use of recycled aluminum reduces energy consumption by 95% compared with the alternative of producing aluminum cans from its virgin source. In addition, we have identified several strategic activities to support emissions reductions, including using less material, lightweighting the aluminum we use in our products without sacrificing quality and optimizing logistics to reduce fuel usage.
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Ecology
The Ecology pillar of our sustainability strategy is focused on reducing water consumption and waste to minimize our impact on the environment and contributing to a more sustainable future. Water plays a key role in various stages of our manufacturing processes, including forming, washing, rinsing and cooling of beverage cans. We recognize that water scarcity affects an increasing number of regions worldwide as well as the strategic significance of water as a finite and essential resource, and have set targets to reduce water usage across our global operations. We also recognize the negative impact that waste being sent to landfills is having on our ecosystems and GHG emissions. Through reusing and recycling, we aim to prevent our packaging and waste materials ending up in landfills. When reusing and recycling is not possible, we apply controls and treatment technologies to help prevent human health effects and minimize the environmental impacts of disposal.
Social
The Social pillar of our sustainability strategy embodies our commitment to build a safe, diverse, equal and inclusive workforce focused on customer satisfaction and improving the communities we do business in. We recognize the pivotal role of our people and communities in driving long-term sustainable transformation We aim to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees by embedding a culture of safety awareness. Broad principles are supported by detailed policies and procedures to minimize accidents and injuries through continuous training and education. We are committed to promoting a culture of integrity and respect in the workplace, and continue to believe a fair, open and inclusive work environment can enhance both the performance of the Group and the well-being and experience of our employees.
Information Technology
Our IT systems are integral to our entire business and cover our manufacturing, procurement, accounting and telecommunication systems, among others. They are designed and organized to support our daily business operations, compliance, financial information and reporting, and we have dedicated resources to maintain and optimize our IT portfolio with additional support from external IT partners. We follow a balanced IT strategy, maintaining and carefully improving our core systems that support our day-to-day business operations, while also exploring new and emerging technologies and the benefits they can provide to our business, such as increasing group-wide quality and efficiency. Recent examples include a dedicated focus on the use of cloud, advanced data analytics, and AI. For a discussion on our cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance, please see “Item 16K. Cybersecurity.”
Development
Our leading global positions have been established through organic expansion and strategic growth initiatives, we have also expanded our footprint through strategic investments in new capacity to support our customers’ growth, and in December 2020 we acquired a large brownfield building and site in Huron, Ohio, which has been converted into a new beverage can and ends plant, with ends production having commenced in November 2021 and beverage can production in July 2022. These initiatives, as well as other acquisitions and investments over many years, in existing and adjacent end-use categories, have increased our scale and diversification and provided opportunities to grow our business with both existing and new customers.
In February 2021, we announced a $1.8 billion growth investment program for the period 2021-2024, comprised of multiple projects which are nearing completion, to support our customers’ growth and to enhance our productivity in response to the positive demand outlook.
Our profit for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $11 million. Adjusted EBITDA and net cash from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2025, were $739 million and $449 million, respectively.
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The following chart illustrates the breakdown of our revenue by destination for the year ended December 31, 2025:

Total revenue of our two operating and reportable segments, Europe and Americas, for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $2,307 million and $3,190 million, respectively.
Our Industry
The global packaging industry is a large, consumer-driven industry with stable growth characteristics. We operate in the metal beverage can sector and our target regions are Europe, North America and Brazil. Metal beverage cans are attractive to brand owners, as their strength and rigidity allows them to be filled at high speeds and easily transported, resulting in further efficiencies through the supply chain. The ability to customize and differentiate products supplied in metal beverage cans, through innovative design, shaping and printing, also appeals to our customers. The metal market has been marked by progressive lightweighting, which has generated material savings in input costs and logistics, while enhancing the consumer experience. This reduction in raw material and energy usage in the manufacturing process has also increased the appeal to end-users, who are increasingly focused on sustainability.
Our Competitive Strengths
| ● | Leader in Metal Beverage Packaging. We believe we are one of the leading suppliers of metal beverage packaging solutions, capable of supplying multi-national, national and regional beverage producers in our target markets. We believe that we are the #2 supplier of metal beverage cans by value in Europe and the #3 supplier of metal beverage cans by value in North America and Brazil. We believe our leading positions are underpinned by the combination of our extensive footprint, proximity to customers, efficient manufacturing and high level of customer service. |
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| ● | Long-term relationships with diverse blue-chip customer base. We supply some of the world’s best-known beverage brands with sustainable, innovative packaging solutions and have been recognized with numerous industry awards. We have longstanding relationships with many of our major customers, which include leading multinational, national and regional beverage companies. Some of our major customers include AB InBev, Carlsberg (including the recently acquired Britvic), Celsius Holdings (which recently acquired Alani Nu and Rockstar Energy), Cidade Imperial, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Keuring Dr. Pepper, Mark Anthony Brands, Molson Coors, Monster Beverage, National Beverage Company and PepsiCo, among others. In recent years, particularly in North America, we have significantly diversified our customer base by growing our business with customers in faster-growing end-use categories, including ready-to-drink cocktails, sparkling waters, energy drinks and other beverages, and by adding new customers. |
| ● | Focus on stable economies and generally growing product demand. For the year ended December 31, 2025, we derived 91% of our revenues from Europe and North America, which are mature economies characterized by generally predictable consumer spending and relatively low cyclicality, with the balance largely derived from the Brazilian beverage market. Our revenues are entirely generated from beverage end-use categories, including beer, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, sparkling waters, hard seltzers, juices, teas and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, demand for which is generally less impacted by economic cycles. In Europe, North America and Brazil, demand growth in the metal beverage can in recent years has principally been driven by new beverage product innovations, increased awareness by consumers of sustainability and structural pack mix shifts by our customers. For our customers, beverage cans are more efficient to fill and easier to transport and store than other substrates. We believe that these advantages, together with beverage cans’ high level of recyclability, combine to provide our customers with an attractive overall total cost of ownership. |
| ● | Highly contracted revenue base. Over 80% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025 is backed by multi-year supply agreements ranging from two to seven years in duration, with the remainder largely pursuant to annual arrangements. A significant proportion of our sales volumes are supplied under contracts which include mechanisms that help to protect us from earnings volatility related to input costs, including aluminum. Specifically, such arrangements include (i) multi-year contracts that include input cost pass through and/or margin maintenance provisions and (ii) one-year contracts that allow us to negotiate pricing levels for our products on an annual basis as we determine our input costs for the relevant year. |
| ● | Well-invested asset base with significant scale and operational excellence. As at December 31, 2025, we operated 23 strategically-located production facilities in nine countries, enabling us to efficiently serve our customers with high quality and innovative products and services across multiple geographies. We pursue continuous improvement in our facilities and promote a culture of consistently pursuing excellence through standardizing and sharing best practices across our network of plants. We believe the total value proposition we offer our customers, in the form of geographic reach, customer service, product quality, reliability, design and innovation will enable us to continue to drive growth and profitability. |
| ● | Significant and growing specialty can capacity. We have a significant presence in the specialty can segment, which we define as all cans other than 12-ounce 211 diameter cans in the Americas, and all cans other than 330ml and 500ml 211 diameter cans in Europe. Specialty cans include slim cans, sleek cans and cans of a standard diameter but special height. The specialty can segment has grown at a faster rate than the standard can segment in recent years and typically offers more attractive margins. In 2025, specialty cans represented 51% of our total can shipments, with strong representation in both the Europe and Americas segments. |
| ● | Infinitely recyclable metal in products respond to growing sustainability awareness. The metal in our beverage cans is infinitely recyclable. We estimate recycling rates for aluminum beverage cans to be at 75% in Europe, 43% in the United States and over 97% in Brazil. We believe that an increasing awareness of the benefits of sustainable packaging in many of our markets will favor pack mix shifts to metal beverage cans in the future. We |
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| also believe that legislative and other measures designed to increase recycling rates will favor our substrates in the future. |
| ● | Technical leadership and innovation. We have advanced technical and manufacturing capabilities in metal beverage packaging, including research and development and engineering activities principally in centers based in Elk Grove, Illinois, and Bonn, Germany. Our capabilities have enabled us to develop product and process innovations to meet the dynamic needs of our customers. We have significant expertise in the production of value-added metal beverage cans with features such as high-quality graphic designs, colored tabs and tactile finishes. Our investments in digital print in Hart Print and NOMOQ enhance our design capabilities further. We produce metal beverage cans in a range of sizes and have been a leader in the introduction of lighter aluminum cans. |
| ● | Proven track record of generating attractive returns through organic expansion, strategic investment and continuous improvement. Since its acquisition by Ardagh Group in 2016, the metal beverage business has grown through a combination of organic expansion, strategic investment and continuous improvement. We have increased our exposure to faster growing categories of the beverage market, as well as diversifying our customer base, notably in North America, thereby improving our business mix. Ardagh Group has also made strategic investments, including the construction of our ends production facility in Manaus, Brazil, in 2018 which allowed us to become self-sufficient for ends supply in that market, as well as converting our production facilities in Rugby, United Kingdom and Weissenthurm, Germany, from steel to aluminum beverage cans. In addition, we have focused on continuous improvement across our business to optimize costs and drive efficiencies. We expect our principal focus to be on growth through organic expansion and strategic development with new and existing customers. We believe that we can maintain and grow attractive margins through business mix optimization, growth with new and existing customers, efficiency gains, cost reduction, working capital optimization and disciplined capital allocation. |
| ● | Experienced management team with a proven track record and high degree of shareholder alignment. Members of our management team with extensive experience in the metal beverage packaging industry have demonstrated their ability to manage costs, adapt to changing market conditions, undertake strategic investments and acquire and integrate new businesses, thereby driving significant value creation. |
Our Business Strategy
Our principal objective remains to increase shareholder value by achieving growth in Adjusted EBITDA and cash generation. We aim to achieve this objective through organically growing our business, but will also continue to evaluate other acquisitions and strategic opportunities to enhance shareholder value. We pursue these objectives through the following strategies:
| ● | Grow Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow. We seek to leverage our extensive footprint, proximity to customers, efficient manufacturing and high level of customer service to grow revenue with new and existing customers, improve our productivity, and reduce and recover our costs. To increase Adjusted EBITDA, we will continue to exploit opportunities to improve network efficiency and utilization and take a disciplined approach to new growth investment. To increase cash generation, we actively manage our working capital and capital expenditures. Our $1.8 billion growth investment plan across the period 2021-2024 is expected to continue contributing to revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth and improved cash flow generation. |
| ● | Continue to enhance product mix and profitability. We have enhanced our product mix over the years by replacing lower margin business with higher margin business and by pursuing growth opportunities in new and emerging end-use categories of the beverage market. We will continue to develop long-term partnerships with existing and new customers, including new and emerging growth customers, and selectively pursue such opportunities that will grow our business and improve our overall profitability. We have invested in significantly |
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| growing our specialty can mix with those investments supported by long-term customer contracts and commitments. |
| ● | Emphasize operational excellence and optimize manufacturing base. In managing our businesses, we seek to improve our efficiency, control our costs and preserve and expand our margins. We aim to consistently reduce total costs through implementing operational efficiencies and promoting continuous improvement. We will continue to take actions to enhance efficiency through continuous improvement, best practice sharing and investment, enabling us to serve our existing and new customers’ exacting requirements for sustainable packaging. |
| ● | Enhance our environmental and social sustainability impact. We will continue to improve the sustainability profile of our business. During 2022, we received approval of our near-term Science-Based Sustainability Targets through the SBTi, whereby we set specific goals to reduce our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, under which select governments pledged to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. See “—Sustainability” for further details on our sustainability strategy and SBTi targets. We seek to ensure that we meet the evolving requirements of end consumers and our customers, while creating a safe and inclusive environment for our employees, contributing positively to the communities in which we operate, improving our efficiency, controlling our costs and preserving and expanding our margins while at the same time growing our revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow generation. |
| ● | Evaluate and pursue strategic opportunities. We are a leading player in the beverage can sector in Europe, North America and Brazil, and those markets remain our principal near and medium-term focus. We may also evaluate and pursue other strategic opportunities, to grow with existing or new customers, including in new markets that offer attractive risk-adjusted returns, in line with our stringent investment criteria and focus on enhancing shareholder value. |
Manufacturing and Production
As of December 31, 2025, we operated 23 production facilities in nine countries and had approximately 6,500 employees. Our production facilities are currently located in seven European countries, as well as in the United States and Brazil.
The following table summarizes our principal production facilities as of December 31, 2025.
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Production |
Location |
|
Facilities* |
United States |
|
8 |
Germany |
|
4 |
Brazil |
|
3 |
United Kingdom |
|
3 |
Other European countries(1) |
|
5 |
|
|
23 |
* Excluding digital print locations.
| (1) | One facility in each of Austria, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. |
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Industry Overview
We operate in the beverage can segment of the consumer metal packaging industry.
The beverage can sector has delivered sustained multi-year growth in Europe and North America, while Brazil remained a robust market despite a slight recent moderation in demand. In each of these markets, the long-term cumulative acceleration in demand for metal beverage cans is principally driven by new beverage product innovations, increased awareness by consumers of sustainability and pack mix shifts. In addition, the convenience of filling, transporting and stocking beverage cans, compared with alternative substrates are believed to be contributing to this growth. Growth in unit volumes of specialty beverage cans has exceeded growth in standard beverage cans, thereby increasing specialty can penetration.
We believe the purchasing decisions of retail consumers are significantly influenced by packaging. Consumer product manufacturers and marketers are increasingly using packaging to position their products in the market and differentiate them from alternative products. A growing awareness of sustainability issues among consumers, as well as potential regulatory or legislative changes in this area, are also expected to influence future packaging decisions by consumer product manufacturers. See “—Sustainability” for further details on our sustainability strategy. The development and production of premium, differentiated packaging products with additional value-added features require a higher level of design capabilities, manufacturing and process know-how and quality control than for more standardized products.
Customers
We operate production facilities in Europe, the United States and Brazil, and we sell metal beverage cans to multinational, regional and national customers in these regions. We supply leading manufacturers in each of the markets we serve, including AB InBev, Carlsberg (including the recently acquired Britvic), Celsius Holdings (which recently acquired Alani Nu and Rockstar Energy), Cidade Imperial, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Keuring Dr. Pepper, Mark Anthony Brands, Molson Coors, Monster Beverage, National Beverage Company and PepsiCo among others.
Our top ten customers represented approximately 57% of our revenue in 2025. Over 80% of our revenue is backed by multi-year supply agreements, ranging from two to seven years in duration. These contracts generally provide for the pass through of metal price fluctuations as well as a mechanism for the recovery of non-metal input cost inflation, while others have tolling arrangements whereby customers arrange for the procurement of metal themselves. In addition, within multi-year relationships, both parties can work together to streamline the product, service and supply process, leading to significant cost reductions and improvements in product and service, with benefits arising to both parties. Wherever possible, we seek to enter into multi-year supply agreements with our customers. In other cases, sales are made under commercial supply agreements, typically of one-year’s duration, with prices based on expected purchase volumes.
Competitors
Our principal competitors in metal beverage packaging include Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings, and CANPACK.
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Raw Materials and Suppliers
The principal raw materials used in our business are aluminum, coatings and lining compounds. Our major aluminum suppliers include Novelis, Speira, Tri-Arrows, Constellium, Aluminium Dynamics and Kaiser Aluminum.
We continuously seek to minimize the price of raw materials and reduce exposure to price movements, including through the following:
| ● | harnessing the scale of our global metal purchasing requirements, to achieve better raw materials pricing; |
| ● | entering into variable-priced pass through contracts with customers, whereby selling prices are indexed to the price of the underlying raw materials; |
| ● | maintaining the focus on metal content reduction; |
| ● | targeting reductions in spoilage and waste in manufacturing; |
| ● | actively managing our raw material inventory balances relative to customer demand; |
| ● | rationalizing the number of both specifications and suppliers; and |
| ● | hedging the price of aluminum and the related euro/U.S. dollar exposure. |
Aluminum is typically purchased under three-year contracts, with pricing arrangements that are fixed in advance. Despite an increase in the level of aluminum production being targeted to new end-use applications, including automotive and aerospace, we believe that adequate quantities of the relevant grades of packaging aluminum will continue to be available from various producers and that we are not overly dependent upon any single supplier. Some of our aluminum requirements are subject to tolling arrangements with our customers, whereby risk and responsibility for the procurement of aluminum is managed by the customer.
Distribution
We use various freight and haulage contractors to make deliveries to customer sites or warehousing facilities. In certain cases, customers make their own delivery arrangements and therefore may purchase from us on an ex-works basis. Warehousing facilities are primarily situated at our production facilities. However, in certain regions, we rely on networks of externally-rented warehouses at strategic third-party locations close to major customers’ filling operations.
Innovation, Research and Development
The majority of our innovation, development and engineering activities are primarily concentrated at our regional technical center in Elk Grove, Illinois, and at our research facility in Bonn, Germany. These centers focus on identifying and serving the existing and potential needs of customers, including the achievement of cost reductions, particularly metal content reduction, and meeting new and anticipated legislative requirements, as well as providing technology, engineering and support services to our production facilities and customers.
We currently hold and maintain a number of patent families, filed in several jurisdictions and covering a range of different products.
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Environmental, Health and Safety
Our operations and properties are regulated under a wide range of laws, ordinances and regulations and other legal requirements concerning the environment, health and safety and product safety in each jurisdiction in which we operate. We believe that our production facilities are compliant, in all material respects, with these laws and regulations.
The principal environmental issues we face include the environmental impact of the disposal of water used in our production processes, generation and disposal of waste, the receiving, use and storage of hazardous and non-hazardous materials, the potential contamination and subsequent remediation of land, surface water and groundwater arising from our operations and the impact on air quality through gas and particle emissions, including the emission of greenhouse gases.
We are also committed to ensuring that safe operating practices are established, implemented and maintained throughout our organization. In addition, we have instituted active health and safety programs throughout our company. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters—We are subject to various environmental and other legal requirements and may be subject to additional requirements that could impose substantial costs upon us.”
Europe
Our substantial operations in the European Union are subject to, among additional requirements, the requirements of the EU IED which requires that operators of industrial installations, including can-making installations, take into account the whole environmental performance of the installation and obtain and maintain compliance with a permit, which sets emission limit values that are based on best available techniques.
Furthermore, the EU Environmental Liability Directive relating to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage aims to make those who cause damage to the environment (specifically damage to habitats and species protected by EU law, damage to water resources and land contamination which presents a threat to human health) financially responsible for its remediation. It requires operators of industrial premises (including those which hold a permit governed by the EU IED) to take preventive measures to avoid environmental damage, inform the regulators when such damage has or may occur and to remediate contamination.
United States
Our U.S. operations are also subject to stringent and complex U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection, including the discharge of materials into the environment, health and safety and product safety including, but not limited to: the U.S. federal Clean Air Act, the U.S. federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the U.S. federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”). These laws and regulations may, among other things (i) require obtaining permits to conduct industrial operations; (ii) restrict the types and quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment; (iii) result in the suspension or revocation of necessary permits, licenses and authorizations; (iv) require that additional pollution controls be installed and (v) require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and ongoing operations, including related natural resource damages. Specifically, certain U.S. environmental laws, such as CERCLA and analogous state laws, provide for strict, and under certain circumstances, joint and several liability for the investigation and remediation of releases or the disposal of regulated materials into the environment including soil and groundwater, as well as for damages to natural resources.
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Deposit Return Systems
In North America, sales of beverage cans are affected by governmental regulation of packaging, including deposit return laws. At December 31, 2025, there were ten U.S. states with container deposit laws in effect, requiring consumer deposits of between 5 and 15 cents (USD), depending on the size of the container or product. In Canada, deposit laws cover some form of beverage container in all 10 provinces and three territories. The range for deposits is between 5 and 40 cents (Canadian Dollar), depending on size of container and type of beverage. In addition, many beverages and containers, particularly new product innovations and unique alcohol beverage products, are not clearly defined in U.S. and Canadian deposit laws, and local agencies provide final decisions on the application of deposit laws.
In Europe, 17 countries now operate packaging deposit return systems, driven by the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Directive. The wider roll out of deposit return systems in Europe could lead to cost increases for collection and recycling of beverage cans, as well as temporary demand disruption, and therefore potentially have impacts on the packaging material mix at retailers.
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C.Organizational structure
The following table provides information relating to our principal operating subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, at December 31, 2025.
|
|
Country of |
Company |
|
incorporation |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Manufacturing Austria GmbH |
|
Austria |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Austria GmbH |
|
Austria |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Brasil Ltda |
|
Brazil |
Ardagh Indústria de Embalagens Metálicas do Brasil Ltda. |
|
Brazil |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading France SAS |
|
France |
Ardagh Metal Packaging France SAS |
|
France |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Germany GmbH |
|
Germany |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Germany GmbH |
|
Germany |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Netherlands B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Netherlands B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Poland Sp. z o.o |
|
Poland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Poland Sp. z o.o |
|
Poland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Spain SLU |
|
Spain |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Spain SLU |
|
Spain |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe GmbH |
|
Switzerland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
Ardagh Metal Packaging UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. |
|
United States |
D.Property, plant and equipment
See “Item 4.—Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Manufacturing and Production.”
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
The following discussion should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the audited consolidated financial statements of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 including the related notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report. As used in this section, the “Group” refers to Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. and its subsidiaries.
Some of the measures used in this Annual Report are not measurements of financial performance under IFRS Accounting Standards and should not be considered an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to operating profit or profit/(loss) for the year, as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
Business Drivers
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
53
The main factors affecting our results of operations for the Group are: (i) global economic trends, end-consumer demand for our products and production capacity of our production facilities; (ii) prices of energy and raw materials used in our business, primarily aluminum and coatings, and our ability to pass through these and other cost increases to our customers, through contractual pass through mechanisms under multi-year contracts, or through renegotiation in the case of short-term contracts; (iii) investment in capacity expansion and operating cost reductions; and (iv) foreign exchange rate fluctuations and currency translation risks arising from various currency exposures, primarily with respect to the euro, U.S. dollar, British pound and Brazilian real.
We generate our revenue from supplying metal can packaging to the beverage end-use category. Revenue is primarily dependent on sales volumes and sales prices. While we currently believe the recently implemented and additional proposed changes to tariffs are likely to have a minimal impact on the results of the Group’s operations, management continues to closely monitor the evolving environment and the potential impact on the Group.
Sales volumes are influenced by a number of factors, including factors driving customer demand, seasonality and the capacity of our metal beverage packaging plants. Demand for our metal beverage cans may be influenced by trends in the consumption of beverages, industry trends in packaging, including customer marketing and pricing decisions, and the impact of environmental regulations and shifts in consumer sentiment towards a greater awareness of sustainability. The demand for our beverage products is strongest during spells of warm weather and therefore demand typically, based on historical trends, peaks during the summer months, as well as in the period leading up to holidays in December. Accordingly, we generally build inventories in the first and fourth quarters in anticipation of the seasonal demands in our beverage business.
Our Adjusted EBITDA is based on revenue derived from selling our metal beverage cans and is affected by a number of factors, including cost of sales, and sales, marketing and administrative expenses. The elements of our cost of sales include (i) variable costs, such as energy, raw materials (including the cost of aluminum), packaging materials, decoration and freight and other distribution costs, and (ii) fixed costs, such as labor and other plant-related costs including depreciation and maintenance. Sales contracts generally provide for the pass through of metal and energy price fluctuations as well as a mechanism for the recovery of other input cost inflation. Our variable costs have typically constituted approximately 75% and fixed costs approximately 25% of the total cost of sales for our business.
Critical Accounting Policies
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB. A summary of material accounting policies is contained in note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the three years ended December 31, 2025. In applying accounting principles, we make assumptions, estimates and judgments which are often subjective and may be affected by changing circumstances or changes in our analysis. Material changes in these assumptions, estimates and judgments have the potential to materially alter the Group’s results of operations. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.
Income taxes
We are subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions and judgment is therefore required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. We recognize liabilities for anticipated tax audit matters based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
54
Measurement of employee benefit obligations
We follow the requirements of IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ to determine the present value of our obligations to current and past employees in respect of defined benefit pension obligations, other long-term employee benefits and other end of service employee benefits, which are subject to similar fluctuations in value in the long-term. We, with the assistance of a network of professionals, value such liabilities designed to ensure consistency in the quality of the key assumptions underlying the valuations.
The principal pension assumptions used in the preparation of the audited consolidated financial statements take account of the different economic circumstances in the countries in which we operate and the different characteristics of the respective plans including the length of duration of the obligations.
The ranges of the principal assumptions applied in estimating defined benefit obligations for the Group's main schemes were:
|
Germany |
|
UK |
|
U.S. |
||||||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
Rate of inflation |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
2.80 |
|
3.00 |
|
2.20 |
|
2.20 |
Rate of increase in salaries |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
|
2.45 |
|
2.60 |
|
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
Discount rate |
4.33 |
|
3.57 |
|
5.60 |
|
5.55 |
|
5.90 |
|
5.87 |
Assumptions regarding future mortality experience are based on actuarial advice in accordance with published statistics and experience.
These assumptions translate into the following average life expectancy in years for a pensioner retiring at age 65. The mortality assumptions for the countries with the most significant defined benefit plans are set out below:
|
|
Germany |
|
UK |
|
U.S. |
||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
Life expectancy, current pensioners |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
Life expectancy, future pensioners |
|
25 |
|
25 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
If the discount rate were to decrease by 50 basis points from management estimates, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would increase by an estimated $21 million (2024: $22 million). If the discount rate were to increase by 50 basis points, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would decrease by an estimated $20 million (2024: $19 million).
If the inflation rate were to decrease by 50 basis points from management estimates, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would decrease by an estimated $10 million (2024: $9 million). If the inflation rate were to increase by 50 basis points, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would increase by an estimated $9 million (2024: $10 million).
If the salary increase rate were to decrease by 50 basis points from management estimates, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would decrease by an estimated $11 million (2024: $10 million). If the salary increase rate were to increase by 50 basis points, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would increase by an estimated $10 million (2024: $11 million).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
55
The impact of increasing the life expectancy by one year would result in an increase in the net defined benefit obligation of the Group of $6 million at December 31, 2025 (2024: $6 million), holding all other assumptions constant.
Exceptional items
Our consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of cash flows and segmental analysis separately identify results before specific items. Specific items are those that in management’s judgment need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence to provide additional information. Such items include, where significant, restructuring, redundancy and other costs relating to permanent capacity realignment or footprint reorganization, directly attributable acquisition costs and acquisition integration costs, and other transaction-related costs, profit or loss on disposal or termination of operations, start-up costs incurred in relation to and associated with plant builds, significant new line investments, major litigation costs and settlements and impairments of non-current assets. In this regard the determination of “significant” as included in our definition uses qualitative and quantitative factors. We use our judgment in assessing the specific items, which by virtue of their scale and nature, are disclosed in our consolidated income statement, and related notes, as exceptional items. Our management considers columnar presentation to be appropriate in the consolidated income statement as it provides useful additional information and is consistent with the way that financial performance is measured by management and presented to the Board. Exceptional restructuring costs are classified as restructuring provisions and all other exceptional costs when outstanding at the reporting date are classified as exceptional items payable.
Valuation of Earnout Shares
The Group follows the guidance of IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’ in accounting for the Earnout Shares. The Earnout Shares are recorded as a financial liability and measured at fair value at each reporting date, and are considered a critical accounting estimate in the comparative financial periods included in the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. The key data inputs into the valuation are volatility, dividend yield, share price hurdles, share price, and risk-free rate. Volatility is the significant assumption in the valuation of the Earnout Shares as it is not directly market observable and there is estimation uncertainty involved in determining the assumed volatility. The critical assumptions and estimates applied are discussed in detail in note 22 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Recently adopted accounting standards and changes in accounting policies
The impact of new standards, amendments to existing standards and interpretations issued and effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025 have been assessed by the Board. None of these new standards or amendments to existing standards effective January 1, 2025 have had or are expected to have a material impact for the Group.
Recent accounting pronouncements
New standards and amendments to existing standards and interpretations which are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and have not been early adopted by the Group include IFRS 18 ‘Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements’ which will replace IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements.’ IFRS 18 will retain many of the principles from IAS 1 with limited changes, in particular, it will not impact the recognition or measurement of items in the financial statements, or items which are presented in the income statement. IFRS 18 will introduce new presentation of items within the income statement, new required disclosures in the financial statements for certain management defined performance measures reported outside of an entity’s financial statements, and enhanced principles on aggregation and disaggregation which apply to the primary in the financial statements and notes in general. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027 with retrospective application to all comparative periods. The Board’s assessment of the impact of this standard on the consolidated financial statements is on-going.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
56
The Board’s assessment of the impact of other new or amended standards which are not yet effective and which have not been early adopted by the Group, including various Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 regarding ‘Contracts Referencing Nature-dependent Electricity’ and ‘Classification and the Measurement of Financial Instruments’, and IFRS 19 ‘Subsidiaries without Public Accountability’ is on-going however they are not expected to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
A.Operating results
Year Ended December 31, 2025 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2024
|
|
Year ended |
||
|
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||
Revenue |
|
5,497 |
|
4,908 |
Cost of sales |
|
(4,816) |
|
(4,278) |
Gross profit |
|
681 |
|
630 |
Sales, general and administration expenses |
|
(299) |
|
(288) |
Intangible amortization |
|
(138) |
|
(140) |
Operating profit |
|
244 |
|
202 |
Net finance expense |
|
(240) |
|
(192) |
Profit before tax |
|
4 |
|
10 |
Income tax credit/(charge) |
|
7 |
|
(13) |
Profit/(loss) for the year |
|
11 |
|
(3) |
Revenue
Revenue in the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $589 million, or 12%, to $5,497 million, compared with $4,908 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase, excluding favorable foreign currency translation effects of $74 million, principally reflects the pass through of higher input costs to customers and favorable volume/mix effects.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales in the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $538 million, or 13%, to $4,816 million, compared with $4,278 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in cost of sales is principally due to the impact of higher sales as outlined above. Exceptional cost of sales were in line with the prior year. Further analysis of the movement in exceptional items is set out in “—Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis.”
Gross profit
Gross profit in the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $51 million, or 8%, to $681 million, compared with $630 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. Gross profit percentage in the year ended December 31, 2025, decreased by 40 basis points to 12.4%, compared with 12.8% in the year ended December 31, 2024. Excluding exceptional cost of sales, gross profit percentage in the year ended December 31, 2025, decreased by 50 basis points to 12.7%, compared with 13.2% in the year ended December 31, 2024, as a result of the items outlined above in revenue and cost of sales. Further analysis of the movement in exceptional items is set out in “—Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
57
Sales, general and administration expenses
Sales, general and administration expenses in the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $11 million, or 4%, to $299 million, compared with $288 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in sales, general and administration expenses was due to higher exceptional sales, general and administration expenses in the current year. Excluding exceptional items, sales, general and administration expenses were in line with the prior year. Exceptional sales, general and administration expenses increased by $11 million, due to higher transaction-related and other costs in the current year. Further analysis of the movement in exceptional items is set out in “—Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis.”
Intangible amortization
Intangible amortization in the year ended December 31, 2025, decreased by $2 million or 1%, to $138 million, compared with $140 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to a decrease in the amortization of customer-related intangible assets.
Operating profit
Operating profit in the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $42 million, to $244 million compared with $202 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase is primarily due to higher gross profit as outlined above, partly offset by higher sales, general and administration expenses.
Net finance expense
Net finance expense in the year ended December 31, 2025, was $240 million, compared with $192 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $48 million. Net finance expense for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 comprised the following:
|
|
Year ended |
||
|
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||
Senior Facilities interest expense |
|
158 |
|
140 |
Net pension interest cost |
|
5 |
|
5 |
Lease interest cost |
|
23 |
|
25 |
Foreign currency translation loss |
|
6 |
|
— |
Loss/(gain) on derivative financial instruments |
|
6 |
|
(5) |
Other net finance expense |
|
28 |
|
40 |
Net finance expense before exceptional items |
|
226 |
|
205 |
Exceptional net finance expense/(income) |
|
14 |
|
(13) |
Net finance expense |
|
240 |
|
192 |
Senior Facilities interest expense increased by $18 million, or 13%, in the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase primarily relates to interest and fees on the Senior Secured Term Loan.
Lease interest cost in the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $2 million to $23 million, compared with $25 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, driven by a decrease in lease obligations during the year and related interest thereon.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
58
Foreign currency translation losses in the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $6 million to $6 million, compared with $nil in the year ended December 31, 2024, driven by foreign exchange rate fluctuations during the year, primarily related to the U.S. dollar.
Losses on derivative financial instruments in the year ended December 31, 2025 amounted to $6 million, compared with a $5 million gain in the year ended December 31, 2024. The losses primarily related to the Group's virtual power purchase agreement ("vPPA").
$14 million net exceptional finance expenses includes premiums payable on and accelerated amortization of deferred debt issue costs and other expenses related to (i) the early redemption of the Group's $600 million 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027; (ii) repayment of the Senior Secured Term Loan; and (iii) termination of the Group's cross currency interest rate swaps (“CCIRS”) in December 2025, partly offset by a gain on the movements in fair value of the Earnout Shares and Private and Public Warrants. Exceptional net finance income for the year ended December 31, 2024, of $13 million primarily comprised of a gain on movements in the fair market values on the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants.
Income tax credit/(charge)
Income tax credit in the year ended December 31, 2025 was $7 million, compared with a tax charge of $13 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.
The decrease in the income tax charge of $20 million is primarily attributable to a decrease in the profit before tax of $6 million (tax effect of $1 million at the standard rate of Luxembourg corporation tax), a decrease of $12 million in tax charge on tax losses for which no deferred tax was recognized, a decrease of $4 million in tax charge on non-deductible and other items, an increase of $3 million in prior year adjustments credits, and a decrease of $4 million in tax charge on income subject to state and other local income taxes, partially offset by an increase of $3 million in tax charge on re-measurement of deferred taxes relating to the decrease in the substantively enacted rate of corporation tax in Germany, and a decrease of $1 million in tax credit on income taxed at rates other than the standard rate of Luxembourg corporation tax.
The effective income tax rate on profit before exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2025 was 30%, compared with a tax rate of 28% for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in effective tax rate is primarily attributable to changes in profitability mix in the year ended December 31, 2025.
Profit for the year
As a result of the items described above, the profit for the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $14 million to $11 million, compared with a $3 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
59
Year Ended December 31, 2024 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2023
|
|
Year ended |
||
|
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||
Revenue |
|
4,908 |
|
4,812 |
Cost of sales |
|
(4,278) |
|
(4,338) |
Gross profit |
|
630 |
|
474 |
Sales, general and administration expenses |
|
(288) |
|
(255) |
Intangible amortization |
|
(140) |
|
(143) |
Operating profit |
|
202 |
|
76 |
Net finance expense |
|
(192) |
|
(147) |
Profit/(loss) before tax |
|
10 |
|
(71) |
Income tax (charge)/credit |
|
(13) |
|
21 |
Loss for the year |
|
(3) |
|
(50) |
Revenue
Revenue in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $96 million, or 2%, to $4,908 million, compared with $4,812 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase, excluding favorable foreign currency translation effects of $40 million, principally reflects favorable volume/mix effects, partly offset by the pass through of lower input costs to customers.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales in the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased by $60 million, or 1%, to $4,278 million, compared with $4,338 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in cost of sales is principally due to lower exceptional cost of sales, partly offset by the impact of higher sales as outlined above. Exceptional cost of sales decreased by $76 million due to lower restructuring costs, asset impairments and start-up related costs in the current year. Further analysis of the movement in exceptional items is set out in “—Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis.”
Gross profit
Gross profit in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $156 million, or 33%, to $630 million, compared with $474 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. Gross profit percentage in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by 290 basis points to 12.8%, compared with 9.9% in the year ended December 31, 2023. Excluding exceptional cost of sales, gross profit percentage in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by 140 basis points to 13.2%, compared with 11.8% in the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of the items outlined above in revenue and cost of sales. Further analysis of the movement in exceptional items is set out in “—Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis.”
Sales, general and administration expenses
Sales, general and administration expenses in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $33 million, or 13%, to $288 million, compared with $255 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in sales, general and administration expenses was primarily due to higher employee variable remuneration in the current year. Excluding exceptional items, sales, general and administration expenses increased by $42 million, or 17%. Exceptional sales, general and administration expenses decreased by $9 million, due to lower transaction-related and other costs in the current year. Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. Further analysis of the movement in exceptional items is set out in “—Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis.”
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
60
Intangible amortization
Intangible amortization in the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased by $3 million or 2%, to $140 million, compared with $143 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to a decrease in the amortization of customer-related intangible assets.
Operating profit
Operating profit in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $126 million, to $202 million compared with $76 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase is primarily due to higher gross profit as outlined above, partly offset by higher sales, general and administration expenses.
Net finance expense
Net finance expense in the year ended December 31, 2024, was $192 million, compared with $147 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $45 million. Net finance expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 comprised the following:
|
|
Year ended |
||
|
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||
Senior Facilities interest expense |
|
140 |
|
132 |
Net pension interest cost |
|
5 |
|
5 |
Lease interest cost |
|
24 |
|
24 |
Foreign currency translation loss |
|
— |
|
6 |
(Gain)/loss on derivative financial instruments |
|
(5) |
|
2 |
Other net finance expense |
|
40 |
|
36 |
Net finance expense before exceptional items |
|
205 |
|
205 |
Exceptional finance income |
|
(13) |
|
(58) |
Net finance expense |
|
192 |
|
147 |
Senior Facilities interest expense increased by $8 million, or 6%, in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase primarily relates to interest and fees on the Senior Secured Term Loan.
Lease interest cost in the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $1 million to $25 million, compared with $24 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, driven by an increase in lease obligations during the year and related interest thereon.
Foreign currency translation loss in the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $6 million to $nil, compared with $6 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, driven by foreign exchange rate fluctuations during the year, primarily related to the U.S. dollar.
Gains on derivative financial instruments in the year ended December 31, 2024 amounted to $5 million, compared with $2 million losses in the year ended December 31, 2023. The gains are related to the Group’s CCIRS and vPPA, which was entered into during July 2024.
$13 million net exceptional finance income for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily relates to a gain on movements in the fair market values on the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants. Exceptional net finance income for the year ended December 31, 2023, of $58 million primarily comprised of a gain on the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
61
Income tax (charge)/credit
Income tax charge in the year ended December 31, 2024 was $13 million, compared with a tax credit of $21 million in the year ended December 31, 2023.
The increase in the income tax charge is primarily attributable to an increase in the profit before tax of $81 million (tax effect of $20 million at the standard rate of Luxembourg corporation tax), a decrease of $23 million in prior year adjustments credits, primarily relating to tax credits arising from a favorable Superior Court of Justice ruling in Brazil in the year ended December 31, 2023, and an increase of $3 million in income taxed at rates other than the standard rate of Luxembourg corporation tax. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $11 million in tax losses for which no deferred tax was recognized and a decrease of $1 million in tax charge on income subject to state and other local income taxes.
The effective income tax rate on profit before exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 28%, compared with a tax rate of 30% for the year ended December, 31 2023. The decrease in effective tax rate is primarily attributable to changes in profitability mix in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Loss for the year
As a result of the items described above, the loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased by $47 million to $3 million, compared with a $50 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Supplemental Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Key Operating Measures
Adjusted EBITDA consists of profit/(loss) for the year before income tax (credit)/charge, net finance expense, depreciation and amortization and exceptional operating items. We use Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate and assess our segment performance. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because we believe that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in evaluating companies in the packaging industry. However, other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA in a manner different from ours. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS Accounting Standards and should not be considered an alternative to profit/(loss) as indicators of operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
For a reconciliation of the profit/(loss) for the year to Adjusted EBITDA see below:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Profit/(loss) for the year |
|
11 |
|
(3) |
|
(50) |
Income tax (credit)/charge |
|
(7) |
|
13 |
|
(21) |
Net finance expense |
|
240 |
|
192 |
|
147 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
463 |
|
449 |
|
418 |
EBITDA |
|
707 |
|
651 |
|
494 |
Exceptional operating items |
|
32 |
|
21 |
|
106 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
739 |
|
672 |
|
600 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
62
Adjusted EBITDA in the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $67 million, or 10%, to $739 million, compared with $672 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA in the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $72 million, or 12%, to $672 million, compared with $600 million in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Exceptional Items
The following table provides detail on exceptional items included in cost of sales, sales, general and administration expenses, finance expense/(income) and income tax (credit)/charge:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Start-up related and other costs |
|
6 |
|
24 |
|
36 |
Impairment charge/(reversal) - property, plant and equipment |
|
10 |
|
(4) |
|
18 |
Restructuring (credit)/charge |
|
— |
|
(4) |
|
38 |
Exceptional items – cost of sales |
|
16 |
|
16 |
|
92 |
Transaction-related and other costs |
|
16 |
|
5 |
|
14 |
Exceptional items - SG&A expenses |
|
16 |
|
5 |
|
14 |
Exceptional finance expense/(income) |
|
14 |
|
(13) |
|
(58) |
Exceptional items – finance expense/(income) |
|
14 |
|
(13) |
|
(58) |
Exceptional income tax (credit)/charge |
|
(22) |
|
8 |
|
(14) |
Total exceptional items, net of tax |
|
24 |
|
16 |
|
34 |
Exceptional items are those that in our management’s judgment need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence.
2025
A net charge of $24 million has been recognized as exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily comprising:
| ● | $6 million start-up related and other costs in the Americas ($3 million) and in Europe ($3 million), principally relating to the Group’s investment programs. |
| ● | $10 million impairment of property, plant and equipment relating to early-stage capital expenditure for a proposed greenfield site development in Europe. The project was deferred during the year resulting in certain of the initial costs incurred no longer being recoverable. |
| ● | $16 million of transaction-related and other costs, comprised principally of real estate transfer tax and other costs in connection with the Recapitalization Transaction, together with professional advisory fees and other costs incurred in respect of the Group's transformation initiatives. |
| ● | $14 million net exceptional finance expenses includes premiums payable on and accelerated amortization of deferred debt issue costs and other expenses related to (i) the early redemption of the Group's $600 million 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027; (ii) repayment of the Senior Secured Term Loan; and (iii) termination of the Group's CCIRS in December 2025, partly offset by a gain on the movements in fair value of the Earnout Shares and Private and Public Warrants. |
| ● | Tax credits of $22 million have been recognized in relation to exceptional items. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
63
2024
A net charge of $16 million has been recognized as exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily comprising:
| ● | $24 million start-up related and other costs in the Americas ($15 million) and in Europe ($9 million), primarily relating to the Group’s investment programs. |
| ● | A $4 million credit relating to property, plant and equipment in Whitehouse, Ohio, which was disposed of or re-distributed for use elsewhere in the Americas operating network during the year resulting in a part-reversal of the impairment charge previously recognized in respect of the plant closure completed in February 2024. |
| ● | A $4 million credit primarily relating to restructuring costs provided for in the prior year for the closure of the Whitehouse facility has also been recognized, in respect of costs no longer expected to be incurred. |
| ● | $5 million transaction-related and other costs, primarily comprised of professional advisory fees and restructuring and other costs relating to transformation initiatives. |
| ● | $13 million exceptional finance income primarily relates to a gain on movements in the fair market values of the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants. |
| ● | Tax charges of $8 million have been recognized in relation to exceptional items. |
2023
A net charge of $34 million has been recognized as exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily comprising:
| ● | $36 million start-up related and other costs in the Americas ($20 million) and in Europe ($16 million), primarily relating to the Group’s investment programs. |
| ● | $18 million relating to impairment of property, plant and equipment in Europe ($9 million) following the decision to close the remaining steel lines in the Weissenthurm production facility in Germany, completing the conversion to an aluminum only facility, and the Americas ($9 million) in respect of the closure of the Whitehouse, Ohio production facility which was completed in February 2024. |
| ● | $38 million restructuring costs in the Americas ($20 million) and Europe ($18 million), primarily related to the Whitehouse facility and Weissenthurm steel line closures. |
| ● | $14 million transaction-related and other costs, comprised of a $6 million legal settlement in respect of a contract manufacturing agreement arising from Ardagh Group’s acquisition of the beverage can business and $8 million of professional advisory fees and other costs primarily in relation to transformation initiatives. |
| ● | $58 million net exceptional finance income primarily relates to a gain on movements in the fair market values on the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants. |
| ● | Tax credits of $14 million have been recognized in relation to exceptional items. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
64
Segment Information
Year Ended December 31, 2025 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2024
|
|
Year ended |
||
|
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
2,307 |
|
2,161 |
Americas |
|
3,190 |
|
2,747 |
Total Revenue |
|
5,497 |
|
4,908 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
272 |
|
257 |
Americas |
|
467 |
|
415 |
Total Adjusted EBITDA |
|
739 |
|
672 |
Revenue
Europe. Revenue increased by $146 million, or 7%, to $2,307 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with $2,161 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in revenue, excluding favorable foreign currency translation effects of $74 million, was principally due to the pass through of higher input costs to customers and favorable volume/mix effects.
Americas. Revenue increased by $443 million, or 16%, to $3,190 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with $2,747 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by the pass through of higher input costs to customers and favorable volume/mix effects.
See “—Business Drivers.”
Adjusted EBITDA
Europe. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $15 million, or 6%, to $272 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with $257 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was principally due to lower operations and overhead costs, and favorable volume/mix effects, partly offset by lower input cost recovery.
Americas. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $52 million, or 13%, to $467 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with $415 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily driven by favorable volume/mix effects, partly offset by higher operations and overhead costs and lower input cost recovery.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
65
Year Ended December 31, 2024 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2023
|
|
Year ended |
||
|
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
2,161 |
|
2,030 |
Americas |
|
2,747 |
|
2,782 |
Total Revenue |
|
4,908 |
|
4,812 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
257 |
|
211 |
Americas |
|
415 |
|
389 |
Total Adjusted EBITDA |
|
672 |
|
600 |
Revenue
Europe. Revenue increased by $131 million, or 6%, to $2,161 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with $2,030 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in revenue, excluding favorable foreign currency translation effects of $40 million, was principally due to favorable volume/mix effects.
Americas. Revenue decreased by $35 million, or 1%, to $2,747 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with $2,782 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in revenue was primarily driven by the pass through of lower input costs to customers, partly offset by favorable volume/mix effects.
See “—Business Drivers.”
Adjusted EBITDA
Europe. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $46 million, or 22%, to $257 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with $211 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was principally due to favorable volume/mix effects and higher input cost recovery, partly offset by higher operations and overhead costs.
Americas. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $26 million, or 7%, to $415 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with $389 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by lower operations and overhead costs and favorable volume/mix effects.
B.Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Requirements Related to Operations
Our principal sources of cash are cash generated from operations and external financings, including borrowings and other credit facilities. Our principal funding arrangements include borrowings available under our Global Asset Based Loan Facility. These and other sources of external financing are described further in the following table. Our principal indentures are also filed as exhibits to this Annual Report.
On December 1, 2025, the Group issued €570 million 5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 and $620 million 6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031. Net proceeds from the issue of these notes were used to (i) redeem the Group’s 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027, (ii) repay the Senior Secured Term Loan, (iii) pay the applicable redemption premiums and accrued interest in accordance with their terms, (iv) redeem the Preferred Shares (see note 18 to our audited consolidated financial statements), and (v) terminate the Group’s CCIRS scheduled to mature in June 2026.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
66
The Bradesco Facility expired on September 30, 2025, in accordance with the contractual terms having remained undrawn at that date and on November 12, 2025, an amended Bradesco Facility (the “Amended Bradesco Facility”) took effect maturing on October 30, 2026. The Amended Bradesco Facility contains similar terms as the Bradesco Facility in respect of the security to be provided in the event the facility is drawn.
Our sales and cash flows are subject to seasonal fluctuations. Demand for our metal beverage products is typically, based on historical trends, strongest during the summer months and in the period prior to December because of the seasonal nature of beverage consumption. The investment in working capital for metal beverage packaging typically peaks in the first and fourth quarters. We manage the seasonality of our working capital by supplementing operating cash flows with drawings under our credit facilities, as necessary.
The following table outlines our principal financing arrangements at December 31, 2025:
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
Final |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
amount |
|
maturity |
|
Facility |
|
|
|
|
|
Available |
Facility |
|
Currency |
|
drawable |
|
date |
|
type |
|
Amount drawn |
|
liquidity |
||
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
|
|
|
m |
|
|
|
|
|
m |
|
|
|
|
2.000% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
450 |
|
01-Sep-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
450 |
|
529 |
|
– |
3.250% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
600 |
|
01-Sep-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
600 |
|
600 |
|
– |
5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
570 |
|
30-Jan-31 |
|
Bullet |
|
570 |
|
670 |
|
– |
6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
620 |
|
30-Jan-31 |
|
Bullet |
|
620 |
|
620 |
|
– |
3.000% Senior Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
500 |
|
01-Sep-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
500 |
|
587 |
|
– |
4.000% Senior Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
1,050 |
|
01-Sep-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
1,050 |
|
1,050 |
|
– |
Global Asset Based Loan Facility |
|
USD |
|
351 |
|
30-Apr-27 |
|
Revolving |
|
– |
|
– |
|
351 |
Bradesco Facility |
|
BRL |
|
500 |
|
30-Oct-26 |
|
Bullet |
|
– |
|
– |
|
91 |
Lease obligations |
|
Various |
|
– |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
– |
|
368 |
|
– |
Other borrowings |
|
Various |
|
– |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
– |
|
27 |
|
– |
Total borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,451 |
|
442 |
Deferred debt issue costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(32) |
|
– |
Net borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,419 |
|
442 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(522) |
|
522 |
Derivative financial instruments used to hedge foreign currency and interest rate risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
– |
Net debt / available liquidity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,900 |
|
964 |
A number of the Group’s borrowing agreements contain certain covenants that restrict the Group’s flexibility in areas such as incurrence of additional indebtedness (primarily maximum secured borrowings to Adjusted EBITDA and a minimum Adjusted EBITDA to interest expense), payment of dividends and incurrence of liens. The Global Asset Based Loan Facility is subject to a fixed charge coverage ratio covenant if 90% or more of the facility is drawn. The facility also includes cash dominion, representations, warranties, events of default and other covenants that are of a nature customary for such facilities.
The decrease in lease obligations from $374 million at December 31, 2024 to $368 million at December 31, 2025, primarily reflects $111 million of principal repayments and $2 million of lease disposals, partly offset by $97 million of new lease liabilities and $10 million of foreign currency movements during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
67
At December 31, 2025 the Group had no cash drawings on the Global Asset Based Loan facility, with $351 million of the total facility of $415 million available due to amounts allocated for working capital collateralization.
The following table outlines the minimum repayments we are obliged to make in the twelve months ending December 31, 2026, assuming that the other credit lines will be renewed or replaced with similar facilities as they mature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
repayment for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the twelve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Final |
|
|
|
months ending |
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
Maturity |
|
Facility |
|
December 31, |
Facility |
|
Currency |
|
Currency |
|
Date |
|
Type |
|
2026 |
|
|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
(in $ millions) |
Lease obligations |
|
Various |
|
— |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
109 |
Other borrowings |
|
Various |
|
— |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
118 |
For the year ended December 31, 2025, we reported operating profit of $244 million, cash generated from operations of $718 million and generated Adjusted EBITDA of $739 million.
We generate substantial cash flow from our operations and had $522 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at December 31, 2025, as well as available but undrawn liquidity of $442 million under our credit facilities. We believe that our cash balances and future cash flow from operating activities, as well as our credit facilities, will provide sufficient liquidity to fund our maintenance capital expenditure, interest payments on our notes and other credit facilities and dividends for at least the next 12 months. In addition, we believe that we will be able to fund certain additional investments through a combination of cash flow generated from operations and, where appropriate, to raise additional financing.
Accordingly, we believe that our long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to the service of our debt obligations. We expect to satisfy our future long-term liquidity needs through a combination of cash flow generated from operations and, where appropriate, to raise additional financing and to refinance our debt obligations in advance of their respective maturity dates.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
68
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
Receivables Factoring and Related Programs
We participate in several uncommitted accounts receivable factoring and related programs with various financial institutions for certain receivables. Such programs are accounted for as true sales of receivables, as they are either without recourse to us or transfer substantially all the risk and rewards to the financial institutions. Receivables of $579 million were sold under these programs at December 31, 2025 (December 31, 2024: $620 million).
Trade Payables Processing
Certain of the Group’s suppliers have access to independent third-party payable processors. The processors allow suppliers, if they choose, to sell their receivables to financial institutions at the sole discretion of both the supplier and the financial institution. The Group does not direct or have any involvement in the sale of these receivables and availing of these arrangements is at the discretion of the supplier. As the original liability to our suppliers remains, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, and is neither legally extinguished nor substantially modified, the Group continues to present such obligations within trade payables and includes payments to the processors within cash from operations.
Included within trade and other payables at December 31, 2025 is an amount of $84 million (December 31, 2024: $111 million) where suppliers have received payments from the processors. These payments are considered non-cash transactions for the Group and there were no significant changes in the carrying amount of trade payables subject to trade payables processing.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table outlines our principal contractual obligations at December 31, 2025:
|
|
|
|
Less than |
|
|
|
|
|
More than |
|
|
Total |
|
one year |
|
1 – 3 years |
|
3 – 5 years |
|
five years |
|
|
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||||||
Long-term debt—capital repayment |
|
4,056 |
|
— |
|
1,129 |
|
1,637 |
|
1,290 |
Long-term debt—interest * |
|
666 |
|
162 |
|
314 |
|
184 |
|
6 |
Lease obligations and other borrowings |
|
468 |
|
141 |
|
166 |
|
97 |
|
64 |
Purchase obligations |
|
1,539 |
|
1,539 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Derivatives |
|
37 |
|
17 |
|
16 |
|
— |
|
4 |
Contracted capital commitments |
|
53 |
|
53 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Total |
|
6,819 |
|
1,912 |
|
1,625 |
|
1,918 |
|
1,364 |
* Long-term debt interest is calculated based on the contractual interest rates for the Senior facilities.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
69
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth certain information reflecting a summary of our cash flow activity for the three years ended December 31, 2025 set forth below:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||||
Operating profit |
|
244 |
|
202 |
|
76 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
463 |
|
449 |
|
418 |
Exceptional operating items |
|
32 |
|
21 |
|
106 |
Movement in working capital(1) |
|
(2) |
|
40 |
|
270 |
Exceptional costs paid, including restructuring |
|
(19) |
|
(53) |
|
(56) |
Cash generated from operations |
|
718 |
|
659 |
|
814 |
Net interest paid |
|
(202) |
|
(189) |
|
(174) |
Settlement of foreign currency derivative financial instruments |
|
(41) |
|
8 |
|
(10) |
Income tax paid |
|
(26) |
|
(28) |
|
(14) |
Net cash from operating activities |
|
449 |
|
450 |
|
616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditure(2) |
|
(184) |
|
(179) |
|
(378) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
(184) |
|
(179) |
|
(378) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from borrowings |
|
1,309 |
|
517 |
|
79 |
Repayment of borrowings |
|
(957) |
|
(229) |
|
(83) |
Redemption of preferred shares |
|
(289) |
|
— |
|
— |
Lease payments |
|
(111) |
|
(97) |
|
(78) |
Dividends paid |
|
(262) |
|
(264) |
|
(263) |
Deferred debt issue costs paid |
|
(17) |
|
(8) |
|
(3) |
Consideration paid on termination of derivative financial instruments |
|
(35) |
|
— |
|
— |
Exceptional early redemption premium paid |
|
(12) |
|
— |
|
— |
Net outflow from financing activities |
|
(374) |
|
(81) |
|
(348) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
(109) |
|
190 |
|
(110) |
Exchange gains/(losses) on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
21 |
|
(23) |
|
(2) |
Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash after exchange gains/(losses) |
|
(88) |
|
167 |
|
(112) |
| (1) | Working capital is made up of inventories, trade and other receivables, contract assets, trade and other payables contract liabilities and current provisions. Other companies may calculate working capital in a manner different than ours. |
| (2) | Capital expenditure is the sum of purchase of property, plant and equipment and software and other intangibles, net of proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment. |
Net cash from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities decreased by $1 million from $450 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, to $449 million in the year ended December 31, 2025. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in settlement of derivative financial instruments inflows of $49 million, a decrease in working capital inflows of $42 million, an increase in interest paid of $13 million, partly offset by a $42 million increase in operating profit, a decrease in exceptional costs paid, including restructuring of $34 million, an increase in depreciation and amortization of $14 million, an increase in exceptional operating items of $11 million and a decrease in income tax paid of $2 million.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
70
Net cash from operating activities decreased by $166 million from $616 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, to $450 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in working capital inflows of $230 million, a decrease in exceptional operating items of $85 million, partly offset by a $126 million increase in operating profit, an increase in depreciation and amortization of $31 million and a decrease in exceptional costs paid, including restructuring of $3 million. Net cash from operating activities was further impacted by net interest paid of $189 million, income tax paid of $28 million and inflows from settlement of foreign currency derivative financial instruments of $8 million.
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities increased by $5 million to $184 million in the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, mainly driven by higher spend on maintenance capital expenditure. Capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2025 includes $63 million on our growth investment projects.
Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $199 million to $179 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with the same period in 2023 mainly driven by reduced spend on the Group’s growth investment program as it nears completion. Capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes $68 million on our growth investment projects.
Net outflow from financing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2025 net cash from financing activities represented an outflow of $374 million compared with an outflow $81 million in the same period in 2024.
2025
Proceeds from borrowings of $1,309 million primarily reflects the issuances of the €570 million 5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 and $620 million 6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 and drawdown on the Group’s Global Asset Based Loan Facility of $25 million during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Repayment of borrowings of $957 million primarily reflects the redemption of the $600 million 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027 and repayment of the Senior Secured Term Loan and repayment of drawings on the Global Asset Based Loan Facility and other borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Redemption of Preferred Shares of $289 million reflects the Group’s redemption of its 56,306,306 non-convertible, non-voting 9% cumulative Preferred Shares with a nominal value of €4.44 each in December 2025.
Lease payments of $111 million, for the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $14 million compared to $97 million in the prior year, primarily reflecting increased principal repayments on the Group’s lease obligations.
For the year ended December 31, 2025 we paid dividends to shareholders of $262 million. On February 25, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on March 27, 2025 to shareholders of record on March 13, 2025. On February 25, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on March 27, 2025. On April 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on May 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2025. On April 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on May 15, 2025. On July 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on August 19, 2025 to shareholders of record on August 7, 2025. On July 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on August 19, 2025.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
71
On October 21, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on November 13, 2025 to shareholders of record on November 3, 2025. On October 21, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares to be paid on November 13, 2025. The net pro-rata dividend up to the redemption date of the Preferred Shares, amounted to €4 million ($4 million).
Deferred debt issue costs paid of $17 million primarily relate to the issuances of the €570 million 5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 and $620 million 6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 in December 2025.
Consideration paid on the termination of derivative financial instruments of $35 million relates to the costs associated with the early termination of the Group’s CCIRS in December 2025.
Exceptional early redemption premium paid of $12 million relates to premium payable on the early redemption of the Group’s 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027 and repayment of the Senior Secured Term Loan in December 2025.
2024
Proceeds from borrowings of $517 million primarily reflects the drawdown of the Group’s Senior Secured Term Loan and Global Asset Based Loan Facility during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Repayment of borrowings of $229 million primarily reflects the repayment of the Group’s Global Asset Based Loan Facility and other borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Lease payments of $97 million, for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $19 million compared to $78 million in the prior year, primarily reflecting increased principal repayments on the Group’s lease obligations.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we paid dividends to shareholders of $264 million. On February 20, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on March 27, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 13, 2024. On February 20, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on March 27, 2024. On April 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on June 26, 2024 to shareholders of record on June 12, 2024. On April 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on June 26, 2024. On July 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on September 26, 2024 to shareholders of record on September 12, 2024. On July 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on September 26, 2024. On October 22, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on December 19, 2024 to shareholders of record on December 5, 2024. On October 22, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on December 19, 2024.
Working capital
For the year ended December 31, 2025, the movement in working capital decreased by $42 million to an outflow of $2 million from an inflow of $40 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in working capital inflow was primarily due to unfavorable cash flows generated from inventory and trade and other receivables, partly offset by favorable cash flows generated from trade and other payables.
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For the year ended December 31, 2024, the movement in working capital decreased by $230 million to an inflow of $40 million, compared to an inflow of $270 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in working capital inflows was primarily due to unfavorable cash flows generated from trade and other receivables, trade and other payables and inventory.
Exceptional costs paid, including restructuring
Exceptional costs paid, including restructuring in the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $34 million to $19 million compared with $53 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2025, amounts paid of $19 million primarily comprised $13 million of transaction-related, restructuring and other costs and $6 million of start-up costs, mainly relating to the Group's growth investment program.
Exceptional costs paid, including restructuring in the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $3 million to $53 million compared with $56 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, amounts paid of $53 million primarily comprised $25 million of start-up costs, mainly relating to the Group's growth investment program, $22 million of restructuring costs primarily related to footprint reorganization, and $6 million of transaction-related and other costs.
Income tax paid
Income tax paid during the year ended December 31, 2025 was $26 million, which represents a decrease of $2 million when compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease of $2 million is primarily attributable to the timing of tax payments and refunds received in certain jurisdictions.
Income tax paid during the year ended December 31, 2024 was $28 million, which represents an increase of $14 million when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase is primarily attributable to refunds received in certain jurisdictions in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Capital expenditure
|
|
Year ended |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
||||
Europe |
|
96 |
|
76 |
|
155 |
Americas |
|
88 |
|
103 |
|
223 |
Net capital expenditure |
|
184 |
|
179 |
|
378 |
Capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $5 million to $184 million, compared to $179 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was mainly driven by increased maintenance capital spend, partly offset by reduced spend on the Group’s growth investment program as it nears completion. Capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2025 includes $63 million related to our growth investment program.
In Europe, capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $96 million, compared to capital expenditure of $76 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 with the increase attributable to higher spend on the Group's growth investment program and higher maintenance capital expenditure. In the Americas, capital expenditure in the year ended December 31, 2025, was $88 million compared to capital expenditure of $103 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, with the decrease primarily attributable to reduced spend on the Group’s growth investment program, partly offset by higher maintenance capital expenditure.
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Capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased by $199 million to $179 million, compared to $378 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was mainly driven by reduced spend on the Group’s growth investment program as it nears completion. Capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes $68 million related to our growth investment program.
In Europe, capital expenditure for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $76 million, compared to capital expenditure of $155 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 with the decrease primarily attributable to reduced spend on the Group's growth investment program. In the Americas, capital expenditure in the year ended December 31, 2024, was $103 million compared to capital expenditure of $223 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, with the decrease primarily attributable to reduced spend on the Group’s growth investment program.
C.Research and development, patents and licenses
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Innovation, Research and Development.”
D.Trend information
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this Annual Report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events since December 31, 2025 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the reported financial information in this Annual Report to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.
E.Critical Accounting Estimates
See “Note 3. Summary of material accounting policies — Critical accounting estimates, assumptions and judgments” to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A.Directors and Senior Management
Set forth below is certain information concerning our directors and executive officers as of the date of this Annual Report including their names, ages, positions, current directorship terms (which expire on the date of the relevant year’s annual general meeting of shareholders) and assessment of independence in accordance with the NYSE Standards. There are no family relationships among the executive officers or between any executive officer or director. Our executive officers are appointed by the Board to serve in their roles. Each executive officer is appointed for such term as may be prescribed by the Board or until a successor has been chosen and qualified or until such officer’s death, resignation or removal. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of all of our executive officers and directors is 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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Board
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
Expiration of current directorship term |
|
Independent |
Herman Troskie |
|
55 |
|
Chair |
|
2028 |
|
|
Oliver Graham |
|
57 |
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director |
|
2026 |
|
|
Stefan Schellinger |
|
55 |
|
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
|
2026 |
|
|
Mark Porto |
|
59 |
|
Director |
|
2026 |
|
|
Abigail Blunt |
|
64 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
2027 |
|
☒ |
Yves Elsen |
|
68 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
2028 |
|
☒ |
Elizabeth Marcellino |
|
68 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
2026 |
|
☒ |
Damien O’Brien |
|
70 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
2028 |
|
☒ |
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede |
|
70 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
2027 |
|
☒ |
Herman Troskie
Herman Troskie is the Chair of the board of directors of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. and has been a director of the Ardagh Group since 2009. He was previously CEO of Corporate, Legal and Tax Advisory at Stonehage Fleming, the international family office. He has extensive experience in the areas of international corporate structuring, cross-border financing and capital markets. Mr. Troskie is also a director of other private and public companies. He qualified as a South African Attorney in 1997, and as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales in 2001. Mr. Troskie is chair of the Compensation Committee, the Finance Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. He is based in Luxembourg and is a citizen of the Netherlands and South Africa.
Oliver Graham
Oliver Graham is CEO of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., a position he has held since 2020. Before taking up this role, Mr. Graham was CEO of Metal Packaging Europe with responsibility for Metal Packaging Brazil, as well as being Ardagh Group S.A. Commercial Director. He joined Ardagh in 2016 following the acquisition of the metal beverage packaging business, prior to which he was group commercial director at Rexam PLC. Mr. Graham joined Rexam PLC in 2013 from The Boston Consulting Group, where he was a partner. He is chair of the Sustainability Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. He is a British citizen.
Stefan Schellinger
Stefan Schellinger is CFO of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.. Prior to his appointment in September 2024, Mr. Schellinger served as executive vice president, global CFO and a member of the board of directors of ContourGlobal plc from 2019 to 2023. Prior to ContourGlobal, he was group finance director and executive director of the diversified industrial company Essentra plc from 2015 until 2018, having joined the company as corporate development director and group management committee member in 2013. From 2005 to 2013 Mr. Schellinger spent eight years with Danaher Corporation, as corporate development director and as finance director–emerging markets in Danaher's Gilbarco Veeder Root business. Prior to this, he worked as vice president in investment banking at J.P. Morgan in London. He started his career in accountancy in Germany at Arthur Andersen. Mr. Schellinger received his MBA from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business and holds a degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He is a member of the Finance Committee and the Sustainability Committee. Mr. Schellinger is a dual British and German citizen.
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Mark Porto
Mark Porto has a 20-year track record in working with industrial manufacturing, consumer product, and technology companies worldwide. Mr. Porto is the Executive Chair of the board of directors of Ardagh Holdings. S.A.. Most recently, he worked as CEO of Phoenix Services / Phoenix Global, a global industrial supplier. Previously, Mr. Porto was recruited by the private equity investment firm Promus Holdings to serve as president, CEO, and board director of Associated Steel Group, a building design and manufacturing firm. Prior roles included interim executive assignments with private equity firms in North America and Europe as well as VP of Operations at Bushnell, a consumer products company. Mr. Porto also served as advisor, consultant, and interim executive to AlixPartners, a business advisory firm, and served as a Division Officer in the United States Navy and with the Naval Reserves. Mr. Porto graduated from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, with an MBA in International Business and Marketing. He also has a BS in Computer Science and BA in Mathematics from Duke University. He is a member of the Compensation Committee, the Finance Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. He is a citizen of the United States of America and Italy.
Abigail Blunt
Abigail Blunt has had a 30-year career as a corporate and government affairs executive with extensive expertise in the consumer packaged goods industry. In September 2022 she left the Kraft Heinz Company after 21 years where she had led the Global Government Affairs function, served as an Advisor to the board, a Kraft Heinz Foundation board member and an ESG leader. Earlier in her career, Mrs. Blunt earned significant political acumen through her roles in government and government related entities including Finance Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Deputy Director of the Bush Re-election Committee, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Director, Government Affairs Director for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mrs. Blunt was named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of “Washington’s Most Influential People” in 2021 and 2022. She serves on the board of Apollo owned portfolio company, SmartStart, Varsity Tutors parent company Nerdy (NYSE-NRDY) and nutrition platform VitaKey. She is a member of The Economic Club of Washington and Extraordinary Women on Boards(EWOB). Mrs. Blunt is an independent director and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Sustainability Committee. She is a citizen of the United States of America.
Yves Elsen
Yves Elsen is managing director and chairman of the board of directors of HITEC Luxembourg S.A., a Luxembourg-based industrial and technology company serving contractors in over 20 countries around the world. Prior to this, Mr. Elsen founded and led SATLYNX S.A., following extensive experience with listed satellite operator SES – Société Européenne des Satellites S.A.. He was a member of the supervisory board of Villeroy & Boch AG from 2013 to 2019 and its chairman from 2017 to 2019. Mr. Elsen is chairman of the board of governors of the University of Luxembourg. He is an independent director and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. Elsen is a citizen of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Elizabeth Marcellino
Elizabeth Marcellino works as the strategic communications lead for the CEO of Los Angeles County with a focus on the county’s $50+ billion annual budget. She previously worked for more than a dozen years as a writer and journalist reporting on a wide range of policy issues for Los Angeles-based City News Service. Prior to that, Ms. Marcellino was managing director of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., where she worked from 1991 to 2004 in investment banking, portfolio management, and private equity, specializing for many years in real estate. She earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and a M.B.A. in Finance and Real Estate from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Marcellino is an independent director and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Sustainability Committee. She is a citizen of the United States of America.
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Damien O’Brien
Damien O’Brien has served as CEO of Egon Zehnder from 2008 to 2014 and as its chairman from 2010 to 2018. Mr. O’Brien joined Egon Zehnder in 1988 and since then he has been based in Australia, Asia and Europe. He is also a member of the board of St. Vincents Health Australia. He was formerly on the board of IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of New South Wales and a M.B.A. from Columbia University. Mr. O’Brien is an independent director and is the chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. O’Brien is a citizen of Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede has had a distinguished career in British politics. A Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2019, he held a range of ministerial offices, most recently serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019. Prior to this, he served as Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016, as Defence Secretary from 2011 to 2014 and as Transport Secretary from 2010 to 2011. Lord Philip Hammond is an independent director and is a member of the Audit Committee. He is a British citizen.
B.Compensation
Director Compensation
We have established a compensation program for our independent directors. In 2025, the aggregate amount of our independent directors’ compensation was approximately $1.2 million, in the form of a cash retainer for the performance of duties as a director. The independent directors’ compensation program allows each independent director the opportunity to elect to receive Ordinary Shares in lieu of a portion of the annual cash retainer payable to the independent director under the program.
We also reimburse our independent directors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as directors, including, without limitation, travel expenses in connection with their attendance in-person at board and committee meetings. Directors who are employees of the Company or its affiliates do not receive any compensation for their services as directors.
Key Management Compensation
The aggregate amount of compensation our key management (including any executive directors) received from the Group for service as key management for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $6 million. In addition, subsidiaries of the Ardagh Group, which do not form part of the Group, incurred transaction-related and other compensation for key management during the year of $nil. An aggregate of approximately $nil has been set aside or accrued for the year ended December 31, 2025 to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to our key management (including any executive directors). See note 26 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
C.Board Practices
Controlled Company
Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the NYSE. Under the NYSE’s current listing standards, we qualify for and avail ourselves of certain of the controlled company exemptions under the NYSE Standards applicable to listed companies as described in the NYSE listed company manual (the “NYSE Listed Company Manual”). A controlled company is defined by the NYSE Standards pursuant to Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual as a listed company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors held by an individual, a group or another company.
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AHSA controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting power of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares and we are therefore a controlled company.
As a controlled company, we are not required to comply with the following requirements:
| ● | a majority of the Board consist of independent directors; |
| ● | the nominating and governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; |
| ● | the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and |
| ● | there be an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. |
We currently avail ourselves of the exemption that allows our nominating and governance committee and compensation committee not to be composed entirely of independent directors, and there can be no assurance that we will not avail ourselves of other controlled company exemptions in the future.
Composition of Our Board
Our Board currently consists of 9 members. Our Board consists of such number of directors as the general meeting of shareholders may from time to time determine, provided that the Board is composed at all times of no fewer than three (3) directors and no more than fifteen (15) directors.
Election of Directors
The holders of our Ordinary Shares have the right to elect the Board at a general meeting of shareholders by a simple majority of the votes validly cast. The existing directors have the right to appoint persons to fill vacancies, which persons may hold office until the following annual general meeting.
Board Powers and Functions
The Board has the power to take any action necessary or useful to realize the corporate objects of the Company, with the exception of the powers reserved by Luxembourg Law or by the Articles to the general meeting of shareholders. Directors must act with diligence and in good faith in performing their duties and in the corporate interest of the company. The expected behavior of a director is that of a normally prudent person, in a like position, having the benefit, when making such a decision, of the same knowledge and information as the directors having made the decision.
Board Meetings and Decisions
We expect that all of the resolutions of the Board will be adopted by a simple majority of votes cast in a meeting at which a quorum is present or represented by proxy. A member of the Board may authorize another member of the Board to represent him/her at the board meeting and to vote on his/her behalf at the meeting.
Our Board meets as often as it deems necessary to conduct the business of the Company. In 2025, there were six meetings of the Board with an attendance rate of 98%.
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Experience of Directors
We believe that the composition of the Board, which includes a broad spread of nationalities, backgrounds and expertise, provides the breadth and depth of skills, knowledge and experience that are required to effectively lead an internationally diverse business with interests spanning three continents and nine individual countries.
We believe that our independent non-executive directors have broad-based international business expertise and have gained significant and relevant industry specific expertise over a number of years. The composition of the Board reflects the need to maintain a balance of skills, knowledge and experience, including in areas such as sustainability and information technology.
The independent non-executive directors use their broad-based skills, diverse range of business and financial experiences and international backgrounds in reviewing and assessing any opportunities or challenges facing the Company and play an important role in developing the Company’s strategy and scrutinizing the performance of management in meeting the Company’s goals and objectives.
We expect our board members collectively to have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to effectively oversee the management of the Company, including a high degree of personal and professional integrity, an ability to exercise sound business judgment on a broad range of issues, sufficient experience and background to have an appreciation of the issues facing the Company, a willingness to devote the necessary time to board duties, a commitment to representing the best interests of the Company and a dedication to enhancing shareholder value.
Service Contracts of Directors
There are no service contracts between us and any of our current non-executive directors providing for benefits upon termination of their service. For a discussion of compensation, including post-termination benefits, of employee directors, see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Key Management Compensation” above.
Committees of the Board
Our Board has five standing committees: an audit committee (“Audit Committee”), a compensation committee (“Compensation Committee”), a nominating and governance committee (“Nominating and Governance Committee”), a sustainability committee (“Sustainability Committee”) and a finance committee (“Finance Committee”). The members of each committee are appointed by the Board and serve until their successors are elected and qualified, unless they are earlier removed or they resign. Each of the committees report to the Board as it deems appropriate and as the Board may request. The composition, duties and responsibilities of the five standing committees are set forth below. In the future, our Board may establish other committees, as it deems appropriate, to assist it with its responsibilities.
Audit Committee
In 2025, five meetings of the Audit Committee were held, with an attendance rate of 100%. Our Audit Committee consists of Damien O’Brien, Abigail Blunt, Yves Elsen, Elizabeth Marcellino and The Rt. Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede, with Damien O’Brien serving as the chair of the Audit Committee. All of our Audit Committee members are independent directors, in accordance with the NYSE Standards and the SEC requirements.
Our Audit Committee, among other matters, oversees (1) our financial reporting, auditing and internal control activities; (2) the integrity and audits of our financial statements; (3) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (4) the qualifications and independence of our independent auditors; (5) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors; and (6) our overall risk exposure and management.
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Duties of the Audit Committee include the following:
| ● | annually review and assess the adequacy of the Audit Committee charter and review the performance of the Audit Committee; |
| ● | be responsible for recommending the appointment, retention and termination of our independent auditors and determine the compensation of our independent auditors; |
| ● | review the plans and results of the audit engagement with the independent auditors; |
| ● | evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent auditors; |
| ● | have authority to approve in advance all audit and non-audit services by our independent auditors, the scope and terms thereof and the fees therefor; |
| ● | review the adequacy of our internal accounting controls; |
| ● | ensure the Company maintains a robust risk management function, including with respect to cybersecurity, information technology and information security risks and the related activities undertaken by the Company to monitor, control and mitigate such risks; and |
| ● | meet at least quarterly with our executive officers, internal audit staff and our independent auditors in separate executive sessions. |
The Audit Committee has the power to investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties and to retain counsel for this purpose where appropriate. Each of the Audit Committee members meets the financial literacy requirements of the NYSE listing standards and the Board has determined that Damien O’Brien qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in the rules of the SEC. See “Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert.” The designation does not impose on the Audit Committee Financial Expert any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than those generally imposed on members of our Audit Committee and our Board. Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is available on our corporate website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Compensation Committee
In 2025, three meetings of the Compensation Committee were held, with an attendance rate of 100%. Our Compensation Committee consists of Herman Troskie, Damien O’Brien and Mark Porto, with Herman Troskie serving as the chair of the Compensation Committee. Paul Coulson resigned from the Compensation Committee in connection with his resignation as a director of the Company in November 2025. As we are a controlled company as defined under NYSE Standards, see “—Controlled Company” above, our Compensation Committee is not required to be composed entirely of independent directors, although if such rules change in the future or we no longer meet the definition of a controlled company under the current rules, we will adjust the composition of the Compensation Committee accordingly in order to ensure compliance with such rules.
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The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain, and terminate, any compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of employee compensation and to approve the consultant’s fees and the other terms and conditions of the consultant’s retention. The Compensation Committee, among other matters:
| ● | at the request of our Board, reviews and makes recommendations to our Board relating to management succession planning; |
| ● | administers, reviews and makes recommendations to our Board regarding our compensation plans; |
| ● | reviews and approves our corporate goals and objectives with respect to compensation for executive officers and, evaluates each executive officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives to set his or her annual compensation, including salary, bonus and equity and non-equity incentive compensation, subject to approval by our Board; and |
| ● | provides oversight of management’s decisions regarding the performance, evaluation and compensation of other officers. |
Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which is available on our corporate website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Nominating and Governance Committee
In 2025, five meetings of the Nominating and Governance Committee were held, with an attendance rate of 100%. Our Nominating and Governance Committee consists of Herman Troskie, Yves Elsen, Damien O’Brien and Mark Porto, with Herman Troskie serving as the chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Paul Coulson resigned from the Nominating and Governance Committee in conjunction with his resignation as a director of the Company in November 2025. As we are a controlled company as defined under NYSE Standards, see “—Controlled Company” above, our Nominating and Governance Committee is not required to be composed entirely of independent directors, although if such rules change in the future or we no longer meet the definition of a controlled company under the current rules, we will adjust the composition of our Nominating and Governance Committee accordingly in order to ensure compliance with such rules. The Nominating and Governance Committee, among other matters:
| ● | selects and recommends to our Board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board; |
| ● | annually reviews with our Board the composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills, experience and diversity of the board members; |
| ● | makes recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitor the functioning of the committees of the board; |
| ● | develops and recommends to our Board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to us and periodically reviews such guidelines and recommends changes to our Board for approval as necessary; and |
| ● | oversees the annual self-evaluation of our Board. |
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Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Governance Committee, which is available on our corporate website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Sustainability Committee
In 2025, four meetings of the Sustainability Committee were held with an attendance rate of 100%. Our Sustainability Committee consists of Oliver Graham, Abigail Blunt, Elizabeth Marcellino, Til Ruhnke and Stefan Schellinger, with Oliver Graham serving as the chair of the Sustainability Committee. The Sustainability Committee, among other matters:
| ● | assists our Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility for the Company’s environmental and social sustainability objectives; |
| ● | makes recommendations to our Board relating to environmental and social sustainability matters; |
| ● | develops and oversees the implementation of a sustainability strategy; and |
| ● | advises our Board periodically with regard to current and emerging environmental and social sustainability developments. |
Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Sustainability Committee, which is available on our corporate website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Finance Committee
Our Finance Committee consists of Herman Troskie, Oliver Graham, Cormac Maguire, Mark Porto and Stefan Schellinger, with Herman Troskie serving as the chair of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee, among other matters,
| ● | reviews and monitors the capital structure, financial policies and treasury function of the Company and makes recommendations to our Board in relation thereto; and |
| ● | reviews and recommends to our Board whether to approve financing agreements or arrangements, including plans to issue, incur, amend, repurchase, redeem or repay, as applicable, indebtedness. |
Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Finance Committee, which is available on our corporate website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board has adopted corporate governance guidelines that serve as a framework within which our Board and its committees operate. These guidelines cover a number of areas including the composition of the board, board membership criteria and director qualifications, director responsibilities, board agenda, roles of the chair of the board and the chief executive officer, meetings of independent directors, board member access to management and independent advisors, director communications with third parties, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, evaluation of senior management and management succession planning. Our Nominating and Governance Committee reviews our corporate governance guidelines periodically and, if necessary, recommends changes to our Board.
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Additionally, our Board has adopted independence standards as part of our corporate governance guidelines. A copy of our corporate governance guidelines is posted on our website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
D.Employees
As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately 6,500 employees globally, of which approximately 3,600 were located in Europe, approximately 1,900 were located in the United States and approximately 1,000 employees were located in Brazil.
We strive to maintain a safe working environment for all of our employees, with safety in the workplace being a key objective, measured through individual accident reports, detailed follow-up programs and key performance indicator reporting. We believe that our safety record is among the best in the industry.
The majority of our employees are members of labor unions or are subject to centrally-negotiated collective agreements. We generally negotiate national contracts with our unions, with variations agreed at the local plant level. Most such labor contracts have a duration of one to two years. Our management believes that, overall, our current relations with our employees are good.
For the employees of our subsidiaries located in countries of the European Union we have established a European works council (“EWC”) in compliance with EU directives. The EWC acts as a communications conduit and consultative body between our EU subsidiaries and our employees. All the elected EWC country employee representatives meet at least once a year and senior management attends an annual EWC Forum meeting.
The EWC has the right to be notified of any special circumstances that would have a major impact on the interests of employees. In order to facilitate this process in an efficient and effective way, the EWC has elected a Select Committee which meets at least four times a year with a senior management delegation to discuss any matters which are of interest for the EWC. EWC delegates are elected for four-year terms on the basis of legal principles or practices in the relevant countries, while the allocation of EWC delegates between countries is governed by EU directives.
E. |
Share Ownership |
Included in Item 7.A.
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
A. |
Major shareholders |
Each shareholder is entitled to one vote per Ordinary Share.
The following table shows the beneficial ownership of our outstanding Ordinary Shares as of the approval date of the financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report by:
| ● | each person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | each executive officer or director of the Company; and |
| ● | all of the executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. |
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|
|
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned |
||
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Number of Shares |
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Ardagh Holdings S.A. (1) |
|
454,375,314 |
|
76.021% |
Our directors and key management |
|
|
|
|
Herman Troskie |
|
* |
|
* |
Oliver Graham |
|
* |
|
* |
Stefan Schellinger |
|
* |
|
* |
Mark Porto |
|
* |
|
* |
Abigail Blunt |
|
* |
|
* |
Yves Elsen |
|
* |
|
* |
Elizabeth Marcellino |
|
* |
|
* |
Damien O'Brien |
|
* |
|
* |
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede |
|
* |
|
* |
All directors and key management as a group |
|
* |
|
* |
(1) Ardagh Holdings S.A. owns, indirectly through certain wholly-owned subsidiaries, approximately 76% of the Ordinary Shares and may be deemed to be the ultimate beneficial owner of the Ordinary Shares.
* |
Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent or no shares. |
As of December 31, 2025, the registrar and transfer agent for the Company reported that 142,321,541 Ordinary Shares were held by 38 record holders in the United States.
The Company is controlled by AHSA.
B. |
Related Party Transactions |
Relationship with our parent company
At December 31, 2025, AHSA indirectly owned, through certain wholly-owned subsidiaries, approximately 76% of our Ordinary Shares. AHSA, including through its direct ownership of AGSA, exercises control over the composition of our Board and any other action requiring the approval of our shareholders.
Business Combination Agreement
On February 22, 2021, GHV, AMPSA, AGSA and MergeCo entered into the Business Combination Agreement pursuant to which the Business Combination was consummated and, following the Merger of GHV with and into MergeCo, GHV became a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of AMPSA.
In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, AGSA (i) retained an approximate 81.85% interest in AMPSA, (ii) received aggregate cash consideration of $2,315,000,000, paid upon the consummation of the AMP Transfer in cash and in equivalent U.S. dollars or euros (or a combination thereof) and $996,927,301.74, paid in cash at the closing of the Merger, and (iii) has the right to receive, during the five-year period commencing 180 days after the closing of the Merger, up to 60,730,000 additional Ordinary Shares in five equal installments if the price of Ordinary Shares maintains for a certain period of time a volume weighted average price greater than or equal to $13.00, $15.00, $16.50, $18.00 and $19.50, as applicable.
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants, closing conditions, termination provisions and other terms relating to the transactions contemplated thereby.
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Transfer Agreement
On February 22, 2021, AGSA and AMPSA entered into a Transfer Agreement, pursuant to which AGSA agreed to effect the AMP Transfer through a series of transactions that resulted in, among other things, AMPSA owning the AMP Business prior to April 1, 2021. The AMP Transfer was consummated on April 1, 2021.
The Transfer Agreement requires AMPSA to indemnify AGSA and its affiliates for losses arising from AMPSA’s business (including employee liabilities) and requires AGSA to indemnify AMPSA for losses arising from Ardagh Group’s business (including employee liabilities). In addition, the Transfer Agreement contains non-competition and employee non-solicitation obligations of both AMPSA and AGSA. For a period commencing at April 1, 2021 and ending on the earlier of (i) April 1, 2026 or (ii) the date on which AGSA no longer is the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the voting stock of AMPSA, AGSA and its subsidiaries (excluding any AMP Entity) will not engage in AMPSA’s business as conducted on the date of the Transfer Agreement with the exception of services provided under the Services Agreement, and AMPSA and its subsidiaries will not engage in Ardagh Group’s businesses as conducted on the date of the Transfer Agreement with the exception of services provided under the Services Agreement.
Services Agreement
In connection with the AMP Transfer, AGSA and AMPSA entered into a Services Agreement, pursuant to which AGSA, either directly or indirectly through its affiliates, provides certain corporate and business-unit services to AMPSA and its subsidiaries, and AMPSA, either directly or indirectly through its affiliates, provides certain corporate and business-unit services to AGSA and its affiliates (other than the AMP Entities). The services provided pursuant to the Services Agreement include typical corporate functional support areas in order to complement the activities in areas which exist within the AMPSA Group (as defined in the Services Agreement). For each calendar year from 2021 through 2025, as consideration for the corporate services provided by AGSA to AMPSA, AMPSA has provided corporate services to AGSA and has incurred an expense from AGSA of $33 million for the calendar year 2021 (prorated to reflect the timing of the completion of the AMP Transfer), $38 million for calendar year 2022 and $39 million for calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025. The fees for services pursuant to the Services Agreement are subject to adjustment for third party costs and variations for certain volume-based services. As of December 31, 2025, the Services Agreement automatically renewed for an additional one-year term, with the fees for the services provided calculated based on an allocation of the cost associated with such services. The Services Agreement will renew automatically on an annual basis until terminated. All or any part of the Services Agreement may be terminated by either party providing nine months prior written notice to the other party, or by mutual consent of both parties in writing at any time.
Shareholders Agreement
In connection with the completion of the Merger, AGSA and AMPSA entered into the Shareholders Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, AGSA has the right to nominate nine directors, including the chair, to AMPSA’s Board, of whom at least three shall satisfy the independence requirements of NYSE. Two independent directors were appointed upon proposal for nomination by the GHV Sponsor as Class I directors pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. In addition, for so long as AGSA holds at least 20% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, AGSA will also have the right to: (A) nominate a number of directors to AMPSA’s Board at least proportional to the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares owned by AGSA; (B) designate the chairperson of the Board of AMPSA (who need not be a nominee of AGSA); and (C) appoint a number of representatives to each committee of the Board of AMPSA that is at least proportional to the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares owned by AGSA. In addition, for so long as AGSA holds at least 40% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, the following actions may not be taken (or agreed to be taken) by AMPSA without the prior written consent of AGSA: (a) the sale of greater than 40% of the assets or voting securities of AMPSA (with certain exceptions); (b) voluntary liquidation or dissolution of AMPSA; (c) any amendment of AMPSA’s Articles that materially and adversely affects AGSA in its capacity as a shareholder; (d) relocation of AMPSA’s corporate headquarters; (e) change to AMPSA’s corporate name; or (f) any corporate action that would materially adversely affect any of the foregoing approval rights.
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Subscription Agreements
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, AMPSA and GHV entered into the Subscription Agreements with the Subscribers, pursuant to which the Subscribers agreed to subscribe for, and AMPSA agreed to issue to the Subscribers, an aggregate of 69,500,000 Ordinary Shares, for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate cash amount of $695,000,000 (the “PIPE Shares”).
The issuance of the PIPE Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreements was also contingent upon, among other customary closing conditions, the substantially concurrent consummation of the Merger, which occurred on August 4, 2021.
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, AMPSA filed on August 12, 2021 with the SEC (at AMPSA’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the PIPE Shares, which was declared effective by the SEC on August 23, 2021 and subsequently amended by a post-effective amendment No. 1, filed on March 4, 2022 and declared effective by the SEC on March 11, 2022, and a post-effective amendment No. 2 on Form F-3, filed on August 8, 2022 and declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2022. The registration rights related to the PIPE shares expired on August 12, 2023 and were deregistered by the Company by means of a post-effective amendment No. 3 on Form F-3, filed on August 11, 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on August 12, 2025.
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement entered into by the GHV Sponsor (and joinders thereto entered into by certain investors), certain investors acquired 12,000,000 Ordinary Shares.
Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement
In connection with the closing of the Merger, AMPSA, AGSA, GHV Sponsor, Gores Pipe, LLC and GHV’s independent directors (such directors, together with GHV Sponsor and Gores Pipe, LLC, the “Initial Stockholders”) entered into the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement, which provides customary demand and piggyback registration rights. Pursuant to the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement, AMPSA agreed that, as soon as practicable, and in any event within 30 days after the closing of the Merger, which occurred on August 4, 2021, it would file with the SEC (at AMPSA’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of any outstanding Ordinary Shares or any other equity security held by a party to the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement and any other equity security of AMPSA issued or issuable with respect to any such Share by way of a dividend or stock split in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise (the “Registration Rights Securities”), and AMPSA will use its reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the 60th day (or the 90th day if the registration statement is reviewed by, and received comments from, the SEC) following the filing deadline. Such registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on August 23, 2021 and subsequently amended by a post-effective amendment No. 1, filed on March 4, 2022 and declared effective by the SEC on March 11, 2022, a post-effective amendment No. 2 on Form F-3, filed on August 8, 2022 and declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2022. The Registration Rights Securities covered by that registration statement were deregistered pursuant to a post-effective amendment No. 3 on Form F-3, filed on August 11 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on August 12, 2025 and registered on a new registration statement on Form F-3, filed on July 31, 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2025.
Subject to certain exemptions, including in connection with certain exchanges involving AGSA shareholders, AGSA was not permitted to transfer any Ordinary Shares beneficially owned or owned of record by it and the Initial Stockholders were not permitted to transfer Ordinary Shares or Warrants beneficially owned or owned of record by such Initial Stockholder during certain lock-up periods, which have expired.
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Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement
In connection with the closing of the Merger, AMPSA entered into a warrant assignment, assumption and amendment agreement with GHV, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., to assume GHV’s obligations under the existing Warrant Agreement, dated August 10, 2020 with respect to the Warrants.
Other Related Party Transactions
For additional information, see note 26 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
There have been no material related party transactions in the period since the date of approval of the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
C. |
Interests of experts and counsel |
Not Applicable
Item 8. Financial Information
A. |
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information |
See Item 18. of this Annual Report for audited consolidated financial statements.
Legal or arbitration proceedings
We become involved from time to time in various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to, employee claims, disputes with our customers and suppliers, environmental liability claims and intellectual property disputes.
We believe that none of these proceedings, either individually or in aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
Dividend Policy
For the year ended December 31, 2025, we paid the following dividends per Ordinary Share:
| ● | an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share that was approved by the Board on February 25, 2025, which was paid on March 27, 2025 to shareholders of record on March 13, 2025; |
| ● | an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share that was approved by the Board on April 22, 2025, which was also paid on May 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2025; |
| ● | an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share that was approved by the Board on July 22, 2025, which was paid on August 19, 2025 to shareholders of record on August 7, 2025; and |
| ● | an interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share that was approved by the Board on October 21, 2025, which was paid on November 13, 2025, to shareholders of record on November 3, 2025. |
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Decisions in relation to our dividend policy are determined by our Board, however we intend to continue to pay a regular quarterly interim dividend of $0.10 per Ordinary Share, which would equate to a full year dividend of $0.40 per Ordinary Share.
In July 2022, we issued 56,306,306 Preferred Shares, which were indirectly held by AGSA. On December 2, 2025, the 56,306,306 Preferred Shares were redeemed in full for a consideration of €250 million and subsequently canceled on December 9, 2025. Each Preferred Share was entitled to an annual preferred dividend per financial year of the Company amounting to 9% of its nominal value computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months (the “Annual Preferred Share Dividend”). The first pro rata Annual Preferred Share Dividend shall be calculated from the date of issuance of a Preferred Share (with the month of issuance being computed as a full month) until the end of the financial year of the date of issue, and all the subsequent Annual Preferred Share Dividend will be calculated per financial year of the Company. No distributions may be made to the holders of Ordinary Shares during a financial year if there is any Delta or New Delta (each as defined in our Articles), or unless all the Preferred Shares are redeemed, as described in our Articles. The payment of dividends on the Preferred Shares is at the discretion of our Board. See Exhibit 2.7 “Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.”
For the year ended December 31, 2025, we paid the following dividends on the Preferred Shares:
| ● | an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares that was approved by the Board on February 25, 2025, which was paid on March 27, 2025; and |
| ● | an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares that was approved by the Board on April 22, 2025, which was paid on May 15, 2025; and |
| ● | an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares that was approved by the Board on July 22, 2025, which was paid on August 19, 2025; and |
| ● | an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares that was approved by the Board on October 21, 2025, which was paid on November 13, 2025 pro-rata up to the redemption date of the Preferred Shares. |
B. |
Significant Changes |
There have been no significant changes since the approval date of the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
A. |
Offer and listing details |
Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AMBP.”
B. |
Plan of distribution |
Not applicable
C. |
Markets |
Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AMBP.”
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D.Selling shareholders
Not applicable
E. |
Dilution |
Not applicable
F. |
Expenses of the issue |
Not applicable
Item 10. Additional Information
A. |
Share Capital |
Not Applicable
B. |
Memorandum and articles of association |
The information set forth in Exhibit 2.7 “Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act” is incorporated herein by reference.
C. |
Material contracts |
For more information concerning our material contracts, see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”
D. |
Exchange controls |
There are no legislative or other legal provisions currently in force in Luxembourg or arising under our Articles that restrict the export or import of capital, including the availability of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for use by our affiliated companies, or that restrict the payment of dividends to holders of our Ordinary Shares not resident in Luxembourg, except for regulations restricting the remittance of dividends and other payments in compliance with United Nations and EU sanctions. There are no limitations, either under Luxembourg Law or in the Articles, on the right of non-Luxembourg nationals to hold or vote the Ordinary Shares.
E.Taxation
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following summary is a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares and Warrants (collectively, the “AMPSA Securities”) by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This discussion deals only with U.S. Holders who hold AMPSA Securities as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Furthermore, this discussion assumes that U.S. Holders are qualified “residents of a Contracting State” as defined in Article 4 of the U.S.—Luxembourg Income Tax Treaty. This discussion is based on the tax laws of the United States, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial decisions thereof, in each case as in effect on the date hereof. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.
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There can be no assurance that the United States Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or U.S. courts will agree with the tax consequences described in this discussion.
This discussion does not cover all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to an investor in light of such investor’s particular circumstances, including the potential application of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or alternative minimum taxes, any U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences (such as U.S. federal gift or estate tax consequences), or the U.S. federal income tax consequences to investors subject to special treatment (such as banks or other financial institutions; insurance companies; tax-exempt entities; regulated investment companies; real estate investment trusts; investors liable for alternative minimum taxes; U.S. expatriates; dealers in securities or currencies; traders in securities who elect to apply a mark-to-market method of accounting; any entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or investors therein; persons that directly, indirectly or constructively own 10% or more of the Company’s equity interests; investors that will hold AMPSA Securities as part of straddles, hedging transactions or conversion transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or U.S. Holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar).
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or our shareholders. The statements made herein may be challenged by the IRS and, if so challenged, may not be sustained upon review in a court.
As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of AMPSA Securities that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or any other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in 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 includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust, if (a) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) a valid election is in place to treat the trust as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If any entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes invests in AMPSA Securities, the U.S. tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Investors that are partnerships or partners in partnerships should consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of AMPSA Securities.
THE SUMMARY OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES SET FORTH BELOW IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. ALL INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING AMPSA SECURITIES IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND POSSIBLE CHANGES IN TAX LAW.
Distributions
In the event we make distributions (and subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company & Surrogate Foreign Corporation Status” below), distributions made on our Ordinary Shares (without reduction for any Luxembourg taxes withheld) generally will be included in a U.S. Holder’s gross income as ordinary income from foreign sources to the extent such distributions are paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), in the taxable year in which the distribution is actually or constructively received. Generally, distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Ordinary Shares, and thereafter as capital gain from the disposition of our Ordinary Shares.
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Subject to certain holding period requirements and other conditions, dividends paid to individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders of our Ordinary Shares may be eligible for the special reduced rate normally applicable to long-term capital gains if the dividends are “qualified dividends” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received with respect to our Ordinary Shares may be qualified dividends if (a) our Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on the NYSE, or (b) the Company is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the IRS has approved for purposes of the qualified dividend rules, and certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends received with respect to our Ordinary Shares will not be qualified dividends if (i) the Company was a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) under Code section 1297(a) during the year in which the dividend is paid or the prior taxable year or (ii) the Company becomes a “surrogate foreign corporation” under Code section 7874(a)(2)(B) (other than a surrogate foreign corporation treated as a domestic corporation). Accordingly, provided that we are not and do not become a PFIC or a “surrogate foreign corporation,” dividends on our Ordinary Shares will be qualified dividends so long as our Ordinary Shares are listed on NYSE. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the preferential rate on dividends to their particular circumstances. Distributions received on our Ordinary Shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations.
Any dividends the Company pays to U.S. Holders generally will constitute non-U.S. source “passive category” income for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Subject to certain limitations (including those introduced by Treasury regulations that apply to foreign income taxes paid or accrued in taxable years beginning on or after December 28, 2021), any Luxembourg tax withheld with respect to distributions made on our Ordinary Shares may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. Alternatively, a U.S. Holder may, subject to applicable limitations, elect to deduct the otherwise creditable Luxembourg withholding taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex and involve the application of rules that depend upon a U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under its particular circumstances.
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition
Subject to the discussion under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company & Surrogate Foreign Corporation Status” below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the AMPSA Securities in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized on such sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and its adjusted tax basis in the AMPSA Securities. The adjusted tax basis in AMPSA Securities generally will be equal to the cost of such AMPSA Securities. The capital gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if a U.S. Holder has held its AMPSA Securities for more than one year at the time of disposition. In the case of non-corporate U.S. Holders, long-term capital gain generally is subject to U.S. federal income tax at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations. Gain or loss, if any, that a U.S. Holder realizes upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the AMPSA Securities generally will be treated as having a U.S. source for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
Exercise or Lapse of Our Warrants
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below in “—Passive Foreign Investment Company & Surrogate Foreign Corporation Status” and except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of our Warrants, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the exercise of our Warrants for cash. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our Ordinary Shares received upon exercise of our Warrants generally should be an amount equal to the sum of (i) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our Warrants exchanged therefor and (ii) the exercise price. The U.S. Holder’s holding period for Ordinary Shares received upon exercise of our Warrants will begin on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of our Warrants and will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held our Warrants. If our Warrants are allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in such lapsed Warrants.
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The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of our Warrants are not clear under current U.S. federal income tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-deferred, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-deferred situation, a U.S. holder’s basis in our Ordinary Shares received would equal the holder’s basis in the Warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for our Ordinary Shares would be treated as commencing on the date of exercise of the Warrants or the day following the date of exercise of the Warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of our Ordinary Shares would include the holding period of the Warrants exercised therefore.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise of our Warrants could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder would recognize gain or loss with respect to the portion of the exercised Warrants treated as surrendered to pay the exercise price of our Warrants (the “Surrendered Warrants”). The U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss with respect to the Surrendered Warrants in an amount generally equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of our Warrants deemed surrendered and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Surrendered Warrants. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our Ordinary Shares received would equal the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our Warrants exercised (meaning, the Warrants disposed of by the U.S. Holder in the cashless exercise, other than the Surrendered Warrants) and the exercise price of such Warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for our Ordinary Shares would commence on the date of exercise of the Warrants or the day following the date of exercise of the Warrants.
Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise of Warrants, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise of our Warrants.
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of our Warrants provide for an adjustment to the number of our Ordinary Shares for which our Warrants may be exercised or to the exercise price of our Warrants in certain events. An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. A U.S. Holder of our Warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of our Ordinary Shares that would be obtained upon exercise of such Warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of our Ordinary Shares which is taxable to the U.S. Holders of such shares as described under “—Distributions” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. Holder of such Warrant received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Passive Foreign Investment Company & Surrogate Foreign Corporation Status
The Company believes it was not a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the 2025 taxable year and based on the nature of the Company’s business, the projected composition of the Company’s income and the projected composition and estimated fair market values of the Company’s assets, the Company does not expect to be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in 2026 or in the foreseeable future. However, the determination of whether the Company is a PFIC is made annually, after the close of the relevant taxable year. Therefore, it is possible that the Company could be classified as a PFIC depending on, among other things, changes in the nature of the Company’s business, composition of its assets or income, as well as changes in its market capitalization. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the Company will not be a PFIC in any given taxable year.
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A non-U.S. corporation generally will be a PFIC for U.S. federal tax purposes in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to applicable look-through rules, either:
| (i) | at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income;” or |
| (ii) | at least 50% of the average quarterly value of its gross assets (which may be determined in part by the market value of our Ordinary Shares, which is subject to change) is attributable to assets that produce “passive income” or are held for the production of “passive income.” |
Passive income for this purpose generally includes but is not limited to dividends, interest, royalties, rents and certain gains from commodities (other than commodities sold in an active trade or business) and securities transactions.
If the Company were to be treated as a PFIC in any taxable year, in addition to certain form filing requirements, U.S. Holders of the AMPSA Securities generally would be subject to additional taxes (including taxation at ordinary income rates and an interest charge) under the PFIC excess distribution rule on any “excess distributions” received from the Company and on any gain realized from a sale or other disposition of such AMPSA Securities, regardless of whether the Company continues to be a PFIC in the year such distribution is received or gain is realized. A U.S. Holder would be treated as receiving an excess distribution in a taxable year to the extent that distributions on the shares during that year exceed 125% of the average amount of distributions received during the three preceding taxable years (or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the shares). Gain on the disposition of the AMPSA Securities will be subject to taxation in the same manner as an excess distribution (including taxation at ordinary income rates), described immediately above.
If, contrary to current expectations, the Company was a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, certain elections (such as a mark-to-market election) may be available to U.S. Holders with respect to the shares that may mitigate some of the adverse tax consequences resulting from PFIC treatment.
The Company believes it was not a surrogate foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the 2025 taxable year and furthermore the Company does not expect to be a surrogate foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes in 2026 or in the foreseeable future. However, the determination of whether the Company is a surrogate foreign corporation is made on a real-time basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the Company will not be a surrogate foreign corporation in any given taxable year.
A non-U.S. corporation generally will be a surrogate foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes following a transaction under which:
| (i) | it acquires (after March 4, 2003) substantially all of the properties held by a U.S. corporation; |
| (ii) | after the acquisition, the U.S. corporation’s former shareholders own at least 60 percent of the stock (by vote or value) of the foreign acquiring corporation; and |
| (iii) | the expanded affiliated group that includes the foreign acquiring corporation does not have substantial business activities in the country where the foreign acquiring corporation is organized or created compared to the total business activities of the expanded affiliated group. |
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the Company’s possible PFIC and/or surrogate foreign corporation status and the consequences to them if the Company were a PFIC and/or surrogate foreign corporation for any taxable year.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, payments of dividends and proceeds from the sale or other disposition, with respect to the AMPSA Securities held by a U.S. Holder may be required to be reported to the IRS unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient and, when required, demonstrates this fact. In addition, a U.S. Holder that is not an exempt recipient may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) unless it provides a taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with applicable certification requirements. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide an IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) or applicable substitute form.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle a U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the appropriate information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult with their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding regime.
Foreign Financial Asset Reporting
Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders are required to report information with respect to investments in AMPSA Securities not held through an account with certain financial institutions. U.S. Holders that fail to report required information could become subject to substantial penalties. Potential investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors about these and any other reporting obligations arising from their investment in AMPSA Securities.
Material Luxembourg Tax Considerations
The following is a general description of certain Luxembourg tax considerations relating to AMPSA and the holders of Ordinary Shares or Warrants. It does not purport to be a complete analysis of all tax considerations in relation to the Ordinary Shares or Warrants. Prospective purchasers should consult their own tax advisors as to which countries’ tax laws could be relevant to acquiring, holding and disposing of the securities and the consequences of such actions under the tax laws of those countries. This overview is based upon the law as in effect on the date of this document and is subject to any change in law that may take effect after such date, even with retroactive effect.
The comments below are intended as a basic overview of certain tax consequences in relation to AMPSA and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Ordinary Shares or Warrants under Luxembourg Law. Tax matters are complex, and the tax consequences of the offering to a particular holder of Ordinary Shares or Warrants will depend in part on such holder’s circumstances. Accordingly, a holder is urged to consult his or her own tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the offering to him or her, including the applicability and effect of Luxembourg tax laws.
The summary in this Luxembourg taxation paragraph does not address the Luxembourg tax consequences for a holder of Ordinary Shares or Warrants who:
| (i) | is an investor as defined in a specific law (such as the law on family wealth management companies of May 11, 2007, as amended, the law on undertakings for collective investment of December 17, 2010, as amended, the law on specialized investment funds of February 13, 2007, as amended, the law on reserved alternative investment funds of July 23, 2016, as amended, the law on securitization of March 22, 2004, as amended, the law on venture capital vehicles of June 15, 2004, as amended and the law on pension saving companies and associations of July 13, 2005, as amended; |
| (ii) | is a Luxembourg resident individual; |
| (iii) | is, in whole or in part, exempt from tax; or |
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| (iv) | acquires, owns or disposes of Ordinary Shares or Warrants in connection with a membership of a management board, a supervisory board, an employment relationship, a deemed employment relationship or management role. |
Where in this summary English terms and expressions are used to refer to Luxembourg tax concepts, the meaning to be attributed to such terms and expressions shall be the meaning to be attributed to the equivalent Luxembourg concepts under Luxembourg Law.
Taxation of AMPSA
AMPSA is subject to Luxembourg tax on its worldwide profits, subject to the provisions of applicable tax treaties, at the current combined ordinary rate of 23.87% for Luxembourg City, including the 16% corporate income tax, a 6.75% municipal business tax and a solidarity surcharge (together the “Income Tax”).
In principle, dividends and capital gains realized by AMPSA are subject to Income Tax in Luxembourg. However, provided the conditions of the Luxembourg participation exemption regime are met, dividends and capital gains realized by AMPSA upon the disposal of shares are not taxable in Luxembourg. Capital gains realized in relation to a participation qualifying for the Luxembourg participation exemption may, however, be taxable up to the amount of expenses or value adjustments in recapture, i.e. expenses economically connected to an exempt participation, which have been deducted from the tax base of the Luxembourg company. Certain general, as well as specific, anti-abuse provisions may apply.
Luxembourg net wealth tax (“NWT”) will be due annually by AMPSA at the rate of 0.5% on its total net asset value below or equal to €500 million. The tranche above €500 million will be taxed at a rate of 0.05%.
Shareholdings qualifying for the Luxembourg participation exemption regime are excluded from the NWT basis provided that, the relevant entity holds a direct shareholding in a qualifying subsidiary representing at least 10% of the qualifying subsidiary’s share capital or having an acquisition cost (including both share capital and share premium) of at least €1.2 million; there is no minimum holding period requirement.
AMPSA will be subject to a progressive minimum NWT charge ranging between €535 and €4,815 and which will depend solely on the total commercial balance sheet of the entity.
Withholding taxation
Any dividends distributed by AMPSA will in principle be subject to a 15% withholding tax unless an exemption or a treaty reduction applies.
The concept “dividends distributed by AMPSA” as used in this Luxembourg taxation paragraph includes, but is not limited to, distributions in cash or in kind, proceeds paid by AMPSA upon a redemption or repurchase of Ordinary Shares and repayments of capital.
Luxembourg taxation of the holders
Luxembourg tax residence of the holders
Holders will not be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on business in Luxembourg for income tax purposes solely by reason of holding, execution, performance, delivery, exchange and/or enforcement of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants.
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Taxation of Luxembourg non-residents
Holders who are non-residents of Luxembourg and who do not have a permanent establishment, a permanent representative, or a fixed place of business in Luxembourg with which the holding of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants is connected, are not liable to any Luxembourg income tax (other than a tax potentially levied by way of withholding at source), whether they receive payments upon redemption or repurchase of all Ordinary Shares or Warrants, or realize capital gains on the sale of any Ordinary Shares or Warrants, unless they sell a participation of more than 10% in the capital of AMPSA within 6 months of its acquisition or they have been a resident of Luxembourg for tax purposes for at least 15 years and have become a non-resident within the five years preceding the realization of the gain, in both cases subject to the provisions of applicable tax treaties.
Taxation of Luxembourg residents
Holders who are Luxembourg resident companies (société de capitaux) or foreign entities which have a permanent establishment, a permanent representative or a fixed place of business in Luxembourg with which the holding of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants is connected, must include in their taxable income any income (including dividends) and the difference between the sale or redemption price and the tax book value of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants sold or redeemed, unless for Ordinary Shares the conditions of the Luxembourg participation exemption regime are met.
Net Wealth Tax
Luxembourg net wealth tax will not be levied on the Ordinary Shares or Warrants held by a corporate holder, unless: (a) such holder is a Luxembourg resident or (b) such Ordinary Shares or Warrants are attributable to an enterprise or part thereof which is carried on by a non-resident company in Luxembourg through a permanent establishment. Ordinary Shares qualifying for the Luxembourg participation exemption regime are excluded from the Net Wealth Tax basis.
Other Taxes
No registration tax will be payable by a holder of Ordinary Shares or Warrants upon the disposal of Ordinary Shares or Warrants by sale or exchange. The issuance as well as the redemption of shares by a Luxembourg resident company as well as any other changes to its articles of association are subject to a fixed registration tax in Luxembourg amounting to €75. Registration duties may, moreover, be due if documents relating to the Ordinary Shares or Warrants are (i) voluntarily registered in Luxembourg, (ii) appended to a document that requires obligatory registration in Luxembourg or (iii) deposited with the official records of a Luxembourg notary.
There is no Luxembourg value added tax payable in respect of payments in consideration for the issuance of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants or in respect of the payment under the Ordinary Shares or Warrants or in respect of the transfer of the Ordinary Shares and/or Warrants. Luxembourg value added tax may, however, be payable in respect of fees charged for certain services rendered to AMPSA if, for Luxembourg value added tax purposes, such services are rendered or are deemed to be rendered in Luxembourg and an exemption from Luxembourg value added tax does not apply with respect to such services.
No Luxembourg inheritance tax is levied on the transfer of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants upon the death of a holder in cases where the deceased was not a resident of Luxembourg for inheritance tax purposes. Where a holder is a resident or a deemed resident of Luxembourg for at the time of his or her death, the Ordinary Shares or Warrants are included in his taxable estate for inheritance tax assessment purposes. No Luxembourg gift tax will be levied on the transfer of the Ordinary Shares or Warrants by way of gift unless the gift is registered in Luxembourg.
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F. |
Dividends and paying agents |
Not applicable
G. |
Statement by experts |
Not applicable
H. |
Documents on display |
The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information that we file with or furnish electronically with the SEC. We also make available on our website, free of charge, our annual reports on Form 20-F and our reports on Form 6-K, including any amendments to these reports, as well as certain other SEC filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically files or furnished with the SEC. Our website address is https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
I. |
Subsidiary Information |
Not applicable
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The statements about market risk below relate to our historical financial information included in this Annual Report.
Interest Rate Risk
At December 31, 2025, the Group’s senior facilities were 100% (2024: 92%) fixed, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.0% (2024: 4.1%). As a result, movements in market interest rates would not have a material impact on either profit or loss, or shareholders’ equity.
Currency Exchange Risk
We present our consolidated financial information in U.S. dollar. Our functional currency is the euro.
We operate 23 production facilities in 9 countries, across three continents and our main currency exposure for the year ended December 31, 2025, from the euro functional currency, was in relation to the U.S. dollar, British pound and Brazilian real. Currency exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions, recognized assets and liabilities, and net investments in foreign operations.
As a result of the audited consolidated financial statements being presented in U.S dollar, our results are also impacted by fluctuations in the U.S. dollar exchange rate versus the euro.
We have a limited level of transactional currency exposure arising from sales or purchases by operating units in currencies other than their functional currencies.
We have certain investments in foreign operations, whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk. Currency exposure arising from the net assets of our foreign operations is managed primarily through borrowings and swaps denominated in our principal foreign currencies.
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Fluctuations in the value of these currencies with respect to the euro functional currency may have a significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations. We believe that a strengthening of the euro exchange rate (the functional currency) by 1% against all other foreign currencies from the December 31, 2025 rate would decrease shareholders’ equity by approximately $1 million (2024: $4 million decrease).
Commodity Price Risk
The Group is exposed to changes in prices of energy and its main raw materials, primarily aluminum. Aluminum is traded daily as a commodity on the London Metal Exchange, which has historically been subject to significant price volatility. Because aluminum is priced in U.S. dollar, fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/euro rate also affect the euro cost of aluminum. Furthermore, the relative price of oil and its by-products may impact our business, affecting our transport, lacquer and ink costs.
Our preferred commodity price risk management mechanism is the use of pass through provisions in our sales contracts. Where we do not have such pass through provisions, we use fixed price supply or derivative agreements to manage commodity price risk. We depend on an active liquid market and available credit lines with suppliers and banks to cover this risk. Our risk management practices are dependent on robust hedging policies and procedures.
Energy price has been exposed to increased volatility in recent years. Where energy pass through provisions in our contracts do not exist, our policy is to purchase natural gas and electricity by entering into forward price fixing arrangements with suppliers for the majority of our anticipated requirements for the year ahead and certain of our requirements beyond one year. Such contracts are used exclusively to obtain delivery of our anticipated energy supplies. We do not trade nor look to profit from such activities. We avail ourselves of the own use exemption and, therefore, these contracts are treated as executory contracts. Any natural gas and electricity which is not purchased under forward price fixing arrangements is purchased under index tracking contracts or at spot prices. Where entering forward price-fixing arrangements with suppliers is not practical, the Group may use derivative contracts with counterparty banks to cover the risk.
Increasing raw material costs over time has the potential, if customers are unable to pass on price increases, to reduce sales volume and could therefore have a significant impact on our business. We are also exposed to possible interruptions of supply of aluminum or other raw materials and any inability to purchase raw materials could negatively impact our operations.
Credit Risk
Credit risk arises from derivative contracts, cash and deposits held with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to our customers, including outstanding receivables. Our policy is to invest excess liquidity, only with recognized and reputable financial institutions. For banks and financial institutions, only independently rated parties with a minimum rating of “BBB+” from at least two credit rating agencies are accepted, where possible. The credit ratings of banks and financial institutions are monitored to ensure compliance with our policy. Risk of default is controlled within a policy framework of dealing with high quality institutions and by limiting the amount of credit exposure to any one bank or institution.
Our policy is to extend credit to customers of good credit standing. Credit risk is managed on an ongoing basis, by experienced personnel. Our policy for the management of credit risk in relation to trade receivables involves periodically assessing the financial reliability of customers, taking into account their financial position, past experience and other factors. Provisions are made, where deemed necessary, and the utilization of credit limits is regularly monitored. Management does not expect any significant counterparty to fail to meet its obligations. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each asset. For the year ended December 31, 2025, our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 57% of our revenues (2024: 57%; 2023: 55%).
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There is no recent history of default with these customers.
Surplus cash held by the operating entities over and above the balance required for working capital management is transferred to our Group Treasury function, where practically possible. Our Group Treasury function invests surplus cash in interest-bearing current accounts, money market funds and bank time deposits with appropriate maturities to provide sufficient headroom as determined by the below-mentioned forecasts.
Liquidity Risk
We are exposed to liquidity risk which arises primarily from the maturing of short-term and long-term debt obligations and from the normal liquidity cycle of the business throughout the course of a year. Our policy is to ensure that sufficient resources are available either from cash balances, cash flows or undrawn committed bank facilities, to ensure all obligations can be met as they fall due.
To effectively manage liquidity risk, we:
| ● | have committed credit facilities that we can access to meet liquidity needs; |
| ● | maintain cash balances and liquid investments with highly-rated counterparties; |
| ● | limit the maturity of cash balances; |
| ● | borrow the bulk of our debt needs under long-term fixed rate debt securities; and |
| ● | have internal control processes to manage liquidity risk. |
Cash flow forecasting is performed in our operating entities and is aggregated by our Group Treasury function. Our Group Treasury function monitors rolling forecasts of our liquidity requirements to ensure we have sufficient cash to meet operational needs while maintaining sufficient headroom on our undrawn committed credit facilities at all times so that we do not breach borrowing limits or covenants on any of our borrowing facilities. Such forecasting takes into consideration our debt financing plans.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Not applicable
Part II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
None
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable
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Item 15. Controls and Procedures
A.Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Our controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives.
Management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of December 31, 2025. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2025 so as to provide reasonable assurance that (1) information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the Company files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
B.Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting
Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by IASB and includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by IASB, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our audited consolidated financial statements.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13(a)-13(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2025. In making this assessment, it used the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2025, the internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
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C. Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, has audited and issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as at December 31, 2025, a copy of which appears in “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
D. Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the period covered by this Annual Report, management has not made any changes to our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16. Reserved
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our Board has determined that Damien O’Brien is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F. Our Board has also determined that all members of the audit committee are independent directors as defined under the NYSE Standards and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. For a description of Mr. O’Brien’s experience, see “Item 6.A Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Board—Damien O’Brien.”
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
Our Board has adopted a code of conduct (the “Code of Conduct”) that establishes the standards of ethical conduct applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. We also expect that all our business partners adhere to the principles and values set out in our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct addresses, among other things, competition and fair dealing, conflicts of interest, accurate financial reporting, compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, handling of company funds and assets, confidentiality and the process for reporting violations of the Code of Conduct, employee misconduct or other violations. Any waiver of the Code of Conduct with respect to any director or executive officer will be promptly disclosed and posted on our website. Amendments to the Code of Conduct must be approved by our Board and will be promptly disclosed and posted on our website.
The Code of Conduct is publicly available on our website at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/investors/corporate-governance. and in print to any shareholder who requests a copy. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
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Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers have acted as our independent principal accountants for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025.
The following table summarizes the total amounts for professional fees rendered in those periods:
|
|
Year ended |
|
Year ended |
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
(in $ millions) |
|
(in $ millions) |
Audit services fees |
|
5 |
|
5 |
Audit-related services fees |
|
1 |
|
— |
Tax services fees |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Total |
|
7 |
|
6 |
Audit Services Fees
Audit services are defined as standard audit work that needs to be performed each year in order to issue opinions on our audited consolidated financial statements and to issue reports on our local financial statements.
Audit-Related Services Fees
Audit-related fees include services such as auditing of non-recurring transactions, reviews of quarterly financial results, consents and comfort letters and any other audit services required for SEC or other regulatory filings.
Tax Services Fees
Tax services relate to the aggregated fees for services on tax compliance.
Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit services performed for the Company by its independent auditor in advance of an engagement. All auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor must be approved by the Audit Committee in advance, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit.
All audit-related service fees and tax service fees were approved by the Audit Committee.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
No exemptions from the listing standards for our Audit Committee.
Item 16E. Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
The Company did not repurchase any of its Ordinary Shares during 2025.
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Item 16F. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
Not applicable
Item 16G. Corporate Governance
We are a société anonyme incorporated in Luxembourg and our Ordinary Shares are listed on the NYSE. We are therefore required to comply with certain U.S. securities laws and regulations, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the NYSE Standards applicable to listed companies. As a “foreign private issuer” as defined under applicable U.S. securities laws, under the NYSE Standards, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of our home country in lieu of certain provisions of the NYSE Standards. Our intention is to voluntarily comply with these requirements, and as a result, there are currently no significant differences under the NYSE Standards between our corporate governance practices and those of U.S. domestic issuers listed on the NYSE. However, we avail ourselves of certain exemptions afforded to foreign private issuers under the Exchange Act that regulate certain disclosure obligations and procedural requirements, such as the proxy rule exemptions. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Being a Luxembourg Company and Our Status as a Foreign Private Issuer—As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of U.S. securities laws and rules and are permitted to publicly disclose less information than U.S. public companies are required to disclose, which may limit the information available to holders of our Ordinary Shares. Conversely, if we lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, this could result in significant additional costs and expenses” and “—We qualify for and rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.”
We also qualify for and avail ourselves of certain of the controlled company exemptions under the NYSE Standards applicable to listed companies (both foreign private issuers and U.S. domestic issuers) as described in the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
As a controlled company, we are not required to comply with the following requirements:
| ● | a majority of the Board consist of independent directors; |
| ● | the Nominating and Governance Committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; |
| ● | the Compensation Committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and |
| ● | there be an annual performance evaluation of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee. |
We currently comply with certain of these requirements on a voluntary basis, and as a result, the majority of our Board consists of independent directors, and we have written charters for and conduct annual performance evaluations of our Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee. However, we currently avail ourselves of the exemption that allows our Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee not to be composed entirely of independent directors. There can be no assurance that we will not avail ourselves of other controlled company exemptions in the future.
Due to our status as a foreign private issuer and a controlled company, we may cease voluntary compliance with the requirements that we are exempt from at any time, and you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of U.S. domestic issuers listed on the NYSE.
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The controlled company exemptions do not modify the independence requirements for the Audit Committee, which requires it to be composed of at least three members, each of whom is “independent,” as set forth under the NYSE Standards and the SEC rules governing audit committee member independence. All of the members of our Audit Committee are considered independent directors, in accordance with the NYSE Standards and the SEC rules.
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable
Item 16I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable
Item 16J. Insider Trading Policy
We operate an Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale and other dispositions of the Company’s securities, including by our directors, officers and employees. Our Insider Trading Policy is designed to promote compliance with applicable insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and NYSE listing standards. Our Insider Trading Policy is filed as Exhibit 11.1 to this Annual Report.
Item 16K. Cybersecurity
Risk Management and Strategy
Cybersecurity risk management is an important part of our enterprise risk management framework which includes systems and processes for identifying, monitoring and mitigating business, operational and legal risks. We have developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our critical systems and information, which is guided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity framework, a standard framework recognized in the industry and general best practices.
Our cybersecurity risk management program includes:
| ● | risk assessments designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems, information, products, services, and our broader enterprise IT environment; |
| ● | a cybersecurity team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our security controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents; |
| ● | the use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our security controls, using state of the art technologies in areas including anti-virus and anti-malware, email and web security platforms, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, cyber threat intelligence services and advanced persistent threat detection; |
| ● | cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, incident response personnel, and senior management; for example, we operate our BSecure communications and training campaign throughout our business to increase cybersecurity awareness; |
| ● | a cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for the evaluation, management, notification, mitigation and reporting of cybersecurity incidents; |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
104
| ● | a crisis management plan for identifying and assessing potentially material cybersecurity-related incidents and escalating to our senior management, our Board and appropriate committees of our Board, as needed; |
| ● | a risk management process for cybersecurity risks associated with our third-party service providers, suppliers, and vendors; and |
| ● | regular review of our cybersecurity risk management program by an external and independent professional services company. |
We have previously been the target of cybersecurity attacks and expect such attempts to continue, potentially with more frequency or sophistication. In 2021, AGSA announced that it had experienced a cybersecurity incident, the response to which included temporarily shutting down certain IT systems and applications used by us. Although no cybersecurity incident during the year ended December 31, 2025 resulted in an interruption of the Company’s operations, nor known losses of critical data or otherwise had a material impact on the Company’s strategy, financial condition or results of operations, the scope and impact of any future incident cannot be predicted. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Information Technology Systems” for more information on how a material cybersecurity incident may impact us.
Governance
The Board recognizes the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the integrity of our operations and sensitive data. The Board considers cybersecurity risk oversight an integral part of its risk oversight function and has delegated to the Audit Committee oversight of the Company’s risk management function, including risks related to cybersecurity, information technology and information security and the related activities taken by the Company to monitor, control and mitigate such risks. The Audit Committee oversees management’s implementation of our cybersecurity risk management program.
The management Enterprise Risk Committee regularly reports to the Audit Committee, and the Audit Committee receives at least quarterly reports from management on our cybersecurity risks. In addition, management, including our Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”), informs and updates the Audit Committee and the Board of any material cybersecurity incidents, as necessary. The Audit Committee regularly reports to the Board regarding its activities, including those related to cybersecurity risk oversight. The Board also receives a briefing from management, including from our CISO, on our cybersecurity risk management program at least annually.
Our management is responsible for assessing and managing our material risks from cybersecurity threats. Our cybersecurity team, led by our CISO, has primary responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management program and supervises both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our external cybersecurity consultants. Our CISO holds an MBA, LLB, and a post graduate qualification in Technology Management from Columbia University and has more than 25 years of experience in leading, managing and designing information technology solutions as well as building cyber resilience. The cybersecurity team supervises efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, including briefings from internal security personnel, threat intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us, and alerts and reports produced by security information and event management tooling.
Part III
Item 17. Financial Statements
See “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
105
Item 18. Financial Statements
See the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements from F-1 – F-70.
Item 19. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report:
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Exhibit Index |
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1.1* |
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2.1 |
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2.2 |
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2.3 |
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2.4 |
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2.5 |
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2.6* |
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2.7* |
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Description of Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. |
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4.1# |
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4.2# |
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4.3 |
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Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
106
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Exhibit Index |
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4.4 |
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4.5 |
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4.6# |
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4.7 |
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4.8 |
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8.1* |
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11.1* |
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12.1* |
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Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) - Section 302 - Certification of Chief Executive Officer |
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12.2* |
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Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) - Section 302 - Certification of Chief Financial Officer |
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13.1** |
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18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 - Section 906 - Certification of Chief Executive Officer |
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13.2** |
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18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 - Section 906 - Certification of Chief Financial Officer |
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15.1* |
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97.1* |
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101 |
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Interactive Data Files (XBRL – Related Documents) |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File |
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# Certain schedules, annexes and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 19 of Form 20-F, but will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.
*Filed herewith.
**Furnished herewith.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
107
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
Date: March 5, 2026
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Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. |
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By: |
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/s/ STEFAN SCHELLINGER |
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Name: |
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Stefan Schellinger |
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Title: |
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Chief Financial Officer |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
108
INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the related consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025 in conformity with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 15. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-2
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Revenue Recognition
As described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s revenue is generated from the sale of metal cans and can ends primarily for the beverage markets. Revenue is recognized when control of a good has transferred to the customer. For certain contracts, the Company manufactures products for customers that have no alternative use and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment for production completed to date. For such products that have no alternative use and where an enforceable right to payment exists, the Company recognizes revenue over time based on the units produced output method such that a portion of revenue, net of any related estimated rebates and cash discounts, excluding sales or value added tax, will be recognized prior to the dispatch of goods, as the Company satisfies the contractual performance obligations for those contracts. Contract assets represent revenue recognized over time, based on production completed, not yet billed to customers, in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy. For all other contracts, the Company recognizes revenue primarily on dispatch of the goods, net of any related customer rebates and cash discounts, excluding sales and value added taxes. The Company's total revenue was $5,497 million for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The principal consideration for our determination that performing procedures relating to revenue recognition is a critical audit matter is the high degree of audit effort in performing procedures related to the Company’s revenue recognition.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-3
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the revenue recognition process, including controls over the recognition of revenue at the transaction price once the Company satisfies a performance obligation. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing certain revenue transactions by tracing the transaction details to the sales order, the related shipping document and billing document in the system and the related cash receipt or the detailed listing of accounts receivable as of year end; (ii) testing revenue transactions, on a sample basis, by obtaining and inspecting source documents, such as sales contracts, purchase orders, billing documents, shipping documents, and cash receipts; (iii) where customer rebates are applicable, obtaining and inspecting support for the nature of the rebate, the amount, and agreement with the customer; (iv) confirming outstanding customer invoice balances at year end on a sample basis, and for confirmations not returned, obtaining and inspecting source documents, such as billing documents, sales contracts, shipping documents, and subsequent cash receipts; and (v) on a sample basis, testing the completeness and accuracy of data utilized by management in calculating the contract asset for revenue recognized over time.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers
Dublin, Ireland
February 26, 2026
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-4
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
|
|
|
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Year ended December 31, 2025 |
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Year ended December 31, 2024 |
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Year ended December 31, 2023 |
||||||||||||
|
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|
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Before |
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|
|
|
|
Before |
|
|
|
|
|
Before |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
exceptional |
|
Exceptional |
|
|
|
exceptional |
|
Exceptional |
|
|
|
exceptional |
|
Exceptional |
|
|
|
|
|
|
items |
|
items |
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Total |
|
items |
|
items |
|
Total |
|
items |
|
items |
|
Total |
|
|
Note |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Note 5 |
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|
|
|
|
Note 5 |
|
|
Revenue |
|
4 |
|
5,497 |
|
— |
|
5,497 |
|
4,908 |
|
— |
|
4,908 |
|
4,812 |
|
— |
|
4,812 |
Cost of sales |
|
|
|
(4,800) |
|
(16) |
|
(4,816) |
|
(4,262) |
|
(16) |
|
(4,278) |
|
(4,246) |
|
(92) |
|
(4,338) |
Gross profit |
|
|
|
697 |
|
(16) |
|
681 |
|
646 |
|
(16) |
|
630 |
|
566 |
|
(92) |
|
474 |
Sales, general and administration expenses |
|
|
|
(283) |
|
(16) |
|
(299) |
|
(283) |
|
(5) |
|
(288) |
|
(241) |
|
(14) |
|
(255) |
Intangible amortization |
|
10 |
|
(138) |
|
— |
|
(138) |
|
(140) |
|
— |
|
(140) |
|
(143) |
|
— |
|
(143) |
Operating profit |
|
|
|
276 |
|
(32) |
|
244 |
|
223 |
|
(21) |
|
202 |
|
182 |
|
(106) |
|
76 |
Net finance expense |
|
6 |
|
(226) |
|
(14) |
|
(240) |
|
(205) |
|
13 |
|
(192) |
|
(205) |
|
58 |
|
(147) |
(Loss)/profit before tax |
|
|
|
50 |
|
(46) |
|
4 |
|
18 |
|
(8) |
|
10 |
|
(23) |
|
(48) |
|
(71) |
Income tax credit/(charge) |
|
7 |
|
(15) |
|
22 |
|
7 |
|
(5) |
|
(8) |
|
(13) |
|
7 |
|
14 |
|
21 |
Profit/(loss) for the year |
|
|
|
35 |
|
(24) |
|
11 |
|
13 |
|
(16) |
|
(3) |
|
(16) |
|
(34) |
|
(50) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) attributable to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity holders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
(50) |
Non-controlling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
Profit/(loss) for the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
(50) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to equity holders |
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.02) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.05) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.12) |
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-5
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
Note |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Profit/(loss) for the year |
|
|
|
11 |
|
(3) |
|
(50) |
Other comprehensive (expense)/income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income statement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
– Arising in the year |
|
|
|
(50) |
|
10 |
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
(50) |
|
10 |
|
8 |
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
– New fair value adjustments into reserve |
|
|
|
12 |
|
19 |
|
(76) |
– Movement out of reserve to income statement |
|
|
|
21 |
|
(4) |
|
12 |
– Movement in deferred tax |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
(2) |
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
28 |
|
13 |
|
(60) |
Gain recognized on cost of hedging |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
– New fair value adjustments into reserve |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
— |
|
— |
– Movement out of reserve to income statement |
|
|
|
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Items that will not be reclassified to income statement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
– Remeasurement of employee benefit obligations |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
(3) |
|
(16) |
– Deferred tax movement on employee benefit obligations |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
1 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
(2) |
|
(12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
21 |
|
(64) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year |
|
|
|
6 |
|
18 |
|
(114) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attributable to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity holders |
|
|
|
5 |
|
18 |
|
(114) |
Non-controlling interests |
|
|
|
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year |
|
|
|
6 |
|
18 |
|
(114) |
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-6
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
|
|
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
Note |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets |
|
10 |
|
1,181 |
|
1,223 |
Property, plant and equipment |
|
11 |
|
2,515 |
|
2,480 |
Derivative financial instruments |
|
20 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
Deferred tax assets |
|
13 |
|
62 |
|
64 |
Employee benefit assets |
|
21 |
|
15 |
|
10 |
Other non-current assets |
|
12 |
|
64 |
|
53 |
|
|
|
|
3,839 |
|
3,832 |
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories |
|
14 |
|
509 |
|
382 |
Trade and other receivables |
|
15 |
|
467 |
|
332 |
Contract assets |
|
16 |
|
267 |
|
251 |
Income tax receivable |
|
|
|
34 |
|
35 |
Derivative financial instruments |
|
20 |
|
41 |
|
20 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
17 |
|
522 |
|
610 |
|
|
|
|
1,840 |
|
1,630 |
TOTAL ASSETS |
|
|
|
5,679 |
|
5,462 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity attributable to owners of the parent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity share capital |
|
18 |
|
7 |
|
267 |
Share premium |
|
18 |
|
5,989 |
|
5,989 |
Other reserves |
|
|
|
(5,707) |
|
(5,660) |
Retained earnings |
|
|
|
(972) |
|
(738) |
|
|
|
|
(683) |
|
(142) |
Non-controlling interests |
|
|
|
8 |
|
6 |
TOTAL EQUITY |
|
|
|
(675) |
|
(136) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings |
|
20 |
|
4,301 |
|
3,797 |
Employee benefit obligations |
|
21 |
|
152 |
|
154 |
Derivative financial instruments |
|
20 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
13 |
|
117 |
|
141 |
Other liabilities and provisions |
|
22 |
|
35 |
|
37 |
|
|
|
|
4,625 |
|
4,150 |
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings |
|
20 |
|
118 |
|
105 |
Interest payable |
|
|
|
18 |
|
19 |
Derivative financial instruments |
|
20 |
|
17 |
|
32 |
Trade and other payables |
|
23 |
|
1,539 |
|
1,250 |
Income tax payable |
|
|
|
27 |
|
28 |
Other liabilities and provisions |
|
22 |
|
10 |
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
1,729 |
|
1,448 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
6,354 |
|
5,598 |
TOTAL EQUITY and LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
5,679 |
|
5,462 |
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-7
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
|
Attributable to the owner of the parent |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign |
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
flow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non- |
|
|
|
Share |
|
Share |
|
translation |
|
hedge |
|
Other |
|
Retained |
|
|
|
controlling |
|
Total |
|
capital |
|
premium |
|
reserve |
|
reserve |
|
reserves |
|
earnings |
|
Total |
|
interests |
|
equity |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
Note 18 |
|
Note 18 |
|
|
|
|
|
Note 18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At January 1, 2023 |
267 |
|
5,989 |
|
(18) |
|
8 |
|
(5,647) |
|
(144) |
|
455 |
|
— |
|
455 |
Loss for the year |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(50) |
|
(50) |
|
— |
|
(50) |
Total other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year |
— |
|
— |
|
8 |
|
(60) |
|
— |
|
(12) |
|
(64) |
|
— |
|
(64) |
Hedging losses transferred to cost of inventory |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
29 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
29 |
|
— |
|
29 |
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMOQ acquisition (Note 11) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(7) |
|
— |
|
(7) |
|
6 |
|
(1) |
Dividends (Note 25) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(263) |
|
(263) |
|
— |
|
(263) |
At December 31, 2023 |
267 |
|
5,989 |
|
(10) |
|
(23) |
|
(5,654) |
|
(469) |
|
100 |
|
6 |
|
106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At January 1, 2024 |
267 |
|
5,989 |
|
(10) |
|
(23) |
|
(5,654) |
|
(469) |
|
100 |
|
6 |
|
106 |
Loss for the year |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(3) |
|
(3) |
|
— |
|
(3) |
Total other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year |
— |
|
— |
|
10 |
|
13 |
|
— |
|
(2) |
|
21 |
|
— |
|
21 |
Hedging losses transferred to cost of inventory |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
2 |
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMOQ put and call liability (Note 22) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
— |
|
2 |
Dividends (Note 25) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(264) |
|
(264) |
|
— |
|
(264) |
At December 31, 2024 |
267 |
|
5,989 |
|
— |
|
(8) |
|
(5,652) |
|
(738) |
|
(142) |
|
6 |
|
(136) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At January 1, 2025 |
267 |
|
5,989 |
|
— |
|
(8) |
|
(5,652) |
|
(738) |
|
(142) |
|
6 |
|
(136) |
Profit for the year |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
11 |
|
11 |
|
— |
|
11 |
Total other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year |
— |
|
— |
|
(51) |
|
28 |
|
— |
|
17 |
|
(6) |
|
1 |
|
(5) |
Hedging losses transferred to cost of inventory |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
6 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
6 |
|
— |
|
6 |
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMOQ put and call liability (Note 22) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(1) |
|
— |
|
(1) |
|
1 |
|
— |
Redemption of Preferred Shares (Note 18) |
(260) |
|
— |
|
(29) |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(289) |
|
— |
|
(289) |
Dividends (Note 25) |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(262) |
|
(262) |
|
— |
|
(262) |
At December 31, 2025 |
7 |
|
5,989 |
|
(80) |
|
26 |
|
(5,653) |
|
(972) |
|
(683) |
|
8 |
|
(675) |
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-8
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
Note |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations |
|
24 |
|
718 |
|
659 |
|
814 |
Net interest paid |
|
|
|
(202) |
|
(189) |
|
(174) |
Settlement of foreign currency derivative financial instruments |
|
|
|
(41) |
|
8 |
|
(10) |
Income tax paid |
|
|
|
(26) |
|
(28) |
|
(14) |
Net cash from operating activities |
|
|
|
449 |
|
450 |
|
616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows used in investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |
|
|
|
(173) |
|
(167) |
|
(368) |
Purchase of intangible assets |
|
|
|
(11) |
|
(20) |
|
(11) |
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment |
|
|
|
— |
|
8 |
|
1 |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
|
(184) |
|
(179) |
|
(378) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows used in financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from borrowings |
|
20 |
|
1,309 |
|
517 |
|
79 |
Repayment of borrowings |
|
20 |
|
(957) |
|
(229) |
|
(83) |
Redemption of Preferred Shares |
|
18 |
|
(289) |
|
— |
|
— |
Lease payments |
|
|
|
(111) |
|
(97) |
|
(78) |
Dividends paid |
|
25 |
|
(262) |
|
(264) |
|
(263) |
Deferred debt issue costs paid |
|
|
|
(17) |
|
(8) |
|
(3) |
Consideration paid on termination of derivative financial instruments |
|
20 |
|
(35) |
|
— |
|
— |
Exceptional early redemption premium paid |
|
|
|
(12) |
|
— |
|
— |
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
|
|
(374) |
|
(81) |
|
(348) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
|
(109) |
|
190 |
|
(110) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year |
|
17 |
|
610 |
|
443 |
|
555 |
Foreign exchange gains/(losses) on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
|
21 |
|
(23) |
|
(2) |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year |
|
17 |
|
522 |
|
610 |
|
443 |
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-9
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. General information
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (the “Company” or “AMPSA”) was incorporated in Luxembourg on January 20, 2021. The Company’s registered office is 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
On November 13, 2025, the Company announced that on November 12, 2025, Ardagh Group S.A. (“AGSA”) reported that it had completed a comprehensive recapitalization transaction in respect of certain debt of AGSA and its affiliates (the “Transaction”). As part of the Transaction, a debt-for-equity swap was effected pursuant to which certain holders of AGSA’s and its affiliates’ indebtedness acquired indirect ownership of AGSA through Ardagh Holdings S.A. (formerly Yeoman Capital S.A.). Following completion of the Transaction, the ultimate parent of the Company is Ardagh Holdings S.A., a company registered in Luxembourg (together with its subsidiaries other than AMPSA and its subsidiaries, the “Ardagh Group”), which indirectly owns approximately 76% of the issued ordinary shares of the Company. The Ardagh Group capital structure is separate and distinct from AMPSA’s capital structure.
The Transaction had no impact on the listing of AMPSA’s shares or the capital structure of AMPSA or its subsidiaries and AMPSA has remained a subsidiary of the Ardagh Group under the terms of the Transaction.
The Company is an independent, pure-play metal beverage can company, whose ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “AMBP.” The Company and its subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) are a leading supplier of metal beverage cans globally, with a particular focus on the Americas and Europe. The Group supplies sustainable and infinitely recyclable metal packaging to a diversified customer base of leading global, regional and national beverage producers. AMPSA operates 23 production facilities in Europe and the Americas, and employs approximately 6,500 people.
The Group does not have any operations within Russia or Ukraine and continues to monitor and comply with the various sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United Nations Security Committee that have been imposed on the Russian government and certain Russian entities and individuals.
The consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidation of the legal entities forming the Group for the periods presented. The principal operating subsidiaries forming the Group are listed in note 26.
The material accounting policies that have been applied to the consolidated financial statements are described in note 3.
2. Statement of directors’ approval
The consolidated financial statements were approved for issue by the board of directors of AMPSA (the “Board”) on February 24, 2026.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-10
3. Summary of material accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with, and are in compliance with, IFRS® Accounting Standards and related interpretations as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). IFRS Accounting Standards are comprised of standards and interpretations approved by the IASB, and standards and interpretations approved by the predecessor International Accounting Standards Committee that have been subsequently approved by the IASB and remain in effect. References to IFRS Accounting Standards hereafter should be construed as references to IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB.
The consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollar, rounded to the nearest million, and have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the following:
| ● | Private and Public Warrants and Earnout Shares (as defined in note 22) are stated at fair value; |
| ● | derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value; and |
| ● | employee benefit obligations are measured at the present value of the future estimated cash flows related to benefits earned and pension assets valued at fair value. |
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS Accounting Standards requires the use of critical accounting estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and income and expenses. It also requires management to exercise judgment in the process of applying Group accounting policies. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and are subject to continual re-evaluation. However, actual outcomes may differ from these estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are discussed in the critical accounting estimates, assumptions and judgments section of this note.
Going concern
At the date that the consolidated financial statements were approved for issue by the Board, the Board has formed the judgment that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In assessing whether the going concern assumption is appropriate, the Board has taken into account all available information about a period, extending to at least December 31, 2026.
In arriving at its conclusion, the Board has taken account of the Group’s current and anticipated trading performance, together with current and anticipated levels of cash and net debt and availability of committed borrowing facilities, the Transaction (see note 1), and external factors including the evolving trade and tariff environment, and economic and exchange rate volatility linked to political and geopolitical risks. As a result, it is the Board’s judgment that it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated financial statements on the going concern basis.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-11
Recently adopted accounting standards and changes in accounting policies
The impact of new standards, amendments to existing standards and interpretations issued and effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025 have been assessed by the Board. None of these new standards or amendments to existing standards effective January 1, 2025 have had or are expected to have a material impact for the Group.
Recent accounting pronouncements
New standards and amendments to existing standards and interpretations which are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and have not been early adopted by the Group include IFRS 18 ‘Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements’ which will replace IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements.’ IFRS 18 will retain many of the principles from IAS 1 with limited changes, in particular, it will not impact the recognition or measurement of items in the financial statements, or items which are presented in the income statement. IFRS 18 will introduce new presentation of items within the income statement, new required disclosures in the financial statements for certain management defined performance measures reported outside of an entity’s financial statements, and enhanced principles on aggregation and disaggregation which apply to the primary financial statements and notes in general. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027 with retrospective application to all comparative periods. The Board’s assessment of the impact of this standard on the consolidated financial statements is on-going.
The Board’s assessment of the impact of other new or amended standards which are not yet effective and which have not been early adopted by the Group, including various Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 regarding ‘Contracts Referencing Nature-dependent Electricity’ and ‘Classification and the Measurement of Financial Instruments’, and IFRS 19 ‘Subsidiaries without Public Accountability’ is on-going however they are not expected to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Basis of consolidation
| (i) | Subsidiaries |
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group and are de-consolidated from the date on which control ceases. Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity.
The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. The cost of an acquisition is the consideration given in exchange for control of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquired legal entities. Acquisition-related costs are expensed and included as exceptional items within sales, general and administration expenses. The acquired net assets are initially measured at fair value. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Any goodwill and fair value adjustments are recorded as assets and liabilities of the acquired legal entity in the functional currency of that legal entity. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the Group’s share of the net assets of the legal entity acquired, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated income statement. The Group considers obligations of the acquiree in a business combination that arise as a result of the change in control, to be cash flows arising from obtaining control of the controlled entity, and classifies these obligations as investing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-12
| (ii) | Non-controlling interests |
Non-controlling interests represent the portion of the equity of a subsidiary which is not attributable to the Group. Non-controlling interests are presented separately in the consolidated financial statements. Changes in ownership of a subsidiary which do not result in a change in control are treated as equity transactions.
| (iii) | Transactions eliminated on consolidation |
Transactions, balances and gains or losses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Subsidiaries’ accounting policies have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.
(iv) Transactions with Ardagh Group S.A. and its subsidiaries
Any unsettled balances between the Group and the Ardagh Group are presented as related party receivables or payables in the consolidated financial statements, within Trade and other receivables and Trade and other payables.
Foreign currency
| (i) | Functional and presentation currency |
The functional currency of the Company is euro. The consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollar which is the Group’s presentation currency.
| (ii) | Foreign currency transactions |
Items included in the consolidated financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the functional currency of that entity.
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are translated into the functional currency at the foreign exchange rate ruling at that date. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are recognized in the consolidated income statement, except: (i) differences on foreign currency borrowings that provide an effective hedge against a net investment in a foreign operation (“net investment hedges”), which are taken to other comprehensive income until the disposal of the net investment, at which time they are recognized in the consolidated income statement; and (ii) differences on certain derivative financial instruments discussed under “Derivative financial instruments” below.
| (iii) | Financial statements of foreign operations |
The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into euro at foreign exchange rates ruling at the reporting date. The revenues and expenses of foreign operations are translated to euro at average exchange rates for the year. Foreign exchange differences arising on retranslation and settlement of such transactions are recognized in other comprehensive income. Gains or losses accumulated in other comprehensive income are recycled to the consolidated income statement when the foreign operation is disposed of.
Non-monetary items measured at fair value in foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates as at the date when the fair value is determined.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-13
Business combination and goodwill
All business combinations are accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting. This involves measuring the cost of the business combination and allocating, at the acquisition date, the cost of the business combination to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date.
The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the consideration transferred, which is measured at acquisition date fair value, and the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree. For each business combination, the Group elects whether to measure the non-controlling interests in the acquiree at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred and included in sales, general and administration expenses.
When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation in accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions as at the acquisition date.
Any contingent consideration is recognized at fair value at the acquisition date.
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition.
Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is allocated to those groups of cash generating units (“CGUs”) that are expected to benefit from the business combination in which the goodwill arose for the purpose of assessing impairment. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment or whenever indicators suggest that impairment may have occurred.
Where goodwill has been allocated to a CGU and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill associated with the disposed operation is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on disposal. Goodwill disposed in these circumstances is measured based on the relative values of the disposed operation and the portion of the cash-generating unit retained.
Intangible assets
Intangible assets are initially recognized at cost.
Intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination are capitalized separately from goodwill if the intangible asset is separable or arises from contractual or other legal rights. They are initially recognized at cost which, for intangible assets arising in a business combination, is their fair value at the date of acquisition.
Subsequent to initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses. The carrying values of intangible assets with finite useful lives are reviewed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date and are subject to impairment testing when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-14
The amortization of intangible assets is calculated to write-off the book value of finite lived intangible assets over their useful lives on a straight-line basis, on the assumption of zero residual value. Management estimates the useful lives within the following ranges:
Computer software |
|
2 – 7 years |
Customer relationships |
|
5 – 15 years |
Technology |
|
5 – 15 years |
(i) Computer software
Computer software development costs are recognized as assets. Costs associated with maintaining computer software programs are recognized as an expense as incurred.
(ii) Customer relationships
Customer relationships acquired in a business combination are recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. Customer relationships have a finite useful economic life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortization.
(iii) Technology
Technology based intangibles acquired in a business combination are recognized at fair value at the acquisition date and reflect the Group’s ability to add value through accumulated technological expertise surrounding product and process development.
(iv) Research and development costs
Research costs are expensed as incurred. Development costs relating to new products are capitalized if the new product is technically and commercially feasible. All other development costs are expensed as incurred.
Property, plant and equipment
| (i) | Owned assets |
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, except for land which is shown at cost less impairment. Spare parts which form an integral part of plant and machinery and which have an estimated useful economic life greater than one year are capitalized. Spare parts which do not form an integral part of plant and machinery and which have an estimated useful economic life less than one year are included as consumables within inventory and expensed when utilized.
Where components of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and equipment.
| (ii) | Leased assets |
At the lease commencement date or the effective date of a lease modification, the Group recognizes a lease liability as the present value of expected future lease payments, discounted at the Group’s incremental borrowing rate unless the rate implicit in the lease is readily determinable, excluding any amounts which are variable based on the usage of the underlying asset and a right-of-use asset generally at the same amount plus any directly attributable costs.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-15
The incremental borrowing rate is the discount rate the Group would have to pay to borrow, over a similar term and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment. The Group combines lease and non-lease components and accounts for them as a single lease component with the exception of the dunnage asset class. Extension options or periods after termination options are considered by management if it is reasonably certain that the lease will be extended or not terminated.
| (iii) | Subsequent costs |
The Group recognizes in the carrying amount of an item of property, plant and equipment, the cost of replacing the component of such an item when that cost is incurred, if it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. When a component is replaced the old component is de-recognized in the period. All other costs are recognized in the consolidated income statement as an expense as incurred. When a major overhaul is performed, its cost is recognized in the carrying amount of the plant and equipment as a replacement if the recognition criteria above are met.
| (iv) | Depreciation |
Depreciation of owned assets is charged to the consolidated income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item of property, plant and equipment. Land is not depreciated. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Buildings |
|
20 – 40 years |
Plant, machinery and other |
|
3 – 20 years |
Dunnage and other |
|
3 – 10 years |
Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of its useful life and the lease term. Where the lease contains a transfer of ownership or a purchase option which is reasonably certain to be exercised, the right-of-use asset is depreciated over the useful life of the underlying asset.
Assets’ useful lives and residual values are adjusted, if appropriate, at each reporting date.
Joint operation
A joint operation is a type of joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights and obligations to the individual assets and liabilities relating to the arrangement. An investment in a joint operation is accounted for by each party recognizing its agreed share of interest in any assets, liabilities and related expense or income.
Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful economic life are not subject to amortization and are tested annually for impairment or whenever indicators suggest that impairment may have occurred. Assets that are subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-16
For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets excluding goodwill and long-lived intangible assets, are grouped at the lowest levels at which cash flows are separately identifiable. Goodwill and long-lived intangible assets are allocated to groups of CGUs. The groupings represent the lowest level at which the related assets are monitored for internal management purposes.
Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.
The recoverable amount of other assets is the greater of their fair value less costs to dispose and value in use. In assessing fair value less costs to dispose, management uses a market approach, applying a multiple to Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For an asset that does not generate largely independent cash inflows, the recoverable amount is determined for the CGU to which the asset belongs.
Inventories
Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The cost of inventories is based on the first-in, first-out basis and includes expenditure incurred in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their current location and condition. In the case of finished goods and work-in-progress, cost includes direct materials, direct labor and attributable overheads based on normal operating capacity.
Net realizable value is the estimated proceeds of sale less all further costs to completion, and less all costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
Spare parts which are deemed to be of a consumable nature, are included within inventories and expensed when utilized.
Equity transactions
| (i) | Share repurchases |
When shares are repurchased, the amount of consideration paid together with any directly related expense is presented as a deduction of equity within treasury shares until such shares are canceled, at which time the amount is reclassified from treasury shares to share capital and retained earnings, respectively, with no gain or loss recognized either upon initial repurchase or subsequent cancelation.
| (ii) | Preferred shares |
Preferred shares are classified as equity if there are no contractual obligations to deliver any cash or another financial asset under the respective terms of the instrument. If there is a contractual obligation to deliver cash or another financial asset, the instrument is either a financial liability in its entirety in the case of non-discretionary payments for principal and dividends, or a compound interest with a liability and an equity component, if dividend payments are at the full discretion of the Group. See note 18 for further details.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-17
Non-derivative financial instruments
Non-derivative financial instruments comprise trade and other receivables, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, borrowings, trade and other payables, and the Private and Public Warrants and Earnout Shares (as defined in note 22). Non-derivative financial instruments are recognized initially at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs, except as described below. Subsequent to initial recognition, non-derivative financial instruments are measured as described below.
| (i) | Trade and other receivables |
Trade and other receivables are recognized initially at fair value, which equals the transaction price, unless a significant financing component is included, and thereafter are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method less any provision for impairment, in accordance with the Group’s held to collect business model. The Group uses estimates based on expected credit losses and current information in determining the level of debts for which a specific allowance for impairment is required. For all other trade receivables, the Group uses an allowance matrix to measure the expected credit loss, based on historical actual credit loss experiences, adjusted for forward-looking information.
| (ii) | Securitized assets |
The Group has entered into securitization transactions involving certain of its trade receivables. The securitized assets are recognized on the consolidated statement of financial position, until all of the rights to the cash flows from those assets have expired or have been fully transferred outside the Group, or until substantially all of the related risks, rewards and control of the related assets have been transferred to a third party.
The Group has also entered into a Global Asset Based Loan Facility (“ABL”) involving certain of its trade receivables and inventory. The lenders under the ABL have security over those receivables, inventory and the bank accounts where the associated cash flows are received. The risks, rewards and control of these assets are still retained by the Group and are, therefore, recognized on the statement of financial position.
| (iii) | Contract assets |
Contract assets represent revenue required to be accelerated or recognized over time, based on production completed in accordance with the Group’s revenue recognition policy (as set out below). A provision for impairment of a contract asset will be recognized using an allowance matrix to measure the expected credit loss, based on historical actual credit loss experiences, adjusted for forward-looking information.
| (iv) | Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash include cash on hand and call deposits held with bank and financial institutions and restricted cash. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are carried at amortized cost.
Short-term bank deposits of greater than three months’ maturity which do not meet the definition of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are classified as financial assets within current assets and stated at amortized cost.
Restricted cash comprises cash held by the Group but which is ring-fenced or used as security for specific financing arrangements, and to which the Group does not have unfettered access. Restricted cash is measured at amortized cost.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-18
| (v) | Borrowings |
Borrowings are recognized initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortized cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognized in the Group’s consolidated income statement over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest rate method.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.
| (vi) | Trade and other payables |
Trade and other payables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.
Derivative financial instruments
Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value at each reporting date. The method of recognizing the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged.
The fair values of various derivative instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in note 20. The full fair value of a hedging derivative is classified as a non-current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the hedge instrument is more than 12 months and as a current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the hedge instrument is less than 12 months. Trading derivatives are classified as a current asset or liability.
| (i) | Cash flow hedges |
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income, allocated between cash flow hedge gains or losses and cost of hedging gains or losses. For cash flow hedges which subsequently result in the recognition of a non-financial asset, the amounts accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve are transferred to the asset in order to adjust its carrying value. Amounts accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve and cost of hedging reserve, or as adjustments to carrying value of non-financial assets, are recycled to the consolidated income statement in the periods when the hedged item will affect profit or loss.
The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement. When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing at that time remains in equity and is recognized in the consolidated income statement when the forecast cash flow arises. When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately recycled to the consolidated income statement.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-19
| (ii) | Net investment hedges |
Derivative financial instruments are classified as net investment hedges when they hedge changes in the Group’s net investments in its subsidiaries due to exposure to foreign currency. Net investment hedges are accounted for in a similar manner to cash flow hedges. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion of a net investment hedge is recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement within finance income or expense.
Fair value measurement
The Group measures derivative financial instruments, employee benefit assets and Private and Public Warrants and Earnout Shares at fair value at each reporting date. Fair value related disclosures for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value or where fair values are disclosed, are summarized in the following notes:
| ● | Disclosures of valuation methods, significant estimates and assumptions (notes 20 and 21) |
| ● | Quantitative disclosures of fair value measurement hierarchy (note 20) |
| ● | Financial instruments (including those carried at amortized cost) (note 20) |
| ● | Private and Public Warrants and Earnout Shares (note 22) |
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place either:
| ● | in the principal market for the asset or liability; or |
| ● | in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. |
The principal or the most advantageous market must be accessible by the Group. The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.
A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.
The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs.
Employee benefits
| (i) | Defined benefit pension plans |
Typically, defined benefit plans define an amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-20
The asset or liability recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position in respect of defined benefit pension plans is the net of the present value of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets at the reporting date. The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension liability.
Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise. Past service costs and past service credits are recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement.
| (ii) | Other long-term employee benefits |
The Group’s obligations in respect of other long-term employee benefit plans represents the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for service in the current and prior periods for post-retirement medical schemes, partial retirement contracts and long service awards. These are included in the category of employee benefit obligations on the consolidated statement of financial position. The obligation is computed on the basis of the projected unit credit method and is discounted to present value using a discount rate equating to the market yield at the reporting date on high quality corporate bonds of a currency and term consistent with the currency and estimated term of the obligations. Actuarial gains and losses are recognized in full in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.
| (iii) | Defined contribution plans |
A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. The contributions are recognized as employee benefit expense when they are due.
Provisions
Provisions are recognized when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated.
Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation.
Revenue recognition
Our products include metal cans primarily for the beverage markets with consumer-driven demand. In addition to metal cans, the Group manufactures and supplies a wide range of can ends. Cans and ends are usually distinct items and can be sold separately from each other. A significant portion of our sales volumes are supplied under contracts which include input cost pass through provisions.
The Group usually enters into framework agreements with its customers, which establish the terms and conditions for subsequent individual purchase orders for our goods and services. In the context of the revenue recognition standard IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’, an enforceable contract identifies each party’s enforceable rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-21
The Group has concluded that under this accounting standard only individual purchase orders meet such definition of a contract. The individual purchase orders have, in general, a duration of one year or less and, as such, the Group does not disclose any information about remaining performance obligations under these contracts. The payment terms of the Group are in line with customary business practice, which can vary by customer and region. The Group has availed of the practical expedient from considering the existence of a significant financing component as, based on past experience, we expect that, at contract inception, the period between when a promised good is transferred to the customer and when the customer pays for that good will be one year or less.
Revenue is recognized when control of a good or service has transferred to the customer. For certain contracts, the Group manufactures products for customers that have no alternative use and for which the Group has an enforceable right to payment for production completed to date. The Group has concluded that it has such enforceable right to payment plus a reasonable margin once it receives an individual purchase order. Therefore, for such products that have no alternative use and where an enforceable right to payment exists, the Group will recognize revenue over time based on the units produced output method such that a portion of revenue, net of any related estimated rebates and cash discounts, excluding sales or value added tax, will be recognized prior to the dispatch of goods as the Group satisfies the contractual performance obligations for those contracts. For all other contracts, the Group will continue to recognize revenue primarily on dispatch of the goods, net of any related customer rebates and cash discounts, excluding sales and value added taxes.
The Group often sells products with rebates and cash discounts based on cumulative sales over a period. Such rebate and cash discount consideration is only recognized when it is highly probable that it will not be subsequently reversed and is recognized using the most likely amount depending on the individual contractual terms.
Exceptional items
The Group’s consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of cash flows and segmental analysis separately identify results before specific items. Specific items are those that in management’s judgment need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence to provide additional information. Such items include, where significant, restructuring, redundancy and other costs relating to permanent capacity realignment or footprint reorganization, directly attributable acquisition costs and acquisition integration costs, and other transaction-related costs, profit or loss on disposal or termination of operations, start-up costs incurred in relation to and associated with plant builds, significant new line investments, major litigation costs and settlements and impairments of non-current assets. In this regard the determination of “significant” as included in our definition uses qualitative and quantitative factors. Judgment is used by the Group in assessing the specific items, which by virtue of their scale and nature, are disclosed in the Group’s consolidated income statement, and related notes as exceptional items.
Management considers columnar presentation to be appropriate in the consolidated income statement as it provides useful additional information and is consistent with the way that financial performance is measured by management and presented to the Board. Exceptional restructuring costs are classified as restructuring provisions and all other exceptional costs when outstanding at the reporting date are classified as exceptional items payable.
Net finance expense
Finance income comprises interest income on funds invested, gains on derecognition of financial assets, ineffective portions of derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments and gains on derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments and are recognized in profit or loss.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-22
Finance expense comprises interest expense on borrowings (including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs), related party borrowings, interest cost on leases, certain net foreign currency translation gains or losses related to financing, net interest cost on net pension plan liabilities, losses on extinguishment of borrowings and derecognition of financial assets, ineffective portions of derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments, losses on derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments and are recognized in profit or loss, and other finance expense.
The Group capitalizes borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of manufacturing plants that require a substantial period of time to build that would have been avoided if the expenditure on the qualifying asset had not been made.
Costs related to the issuance of new debt are deferred and amortized within finance expense over the expected terms of the related debt agreements by using the effective interest rate method.
Income tax
Income tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in the consolidated income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognized in other comprehensive income.
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.
Deferred income tax is recognized, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are generally not recognized if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill; deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, unless the transaction gives rise to equal and offsetting temporary differences, in which case a corresponding deferred tax asset and liability is recognized. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realized or the deferred income tax liability is settled.
Deferred income tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except for deferred income tax liability where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Group and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-23
Segment reporting
The Board has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) for the Group.
Operating segments are identified on the basis of the internal reporting regularly provided to the CODM in order to allocate resources to the segment and assess its performance.
Critical accounting estimates, assumptions and judgments
Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.
| (i) | Income taxes |
The Group is subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions and judgment is therefore required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. Where uncertain tax treatments exist, the Group assesses whether it is probable that a tax authority will accept the uncertain tax treatment applied or proposed to be applied in its income tax filings. The Group assesses for each uncertain tax treatment whether it should be considered independently or whether some tax treatments should be considered together based on what the Group believes provides a better prediction of the resolution of the uncertainty. The Group considers whether it is probable that the relevant authority will accept each uncertain tax treatment, or group of uncertain tax treatments, assuming that the taxation authority with the right to examine any amounts reported to it will examine those amounts and will have full knowledge of all relevant information when doing so.
The Group measures tax uncertainties using its best estimate of likely outcomes. This estimate relies on estimates and assumptions and may involve judgments about future events.
Corporate activity including acquisitions, disposals and reorganizations often create tax uncertainties. The Group has determined, with the benefit of opinions from external tax advisors and legal counsel, where appropriate, that it has provided for all taxation liabilities that are probable to arise from such activities.
New information may become available that causes the Group to change its judgment regarding the adequacy of existing tax liabilities. Such changes could result in incremental tax liabilities which could have a material effect on cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.
Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were originally estimated such differences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.
| (ii) | Measurement of employee benefit obligations |
The Group follows guidance of IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ to determine the present value of its obligations to current and past employees in respect of defined benefit pension obligations, other long-term employee benefits, and other end of service employee benefits which are subject to similar fluctuations in value in the long-term. The Group values its liabilities, with the assistance of professional actuaries, to ensure consistency in the quality of the key assumptions underlying the valuations.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-24
The critical assumptions and estimates applied are discussed in detail in note 21.
| (iii) | Exceptional items |
The consolidated income statement and segment analysis separately identify results before exceptional items. Exceptional items are those that in management’s judgment need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence.
The Group believes that this presentation provides additional analysis as it highlights exceptional items. The determination of “significant” as included in management’s definition uses qualitative and quantitative factors which remain consistent from period to period. Management uses judgment in assessing the particular items, which by virtue of their scale and nature, are disclosed in the consolidated income statement and related notes as exceptional items. Management considers the consolidated income statement presentation of exceptional items to be appropriate as it provides useful additional information and is consistent with the way that financial information is measured by management and presented to the Board. In that regard, management believes it to be consistent with paragraph 85 of IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’, which permits the inclusion of line items and subtotals that improve the understanding of performance.
(iv) Valuation of Earnout Shares
The Group follows the guidance of IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’ in accounting for the Earnout Shares (as defined in note 22). The Earnout Shares are recorded as a financial liability and measured at fair value at each reporting date, and are considered a critical accounting estimate in the comparative financial periods included in this annual report. The key data inputs into the valuation are volatility, dividend yield, share price hurdles, share price, and risk-free rate. Volatility is the significant assumption in the fair value of the Earnout Shares as it is not directly market observable and there is estimation uncertainty involved in determining the assumed volatility. The critical assumptions and estimates applied are discussed in detail in note 22.
4. Segment analysis
The Group’s two operating and reportable segments, Europe and Americas, reflect the basis on which the Group’s performance is reviewed by management and presented to the CODM.
Performance of the Group is assessed based on Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is the profit or loss for the period before income tax charge or credit, net finance expense or income, depreciation and amortization and exceptional operating items. Sales contracts generally provide for the pass through of metal and energy price fluctuations as well as a mechanism for the recovery of other input cost inflation, while certain contracts have tolling arrangements whereby customers arrange for the procurement of metal themselves. Consequently, the CODM evaluates the financial effects of the business activities of the reportable segments based on Adjusted EBITDA, which includes the net impact of the pass through pricing model operated by the business.
Other items are not allocated to segments, as these are reviewed by the CODM on a group-wide basis. Segmental revenues are derived from sales to external customers. Inter-segmental revenue is not material.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-25
Reconciliation of profit/(loss) for the year to Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Profit/(loss) for the year |
|
11 |
|
(3) |
|
(50) |
Income tax (credit)/charge (note 7) |
|
(7) |
|
13 |
|
(21) |
Net finance expense (note 6) |
|
240 |
|
192 |
|
147 |
Depreciation and amortization (notes 10, 11) |
|
463 |
|
449 |
|
418 |
Exceptional operating items (note 5) |
|
32 |
|
21 |
|
106 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
739 |
|
672 |
|
600 |
The segment results for the year ended December 31, 2025 are:
|
|
Europe |
|
Americas |
|
Total |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Revenue |
|
2,307 |
|
3,190 |
|
5,497 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
272 |
|
467 |
|
739 |
Capital expenditure |
|
96 |
|
88 |
|
184 |
Segment assets |
|
2,740 |
|
2,939 |
|
5,679 |
The segment results for the year ended December 31, 2024 are:
|
|
Europe |
|
Americas |
|
Total |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Revenue |
|
2,161 |
|
2,747 |
|
4,908 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
257 |
|
415 |
|
672 |
Capital expenditure |
|
76 |
|
103 |
|
179 |
Segment assets |
|
2,589 |
|
2,873 |
|
5,462 |
The segment results for the year ended December 31, 2023 are:
|
|
Europe |
|
Americas |
|
Total |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Revenue |
|
2,030 |
|
2,782 |
|
4,812 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
211 |
|
389 |
|
600 |
Capital expenditure |
|
155 |
|
223 |
|
378 |
Segment assets |
|
2,648 |
|
3,021 |
|
5,669 |
One customer accounted for greater than 10% of total revenue in 2025 (2024: one; 2023: one).
Capital expenditure is the sum of purchases of property, plant and equipment and software and other intangibles, net of proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment, as per the consolidated statement of cash flows.
Segment assets consist of intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, derivative financial instrument assets, deferred tax assets, employee benefit assets, other non-current assets, inventories, trade and other receivables, contract assets, income tax receivable and cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. The material accounting policies of the segments are the same as those in the consolidated financial statements of the Group as set out in note 3.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-26
Total revenue from the Group in countries which account for more than 10% of total revenue, in the current or prior years presented, are as follows:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Revenue |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
U.S. |
|
2,552 |
|
2,122 |
|
2,307 |
UK |
|
551 |
|
509 |
|
495 |
The revenue above is attributed to countries on a destination basis.
Non-current assets, excluding derivative financial instrument assets, deferred tax assets, employee benefit assets and goodwill arising on acquisitions in countries which account for more than 10% of non-current assets are the U.S. 45% (2024: 47%), Brazil 17% (2024: 17%) and Germany 14% (2024: 13%).
The Company is domiciled in Luxembourg. During the year the Group had revenues of $nil (2024: $nil, 2023: $nil) with customers in Luxembourg. Non-current assets located in Luxembourg were $nil (2024: $nil).
Within each reportable segment our respective packaging containers have similar production processes and classes of customers. Further, they have similar economic characteristics, as evidenced by similar profit margins, similar degrees of risk and similar opportunities for growth. Based on the foregoing, we do not consider that they constitute separate product lines and therefore additional disclosures relating to product lines is not necessary.
Disaggregation of revenue
The following illustrates the disaggregation of revenue by destination for the year ended December 31, 2025:
|
|
|
|
North |
|
Rest of the |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
America |
|
world |
|
Total |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Europe |
|
2,275 |
|
7 |
|
25 |
|
2,307 |
Americas |
|
– |
|
2,707 |
|
483 |
|
3,190 |
Group |
|
2,275 |
|
2,714 |
|
508 |
|
5,497 |
The following illustrates the disaggregation of revenue by destination for the year ended December 31, 2024:
|
|
|
|
North |
|
Rest of the |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
America |
|
world |
|
Total |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Europe |
|
2,134 |
|
3 |
|
24 |
|
2,161 |
Americas |
|
– |
|
2,295 |
|
452 |
|
2,747 |
Group |
|
2,134 |
|
2,298 |
|
476 |
|
4,908 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-27
The following illustrates the disaggregation of revenue by destination for the year ended December 31, 2023:
|
|
|
|
North |
|
Rest of the |
|
|
|
|
Europe |
|
America |
|
world |
|
Total |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Europe |
|
2,010 |
|
7 |
|
13 |
|
2,030 |
Americas |
|
– |
|
2,311 |
|
471 |
|
2,782 |
Group |
|
2,010 |
|
2,318 |
|
484 |
|
4,812 |
The following illustrates the disaggregation of revenue based on the timing of transfer of goods and services:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Over time |
|
4,367 |
|
3,876 |
|
3,831 |
Point in time |
|
1,130 |
|
1,032 |
|
981 |
Total |
|
5,497 |
|
4,908 |
|
4,812 |
5. Exceptional items
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Start-up related and other costs |
|
6 |
|
24 |
|
36 |
Impairment charge/(reversal) - property, plant and equipment |
|
10 |
|
(4) |
|
18 |
Restructuring (credit)/charge |
|
— |
|
(4) |
|
38 |
Exceptional items – cost of sales |
|
16 |
|
16 |
|
92 |
Transaction-related and other costs |
|
16 |
|
5 |
|
14 |
Exceptional items – SG&A expenses |
|
16 |
|
5 |
|
14 |
Exceptional finance expense/(income) |
|
14 |
|
(13) |
|
(58) |
Exceptional items – finance expense/(income) |
|
14 |
|
(13) |
|
(58) |
Exceptional income tax (credit)/charge (note 7) |
|
(22) |
|
8 |
|
(14) |
Total exceptional items, net of tax |
|
24 |
|
16 |
|
34 |
Exceptional items are those that in management’s judgment need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence.
2025
A net charge of $24 million has been recognized as exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily comprising:
| ● | $6 million start-up related and other costs in the Americas ($3 million) and in Europe ($3 million), principally relating to the Group’s investment programs. |
| ● | $10 million impairment of property, plant and equipment relating to early-stage capital expenditure for a proposed greenfield site development in Europe. The project was deferred during the year resulting in certain of the initial costs incurred no longer being recoverable. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-28
| ● | $16 million of transaction-related and other costs, comprised principally of real estate transfer tax and other costs in connection with the Transaction, together with professional advisory fees and other costs incurred in respect of the Group's transformation initiatives. |
| ● | $14 million net exceptional finance expenses includes premiums payable on and accelerated amortization of deferred debt issue costs and other expenses related to (i) the early redemption of the Group's $600 million 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027; (ii) repayment of the Senior Secured Term Loan; and (iii) termination of the Group's cross currency interest rate swaps (“CCIRS”) in December 2025 (note 20), partly offset by a gain on the movements in fair value of the Earnout Shares and Private and Public Warrants (note 22). |
| ● | Tax credits of $22 million have been recognized in relation to exceptional items. |
2024
A net charge of $16 million has been recognized as exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily comprising:
| ● | $24 million start-up related and other costs in the Americas ($15 million) and in Europe ($9 million), primarily relating to the Group’s investment programs. |
| ● | A $4 million credit relating to property, plant and equipment in Whitehouse, Ohio, which was disposed of or re-distributed for use elsewhere in the Americas operating network during the year resulting in a part-reversal of the impairment charge previously recognized in respect of the plant closure completed in February 2024. |
| ● | A $4 million credit primarily relating to restructuring costs provided for in the prior year for the closure of the Whitehouse facility has also been recognized, in respect of costs no longer expected to be incurred. |
| ● | $5 million transaction-related and other costs, primarily comprised of professional advisory fees and restructuring and other costs relating to transformation initiatives. |
| ● | $13 million exceptional finance income primarily relates to a gain on movements in the fair market values of the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants. |
| ● | Tax charges of $8 million have been recognized in relation to exceptional items. |
2023
A net charge of $34 million has been recognized as exceptional items for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily comprising:
| ● | $36 million start-up related and other costs in the Americas ($20 million) and in Europe ($16 million), primarily relating to the Group’s investment programs. |
| ● | $18 million relating to impairment of property, plant and equipment in Europe ($9 million) following the decision to close the remaining steel lines in the Weissenthurm production facility in Germany, completing the conversion to an aluminum only facility, and the Americas ($9 million) in respect of the closure of the Whitehouse, Ohio production facility which was completed in February 2024. |
| ● | $38 million restructuring costs in the Americas ($20 million) and Europe ($18 million), primarily related to the Whitehouse facility and Weissenthurm steel line closures. |
| ● | $14 million transaction-related and other costs, comprised of a $6 million legal settlement in respect of a contract manufacturing agreement arising from Ardagh Group’s acquisition of the beverage can business and $8 million of professional advisory fees and other costs primarily in relation to transformation initiatives. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-29
| ● | $58 million net exceptional finance income primarily relates to a gain on movements in the fair market values on the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants. |
| ● | Tax credits of $14 million have been recognized in relation to exceptional items. |
6. Net finance expense
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Senior Facilities interest expense* |
|
158 |
|
140 |
|
132 |
Net pension interest cost (note 21) |
|
5 |
|
5 |
|
5 |
Lease interest cost |
|
23 |
|
25 |
|
24 |
Foreign currency translation loss |
|
6 |
|
— |
|
6 |
Loss/(gain) on derivative financial instruments |
|
6 |
|
(5) |
|
2 |
Other net finance expense |
|
28 |
|
40 |
|
36 |
Net finance expense before exceptional items |
|
226 |
|
205 |
|
205 |
Exceptional net finance expense/(income) (note 5) |
|
14 |
|
(13) |
|
(58) |
Net finance expense |
|
240 |
|
192 |
|
147 |
*Includes interest related to Senior Secured Green Notes, Senior Green Notes and, up to the date of repayment, the Senior Secured Term Loan.
During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Group recognized $23 million (2024: $25 million) of interest paid related to lease liabilities in cash used in operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Other net finance expense is primarily comprised of fees incurred on the Group’s receivables financing arrangements.
7. Income tax
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Current tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current tax charge for the year |
|
25 |
|
17 |
|
31 |
Adjustments in respect of prior years |
|
(1) |
|
(5) |
|
(28) |
Total current tax charge |
|
24 |
|
12 |
|
3 |
Deferred tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax (credit) for the year |
|
(27) |
|
(2) |
|
(27) |
Adjustments in respect of prior years |
|
(4) |
|
3 |
|
3 |
Total deferred tax (credit)/charge |
|
(31) |
|
1 |
|
(24) |
Income tax (credit)/charge |
|
(7) |
|
13 |
|
(21) |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-30
Reconciliation of income tax (credit)/charge and the profit/(loss) before tax multiplied by the domestic tax rate of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Profit/(loss) before tax |
|
4 |
|
10 |
|
(71) |
Profit/(loss) before tax multiplied by the standard rate of Luxembourg corporation tax: 23.87% (2024 and 2023: 24.94%) |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
(18) |
Tax losses for which no deferred income tax asset was recognized |
|
2 |
|
14 |
|
25 |
Re-measurement of deferred taxes |
|
3 |
|
— |
|
— |
Adjustment in respect of prior years |
|
(5) |
|
(2) |
|
(25) |
Income subject to state and other local income taxes |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
Income taxed at rates other than standard tax rates |
|
(9) |
|
(10) |
|
(13) |
Non-deductible and other items |
|
— |
|
4 |
|
4 |
Income tax (credit)/charge |
|
(7) |
|
13 |
|
(21) |
The total income tax (credit)/charge outlined above for each year includes a tax credit of $22 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 (2024: $8 million charge; 2023: $14 million credit) recognized in relation to the items set out in Note 5 – Exceptional items.
Tax losses for which no deferred income tax asset was recognized relates to net operating losses and the carry-forward of interest expense in certain jurisdictions. Income taxed at non-standard rates takes account of foreign tax rate differences (versus the Luxembourg standard 23.87% rate, 24.94% in 2024 and 2023) on earnings and includes the non-taxable gain on movements in the fair market values on the Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants.
Adjustment in respect of prior years in the year ended December 31, 2023 includes tax credits of $29 million arising from a favorable Superior Court of Justice ruling in Brazil.
The Group is within the scope of the OECD Pillar Two model rules. Pillar Two legislation was enacted in Luxembourg, the jurisdiction in which AMPSA is incorporated and is effective since 1 January 2024. The Group applies the mandatory exception to recognizing and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar Two income taxes, as provided in the amendments to IAS 12 issued in May 2023. The Group qualifies for Pillar Two transitional safe harbor exemptions in the majority of the jurisdictions in which the Group operates, and the Pillar Two rules do not have a material impact on the Group effective tax rate in the financial years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. The Group is continuing to assess any future exposure to Pillar Two legislation.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-31
8. Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing the profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year.
The following table reflects the income statement profit/(loss) and share data used in the basic EPS calculations:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|||
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|||
Profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders as presented in the income statement |
|
|
11 |
|
|
(3) |
|
|
(50) |
Less: Dividends on Preferred Shares (see note 25) |
|
|
(22) |
|
|
(24) |
|
|
(24) |
Loss attributable to equity holders used in calculating earnings per share |
|
|
(11) |
|
|
(27) |
|
|
(74) |
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for EPS (millions) |
|
|
597.7 |
|
|
597.7 |
|
|
597.6 |
Loss per share |
|
$ |
(0.02) |
|
$ |
(0.05) |
|
$ |
(0.12) |
Diluted loss per share is consistent with basic loss per share, as there are no dilutive potential shares during the periods presented above.
Please refer to note 18 for any details of transactions involving Ordinary Shares for the years ended December 31, 2025.
9. Employee costs
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Wages and salaries |
|
496 |
|
470 |
|
425 |
Social security costs |
|
124 |
|
115 |
|
106 |
Defined benefit plan pension costs (note 21) |
|
12 |
|
11 |
|
10 |
Defined contribution plan pension costs (note 21) |
|
22 |
|
21 |
|
19 |
Group employee costs |
|
654 |
|
617 |
|
560 |
|
|
At December 31, |
||||
Employees |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Europe |
|
3,600 |
|
3,472 |
|
3,497 |
Americas |
|
2,898 |
|
2,858 |
|
2,940 |
Group |
|
6,498 |
|
6,330 |
|
6,437 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-32
10. Intangible assets
|
|
Goodwill |
|
Customer relationships |
|
Technology and other |
|
Software |
|
Total |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Net book value at January 1, 2024 |
|
999 |
|
352 |
|
10 |
|
21 |
|
1,382 |
Additions |
|
— |
|
— |
|
10 |
|
14 |
|
24 |
Amortization charge |
|
— |
|
(129) |
|
(3) |
|
(8) |
|
(140) |
Exchange |
|
(33) |
|
(8) |
|
(1) |
|
(1) |
|
(43) |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
966 |
|
215 |
|
16 |
|
26 |
|
1,223 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost |
|
966 |
|
1,328 |
|
57 |
|
62 |
|
2,413 |
Accumulated amortization |
|
— |
|
(1,113) |
|
(41) |
|
(36) |
|
(1,190) |
Net book value at December 31, 2024 |
|
966 |
|
215 |
|
16 |
|
26 |
|
1,223 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net book value at January 1, 2025 |
|
966 |
|
215 |
|
16 |
|
26 |
|
1,223 |
Additions |
|
— |
|
— |
|
8 |
|
4 |
|
12 |
Amortization charge |
|
— |
|
(126) |
|
(3) |
|
(9) |
|
(138) |
Exchange |
|
69 |
|
11 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
84 |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
1,035 |
|
100 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
1,181 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost |
|
1,035 |
|
1,429 |
|
70 |
|
70 |
|
2,604 |
Accumulated amortization |
|
— |
|
(1,329) |
|
(47) |
|
(47) |
|
(1,423) |
Net book value at December 31, 2025 |
|
1,035 |
|
100 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
1,181 |
In 2022, the Ardagh Group and AMPSA signed a letter agreement for the development and acquisition of joint information technology assets (both hardware and software) which are operated for the mutual benefit of both parties (the “Joint IT Assets”). This letter agreement requires the consent of both parties for all activities that significantly affect the returns from the Joint IT Assets and unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, the agreement provides that rights, title and interest in any Joint IT Assets, shall be divided in agreed proportions. Costs in both the development and operation of the Joint IT Assets will be borne by both parties, in accordance with each party’s ownership share. In the year ended December 31, 2025, AMPSA capitalized costs associated with the development of the Joint IT Assets of approximately $4 million (2024: $4 million). The Joint IT Asset agreement is accounted for as a joint operation.
Impairment
The Group has considered the carrying value of the Group’s intangible assets (excluding goodwill) and assessed for indicators of impairment at December 31, 2025 in accordance with IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’. No such indicators of impairment were identified. The Group has concluded that the potential impact of climate change does not have a significant impact on the carrying value or remaining useful lives of the intangible assets of the Group at December 31, 2025.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-33
Goodwill
Allocation of goodwill
Goodwill that originated from the acquisition of the Group by the Ardagh Group has been allocated to CGUs that are expected to benefit from synergies arising from that combination. The groupings represent the lowest level at which the related goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes.
The lowest level within the Group at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes and consequently the groups of CGUs to which goodwill is allocated and tested for impairment, is set out below:
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Europe |
|
596 |
|
527 |
Americas |
|
439 |
|
439 |
Total goodwill |
|
1,035 |
|
966 |
Impairment test for goodwill
The Group performs its impairment test of goodwill annually or whenever indicators suggest that impairment may have occurred.
Recoverable amount and carrying amount
The Group uses the fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”) model for the purposes of its annual goodwill impairment testing.
In assessing FVLCD, we have used a market approach, which includes, as a key assumption, a multiple to Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025. The multiple used is based on both AMPSA and comparable companies’ equity valuations and was further adjusted for disposal costs. The valuation is considered to be level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
A sensitivity analysis was performed reflecting reasonably possible potential variations in the applied Adjusted EBITDA multiple. If the multiple which was applied to the Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025, was reduced by 1x, the recoverable amounts calculated for the Europe and Americas groups of CGUs are still significantly in excess of the carrying values of the Europe and Americas groups of CGUs. As a result of the significant excess of recoverable amount, we consider that completing the calculation of the recoverable amount of the Europe and Americas groups of CGUs using a value in use (“VIU”) model or providing additional disclosures under IAS 36 are not required.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-34
11. Property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
|
Plant, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land and |
|
machinery |
|
Dunnage |
|
|
|
|
buildings |
|
and other |
|
and other |
|
Total |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Net book value at January 1, 2024 |
|
595 |
|
1,936 |
|
97 |
|
2,628 |
Additions |
|
83 |
|
114 |
|
15 |
|
212 |
Disposals |
|
(7) |
|
(6) |
|
— |
|
(13) |
Impairment reversal |
|
— |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
4 |
Depreciation charge |
|
(86) |
|
(192) |
|
(31) |
|
(309) |
Transfers* |
|
45 |
|
(48) |
|
3 |
|
— |
Exchange |
|
(9) |
|
(32) |
|
(1) |
|
(42) |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
621 |
|
1,776 |
|
83 |
|
2,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost |
|
927 |
|
2,666 |
|
218 |
|
3,811 |
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses |
|
(306) |
|
(890) |
|
(135) |
|
(1,331) |
Net book value at December 31, 2024 |
|
621 |
|
1,776 |
|
83 |
|
2,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net book value at January 1, 2025 |
|
621 |
|
1,776 |
|
83 |
|
2,480 |
Additions |
|
95 |
|
159 |
|
20 |
|
274 |
Disposals |
|
(1) |
|
(2) |
|
(1) |
|
(4) |
Impairment charge |
|
— |
|
(10) |
|
— |
|
(10) |
Depreciation charge |
|
(89) |
|
(205) |
|
(31) |
|
(325) |
Exchange |
|
22 |
|
74 |
|
4 |
|
100 |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
648 |
|
1,792 |
|
75 |
|
2,515 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost |
|
1,047 |
|
2,898 |
|
247 |
|
4,192 |
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses |
|
(399) |
|
(1,106) |
|
(172) |
|
(1,677) |
Net book value at December 31, 2025 |
|
648 |
|
1,792 |
|
75 |
|
2,515 |
*Transfers during the prior year related to the final categorization of assets which were previously under construction in relation to certain business growth projects in the Americas.
Depreciation expense of $314 million (2024: $298 million; 2023: $257 million) has been charged in cost of sales and $11 million (2024: $11 million; 2023: $18 million) in sales, general and administration expenses.
Construction in progress at December 31, 2025 was $254 million (2024: $244 million).
Included in property, plant and equipment is an amount for land of $80 million (2024: $76 million).
Substantially all of the Group’s property, plant and equipment is pledged as security under the terms and conditions of the Group’s financing arrangements. No interest was capitalized in the year (2024: $nil).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-35
Impairment
During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Group recognized a $10 million impairment charge on property, plant and equipment in respect of early-stage capital expenditure for a proposed greenfield site development in Europe (note 5).
In the year ended December 31, 2024, the Group recognized a $4 million part-reversal of the impairment charge initially recognized in the previous year following the disposal of property, plant and equipment in the Americas, in addition to the re-distribution of certain of the plant and machinery to other facilities in the Group’s operating network.
The Group has considered the carrying value of the property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2025 and assessed the indicators of impairment in accordance with IAS 36. No such indicators of impairment were identified.
The Group has concluded that the potential impact of climate change does not have a significant impact on the carrying value or remaining useful lives of the property, plant and equipment of the Group at December 31, 2025.
Right of use assets — Net book value, depreciation and variable lease expense
The following right-of-use assets were included in property, plant and equipment:
|
|
|
|
Plant, |
|
Dunnage |
|
|
|
|
Land and |
|
machinery |
|
and |
|
|
|
|
buildings |
|
and other |
|
other |
|
Total |
Net book value at December 31, |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
2025 |
|
137 |
|
226 |
|
29 |
|
392 |
2024 |
|
115 |
|
238 |
|
32 |
|
385 |
The increase in the net book value of the right-of-use assets at December 31, 2025 to $392 million is the result of total additions during the year to the right-of-use assets of $98 million and exchange gains of $10 million, partly offset by a depreciation charge of $100 million, comprised of land and buildings ($65 million), plant and machinery ($27 million) and dunnage and other ($8 million) and disposals of $1 million.
The decrease in the net book value of the right-of-use assets at December 31, 2024 to $385 million is primarily the result of a depreciation charge of $92 million, comprised of land and buildings ($63 million), plant and machinery ($22 million) and dunnage and other ($7 million), exchange loss of $5 million and disposals of $3 million, partly offset by total additions during the year to the right-of-use assets of $73 million.
The Group incurred variable lease expense of $42 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 (2024: $45 million, 2023: $40 million) primarily related to warehouse leases.
Capital commitments
The Group had contracted capital commitments in relation to property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2025, of $53 million (2024: $92 million, 2023: $124 million).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-36
12. Non-current assets
|
Year ended December 31, |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Customer receivables |
40 |
|
36 |
Indirect tax and other non-current assets |
24 |
|
17 |
|
64 |
|
53 |
At December 31, 2025 and 2024, customer receivables include amounts recognized in respect of long-term contractual arrangements with customers and a long-term balance receivable from a customer following a court-supervised reorganization in 2023.
Non-current indirect taxes principally include indirect tax credits arising in the Americas which are expected to be utilized after more than one year from the reporting date.
13. Deferred tax
The movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year was as follows:
|
|
Assets |
|
Liabilities |
|
Total |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
At January 1, 2023 |
|
216 |
|
(320) |
|
(104) |
Credited/(charged) to the income statement (note 7) |
|
60 |
|
(36) |
|
24 |
Credited to other comprehensive income |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
8 |
Exchange |
|
3 |
|
(5) |
|
(2) |
At December 31, 2023 |
|
283 |
|
(357) |
|
(74) |
(Charged)/credited to the income statement (note 7) |
|
(6) |
|
5 |
|
(1) |
(Charged)/credited to other comprehensive income |
|
(3) |
|
2 |
|
(1) |
Exchange |
|
(6) |
|
5 |
|
(1) |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
268 |
|
(345) |
|
(77) |
(Charged)/credited to the income statement (note 7) |
|
(8) |
|
39 |
|
31 |
Charged to other comprehensive income |
|
(4) |
|
(5) |
|
(9) |
Exchange |
|
11 |
|
(11) |
|
— |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
267 |
|
(322) |
|
(55) |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-37
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Tax losses |
|
66 |
|
53 |
Employee benefit obligations |
|
16 |
|
19 |
Depreciation timing differences (including leases) |
|
120 |
|
123 |
Provisions |
|
34 |
|
29 |
Other |
|
31 |
|
44 |
|
|
267 |
|
268 |
Available for offset |
|
(205) |
|
(204) |
Deferred tax assets |
|
62 |
|
64 |
Intangible assets |
|
(74) |
|
(85) |
Accelerated depreciation and other fair value adjustments (including leases) |
|
(227) |
|
(246) |
Other |
|
(21) |
|
(14) |
|
|
(322) |
|
(345) |
Available for offset |
|
205 |
|
204 |
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
(117) |
|
(141) |
The tax credit/(charge) recognized in the consolidated income statement is analyzed as follows:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Tax losses |
|
9 |
|
16 |
|
14 |
Employee benefit obligations |
|
(1) |
|
(1) |
|
3 |
Depreciation timing differences (including leases) |
|
(7) |
|
(21) |
|
26 |
Provisions |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
(3) |
Other deferred tax assets |
|
(13) |
|
— |
|
20 |
Intangible assets |
|
15 |
|
14 |
|
10 |
Accelerated depreciation and other fair value adjustments (including leases) |
|
24 |
|
(8) |
|
(49) |
Other deferred tax liabilities |
|
— |
|
(1) |
|
3 |
|
|
31 |
|
(1) |
|
24 |
Deferred tax assets are only recognized on tax loss carry forwards to the extent that the realization of the related tax benefit through future taxable profits is probable based on management’s forecasts.
The Group did not recognize deferred tax assets of $1.2 billion (2024: $675 million, 2023: $155 million) in respect of tax losses amounting to $5.1 billion (2024: $2.9 billion, 2023: $729 million) that can be carried forward against future taxable income due to uncertainty regarding their utilization. These losses include $36 million losses which do not expire, $159 million which expire between 2029 and 2032, and $4.9 billion which expire between 2038 and 2041 under current tax legislation.
No provision has been made for temporary differences applicable to investments in subsidiaries as the Group is in a position to control the timing of reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Given that exemptions and tax credits would be available in the context of the Group’s investments in subsidiaries in the majority of jurisdictions in which it operates, the aggregate amount of temporary differences in respect of which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognized would not be material.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-38
14. Inventories
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Raw materials and consumables |
|
373 |
|
244 |
Work-in-progress |
|
3 |
|
3 |
Finished goods |
|
133 |
|
135 |
|
|
509 |
|
382 |
Certain inventories held by the Group have been pledged as security under the Group’s Global Asset Based Loan Facility (note 20). There were no drawings under this facility at December 31, 2025 (2024: $nil).
The amounts recognized as a write-down in inventories or as a reversal of a write-down for the year ended December 31, 2025 were not material (2024: not material).
At December 31, 2025, the hedging loss included in the carrying value of inventories, which will be recognized in the income statement when the related finished goods have been sold is $1 million (2024: $1 million).
15. Trade and other receivables
|
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Trade receivables |
|
|
351 |
|
224 |
Other receivables and prepayments |
|
|
114 |
|
106 |
Related party receivables (note 26) |
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
467 |
|
332 |
Other receivables and prepayments include non-financial assets of $72 million (2024: $53 million) and value added tax recoverable of $33 million (2024: $45 million).
The fair values of trade and other receivables approximate the amounts shown above.
Movements on the provisions for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
At January 1, |
|
|
10 |
|
3 |
Provision for impairment of receivables |
|
|
3 |
|
7 |
Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible |
|
|
(1) |
|
— |
Net remeasurement of loss allowance |
|
|
(3) |
|
— |
Exchange |
|
|
1 |
|
— |
At December 31, |
|
|
10 |
|
10 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-39
The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable set out above.
Provisions against specific balances
Significant balances are assessed for evidence of increased credit risk. Examples of factors considered are high probability of bankruptcy, breaches of contract or major concession being sought by the customer. Instances of significant single customer related bad debts are rare.
Providing against the remaining population of customers
The Group monitors actual historical credit losses and adjusts for forward-looking information to measure the level of expected losses. Adverse changes in the payment status of customers of the Group, or national or local economic conditions that correlate with defaults on receivables owing to the Group, may also provide a basis for an increase in the level of provision above historic loss experience.
At December 31, 2025, trade receivables of $6 million (2024: $9 million) were past due but not impaired. These relate to a number of independent customers for whom there is no recent history of default. The aging analysis of these trade receivables is as follows:
|
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Up to three months past due |
|
|
5 |
|
8 |
Three to six months past due |
|
|
— |
|
— |
Over six months past due |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
9 |
Receivables Factoring and Related Programs
The Group participates in several uncommitted accounts receivable factoring and related programs with various financial institutions for certain receivables. Such programs are accounted for as true sales of receivables, as they are either without recourse to the Group or transfer substantially all the risk and rewards to the financial institutions. Receivables of $579 million were sold under these programs at December 31, 2025 (December 31, 2024: $620 million).
16. Contract assets
The following table provides information about significant changes in contract assets:
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
At January 1, |
|
251 |
|
259 |
Transfers from contract assets recognized at beginning of year to receivables |
|
(251) |
|
(254) |
Increases as a result of new contract assets recognized during the year |
|
245 |
|
256 |
Exchange |
|
22 |
|
(10) |
Balance as at December 31, |
|
267 |
|
251 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-40
17. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Cash at bank and in hand |
|
208 |
|
214 |
Short-term bank deposits |
|
308 |
|
388 |
Restricted cash |
|
6 |
|
8 |
|
|
522 |
|
610 |
18. Equity share capital and share premium
Issued and fully paid shares:
|
|
Ordinary Shares |
|
9% Cumulative Preferred Shares |
|
Share capital |
|
Share premium |
||
|
|
No. of shares ('m) |
$'m |
|
No. of shares ('m) |
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
597.7 |
7 |
|
56.3 |
260 |
|
267 |
|
5,989 |
Redemption and cancelation of Preferred Shares |
– |
– |
|
(56.3) |
(260) |
|
(260) |
|
– |
|
At December 31, 2025 |
|
597.7 |
7 |
|
– |
– |
|
7 |
|
5,989 |
The authorized share capital of the Company is set at one billion euro and zero cents (€1,000,000,000), divided into up to one hundred billion (100,000,000,000) shares (the “Shares”) represented by ordinary shares.
On December 2, 2025, the Company redeemed its 56,306,306 non-convertible, non-voting 9% cumulative Preferred Shares with a nominal value of €4.44 each, issued in July 2022 to AGSA and subsequently transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGSA in 2024, for a total consideration of €250 million ($289 million at the exchange rate applicable on that date). The Preferred Shares were subsequently canceled on December 9, 2025.
There have been no material transactions involving Ordinary Shares between the reporting date and the authorization of these consolidated financial statements.
Other Reserves
Other reserves includes $5.6 billion arising from the Ardagh Group reorganization which resulted in the Company acquiring the metal packaging operations of Ardagh Group S.A. that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2021.
19. Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: capital structure risk, interest rate risk, currency exchange risk, commodity price risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.
Capital structure risk
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and provide returns to its shareholders. The Group funds its operations primarily from the following sources of capital: borrowings, cash flows and shareholders’ capital. The Group aims to achieve a capital structure that results in an appropriate cost of capital to accommodate material investments or acquisitions, while providing flexibility in short and medium term funding.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-41
The Group also aims to maintain a strong statement of financial position and to provide continuity of financing by having a range of maturities and borrowing from a variety of sources.
The Group’s overall treasury objectives are to ensure sufficient funds are available for the Group to carry out its strategy and to manage certain financial risks to which the Group is exposed, details of which are provided below. The finance committee of the Board (the “Finance Committee”) reviews and monitors the capital structure, financial policies and treasury function in addition to advising the Board on whether to approve financing agreements or arrangements.
Financial risks are managed on the advice of Group Treasury and senior management in conjunction with the Finance Committee. The Group does not permit the use of treasury instruments for speculative purposes, under any circumstances. Group Treasury regularly reviews the level of cash and debt facilities required to fund the Group’s activities, plans for repayment and refinancing of debt, and identifies an appropriate amount of headroom to provide a reserve against unexpected funding requirements.
The Group’s long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to the servicing of its debt obligations. Management expect to satisfy the Group’s future long-term liquidity needs through a combination of cash flow generated from operations and, where appropriate, to raise additional financing and to refinance the Group’s debt obligations in advance of their respective maturity. The Group generates substantial cash flow from operations on an annual basis. The Group had $522 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at December 31, 2025 (2024: $610 million), as well as available but undrawn liquidity of $442 million (2024: $353 million) under its credit facilities (note 20).
Additionally, financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments, are used to hedge exposure to interest rate, currency exchange risk and commodity price risk.
One of the Group’s key metrics is the ratio of consolidated external net debt as a multiple of Adjusted EBITDA (see note 4). As at December 31, 2025 the ratio was 5.3x (2024: 4.9x).
Interest rate risk
At December 31, 2025, the interest on the Group’s senior facilities was 100% (2024: 92%) fixed, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.0% (2024: 4.1%). As a result, movements in market interest rates would not have a material impact on either the profit or loss, or shareholders’ equity.
Currency exchange risk
The Group presents its consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company is euro.
At December 31, 2025, the Group operated 23 production facilities in 9 countries, across three continents and its main currency exposure in the year then ended, from the euro functional currency, was in relation to the U.S. dollar, British pound and Brazilian real. Currency exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognized assets and liabilities.
As a result of the consolidated financial statements being presented in U.S. dollar, the Group’s results are also impacted by fluctuations in the U.S. dollar exchange rate versus the euro.
The Group has a limited level of transactional currency exposure arising from sales or purchases by operating units in currencies other than their functional currencies.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-42
The Group has certain investments in foreign operations, whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk. Currency exposure arising from the net assets of the Group’s foreign operations is managed primarily through borrowings and swaps denominated in the Group’s principal foreign currencies.
Fluctuations in the value of these currencies with respect to the euro functional currency may have a significant impact on the Group’s financial condition and results of operations. The Group believes that a strengthening of the functional currency euro exchange rate by 1% against all other foreign currencies from the December 31, 2025 rate would decrease shareholders’ equity by approximately $1 million (2024: $4 million decrease).
Commodity price risk
The Group is exposed to changes in prices of energy and its main raw materials, primarily aluminum. Aluminum is traded daily as a commodity on the London Metal Exchange, which has historically been subject to significant price volatility. Because aluminum is priced in U.S. dollar, fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/euro rate also affect the euro cost of aluminum. Furthermore, the relative price of oil and its by-products may impact our business, affecting our transport, lacquer and ink costs.
Our preferred commodity price risk management mechanism is the use of pass through provisions in our sales contracts. Where we do not have such pass through provisions, we use fixed price supply or derivative agreements to manage commodity price risk. We depend on an active liquid market and available credit lines with suppliers and banks to cover this risk. Our risk management practices are dependent on robust hedging policies and procedures.
Energy price has been exposed to increased volatility in recent years. Where energy pass through provisions in our contracts do not exist, the Group’s policy is to purchase natural gas and electricity by entering into forward price fixing arrangements with suppliers for the majority of our anticipated requirements for the year ahead and certain of our requirements beyond one year. Such contracts are used exclusively to obtain delivery of the Group’s anticipated energy supplies. The Group does not trade nor look to profit from such activities. The Group avails ourselves of the own use exemption and, therefore, these contracts are treated as executory contracts. Any natural gas and electricity which is not purchased under forward price fixing arrangements is purchased under index tracking contracts or at spot prices. Where entering forward price-fixing arrangements with suppliers is not practical, the Group may use derivative contracts with counterparty banks to cover the risk.
Increasing raw material costs over time has the potential, if customers are unable to pass on price increases, to reduce sales volume and could therefore have a significant impact on our business. We are also exposed to possible interruptions of supply of aluminum or other raw materials and any inability to purchase raw materials could negatively impact our operations.
Credit risk
Credit risk arises from derivative contracts, cash and deposits held with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to the customers of the Group, including outstanding receivables. The policy of the Group is to invest excess liquidity, only with recognized and reputable financial institutions. For banks and financial institutions, only independently rated parties with a minimum rating of “BBB+” from at least two credit rating agencies are accepted, where possible. The credit ratings of banks and financial institutions are monitored to ensure compliance with Group policy. Risk of default is controlled within a policy framework of dealing with high quality institutions and by limiting the amount of credit exposure to any one bank or institution.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-43
The Group’s policy is to extend credit to customers of good credit standing. Credit risk is managed on an on-going basis, by experienced people within the Group. The Group’s policy for the management of credit risk in relation to trade receivables involves periodically assessing the financial reliability of customers, taking into account their financial position, past experience and other factors. Provisions are made where deemed necessary and the utilization of credit limits is regularly monitored. Management does not expect any significant counterparty to fail to meet its obligations. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each asset. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the ten largest customers of the Group accounted for approximately 57% of total revenues (2024: 57%; 2023: 55%). There is no recent history of default with these customers.
Surplus cash held by the operating entities over and above the balance required for working capital management is transferred to Group Treasury, where practically possible. Group Treasury invests surplus cash in interest-bearing current accounts, money market funds and bank time deposits with appropriate maturities to provide sufficient headroom as determined by the below-mentioned forecasts.
Liquidity risk
The Group is exposed to liquidity risk which arises primarily from the maturing of short-term and long-term debt obligations and from the normal liquidity cycle of the business throughout the course of a year. The Group’s policy has been to ensure that sufficient resources are available either from cash balances, cash flows or undrawn committed bank facilities, to ensure all obligations can be met as they fall due.
To effectively manage liquidity risk, the Group:
| ● | has committed borrowing facilities that it can access to meet liquidity needs; |
| ● | maintains cash balances and liquid investments with highly-rated counterparties; |
| ● | limits the maturity of cash balances; |
| ● | borrows the bulk of its debt needs under long-term fixed rate debt securities; and |
| ● | has internal control processes to manage liquidity risk. |
As described in note 23, the Group has access to independent third-party payable processors. The third-party payable processors are in good financial condition. Based on the total amount of trade payables that are part of the processing and the increase in payment terms compared to comparable payables that are not included, the impact on the Group’s liquidity is not significant.
Cash flow forecasting is performed in the operating entities of the Group and is aggregated by Group Treasury. Group Treasury monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity requirements to ensure it has sufficient cash to meet operational needs while maintaining sufficient headroom on its undrawn committed borrowing facilities at all times so that the Group does not breach borrowing limits or covenants on any of its borrowing facilities. Such forecasting takes into consideration the Group’s debt financing plans.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-44
20. Financial assets and liabilities
At December 31, 2025, the Group’s net debt and available liquidity was as follows:
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
Final |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
amount |
|
maturity |
|
Facility |
|
|
|
|
|
Available |
Facility |
|
Currency |
|
drawable |
|
date |
|
type |
|
Amount drawn |
|
liquidity |
||
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
|
|
|
m |
|
|
|
|
|
m |
|
|
|
|
2.000% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
450 |
|
01-Sep-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
450 |
|
529 |
|
– |
3.250% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
600 |
|
01-Sep-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
600 |
|
600 |
|
– |
5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
570 |
|
30-Jan-31 |
|
Bullet |
|
570 |
|
670 |
|
– |
6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
620 |
|
30-Jan-31 |
|
Bullet |
|
620 |
|
620 |
|
– |
3.000% Senior Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
500 |
|
01-Sep-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
500 |
|
587 |
|
– |
4.000% Senior Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
1,050 |
|
01-Sep-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
1,050 |
|
1,050 |
|
– |
Global Asset Based Loan Facility |
|
USD |
|
351 |
|
30-Apr-27 |
|
Revolving |
|
– |
|
– |
|
351 |
Bradesco Facility |
|
BRL |
|
500 |
|
30-Oct-26 |
|
Bullet |
|
– |
|
– |
|
91 |
Lease obligations |
|
Various |
|
– |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
– |
|
368 |
|
– |
Other borrowings |
|
Various |
|
– |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
– |
|
27 |
|
– |
Total borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,451 |
|
442 |
Deferred debt issue costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(32) |
|
– |
Net borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,419 |
|
442 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(522) |
|
522 |
Derivative financial instruments used to hedge foreign currency and interest rate risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
– |
Net debt / available liquidity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,900 |
|
964 |
The Group’s net borrowings of $4,419 million (2024: $3,902 million) are classified as non-current liabilities of $4,301 million (2024: $3,797 million) and current liabilities of $118 million (2024: $105 million) in the consolidated statement of financial position at December 31, 2025.
A number of the Group’s borrowing agreements contain certain covenants that restrict the Group’s flexibility in areas such as incurrence of additional indebtedness (primarily maximum secured borrowings to Adjusted EBITDA and a minimum Adjusted EBITDA to interest expense), payment of dividends and incurrence of liens. The Global Asset Based Loan Facility is subject to a fixed charge coverage ratio covenant if 90% or more of the facility is drawn. The facility also includes cash dominion, representations, warranties, events of default and other covenants that are of a nature customary for such facilities.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-45
At December 31, 2024 the Group’s net debt and available liquidity was as follows:
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
Final |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
amount |
|
maturity |
|
Facility |
|
|
|
|
|
Available |
Facility |
|
Currency |
|
drawable |
|
date |
|
type |
|
Amount drawn |
|
liquidity |
||
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
Local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
|
|
|
|
currency |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
|
|
|
m |
|
|
|
|
|
m |
|
|
|
|
2.000% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
450 |
|
01-Sept-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
450 |
|
468 |
|
– |
3.250% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
600 |
|
01-Sept-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
600 |
|
600 |
|
– |
6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
600 |
|
15-Jun-27 |
|
Bullet |
|
600 |
|
600 |
|
– |
3.000% Senior Green Notes |
|
EUR |
|
500 |
|
01-Sept-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
500 |
|
519 |
|
– |
4.000% Senior Green Notes |
|
USD |
|
1,050 |
|
01-Sept-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
1,050 |
|
1,050 |
|
– |
Senior Secured Term Loan |
|
EUR |
|
269 |
|
24-Sept-29 |
|
Bullet |
|
269 |
|
280 |
|
– |
Global Asset Based Loan Facility |
|
USD |
|
272 |
|
06-Aug-26 |
|
Revolving |
|
– |
|
– |
|
272 |
Bradesco Facility |
|
BRL |
|
500 |
|
30-Sept-28 |
|
Bullet |
|
– |
|
– |
|
81 |
Lease obligations |
|
Various |
|
– |
|
Various |
|
Amortizing |
|
– |
|
374 |
|
– |
Other borrowings |
|
Various |
|
– |
|
Rolling |
|
Amortizing |
|
– |
|
42 |
|
– |
Total borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,933 |
|
353 |
Deferred debt issue costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31) |
|
– |
Net borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,902 |
|
353 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(610) |
|
610 |
Derivative financial instruments used to hedge foreign currency and interest rate risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
– |
Net debt / available liquidity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,305 |
|
963 |
The following table summarizes movement in the Group’s net debt:
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Net decrease/(increase) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash per consolidated statement of cash flows* |
|
88 |
|
(167) |
Increase in net borrowings and derivative financial instruments |
|
507 |
|
160 |
Increase/(decrease) in net debt |
|
595 |
|
(7) |
Net debt at January 1, |
|
3,305 |
|
3,312 |
Net debt at December 31, |
|
3,900 |
|
3,305 |
*Includes exchange gain/(loss) on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
The increase in net debt primarily includes proceeds from borrowings of $1,309 million (2024: $517 million), foreign exchange loss of $172 million (2024: gain of $83 million) and a decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $88 million (2024: increase of $167 million), which is partly offset by repayments of borrowings of $957 million (2024: $229 million), net fair value gains on derivative financial instruments of $10 million (2024: $8 million), a net decrease in lease obligations of $6 million (2024: $34 million) and a net increase of deferred debt issue costs of $1 million (2024: $3 million).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-46
Maturity profile
The maturity profile of the Group’s total borrowings is as follows:
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Within one year or on demand |
|
118 |
|
105 |
Between one and three years |
|
1,269 |
|
755 |
Between three and five years |
|
1,722 |
|
3,017 |
Greater than five years |
|
1,342 |
|
56 |
Total borrowings |
|
4,451 |
|
3,933 |
Deferred debt issue costs |
|
(32) |
|
(31) |
Net borrowings |
|
4,419 |
|
3,902 |
Included within total borrowings between one and three years, between three and five years and greater than five years is the Group’s Senior Facilities of $4,056 million (2024: $3,517 million).
The maturity profile of the contractual undiscounted cash flows related to the Group’s lease liabilities is as follows:
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Not later than one year |
|
130 |
|
110 |
Later than one year and not later than five years |
|
244 |
|
268 |
Later than five years |
|
64 |
|
66 |
|
|
438 |
|
444 |
The table below analyzes the Group’s financial liabilities (including interest payable) into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the reporting date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contracted undiscounted cash flows.
|
|
|
|
Derivative |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
financial |
|
Trade |
|
|
borrowings |
|
instruments |
|
payables |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Within one year or on demand |
|
303 |
|
17 |
|
1,437 |
Between one and three years |
|
1,609 |
|
16 |
|
— |
Between three and five years |
|
1,918 |
|
— |
|
— |
Greater than five years |
|
1,360 |
|
4 |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
Derivative |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
financial |
|
Trade |
|
|
borrowings |
|
instruments |
|
payables |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Within one year or on demand |
|
270 |
|
32 |
|
1,170 |
Between one and three years |
|
1,049 |
|
20 |
|
— |
Between three and five years |
|
3,181 |
|
1 |
|
— |
Greater than five years |
|
67 |
|
— |
|
— |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-47
The carrying amount and fair value of the Group’s borrowings excluding lease obligations are as follows:
|
|
Carrying value |
|
|
||||
|
|
Amount |
|
Deferred debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
drawn |
|
issue costs |
|
Total |
|
Fair value |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Loan Notes |
|
4,056 |
|
(29) |
|
4,027 |
|
3,946 |
Other borrowings |
|
27 |
|
(3) |
|
24 |
|
27 |
|
|
4,083 |
|
(32) |
|
4,051 |
|
3,973 |
|
|
Carrying value |
|
|
||||
|
|
Amount |
|
Deferred debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
drawn |
|
issue costs |
|
Total |
|
Fair value |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Senior Facilities* |
|
3,517 |
|
(28) |
|
3,489 |
|
3,173 |
Other borrowings |
|
42 |
|
(3) |
|
39 |
|
42 |
|
|
3,559 |
|
(31) |
|
3,528 |
|
3,215 |
*Includes Senior Secured Green Notes, Senior Green Notes and Senior Secured Term Loan.
Financing activity
2025
On December 1, 2025, the Group issued €570 million 5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 and $620 million 6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031. Net proceeds from the issue of these notes were used to (i) redeem the Group’s 6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027, (ii) repay the Senior Secured Term Loan, (iii) pay the applicable redemption premiums and accrued interest in accordance with their terms, (iv) redeem the Preferred Shares (see note 18), and (v) terminate the Group’s CCIRS scheduled to mature in June 2026.
The Bradesco Facility expired on September 30, 2025, in accordance with the contractual terms having remained undrawn at that date and on November 12, 2025, an amended Bradesco Facility (the “Amended Bradesco Facility”) took effect maturing on October 30, 2026. The Amended Bradesco Facility contains similar terms as the Bradesco Facility in respect of the security to be provided in the event the facility is drawn.
The decrease in lease obligations from $374 million at December 31, 2024 to $368 million at December 31, 2025, primarily reflects $111 million of principal repayments and $2 million of lease disposals, partly offset by $97 million of new lease liabilities and $10 million of foreign currency movements during the year ended December 31, 2025.
At December 31, 2025 the Group had no cash drawings on the Global Asset Based Loan facility, with $351 million of the total facility of $415 million available due to amounts allocated for working capital collateralization.
2024
On October 7, 2024, AMPSA entered into a new credit facility with Banco Bradesco S.A. in Brazil (the “Bradesco Facility”) for BRL500 million (approximately $90 million at the exchange rate applicable on that date). Until September 30, 2025, the Bradesco Facility could be drawn for a period of three years and when drawn, partial security would be provided over the equity interests of certain AMPSA subsidiaries.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-48
On September 24, 2024, AMPSA and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an agreement for a new €269 million ($300 million equivalent) senior secured term loan facility (the “Senior Secured Term Loan”) with certain investment funds and other entities managed by affiliates of Apollo Capital Management, L.P.. The Senior Secured Term Loan had a maturity date of September 2029 and was secured on a pari passu basis alongside the Senior Secured Green Notes maturing in 2027 and 2028.
The decrease in lease obligations from $408 million at December 31, 2023 to $374 million at December 31, 2024, primarily reflects $97 million of principal repayments, $6 million of foreign currency movements and $3 million of disposals of lease assets, partly offset by $72 million of new lease liabilities (including a lease liability payable to the Ardagh Group of $3 million) during the year ended December 31, 2024.
At December 31, 2024 the Group had no cash drawings on the Global Asset Based Loan facility, which has a maximum cash capacity available to draw down of $363 million when fully collateralized. At December 31, 2024, working capital collateralization limited the available borrowing base to $272 million.
Effective interest rates
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
||||
|
USD |
|
EUR |
|
USD |
|
EUR |
5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 |
— |
|
5.65% |
|
— |
|
— |
6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 |
6.95% |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
2.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2028 |
— |
|
2.27% |
|
— |
|
2.27% |
3.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2028 |
3.52% |
|
— |
|
3.52% |
|
— |
6.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2027 |
— |
|
— |
|
6.72% |
|
— |
3.000% Senior Green Notes due 2029 |
— |
|
3.25% |
|
— |
|
3.25% |
4.000% Senior Green Notes due 2029 |
4.26% |
|
— |
|
4.26% |
|
— |
Senior Secured Term Loan |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
10.12% |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
Various Currencies |
||
Lease obligations |
6.32% |
|
6.27% |
The carrying amounts of net borrowings are denominated in the following currencies.
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Euro |
|
1,832 |
|
1,306 |
U.S. dollar |
|
2,543 |
|
2,555 |
GBP |
|
24 |
|
27 |
Other |
|
20 |
|
14 |
|
|
4,419 |
|
3,902 |
The Group has undrawn borrowing facilities expiring within one year and beyond one year at December 31, 2025, of $91 million (2024: $nil) and $351 million (2024: $353 million), respectively.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-49
Fair value methodology
The Group uses the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments:
Level 1 |
Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; |
Level 2 |
Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (as prices) or indirectly (derived from prices); and |
Level 3 |
Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs). |
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year.
Fair values are calculated as follows:
| (i) | Senior Secured Green and Senior Green Notes – the fair value of debt securities in issue is based on valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are based on observable market data and represent Level 2 inputs. |
| (ii) | Global Asset Based Loan Facility, Senior Secured Term Loan and Other borrowings – the fair values of the borrowings in issue are based on valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are based on observable market data and represent Level 2 inputs. |
| (iii) | Cross currency interest rate swaps (“CCIRS”) – the fair value of the CCIRS are based on quoted market prices and represent Level 2 inputs. |
| (iv) | Commodity and foreign exchange derivatives – the fair value of these derivatives are based on quoted market prices and represent Level 2 inputs. |
| (v) | Earnout Shares, Private and Public Warrants (see note 22 for further details) – the fair values of the Earnout Shares and Private Warrants are based on valuation techniques using an unobservable volatility assumption which represents Level 3 inputs, whereas the fair value of the Public Warrants was based on an observable market price and represented a Level 1 input. |
| (vi) | Virtual power purchase agreement – the fair value of the embedded derivative (floor price) in the virtual power purchase agreement is based on a valuation technique using an unobservable volatility assumption which represents a Level 3 input. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-50
Derivative financial instruments
|
|
Assets |
|
Liabilities |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractual |
|
|
Fair |
|
Fair |
|
or notional |
|
|
values |
|
values |
|
amounts |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Fair Value Derivatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity contracts |
|
36 |
|
32 |
|
404 |
Forward foreign exchange contracts |
|
7 |
|
2 |
|
716 |
Cross currency interest rate swaps |
|
— |
|
3 |
|
662 |
|
|
43 |
|
37 |
|
1,782 |
|
|
Assets |
|
Liabilities |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractual |
|
|
Fair |
|
Fair |
|
or notional |
|
|
values |
|
values |
|
amounts |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Fair Value Derivatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity forward contracts |
|
14 |
|
30 |
|
301 |
Forward foreign exchange contracts |
|
5 |
|
7 |
|
592 |
Cross currency interest rate swaps |
|
3 |
|
16 |
|
300 |
|
|
22 |
|
53 |
|
1,193 |
All cash payments in relation to derivative instruments are paid or received when they mature, or for the Group’s CCIRS terminated in the current year, on the date of early redemption.
The Group mitigates the counterparty risk for derivatives by contracting with major financial institutions which have high credit ratings.
Cross currency interest rate swaps
The Group hedges certain of its borrowing and interest payable thereon using CCIRS, with a net liability position at December 31, 2025 of $3 million (December 31, 2024: $13 million).
During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Group terminated its CCIRS with a fair value of $34 million at the date of termination for a cash payment of $35 million, and entered into a series of new CCIRS, swapping $330 million into synthetic GBP debt. These new CCIRS were designated as hedge accounting arrangements to hedge certain portions of the Group’s borrowings and interest thereon.
Net investment hedges in foreign operations
At December 31, 2025, the Group has designated $360 million of its Loan Notes as a net investment hedge. A gain of $41 million was recognized in relation to the Group's net investment hedging arrangements in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2025 (2024: loss of $22 million).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-51
Commodity forward contracts
The Group hedges a portion of its anticipated metal and energy purchases. Excluding conversion and freight costs, the physical metal and energy deliveries are priced based on the applicable indices agreed with the suppliers for the relevant month. Certain forward contracts are designated as cash flow hedges and the Group has determined the existence of an economic relationship between the hedged item and the hedging instrument based on common indices used. Ineffectiveness may arise if there are changes in the forecasted transaction in terms of pricing, timing or quantities, or if there are changes in the credit risk of the Group or the counterparty. The Group applies a hedge ratio of 1:1.
Fair values have been based on quoted market prices and are valued using Level 2 valuation inputs. The fair value of these contracts when initiated is $nil; no premium is paid or received.
Forward foreign exchange contracts
The Group operates in a number of currencies and, accordingly, hedges a portion of its currency transaction risk. Certain forward contracts are designated as cash flow hedges and are set so to closely match the critical terms of the underlying cash flows. In hedges of forecasted foreign currency sales and purchases ineffectiveness may arise for similar reasons as outlined for commodity forward contracts.
The fair values are based on Level 2 valuation techniques and observable inputs including the contract prices. The fair value of these contracts when initiated is $nil; no premium is paid or received.
Virtual Power Purchase Agreement
As part of the sustainability strategy to achieve climate targets, the Group entered into a virtual power purchase agreement (“vPPA”) in July 2024. The renewable energy generation facility underlying the agreement is managed by the operator. The Group has no rights of determination or control over the use of the facilities. The benefit accruing from the virtual power purchase agreement is the Group receives certificates as proof of origin of electricity from renewable energies, and in return pays a quarterly financial flow to the developer if the respective spot electricity price falls below an agreed floor price.
The valuation applied a Black Scholes model, using a key data input for the risk-free rate of 2.1% (December 31, 2024: 2.1%), with an estimate for volatility of 31% (December 31, 2024: 31%). The estimated fair market value at December 31, 2025 was a liability of $4 million (December 31, 2024: asset of $2 million), which has been reflected within non-current derivative financial instruments, representing the value of the certificates to be received by the Group and the option value of the agreed floor price. An increase or decrease in volatility of 5% would not result in a material change to the fair market value as at December 31, 2025.
21. Employee benefit obligations
The Group operates defined benefit or defined contribution pension schemes in most of its countries of operation and the assets are held in separately administered funds. The principal funded defined benefit schemes, which are funded by contributions to separately administered funds, are in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Other defined benefit schemes are unfunded and the provision is recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position. The principal unfunded schemes are in Germany.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-52
The contribution rates to the funded plans are agreed with the Trustee boards, plan actuaries and the local pension regulators periodically. The contributions paid in 2025 were those recommended by the actuaries.
In addition, the Group has other employee benefit obligations in certain territories.
Total employee benefit obligations, net of employee benefit assets included within non-current assets, recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position of $137 million (2024: $144 million) includes other employee benefit obligations of $39 million (2024: $40 million).
The employee obligations and assets of the defined benefit schemes included in the consolidated statement of financial position are analyzed below:
|
|
Germany |
|
UK* |
|
U.S. and Other** |
|
Total |
||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Obligations |
|
(102) |
|
(98) |
|
(138) |
|
(133) |
|
(80) |
|
(74) |
|
(320) |
|
(305) |
Assets |
|
— |
|
— |
|
153 |
|
143 |
|
69 |
|
58 |
|
222 |
|
201 |
Net (obligations)/assets |
|
(102) |
|
(98) |
|
15 |
|
10 |
|
(11) |
|
(16) |
|
(98) |
|
(104) |
*The net employee benefit asset in the UK as at December 31, 2025 and 2024 is included within non-current assets on the statement of financial position.
**Net obligation of ‘Other’ defined benefit schemes at December 31, 2025 is $7 million (2024: $7 million).
The amounts recognized in the consolidated income statement are:
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Current service cost and administration costs: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales – current service cost (note 9) |
|
(8) |
|
(8) |
|
(8) |
SG&A – current service cost (note 9) |
|
(4) |
|
(3) |
|
(2) |
|
|
(12) |
|
(11) |
|
(10) |
Cost of sales - Exceptional past service charge |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(4) |
Finance expense (note 6) |
|
(5) |
|
(5) |
|
(5) |
|
|
(17) |
|
(16) |
|
(19) |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-53
The amounts recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income are:
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Remeasurement of defined benefit obligation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actuarial gain arising from changes in demographic assumptions |
|
1 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions |
|
15 |
|
19 |
|
(12) |
Actuarial loss arising from changes in experience |
|
(2) |
|
(9) |
|
(2) |
|
|
14 |
|
14 |
|
(10) |
Remeasurement of plan assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual return less expected return on plan assets |
|
5 |
|
(21) |
|
(5) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) for the year on defined benefit pension schemes |
|
19 |
|
(7) |
|
(15) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) on other long-term and end of service employee benefits |
|
2 |
|
4 |
|
(1) |
|
|
21 |
|
(3) |
|
(16) |
The actual return on plan assets was a gain of $16 million in 2025 (2024: loss of $11 million; 2023: gain of $5 million).
Movement in the present value of defined benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets:
|
|
Obligations |
|
Assets |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
At January 1, |
|
(305) |
|
(324) |
|
201 |
|
219 |
Interest income |
|
— |
|
— |
|
11 |
|
10 |
Current service cost |
|
(6) |
|
(6) |
|
— |
|
— |
Interest cost |
|
(14) |
|
(13) |
|
— |
|
— |
Administration expenses paid |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(1) |
|
— |
Remeasurements |
|
14 |
|
14 |
|
5 |
|
(21) |
Employer contributions |
|
— |
|
— |
|
11 |
|
11 |
Employee contributions |
|
(1) |
|
(1) |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Benefits paid |
|
18 |
|
16 |
|
(18) |
|
(16) |
Exchange |
|
(26) |
|
9 |
|
12 |
|
(3) |
At December 31, |
|
(320) |
|
(305) |
|
222 |
|
201 |
The defined benefit obligations above include $105 million of unfunded obligations, principally in Germany (2024: $100 million).
Interest income and interest cost above does not include interest cost of $2 million (2024: $2 million) relating to other employee benefit obligations. Current service costs above do not include current service costs of $6 million (2024: $5 million) relating to other employee benefit obligations.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-54
An analysis of the assets held by the plans is as follows:
|
|
At December 31, |
||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
% |
|
$’m |
|
% |
Equities |
|
1 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Target return funds |
|
99 |
|
45 |
|
93 |
|
47 |
Bonds |
|
52 |
|
23 |
|
49 |
|
24 |
Cash and other |
|
70 |
|
32 |
|
59 |
|
29 |
|
|
222 |
|
100 |
|
201 |
|
100 |
The pension assets do not include any of the Company’s ordinary shares, other securities or other Group assets.
Investment strategy
The choice of investments takes account of the expected maturity of the future benefit payments. The plans invest in diversified portfolios consisting of an array of asset classes that attempt to maximize returns while minimizing volatility. The asset classes include fixed income government and non-government securities and real estate, as well as cash.
Characteristics and associated risks
The pension plans in Germany operate under the framework of German Company Pension Law (BetrAVG) and general regulations based on German Labor Law. The entitlements of the plan members depend on years of service and final salary. Furthermore, the plans provide lifelong pensions. No separate assets are held in trust, i.e. the plans are unfunded defined benefit plans. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Ardagh Group elected to re-design its pension scheme in Germany, moving to a contribution orientated scheme.
The UK pension plan is a trust-based UK funded final salary defined benefit scheme providing pensions and lump sum benefits to members and dependents. There is one pension plan in place relating to Ardagh Metal Packaging UK Limited and Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading UK Limited. It is closed to new entrants and was closed to future accrual effective December 31, 2018. For this plan, pensions are calculated either based on service to December 31, 2018, with members’ benefits based on earnings as at December 31, 2018, for those members who were still active at that date, or based on service to the earlier of retirement or leaving date for members who stopped accruing benefits prior to December 31, 2018, based on earnings as at retirement or leaving date. The UK pension plan is governed by a board of trustees, which includes members who are independent of the Company. The trustees are responsible for managing the operation, funding and investment strategy. The UK pension plan is subject to the UK regulatory framework, the requirements of The Pensions Regulator and is subject to a statutory funding objective.
In June 2023, the UK High Court (Virgin Media Limited v NTL Pension Trustees II Limited) ruled that certain historical amendments, made between April 6, 1997 and April 5, 2016, for contracted-out defined benefit pension plans were invalid if they were not accompanied by the correct actuarial confirmation. The judgment was appealed and in July 2024, the UK Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision.
Following the ruling in 2024, it was determined that there could be an impact on the Group's defined benefit scheme in the UK but no adjustment was recognized in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 while the potential impact was being monitored by the Group and the Trustees. During 2025, the UK Government published draft legislation proposing retrospective validation of affected amendments be permitted, thereby potentially avoiding significant and costly increases in defined benefit obligations. It is expected that the proposed legislation will be enacted in 2026 and accordingly, the Group has not recognized any adjustment in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-55
Our North American business within our Americas segment sponsors a defined benefit pension plan as a single employer scheme which is subject to Federal law (“ERISA”), reflecting regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and the U.S. Department of Labor. The North American plan covers hourly employees only. Plan benefits are determined using a formula which reflects the employees’ years of service.
Assumptions and sensitivities
The principal pension assumptions used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements take account of the different economic circumstances in the countries of operations and the different characteristics of the respective plans, including the duration of the obligations. The ranges of the principal assumptions applied in estimating defined benefit obligations were:
|
|
Germany |
|
UK |
|
U.S. |
||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
|
% |
Rates of inflation |
|
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
2.80 |
|
3.00 |
|
2.20 |
|
2.20 |
Rates of increase in salaries |
|
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
|
2.45 |
|
2.60 |
|
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
Discount rates |
|
4.33 |
|
3.57 |
|
5.60 |
|
5.55 |
|
5.90 |
|
5.87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumptions regarding future mortality experience are based on actuarial advice in accordance with published statistics and experience.
These assumptions translate into the following average life expectancy in years for a pensioner retiring at age 65. The mortality assumptions for the countries with the most significant defined benefit plans are set out below:
|
|
Germany |
|
UK |
|
U.S. |
||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
|
Years |
Life expectancy, current pensioners |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
Life expectancy, future pensioners |
|
25 |
|
25 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
If the discount rate were to decrease by 50 basis points from management estimates, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would increase by an estimated $21 million (2024: $22 million). If the discount rate were to increase by 50 basis points, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would decrease by an estimated $20 million (2024: $19 million).
If the inflation rate were to decrease by 50 basis points from management estimates, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would decrease by an estimated $10 million (2024: $9 million). If the inflation rate were to increase by 50 basis points, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would increase by an estimated $9 million (2024: $10 million).
If the salary increase rate were to decrease by 50 basis points from management estimates, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would decrease by an estimated $11 million (2024: $10 million). If the salary increase rate were to increase by 50 basis points, the carrying amount of the defined benefit obligations would increase by an estimated $10 million (2024: $11 million).
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-56
The impact of increasing the life expectancy by one year would result in an increase in the net defined benefit obligation of the Group of $6 million at December 31, 2025 (2024: $6 million), holding all other assumptions constant.
The principal defined benefit schemes are described briefly below at December 31:
|
|
Europe |
|
Europe |
|
North |
|
|
UK |
|
Germany |
|
America |
Nature of the schemes |
|
Funded* |
|
Unfunded |
|
Funded |
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Active members |
|
— |
|
608 |
|
541 |
Deferred members |
|
491 |
|
306 |
|
159 |
Pensioners including dependents |
|
573 |
|
218 |
|
219 |
Weighted average duration (years) |
|
12 |
|
14 |
|
14 |
2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Active members |
|
— |
|
643 |
|
656 |
Deferred members |
|
491 |
|
298 |
|
129 |
Pensioners including dependents |
|
573 |
|
202 |
|
153 |
Weighted average duration (years) |
|
12 |
|
15 |
|
14 |
*Census data is updated every 3 years as part of the full valuation for purpose of the UK pension regulator. The next update is planned for the year ended December 31, 2027.
The Group’s best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to defined benefit schemes in 2026 is approximately $10 million and the expected total benefit payments for defined benefit and other long-term employee benefit obligations for the next five years are:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subsequent |
|
|
2026 |
|
2027 |
|
2028 |
|
2029 |
|
2030 |
|
five years |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Benefits |
|
26 |
|
22 |
|
21 |
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
124 |
The Group also has defined contribution plans. The contribution expense associated with these plans for 2025 was $22 million (2024: $21 million; 2023: $19 million). The Group’s best estimate of the contributions expected to be paid to these plans in 2026 is $21 million (2025: $21 million).
Other employee benefits
Long-term employee benefit obligations of $39 million (2024: $40 million) comprise amounts due to be paid under post-retirement medical schemes in North America, partial retirement contracts in Germany and other obligations to pay benefits primarily related to long service awards.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-57
22. Other liabilities and provisions
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Other liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Non-current |
|
14 |
|
18 |
Provisions |
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
10 |
|
14 |
Non-current |
|
21 |
|
19 |
|
|
45 |
|
51 |
Other liabilities
Earnout Shares
The Ardagh Group has a contingent right to receive up to 60.73 million additional shares in the Company (the “Earnout Shares”). The Earnout Shares are issuable by AMPSA to the Ardagh Group subject to attainment of certain share price hurdles, with equal amounts of shares at $13, $15, $16.50, $18, and $19.50, respectively, over a five-year period ending on January 31, 2027. In accordance with IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’, the arrangement has been assessed to determine whether the Earnout Shares represent a liability or an equity instrument. As the arrangement may result in AMPSA issuing a variable number of shares in the future, albeit capped at a total of 60.73 million shares, the Earnout Shares have, in accordance with the requirements of IAS 32, been recognized as a financial liability measured at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. A valuation assessment was performed for the purpose of determining the financial liability using a Monte Carlo simulation using key data inputs for: share price hurdles; risk-free rate 3% (December 31, 2024: risk-free rate 4%); and traded closing AMPSA share price, with estimates volatility of 50% (December 31, 2024: volatility 59%) and dividend yield. The estimated valuations of the liability at December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, were $3 million and $10 million, respectively. Changes in the fair market valuation of the Earnout Shares of $7 million have been reflected as exceptional finance income within net finance expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 (2024: $13 million). Any increase or decrease in volatility of 5% would result in an increase or decrease in the liability as at December 31, 2025, of approximately $2 million (December 31, 2024: $4 million).
Warrants
AMPSA warrants are exercisable for the purchase of Ordinary Shares in AMPSA at an exercise price of $11.50 over a five-year period. In accordance with IAS 32, those warrants have been recognized as a financial liability measured at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. For certain warrants issued to the former sponsors of Gores Holdings V, Inc. (“Private Warrants”) a valuation was performed for the purpose of determining the financial liability. The valuation applied a Black Scholes model, using a key data input for the risk-free rate 3% (December 31, 2024: risk-free rate 4%), with estimates for volatility 50% (December 31, 2024: volatility 59%) and dividend yield. The estimated valuations of the liability at December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, were $nil and $1 million, respectively. Changes in the valuation of the Private and Public Warrants of $1 million have been reflected as exceptional finance income within net finance expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 (December 31, 2024: $1 million). Any increase or decrease in volatility of 5% would not result in a change in the fair value of the AMP Warrants at December 31, 2025 (December 31, 2024: $nil). All outstanding warrants were delisted from the NYSE on December 3, 2025 due to “abnormally low selling price” levels.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-58
Put and call arrangements
In conjunction with the NOMOQ acquisition completed in February 2023, the Group has entered into put and call option arrangements for the acquisition of the outstanding non-controlling interest (“NCI”), part of which are treated as a compensation arrangement for accounting purposes, and could result in future payments to the holders of such NCI, depending on the future performance of NOMOQ. The Group has recognized the fair value of the obligation at December 31, 2025 of $11 million (December 31, 2024: $7 million) within other liabilities and provisions.
Provisions
|
|
Total |
|
|
provisions |
|
|
$’m |
At January 1, 2024 |
|
48 |
Provided |
|
19 |
Released |
|
(10) |
Paid |
|
(23) |
Exchange |
|
(1) |
At December 31, 2024 |
|
33 |
Provided |
|
7 |
Released |
|
(7) |
Paid |
|
(4) |
Exchange |
|
2 |
At December 31, 2025 |
|
31 |
Provisions relate mainly to customer quality claims, legal and probable environmental claims of $9 million (2024: $12 million), and restructuring cost provisions of $3 million (2024: $4 million). In addition to the aforementioned, provisions also includes non-current amounts in respect of annual long-term (three-year) cash bonus incentive programs for senior management of the Group, of approximately $19 million (2024: $17 million).
The provisions classified as current are expected to be paid in the next twelve months. The timing of non-current provisions is subject to uncertainty.
23. Trade and other payables
|
|
|
At December 31, |
||
|
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Trade payables |
|
|
1,266 |
|
1,041 |
Other payables and accruals including other tax and social security payable |
|
|
248 |
|
194 |
Payables and accruals for exceptional items |
|
|
19 |
|
9 |
Related party payables (note 26) |
|
|
6 |
|
6 |
|
|
|
1,539 |
|
1,250 |
The fair values of trade and other payables approximate the amounts shown above.
Other payables and accruals mainly comprise accruals for operating expenses. Value added tax payable of $56 million (2024: $45 million) is also included in other payables and accruals.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-59
Trade payables processing
Certain of the Group’s suppliers have access to independent third-party payable processors. The processors allow suppliers, if they choose, to sell their receivables to financial institutions at the sole discretion of both the supplier and the financial institution. The Group does not direct or have any involvement in the sale of these receivables and availing of these arrangements is at the discretion of the supplier. As the original liability to our suppliers remains, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, and is neither legally extinguished nor substantially modified, the Group continues to present such obligations within trade payables and includes payments to the processors within cash from operations.
Included within trade and other payables at December 31, 2025 is an amount of $84 million (2024: $111 million) that is part of the programme and for which suppliers have received payments from the processors. These payments are considered non-cash transactions for the Group and there were no significant changes in the carrying amount of trade payables subject to trade payables processing.
The range of payment due dates for trade payables that are part of the processing at December 31, 2025 are 90 – 150 days (2024: 60 – 150 days) after the invoice date, with comparable trade payables that are not part of the processing being due 55 – 150 days (2024: 55 – 120 days) after the invoice date with payment terms varying by jurisdiction and procurement category.
24. Cash generated from operating activities
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
|
$’m |
Profit for the year |
|
11 |
|
(3) |
|
(50) |
Income tax (credit)/charge (note 7) |
|
(7) |
|
13 |
|
(21) |
Net finance expense (note 6) |
|
240 |
|
192 |
|
147 |
Depreciation and amortization (notes 10, 11) |
|
463 |
|
449 |
|
418 |
Exceptional operating items (note 5) |
|
32 |
|
21 |
|
106 |
Movement in working capital |
|
(2) |
|
40 |
|
270 |
Exceptional costs paid, including restructuring |
|
(19) |
|
(53) |
|
(56) |
Cash generated from operations |
|
718 |
|
659 |
|
814 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-60
25. Dividends
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||
|
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
Cash dividends on Ordinary Shares declared and paid: |
|
|
|
|
Interim dividend: $0.10 per share |
|
60 |
|
60 |
Interim dividend: $0.10 per share |
|
60 |
|
60 |
Interim dividend: $0.10 per share |
|
60 |
|
60 |
Interim dividend: $0.10 per share |
|
60 |
|
60 |
Cash dividends on Preferred Shares declared and paid: |
|
|
|
|
Interim dividend |
|
6 |
|
6 |
Interim dividend |
|
6 |
|
6 |
Interim dividend |
|
6 |
|
6 |
Interim dividend |
|
4 |
|
6 |
|
|
262 |
|
264 |
2025
On February 25, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on March 27, 2025, to shareholders of record on March 13, 2025. On February 25, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on March 27, 2025.
On April 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on May 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2025. On April 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on May 15, 2025.
On July 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on August 19, 2025 to shareholders of record on August 7, 2025. On July 22, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on August 19, 2025.
On October 21, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on November 13, 2025 to shareholders of record on November 3, 2025. On October 21, 2025, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares to be paid on November 13, 2025. The net pro-rata dividend up to the redemption date of the Preferred Shares (note 18), amounted to €4 million ($4 million).
2024
On February 20, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on March 27, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 13, 2024. On February 20, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on March 27, 2024.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-61
On April 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on June 26, 2024 to shareholders of record on June 12, 2024. On April 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on June 26, 2024.
On July 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on September 26, 2024 to shareholders of record on September 12, 2024. On July 23, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on September 26, 2024.
On October 22, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend of $60 million was paid on December 19, 2024 to shareholders of record on December 5, 2024. On October 22, 2024, the Board approved an interim dividend on the annual 9% dividend of the Preferred Shares. The interim dividend of €6 million ($6 million) was paid on December 19, 2024.
26. Related party transactions and information
(i) |
Ultimate controlling shareholders |
Following completion of the Transaction (see note 1), at February 24, 2026, the approval date of these consolidated financial statements, the ultimate controlling shareholder of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., through its 100% ownership of Ardagh Group S.A., is Ardagh Holdings S.A. (formerly Yeoman Capital S.A.), a company registered in Luxembourg.
(ii) |
Common directorships |
Following completion of the Transaction (see note 1), Herman Troskie and Mark Porto who serve as directors on the board of the Company also serve as directors on the boards of Ardagh Group S.A. and Ardagh Holdings S.A..
(iii) Key management compensation
Key management are those persons who have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Group. Key management is comprised of the members who served on the Board and the Group’s executive leadership team during the reporting period. Key management includes individuals who provide services to AMPSA while the related costs are fully borne by the Ardagh Group. An allocation of the compensation attributable for these services is included below. The amount outstanding at December 31, 2025, was $9 million (2024: $4 million).
Salaries and other short-term employee benefits related to key management for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $8 million (2024: $6 million). Post-employment and other benefits for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $6 million (2024: $3 million). In the event that certain performance-related targets are achieved in the period to December 31, 2027, which are not guaranteed and remain uncertain, a further $4 million (2024: $3 million) could become payable under the Group’s post-employment and other benefit arrangements.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-62
(iv) Transactions and balances with other related parties For the year ended December 31, 2025, related party transaction and balances include the Group’s pension schemes (note 21), the Services Agreement and the Joint IT Assets Agreement between AMPSA and the Ardagh Group (please see below and note 10, respectively), a lease agreement between AMPSA and the Ardagh Group (notes 11 and 20), the Earnout shares (note 22), movement in working capital, including costs reimbursed by the Ardagh Group of $nil, and dividends (note 25).
In 2021, the Ardagh Group and AMPSA entered into a Services Agreement, pursuant to which the Ardagh Group, either directly or indirectly through its affiliates, shall provide certain corporate and business-unit services to AMPSA and its subsidiaries, and AMPSA, either directly or indirectly through its affiliates, shall provide certain corporate and business-unit services to the Ardagh Group and its affiliates (other than AMPSA and its subsidiaries). The services pursuant to the Services Agreement include typical corporate functional support areas in order to compliment the activities in these areas which exist within AMPSA. As consideration for the corporate services provided by the Ardagh Group to AMPSA, AMPSA has provided corporate services to the Ardagh Group and has incurred an expense of $39 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. The fees for services pursuant to the Services Agreement are subject to adjustment for third party costs and variations for certain volume-based services. As of December 31, 2025, the Services Agreement automatically renewed for an additional one-year term, with the fees for the services provided calculated based on an allocation of the cost associated with such services. The Services Agreement will renew automatically on an annual basis until terminated. All or any part of the Services Agreement may be terminated by either party providing nine months prior written notice to the other party, or by mutual consent of both parties in writing at any time.
With the exception of the balances outlined in (i) to (iv) above, there are no material balances outstanding with related parties at December 31, 2025.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-63
(v) Subsidiaries
The following table provides information relating to our principal operating subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, at December 31, 2025.
|
|
Country of |
Company |
|
incorporation |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Manufacturing Austria GmbH |
|
Austria |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Austria GmbH |
|
Austria |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Brasil Ltda |
|
Brazil |
Ardagh Indústria de Embalagens Metálicas do Brasil Ltda. |
|
Brazil |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading France SAS |
|
France |
Ardagh Metal Packaging France SAS |
|
France |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Germany GmbH |
|
Germany |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Germany GmbH |
|
Germany |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Netherlands B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Netherlands B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Poland Sp. z o.o |
|
Poland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Poland Sp. z o.o |
|
Poland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Spain SLU |
|
Spain |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Spain SLU |
|
Spain |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe GmbH |
|
Switzerland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
Ardagh Metal Packaging UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. |
|
United States |
A number of the above legal entities act as subsidiary guarantor for the debt of the Group at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-64
27. Contingencies
Environmental issues
The Group is regulated under various national and local environmental, occupational health and safety and other governmental laws and regulations relating to:
| ● | the operation of installations for manufacturing of metal packaging and surface treatment using solvents; |
| ● | the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of hazardous materials; |
| ● | the emission of substances and physical agents into the environment; |
| ● | the discharge of waste water and disposal of waste; |
| ● | the remediation of contamination; |
| ● | the design, characteristics, collection and recycling of its packaging products; and |
| ● | the manufacturing and servicing of machinery and equipment for the metal packaging industry. |
The Group believes, based on current information, that it is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements. It does not believe it will be required, under existing or anticipated future environmental laws and regulations, to expend amounts, over and above the amounts accrued, which will have a material effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows. In addition, no material proceedings against the Group arising under environmental laws are pending. Finally, the Group believes that the potential impact of climate change, including permit compliance, property damage and business disruption, on the Group has not resulted in a contingent obligation at December 31, 2025.
Legal matters
The Group is involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. The Group believes that none of these proceedings, either individually or in aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
28. Events after the reporting period
On February 24, 2026, the Board approved an interim dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share. The interim dividend will be paid on March 26, 2026, to shareholders of record on March 12, 2026.
On January 29, 2026, the Group signed an amendment agreement to increase the Global Asset Based Loan facility to $450 million and to extend the maturity to January 29, 2031.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-65
29. Company financial information
This note has been included in these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-X rule 12.04 Condensed financial information of registrant. The financial information provided below relates to the individual company financial statements for the Company as presented in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB. The statement of comprehensive income and the statement of cash flows reflect the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards have been condensed or omitted. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information only and, as such, these statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The individual company financial information has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the consolidated financial statements, except that investments in subsidiaries are included at cost less any provision for impairment in value.
The functional currency of the Company is euro and accordingly, the individual company financial statements set out below is presented in euro.
| (i) | Statement of comprehensive income |
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
€’m |
|
€’m |
|
€’m |
Dividend income (iv) |
199 |
|
— |
|
— |
Other income |
17 |
|
14 |
|
— |
Other external charges |
(2) |
|
(2) |
|
(2) |
Finance expense |
(42) |
|
(22) |
|
(5) |
Profit/(loss) before exceptional items |
172 |
|
(10) |
|
(7) |
Exceptional operating (costs)/income (v) |
(3) |
|
1 |
|
1 |
Exceptional finance income (v) |
7 |
|
13 |
|
55 |
Impairment of investments in subsidiary undertakings (vi) |
(555) |
|
(400) |
|
— |
(Loss)/profit before tax |
(379) |
|
(396) |
|
49 |
Income tax credit |
— |
|
3 |
|
— |
(Loss)/profit and total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year |
(379) |
|
(393) |
|
49 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-66
| (ii) | Statement of financial position |
|
At December 31, |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
€’m |
|
€’m |
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
Investments in subsidiary undertakings |
2,446 |
|
3,001 |
|
2,446 |
|
3,001 |
Current assets |
|
|
|
Amounts receivable from subsidiary undertakings |
19 |
|
15 |
Other receivables and prepayments |
7 |
|
3 |
|
26 |
|
18 |
Total assets |
2,472 |
|
3,019 |
|
|
|
|
Equity attributable to owners of the parent |
|
|
|
Equity share capital |
6 |
|
256 |
Share premium |
5,097 |
|
5,097 |
Legal reserve |
1 |
|
1 |
Other reserves |
(1,832) |
|
(1,832) |
Retained earnings |
(1,662) |
|
(1,051) |
Total equity |
1,610 |
|
2,471 |
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
Amounts payable to subsidiary undertakings (vii) |
809 |
|
256 |
Amounts payable to related parties (viii) |
2 |
|
9 |
Other liabilities |
— |
|
1 |
|
811 |
|
266 |
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
Amounts payable to subsidiary undertakings |
45 |
|
282 |
Other liabilities |
6 |
|
- |
|
51 |
|
282 |
Total liabilities |
862 |
|
548 |
Total equity and liabilities |
2,472 |
|
3,019 |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-67
(iii) Statement of cash flows
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
€’m |
|
€’m |
|
€’m |
Cash flows from/(used in) operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from/(used in) operations |
11 |
|
(2) |
|
(2) |
Net cash from/(used in) operating activities |
11 |
|
(2) |
|
(2) |
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends received |
199 |
|
— |
|
— |
Net cash received from investing activities |
199 |
|
— |
|
— |
Cash flows (used in)/from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from borrowings with subsidiary undertakings |
274 |
|
245 |
|
246 |
Dividends paid (ix) |
(234) |
|
(243) |
|
(244) |
Redemption of Preferred Shares (x) |
(250) |
|
— |
|
— |
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities |
(210) |
|
2 |
|
2 |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
(iv) Dividend income
During the year the Company received dividends of €199 million from its subsidiary, Ardagh Metal Packaging Group Sarl (2024: nil).
(v) Exceptional (costs)/income
Exceptional operating costs of €3 million has been recognized for the year ended December 31, 2025 (2024: income of €1 million, 2023: income of €1 million) primarily relating to legal fees and transaction related real estate transfer tax. Exceptional finance income comprised of a net €7 million gain on movements in the fair market values on the Earnout Shares and Public and Private Warrants (2024: €13 million, 2023: €55 million).
(vi) Impairment of investments in subsidiary undertakings
At December 31, 2025, Management has assessed the recoverable amount of its investments in subsidiary undertakings and concluded that an impairment charge of €555 million should be recognized (2024: €400 million, 2023: €nil). The Company uses the fair value less cost of disposal (“FVLCD”) model for the purposes of its impairment test. In assessing FVLCD, Management uses a market approach, which includes, as key assumptions, the valuation multiple which a market participant would apply to risk-Adjusted EBITDA.
(vii) Amounts payable to subsidiary undertakings after one year
Amounts payable to subsidiary undertakings relate to term loans with the Company’s subsidiary, Ardagh Metal Packaging Treasury Limited.
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-68
(viii) Amounts payable to related parties
Amounts payable to related parties at December 31, 2025 relate to the Earnout Shares which are issuable by AMPSA to the Ardagh Group - see notes 22 and 26.
(ix) Dividends paid
During the year the Company paid dividends to its equity holders of €234 million (2024: €243 million, 2023: €244 million). The ordinary dividend paid to equity holders is denominated in U.S dollar and the year on year movement is attributable to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
(x) Redemption of Preferred Shares
On December 2, 2025, the Company redeemed its 56,306,306 non-convertible non-voting 9% cumulative Preferred Shares with a nominal value of €4.44 each, issued to Ardagh Group in July 2022, for a total consideration of €250 million. The Preferred Shares were subsequently canceled on December 9, 2025.
(xi) Commitments and contingencies
The Company has guaranteed certain liabilities of a number of its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2025 including guarantees under Section 357 of the Irish Companies Act, 2014 and Section 264 of the German Commercial Code. Furthermore, the Company has assumed joined and several liability in accordance with Section 403, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code for the liabilities of a number of its Dutch subsidiaries.
With exception of the above guarantees the Company had no commitments and contingencies at December 31, 2025.
(xii) Additional information
The following reconciliations are provided as additional information to satisfy the Schedule I SEC Requirements for parent-only financial information and are presented in both euro and U.S. dollars.
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
€'m |
|
€'m |
|
€'m |
IFRS profit/(loss) reconciliation: |
|
|
|
|
|
Parent only-IFRS (loss)/profit for the year |
(379) |
|
(393) |
|
49 |
Additional gain/(loss) if subsidiaries had been accounted for using the equity method of accounting as opposed to cost |
389 |
|
390 |
|
(95) |
Consolidated IFRS profit/(loss) for the year |
10 |
|
(3) |
|
(46) |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-69
|
At December 31, |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
€’m |
|
€’m |
IFRS equity reconciliation: |
|
|
|
Parent only-IFRS equity |
1,610 |
|
2,471 |
Additional loss if subsidiaries had been accounted for using the equity method of accounting as opposed to cost |
(2,184) |
|
(2,602) |
Consolidated-IFRS equity |
(574) |
|
(131) |
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
IFRS profit/(loss) reconciliation: |
|
|
|
|
|
Parent only-IFRS (loss)/profit for the year |
(424) |
|
(427) |
|
53 |
Additional gain/(loss) if subsidiaries had been accounted for using the equity method of accounting as opposed to cost |
435 |
|
424 |
|
(103) |
Consolidated IFRS profit/(loss) for the year |
11 |
|
(3) |
|
(50) |
|
At December 31, |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
$'m |
|
$'m |
IFRS equity reconciliation: |
|
|
|
Parent only-IFRS equity |
1,892 |
|
2,567 |
Additional loss if subsidiaries had been accounted for using the equity method of accounting as opposed to cost |
(2,567) |
|
(2,703) |
Consolidated-IFRS equity |
(675) |
|
(136) |
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
F-70
Exhibit 1.1
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 1 | P a g e
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
56, Rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
R.C.S. Luxembourg: B 251465
**************************************************
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
16 DECEMBER 2025
**************************************************
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 2 | P a g e
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Power of the Company to Purchase or otherwise Acquire its own Shares |
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Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 4 | P a g e
1. |
In these Articles, the following words and expressions shall, where not inconsistent with the context, have the following meanings, respectively:
Acquiror has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.1;
Acquiror Expert has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.1;
Acquiror Purchase Price has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.2;
Act means the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 pertaining to commercial companies, as amended from time to time;
Affiliate means, with respect to a person, any person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such person;
Articles means these articles, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article 54;
Article 13 Notice has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.1;
Auditor means one or more independent auditors (réviseurs d’entreprises) appointed in accordance with these Articles and includes an individual, company or partnership;
Board means the board of directors appointed or elected from time to time pursuant to these Articles;
Chairman means the chairman of the Board;
Clear Days means, in relation to the period of a notice, that period excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;
Company means the company for which these Articles are approved and confirmed;
Compulsory Acquisition Notice has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.2;
Control means, with respect to any person, the possession, directly or indirectly, by another person of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such first person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
Depository has the meaning ascribed in Article 11.4;
Director means a director of the Company;
EUR means the single currency of participating member states of the European Union and the lawful currency for the time being of Luxembourg;
Fair Market Value has the meaning ascribed in Article 8.6;
Indemnified Party has the meaning ascribed in Article 38.1;
Luxembourg has the meaning ascribed in Article 4.1;
New Shares has the meaning ascribed in Article 7.3;
Notice means written notice as further provided in these Articles unless otherwise specifically stated;
Notice of Objection has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.3;
Notice to the Company means written notice addressed to the Secretary or another
Page 4 of 34
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 5 | P a g e
officer identified by the Company to Shareholders from time to time, delivered to the registered office of the Company by hand or mail, or to the Company by facsimile or electronic mail (with customary proof of confirmation that such notice has been transmitted);
Officer means any person appointed as an officer of the Company by the Board, with such title, powers and duties as designated by resolution of the Board in accordance with Article 37;
Ordinary Resolution means a resolution adopted at an ordinary general meeting (including the annual general meeting) with the quorum set forth in Article 21.1 and the majority set forth in Article 22.1;
Ordinary Shares means the ordinary Shares of the Company with the rights and obligations set forth in the Articles;
Preferred Shares means the redeemable preferred shares of the Company without voting rights and with the rights and obligations set forth in the Articles;
Purchase Price has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.3;
Register of Shareholders means the register of shareholders referred to in these Articles;
Remaining Holder Expert has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.3;
Remaining Holders has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.1;
Remaining Shares has the meaning ascribed in Article 13.1;
Secretary means the person appointed as secretary of the Company by the Board, including any deputy or assistant secretary and any person appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties set forth in Article 34.2 and specifically entrusted by resolution to the Secretary;
Shares has the meaning ascribed in Article 6.1;
Share Capital in Issue means the sum of the aggregate par value of the issued Shares, taking into account the respective par value of each Share;
Shareholder means any person registered in the Register of Shareholders as the holder of Shares in the Company;
Special Resolution means a resolution adopted at an extraordinary general meeting with the quorum set forth in Article 21.2 and the majority set forth in Article 22.2;
Subsidiary means an incorporated or unincorporated entity in which another person (a) has a majority of the shareholders’ or members’ voting rights or (b) has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body and is at the same time a shareholder in or member of such entity; and
Treasury Share means a Share that was or is treated as having been acquired and held by the Company and has been held (or is treated as having been held) continuously by the Company since it was so acquired and has not been cancelled.
1.1 |
In these Articles, where not inconsistent with the context: |
(a) |
words denoting the plural number include the singular number and vice versa; |
(b) |
words denoting the neuter gender include the masculine and feminine genders; |
Page 5 of34
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 6 | P a g e
(c) |
the word: |
(i) |
“may” shall be construed as permissive; |
(ii) |
“shall” shall be construed as imperative; and |
(iii) |
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; |
(d)a reference to statutory provision shall be deemed to include any amendment or re-enactment thereof;
(e)if the numbering of the articles within the Act is subsequently changed, reference to a given article of the Act in these Articles shall be deemed to be replaced by the new number;
(f) |
the word “corporation” means a legal entity (personne morale); and |
(g)the word “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other incorporated or unincorporated organisation or any other entity, including a governmental entity or authority; and
(h)unless otherwise provided herein, words or expressions used in these Articles and defined in the Act shall bear the same meaning in these Articles as in the Act.
1.2In these Articles expressions referring to writings shall, unless inconsistent with the context, include facsimile, printing, lithography, photography, electronic mail and other modes of representing words in visible form.
1.3Headings used in these Articles are for convenience only and are not to be used or relied upon in the construction hereof.
FORM, NAME, DURATION AND REGISTERED OFFICE
2. |
The Company’s legal name is “Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.” and it is a public limited liability company (société anonyme).
3. |
The Company is incorporated for an unlimited duration.
4. |
4.1The registered office of the Company is established in the City of Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (“Luxembourg”). It may be transferred within Luxembourg by a resolution of the Board, which may amend these Articles accordingly.
4.2If the Board determines that extraordinary political or military developments or events have occurred or are imminent and that these developments or events would interfere with the normal activities of the Company at its registered office, or with the ease of communication between such office and persons abroad, the registered office may be temporarily transferred abroad until the complete cessation of these extraordinary circumstances. Such temporary measures shall have no effect on the nationality of the Company which, notwithstanding the temporary transfer of its registered office, will remain a Luxembourg incorporated company. Such temporary measures will be taken by the Board and notified to the Shareholders.
Page 6 of34
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 7 | P a g e
5. |
5.1The corporate objects of the Company are to hold, directly or indirectly, equity or other interests in other persons, including its Subsidiaries, and take all actions as are necessary or useful to realise these objects.
5.2 |
The Company has the power to carry out the following actions: |
(a)the acquisition, holding, management and disposal, in any form, by any means, directly or indirectly, of participations, rights and interests in, and obligations of, Luxembourg and non-Luxembourg companies, partnerships or other incorporated or non-incorporated entities;
(b)the acquisition by purchase, subscription, assumption or in any other manner and the transfer by sale, exchange or in any other manner of equity securities, bonds, debentures, notes and other securities or financial instruments of any kind and contracts thereon or related thereto;
(c)the ownership, administration, development and management of a portfolio of assets, including real estate assets and the assets referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Article 5.2;
(d)the holding, acquisition, disposal, development, licensing or sublicensing, and management of, or the investment in, any patents or other intellectual property rights of any nature or origin as well as the rights deriving therefrom;
(e)the issuance of debt and equity securities in any currency and in any form including by way of:
(i) |
the issue of shares, notes, bonds, debentures or any other form of debt or equity security and in any manner, whether by way of private placement, public offering or otherwise; and |
(ii) |
borrowing from any third party, including banks, financial institutions, or other person whether or not affiliated with the Company; |
(f)to the extent permitted under Luxembourg law, the provision of any form of equity or debt funding or any other form of financial assistance in any currency and whether or not financed by any of the methods mentioned in paragraph (e) of this Article 5.2 and whether subordinated or unsubordinated, to any person including to the Company’s Subsidiaries, Affiliates and/or any other persons that may or may not be Shareholders or Affiliates of the Company;
(g)the giving of guarantees (including up-stream and cross-stream) or the creation of any form of encumbrance or security over all or any of its assets to guarantee or secure its own obligations or those obligations and undertakings of any other companies or persons that may or may not be Shareholders or Affiliates, and, generally, for its own benefit and/or the benefit of any other persons that may or may not be Shareholders or Affiliates of the Company; and (h)taking any actions designed or intended to protect the Company against credit, currency exchange, interest rate or other risks.
Page 7 of34
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 8 | P a g e
5.3The objects and powers described in this Article 5 are to be interpreted in their broadest sense and any transaction or agreement which is entered into by the Company that is not inconsistent with the foregoing objects or powers will be deemed to be within the scope of such objects or powers.
6. |
6.1The authorised share capital of the Company is set at one billion Euro and zero Cents (EUR 1,000,000,000), divided into up to one hundred billion (100,000,000,000) shares (the “Shares”) represented by Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares.
6.2 The Share Capital in Issue of the Company amounts to five million nine hundred seventy-six thousand nine hundred ninety-five Euros and eighty-six cents (EUR 5,976,995.86) represented byfive hundred ninety-seven million six hundred and ninety-nine thousand and five hundred and eighty-six (597,699,586) Ordinary Shares with a par value of one Euro cent (EUR 0.01) each.
6.3The Company may issue additional Shares in accordance with these Articles.
6.4The Ordinary Shares are voting shares of the Company, each carrying one vote. The Preferred Shares are non-voting shares of the Company, except where mandatorily required by the Act, where each Preferred Share shall carry one vote irrespective of its nominal value.
6.5All Preferred Shares are issued in the form of redeemable shares and are redeemable at the sole discretion of the Company at such date as decided by the Board. The holders of Preferred Shares have no right to request the redemption of their Preferred Shares. Without prejudice to the conditions set forth in the Act, the Preferred Shares will be redeemed pursuant to Article 8 and by serving a Notice (the “Purchase Notice”) to the owner of the Preferred Shares to be repurchased, specifying the Preferred Shares to be repurchased, the purchase price to be paid for such Preferred Shares and the place at which the purchase price in respect of such Preferred Shares is payable. Immediately after the close of business on the date specified in the Purchase Notice such holder shall cease to be the holder of the Preferred Shares specified in such Purchase Notice and its name shall be removed as the holder of such Preferred Shares from the Register of Shareholders. Any such holder will cease to have any right as a Shareholder with respect to the Preferred Shares to be repurchased as from the date specified in the Purchase Notice.
7. |
7.1Subject to the provisions of the Act, any Share may be issued either at par or at a premium and with such rights and/or restrictions, whether in respect of dividends, voting, return of capital, transferability or otherwise, as the Company may from time to time direct.
7.2Any share premium created upon the issue of shares pursuant to Article 7.1 shall be available for repayment to the Shareholders, the payment of which shall be within the absolute discretion of the Board.
Page 8 of34
Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 9 | P a g e
Without limiting the foregoing, the Board is authorised to use any share premium for the purpose of making any share premium repayment to Shareholders or repurchasing Shares.
7.3(a) The Board is authorised for a period of five (5) years from 8 July 2022 to increase the Share Capital in Issue, once or more, (i) by the issue of new Shares irrespective of their class with a par value of one Euro cent (EUR 0.01) for each Ordinary Share, and four Euros and forty-four Euro cents (EUR 4.44) for each Preferred Share (the “New Shares”), (ii) by granting options to subscribe for New Shares, (iii) by issuing any other instruments convertible into or repayable by or exchangeable for New Shares (whether provided in the terms at issue or subsequently provided), (iv) by issuing bonds with warrants or other rights to subscribe for New Shares attached, or (v) through the issue of standalone warrants or any other instrument carrying an entitlement to, or the right to subscribe for, New Shares, up to a maximum of the authorised but as yet unissued share capital of the Company to such persons and on such terms as the Board determines in its absolute discretion. The Board may set the subscription price for the New Shares so issued, as well as determining the form of consideration to be paid for any such New Shares which may include (A) cash, including the setting off of claims against the Company that are certain, due and payable, (B) payment in kind, and (C) reallocation of the share premium, profit reserves or other reserves of the Company. The Board is also authorised to issue New Shares free of charge within the limitations of Article 420-26 (6) of the Act.
(b) The Board is authorised to withdraw or limit the Luxembourg statutory preemption provisions upon the issuance of the New Shares pursuant to the authority conferred by Article 7.3.
7.4The Board shall be authorised to appoint, in its absolute discretion, a representative, to appear before a public notary in Luxembourg for the purpose of recording each share capital increase by way of notarial deed and amending the Articles to reflect the changes resulting from such share capital increases to the Share Capital In Issue.
8. |
Power of the Company to Purchase or otherwise Acquire its own Shares |
8.1The Company may purchase, acquire or receive its own Shares for cancellation or to hold them as Treasury Shares within the limits, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Act and other applicable laws and regulations. In relation to the Preferred Shares, the Board of Directors has full discretion to decide if and when the Preferred Shares should be redeemed.
8.2Pursuant to and in conformity with the provisions of Article 430-15 of the Act, and in conformity with all other applicable laws and regulations (including any rules and regulations of any stock market, exchange or securities settlement system on which the Ordinary Shares are traded, as may be applicable to the Company), the Company is authorised to purchase, acquire, receive and/or hold Shares, from time to time, provided that:
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(a)the Shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall all be fully paid-up issued Shares; (b)the maximum number of Shares purchased, acquired or received by the Company shall be such that the aggregate nominal value or the aggregate accounting par value of the Shares held by persons other than the Company does not fall below the minimum issued share capital prescribed by the Act;
(c)the maximum price which may be paid for each Share shall not exceed the Fair Market Value (as defined in Article 8.6);
(d)the minimum price which may be paid for each Share shall be the par value of the Share; and
(e)the acquisitions, including the Shares previously acquired by the Company and held by it, and Shares acquired by a person acting in its own name but on the Company’s behalf,may not have the effect of reducing the net assets of the Company below the amount mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 461-2 of the Act.
8.3The authority set forth in this Article 8 (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed by the general meeting) is granted for a period of five (5) years from and commencing on 8 July 2022.
8.4The authority set forth in this Article 8 relates only to:
(a)one or more market purchases (being a purchase of Shares by the Company of Shares offered for sale by any Shareholder on any stock exchange on which the Shares are traded), as the Board shall determine without such acquisition offer having to be made to all Shareholders; and
(b)purchases effected in circumstances other than those referred to in Article 8.4(a), where an offer on the same terms has been made by the Company to all Shareholders in a similar situation, it being understood that holders of Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to be in a similar situation to holders of Ordinary Shares.
8.5The Board shall be authorised to appoint, in its absolute discretion, a representative, to appear before a public notary in Luxembourg for the purpose of amending these Articles to reflect the changes resulting from the cancellation of any Shares repurchased in accordance with the terms of this Article 8, if such election is made to cancel the Shares.
8.6For the purposes of this Article 8, “Fair Market Value” means, in respect of any Ordinary Share:
(a)the actual price at which the Company effects a purchase of its own Shares pursuant to an announced open market repurchase program on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Company’s Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on such other securities exchange on which the Company’s shares are then listed or traded; or
(b)in the case of any repurchase of Shares that is not effected pursuant to an announced open market repurchase program on the New York Stock Exchange or another securities exchange, the fair market value determined in good faith by an independent auditor (réviseur d'entreprises) appointed by the Board on the basis of such information and facts as available to, and deemed relevant by, the independent auditor;
and in respect of any Preferred Share,
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(i) its nominal value plus the Delta and any New Delta (each as defined in article 15.3), if any, plus (ii) its nominal value multiplied by 0.75% (zero point seventy-fiver per cent) multiplied by the number of months elapsed between the date of issuance of the Preferred Share and of its redemption (it being understood that a month will always be calculated in full irrespective of the effective day of issuance and redemption), plus
(iii) in case any Delta or New Delta exists with respect to any financial year, an amount equal to 9% (nine per cent) per year, calculated pro rata temporis on the Delta or New Delta, from the first day of the financial year following the existence of a Delta or New Delta and until the date of payment of such Delta or New Delta or to the redemption date (it being understood that a month will always be calculated in full irrespective of the effective day of the payment or redemption), less
(iv) the total amount of any dividend paid, if any, in relation to the Preferred Share since its issuance.
8.7 Voting rights attaching to a Treasury Share shall be suspended and shall not be exercised by the Company while it holds such Treasury Shares and, except where required by the Act, all Treasury Shares shall be excluded from the calculation of any percentage or fraction of the share capital, or shares, of the Company for determining the quorum and majority requirements of any general meeting. The aforementioned restrictions on voting rights shall apply to Shares issued by the Company and held by direct and indirect subsidiaries, in accordance with Article 430-23 of the Act.
9.Suspension and/or Waiver of Voting Right; Voting by Incapacitated Holders
9.1The Board may suspend the right to vote of any Shareholder if such Shareholder does not fulfil its obligations under these Articles or any deed of subscription or deed of commitment entered into by such Shareholder.
9.2Any Shareholder may individually decide not to exercise, temporarily or definitively, such Shareholder’s right to vote all or any of such Shareholder’s shares. Any such Shareholder shall be bound by such waiver, which shall be enforceable by the Company from the date of the Company’s receipt of Notice from such Shareholder of such waiver.
9.3If the voting rights of one or more Shareholders are suspended in accordance with this Article 9 or a Shareholder has temporarily or permanently waived such Shareholder’s voting right in accordance with this Article 9, such Shareholders shall receive Notice of and may attend any general meeting of Shareholders but the Shares with respect to which such Shareholder does not have, or has waived, voting rights in accordance with this Article 9 shall not be taken into account for determining whether the quorum and majority vote requirements are satisfied.
9.4If an individual Shareholder is of unsound mind or an order has been made in respect of such Shareholder by any court having jurisdiction (whether in Luxembourg or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder, such Shareholder’s committee, receiver, guardian or other person appointed by that court and any such committee, receiver, guardian or other person may vote such Shareholder’s Shares, including by proxy. Evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote shall be deposited at the registered office of the Company or at such other place as is specified
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in accordance with these Articles for the deposit of proxies, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the right to vote is exercised, failing which the right to vote shall not be exercised.
10. |
At the request of a Shareholder, the Company shall issue a statement of share ownership evidencing the number of Shares registered in such Shareholder’s name in the Register of Shareholders on the date of such statement.
11. |
11.1The Shares are and will remain in registered form (actions nominatives) and the Shareholders are not permitted to request the conversion of their shares into bearer form.
11.2The Board shall cause to be kept a Register of Shareholders and shall enter therein the particulars required by the Act.
11.3The Company shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of any Share as the absolute owner thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognise any equitable claim or other claim to, or interest in, such Share on the part of any other person.
11.4Where Shares are recorded in the Register of Shareholders on behalf of one or more persons in the name of a securities settlement system or the operator of such system, or in the name of a professional depository of securities, or any other depository (such system, professional or other depository, being referred to as “Depository”) or of a sub-depository designated by one or more Depositories, the Company, subject to it having received from the Depository with which those Shares are kept in account satisfactory evidence of the underlying ownership of Shares by those persons and their authority to vote the Shares, will permit those persons to exercise the rights attaching to those Shares, including admission to and voting at general meetings. A Notice may be given by the Company to the holders of Shares held through a Depository by giving such Notice to the Depository the name of which is listed in the Register of Shareholders in respect of the Shares, and any such Notice shall be regarded as proper Notice to all underlying holders of Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make payments, by way of dividends or otherwise, in cash, shares or other assets as permitted pursuant to these Articles, only to the Depository or sub-depository recorded in the Register of Shareholders or in accordance with its instructions, and such payment by the Company shall release the Company from any and all obligations in respect of such payment.
11.5In the case of joint holders of Shares, the Company shall treat the first named holder on the Register of Shareholders as having been appointed by the joint holders to receive all Notices and to give a binding receipt for any dividend(s) payable in respect of such Share(s) on behalf of all joint holders, without prejudice to the rights of the other holders to information as set out in the Act.
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12. |
12.1Any Shareholder may, subject to the provisions of the Act and the restrictions contained in these Articles, transfer all or any of such Shareholder’s Shares by written instrument of transfer; provided that shares listed or admitted to trading on a stock exchange may be transferred in accordance with the rules and regulations of such exchange.
13. |
13.1If, at any time, a person is or becomes, directly or indirectly, the owner of seventy-five per cent (75%) or more of the number of Ordinary Shares in issue, such person (the “Acquiror”) may require the holders of the remaining Ordinary Shares in issue (such holders of Ordinary Shares, the “Remaining Holders” and such Ordinary Shares, the “Remaining Shares”) to sell such Remaining Shares to the Acquiror. The Acquiror shall exercise its right to acquire the Remaining Shares by giving Notice to the Company (an “Article 13 Notice”) that specifies: (a) the identity and contact details of the Acquiror, (b) if then determined, the price that the Acquiror will pay for the Remaining Shares (being the fair market value thereof as determined in accordance with this Article 13) and the identity of the independent investment banking firm of international reputation (the “Acquiror Expert”) engaged or that will be engaged by the Acquiror to determine the fair market value of the Remaining Shares; (c) the Acquiror’s sources of payment of the purchase price for the Remaining Shares (which payment must be in the form of cash), and evidence that the Acquiror has secured funds sufficient to make such payment; and (d) subject to this Article 13, any other conditions governing the purchase of the Remaining Shares.
13.2Promptly (but, in any event, within fourteen (14) days) following receipt by the Company of an Article 13 Notice, the Company shall serve Notice on all the Remaining Holders (the “Compulsory Acquisition Notice”), setting forth (a) that the Acquiror has served an Article 13 Notice and outlining the consequences of such Article 13 Notice pursuant to this Article 13, (b) the name of the Acquiror Expert retained or to be retained by the Acquiror to determine the fair market value of the Remaining Shares, and (c) if the Acquiror has so notified the Company, the price determined by the Acquiror Expert as the fair market value of the Remaining Shares (the “Acquiror Purchase Price”). If the Acquiror Purchase Price has not been determined by the Acquiror Expert on the date of the delivery by the Acquiror of the Article 13 Notice, the Acquiror shall cause the Acquiror Expert to determine the Acquiror Purchase Price within twenty-one (21) days of such date, and shall promptly (but in any event within three (3) days) following such determination, give Notice to the Company thereof. The Company shall promptly thereafter serve Notice on all the Remaining Holders setting forth the Acquiror Purchase Price.
13.3If Remaining Holders holding at least ten per cent 10% of the Remaining Shares object to the Acquiror Purchase Price, such Remaining Holders may provide Notice of such objection to the Acquiror (the “Notice of Objection”), with a copy to the Company, no later than ten (10) days after the date on which the Company notified the Remaining Holders of the Acquiror Purchase Price.
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If no Notice of Objection is provided to the Acquiror within such time period, the Acquiror Purchase Price shall be final and binding on the Acquiror and all the Remaining Holders and shall be the “Purchase Price” for purposes of this Article 13. The Acquiror and the objecting Remaining Holders may attempt to agree on the fair market value of the Remaining Shares, and any fair market value agreed by the Acquiror and Remaining Holders holding a majority of the Remaining Shares held by all objecting Remaining Holders
shall be final and binding on the Acquiror and all the Remaining Holders and shall the “Purchase Price” for purposes of this Article 13. Failing agreement on such fair market value within fifteen (15) days of the date of the Notice of Objection, the objecting Remaining Holders may engage, at the expense of the Company, an investment banking firm of international reputation (the “Remaining Holder Expert”) to determine the fair market value of the Remaining Shares. The Remaining Holder Expert shall determine such fair market value within thirty-five (35) days of the date of the Notice of Objection. If the difference between the fair market value determined by the Remaining Holder Expert and the Acquiror Purchase Price is not more than ten percent (10%) of the higher valuation, the purchase price for the Remaining Shares shall be the average of the Acquiror Purchase Price and the fair market value determined by the Remaining Holder Expert. If the difference between the fair market value determined by the Remaining Holder Expert and the Acquiror Purchase Price is greater than ten percent (10%) of the higher valuation, the Acquiror Expert and the Remaining Holder Expert shall select and engage, at the expense of the Company, a third investment banking firm of international reputation to determine the fair market value of the Remaining Shares within sixty-five (65) days of the date of the Notice of Objection. The fair market value of the Remaining Shares shall be the average of the fair market value of the two (2) closest valuations of the three (3) investment banking firms, and such valuation shall be final and binding on the Acquiror and all the Remaining Holders (the fair market value as determined by the Acquiror Expert, as agreed by the Acquiror and the objecting Remaining Holders in accordance with the second sentence of this Article 13.3 or as determined by the investment banking firms in accordance with this Article 13.3, the “Purchase Price”). Subject to execution by the Acquiror Expert, the Remaining Holder Expert and the third investment banking firm of customary confidentiality agreements, the Company shall provide each of them with such financial and other information as they reasonably request to enable them to make their determinations under this Article 13; provided that all three (3) investment banking firms shall receive the same financial and other information. Promptly following the determination of the Purchase Price, the Company shall serve Notice on all the Remaining Holders setting forth the Purchase Price.
13.4Upon the service of the Compulsory Acquisition Notice, or, if later, the date on which the Remaining Holders are notified by the Company of the Purchase Price, subject to Article 13.5, each of the Remaining Holders shall be required to sell all of the Remaining Shares held by them to the Acquiror, and, subject to Article 13.4, Article 13.5 and the conditions set forth in the Article 13 Notice, the Acquiror shall be bound to acquire all of such Remaining Shares, for the Purchase Price, and, in furtherance thereof, pay to the Company at the closing of the sale and purchase of the Remaining Shares, for remittance to the Remaining Holders, the consideration to be paid by the Acquiror for all the Remaining Shares.
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13.5In selling its Remaining Shares to the Acquiror and accepting the Purchase Price therefor, each Remaining Holder shall represent (or be deemed by virtue of Article 13.7 to represent) to the Acquiror that (a) it has full right, title and interest to such Remaining Holder’s Remaining Shares, (b) has all necessary power and authority, and has taken all necessary actions to sell such Remaining Holder’s Remaining Shares to the Acquiror, and (c) such Remaining Holder’s Remaining Shares are free and clear of all liens or encumbrances except those imposed by applicable law or these Articles. Other than the foregoing representations, no Remaining Holder shall be required to (i) make any representations to the Acquiror in connection with the sale of its Remaining Shares under this Article 13, (ii) provide or otherwise grant any right to indemnification in favor of such Acquiror in connection with such sale or (iii) otherwise agree to be bound by any restrictive covenants in connection with such sale. If any Remaining Holder does not (or cannot) make any such representations, or the Acquiror determines before or after its acquisition of the Remaining Shares held by such Remaining Holder that such representations are incorrect, then the Acquiror may, at its option, determine not to acquire such Remaining Holder’s Remaining Shares or, if it has already acquired such shares, pursue any remedies it has against such Remaining Holder for breach of such representations, as applicable.
13.6The closing of such sale and purchase shall occur as promptly as practicable after the service of the Compulsory Acquisition Notice or the determination of the Purchase Price (whichever is later); provided that no Remaining Holder shall be required to sell, and the
Acquiror shall not be required to purchase, any Remaining Shares if such purchase or sale would violate any applicable law, regulation or order.
13.7Upon the service of the Compulsory Acquisition Notice, the Company shall be required to take all such actions as may reasonably be requested by the Acquiror to enable it to implement the acquisition by it, and registration in the Register of Shareholders in its name (and/or those of its designee(s)), of all of the Remaining Shares on the terms and conditions set forth in this Article 13.
13.8In furtherance (but not in limitation) of the provisions of this Article 13, the Chairman for the time being (or some other person appointed by the Company for this purpose) shall be deemed to have been appointed attorney of each of the Remaining Holders with full power (and obligation, if so requested by the Acquiror) to execute, complete and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each Remaining Holder (a) a transfer in favor of the Acquiror and/or its designee(s) of all of the Remaining Shares held by such Remaining Holder against delivery to the Company of the Purchase Price for such Remaining Holder’s Remaining Shares and (b) subject to Article 13.4, such other closing documents and deliverables as the Acquiror may reasonably require so as to vest all rights and entitlements in or in respect of the shares held by such Remaining Holder in the Acquiror and/or its designee(s) (including a power of attorney in favor of the Acquiror and/or its designee(s) to vote and exercise all rights in respect of such shares pending the registration in the Register of Shareholders of the Acquiror and/or its designee(s) as the holder(s) of such shares).
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13.9The Acquiror, on delivery to the Company of the consideration to which the Remaining Holders are entitled in accordance with this Article 13, shall be deemed to have obtained a good discharge for such consideration and, on delivery of such consideration and execution and delivery of the closing documents required to be executed by the Acquiror to effect its purchase of the Remaining Shares, the Acquiror shall be entitled to require the Company to register its name (or that of its designee) in the Register of Shareholders as the holder by transfer of each of the Remaining Shares.
13.10The Company shall, as soon as practicable after its receipt of the consideration for the Remaining Shares and the other closing documents and deliverables required to effect the transfer of such shares, deliver to each Remaining Holder the consideration to which such Remaining Holder is entitled in accordance with this Article 13 or, if in the opinion of the Board it is not reasonably practical to do so at such time, pay the same into a separate bank account, in the name of the Company and shall hold such consideration in trust for the applicable Remaining Holder until such time as the Board considers it appropriate to release such consideration.
13.11If, at the end of the one hundred and eightieth (180th) day after delivery by the Acquiror of the Article 13 Notice, the sale of all of the Remaining Shares has not been completed because of the failure of the Acquiror to take any action required to effect such sale within such time period, the Article 13 Notice shall be deemed null and void, the Acquiror shall no longer have the right (or obligation) to purchase the Remaining Shares under this Article 13, and each Remaining Holder and the Company shall be released from their obligations under this Article 13 in respect of the sale of the Remaining Shares.
14. |
14.1The Company may from time to time by Special Resolution and subject to any greater quorum or majority requirements as may be provided for in the Act, increase, divide, consolidate, subdivide, change the currency denomination of, diminish or otherwise alter or reduce its Share Capital In Issue in any manner permitted by the Act or these Articles; provided, that nothing herein shall affect or diminish the authority granted to the Board under Article 7 or Article 8.
14.2If, following any alteration or reduction of the Share Capital In Issue, a Shareholder would receive a fraction of a Share, the Board may, subject to the Act, address such issue in such manner as it thinks fit, including by disregarding such fractional entitlement.
DIVIDENDS, OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS AND LEGAL RESERVE
15. |
15.1Subject to the provisions of the Act, the general meeting may declare dividends by Ordinary Resolution, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board.
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15.2The Board may, subject to these Articles and the terms and conditions provided for and under the Act, declare an interim dividend (acompte sur dividendes) if it determines that it is appropriate to pay such an interim dividend based on the amount of distributable reserves of the Company. Any such interim dividend will be paid to the Shareholders, in proportion to the number of Shares held by them, in the relevant class in respect of which the interim dividend is declared, and such dividend may be paid in cash or wholly or partly in specie in which case the Board may fix the value for distribution in specie of any assets. Any interim dividends declared by the Board and paid during a financial year will be put to the Shareholders at the following general meeting to be declared as final. The Company shall not be required to pay interest with respect to any dividend or distribution declared by the Company, regardless of when or if paid.
15.3Each Preferred Share is entitled to an annual preferred dividend amounting to 9% (nine per cent) of its nominal value computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months (the “Annual Preferred Share Dividend”). The first pro rata Annual Preferred Share Dividend shall be calculated from the date of issuance of a Preferred Share (with the month of issuance being computed as a full month) until the end of the financial year of the date of issue, and all the subsequent Annual Preferred Share Dividend will be calculated per financial year of the Company. The entitlement to the Annual Preferred Share Dividend only becomes payable if and when such dividend is declared and then at such date as shall be determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion. If at the end of a financial year, the Annual Preferred Share Dividend has not been declared or paid in full, the difference between the Annual Preferred Share Dividend and the portion of the Annual Preferred Share Dividend effectively paid (the “Delta”) shall be rolled-over until the next financial year(s) but can also be deferred indefinitely by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion subject to articles 15.4, 8.6 and 6.5. The Delta shall be set at the Annual Preferred Share Dividend if no Annual Preferred Share Dividend is approved at any annual general meeting or otherwise paid by way of an interim dividend during a financial year. If any Delta exists at the beginning of a financial year, any payment made on the Preferred Share will first be applied in reimbursement of such Delta and if such Delta and the Annual Preferred Share Dividend of the relevant financial year are not paid in full on the last day of such financial year, the difference will constitute a new Delta (a “New Delta”) rolled-over to the next financial year.
15.4No distributions may be made to the Ordinary Shareholder(s) during a financial year if there is any Delta or New Delta, or unless all the Preferred Shares are redeemed.
15.5Subject to applicable laws and regulations, in order for the Company to determine which Shareholders shall be entitled to receipt of any dividend, the Board may fix a record date, which record date will be the close of business (or such other time as the Board may determine) on the date determined by the Board.
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In the absence of a record date being fixed, the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to receipt of any dividend shall the close of business in Luxembourg on the day the dividend is declared.
15.6The Board may propose to the general meeting such other distributions (in cash or in specie) to the Shareholders as may be lawfully made out of the assets of the Company.
15.7Any dividend or other payment to any particular Shareholder or Shareholders may be paid in such currency or currencies as may from time to time be determined by the Board and any such payment shall be made in accordance with such rules and regulations (including in relation to the conversion rate or rates) as may be determined by the Board in relation thereto.
15.8Any dividend or other payment which has remained unclaimed for five (5) years from the date the dividend or other payment became due for payment shall, if the Board so resolves, be forfeited and cease to remain owing by the Company. The payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend or other moneys payable in respect of a Share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.
16. |
The Company shall be required to allocate a sum of at least five per cent (5%) of its annual net profit to a legal reserve, until such time as the legal reserve amounts to ten per cent (10%) of the Share Capital in Issue. If and to the extent that this legal reserve falls below such ten per cent (10%) amount, the Company shall allocate a sum of at least five per cent (5%) of its annual net profit to restore the legal reserve to the minimum amount required by law.
17. |
17.1An annual general meeting shall be held in each year (commencing in 2022) within six (6) months following the end of the financial year at the Company’s registered office or at such other place in Luxembourg as may be specified in the convening Notice.
17.2For at least eight (8) days prior to the annual general meeting, each Shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual accounts of the Company for the preceding financial year at the registered office of the Company and inspect all documents of the Company required by the Act to be made available by the Company for their inspection.
17.3Other general meetings may be held at such place and time as may be specified in the respective convening Notices of the meeting whenever such a meeting is necessary.
18. |
18.1In order for the Company to determine which Shareholders are entitled to Notice of or to vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board does not fix a record date, the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to Notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the close of business in Luxembourg on the day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or Luxembourg public holiday next preceding the day on which Notice is given.
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18.2A determination of Shareholders of record entitled to Notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may, acting in its sole discretion, fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
19. |
19.1The Board may convene a general meeting whenever in its judgment such a meeting is necessary. The Board may delegate its authority to call the general meeting to the Chairman or any committee of the Board or to one or more board members by resolution. The convening notice for every general meeting shall contain the agenda, be communicated to Shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the Act on at least eight (8) Clear Days’ Notice, unless otherwise provided in the Act, and specify the time and place of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. The convening notice need not bear the signature of any Director or Officer of the Company.
19.2The Board shall convene a general meeting within a period of one (1) month upon Notice to the Company from Shareholders representing at least ten per cent (10%) of the Share Capital in Issue on the date of such Notice. In addition, one or more Shareholders that together hold at least ten per cent (10%) of the Share Capital in Issue on the date of the Notice to the Company may require that the Company include on the agenda of such general meeting one or more additional items. Such Notice to the Company shall be sent at least five (5) Clear Days prior to the holding of such general meeting. The rights of Shareholders under this Article
19.2to require that a general meeting be convened or an item be included on the agenda for a general meeting shall be subject to compliance by such Shareholders with Article 19.3.
19.3To be in proper form for purposes of the actions to be taken pursuant to Article 19.2, the Notice to the Company given pursuant to Article 19.2 must set forth as to each Shareholder(s) requesting the general meeting or the addition of an item to the agenda for a general meeting: (a) a brief description of, as applicable, the purpose of the general meeting or the business desired to be brought before the general meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Articles, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the general meeting; (b) the name and record address of such Shareholder(s) and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on behalf of which the business is being proposed; (c) the class or series and number of Shares which are registered in the name of or beneficially owned by such Shareholder(s) or beneficial owner (including any shares as to which such Shareholder(s) or beneficial owner has a right to acquire ownership at any time in the future); (d) a description of all derivatives, swaps or other transactions or series of transactions engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Shareholder(s) or beneficial owner, the purpose or effect of which is to give such Shareholder(s) or beneficial owner economic risk similar to ownership of Shares; and (e) a description of all agreements, arrangements, understandings or relationships between such Shareholder(s) or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Shareholder(s) and any material interest of such Shareholder(s) or beneficial owner in such business.
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19.4No business may be transacted at a general meeting, other than business that is properly brought before the general meeting by or at the direction of the Board, including upon the request of any Shareholder or Shareholders in accordance with the Act or these Articles. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the general meeting at which the business proposed by a Shareholder is to be transacted shall have the power and duty to determine whether such Shareholder has complied with this Article 19 in proposing such business, and if any such proposal was not made in accordance with this Article 19, to declare that such proposed business shall not be transacted.
20. |
The Board may organise participation of the Shareholders in general meetings by telephone or video conference and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. The participation in a meeting by these means is deemed equivalent to a participation in person at the general meeting.
21. |
21.1At any ordinary general meeting (including the annual general meeting) the holders of in excess of one-third (1/3) of the Share Capital in Issue present in person or by proxy shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.
21.2At any extraordinary general meeting the holders of in excess of one half (1/2) of the Share Capital in Issue present in person or by proxy shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.
22. |
22.1Subject to the Act, any question proposed for the consideration of the Shareholders at any ordinary general meeting shall be decided by the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution by Shareholders entitled to vote in accordance with these Articles and in the case of an equality of votes the resolution shall fail.
22.2Subject to the Act, any question proposed for the consideration of the Shareholders at any extraordinary general meeting shall be decided by the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes validly cast on such resolution by Shareholders entitled to vote in accordance with these Articles.
22.3For the avoidance of doubt, votes validly cast shall not include votes attaching to Shares in respect of which the Shareholder has not taken part in the vote or has abstained or has returned a blank or invalid vote.
23. |
23.1A Shareholder may appoint a proxy by an instrument in writing in such form as the Board may approve from time to time and make available to Shareholders to represent such Shareholder at the general meetings of Shareholders.
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23.2The Shareholders may vote in writing (by way of a voting form provided by the Company) on resolutions submitted to the general meeting, provided that the voting form includes (a) the name, first name, address and the signature of the relevant Shareholder, (b) the indication of the shares for which the Shareholder will exercise such right, (c) the agenda as set
forth in the convening Notice and (d) the voting instructions (approval, refusal, abstention) for each point of the agenda.
23.3The appointment of a proxy or submission of a completed voting form must be received by the Company no later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the scheduled meeting date (or such other time as may be determined by the Company and notified in writing to the Shareholders) at the registered office or at such other place or in such manner as is specified in the Notice convening the meeting or in any instrument of proxy or voting form sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote, and appointment of a proxy or the submission of a voting form which is not received in the manner so permitted shall be invalid.
23.4A Shareholder that is the holder of two (2) or more shares may appoint more than one (1) proxy to represent such Shareholder and vote on its behalf in respect of different shares.
23.5The decision of the chairman of any general meeting as to the validity of any appointment of a proxy or any voting form shall be final.
24. |
24.1The chairman of a general meeting is entitled, at the request or with the authorisation of the Board, to adjourn a general meeting, while in session, for four (4) weeks. The chairman shall so adjourn the meeting at the request of one or more Shareholders representing at least one tenth (1/10) of the Share Capital in Issue. No general meeting may be adjourned more than once. Any adjournment of a general meeting shall cancel any resolution passed at such meeting prior to such adjournment.
24.2Unless the meeting is adjourned to a specific date, place and time announced at the meeting being adjourned, which date, place and time will be publicly announced by the Company, Notice of the date, place and time for the resumption of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in accordance with these Articles. No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place.
25. |
The Board shall consist of no fewer than three (3) Directors and no more than fifteen (15) Directors, with the number of Directors within that range being determined by the Board from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as the Company has one Shareholder, the Board may consist of one Director or such other number of Directors as determined by such 26.1The Board or one or more Shareholders that together hold at least ten per cent (10%) of the Share Capital in Issue on the date of the Notice to the Company may nominate any person for election as a Director.
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Shareholder.
26. |
Where any person, other than a person proposed for re- election or election as a Director by the Board, is to be nominated for election as a Director, Notice to the Company, complying with the requirements of this Article 26.1, must be given of the intention to nominate such person. Where a person is nominated for election as a Director other than by the Board:
(a)such Notice to the Company must set forth: (i) in respect of each person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a Director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of each such person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of each such person, (C) the class or series and number of Shares owned beneficially or of record by each such person and (D) any other information relating to each such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of Directors pursuant to applicable laws or regulations or that the Company may reasonably request in order to determine the eligibility of each such person to serve as a Director; (ii) the name and record address of each Shareholder giving the Notice and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on behalf of which the person is being nominated; and (iii) the class or series and number of Shares which are registered in the name of or beneficially owned by such Shareholder or beneficial owner (including any shares as to which any such Shareholder or beneficial owner has a right to
acquire ownership at any time in the future); (iv) a description of all derivatives, swaps or other transactions or series of transactions engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Shareholder or beneficial owner, the purpose or effect of which is to give such Shareholder or beneficial owner economic risk similar to ownership of Shares; and (v) a description of all agreements, arrangements, understandings or relationships between such Shareholder or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposed nomination by such Shareholder and any material relationship between such Shareholder or beneficial owner and the person proposed to be nominated for election; and
(b)such Notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a Director to being named as a nominee and to serve as a Director if elected.
26.2Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the general meeting at which Directors are to be elected shall have the power and duty to determine whether a proposal to elect Directors made by a Shareholder was made in accordance with this Article 26, and if any such proposal was not made in accordance with this Article 26, to declare that such proposal shall be disregarded.
26.3Except in the case of a vacancy in the office of Director filled by the Board, as provided for in Article 30, the Company may elect Directors by Ordinary Resolution.
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In a contested election where the number of persons validly proposed for election or re-election to the Board exceeds the number of seats to be filled on the Board at the applicable general meeting, Directors shall be elected by the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting, such that the persons receiving the most affirmative votes (up to the number of Directors to be elected) shall be elected as Directors at such general meeting, and the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall not be required to elect Directors in such circumstance. No Shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate its vote in such circumstance, but may only cast a vote for or against each candidate for each Share it owns.
27. |
The Directors shall be divided into three (3) classes designated Class I, Class II and Class
III. The Board shall designate the Directors who will initially serve in each of Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class of Directors shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one third (1/3) of the total number of Directors constituting the entire Board.
28. |
At the first general meeting which is held after the date of adoption of these Articles for the purpose of electing Directors, the Class I Directors shall be elected for an one (1) year term of office, the Class II Directors shall be elected for a two (2) year term of office and the Class III Directors shall be elected for a three (3) year term of office. At each succeeding annual general meeting, successors to the class of Directors whose term expires at that annual general meeting shall be elected for a three (3) year term of office. If the number of Directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of Directors in each class as near to equal as possible, and any Director of any class elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the other Directors of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any Director then in office. A Director shall hold office until the annual general meeting for the year in which his or her term expires, subject to his or her office being vacated pursuant to Article 30.
29. |
29.1The mandate of any Director may be terminated, at any time and with or without cause, by the general meeting of Shareholders by means of an Ordinary Resolution in favour of such termination.
29.2If a Director is removed from the Board under Article 29.1, the Shareholders may by means of an Ordinary Resolution fill the vacancy at the meeting at which such Director is removed, provided that any nominee for the vacancy who is proposed by Shareholders shall be proposed in accordance with Article 26.1.
30. |
30.1 |
The office of Director shall be vacated if the Director: |
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(a)is removed from office pursuant to these Articles or is prohibited from being a Director by law;
(b)is or becomes bankrupt, or makes any arrangement or composition with his or her creditors generally;
(c) |
is or becomes of unsound mind or dies; or |
(d) |
resigns his or her office by Notice to the Company. |
30.2The Board shall have the power to appoint any person as a Director to fill a vacancy on the Board occurring for any reason other than where the appointment of a Director to fill a vacancy has been made by the Shareholders in accordance with Article 29.2. A Director so appointed shall be appointed to the class of Directors that the Director he or she is replacing belonged to, provided that such Director shall hold office only until ratification by the Shareholders of his or her appointment at the next following general meeting and, if such general meeting does not ratify the appointment, such Director shall vacate his or her office at the conclusion thereof.
31. |
The remuneration (if any) of the Directors shall be determined by the Board subject to ratification by Shareholders at a general meeting of Shareholders. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. Any Director who holds an executive office (including for this purpose the office of Chairman) or who serves on any Board committee, or who otherwise performs services that in the opinion of the Board are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a director, may be paid such additional remuneration for such additional services as the Board may determine. The Directors may also be paid all travel, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from Board meetings or general meetings, or in connection with the business of the Company or their duties as Directors generally.
32. |
The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by or under the direction of the Board. In managing the business of the Company, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by the Act or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the Company in a general meeting.
33. |
Without limiting the powers of the Board as described in Article 32, the Board shall represent and bind the Company vis-à-vis third parties and may:
(a)appoint, suspend, or remove any manager, secretary, clerk, agent or employee of the Company and may fix their remuneration and determine their duties;
(b)exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge or otherwise grant a security interest in its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and may authorise the issuance by the Company of debentures, debenture stock and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or any third party; (c)appoint one or more persons to the office of chief executive officer of the Company, who shall, subject to the Control of the Board, supervise and administer all of the general business and affairs of the Company;
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(d)appoint a person to act as manager of the Company’s day-to-day business (délégué à la gestion journalière) and may entrust to and confer upon such manager such powers and duties as it deems appropriate for the management and conduct of such daily management and affairs of the Company;
(e)by power of attorney, appoint any one or more persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be an attorney of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Board may think fit and may also authorise any such
attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions so vested in the attorney;
(f)delegate any of its powers (including the power to sub-delegate) to one or more committees of one or more persons appointed by the Board which may consist partly of non- Directors, provided that every such committee shall consist of a majority of the Directors and shall conform to such directions as the Board shall impose on them, and the meetings and proceedings of any such committee shall be governed by the provisions of these Articles regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board, so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by directions imposed by the Board;
(g)delegate any of its powers (including the power to sub-delegate) to any person(s) on such terms and in such manner as the Board may see fit (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board);
(h)present any petition and make any application in connection with the liquidation or reorganisation of the Company, take any action, both as plaintiff and as defendant before any court, obtain any judgments, decrees, decisions, awards and proceed therewith to execution, acquiesce in settlement, compound and compromise any claim in any manner determined by the Board to be in the interest of the Company;
(i)in connection with the issue of any Share, pay such commission and brokerage as may be permitted by law;
(j)subject to the provisions of Article 31, provide benefits, whether by way of pensions, gratuities or otherwise, for any Director, former Director or other officer or former officer of the Company or to any person who holds or has held any employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or associated companies or any predecessor of the Company or of any such Subsidiary or associated company and to any member of his or her family or any person who is or was dependent on him or her, and may set up, establish, support, alter, maintain and continue any scheme for providing all or any such benefits, and for such purposes any Director may be, become or remain a member of, or rejoin, any scheme and receive or retain for his or her own benefit all benefits to which such Director may be or become entitled
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thereunder, and the Board may authorise the payment out of the funds of the Company of any premiums, contributions or sums payable by the Company under the provisions of any such scheme in respect of any of the persons described in this Article 33(j); and
(k)authorise any person or persons to act on behalf of the Company for any specific purpose and in connection therewith to execute any deed, agreement, document or instrument on behalf of the Company.
34. |
34.1No contract or transaction between the Company and one or more of its Directors, or between the Company and any other person in which its Director has a direct or indirect financial interest conflicting with that of the Company, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the Director is present at the meeting of the Board or Board committee that authorizes the contract or transaction so long as the provisions of this Article 34 are observed.
34.2If a Director has a direct or indirect financial interest in any contract or transaction to which the Company will be party, such interested Director shall advise the Board thereof, cause a record of his or her statement to be included in the minutes of the meeting, and may not take part in the deliberations of the Board or any Board committee with respect to such contract or transaction.
34.3If one or more Directors are prevented from participating in the deliberations of the Board or of a Board committee by reasons of a direct or indirect financial interest in a contract or transaction, the required quorum for the deliberations on the relevant item will be two (2) non-conflicted Directors present in person at the meeting and the required vote for decisions on such item to be approved by the Board or the Board committee will be the majority of the non-conflicted Directors or the majority of the non-conflicted members of the Board committee, in each case, present in person (or by representation in accordance with Article 40.2) at the meeting; provided that, if there are only two non-conflicted Directors, the affirmative vote of both will be required. To the extent the quorum cannot be reached at the level of a Board committee, the decision shall be referred by the Board committee to the Board.
To the extent the quorum cannot be reached at the level of the Board, the Board may decide to refer the decision on such item to the general meeting of Shareholders to be approved by means of an Ordinary Resolution. If the Board consists of one Director in accordance with the provisions of Article 25, and such Director is a conflicted Director, the decision shall be referred by this Director to the general meeting of Shareholders to be approved by means of an Ordinary Resolution.
34.4The provisions of this Article 34 shall not apply to any contract or transaction that is within the ordinary course of business of the Company or its Subsidiaries and is entered into on an arms’ length basis under market conditions.
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35. |
35.1In recognition and anticipation that members of the Board who are not employees of the Company (the “Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates and Affiliated Entities may engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, engages, the provisions of this Article 35 are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its Directors and Officers in connection therewith.
35.2For purposes of this Article 35 (a) “Affiliate” means, in respect of each (i) Non- Employee Director, any person that, directly or indirectly, is Controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Company and any entity that is Controlled by the Company), and (ii) in respect of the Company, any person that, directly or indirectly, is Controlled by the Company; and (b) “Affiliated Entity” means (i) any person of which a Non-Employee Director serves as an officer, director, employee, agent or other representative (other than the Company and any person that is Controlled by the Company), (ii) any direct or indirect partner, shareholder, member, manager or other representative of such person or (iii) any affiliate of any of the foregoing.
35.3No Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Company in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates or Affiliated Entities (such persons being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (a) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Company or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (b) otherwise competing with the Company or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Company or its Shareholders or to any Affiliate of the Company for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities.
35.4To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Company or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Article 35.5. Subject to Article 35.5, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Company or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Company or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Company or its Shareholders or to any Affiliate of the Company for breach of any fiduciary duty as a shareholder, director or officer of the Company solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another person.
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35.5The Company does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Company) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her
capacity as a Director or Officer of the Company, and the provisions of Article 35.4 shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.
35.6In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 35, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Company or any of its Affiliates if it is a business opportunity that (a) the Company or its Affiliates are unable, financially or legally, or not contractually permitted to undertake, (b) from its nature, is not in the line of the Company’s or its Affiliates’ business or is of no practical advantage to the Company or its Affiliates or (c) is one in which the Company or its Affiliates has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
35.7To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any Shares shall be deemed to have Notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article 35.
36. |
36.1A Chairman may be appointed by the Board from among its members from time to time for such term as the Board deems fit. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the Shareholders. In the absence of the Chairman from any meeting of the Board or of the Shareholders, the Board shall designate an alternative person to serve as the chairman of such meeting.
36.2A Secretary may be appointed by the Board from time to time for such term as the Board deems fit. The Secretary need not be a Director and shall be responsible for (a) sending convening Notices of general meetings as per the instruction of the Board, (b) calling Board meetings as per the instruction of the Chairman, (c) keeping the minutes of the meetings of the Board and of the Shareholders and (d) any other duties entrusted from time to time to the Secretary by the Board.
37. |
37.1The Board may appoint such Officers (who may or may not be Directors) as the Board may determine for such terms as the Board deems fit.
37.2The Officers shall have such powers and perform such duties in the management, business and affairs of the Company as may be designated by resolution of the Board from time to time.
37.3 |
The Officers shall receive such remuneration as the Board may determine. |
38. |
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38.1The Directors, Chairman, Secretary and other Officers (such term to include any person appointed to any committee by the Board) acting in their capacities as such or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee or agent of another person, including any Subsidiary of the Company, or as the liquidator or trustee (if any) for the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, and every one of them (whether for the time being or formerly), and their heirs, executors and administrators (each, an “Indemnified Party”), shall, to the extent possible under applicable law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which any of them incur or sustain by or by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by any Director, Chairman, Secretary or Officer in their capacities as such or in the other capacities described above, and, to the extent possible under applicable law, no Director, Chairman, Secretary or Officer shall be liable for the actions, omissions or defaults of any other Indemnified Party, or for the actions of any advisors to the Company or any other persons, including financial institutions, with which any moneys or assets belonging to the Company are lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for insufficiency or deficiency of any security received by the Company in respect of any of its moneys or assets, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may happen in the course of their serving as a Director, Chairman, Secretary or Officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee or agent of another person, including any Subsidiary of the Company, or as the liquidator or trustee (if any) for the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or in connection therewith, provided that these indemnity and exculpation provisions shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty, gross negligence, wilful misconduct or action giving rise to criminal liability in relation to the Company which may attach to any of the indemnified parties. Each Shareholder agrees to waive any claim or
right of action such Shareholder might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director, Chairman, Secretary or Officer on account of any action taken by such person, or the failure of such person to take any action in the performance of his or her duties with or for the Company or, at the request of the Company, any other person, provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty, gross negligence, wilful misconduct or action giving rise to criminal liability in relation to the Company which may attach to such person.
38.2The Company may, to the extent possible under applicable law, purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or Officer against any liability (to the extent permitted by law) incurred by him or her under the Act in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer or indemnifying such Director or Officer in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to him or her by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the Director or Officer may be guilty in relation to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof.
38.3The Company may, to the extent possible under applicable law, advance moneys to an Indemnified Party for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against such person, on condition that such Indemnified Party shall repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty in relation to the Company is proved against such person.
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38.4The rights conferred on indemnified parties under this Article 38 are contract rights, and any right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article 38 shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to these Articles after the occurrence of the act or omission with respect to which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
38.5The Company is authorised to enter into agreements with any Indemnified Party providing indemnification or advance of expenses rights to any such person, to the extent possible under applicable law.
39. |
Towards third parties, the Company is in all circumstances committed either by the joint signatures of any two (2) Directors irrespective of their class or by the sole signature of the delegate of the Board acting within the limits of his or her powers.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
40. |
40.1The Board may meet for the transaction of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it sees fit. Each Director shall have one (1) vote, and a resolution put to the vote at a Board meeting shall be carried by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast and in the case of an equality of votes, the resolution shall fail and the Chairman of the meeting shall not have a casting vote.
40.2Each Director present at a meeting of the Board shall, in addition to his or her own vote, be entitled to one (1) vote in respect of each other Director not present at the meeting who shall have authorised such Director in respect of such meeting to vote for such other Director in the absence of such other Director.
40.3Any such authority may relate generally to all meetings of the Board or to any specified meeting or meetings and must be in writing and may be sent by mail, facsimile or electronic mail (with customary proof of confirmation that such Notice has been transmitted) or any other means of communication approved by the Board and may bear a printed or facsimile signature of the Director giving such authority. The authority must be delivered to the Company for filing prior to or must be produced at the meeting at which a vote is to be cast pursuant thereto.
41. |
A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time convene a Board meeting. Notice of a Board meeting shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to such Director verbally (including in person or by telephone) or otherwise communicated or sent to such Director by mail or facsimile or electronic mail (with customary proof of confirmation that such Notice has been transmitted) at such Director's last
known address or in accordance with any other instructions given by such Director to the Company for this purpose.
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42. |
Directors may participate in any meeting by video conference or by such telephonic or other communication facilities or means as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
43. |
The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a Board meeting shall be two (2) Directors present in person. If the Board consists of one Director in accordance with the provisions of Article 25, the quorum shall be one Director.
44. |
The Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its number, provided that, if the number of Directors is less than the number fixed by the Act as the minimum number of directors, the continuing Director(s) shall, on behalf of the Board, summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing new Directors to fill the vacancies or for the purpose of adopting any measures within the competence of the general meeting.
45. |
A resolution signed by all the Directors, which may be in counterparts, shall be as valid as if it had been passed at a Board meeting duly called and constituted, such resolution to be effective on the date on which the resolution is signed by the last Director.
46. |
All actions taken at any meeting of the Board or by any Director, notwithstanding that it is subsequently discovered that there was a defect in the appointment of a Director or that a Director was disqualified from holding office or had vacated office, shall be as valid as if such Director had been duly appointed, was qualified or had continued to be a Director and had been entitled to take any such action.
47. |
47.1The minutes of general meetings of Shareholders shall be drawn up and shall be signed by the Chairman of the general meeting.
47.2Copies of or extracts from the minutes of the general meeting of Shareholders may be certified by the Chairman or the Secretary.
48. |
The minutes of any meeting of the Board, or extracts thereof, shall be signed by the Chairman or any Director who participated in the meeting.
49. |
Minutes prepared in accordance with the Act and these Articles shall be kept by the Secretary at the registered office of the Company.
50. |
50.1A Notice (including a Notice convening a general meeting) or any other document to be served or delivered by the Company to Shareholders pursuant to these Articles may be served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company:
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(a)by hand delivery to such Shareholder or its authorised agent (and in the case of a Notice convening a general meeting, only if such Shareholder has individually agreed to receive Notice in such manner);
(b)by mailing such Notice or document to such Shareholder at its address as recorded in the Register of Shareholders (and in the case of a Notice convening a general meeting, only if such Shareholder has individually agreed to receive Notice in such manner);
(c)by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which such Shareholder has individually consented in writing to receive Notices or documents from the Company (including a Notice convening a general meeting);
(d)by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which such Shareholder has individually consented in writing to receive Notice or documents from the Company (including a Notice convening a general meeting); or by registered letter to such Shareholder at its address as recorded in the Register of Shareholders in respect of a Notice convening a general meeting in circumstances where a Shareholder has not individually consented to receiving Notice by other means of communication.
50.2Where a Notice or document is served or delivered pursuant to Article 50.1(a), the service or delivery thereof shall be deemed to have been affected at the time such Notice or document was delivered to the Shareholder or its authorised agent.
50.3Where a Notice or document is served or delivered pursuant to Article 50.1(b), service or delivery thereof shall be deemed to have been affected at the expiration of forty-eight
(48) hours after such Notice or document was mailed. In proving service or delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope containing such Notice or document was properly addressed, stamped and mailed.
50.4Where a Notice or document is served or delivered pursuant to Article 50.1(c) or Article 50.1(d), service or delivery thereof shall be deemed to be affected at the time the facsimile or electronic mail was sent, as evidenced by the records of the Company generated at such time and available to the recipient of such electronically transmitted Notice or document upon its request.
50.5Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 50.1(b) and 50.3, if at any time by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services within Luxembourg, the Company is unable to convene a general meeting by Notices sent through the mail, a general meeting may be convened by a Notice advertised in at least one (1) leading national daily newspaper in Luxembourg, filed with the register of commerce and companies and published on the Recueil Electronique des Sociétés et Associations at least fifteen (15) days before the affected general meeting. In such case, such Notice shall be deemed to have been duly served on all Shareholders entitled thereto at noon on the day on which such advertisement shall appear. In any such case the Company shall send, from Luxembourg or elsewhere (as the Board in its opinion considers practical), confirmatory copies of the Notice convening the general meeting at least eight (8) days before the meeting by mail (or by facsimile or electronic mail in the case of Shareholders
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Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 33 | P a g e
that have consented in writing to receive Notices by facsimile or electronic mail as described in Article 50.1(c) and Article 50.1(d)) to those Shareholders the registered addresses of which are outside Luxembourg or are in areas of Luxembourg unaffected by such suspension or curtailment of postal services. If at least eight (8) days prior to the time appointed for the holding of the general meeting, the mailing of Notices to Shareholders in Luxembourg, or any part thereof that was previously affected, has again (in the opinion of the Board) become practical, to the extent such Shareholders have not received Notices convening such meeting by facsimile or electronic mail, the Company shall send confirmatory copies of the Notice by mail to such Shareholders. The accidental omission to give any such confirmatory copy of a Notice of a general meeting to, or the non-receipt of any such confirmatory copy by, any Shareholder (whether by mail or, if applicable, facsimile or electronic mail) shall not invalidate the proceedings at such general meeting, and no proof need be given that this formality has been complied with.
50.6Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article 50, the Company shall not be obliged to take account of or make any investigations as to the existence of any suspension or curtailment of postal services within or in relation to all or any part of any jurisdiction or other area other than Luxembourg.
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The first full financial year of the Company shall begin on 1 January and all financial years of the Company shall end on 31 December in each year.
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52.1The operations of the Company shall be supervised by one or several approved statutory auditors (réviseur(s) d'entreprises agréé) as applicable.
52.2Subject to the Act, the Shareholders shall appoint the auditor(s) selected by the audit committee of the Company to hold office for such term as the Shareholders deem fit but
not exceeding six (6) years or until a successor is appointed. The auditor shall be eligible for re-appointment.
52.3The Auditor may be a Shareholder but no Director, Officer or employee of the Company shall, during his or her continuance in office, be eligible to act as an Auditor of the Company.
VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP AND DISSOLUTION
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53.1The Company may be dissolved at any time by the Shareholders by means of a Special Resolution. In the event of dissolution of the Company, liquidation shall be carried out by one or more liquidators, who may be natural or legal persons, appointed by the general meeting, which shall determine the powers and remuneration of such liquidators.
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Statuts coordonnés de Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. - 34 | P a g e
53.2If the Company shall be dissolved and the assets available for distribution among the Shareholders shall be insufficient to repay the total paid up share capital of the Shares, such assets shall be (a) first distributed to the holder(s) of Preferred Shares which will first, and in priority to any entitlement of the Ordinary Shareholder(s), be entitled to an amount equal to their redemption value as calculated in accordance with Article 8.6 (b) then distributed to the holders of Ordinary Shares in proportion to the number of Ordinary Shares held by them, without regard to the par value of their Shares. If in a dissolution the assets available for distribution among the Shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the total paid up share capital of Shares at the commencement of the dissolution, the excess shall be distributed among the Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares held by them at the commencement of the dissolution, without regard to the par value of their Shares
53.3The liquidator may, with the sanction of the Shareholders by means of an Ordinary Resolution, divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may, for such purpose, set such value as the liquidator deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and, subject to these Articles and the rights attaching to each Share, may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders. The determinations of the liquidator in respect of the distributions described in Article 53.2 and this Article 53.3 shall be final.
54. |
54.1No Article may be rescinded, altered or amended and no new Article may be made save in accordance with the Act and until it has been approved by the Shareholders by means of a Special Resolution or approved by the Board in accordance with these Articles.
55. |
55.1All matters not governed by these Articles shall be determined in accordance with the laws of Luxembourg.
55.2Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the provisions of these Articles are subject to any applicable law and legislation, including the Act, except where these Articles contain provisions which are stricter than those required pursuant to any applicable law and legislation, including the Act.
55.3Should any clause of these Articles be declared null and void, this shall not affect the validity of the other clauses of these Articles.
55.4In the case of any divergences between the English and the French text, the English text will prevail.
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EXECUTION VERSION |
Exhibit 2.6 |
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ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE USA LLC, AS THE US ISSUER ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE PLC, AS THE IRISH ISSUER ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A., AS THE COMPANY AND CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH, AS TRUSTEE AND SECURITY AGENT CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH, AS PRINCIPAL PAYING AGENT AND TRANSFER AGENT AND CITIBANK EUROPE PLC, AS REGISTRAR | |||
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SENIOR SECURED INDENTURE DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2025 5.000% SENIOR SECURED GREEN NOTES DUE 2031 6.250% SENIOR SECURED GREEN NOTES DUE 2031 |
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Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security Documents |
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Agent for Service: Submission to Jurisdiction: Waiver of Immunities |
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No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders |
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SENIOR SECURED INDENTURE dated as of December 1, 2025 (this “Indenture”), among Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Issuer”), Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc, a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (the “Irish Issuer” and together with the US Issuer, the “Issuers”), each, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., a public limited liability company (société anonyme) incorporated and existing under the laws of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L 2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies under number B 251465 (the “Company”), Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Trustee, Security Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent (each as defined below) and Citibank Europe plc, as Registrar (as defined below).
The parties hereto agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Issuers’ (i) 5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 (the “Senior Secured Euro Notes”) and (ii) 6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 (the “Senior Secured Dollar Notes”):
“ABL Cash Management Arrangements” means the Cash Management Services secured under the ABL Documents.
“ABL Collateral” means all of the assets that secure the ABL Obligations on a first priority basis including, in any event but subject to limited exceptions, (i) all accounts (including accounts receivable), inventory, payment intangibles and instruments, (ii) all general intangibles, documents, chattel paper, letter of credit rights, supporting obligations, and commercial tort claims evidencing, governing, securing, providing credit support for, arising from or substituted for any of the foregoing, (iii) all deposit accounts, securities accounts, and commodity accounts, (iv) certain related assets, and (v) all proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds) of any of the foregoing.
“ABL Documents” means the ABL Security Documents, the agreements related to the ABL Facility, the ABL Cash Management Arrangements, the ABL Hedge Agreements and each of the other agreements, documents and instruments executed pursuant thereto or in connection therewith.
“ABL Facility” means that certain asset based lending facility dated as of August 6, 2021, as amended from time to time, between, among others, the Company, as parent and guarantor, Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp., Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading UK LTD, Ardagh Metal Packaging Treasury Limited and Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe GMBH, as borrowers, the other Subsidiary Guarantors, as guarantors and Bank of America, N.A., as agent.
“ABL Hedge Agreements” means the Hedging Obligations secured under the ABL Documents.
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“ABL Obligations” means all present and future liabilities and obligations at any time of any Debtor under the ABL Documents, both actual and contingent and whether direct or indirect, due or not due, primary or secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, incurred solely or jointly or as principal or surety or in any other capacity, together with any of the following matters relating to or arising in respect of those liabilities and obligations: (a) any refinancing, novation, deferral or extension, (b) any claim for breach of representation, warranty or undertaking or on an event of default or under any indemnity given under or in connection with any document or agreement evidencing or constituting any other liability or obligation falling within this definition, (c) any claim for damages or restitution, (d) any claim as a result of any recovery by any Debtor of a payment on the grounds of preference or otherwise and (e) any amounts accruing or that would have accrued or become due which would be included in any of the above but for any discharge, nonprovability, unenforceability or non-allowance of those amounts in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding or other proceedings and irrespective of whether a claim for all or any portion of such amounts is allowable or allowed in such insolvency or liquidation proceeding or other proceeding, and in the case of all of the foregoing, including all principal, premium, interest, fees, attorneys’ fees, costs, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, obligations with respect to loans and letters of credit, obligations in respect of ABL Hedge Agreements, obligations in respect of ABL Cash Management Arrangements, obligations to provide cash collateral or other collateral in respect of letters of credit, obligations in respect of ABL Hedge Agreements or obligations in respect of ABL Cash Management Arrangements or indemnities in respect thereof, any other indemnities or guarantees, and all other amounts payable under or secured by any ABL Document.
“ABL Security Agent” means the security agent under the ABL Facility.
“ABL Security Documents” means any agreement, document, or instrument pursuant to which a lien is granted (or purported to be granted) securing any ABL Obligation or under which rights or remedies with respect to such liens are governed.
“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (1) of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; (2) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition; or (3) of a Person at the time such Person merges with or into or consolidates or otherwise combines with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (1) of this definition, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, with respect to clause (2) of this definition, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets and, with respect to clause (3) of this definition, on the date of the relevant merger, consolidation or other combination.
“Additional Assets” means:
(1)any property or assets (other than Capital Stock) used or to be used by the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise useful in a Similar Business (it being understood that capital expenditures on property or assets already used in a Similar Business or to replace any property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition shall be deemed an investment in Additional Assets);
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(2)the Capital Stock of a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business and becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or
(3)Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) having identical terms and conditions to the Initial Notes (except for the issue price and the issue amount) that may be issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02, 2.16, 4.06 and 4.09 hereof.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. With respect to any natural Person, Affiliates will include any Immediate Family Members. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling,” “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Agents” means each Paying Agent (including the Principal Paying Agent), Transfer Agent and Registrar and “Agent’ means any one of them.
“Agreed Security Principles” means the agreed security principles set forth in Schedule II hereto.
“AMP Business” means the AMP Business as defined in the Offering Memorandum.
“AMP Transfer” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Offering Memorandum.
“AMP Transfer Transaction Documents” means (1) the Business Combination Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and the Transfer Agreement, (2) the registration rights and lock-up agreement, the subscription agreements and the warrant assignment, assumption and amendment agreement, entered into in connection with the [Combination] or the foregoing and (3) all other agreements, certificates and instruments executed and delivered by the parties in connection with the AMP Transfer Transactions.
“AMP Transfer Transactions” means the AMP Transfer, the transactions related thereto and the agreements and other documentation entered into in connection therewith (including the AMP Transfer Transaction Documents).
“Applicable Law” shall be deemed to include (1) any rule or practice of any Relevant Authority by which any party is bound or with which it is accustomed to comply; (2) any agreement between any Relevant Authorities; and (3) any agreement between any Relevant Authority and any party to this Indenture that is customarily entered into by institutions of a similar nature.
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“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note the greater of:
(1)1% of the principal amount of such Senior Secured Dollar Note or Senior Secured Euro Note (as applicable); and
(2)the excess (to the extent positive) of:
(a)the present value at such redemption date of (A) the redemption price of such Senior Secured Note at December 1, 2027 (such redemption price (expressed in percentage of principal amount) being set forth in the table in paragraph 5(e) of such Senior Secured Note (excluding accrued and unpaid interest)), plus (B) all required interest payments due on such Senior Secured Note to and including December 1, 2027 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed upon the redemption date using a discount rate equal to (i) the Treasury Rate (in the case of a Senior Secured Dollar Note) or (ii) the Bund Rate (in the case of a Senior Secured Euro Note) at the date of such notice date plus, in the case of either (i) or (ii), 50 basis points; over
(b)the outstanding principal amount of such Senior Secured Note,
as calculated by the Issuers or on behalf of the Issuers by such Person as the Issuers shall designate. For the avoidance of doubt, calculation of the Applicable Premium shall not be an obligation of the Trustee or any Paying Agent.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
“Ardagh Group S.A.” or “Ardagh Group” means the parent company of the Company, a public limited liability company (société anonyme) incorporated and existing under the laws of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies under number B53248.
“Asset Disposition” means:
(1)the voluntary sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case other than Capital Stock of the Company) (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or
(2)the issuance, sale, transfer or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.06, or directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,
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in each case, other than:
(a)a disposition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(b)a disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents, Temporary Cash Investments or Investment Grade Securities;
(c)a disposition of inventory or other assets (including Settlement Assets) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or held for sale or no longer used in the ordinary course of business, including any disposition of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations;
(d)a disposition of obsolete, worn-out, uneconomic, damaged or surplus property, equipment or other assets or property, equipment or other assets that are no longer economically practical or commercially desirable to maintain or used or useful in the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries whether now or hereafter owned or leased or acquired in connection with an acquisition or used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including by ceasing to enforce, allowing the lapse, abandonment or invalidation of or discontinuing the use or maintenance of or putting into the public domain any intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, no longer used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, or in respect of which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary determines in its reasonable judgment that such action or inaction is desirable);
(e)transactions permitted under Article 5 or a transaction that constitutes a Change of Control;
(f)an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary or as part of or pursuant to an equity incentive or compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Company;
(g)any dispositions of Capital Stock, properties or assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions with a fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of less than the greater of (a) $60.0 million and (b) 7.5% of LTM EBITDA;
(h)any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04 and the making of any Permitted Payment or Permitted Investment or, solely for purposes of Section 4.07(c), asset sales, the proceeds of which are used within 450 days of receipt of such proceeds to make such Restricted Payments, Permitted Payments or Permitted Investments;
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(i)dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens and sales of assets received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon the foreclosure on a Lien granted in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(j)dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;
(k)conveyances, sales, transfers, licenses or sublicenses or other dispositions of intellectual property, software or other general intangibles and licenses, sub-licenses, leases or subleases of other property, in each case, (x) in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or pursuant to a research or development agreement in which the counterparty to such agreement receives a license in the intellectual property or software that result from such agreement or (y) to the extent that such license does not prohibit the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from using the technologies licensed (other than pursuant to exclusivity or non-competition arrangements negotiated on an arm’s-length basis) or require the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay any fees for any such use;
(l)the lease, assignment, license, sublease or sublicense of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;
(m)foreclosure, condemnation, taking by eminent domain or any similar action with respect to any property or other assets;
(n)the sale or discount (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms and for credit management purposes) of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable;
(o)any issuance or sale of Capital Stock in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Permitted Joint Venture or any other disposition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, Permitted Joint Venture or an Immaterial Subsidiary;
(p)any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired, or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;
(q)dispositions of property to the extent (i) that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that
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is promptly purchased; (ii) that the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased); or (iii) allowable under Section 1031 of the Code (or any similar provision under applicable tax law) and constituting any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;
(r)any disposition of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets, or participations therein, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(s)any disposition pursuant to a financing transaction with respect to property constructed, acquired, replaced, repaired or improved (including any reconstruction, refurbishment, renovation and/or development of real property) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Leaseback Transactions and asset securitizations, permitted by this Indenture;
(t)dispositions of Investments in joint ventures or similar entities to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the parties to such joint venture set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;
(u)any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release, surrender or waiver of contractual, tort, litigation or other claims of any kind; and
(v)the unwinding of any Cash Management Services or Hedging Obligations.
In the event that a transaction (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of a permitted Asset Disposition and would also be a Permitted Investment or an Investment permitted under Section 4.04, the Company, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to divide and classify such transaction (or a portion thereof) as an Asset Disposition and/or one or more of the types of Permitted Investments or Investments permitted under Section 4.04.
“Associate” means (i) any Person engaged in a Similar Business of which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries are the legal and beneficial owners of between 20% and 50% of all outstanding Voting Stock and (ii) any joint venture entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Authority” means The International Stock Exchange.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Bankruptcy Code of 1978, or any similar United States federal or state law or relevant law in any jurisdiction or organization or similar foreign law (including, without limitation, the laws of Luxembourg), relating to the capability of a debtor to pay its debts, the debtor’s over-indebtedness or lack of assets to cover a debtor’s outstanding debt
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or relating to moratorium, bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, winding up, examinership, rescue process, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors (including, without limitation, in respect of the laws of Luxembourg, moratorium, rescue process, bankruptcy (faillite), judicial, consensual or conservatory measures under the Luxembourg law dated 7 August 2023 on business preservation and the modernisation of the bankruptcy laws, suspension of payments (sursis de paiement), voluntary or judicial liquidation (liquidation volontaire ou judiciaire) or administrative dissolution without liquidation (dissolution administrative sans liquidation) proceedings) or any amendment to, succession to, or change in any such law.
“Board of Directors” means (i) with respect to any corporation, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the corporation, or any duly authorized committee thereof; (ii) with respect to any partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner, as applicable, of the partnership or any duly authorized committee thereof; (iii) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any duly authorized controlling committee thereof; and (iv) with respect to any other Person, the board or any duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires any action or determination to be made by, or any approval of, a Board of Directors, such action, determination or approval shall be deemed to have been taken or made if approved by a majority of the directors (excluding employee representatives, if any) on any such Board of Directors (whether or not such action or approval is taken as part of a formal board meeting or as a formal board approval). Unless the context requires otherwise, Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Borrowing Base” means, as of any date, the sum of (a) 85.0% of the book value of the accounts receivable plus (b) the lesser of (1) 75.0% of the cost of inventory and (2) 85.0% of the net orderly liquidation value of inventory, in each case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrowing Base shall be adjusted to reflect such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”
“Bund Rate” as selected by the Company, means the greater of (x) the rate per annum equal to the equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable German Bund Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable German Bund Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable German Bund Price for such relevant date where:
(1)“Comparable German Bund Issue” means the German Bunds or Bundesanleihe security selected by any Reference German Bund Dealer as having a fixed maturity most nearly equal to the period from such redemption notice date to December 1, 2027, and that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of euro-denominated corporate debt securities in a principal amount approximately equal to the then-outstanding principal amount of the Notes and of a maturity most nearly equal December 1, 2027; provided, however, that, if the period from the date of such redemption notice to December 1, 2027 is less than one year, a fixed maturity of one year shall be used;
(2)“Comparable German Bund Price” means, with respect to any relevant date, the average of all Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations for such date (which,
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in any event, must include at least two such quotations), after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations, or, if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations;
(3)“Reference German Bund Dealer” means any dealer of German Bunds or Bundesanleihe securities appointed by the Company or a direct or indirect parent of the Company in good faith; and
(4)“Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference German Bund Dealer and any relevant date, the average as determined by the Company of the bid and offered prices for the Comparable German Bund Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to Company by such Reference German Bund Dealer at 3:30 p.m. Frankfurt, Germany time on the third Business Day preceding the relevant date, and (y) zero.
“Business Combination Agreement” means the Business Combination Agreement as defined in the Offering Memorandum.
“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in (i) Luxembourg, (ii) London, United Kingdom, (iii) Dublin, Ireland; (iv) New York, New York, United States or (v) Delaware, United States, are authorized or required by law to close.
“Business Successor” means (i) any former Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any Person that, after the Issue Date, has acquired, merged or consolidated with a Subsidiary of the Company (that results in such Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company), or acquired (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of a Subsidiary or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares of, rights to purchase or acquire, warrants, options or depositary receipts for, or other equivalents of, or partnership or other interests in (however designated), equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity.
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, as the case may be and subject to (as applicable) the Election Option, in relation to any determination, an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as either (i) a finance lease or a capital lease for financial reporting purposes on the basis of IAS 17 (Leases) (or any equivalent measure under GAAP), or (ii) lease liabilities on the balance sheet in accordance with IFRS 16 (Leases) (or any equivalent measure under GAAP). The amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined on the basis of either IAS 17 (Leases) (or any equivalent measure under GAAP) or IFRS 16 (Leases) (or any equivalent measure under GAAP) as the case may be and always subject (as applicable) to the Election Option; and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty.
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“Cash Equivalents” means:
(1)(a) Euro, Canadian dollars, Swiss Francs, United Kingdom pounds, Japanese Yen, U.S. Dollars, Australian dollars or any national currency of any member state of the European Union; or (b) any other foreign currency held by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(2)securities or other direct obligations, issued or directly and fully Guaranteed or insured by the government of Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, the European Union or any member state of the European Union on the Issue Date or, in each case, any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of such country or such member state is pledged in support thereof), with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(3)certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any lender or by any bank or trust company (a) whose commercial paper is rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least “P-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s (or if at the time neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization) or (b) (in the event that the bank or trust company does not have commercial paper which is rated) having combined capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million;
(4)repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (7) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5)securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Person referenced in clause (3) above;
(6)commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by a bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above (or by the Parent Entity thereof) maturing within one year after the date of creation thereof or any commercial paper and variable or fixed rate note issued by, or guaranteed by a corporation rated at least “A-1” or higher by S&P or “P-1” or higher by Moody’s (or, if at the time, neither is issuing comparable ratings, then a comparable rating of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization selected by the Company) maturing within one year after the date of creation thereof;
(7)interests in any investment company, money market, enhanced high yield fund or other investment fund which invests 90% or more of its assets in instruments of the types specified in clauses (1) through (6) above;
(8)for purposes of clause (b) of the definition of “Asset Disposition,” the marketable securities portfolio owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date; and
(9)any investments classified as cash equivalents under IFRS.
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“Cash Management Services” means any products, services or facilities relating to the following: automated clearing house transactions, treasury, depository, disbursement, credit or debit card, purchasing card, stored value card, merchant card, electronic fund transfer services, daylight or overnight draft facilities and/or cash management services, including controlled disbursement services, overdraft facilities, foreign exchange facilities, deposit, operating, collections, payroll, trust disbursement and other accounts, information reporting, lockbox and stop payment services and merchant services or other cash management arrangements, banking products or banking services in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice.
“Change of Control” means:
(1)the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date), other than one or more Permitted Holders, being or becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company other than in connection with any transaction or series of transactions in which the Company shall become the Subsidiary of a Parent Entity so long as no Person or group, as noted above, other than a Permitted Holder, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Parent Entity;
(2)the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination transaction), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to a Person, other than the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or one or more Permitted Holders; or
(3)the Company ceases to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Voting Stock of either Issuer, other than director’s qualifying shares and other shares required to be issued by law or Voting Stock issued pursuant to any employment or benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement or other compensation arrangements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control solely as a result of the Company becoming a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company if (A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no Person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company and (b) the right to acquire Voting Stock (so long as such Person does not have the right to direct the voting of the Voting Stock subject to such right) or any veto power in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Voting Stock will not cause a party to be a beneficial owner.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless (1) pro forma for the Change of Control, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is less
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than 5.60 to 1.00; (2) no Ratings Event has occurred and (3) a definitive agreement, put option or similar arrangement in relation to such Change of Control has been entered into, or the Change of Control has occurred, no later than two years from the Issue Date.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A., or any successor thereof.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means all assets from time to time in which a Security Interest has been or will be granted pursuant to any Security Document to secure the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and/or any Notes Guarantee.
“Common Depositary” means Citibank Europe plc, as common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream.
“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including amortization or write-off of (i) intangibles and non-cash organization costs, (ii) deferred financing fees or costs and (iii) capitalized expenditures, customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, conversion costs and contract acquisition costs, the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and amortization of favorable or unfavorable lease assets or liabilities, of such Person and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with IFRS and any write down of assets or asset value carried on the balance sheet.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period:
(1)increased (without duplication) by:
(a)provision for taxes based on income or profits, including federal, state, provincial, territorial, local, foreign, unitary, franchise and similar taxes and foreign withholding and similar taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to any examinations in respect of any such taxes (including any additions to such taxes, and any penalties and interest with respect thereto), deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(b)Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate, currency or commodities risk, (y) bank fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” pursuant to clauses (r) through (z) in clause (1) thereof), in each case, to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income; plus
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(c)Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(d)any (x) Transaction Expenses and (y) any fees, costs, expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) related to any actual, proposed or contemplated Equity Offering (including any expense relating to enhanced accounting functions or other transactions costs associated with becoming a public company), Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the Incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), in each case, including (i) such fees, expenses or charges (including rating agency fees and related expenses) related to the offering of the Notes, the ABL Facility, any other Credit Facility, any Receivables Facility, any Securitization Facility, any other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture or any Equity Offering and any amendment, waiver or other modification of any of the foregoing, in each case, whether or not consummated, to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(e)(i) the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual or reserve (and adjustments to existing reserves), integration cost or other business optimization expense or cost (including charges directly related to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives) that is deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs Incurred in connection with acquisitions or divestitures after the Issue Date, including those related to any severance, retention, signing bonuses, relocation, recruiting and other employee related costs, internal costs in respect of strategic initiatives and curtailments or modifications to pension and post retirement employment benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities), systems development and establishment costs, future lease commitments and costs related to the opening and closure and/or consolidation of facilities and to exiting lines of business and consulting fees Incurred with any of the foregoing and (ii) fees, costs and expenses associated with acquisition related litigation and settlements thereof; plus
(f)any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period including any impairment charges or the impact of purchase accounting; provided that if any such non-cash charge, write-down or item to the extent it represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period then the cash payment in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA when paid or other items classified by the Company as special items less other non-cash items of income increasing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash item of income to the extent it represents a receipt of cash in any future period); plus
(g)the amount of board of director fees, management, monitoring, advisory, consulting, refinancing, subsequent transaction, advisory and exit fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid or accrued
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in such period to any member of the Board of Directors of the Company, any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate of a Permitted Holder to the extent permitted under Section 4.08; plus
(h)the “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and synergies that are expected (in good faith) to be realized as a result of actions taken or expected to be taken after the date of any acquisition, disposition, divestiture, restructuring or the implementation of a cost savings or other similar initiative, as applicable, no later than 24 months after the completion of such action or transaction (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and synergies had been realized from the first day of such period and during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (i) such actions are expected to be taken after the consummation of the acquisition, disposition, restructuring or the implementation of an initiative, as applicable, which is expected to result in cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses or synergies, (ii) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses or synergies shall be added pursuant to this defined term to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period (which adjustments, without double counting, may be incremental to pro forma adjustments made pursuant to the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”) and (iii) the amount added back to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (h) for any period shall not exceed 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (which shall be calculated after giving effect to such add-backs); plus
(i)the “run rate” expected cost savings, operating expense reductions including costs and expenses related to information and technology systems establishment, modernization or modification, restructuring charges and expenses and synergies related to the AMP Transfer Transactions projected by the Company in good faith to result from actions with respect to which substantial steps have been, will be, or are expected to be, taken (in the good faith determination of the Company), calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and synergies had been realized from the first day of such period and during the entirety of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, and which adjustments, without double counting, may be incremental to pro forma adjustments made pursuant to the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”; plus
(j)the amount of loss or discount on sale of Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility; plus
(k)any costs or expense Incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any
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other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any severance agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or Net Cash Proceeds of an issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company solely to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.04(a)(III); plus
(l)cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent noncash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (2) below for any previous period and not added back; plus
(m)any net loss included in the Consolidated Net Income attributable to non- controlling interests; plus
(n)realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; plus
(o)net realized losses from Hedging Obligations or embedded derivatives; plus
(p)the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary, and any costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses) related thereto; plus
(q)with respect to any joint venture, an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (a) and (c) above relating to such joint venture corresponding to the Company’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Restricted Subsidiary) to the extent the same was deducted (and not added back) in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus
(r)earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments; plus
(s)any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost), and any other items of a similar nature; plus
(t)the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Company or any Parent Entity in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person or its Parent Entities, which
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payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted under this Indenture; plus
(u)to the extent not already otherwise included herein, adjustments and add-backs similar to the adjustments and add-backs made in calculating “Adjusted EBITDA”, included in the Offering Memorandum; plus
(v)earn out obligations Incurred in connection with any permitted acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Indenture and paid or accrued during such period; plus
(w)losses, charges and expenses related to the pre-opening and opening of new facilities, and start-up period prior to opening, that are operated, or to be operated, by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
(2)decreased (without duplication) by non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:
(1)consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (in each case, determined on the basis of IFRS, but including for the avoidance of doubt, any consolidated interest expense related to Indebtedness of any Parent Entity which such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries guarantees), to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income, including (a) amortization of original issue discount or premium resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to IFRS), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (q) all cash dividends or other distributions paid on any series of Preferred Stock, (r) Securitization Fees, (s) penalties and interest relating to taxes (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Amounts paid with respect to the Notes or the Notes Guarantees), (t) any additional cash interest owing pursuant to any registration rights agreement, (u) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities other than Indebtedness, (v) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting in connection with the AMP Transfer Transactions or any acquisition, (w) amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, debt discount or premium, terminated Hedging Obligations and other commissions, financing fees and expenses and original issue discount with respect to Indebtedness and, adjusted to the extent included, to
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exclude any refunds or similar credits received in connection with the purchasing or procurement of goods or services under any purchasing card or similar program, (x) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees, (y) subject (as applicable) to the Election Option, any interest component of any operating lease and (z) interest with respect to Indebtedness of any parent of such Person appearing upon the balance sheet of such Person solely by reason of push-down accounting under IFRS; plus
(2)consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including for the avoidance of doubt, any consolidated capitalized interest related to Indebtedness of any Parent Entity which such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries guarantees (but excluding any interest capitalized, accrued, accreted or paid in respect of Subordinated Shareholder Funding); less
(3)interest income for such period.
For purposes of this definition, interest on a lease (including any Capitalized Lease Obligation) shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such lease in accordance with IFRS.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis on the basis of IFRS after any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(1)any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary (including any net income (loss) from Investments recorded in such Person under the equity method of accounting), except that the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed or that (as reasonably determined by an Officer of the Company) could have been distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution or return on investment (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution or return on investment to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); provided that, for the purposes of Section 4.04(a)(III), such dividend, other distribution or return on investment does not reduce the amount of Investments outstanding under the definition of “Permitted Investment”;
(2)solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(III), any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Issuers and the Guarantors) if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to an Issuer or a Guarantor by operation of the terms of such Restricted Subsidiary’s articles, charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute or governmental rule or regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its shareholders (other than (a) restrictions that have been waived or otherwise released, (b) restrictions pursuant to the agreements, documents and
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instruments entered into in connection with, or pursuant to, the ABL Facility, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes or this Indenture and (c) restrictions specified in Section 4.05(b)(13)(a)) except that the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed or that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause);
(3)any gain (or loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), realized upon the sale or other disposition of any asset (including pursuant to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) or disposed or discontinued operations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company);
(4)any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring gain, loss, charge or expense, including Transaction Expenses or any charges, expenses or reserves in respect of any restructuring, redundancy or severance expense or relocation costs, one-time compensation charges, integration and facilities’ opening costs and other business optimization expenses and operating improvements (including related to new product introductions), systems development and establishment costs, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions after the Issue Date and adjustments to existing reserves), whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, transition costs, costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities, internal costs in respect of strategic initiatives and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities), contract terminations and professional and consulting fees Incurred with any of the foregoing;
(5)the cumulative effect of a change in law, regulation or accounting principles, including any impact resulting from an election by the Company to apply GAAP at any time following the Issue Date;
(6)any (i) non-cash compensation charge or expense arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity based awards and any non-cash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions or on the re-valuation of any benefit plan obligation and (ii) income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;
(7)all deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid or other expenses Incurred directly in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness and any net gain (loss) from any write off or forgiveness of Indebtedness;
(8)any unrealized gains or losses in respect of any Hedging Obligations or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to qualifying hedge transactions or the fair
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value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions, in each case, in respect of any Hedging Obligations;
(9)any fees and expenses (including any transaction or retention bonus or similar payment) Incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, disposition of assets or securities, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Capital Stock, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs Incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful;
(10)any unrealized foreign currency transaction gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person, and any unrealized foreign currency transaction gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies;
(11)any unrealized or realized gain or loss due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects, determined in accordance with IFRS;
(12)any recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting effects, including, but not limited to, adjustments to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue in component amounts required or permitted by IFRS and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of any consummated acquisition (including the AMP Transfer Transactions), or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof (including any write-off of in process research and development);
(13)any impairment charge, write-off or write-down, including impairment charges, write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets, goodwill, investments in debt or equity securities (including any losses with respect to the foregoing in bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings) and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to IFRS;
(14)any effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments;
(15)accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted (including any adjustment of estimated pay-outs on existing earn-outs) that are so required to be established as a result of the AMP Transfer Transactions in accordance with IFRS, or changes as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies;
(16)any costs associated with the AMP Transfer Transactions or the Transactions;
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(17)any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures and any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses arising as a result of the AMP Transfer Transactions, or the release of any valuation allowances related to such item;
(18)any (i) payments to third parties in respect of research and development, including amounts paid upon signing, success, completion and other milestones and other progress payments, to the extent expensed and (ii) effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks (including government program rebates);
(19)any net gain (or loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and any net gain (or loss) on disposal of disposed, discontinued or abandoned operations; and
(20)the impact of capitalized, accrued or accreting or pay-in-kind interest or principal on Subordinated Shareholder Funding.
In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include (i) any expenses and charges that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder, or, so long as the Company has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable payor in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days) and (ii) to the extent covered by insurance (including business interruption insurance) and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Company has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption.
“Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) the sum of (a) Senior Secured Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date and (b) the Reserved Indebtedness Amount in respect of Indebtedness which, once incurred, would be included in the calculation of Senior Secured Indebtedness, less the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to (y) LTM EBITDA; provided, however, that, solely for the purpose of Section 4.06, the pro forma calculation shall not give effect to (i) any Indebtedness Incurred on such determination date pursuant to Section 4.06(b) (other than Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b) or (5)(b) of Section 4.06(b)), or (ii) the discharge on such determination date of any Indebtedness to the extent that such discharge results from the proceeds Incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(b) (other than the discharge of Indebtedness using proceeds of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b) or (5)(b) of Section 4.06(b)).
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“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries but excluding any Indebtedness under or with respect to Cash Management Services, intercompany Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, Hedging Obligations, Receivables Facilities or Securitization Facilities.
“Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) the sum of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date and (b) the Reserved Indebtedness Amount in respect of Indebtedness which, once incurred, would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Indebtedness, less the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to (y) LTM EBITDA; provided, however, that, solely for the purpose of Section 4.06, the pro forma calculation shall not give effect to (i) any Indebtedness Incurred on such determination date pursuant to Section 4.06(b) (other than Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b), (1)(c) or (5)(b) of Section 4.06(b)), or (ii) the discharge on such determination date of any Indebtedness to the extent that such discharge results from the proceeds Incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(b) (other than the discharge of Indebtedness using proceeds of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b), (1)(c) and (5)(b) of Section 4.06(b)).
“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, any operating lease (subject, as applicable, to the Election Option), dividend or other obligation that does not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”), including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(1)to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;
(2)to advance or supply funds:
(x)for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or
(y)to maintain the working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or
(3)to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.
“continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.
“Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in the Company and/or other companies.
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“Credit Facility” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, indentures or other arrangements (including the ABL Facility or commercial paper facilities and overdraft facilities) with banks, other financial institutions or investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such institutions or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such institutions against such receivables), letters of credit or other Indebtedness, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, refinanced, repaid, increased or extended in whole or in part from time to time (and whether in whole or in part and whether or not with the original administrative agent and lenders or another administrative agent or agents or other banks or institutions and whether provided under the original ABL Facility or one or more other credit or other agreements, indentures, financing agreements or otherwise) and in each case including all agreements, instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with the foregoing (including any notes and letters of credit issued pursuant thereto and any guarantee and collateral agreement, patent and trademark security agreement, mortgages or letter of credit applications and other Guarantees, pledges, agreements, security agreements and collateral documents). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Credit Facility” shall include any agreement or instrument (1) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (2) adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (3) increasing the amount of Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder or (4) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.
“Debtors” means the Company and the Subsidiaries party to the ABL Documents.
“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default; provided that any Default that results solely from the taking of an action that would have been permitted but for the continuation of a previous Default will be deemed to be cured if such previous Default is cured prior to becoming an Event of Default.
“Definitive Registered Note” means, with respect to the Notes, a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.
“Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) of non-cash consideration received by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents or Temporary Cash Investments received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 4.07.
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“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company or a Parent Entity (other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Company or such Subsidiary) and that is designated as “Designated Preferred Stock” pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company at or prior to the issuance thereof, the Net Cash Proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.04(a)(III)(c).
“Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction, a member of the Board of Directors having no material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such Affiliate Transaction. A member of the Board of Directors shall be deemed not to have such a financial interest by reason of such member’s holding Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Affiliates or any options, warrants or other rights in respect of such Capital Stock.
“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event:
(1)matures or is mandatorily redeemable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise; or
(2)is or may become (in accordance with its terms) upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise redeemable or repurchasable for cash or in exchange for Indebtedness at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,
in each case on or prior to the earlier of (a) the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (b) the date on which there are no Notes outstanding; provided, however, that (i) only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock and (ii) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale (howsoever defined or referred to) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if any such redemption or repurchase obligation is subject to compliance by the relevant Person with Section 4.04; provided further, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, contractor or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any Parent Entity or any other entity in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof) or any other plan for the benefit of current, former or future employees (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory, contractual or regulatory obligations.
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“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor, analogous replacement or alternative securities clearing agency (including Euroclear and/or Clearstream), in each case, or any successor thereto.
“Equity Contribution” means any subscription for shares issued by, any capital contributions (including by way of premium and/or contribution to the capital reserves) to, the Company (but excluding any such amounts funded from the proceeds of any Indebtedness of any Parent Entity (x) which is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (y) in respect of which dividends or distributions on the Company’s Capital Stock are permitted to be paid from cash by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.04(a)(1)(c) and excluding the issuance of any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) or any Subordinated Shareholder Funding of the Company (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions).
“Equity Offering” means (x) a sale of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than offerings registered on Form S-8 (or any successor form) under the Securities Act or any similar offering in other jurisdictions), or (y) the sale of Capital Stock or other securities by any Person, the proceeds of which are contributed to the equity of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries by any Parent Entity in any form other than Indebtedness, Excluded Contributions or Excluded Amounts.
“Euro” or “€” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on the European Union.
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank SA/NV or any successor thereof.
“European Government Obligations” means any security denominated in Euro that is (1) a direct obligation of any country that is a member of the European Monetary Union and whose long-term debt is rated “A-1” or higher by Moody’s or “A+” or higher by S&P or the equivalent rating category of another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization on the date of this Indenture, for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such country is pledged or (2) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of any such country the payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such country, which, in either case under the preceding clause (1) or (2), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
“European Union” means the European Union as in effect on the Issue Date.
“Exchange” means the Official List of The International Stock Exchange.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, as amended.
“Excluded Contribution” means Net Cash Proceeds or property or assets received by the Company as capital contributions to the equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or Excluded Amounts) of the Company after April 1, 2021, or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of their
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employees to the extent funded by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or Excluded Amounts) or Subordinated Shareholder Funding of the Company, in each case, to the extent designated as an Excluded Contribution pursuant to an Officer's Certificate of the Company.
“Existing AMP Indentures” means, collectively, the indentures under which the Existing AMP Notes were issued as in effect on the Issue Date.
“Existing AMP Notes” means the Existing AMP Senior Notes and the Existing AMP Senior Secured Notes.
“Existing AMP Senior Notes” means the Issuers’ 4.000% Notes due 2029 and 3.000% Notes due 2029 that were jointly issued by Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc and Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC on March 12, 2021 pursuant to a senior indenture dated March 12, 2021, as amended and supplemented from time to time.
“Existing AMP Senior Secured Notes” means the Issuers’ 3.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 and the 2.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 that were jointly issued by the Issuers on March 12, 2021, pursuant to a senior secured indenture dated March 12, 2021, as amended and supplemented from time to time.
“Existing Notes Guarantees” means the guarantees of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in respect of the Existing AMP Notes provided pursuant to the Existing AMP Indentures.
“fair market value” wherever such term is used in this Indenture (except as otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture), may be conclusively established by means of an Officer’s Certificate or a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company setting out such fair market value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith.
“FATCA Withholding” means any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in section 1471(b) of the Code, or otherwise imposed pursuant to sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, any official interpretations thereof, or any law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.
“Fixed Assets Collateral” means all assets (other than the ABL Collateral) that secure the Obligations under the Notes, the Notes Guarantees and this Indenture.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person on any determination date, the ratio of LTM EBITDA to the Fixed Charges of such Person for the Relevant Testing Period. In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs, assumes, Guarantees, redeems, defeases, retires, extinguishes or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or has caused any Reserved Indebtedness Amount to be deemed to be Incurred during such Relevant Testing Period or issues or redeems Disqualified
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Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the Relevant Testing Period but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, deemed Incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, redemption, defeasance, retirement, extinguishment or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Relevant Testing Period; provided that the pro forma calculation shall not give effect to: (i) any Fixed Charges attributable to Indebtedness Incurred on such determination date pursuant to Section 4.06(b) (other than Fixed Charges attributable to Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b), (1)(c) and (5)(A)(b) of Section 4.06(b)) or (ii) Fixed Charges attributable to any Indebtedness discharged on such determination date to the extent that such discharge results from the proceeds Incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(b) (other than Fixed Charges attributable to Indebtedness discharged on such determination date using proceeds of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b), (1)(c) and (5)(A)(b) of Section 4.06(b)).
For purposes of making the computation referred to above, any Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and disposed operations that have been made by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, during the Relevant Testing Period or subsequent to the Relevant Testing Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and disposed or discontinued operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in LTM EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Relevant Testing Period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or amalgamated with or into the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposed or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposed or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the Relevant Testing Period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or chief accounting officer of the Company and may include cost savings, expense reductions and synergies reasonably expected to occur within 24 months from the date of completion of such action or transaction (or, if later, the last day of the Relevant Testing Period), including from the result of a disposition or ceased or discontinued operations, as though such cost savings, expense reduction and synergies had been achieved on the first day of the Relevant Testing Period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated, at the Company’s option, either (x) as if the rate in effect on the determination date had been the applicable rate for the entire Relevant Testing Period or (y) using the average rate in effect over the Relevant Testing Period, in each case taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness. As determined in accordance with the Election Option (as applicable), interest on a lease (including any Capitalized Lease Obligations) shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such lease in accordance
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with IFRS. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed with a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the Relevant Testing Period except to the extent such revolving credit facility has been permanently repaid and the commitments thereunder cancelled. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.
“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:
(1)Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;
(2)all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person during such period; and
(3)all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during this period.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(3) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
“Global Notes” means each of the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes (each individually, a “Global Note”).
“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person, including any such obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:
(1)to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or
(2)entered into primarily for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part),
provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include (x) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (y) standard contractual indemnities or product warranties provided in the ordinary course of business, and provided, further that the amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made and (ii) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee or, if such Guarantee is not an
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unconditional guarantee of the entire amount of the primary obligation and such maximum amount is not stated or determinable, the amount of such guaranteeing Person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor” means the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees the Notes, until such Notes Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate, commodity price or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.
“Holder” means each Person in whose name the Notes are registered on the Registrar’s books, which shall initially be the respective nominee of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.
“IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards (formerly International Accounting Standards) endorsed from time to time by the European Union or any variation thereof with which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries are, or may be, required to comply, as in effect on the Issue Date or, with respect to Section 4.02, as in effect from time to time. Except as otherwise set forth in this Indenture, all ratios and calculations based on IFRS (or, as applicable, GAAP) contained in this Indenture shall be computed in accordance with IFRS as in effect on the Issue Date (or, as applicable, GAAP as in effect at the date specified by the Company in its election to adopt GAAP in accordance with the fourth sentence of this definition). At any time after the Issue Date, the Company may elect to implement any new measures or other changes to IFRS (or, as applicable, GAAP) in effect on or prior to the date of such election; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable. At any time after the Issue Date, the Company may elect to apply GAAP accounting principles in lieu of IFRS and, upon any such election, references herein to IFRS shall thereafter be construed to mean GAAP (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture), including as to the ability of the Company to make an election pursuant to the previous sentence; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that require the application of IFRS for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Company’s election to apply GAAP shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with IFRS; provided, further again, that the Company may only make such election if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by the Company. The Company shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, (i) in relation to the making of any determination or calculation under this Indenture, the Company shall be required to elect (the “Election Option”), from time to time and each time, either (A) to apply IFRS 16 (Leases) or (B) to apply IAS 17 (Leases) (or, in each case, the equivalent measure under GAAP) to the making of such determination or calculation, provided that, if such determination or calculation involves more than one element (including for the calculation of a financial ratio), such selected accounting standard shall be consistently applied to each element of such determination or calculation (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in
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relation to Section 4.02); and (ii) any adverse impact directly or indirectly relating to or resulting from the implementation of IFRS 15 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) and any successor standard thereto (or any equivalent measure under GAAP) shall be disregarded with respect to all ratios, calculations and determinations based upon IFRS to be calculated or made, as the case may be, pursuant to this Indenture (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in relation to Section 4.02).
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (the Capital Stock of each of which is being disposed of concurrently) that would not be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date of the Company, measured, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available or for the four fiscal quarters ended most recently for which financial statements are available, as the case may be.
“Immediate Family Members” means, with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.
“Incur” means issue, create, assume, enter into any Guarantee of, incur, extend or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and the terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing and any Indebtedness pursuant to any revolving credit or similar facility shall only be “Incurred” at the time any funds are borrowed thereunder, subject to the definition of “Reserved Indebtedness Amount” and related provisions.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):
(1)the principal of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;
(2)the principal of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;
(3)all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (the amount of such obligations being equal at any time to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such letters of credit or other instruments plus the aggregate amount of drawings thereunder that have not been reimbursed) (except to the extent such reimbursement obligations relate to trade payables and such obligations are satisfied within 30 days of Incurrence);
(4)the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property (except trade payables or similar obligation,
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including accrued expenses owed, to a trade creditor), which purchase price is due more than one year after the date of placing such property in service or taking final delivery and title thereto;
(5)Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;
(6)the principal component of all obligations, or liquidation preference, of such Person with respect to any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);
(7)the principal component of all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;
(8)Guarantees by such Person of the principal component of Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (9) of other Persons to the extent Guaranteed by such Person; and
(9)to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the net payments under such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at the termination of such agreement or arrangement),
with respect to clauses (1), (2), (4) and (5) above, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount of Indebtedness, or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the above provisions, in no event shall the following constitute Indebtedness:
(a)Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, other than Guarantees or other assumptions of Indebtedness;
(b)Cash Management Services;
(c)any lease, concession or license of property (or Guarantee thereof) which would, in accordance with the Election Option, be considered an operating lease or any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
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(d)obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or Guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Issue Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(e)in connection with the purchase by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid in a timely manner;
(f)for the avoidance of doubt, any obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, early retirement or termination obligations, pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, obligations or contributions or social security or wage Taxes;
(g)obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Financings or Receivables Facilities;
(h)Indebtedness of any Parent Entity appearing on the balance sheet of the Company solely by reason of push down accounting under IFRS;
(i)Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock of the Company and Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary);
(j)amounts owed to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law (including in connection with, or as a result of, exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or action (whether actual, contingent or potential)), pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Article 5;
(k)Subordinated Shareholder Funding; or
(l)any joint and several liability or any netting or set-off arrangement arising in each case by operation of law as a result of the existence or establishment of a fiscal unity for corporate income tax, trade tax or value added tax purposes or similar purposes or any analogous arrangement.
“Independent Financial Advisor” means an investment banking or accounting firm of international standing or any third party appraiser of international standing; provided, however, that such firm or appraiser is not an Affiliate of an Issuer.
“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
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“Initial Dollar Notes” means the $620,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 6.250% Senior Secured Dollar Notes issued on the Issue Date.
“Initial Euro Notes” means the €570,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 5.000% Senior Secured Euro Notes issued on the Issue Date.
“Initial Investors” means individually or collectively, (x) Ardagh Group S.A., and/or its successors and Affiliates or direct or indirect Subsidiaries or (y) Ardagh Holdings S.A. and/or its successors and Affiliates.
“Initial Public Offering” means an Equity Offering of common stock or other common equity interests of any Parent Entity or any successor of the Company or any Parent Entity (the “IPO Entity”) following which there is a public market and, as a result of which, the shares of common stock or other common equity interests of the IPO Entity in such offering are listed on an internationally recognized exchange or traded on an internationally recognized market.
“Initial Notes” means the Initial Euro Notes and the Initial Dollar Notes.
“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of June 29, 2021, by and among, inter alios, the Issuers, Citibank, N.A., London Branch as the trustee for the Existing AMP Senior Notes, Citibank, N.A., London Branch as the trustee for the Existing AMP Senior Secured Notes, the ABL Security Agent and Citibank, N.A., London Branch as the security agent, and to which Citibank, N.A., London Branch as the trustee for the Notes will accede as of the Issue Date, as amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of advances, loans or other extensions of credit (other than advances or extensions of credit to customers, suppliers, directors, officers or employees of any Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, and excluding any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or the incurrence of a Guarantee of any obligation of, or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such other Persons and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared on the basis of IFRS; provided, however, that endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice will not be deemed to be an Investment. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect thereto, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto will be deemed to be a new Investment at such time.
For purposes of Section 4.04 and Section 4.12:
(1)“Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that
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upon a re-designation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such re designation less (b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets (as determined by the Company) of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary; and
(2)any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined by the Company.
“Investment Grade Securities” means:
(1)securities issued or directly and fully Guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or Canadian government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);
(2)securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the European Union or a member state of the European Union, Australia, Japan, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);
(3)debt securities or debt instruments with a rating of “A-” or higher from S&P or “A3” or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization or, if no rating of Moody’s or S&P then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries; and
(4)Investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above which fund may also hold cash and Cash Equivalents pending investment or distribution.
“Investment Grade Status” shall occur when the Notes receive two of the following:
(1)a rating of “BBB-” or higher from S&P;
(2)a rating of “Baa3” or higher from Moody’s; or
(3)a rating of “BBB-” or higher from Fitch,
or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization or, if no rating of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization.
“Issue Date” means December 1, 2025.
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“Liability” means any liability of Citibank Europe plc to the Issuers or any Guarantor arising under or in connection with this Indenture.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, hypothecation or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof); provided that in no event shall an operating lease (subject, as applicable, to the Election Option) be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“LTM EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA of the Company measured for the Relevant Testing Period ending prior to the date of such determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments giving effect to such Indebtedness, acquisition or Investment, as applicable, since the start of such Relevant Testing Period and as are consistent with the pro forma adjustments set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”
“Lux Holdco” means Ardagh Metal Packaging Group S.À.R.L., a private limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée) incorporated and existing under the laws of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L 2134 Luxembourg, Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés, Luxembourg under number B253539.
“Lux Holdco Share Pledge” means a pledge over 100% of the shares of Lux Holdco granted by the Company.
“Management Advances” means loans or advances made to, or Guarantees with respect to loans or advances made to, directors, officers, employees, contractors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of any Parent Entity, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or to any management equity plan, stock option plan, any other management or employee benefit, bonus or incentive plan or any trust, partnership or other entity of, established for the benefit of, or the beneficial owner of which (directly or indirectly) is, any of the foregoing:
(1)(a) in respect of travel, entertainment or moving related expenses Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or (b) for purposes of funding any such person’s purchase (or the purchase by any management equity plan) of Capital Stock or Subordinated Shareholder Funding (or similar obligations) of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity (including through participation in any management equity plan) with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company;
(2)in respect of moving related expenses Incurred in connection with any closing or consolidation of any facility or office; or
(3)not exceeding the greater of (i) $60.0 million and (ii) 7.5% of LTM EBITDA in the aggregate outstanding at the time of Incurrence.
“Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (1) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of the Company on the Issue Date, multiplied by (2) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock
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or common equity interests for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Issue Date.
“Management Stockholders” means the members of management of the Company (or any Parent Entity) or its Subsidiaries who are holders of Capital Stock of the Company or of any Parent Entity on the Issue Date.
“Material Intellectual Property” means the intellectual property required in order to conduct the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) in all material respects as it is being conducted, to the extent that failure to own or have such intellectual property licensed to it would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.
“Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization” means a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.
“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or instalment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:
(1)all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all Taxes paid, reasonably estimated to be actually payable or accrued as a liability under IFRS (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other Taxes payable as a result of the distribution of such proceeds to the Company and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition, including distributions for Related Taxes;
(2)all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;
(3)all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders (other than any Parent Entity, the Company or any of its respective Subsidiaries) in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition;
(4)the deduction of appropriate amounts required to be provided by the seller as a reserve, on the basis of IFRS, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition; and
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(5)any funded escrow established pursuant to the documents evidencing any such sale or disposition to secure any indemnification obligations or adjustments to the purchase price associated with any such Asset Disposition.
“Net Cash Proceeds,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or Subordinated Shareholder Funding, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of Taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be actually payable as a result of such issuance or sale (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other Taxes payable as a result of the distribution of such proceeds to the Company and after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing agreements, and including distributions for Related Taxes).
“Non-Core Assets” means any assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and designated in good faith as “non-core” to the material business activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered by the Company to the Trustee.
“Non Guarantor Debt Cap” means an amount of Indebtedness Incurred and Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the first paragraph and clauses (1)(b), (1)(c), (5)(x) and (13) of Section 4.06(b), in each case by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, which shall not in aggregate exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) 45.0% of LTM EBITDA at any time outstanding.
“Notes” means (i) the Initial Notes and (ii) any Additional Notes that are subsequently issued subject to the conditions and in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture.
“Notes Documents” means the Notes (including any Additional Notes), this Indenture (including the Notes Guarantees), the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreements.
“Notes Guarantee” means the joint and several guarantee of the obligations under the Notes and this Indenture on a senior basis by each Guarantor.
“Obligations” means any principal, interest (including Post-Petition Interest and fees accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to an Issuer or any Guarantor whether or not a claim for Post-Petition Interest or fees is allowed in such proceedings), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum, dated as of November 20, 2025, relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.
“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Managing Director, the Secretary or any Assistant
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Secretary (a) of such Person or (b) if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, of such entity, or (2) any other individual designated as an “Officer” for the purposes of this Indenture by the Board of Directors of such Person.
“Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Officer of such Person.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel that is reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or its Subsidiaries.
“Parent Entity” means any direct or indirect parent of the Company, in each case including any successors or assigns of such entity.
“Parent Entity Expenses” means:
(1)costs (including all legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses) Incurred by any Parent Entity in connection with reporting obligations under or otherwise Incurred in connection with compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations of any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body or stock exchange, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating to the Notes, the Notes Guarantees or any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including in respect of any reports filed or delivered with respect to the Securities Act, Exchange Act or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(2)customary indemnification obligations of any Parent Entity owing to directors, officers, employees or other Persons under its articles, charter, by-laws, partnership agreement or other organizational documents or pursuant to written agreements with any such Person to the extent relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(3)obligations of any Parent Entity in respect of director and officer insurance (including premiums therefor) to the extent relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(4)any (x) general corporate overhead expenses, including all legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses and (y) other operational expenses of any Parent Entity related to the ownership or operation of the business of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(5)expenses incurred by any Parent Entity in connection with (i) any offering, sale, conversion or exchange of Subordinated Shareholder Funding, Capital Stock or Indebtedness and (ii) any related compensation paid to officers, directors and employees of such Parent Entity; and
(6)amounts to finance Investments that would otherwise be permitted to be made pursuant Section 4.04 if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment, (B) such direct or indirect parent company shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Capital
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Stock) to be contributed to the capital of the Company or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Person formed or acquired into the Company or one of the Restricted Subsidiaries in order to consummate such Investment, (C) such direct or indirect parent company and its Affiliates (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance with this Indenture and such consideration or other payment is included as a Restricted Payment under this Indenture, (D) any property received by the Company shall not increase amounts available for Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 4.04(a)(III) or be an Excluded Contribution or be used to Incur Indebtedness under Section 4.06(b)(10) and (E) such Investment shall be deemed to be made by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.04 or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments.”
“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (a) of an Issuer which ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes or (b) of any Guarantor which ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes Guarantee of such Guarantor.
“Participant” means, with respect to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively.
“Paying Agent” means the Principal Paying Agent and any other Person, including the Principal Paying Agent, authorized by the Issuers to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Note on behalf of the Issuers.
“Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of assets used or useful in a Similar Business or a combination of such assets and cash, Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received in excess of the value of any cash or Cash Equivalents sold or exchanged must be applied in accordance with Section 4.07.
“Permitted Collateral Liens” means Liens on the Collateral:
(1)that are described in one or more of clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (12), (15), (17), (18), (24), (26), (34) or (41) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and Liens arising by operation of law that would not materially interfere with the ability of the Security Agent to enforce the Security Interests in the Collateral; and
(2)to secure all obligations (including paid-in-kind interest) in respect of:
(a)(i) the Notes (other than Additional Notes), including related Notes Guarantees and (ii) the Existing AMP Notes, including related guarantees thereof;
(b)Indebtedness described under Section 4.06(b)(1)(a) (including Liens on cash collateral pursuant to the agreements, documents and instruments entered into in connection with, or pursuant to, the ABL Facility); provided that (x) Indebtedness under any asset based loan facility may have priority lien status in respect of the ABL Collateral in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement or
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any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, (y) Hedging Obligations may have super senior priority status in respect of the proceeds from the enforcement of the Fixed Assets Collateral and certain distressed disposals of assets in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and (z) Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility, may have super senior priority status in respect of the proceeds from the enforcement of the Fixed Assets Collateral and certain distressed disposals of assets, in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement; provided, further, that with respect to this clause (z), the maximum commitments under such revolving credit facility that may have such super senior priority status may not exceed (i) $700.0 million less (ii) the amount of commitments under the ABL Facility (measured at the time of the of entry into such revolving credit facility);
(c)Indebtedness described under Section 4.06(b)(1)(b);
(d)Indebtedness described under Section 4.06(b)(2) (to the extent such guarantee is in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be secured and specified in this definition of “Permitted Collateral Liens”);
(e)Indebtedness described under Section 4.06(b)(5);
(f)Indebtedness described under Section 4.06(b)(6); provided that obligations under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate or currency risks entered into with respect to any Indebtedness Incurred in compliance with Section 4.06, may have super senior priority status in respect of the proceeds from the enforcement of the Collateral and certain distressed disposals of assets;
(g)Indebtedness described under clauses (4)(a), (4)(b)(i), (4)(c)(to the extent such Indebtedness being Refinanced was permitted to be secured by a Permitted Collateral Lien), (7) (other than with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations), (13), (14) (provided that such Liens do not extend to assets that are the subject of the related factoring financing, securitization, receivables financing or similar arrangement (or related assets)) or (18) of Section 4.06(b);
(h)Indebtedness described under Section 4.06(a) or clause (1)(c), clause (5) or clause (10) of Section 4.06(b); provided that with respect to liens securing Senior Secured Indebtedness, at the time of Incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 4.00 to 1.00;
(i)Liens on the Collateral that secure Indebtedness on a basis junior to the Notes and any guarantees thereof; and
(j)any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness set forth in the foregoing clauses (a) to (i); provided that any Lien securing such Refinancing
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Indebtedness shall have the same priority, relative to the Lien on such Collateral securing the Notes, as the Lien securing the original Indebtedness refinanced by such Refinancing Indebtedness;
provided that for purposes of determining compliance with this definition, in the event that a Permitted Collateral Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Collateral Liens described in paragraphs (1) and (2) above, the Company will be permitted to classify such Permitted Collateral Lien on the date of its incurrence and reclassify such Permitted Collateral Lien at any time and in any manner that complies with this definition.
“Permitted Holders” means, collectively, (i) the Initial Investors, (ii) any one or more Persons, together with such Persons’ Affiliates, whose beneficial ownership constitutes or results in a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of the Indenture, (iii) the Management Stockholders, (iv) any Person who is acting solely as an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Capital Stock of any Parent Entity or the Company, acting in such capacity, and (v) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, Persons referred to in subclauses (i) through (iv), collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any Parent Entity held by such group.
“Permitted Investment” means (in each case, by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries):
(1)Investments in (a) a Restricted Subsidiary (including the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary) or the Company or (b) a Person (including the Capital Stock of any such Person) that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary;
(2)Investments in another Person and as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged, amalgamated, consolidated or otherwise combined with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(3)Investments in cash, Cash Equivalents, Temporary Cash Investments or Investment Grade Securities;
(4)Investments in receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(5)Investments in payroll, travel, relocation, entertainment and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(6)Management Advances;
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(7)Investments in Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary, or as a result of foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien, or in satisfaction of judgments or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement including upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor or otherwise with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;
(8)Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from a sale or other disposition of property or assets, including an Asset Disposition;
(9)Investments existing or pursuant to agreements or arrangements in effect on the Issue Date and any modification, replacement, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any such Investment may not be increased except (a) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (b) as otherwise not prohibited under this Indenture;
(10)Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations are Incurred in compliance with Section 4.06;
(11)pledges or deposits with respect to leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or Liens otherwise described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or made in connection with Liens permitted under Section 4.09;
(12)any Investment to the extent made using Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), Subordinated Shareholder Funding or Capital Stock of any Parent Entity as consideration;
(13)any transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.08(c) (except those described in clauses (1), (3), (6), (7), (8), (9), (12) and (14) of that paragraph);
(14)Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in any case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices, and in accordance with this Indenture;
(15)any (a) Guarantees of Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 4.06 and (other than with respect to Indebtedness) guarantees, keepwells and similar arrangements in the ordinary course of business, and (b) performance guarantees and contingent obligations with respect to obligations that are not prohibited by this Indenture;
(16)Investments consisting of earnest money deposits required in connection with a purchase agreement, or letter of intent, or other acquisitions to the extent not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;
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(17)Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged or amalgamated into the Company or merged or amalgamated into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;
(18)Investments consisting of licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;
(19)contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Company;
(20)Investments in joint ventures and similar entities and Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (20) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $225.0 million and (b) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 4.04, of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 4.04(a)(III)) with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided, however, that (x) if any Investment pursuant to this clause (20) is made in any Person that is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (20) for so long as such Person continues to be the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (y) no Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary made pursuant to this clause (20) shall be made for the purpose of making an indirect dividend or distribution from the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock that would be permitted under clause (14) of Section 4.04(b) or that would otherwise be prohibited under Section 4.04;
(21)additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (21) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $225.0 million and (b) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 4.04 of any amounts applied pursuant to Section 4.04(a)(III)) with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (21) is made in any Person that is not the Company or a
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Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (21) for so long as such Person continues to be the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(22)any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $225.0 million and (b) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus the amount of any returns (including dividends, payments, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) in respect of such Investments (without duplication for purposes of Section 4.04 of any amounts applied pursuant Section 4.04(a)(III)) with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (22) is made in any Person that is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (22) for so long as such Person continues to be the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(23)Investments (a) arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility and (b) constituting distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;
(24)Investments in connection with the AMP Transfer Transactions or the Transactions;
(25)Investments (including repurchases) in Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(26)Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary as described under Section 4.12;
(27)guaranty and indemnification obligations arising in connection with surety bonds issued in the ordinary course of business;
(28)Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contacts and loans or advances made to distributors in the ordinary course of business;
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(29)Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(30)Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection of deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;
(31)transactions entered into in order to consummate a Permitted Tax Restructuring;
(32)Investments made in the ordinary course of business, the fair market value of which in the aggregate does not exceed the greater of $25.0 million and 3.0% of LTM EBITDA in any transaction or series of related transactions;
(33)Investments in a Person to the extent that the consideration therefor consists of the issue and sale (other than to any Subsidiary) of shares of the Company’s Capital Stock or Subordinated Shareholder Funding or the net proceeds thereof (other than any Excluded Contribution or to the extent any of the proceeds are used to Incur Indebtedness under Section 4.06(b)(10)); provided that the net proceeds of such sale have been excluded from, and shall not have been included in, the calculation of the amount determined under Section 4.04(a)(III)(B);
(34)Investments resulting from the acquisition of a Person that at the time of such acquisition held instruments constituting Investments that were not acquired in contemplation of the acquisition of such Person;
(35)loans or advances to (i) directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay for the purchase of Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof pursuant to management equity plans or similar management or employee benefit arrangement or (ii) stock option plans, trust and similar asset pools to pay for the purchase of Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof not to exceed the greater of $25.0 million and 3.0% of LTM EBITDA in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;
(36)any Investments received in comprise or resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes;
(37)advances, loans, rebates and extensions of credit (including the creation of receivables) to suppliers, customers and vendors, and advance payment made and deferred consideration and performance guarantees, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(38)any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business; and
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(39)so long as no Default has occurred or is continuing, additional Investments; provided that immediately after giving pro forma effect such Investment, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than 4.50 to 1.00.
“Permitted Joint Venture” means any joint venture or similar combinations or other transaction pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into, acquires or subscribes for any shares, stock, securities or other interest in or transfers any assets to any joint venture; provided, however, that the primary business of such joint venture is a Similar Business.
“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:
(1)Liens on assets or property of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness and other Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;
(2)pledges, deposits or Liens under workmen’s compensation laws, old-age-part-time arrangements, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance laws, social security laws or similar legislation, or insurance related obligations (including pledges or deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements), or pension related liabilities and obligations, or in connection with bids, tenders, completion guarantees, contracts (other than for borrowed money) or leases, or to secure utilities, licenses, public or statutory obligations, or to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, government contracts and leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, indemnity, judgment, customs, appeal or performance bonds, guarantees of government contracts, return-of-money bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities (or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations), obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, or as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, or other obligations of like nature, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business; or consistent with past practice;
(3)Liens with respect to outstanding motor vehicle fines and Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors’ or other like Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are bonded or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(4)Liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that appropriate reserves required pursuant to IFRS (or other applicable accounting principles) have been made in respect thereof;
(5)encumbrances, charges, ground leases, easements (including reciprocal easement agreements), survey exceptions, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions, by-law, regulation, zoning restrictions or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct
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of the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or to the ownership of their properties, including servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements, facilities sharing agreements, cost sharing agreements and other agreements, which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(6)Liens (a) on assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary securing Hedging Obligations or Cash Management Services permitted under this Indenture; (b) that are statutory, common law or contractual rights of set-off (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Liens arising under the general terms and conditions of banks or savings banks) or, in the case of clause (i) or (ii) below, other bankers’ Liens (i) relating to treasury, depository and Cash Management Services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds in the ordinary course of business and not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; (c) on cash accounts securing Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted to be Incurred under clauses (8)(d) or (8)(e) of Section 4.06(b) with financial institutions; (d) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts Incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice and not for speculative purposes; (e) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection; (f) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the maintenance of such accounts and/or (g) arising under customary general terms of the account bank in relation to any bank account maintained with such bank and attaching only to such account and the products and proceeds thereof, which Liens, in any event, do not secure any Indebtedness;
(7)leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of assets (including real property and intellectual property rights), in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(8)Liens securing or otherwise arising out of judgments, decrees, attachments, orders or awards not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as (a) any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment, decree, order or award have not been finally terminated, (b) the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired or (c) no more than 60 days have passed after (i) such judgment, decree, order or award has become final or (ii) such period within which such proceedings may be initiated has expired;
(9)Liens (i) on assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of securing Capitalized Lease Obligations, or Purchase Money Obligations, or securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or securing Indebtedness or other Obligations Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, improvement or
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construction of, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice; provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture and (b) any such Liens may not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than assets or property acquired, improved, constructed or leased with the proceeds of such Indebtedness and any improvements or accessions to such assets and property and (ii) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligations or operating lease;
(10)Liens perfected or evidenced by UCC financing statement filings, including precautionary UCC financing statements (or similar filings in other applicable jurisdictions) regarding operating leases (subject, as applicable, to the Election Option) entered into by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(11)Liens existing on, or provided for or required to be granted under written agreements existing on, the Issue Date;
(12)Liens on property, other assets or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquires such property, other assets or shares of stock, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination transaction with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in anticipation of or in connection with such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such acquisition of such property, other assets or stock); provided, further, that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property, other assets or stock (plus improvements, accession, proceeds or dividends or distributions in connection with the original property, other assets or stock) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which such Liens arose, could secure) the obligations to which such Liens relate;
(13)Liens on assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness or other Obligations of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, or Liens in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(14)Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness that were previously so secured, and permitted to be secured under this Indenture; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness or other Obligations being refinanced or is in respect of property that is or could be the security for or subject to a Permitted Lien hereunder;
(15)Liens constituting (a) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or any other matters of record that have been placed by any government, statutory or regulatory authority, developer, landlord or other third party on property over
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which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has easement rights or on any leased property and subordination or similar arrangements relating thereto and (b) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property;
(16)any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;
(17)Liens on property or assets under construction (and related rights) in favor of a contractor or developer or arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;
(18)Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, hire purchase, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(19)Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under clauses (3), (11), (18) or (19) of Section 4.06(b) (provided that, in the case of Section 4.06(b)(11), such Liens cover only the assets of such Subsidiary);
(20)Permitted Collateral Liens (other than pursuant to clause 2(i) of such definition);
(21)Liens (a) on Capital Stock or other securities or assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Permitted Joint Venture that secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Permitted Joint Venture and (b) then existing with respect to assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary as described under Section 4.12;
(22)any security granted over the marketable securities portfolio described in clause (8) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents” in connection with the disposal thereof to a third party;
(23)Liens on (a) goods the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or Liens on bills of lading, drafts or other documents of title arising by operation of law or pursuant to the standard terms of agreements relating to letters of credit, bank guarantees and other similar instruments and (b) specific items of inventory of other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(24)Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(25)Liens on assets or securities deemed to arise in connection with and solely as a result of the execution, delivery or performance of contracts to sell such assets or securities if such sale is otherwise permitted by this Indenture;
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(26)Liens arising by operation of law or contract on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof to secure premiums thereunder, and Liens, pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for premiums or reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefits of) insurance carriers;
(27)Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Indenture;
(28)Liens (a) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Permitted Investments to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (b) consisting of an agreement to sell any property in an asset sale permitted under Section 4.07, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or asset sale, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;
(29)Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $250.0 million and (b) 33.3% of LTM EBITDA at the time Incurred;
(30)Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted by Section 4.06 provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;
(31)Liens arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility;
(32)Settlement Liens;
(33)rights of recapture of unused real property in favor of the seller of such property set forth in customary purchase agreements and related arrangements with any government, statutory or regulatory authority;
(34)the rights reserved to or vested in any Person or government, statutory or regulatory authority by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;
(35)restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put;
(36)Liens or covenants restricting or prohibiting access to or from lands abutting on controlled access highways or covenants affecting the use to which lands may be put; provided that such Liens or covenants do not interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(37)Liens arising in connection with any Permitted Tax Restructuring;
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(38)Liens for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Indebtedness (or the underwriters or arrangers thereof) or on cash set aside at the time of the Incurrence of any Indebtedness or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case, to the extent such cash or government securities are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement, including in each case any interest or premium thereon;
(39)Liens arising in connection with any joint and several liability or any netting or set-off arrangement arising in each case by operation of law as a result of the existence or establishment of a fiscal unity for corporate income tax, trade tax or value added tax or similar purposes or any analogous arrangement;
(40)Liens on any of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s property or assets securing the Notes or any Notes Guarantees; and
(41)any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Permitted Lien; provided that any such extension, renewal or replacement shall not extend in any material respect to any additional property or assets.
In the event that a Permitted Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Permitted Liens (at the time of incurrence or at a later date), the Company in its sole discretion may divide, classify or from time to time reclassify all or any portion of such Permitted Lien in any manner that complies with this Indenture and such Permitted Lien shall be treated as having been made pursuant only to the clause or clauses of the definition of “Permitted Liens” to which such Permitted Lien has been classified or reclassified.
“Permitted Reorganization” means any amalgamation, demerger, merger, voluntary liquidation, consolidation, reorganization, winding-up or corporate reconstruction, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions involving the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (a “Reorganization”) that is made on a solvent basis; provided that:
(l)any payments or assets distributed in connection with such Reorganization remain within the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(2)if any shares or other assets form part of the Collateral, substantially equivalent Liens must be granted over such shares or assets of the recipient such that they form part of the Collateral,
provided, further that no Permitted Reorganization may override the provisions of Article 5 and, for the avoidance of doubt, the term “Permitted Reorganization” shall include the closure of bank accounts and the conversion of debt instruments into Capital Stock or other equity instruments.
“Permitted Tax Distribution” means:
(1)for any taxable year (or portion thereof) ending after the Issue Date for which the Company is a member of a fiscal unity (whether resulting from a domination and profit or loss pooling agreement or otherwise) or a group filing a consolidated or combined tax return with any Parent Entity for federal, state, provincial, territorial, and/or
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local income Tax purposes, any dividends, intercompany loans, other intercompany balances or other distributions to such Parent Entity to fund any such income Taxes of such Parent Entity that are attributable to the taxable income of the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries, in an amount not to exceed the amount of any such Taxes that the Company (and its applicable Subsidiaries) would have been required to pay if it had been a separate stand-alone company (or a separate consolidated, combined, group, affiliated or unitary group consisting only of the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries) for all applicable taxable periods after the Issue Date; and
(2)for any taxable year (or portion thereof) ending after the Issue Date for which the Company is treated as a disregarded entity, partnership, or other flow-through entity for federal, state, provincial, territorial, and/or local income Tax purposes, any dividends or other distributions to the Company’s direct owner(s) to fund such income Tax liability of such owner(s) (or, if a direct owner is a pass-through entity, of the indirect owner(s)) for such taxable year (or portion thereof) attributable to the taxable income of the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries, in an aggregate amount not the exceed the product of (x) the highest combined applicable marginal federal and state, provincial, territorial, and/or local statutory income Tax rate (for purposes of such tax) (after taking into account any deductibility of U.S. state and local income Tax for U.S. federal income Tax purposes and the character of the income in question) and (y) the taxable income of the Company (for purposes of such tax) for such taxable year (or portion thereof), reduced by all taxable losses of the Company (for purposes of such tax) with respect to any prior taxable year ending after the Issue Date to the extent such losses were not previously taken into account for purposes of computing Permitted Tax Distributions pursuant to this clause (2) and such losses would be deductible against such income of the Company for such taxable year (or portion thereof) if in all relevant taxable years the applicable Parent Entity had no items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit other than allocations to such Parent Entity of such items by the Company; provided that Permitted Tax Distributions pursuant to this clause (2) shall be reduced by the amount of any such Taxes paid or payable by the Company or any Subsidiary directly to taxing authorities on behalf of any such owner(s).
“Permitted Tax Restructuring” means any reorganizations and other activities related to tax planning and tax reorganization entered into prior to, on or after the date hereof so long as such Permitted Tax Restructuring is not materially adverse to the Holders (as determined by the Company in good faith).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means each of the entities listed on Schedule I-A.
“Post-Petition Interest” means any interest or entitlement to fees or expenses or other charges that accrue after the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
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“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.
“Principal Paying Agent” means, initially, Citibank, N.A., London Branch until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor thereof.
“pro forma” means, with respect to any calculation made or required to be made pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, a calculation made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company; provided that any such calculation shall (x) give effect to any realized or expected synergies, cost efficiencies and cost savings relating to, or directly or indirectly resulting from, or associated with, any Asset Disposition, Investment, acquisition, reorganization, restructuring or operational improvement initiative that has occurred during the period included in the calculation or any prior period or would reasonably be expected to occur in connection with an acquisition or other transaction in relation to which “pro forma” effect is given, as if such synergies, cost efficiencies or cost savings had been effective throughout the period included in the calculation and (y) eliminate any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring loss, expense or charge (including severance, relocation, plant closure, operational improvement or restructuring costs or reserves therefor) relating to, or directly or indirectly resulting from, or Incurred in connection with, any Asset Disposition, Investment, acquisition, reorganization, restructuring or operational improvement initiative, or offering of debt or equity securities.
“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
“Public Debt” means any Indebtedness consisting of bonds, debentures, notes or other similar debt securities issued in (i) a public offering registered under the Securities Act and/or (ii) a private placement to institutional and other investors, in each case, that are not Affiliates of the Company, in accordance with Rule 144A and/or Regulation S under the Securities Act, whether or not it includes registration rights entitling the holders of such debt securities to registration thereof with the SEC for public resale.
“Public Offering” means any offering, including an Initial Public Offering, of shares of common stock or other common equity interests that are listed on an exchange or publicly offered (which shall include an offering pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act to professional market investors or similar persons).
“Purchase Money Obligations” means any Indebtedness Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets (including Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets or the acquisition of the Capital Stock of any Person owning such property or assets, or otherwise.
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“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made for fair consideration (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be fair and reasonable terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.
“Rating Agencies” means S&P, Fitch and Moody’s or if no rating of S&P, Fitch or Moody’s is publicly available, as the case may be, the equivalent of such rating selected by the Company by any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization.
“Rating Category” means: (a) with respect to S&P and Fitch, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and (b) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).
“Ratings Event” means a decrease in the rating of the Notes or the corporate rating of the Company by any two of the three Rating Agencies by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories) on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes or the Company is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) within 60 days following the earlier of (i) the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention of the Company to effect a Change of Control and (ii) the consummation of such Change of Control; provided, however, that a Ratings Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control) unless the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply announces or publicly confirms or informs the Trustee in writing at the request of the Company or the Trustee that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Ratings Event).
“Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary subject to a Receivables Facility and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, all records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in connection with a non-recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangement and which are sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred or pledged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (as applicable) in a transaction or series of transactions in connection with a Receivables Facility.
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“Receivables Facility” means an arrangement between the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and a counterparty pursuant to which (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, sells (directly or indirectly) accounts receivable owing by customers, together with Receivables Assets related thereto, (b) the obligations of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, thereunder are non-recourse (except for Securitization Repurchase Obligations) to the Company and such Restricted Subsidiary and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings, and shall include any guaranty in respect of such arrangements.
“Refinance” means refinance, refund, replace, renew, repay, modify, restate, defer, substitute, supplement, reissue, resell, extend or increase (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) and the terms “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” as used for any purpose in this Indenture shall have a correlative meaning.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) any Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture (including Indebtedness of the Company that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that:
(1)(a) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced; and (b) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and, in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness, is subordinated to the Notes and/or the Notes Guarantees (as applicable) on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(2)Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:
(a)Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Issuer or of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Issuer or a Guarantor; or
(b)Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and
(3)such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate
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accreted value) then outstanding (plus fees and expenses, including premiums, accrued and unpaid interest and defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced.
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Credit Facility or any other Indebtedness may be Incurred from time to time after the termination, discharge or repayment of any such Credit Facility or other Indebtedness.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act.
“Related Taxes” means any Taxes, including sales, use, transfer, rental, ad valorem, value added, stamp, property, consumption, franchise, license, capital, registration, business, customs, net worth, gross receipts, excise, occupancy, intangibles or similar Taxes and other fees and expenses (other than (x) Taxes measured by income and (y) withholding Taxes), required to be paid (provided that such Taxes are in fact paid) by any Parent Entity by virtue of its:
(1)being incorporated, organized or having Capital Stock outstanding (but not by virtue of owning stock or other equity interests of any corporation or other entity other than, directly or indirectly, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries) or otherwise maintain its existence or good standing under applicable law;
(2)being a holding company parent, directly or indirectly, of the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company;
(3)issuing or holding Subordinated Shareholder Funding;
(4)receiving dividends from or other distributions in respect of the Capital Stock of, directly or indirectly, the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company; or
(5)having made any (i) payment in respect to any of the items for which the Company is permitted to make payments to any Parent Entity pursuant to Section 4.04 or (ii) Permitted Tax Distribution.
“Relevant Authority” means any competent regulatory, prosecuting, Tax or governmental authority in any jurisdiction.
“Relevant Testing Period” means, for purposes of the calculation of any applicable financial covenant, test, basket or ratio (including those based on LTM EBITDA, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and/or Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio), the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter (or fiscal year, if later) for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.02 or, at the option of the Company, the most recently completed twelve consecutive months ending on the last day of a calendar month for which the Company has, in its sole determination, sufficient available information to be able to determine any applicable financial covenant, test, basket or ratio.
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any director, associate director or assistant secretary within the debt and agency services department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers or, with respect to a
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particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Resolution Authority” means means the Central Bank of Ireland or any other body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
“Restricted Investment” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Reversion Date” means, after the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status, the date, if any, that such Notes shall cease to have such Investment Grade Status.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Investors Ratings Services or any of its successors or assigns that is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, as amended.
“Securitization Asset” means (a) any accounts receivable, mortgage receivables, inventory, loan receivables, royalty, patent or other revenue streams and other rights to payment or related assets and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such receivable or asset, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such receivable or asset, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such account or asset and any other assets customarily transferred (or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted) together with accounts or assets in connection with a securitization, factoring or receivable sale transaction.
“Securitization Facility” means any of one or more securitization, financing, factoring or sales transactions, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries sells, transfers, pledges or otherwise conveys any Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) to a Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person.
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“Securitization Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any Securitization Asset or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) paid in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility.
“Securitization Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility (and related obligations of the Company) to repurchase or otherwise make payments with respect to Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller or the Company, as the case may be.
“Securitization Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company in each case formed for the purpose of and that solely engages in one or more Qualified Securitization Financings and other activities reasonably related thereto or another Person formed for this purpose.
“Security Agent” means Citibank, N.A., London Branch until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and thereafter means the successor thereof.
“Security Documents” means all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, and any other instrument and document executed and delivered pursuant to this Indenture or otherwise or any of the foregoing, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, creating the Security Interests in the Collateral.
“Security Interest” means any security interest in the Collateral that is created by the Security Documents.
“Senior Secured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the type referred to in the definition of “Consolidated Total Indebtedness” that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral (other than any lien that is contractually subordinated to the Liens securing the Notes or ranks behind the Notes) and not contractually subordinated to obligations under the Notes or the Notes Guarantees as of such date and that (x) is Incurred under Section 4.06(a) or clauses (1)(b), (4), (5), (7), (10), (11), (13) or (18) of the Section 4.06(b), (y) is a Guarantee of any Indebtedness set forth in clause (x) that has been Incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary where such Guarantee is not contractually subordinated to the obligations under the Notes or the Notes Guarantees, or (z) is Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in all cases without double-counting; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness under the ABL Facility shall constitute Senior Secured Indebtedness.
“Services Agreement” means Services Agreement as defined in the Offering Memorandum.
“Settlement” means the transfer of cash or other property with respect to any credit or debit card charge, check or other instrument, electronic funds transfer, or other type of paper-based or electronic payment, transfer, or charge transaction for which a Person acts as a processor, remitter, funds recipient or funds transmitter in the ordinary course of its business.
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“Settlement Asset” means any cash, receivable or other property, including a Settlement Receivable, due or conveyed to a Person in consideration for a Settlement made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.
“Settlement Indebtedness” means any payment or reimbursement obligation in respect of a Settlement Payment.
“Settlement Lien” means any Lien relating to any Settlement or Settlement Indebtedness (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the grant of a Lien in or other assignment of a Settlement Asset in consideration of a Settlement Payment, Liens securing intraday and overnight overdraft and automated clearing house exposure, and similar Liens).
“Settlement Payment” means the transfer, or contractual undertaking (including by automated clearing house transaction) to effect a transfer, of cash or other property to effect a Settlement.
“Settlement Receivable” means any general intangible, payment intangible, or instrument representing or reflecting an obligation to make payments to or for the benefit of a Person in consideration for a Settlement made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person.
“Shareholders Agreement” means the shareholders agreement dated as of August 4, 2021, between Ardagh Group S.A. and the Company.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (each of which is subject to the same event or determination for which the determination of a group of Restricted Subsidiaries is required) that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date, tested by reference to the most recent annual consolidated financial statements of the Company.
“Similar Business” means (a) any businesses, services or activities engaged in by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Associates on the Issue Date, (b) any business that, in the good faith business judgment of the Company, constitutes a reasonable diversification of business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries and (c) any businesses, services and activities engaged in by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Associates that are related, complementary, incidental, ancillary or similar to any of the foregoing or are extensions or developments of any thereof.
“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, guarantees and indemnities entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Securitization Facility, including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary, it being understood that any Securitization Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking or, in the case of a Receivables Facility, a non-credit related recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangement.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified in the instrument governing such Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of
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such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any Contingent Obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any Indebtedness (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Notes Guarantees pursuant to a written agreement.
“Subordinated Shareholder Funding” means, collectively, any funds provided to the Company by any Parent Entity, any Affiliate of any Parent Entity or any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate thereof, in exchange for or pursuant to any security, instrument or agreement other than Capital Stock, in each case issued to and held by any of the foregoing Persons, together with any such security, instrument or agreement and any other security or instrument other than Capital Stock issued in payment of any obligation under any Subordinated Shareholder Funding; provided, however, that such Subordinated Shareholder Funding:
(1)does not mature or require any amortization, redemption or other repayment of principal or any sinking fund payment prior to the date that is six months after the Stated Maturity of the Notes (other than through conversion or exchange of such funding into Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any funding meeting the requirements of this definition) or the making of any such payment prior to the date that is six months after the Stated Maturity of the Notes is restricted by the Intercreditor Agreement, an Additional Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement;
(2)does not require, prior to the date that is six months after the Stated Maturity of the Notes, payment of cash interest, cash withholding amounts or other cash gross-ups, or any similar cash amounts or the making of any such payment prior to the date that is six months after the Stated Maturity of the Notes is restricted by the Intercreditor Agreement or an Additional Intercreditor Agreement;
(3)contains no change of control, asset sale or similar provisions and does not accelerate and has no right to declare a default or event of default or take any enforcement action or otherwise require any cash payment, in each case, prior to the date that is six months after the Stated Maturity of the Notes or the payment of any amount as a result of any such action or provision or the exercise of any rights or enforcement action, in each case, prior to the date that is six months after the Stated Maturity of the Notes is restricted by the Intercreditor Agreement or an Additional Intercreditor Agreement;
(4)does not provide for or require any security interest or encumbrance over any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(5)pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, an Additional Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement, is fully subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Notes and any Notes Guarantee pursuant to subordination, payment blockage and enforcement limitation terms which are customary in all material respects for similar funding or are no less favorable in any material respect to Holders than those contained in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;
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(6)is not Guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Company;
(7)contains restrictions on transfer to a Person who is not a Parent Entity, any Affiliate of any Parent Entity, any holder of Capital Stock of a Parent Entity or any Affiliate of a Parent Entity or any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate thereof; provided that any transfer of Subordinated Shareholder Funding to any of the foregoing Persons shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Holders; and
(8)does not (including upon the happening of any event) restrict the payment of amounts due in respect of the Notes or any Notes Guarantee or compliance by the Issuers or any Guarantor with its obligations under the Notes, any Notes Guarantee or this Indenture.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:
(1)any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or
(2)any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which:
(a)more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise; and
(b)such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means any Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees the Notes (including the Lux HoldCo) until such Notes Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, duties and withholdings and any charges of a similar nature (including interest and penalties and other liabilities with respect thereto) that are imposed by any government or other taxing authority.
“Temporary Cash Investments” means any of the following:
(1)any Investment in:
(a)direct obligations of, or obligations Guaranteed by, (i) the United States of America or Canada, (ii) any European Union member state, (iii) the United
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Kingdom, (iv) Australia, Japan, Norway or Switzerland, (v) any country in whose currency funds are being held specifically pending application in the making of an investment or capital expenditure by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in that country with such funds or (vi) any agency or instrumentality of any such country or member state; or
(b)direct obligations of any country recognized by the United States of America rated at least “A” by S&P or “A-1” by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization);
(2)overnight bank deposits, and investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and money market deposits (or, with respect to foreign banks, similar instruments) maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition thereof issued by:
(a)any lender under the ABL Facility;
(b)any institution authorized to operate as a bank in any of the countries or member states referred to in subclause (1)(a) above; or (c) any bank or trust company organized under the laws of any such country or member state or any political subdivision thereof, in each case, having capital and surplus aggregating in excess of $250.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and whose long-term debt is rated at least “A” by S&P or “A-2” by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization) at the time such Investment is made;
(3)repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) or (2) above entered into with a Person meeting the qualifications described in clause (2) above;
(4)Investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a Person (other than the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), with a rating at the time as of which any Investment therein is made of “P-2” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-2” (or higher) according to S&P (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization);
(5)Investments in securities maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition issued or fully Guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or any European Union member state or by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth, territory, country or member state, and rated at least “BBB-” by S&P or “Baa3” by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such
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rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization);
(6)bills of exchange issued in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway or Japan eligible for rediscount at the relevant central bank and accepted by a bank (or any dematerialized equivalent);
(7)any money market deposit accounts issued or offered by a commercial bank organized under the laws of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, in each case, having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) or whose long term debt is rated at least “A” by S&P or “A2” by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization) at the time such Investment is made;
(8)Investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the type described in clauses (1) through (7) above (which funds may also hold reasonable amounts of cash pending investment or distribution); and
(9)investments in money market funds complying with the risk limiting conditions of Rule 2a-7 (or any successor rule) of the SEC under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
“Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses Incurred or paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the AMP Transfer Transactions, including any fees, costs and expenses associated with settling any claims or action arising from a dissenting stockholder exercising its appraisal rights.
“Transactions” means collectively, the offering of the Notes and the use of proceeds thereof.
“Transfer Agreement” means Transfer Agreement as defined in the Offering Memorandum.
“Treasury Rate” means, as selected by the Company, the greater of (x) the yield to maturity as of the date of the relevant redemption notice of the most recently issued United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or is obtainable from the Federal Reserve System’s Data Download Program as of the date of such H.15) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the date of such redemption notice, to December 1, 2027; provided, however, that if the period from such date to December 1, 2027 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used and (y) zero.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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“Trustee” means Citibank, N.A., London Branch until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided, however, that at any time, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of a collateral agent’s security interest in any item or portion of the Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, at such time, in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:
(1)any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company in the manner provided below); and
(2)any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company other than the Issuers (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction, or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:
(1)such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(2)such designation and the Investment, if any, of the Company in such Subsidiary complies with Section 4.04; and
(3)such Subsidiary does not own, or hold an exclusive license to use, Material Intellectual Property.
“U.S. Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), as it has been, or may be, amended, from time to time.
“U.S. Dollars” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are: (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer(s) thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such
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depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.
“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1)the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by
(2)the sum of all such payments.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary, all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by any applicable law or regulation to be held by a Person other than the Company or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary) is owned by the Company or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary.
“Write-down and Conversion Powers” means any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification or suspension power existing from time to time under, and exercised in compliance with, any laws, regulations, rules or requirements in effect in Ireland, relating to the transposition of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms as amended from time to time, including but not limited to the Bail-In Legislation and Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 as amended from time to time, and the instruments, rules and standards created thereunder, pursuant to which:
(a)any obligation of Citibank Europe plc (or other affiliate of such entity) can be reduced, cancelled, modified or converted into shares, other securities or other obligations of such entity or any other person (or suspended for a temporary period); and
(b)any right in a contract governing an obligation of Citibank Europe plc may be deemed to have been exercised.
Term |
Defined in Section |
|---|---|
4.15(a) |
|
9.06(a) |
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|
Term |
Defined in Section |
|---|---|
2.16 |
|
2.16 |
|
4.08(a) |
|
4.02(a)(l) |
|
4.07(c) |
|
2.02 |
|
2.02 |
|
13.06 |
|
2.06(a) |
|
6(a)(2) of the Note |
|
4.11(a) |
|
Preamble |
|
8.03 |
|
6.01(a)(4)(B) |
|
6.01(a) |
|
4.07(c) |
|
Preamble |
|
4.05(b)(15) |
|
6.03(d) |
|
4.09(a) |
|
1 of the Note |
|
1.01 |
|
Preamble |
|
Preamble |
|
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|
Term |
Defined in Section |
|---|---|
6.01(a)(6) |
|
8.02 |
|
13.14(a) |
|
6.01(a)(4)(A) |
|
4.15(a) |
|
4.04(b) |
|
1.01 |
|
1.01 |
|
4.02(a)(2) |
|
2.03 |
|
4.02(h) |
|
2.01(b) |
|
2.01(b) |
|
2.01(b) |
|
4.15(a)(2) |
|
13.14(a) |
|
4.06(c)(9) |
|
2.01(b) |
|
2.01(b) |
|
2.01(b) |
|
4.04(a) |
|
3.08(a) |
|
4.16(b) |
|
6(a) of the Note |
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|
Term |
Defined in Section |
|---|---|
2.03 |
|
Preamble |
In the event that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (w) Incurs Indebtedness to finance an acquisition (including an acquisition of assets) or other transaction or (x) assumes Indebtedness of Persons that are, or secured by assets that are, acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated or consolidated with, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or (y) commits to an acquisition or transaction pursuant to which it may Incur Acquired Indebtedness or (z) is subject to a Change of Control, the date of determination of LTM EBITDA, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall, at the option of the Company, be (a) the date that a definitive agreement, put option or similar arrangement for such acquisition, transaction, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or Change of Control is entered into and the LTM EBITDA, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, Change of Control and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including
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any Incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) consistent with the definitions of “LTM EBITDA”, “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio”, “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” and “pro forma”, as applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant acquisition or Change of Control, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such acquisition and any related transactions are permitted hereunder and (B) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such acquisition, transaction, merger, amalgamation or consolidation; provided that if the Company elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, put option or similar arrangement, (i) any such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement, put option or similar arrangement is entered into and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition and (ii) to the extent any covenant baskets were utilized in satisfying any covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized until the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition, but any calculation of LTM EBITDA or Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of other Incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such acquisition) shall not reflect such acquisition until it has been consummated unless such other Incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens is conditional or contingent on the occurrence of such acquisition or Change of Control or (b) the date such Indebtedness is borrowed or assumed or such Change of Control occurs;
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The Senior Secured Euro Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, with such applicable legends as are provided in Exhibit A-1 hereto, except as otherwise permitted herein (the “Regulation S Euro Global Note”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Senior Secured Euro Notes represented thereby with a Common Depositary, and registered in the name of the Common Depositary or its nominee, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee (or its agent in accordance with Section 2.02) as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Euro Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made by the Registrar on Schedule A to the Regulation S Euro Global Note and recorded in the security register, as hereinafter provided.
The Senior Secured Dollar Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, with such applicable legends as are provided in Exhibit A-2 hereto, except as otherwise permitted herein (the “Rule 144A Dollar Global Note” and, together with the Rule 144A Euro Global Notes, the “Rule 144A Global Notes”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Senior Secured Dollar Notes represented thereby with a custodian for DTC, and registered in the name Cede & Co., duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee (or its agent in accordance with Section 2.02) as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Dollar Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made by the Registrar on Schedule A to the Rule 144A Dollar Global Note and recorded in the security register, as hereinafter provided.
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The Senior Secured Dollar Notes offered and sold offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, with such applicable legends as are provided in Exhibit A-2 hereto, except as otherwise permitted herein (the “Regulation S Dollar Global Note” and, together with the Regulation S Euro Global Notes, the “Regulation S Global Notes”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Senior Secured Dollar Notes represented thereby with a custodian for DTC, and registered in the name Cede & Co., duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee (or its agent in accordance with Section 2.02) as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Dollar Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made by the Registrar on Schedule A to the Regulation S Dollar Global Note and recorded in the security register, as hereinafter provided.
Notes issued in definitive registered form will be, as applicable, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto (excluding the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” in the form of the Schedule attached thereto), except as provided for in Article 9.
At least one Officer of each of the Issuers must sign the Notes for such Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer of any Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the authorized signatory of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Note shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Issuers, the Issuers shall deliver such Note to the Trustee for cancellation as provided for in Section 2.11.
Pursuant hereto, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent will, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuers signed by at least one Officer of each Issuer and delivered to the Trustee or the
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Authenticating Agent (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate, or cause the relevant Authenticating Agent to authenticate, (i) the Notes in the form of Global Notes; or (ii) the Definitive Registered Notes from time to time issued in exchange for a like aggregate amount of Global Notes or Definitive Registered Notes that may be validly issued under this Indenture, including, in each case, any Additional Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuers pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07.
The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents (each, an “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes. An Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or Affiliates of the Issuers.
The Issuers will maintain one or more Paying Agents for the Notes. The Issuers hereby appoint Citibank, N.A., London Branch as the initial Paying Agent (the “Principal Paying Agent”).
The Issuers will also maintain one or more registrars (each, a “Registrar”) and one or more transfer agents (each, the “Transfer Agent”). The initial Registrar will be Citibank Europe plc and the initial Transfer Agent will be Citibank, N.A., London Branch. The Registrar and Transfer Agent will maintain a register reflecting ownership of Definitive Registered Notes outstanding from time to time, if any, and together with the Transfer Agent, will facilitate transfers of Definitive Registered Notes on behalf of the Issuers. Each such Agent hereby accepts such appointment; provided that the liability of each Agent hereunder shall be several.
The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent for the Notes without prior notice to the Holders of the Notes. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar in respect of the Notes. For so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and admitted for trading on the Exchange and the rules of the Authority so require, the Issuers will notify the Authority of any change of Principal Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent.
The Issuers will require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee) not a party to this Indenture to agree in writing that such Paying Agent will hold for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium or Additional Amounts, if any, or interest on, the Notes, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any Default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such Default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuers or one of their Subsidiaries) will have no further liability for the money. If the Issuers or one of their Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate
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and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to any Issuer or such Subsidiary (including, without limitation, its bankruptcy, voluntary or judicial liquidation, composition with creditors, reprieve from payment, controlled management, fraudulent conveyance, general settlement with creditors, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally), the Paying Agent will serve as an agent of the Trustee. The Issuers shall, before 10:00 a.m. London time on the day on which the appropriate Paying Agent is to receive payment, procure that the bank effecting payment for it confirms by fax or tested SWIFT MT100 message to the appropriate Paying Agent the payment instructions relating to such payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements to be made by such Paying Agent and Trustee (i) for which payment instructions are not made or that are not otherwise deposited by the respective times set forth in this Section 2.04; and (ii) until they have confirmed receipt of funds sufficient to make the relevant payment.
The Registrar(s) will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. Following the exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes for Definitive Registered Notes, the Issuers will furnish to the Trustee and each Paying Agent at least two Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee or the Paying Agent may reasonably request in writing, the names and addresses of Holders of such Definitive Registered Notes. In case of inconsistency between the register of Notes kept by the Registrar and the one kept by the Issuers at its registered office, the register kept by the Registrar shall prevail.
Owners of the Book-Entry Interests will receive Definitive Registered Notes only in the following circumstances:
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Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in Section 2.06(a)(1) or Section 2.06(a)(2), the Issuers shall, at their own cost, issue or cause to be issued Definitive Registered Notes in such names as DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, shall instruct the Registrar or Transfer Agent, and such Definitive Registered Notes will bear the Private Placement Legend to the extent required under Section 2.06(f)(1) hereof, unless that legend is not required thereby or by applicable law.
Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.07 and 2.10. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a). Book-Entry Interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c). Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note of the same series or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note.
In connection with all transfers and exchanges of Book-Entry Interests (other than transfers of Book-Entry Interests in connection with which the transferor takes delivery thereof in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in the same Global Note), the Transfer Agent (copied to the Trustee and the relevant Registrar) must receive: (i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to debit from the transferor a Book-Entry Interest in an amount equal to the Book-Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged; (ii) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, as applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to credit or cause to be credited a Book-Entry Interest in another Global Note of the same series in an amount equal to the Book-Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged; and (iii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited or debited with such increase or decrease, if applicable.
In connection with a transfer or exchange of a Book-Entry Interest for a Definitive Registered Note, the Transfer Agent (copied to the Trustee and the relevant Registrar) must receive: (i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to debit from the transferor a Book-Entry Interest in an amount equal to the Book-Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged; (ii) a written order from a Participant directing the Registrar to cause to be issued a Definitive Registered Note in an amount equal to the Book Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged; and (iii) instructions containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Registered Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to above.
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In connection with any transfer or exchange of Definitive Registered Notes, the Holder of such Notes shall present or surrender to the Transfer Agent or Registrar the Definitive Registered Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in a form satisfactory to such Transfer Agent or Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, in connection with a transfer or exchange of a Definitive Registered Note for a Book-Entry Interest, the Transfer Agent (copied to the Trustee and the relevant Registrar) must receive a written order directing DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to credit the account of the transferee in an amount equal to the Book-Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged.
Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of Book-Entry Interests in Global Notes of the same series contained in this Indenture, the Transfer Agent (copied to the Trustee and the relevant Registrar), as specified in this Section 2.06, shall endorse the relevant Global Note(s) of the same series with any increase or decrease and instruct DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to reflect such increase or decrease in its systems.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent are not required to register the transfer or exchange of any Definitive Registered Notes:
Transfers of Book-Entry Interests shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the U.S. Securities Act. Transfers and exchanges of Book-Entry Interests for Book-Entry Interests also shall require compliance with either clause (b)(1) or (b)(2) below, as applicable, as well as clause (b)(3) below, if applicable:
(1)Transfer of Book-Entry Interests in the Same Global Note. Book-Entry Interests in a Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Trustee to effect transfers of Book-Entry Interests in a Global Note for Book-Entry Interest in the same Global Note.
(2)All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Book-Entry Interests in Global Notes. A Holder may transfer or exchange a Book-Entry Interest in Global Notes of the same series in a transaction not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above only if the Transfer Agent (copied to the Trustee and the relevant Registrar) receives either:
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(A)both:
(i)a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to credit or cause to be credited a Book-Entry Interest in another Global Note of the same series in an amount equal to the Book-Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii)instructions given by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant’s account to be credited with such increase; or
(B)both:
(i)a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to cause to be issued a Definitive Registered Note in an amount equal to the Book-Entry Interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii)instructions given by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to the relevant Registrar containing information specifying the identity of the Person in whose name such Definitive Registered Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange, the principal amount of such securities and the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code, as applicable, or other similar number identifying the Notes,
provided that any such transfer or exchange of Book-Entry Interests in a Global Note of the same series to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note shall be made in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend.
(3)Transfer of Book-Entry Interests to Another Global Note. A Book-Entry Interest in any Global Note of the same series may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in another Global Note of the same series if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the relevant Registrar, Transfer Agent or Trustee receives the following:
(A)if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B)if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in a Regulation S Global Note then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
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For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the transfer and exchange of Book-Entry Interests shall be applicable only to Notes of the same series.
in the case of a transfer by a holder of a Book-Entry Interest in a Regulation S Global Note of the same series, the transfer complies with Section 2.06(b) above;
in the case of a transfer by a holder of a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note of the same series to a QIB in reliance on Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
in the case of a transfer by a holder of a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note of the same series in reliance on Regulation S, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
in the case of a transfer by a holder of a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note of the same series in reliance on Rule 144, the Trustee shall have received a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3) thereof; or
in the case of an exchange by a holder of a Book-Entry Interest for its own account without transfer, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
the Principal Paying Agent and/or the Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note of the same series to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) below, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Registered Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Registered Note issued in exchange for a Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note of the same series pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such Book-Entry Interest shall instruct the relevant Registrar through instructions from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The relevant Registrar or Paying Agent shall deliver such Definitive Registered Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Registered Note issued in exchange for a Book-Entry Interest in a Rule 144A Global Note of the same series pursuant to Section 2.06(c)(B) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the exchange of a Book-Entry Interest in a Global to such Book Entry Interest for a Definitive Registered Note or a transfer such Book-Entry Interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Registered Note shall be applicable only to Notes of the same series.
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if the Holder of such Definitive Registered Note proposes to exchange such Note for a Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note of the same series for its own account without transfer, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
if such Definitive Registered Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
if such Definitive Registered Note is being transferred in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof, as applicable; and
the Transfer Agent or the relevant Registrar will cancel the Definitive Registered Note, and the Transfer Agent or the relevant Registrar will increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the Global Note of the same series, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable Rule 144A Global Note of the same series, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note of the same series. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that a Holder of a Definitive Registered Note proposing to exchange such Note for a Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note or to transfer such Definitive Registered Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note shall be applicable only to Notes of the same series.
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Any Definitive Registered Note of the same series may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Registered Note if the relevant Registrar receives the following:
if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and
if the transfer will be made in reliance on Regulation S, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that a transfer and exchange of Definitive Registered Notes for Definitive Registered Notes shall be applicable only to Notes of the same series.
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE
U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.
[THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS A NONU.S. PERSON ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) WHICH IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH AN ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF AN ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR
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OF THIS SECURITY)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE DATE WHEN THE SECURITIES WERE FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S AND THE DATE OF THE COMPLETION OF THE DISTRIBUTION] ONLY (A) TO AN ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NONU.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATION S AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO EACH ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, REPRESENTS THAT IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.]
BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN), THE PURCHASER OR HOLDER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT (A) IT IS NOT AND FOR SO LONG AS IT HOLDS THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL NOT BE (I) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE
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U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (II) A “PLAN” AS DEFINED IN AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), (III) AN ENTITY OR ACCOUNT WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE DEEMED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY SUCH EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO ERISA OR OTHER PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR (IV) A NON-U.S., GOVERNMENTAL, CHURCH OR OTHER BENEFIT PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO ANY NON-U.S. OR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAW THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAW”) (EACH OF (I), (II), (III) AND (IV), A “PLAN”), (B) NO ASSETS OF A PLAN HAVE BEEN USED BY IT TO ACQUIRE THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) OR (C) ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH AN EXEMPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE OR VIOLATION OF ANY SIMILAR LAW, AND NONE OF THE ISSUERS, THE INITIAL PURCHASERS NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES IS ITS FIDUCIARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE.
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY [THE COMMON DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE]1 [THE CUSTODIAN FOR THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY]2 IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, AND (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE.
1 |
With respect to Senior Secured Euro Notes. |
2 |
With respect Senior Secured Dollar Notes. |
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To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers will execute and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Registered Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.
No service charge will be made by the Issuers or the Registrar to a Holder of a Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note, a Holder of a Global Note or a Holder of a Definitive Registered Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve, documentary or other similar tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 4.07 and 4.11 hereof).
No Transfer Agent or Registrar will be required to register the transfer or exchange of any definitive registered Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
All Global Notes and Definitive Registered Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Registered Notes will be the valid obligations of the Issuers, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Registered Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
The Trustee, any Agent and the Issuers may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuers shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Issuers, the Trustee or the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted initially by facsimile with originals to be delivered as soon as practicable thereafter to the Trustee.
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If Definitive Registered Notes are issued and a holder thereof claims that such a Definitive Registered Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, or if such Definitive Registered Note is mutilated and is surrendered to a Registrar or at the office of a Paying Agent, the Issuers will issue and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent will authenticate a replacement Definitive Registered Note if the Trustee’s and the Issuers’ requirements are met. The Issuers or the Trustee may require a holder requesting replacement of a Definitive Registered Note to furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of both to protect themselves, the Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Definitive Registered Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge for any expenses incurred by it in replacing a Definitive Registered Note.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Definitive Registered Note has become or is about to become due and payable, or is about to be redeemed or purchased by the Issuers pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers, in their discretion, may, instead of issuing a new Definitive Registered Note, pay, redeem or purchase such Definitive Registered Note, as the case may be.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee, or the Authenticating Agent, except for those canceled by it or the relevant Registrar or Paying Agent, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Paying Agent or the relevant Registrar in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuers or an Affiliate of an Issuer holds the Note; provided, however that the Notes held by the Issuers or a Subsidiary of an Issuer shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 2.09 hereof and paragraph 5(c) of the Notes.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the relevant Registrar receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount and premium, if any, of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If a Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of an Issuer) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, and is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.
In determining whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of the Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, any Notes owned by an Issuer or by any Person
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directly or indirectly controlled, or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, an Issuer will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate, or cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate, temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of Definitive Registered Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers will prepare and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent will authenticate Definitive Registered Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
The Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. Each Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the relevant Registrar or Paying Agent (other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary of an Issuer) and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy such canceled Notes. Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Issuers, on request. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Issuers will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) will deliver or cause to be delivered to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Issuers pay the defaulted interest prior to the date that is 30 days after the date of default in payment of interest, no special record date will be set and payment will be made to the Holders as of the original record date.
The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use an “ISIN”, “CUSIP” or “Common Code” number and, if so, such ISIN, CUSIP or Common Code number shall be included in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that
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no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the ISIN, CUSIP or Common Code number printed in the notice or on the Notes, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
The Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the ISIN, CUSIP or Common Code number.
No later than 10:00 a.m. (London time) on the due date of the principal of, interest and premium (if any) on any Note and the Stated Maturity date of the Notes, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to make cash payments, if any, due on such day or date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Trustee or relevant Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders on such day or date, as the case may be. Subject to actual receipt of such funds as provided by this Section 2.14 by the designated Paying Agent, such Paying Agent shall make payments on the Notes in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee and each Paying Agent of their failure to so act.
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This Indenture is unlimited in aggregate principal amount. The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Sections 2.02, 4.06 and 4.09, to issue an unlimited principal amount of additional Senior Secured Euro Notes (the “Additional Senior Secured Euro Notes”) and additional Senior Secured Dollar Notes (the “Additional Senior Secured Dollar Notes”); provided that if any of the Additional Senior Secured Euro Notes or the Additional Senior Secured Dollar Notes are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the respective Senior Secured Euro Notes or the Senior Secured Dollar Notes, as applicable, such Additional Senior Secured Euro Notes or Additional Senior Secured Dollar Notes will be issued with a separate ISIN code, CUSIP and/or Common Code, as applicable from the respective Notes originally issued. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, with respect to waivers, amendments, redemptions, and offers to purchase and all other matters, except as otherwise provided for in this Indenture. Unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture, references to the Notes include any Additional Notes actually issued. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall be deemed to form one class of securities and references to the “Notes” shall be deemed to refer to the Notes initially issued on the Issue Date as well as any Additional Notes that are actually issued.
If the Issuers elect to redeem the Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of paragraph 5 or 6 of the Notes, the Issuers must furnish to the Trustee and the Principal Paying Agent, at least five days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (in each case, subject to Section 3.04):
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Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including, but not limited to, an Equity Offering, an Incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control, a Change of Control Triggering Event or other transaction) and any redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a related transaction.
If such redemption or purchase is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time (but not more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
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Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, provided that any Note shall be in a principal amount of (a) €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof (with respect to the Senior Secured Euro Notes) or (b) $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (with respect to the Senior Secured Dollar Notes).
The Issuers are not required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuers may be required to offer to purchase Notes pursuant to Sections 4.07 and 4.11.
The Issuers shall promptly pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if by 10:00 a.m. (London time) with respect to the Senior Secured Euro Notes, or 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) with respect to the Senior Secured Dollar Notes, on such date the Principal Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, then due and the Principal Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or applicable law.
The Issuers will pay interest (including Post-Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful. The Issuers will pay interest (including Post-Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue instalments of interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.
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(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (5) are referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:
(I)a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would immediately thereafter result therefrom);
(II)the Company is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.06(a) immediately after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or
(III)the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments made subsequent to April 1, 2021 (and not returned or rescinded) (including Permitted Payments made pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(23) but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):
(a)50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from April 1, 2021, to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which internal consolidated financial statements of the Company are available (if positive); plus
(b)100% of the aggregate amount of cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Subordinated Shareholder Funding or Capital Stock or as the result of a merger or consolidation with another Person subsequent to April 1, 2021 or otherwise contributed to the equity (in each case other than through the issuance of Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company subsequent to April 1, 2021 (other than (u) any amounts used to Incur Indebtedness under Section 4.06(b)(10), (v) Subordinated Shareholder Funding or Capital Stock sold to a Subsidiary of the Company, (w) Net Cash Proceeds or property or assets or marketable securities received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) cash or property or assets or marketable securities to the extent that any Restricted Payment has been made from such proceeds in reliance on Section 4.04(b)(6), and (y) Excluded Contributions); plus
(c)100% of the aggregate amount of cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale (other than (y) Subordinated Shareholder Funding or (z) Capital Stock sold to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan
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or trust established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary subsequent to April 1, 2021 of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) plus, without duplication, the amount of any cash, and the fair market value of property or assets or marketable securities, received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange; plus;
(d)100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Company, of marketable securities or other property received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary by means of: (i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after April 1, 2021; or (ii) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend from a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date (in each case, other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made under Section 4.04(b)(17) and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 4.04(b)(17), as the case may be); plus
(e)in the case of the re-designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after April 1, 2021, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), as determined in good faith by the Company at the time of the re-designation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or transfer of assets (after taking into consideration any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or merged, amalgamated or consolidated or Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred), other than to the extent of the amount of the Investment that constituted a Permitted Investment or was made under Section 4.04(b)(17) and will increase the amount available under the applicable clause of the definition of “Permitted Investment” or Section 4.04(b)(17), as the case may be; plus
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(f)the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any amounts (such amounts, “Excluded Amounts”) that would otherwise be included in the calculation of the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to sub-clauses (b) and (c) of Section 4.04(a)(III) will be excluded to the extent the purpose of the receipt of such cash, property or assets or marketable securities was used to reduce the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Company and as a result thereof a Change of Control Triggering Event that would otherwise have occurred without the receipt of such cash, property or assets or marketable securities did not occur.
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provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any future, present or former members of management, directors, employees, contractors or consultants of the Company or Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent Entity will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.04 or any other provision of this Indenture;
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provided that (x) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock and (y) the subordination of (including the application of any standstill requirements to) loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.
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provided that (i) any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (1) may be refinanced at any time if such refinancing does not exceed the greater of (I) the aggregate principal
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amount of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to this clause (1) on the date of determination for such refinancing and (II) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness being refinanced at such time (together with an amount necessary to pay accrued and unpaid interest and any fees and expenses, including any premium and defeasance costs, indemnity fees, discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses Incurred in connection with such refinancing) and (ii) the amount of Indebtedness Incurred and Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(1)(b) and Section 4.06(b)(1)(c) shall be limited to the amount that would not cause the Non Guarantor Debt Cap to be exceeded;
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provided further that, pending the final application of the amount of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clause (a) or (b) above, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise use such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.
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(i)existing on the Issue Date, guaranteeing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(1)(a), Section 4.06(b)(14) or Section 4.06(b)(19) or guaranteeing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount that is less than the greater of (x) $150.0 million and (y) 20.0% of LTM EBITDA;
(ii)that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary if the guarantee was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; or
(iii)given to a bank or trust company having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than €500,000,000, whose debt has a rating, at the time such
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guarantee was given, of at least BBB+ or the equivalent thereof by S&P and at least Baal or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, in connection with the operation of cash management programs established for the Company’s benefit or that of any Restricted Subsidiary.
Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and the Intercreditor Agreement, within 90 days of the Issue Date, the Company shall ensure that each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall become a Guarantor and, in connection therewith, cause such Subsidiary to deliver such agreements, instruments, certificates and opinions of counsel as may be required to evidence its respective guarantee of the Notes.
Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and the Intercreditor Agreement, on the Issue Date, the obligations of the Issuers and Company shall be secured by the first priority Lien over the equity interests of Lux Holdco created by the Lux Holdco Share Pledges in favor of the Security Agent (on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders, among others).
Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and the Intercreditor Agreement, on or prior to 90 days from the Issue Date, the Company shall ensure that it and each of its applicable Subsidiary Guarantors enters into one or more security documents under which Liens on the assets identified on Schedule I-B are granted in favor of the Security Agent (on behalf of itself, the Trustee and the Holders), as applicable.
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will at any time be required by law to be made from any payments made by or on behalf of the Payor with respect to any Note or any Notes Guarantee, including payments of principal, redemption price, interest or premium, if any, the Payor will pay (together with such payments) such additional amounts (the “Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received by each Holder in respect of such payments, after such withholding or deduction (including any such withholding or deduction in respect of such Additional Amounts), will not be less than the amounts which would have been received by each Holder in respect of such payments on any such Note or Notes Guarantee in the absence of such withholding or deduction; provided, however, that no such Additional Amounts will be payable for or on account of:
(1)any Taxes, to the extent such Taxes would not have been so imposed but for the existence of any present or former connection between the relevant Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder of, or possessor of power over the relevant Holder, if the relevant Holder is an estate, nominee, trust, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (other than the mere receipt, ownership, holding or disposition of such Note or the receipt of any payment or the exercise or enforcement of rights under such Note, this Indenture or a Notes Guarantee);
(2)any Taxes, to the extent such Taxes are imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Note to comply with a reasonable written request of the Payor addressed to the Holder or beneficial owner, after reasonable notice, to provide certification, information, documents or other evidence concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or to make any declaration or similar claim or satisfy any other reporting requirement relating to such matters, whether required by a law, statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such Tax, but in each case, only to the extent the Holder or beneficial owner is legally eligible to do so;
(3)any Taxes, to the extent such Taxes are imposed as a result of the presentation of the Note for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the later of the applicable payment date or the date the relevant payment is first made available for payment to the holder (except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the Note been presented on the last day of such 30-day period);
(4)any Taxes that are payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from a payment made under or with respect to the Notes or to any Notes Guarantee;
(5)any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or similar Tax;
(6)any withholding tax required in respect of the Luxembourg law of 23 December 2005, as amended;
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(7)any Taxes imposed, deducted or withheld pursuant to sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), as of the Issue Date (and any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations promulgated thereunder, or other official administrative interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to current section 1471(b) of the Code, as of the Issue Date (and any amended or successor version described above), and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any intergovernmental agreement (and any law, regulation or practice implementing any such intergovernmental agreement) in respect of the foregoing; or
(8)any combination of the items (1) through (7) above.
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such reference shall be deemed to include payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.
then, beginning on that day and continuing until the Reversion Date, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following Sections of this Indenture (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”): 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.13 and the provisions of Section 5.01(a)(3), and, in each case, any related default provision of this Indenture will cease to be effective and will not be applicable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
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and, in each case, the aggregate principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default of principal at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace
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periods) or the maturity of which has been accelerated, is in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA;
and any such decree, order or appointment continues to be in effect and unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
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which, in each case, is sanctioned by a court and becomes unconditional;
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Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice, the Trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification and/or security satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of Holders of not less than 90% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes affected.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or Section 6.01(a)(2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, remaining unpaid on, the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.07.
If the Issuers fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding in its own name for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Issuers or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuers or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to an Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the compensation,
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expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, to the extent applicable, if the Trustee or the Security Agent collects any money pursuant to this Article 6 or from the enforcement of any Security Document, it shall pay out (or in the case of the Security Agent, it shall pay to the Trustee to pay out) the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, the Security Agent, the Agents and their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, disbursements, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee, the Security Agent and the Agents (as the case may be) and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, respectively; and
Third: to the Issuers, to a relevant Guarantor or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as the Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
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If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Issuers, any Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
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The Trustee, the Security Agent and the Agents in their respective individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of an Issuer with the same rights they would have if they were not Trustee and Security Agent. However, in the event that the Trustee has actual knowledge that is has acquired any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 hereof.
The Trustee and Security Agent will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, they shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, they will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and they will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement other than its certificate of authentication.
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If a Default occurs and is continuing and a Responsible Officer of the Trustee is informed in writing of such occurrence by the Issuers, the Trustee must give notice of the Default to the Holders within 60 days after being notified by the Issuers. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the Holders.
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If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.
In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by consolidation, merger or conversion to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.
There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is an entity established or registered under the laws of England and Wales, the United States of America or of any state thereof, or a European Union member state or a political subdivision thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, and which is
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generally recognized as an entity which customarily performs such corporate trustee roles and provides such corporate trustee services in transactions similar in nature to the Offering of the Notes as described in the Offering Memorandum.
Any Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Indenture at any time by giving thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of such resignation to the Trustee and Issuers. The Trustee or Issuers may remove any Agent at any time by giving thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to any Agent. Upon such notice, a successor Agent shall be appointed by the Issuers, who shall provide written notice of such to the Trustee. Such successor Agent shall become the Agent hereunder upon the resignation or removal date specified in such notice. If the Issuers are unable to replace the resigning Agent within thirty (30) days after such notice, the Agent shall deliver any funds then held hereunder in its possession to the Trustee or may appoint a successor Agent (provided that such Agent shall be satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee) and may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Agent or for other appropriate relief. The costs and expenses (including its counsels’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Agent in connection with such proceeding shall be paid by the Issuers. Upon receipt of the identity of the successor Agent, the Agent shall deliver any funds then held hereunder to the successor Agent, less the Agent’s fees, costs and expenses or other obligations owed to the Agent. Upon its resignation and delivery of any funds, the Agent shall be discharged of and from any and all further obligations arising in connection with this Indenture, but shall continue to enjoy the benefit of Section 7.07.
The Issuers may at any time, at the option of their respective Boards of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.05 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Notes Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Notes Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.06 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Notes Guarantees and the Notes Documents (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
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the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 8.03 hereof.
If the Issuers exercise their legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and the Security Documents and the rights of the Trustee and the Holders under the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, in effect at such time will terminate (other than with respect to the trust referred to in Section 8.05).
Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.05 hereof, (a) be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.02, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 5.01 and 5.02 (other than with respect to clauses (1), (2) and (5) of Section 5.01(a)) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and (b) be released from the operation of Section 6.01(a)(3) (other than with respect to clauses (1), (2) and (5) of Section 5.01(a)), 6.01(a)(4), 6.01(a)(5) (other than with respect to the Issuers and Significant Subsidiaries or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of an Issuer), 6.01(a)(6), 6.01(a)(7) and 6.01(a)(8), in each case, with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.05 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of the Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Notes Guarantees, the Issuers and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of
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Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Notes Guarantees will be unaffected thereby.
Notwithstanding Sections 8.02 and 8.03, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10, 7.07, 7.08 and under this Article 8 shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 and 8.08 shall survive.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, the Issuers must irrevocably deposit in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof (in the case of Senior Secured Dollar Notes), or cash in Euro, European Government Obligations or a combination thereof (in the case of the Senior Secured Euro Notes), for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be, and must deliver to the Trustee:
(1)an Opinion of Counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, to the effect that beneficial owners of Notes, will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred (and in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a ruling of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law since the issuance of the Notes);
(2)an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying, defrauding or preferring any creditors of the Company; and
(3)an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.
Subject to Section 8.07 hereof, cash in Euro or European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof and including the proceeds thereof, deposited with the Trustee (or such entity designated by the Trustee for this purpose, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.06, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
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The Issuers will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash in Euro or European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof deposited pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any cash in Euro or European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof held by it as provided in Section 8.05 hereof which are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent legal defeasance or covenant defeasance.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Amounts, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their request or (if then held by an Issuer) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Principal Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash in Euro or European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Notes Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Principal Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuers makes any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Issuers, the Trustee and the other parties thereto, as applicable, may amend or supplement any Notes Documents to:
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In formulating its decisions on such matters, the Trustee (and the Security Agent, as applicable) shall be entitled to require and rely absolutely on such evidence as it deems appropriate, including Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel.
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Notes Documents may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified with the consent of Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any default or compliance with any provisions thereof may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), provided, in each case, that if any amendment, waiver or other modification will only affect one series of the Notes, only the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series (and not the consent of at least a majority in outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Notes), shall be required. However, without the consent of Holders holding not less than 90% (or, in the case of clause (9) below, 75%) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes, an amendment or waiver may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder (for the avoidance of doubt, if a modification, waiver or amendment will only affect one series of the Notes, only the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series will be required):
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For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion of, or actions taken in compliance with, Article 4 of this Indenture shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Notes.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, if (a) any amendment, waiver or other modification affects the rights of the Senior Secured Euro Notes and the rights of the Senior Secured Dollar Notes, the consent of a majority of 90% or 75%, as the case may be, in aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall be required to consent thereto and (b) any amendment, waiver or other modification affects only the rights of the Senior Secured Euro Notes or only the rights of the Senior Secured Dollar Notes, the consent of a majority or 90% or 75%, as the case may be, in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Euro Notes or Senior Secured Dollar Notes, as applicable, shall be required to consent thereto (and in such case, the consent of a majority of 90% or 75%, as the case may be, in aggregate principal amount of the unaffected series of Notes shall not be required to consent thereto).
The consent of the Holders is not necessary under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment of any Notes Document. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. A consent to any amendment or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, as the case may be, shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
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The Trustee, the Issuers and, if applicable, the Security Agent shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or, if applicable, the Security Agent or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or, if applicable, the Security Agent under the Notes Documents, as applicable. If it does, the Trustee and, if applicable, the Security Agent may, but need not, sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee and the Security Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive an indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment complies with this Indenture and the other Notes Documents, as applicable, that such amendment is the legally valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and the Guarantors (if any) enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions.
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Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Security Agent to, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:
Subject to the provisions hereof, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee will have power to institute and maintain, or direct the Security Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral (including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders or of the Trustee).
The Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement.
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Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Notes Guarantee shall be limited under the relevant laws applicable to such Guarantor and the granting of such Notes Guarantees (including laws relating to corporate benefit, capital preservation, financial assistance, fraudulent conveyances and transfers, voidable preferences or transactions under value), provided that, with respect to each jurisdiction described below, such obligations shall be limited in the manner described below or in any supplemental indenture. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Issuers, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited (i) to the maximum amount that would, after giving notice to the Trustee of such maximum amount and giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, not render the Guarantor’s obligations subject to avoidance under applicable fraudulent conveyance provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of foreign or state law or corporate benefit, financial assistance and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally, (ii) as provided under the Agreed Security Principles and, (iii) with respect to each jurisdiction described below, in the manner described below or in any supplemental indenture.
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For the avoidance of doubt, the Notes Guarantee of the Company will automatically terminate and be released only upon the circumstances described in clauses (3), (5), (6), (7), Error! Reference source not found., Error! Reference source not found., and Error! Reference source not found. of this Section 11.05(a).
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This Indenture, and the rights of the Trustee and the Holders under the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents will be discharged and cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of transfer or exchange of the Notes and rights of the Trustee, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all Notes of a series issued thereunder when (1) either (a) all the Notes of that series previously authenticated and delivered (other than certain lost, stolen or destroyed Notes and certain Notes for which provision for payment was previously made and thereafter the funds have been released to the Issuers) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all Notes of that series not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers; (2) the Issuers have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, money in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof (in the case of Senior Secured Dollar Notes) or money in Euro, European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof (in the case of Senior Secured Euro Notes), as applicable, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes of that series not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; (3) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; (4) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes of that series at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be; and (5) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under this Section 12.01 relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with; provided that any such counsel may rely on any Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing clauses (1), (2) and (3)). If requested in writing by the Issuers, the Trustee (or such other party as directed by the Trustee) will distribute any amounts deposited to the Holders prior to Stated Maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Holders shall have received at least three Business Days’ notice from the Issuers of such earlier repayment date (which may be included in the notice of redemption). For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution and payment to Holders prior to the maturity or redemption date as set forth above will not include any negative interest, present value adjustment, break costs or any other premium on such amounts.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.07, all money deposited with the Trustee (or such entity designated (or appointed as Agent of the Trustee) by the Trustee for this purpose) pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as their own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Amounts,
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if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or any Paying Agent (or such entity designated (or appointed as agent of the Trustee) by the Trustee for this purpose) is unable to apply any Euro or European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof or in accordance with Section 12.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on, the Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the Euro or European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent.
If to the Issuers, the Company and/or any Guarantor:
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
Attention: Stefan Schellinger (stefan.schellinger@ardaghgroup.com) and Torsten Schoen (torsten.schoen@ardaghgroup.com)
56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
with a copy to:
Allen Overy Shearman LLP
Attention: Trevor Ingram (trevor.ingram@aoshearman.com)
One Bishops Square
London E1 6AD
United Kingdom
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If to the Trustee or Security Agent:
[Citibank, N.A., London Branch
Attention: The Directors, Agency & Trust (emea.at.debt@citi.com)
Citigroup Centre
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LB
United Kingdom
If to the Principal Paying Agent:
Citibank, N.A., London Branch
Attention: PPA Desk (ppapayments@citi.com; issueroperationscsu@citi.com)
Citigroup Centre
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LB
United Kingdom
If to the Transfer Agent:
Citibank, N.A., London Branch
Attention: Transfer Agent (dtc.transfers@citi.com)
Citigroup Centre
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LB
United Kingdom
If to the Registrar:
Citibank Europe plc
Attention: Agency and Trust as Registrar (register@citi.com)
1 North Wall Quay
Dublin 1
Ireland
The Issuers, the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee, the Security Agent or any Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by email; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
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All notices and communications shall be in the English language or accompanied by a translation into English certified as being a true and accurate translation. In the event of any discrepancies between the English and other than English versions of such notices or communications, the English version of such notice or communication shall prevail.
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- 169 - |
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Upon any request or application by the Issuers to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee:
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or any Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any suit, action or proceeding arising out of, related to, or in connection with this Indenture, the Notes and the Notes Guarantees or the transactions contemplated hereby, and any action arising under U.S. federal or state securities laws, may be instituted in any U.S. federal or state court located in the State and City of New York,
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- 170 - |
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Borough of Manhattan in the United States of America; irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding; and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Issuers have appointed and each of the Guarantors (if any) will appoint Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC as its authorized agent upon whom process may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding which may be instituted in any U.S. federal or state court located in the State and City of New York, Borough of Manhattan arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and any action brought under U.S. federal or state securities laws (the “Authorized Agent”). Each Issuer and each of the Guarantors (if any) expressly consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such action and waives any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto and waives any right to trial by jury. Such appointment shall be irrevocable unless and until replaced by an agent reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The Issuers represents and warrants and each of the Guarantors will represent and warrant that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as said agent for service of process, and each Issuer agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Issuers shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Issuers and any Guarantor.
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of either Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE NOTES GUARANTEES AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES THEREUNDER, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLES 470-1 TO 470-19 (BOTH INCLUSIVE) OF THE LUXEMBOURG LAW DATED 10 AUGUST 1915 ON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES, AS AMENDED, IS EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND SHALL HENCE NOT APPLY TO THIS INDENTURE.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of an Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
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- 171 - |
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All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.07 hereof.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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- 172 - |
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Claims against either Issuer or any Guarantor for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Notes will be prescribed ten years after the applicable due date for payment thereof. Claims against either Issuer or any Guarantor for the payment of interest on the Notes will be prescribed six years after the applicable due date for payment of interest.
Upon written request by any Holder or a holder of a Book-Entry Interest to the Issuers at the address set forth in Section 13.01, the Issuers will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, to such Holder or holder (at the expense of the Issuers) a copy of this Indenture or any other Notes Document.
If the due date for any payment in respect of any Notes is not a Business Day, the Holder thereof will not be entitled to payment of the amount due until the next succeeding Business Day, and will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of any such delay. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to Federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003 (Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT ACT) which require all financial institutions to obtain, verify, record and update information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide to any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar in the United States such information as it may request, from time to time, in order for such Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar in the United States to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, including but not limited to the name, address, tax identification number and other information that will allow it to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship or opening the account and may also ask for formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents to be provided.
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- 173 - |
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The Issuers acknowledges and accepts that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the parties:
[Signatures on following page]
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- 174 - |
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ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE USA LLC,
as the US Issuer
By: |
/s/ Torsten Schoen |
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Name: Torsten Schoen |
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Title: Authorised Signatory |
[Bethpage - Signature page to Indenture]
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a deed for and on behalf of ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY by its lawfully appointed attorney In the presence of: |
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/s/ Michael Leonard |
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Signature |
/s/ William Doran |
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Witness (Signature) |
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William Doran |
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Print Name |
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Ardagh House, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 |
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Print Address |
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Chartered Accountant |
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Witness Occupation |
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[Bethpage - Signature page to Indenture]
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.,
as the Company
By: |
/s/ Stefan Schellinger |
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Name: Stefan Schellinger |
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Title: CFO Ardagh Metal Packaging |
[Bethpage - Signature page to Indenture]
CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH,
as Trustee and Security Agent
By: |
/s/ Rose Robinson |
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Name: Rose Robinson |
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Title: Vice President |
[Bethpage - Signature page to Indenture]
CITIBANK EUROPE PLC,
as Registrar
By: |
/s/ Rose Robinson |
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Name: Rose Robinson |
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Title: Attorney |
[Bethpage - Signature page to Indenture]
CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH,
as Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent
By: |
/s/ Rose Robinson |
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Name: Rose Robinson |
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Title: Vice President |
[Bethpage - Signature page to Indenture]
Subsidiary Guarantors
|
Name |
Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
1. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Holdings Germany GmbH |
Germany |
2. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Germany GmbH |
Germany |
3. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Germany GmbH |
Germany |
4. |
Ardagh Packaging Holdings Limited |
Ireland |
5. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Treasury Limited |
Ireland |
6. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Holdings S.à r.l. |
Luxembourg |
7. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Group S.à r.l. |
Luxembourg |
8. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Holdings Netherlands B.V. |
The Netherlands |
9. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Netherlands B.V. |
The Netherlands |
10. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Netherlands B.V. |
The Netherlands |
11. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe GmbH |
Switzerland |
12. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Holdings UK Limited |
England & Wales |
13. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading UK Limited |
England & Wales |
14. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging UK Limited |
England & Wales |
15. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Holdings Limited |
England & Wales |
16. |
Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. |
Delaware |
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Schedule I-A - 1 |
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Collateral
On the Issue Date, the Notes will be secured on a first priority basis by the Lux Holdco Share Pledge.
Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, within 90 days of the Issue Date, the Notes will be secured, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and certain perfection requirements, by security interests and pledges granted on:
(i) |
an equal and ratable first ranking/first priority basis over the following property, rights and assets: |
(a) |
all assets (other than real property and the ABL Collateral and certain other relevant exclusions) of Subsidiary Guarantors incorporated in each of England & Wales and the United States; and |
(b) |
certain shares of Subsidiary Guarantors incorporated in each of England & Wales, Germany, Ireland, the United States and The Netherlands |
(collectively, the “Fixed Assets Collateral”); and
(ii) |
a junior basis over all of the assets that secure, among other things, the obligations under the ABL Facility on a first ranking/first priority basis (collectively, the “ABL Collateral” and, together with the Fixed Assets Collateral, the “Collateral”), including where applicable and but subject to limited exceptions: |
(a) |
accounts (including accounts receivable and deposit accounts), and inventory; |
(b) |
certain related assets; |
(c) |
all proceeds of any of the foregoing, located in England & Wales, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and/or the United States and owned by the relevant Subsidiary Guarantors, |
(f) |
certain intercompany receivables of a Subsidiary Guarantor located in Switzerland; and |
(g) |
deposit accounts of a Subsidiary Guarantor located in Ireland. |
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Schedule I-B - 1 |
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AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES
The guarantees and security to be provided under and in connection with this Indenture will be given in accordance with the security and guarantee principles set out in this Schedule II.
Notwithstanding anything in these Agreed Security Principles to the contrary:
(a)the security documents to be entered into by a member of the Group incorporated in a relevant jurisdiction and to be governed by the law of a relevant jurisdiction in connection with this Indenture will be based, to the extent applicable, on the security documents already entered into by other members of the Group incorporated in the same jurisdiction and governed by the same law; and
(b)in relation to any security over or in respect of ABL Collateral, security shall only be granted, and perfection steps (including, without limitation, notices and registrations) only be taken, to the extent such security or perfection steps (as applicable) are required by the ABL Documents.
| 1.1 | The Agreed Security Principles embody a recognition by all parties that there may be certain legal and practical difficulties in obtaining effective guarantees and security from the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (collectively, the “Group”) in certain jurisdictions. In particular: |
| (a) | mandatory law provisions, general legal, statutory and constitutional documents’ limitations, capital maintenance, the prohibition of an intervention threatening the existence of a German member of the Group (Verstoß gegen das Verbot des existenzvernichtenden Eingriffs), financial assistance, corporate benefit, fraudulent preference, “thin capitalization” rules, “transfer pricing”, retention of title claims, exchange control restrictions, employee consultation or approval requirements, regulatory restrictions and similar principles may limit the ability of a member of the Group to provide a guarantee or security or may require that the guarantee and/or security be limited by an amount or otherwise. If any such limit applies, the guarantees and security provided will be limited to the maximum amount which the relevant member of the Group may provide having regard to applicable law; |
| (b) | a factor in determining whether or not security shall be taken is the applicable cost which shall not be disproportionate to the benefit to the Holders (or any other beneficiary of the security) of obtaining such security. For these purposes “cost” includes, but is not limited to, income or corporate tax cost, registration taxes payable on the creation or enforcement or for the continuance of any security, notary costs, stamp duties, out-of-pocket expenses, and other fees and expenses directly incurred by the relevant grantor of security or any of its direct or indirect owners, subsidiaries or affiliates; |
|
Schedule II - 1 |
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| (c) | unless each consent required by law, statute, the terms of any applicable contract, instrument or constitutional document or otherwise from the minority shareholders in, or any relevant corporate body of, any member of the Group which is not wholly owned (directly or indirectly) by another member of the Group is obtained, such Group member shall not be required to grant guarantees and security; provided that the relevant company and the Company have used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent; |
| (d) | guarantees should not be granted and security shall not be created or perfected to the extent that it would result in a risk to the directors or officers of the relevant grantor of such guarantee and security of contravention of any statutory duty in such capacity or their fiduciary duties and/or which could reasonably be expected to result in personal, civil or criminal liability on the part of any such director or officer; |
| (e) | any assets subject to third-party arrangements (including shareholder agreements or joint venture agreements) which would prevent or prohibit those assets from being subject to legal, valid, binding and enforceable security will be excluded from the security created by any relevant security document; provided that the relevant member of the Group has used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary consent or waiver if the asset is material, it being acknowledged that commercially reasonable efforts will not require the payment by the Company or the relevant company of any monetary consideration (other than nominal amounts or expenses) to obtain any such consent or waiver; |
| (f) | the maximum guaranteed or secured amount may be limited to minimize stamp duty, notarization, registration or other applicable fees, taxes and duties where the benefit of increasing the guaranteed or secured amount is disproportionate to the level of such fee, taxes and duties; |
| (g) | where a class of assets to be secured includes material and immaterial assets, if the cost of granting security over the immaterial assets is disproportionate to the benefit of such security (as determined by the Company in good faith), security will be granted over the material assets only; |
| (h) | the giving of a guarantee, the granting of security or the perfection of the security granted will not be required if: |
| (i) | it would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the relevant member of the Group to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course as otherwise permitted by the Indenture; or |
| (ii) | it would have a material adverse effect on the tax arrangements of the Group or any member of the Group, |
provided that, in each case, the relevant member of the Group shall use commercially reasonable efforts to overcome such obstacle. The secured and guaranteed obligations will be limited where necessary to prevent any material
|
Schedule II - 2 |
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additional tax liability of any member of the Group (as determined by the Company in good faith);
| (i) | save for security granted by a guarantor organized under the laws of England & Wales, or any state of the United States of America, security shall only be granted over the Capital Stock of each Guarantor, provided that no security shall be granted over the Capital Stock of Ardagh Metal Packaging Holdings SARL, the Irish Issuer, any Subsidiary Guarantor incorporated in Switzerland or the Company; |
| (j) | no fixed security shall be required to be given over bank accounts, inventory, receivables or intellectual property rights where satisfactory floating security (or equivalent in the relevant jurisdiction) can be taken over such assets; |
| (k) | no perfection action will be required in jurisdictions in which a Guarantor is not located; and |
| (l) | with respect to any pledge without displacement (prenda sin desplazamiento) governed by Spanish law, the security provider shall make its best efforts to register the pledge with the applicable moveable assets registry (registro de bienes muebles) or applicable local authorities of any sub-national regions of Spain. The registration time period and any delays in registration attributable to the aforementioned registries or local authorities (including any rectifications or considerations that these may have in respect of the security to be registered) shall not count towards, and shall be deemed to interrupt, any applicable time period to perfect such security. |
| 2.1 | Where a member of the Group requires prior consideration of or consultation with any corporate body and/or any body representing employees of such a member of the Group before granting guarantees and/or security, such guarantees and security shall not be granted until any procedure that must be followed under applicable law in respect of that consideration or consultation has been completed. |
| 2.2 | In the case of guarantees and security to be granted by a Guarantor incorporated in The Netherlands or France, if the relevant Guarantor has at least 50 employees, and/or in the case of any security over any Dutch or French assets, if the relevant entity granting such pledge has at least 50 employees, or in the case of any other jurisdictions or assets requiring receipt of advice from a works council, such guarantees and security shall not be granted until neutral or positive advice is received from any relevant works council and such work council shall be allowed to assist to the relevant board meeting of such Guarantor or relevant entity granting such pledge. |
| 2.3 | Each guarantee will or security will be an upstream, cross-stream and downstream guarantee or security and each guarantee and security will be for all liabilities of the relevant members of the Group under the Indenture in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of the Agreed Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction. |
|
Schedule II - 3 |
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| 2.4 | Each guarantee or security will be subject to applicable limitations under the relevant laws (including applicable bankruptcy and/or restructuring laws), applicable to such Guarantor or security provider and the granting of such guarantee (including laws relating to corporate benefit, capital preservation, financial assistance, fraudulent conveyances and transfers, voidable preferences or transactions under value). |
| 2.5 | In the case of guarantees and security to be granted by a Guarantor incorporated in The Netherlands or France and/or over any or French or Dutch assets, or any other jurisdictions or assets requiring receipt of advice from a works council, such guarantees and security shall not be granted until neutral or positive advice is received from any relevant works council. For the avoidance of doubt, this also applies to any subordination and lien waivers to be executed by each Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of The Netherlands or France that processes inventory for Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe GmbH. |
| 2.6 | No subsidiary of the Company that is a Controlled Foreign Corporation (or that is disregarded as an entity separate from any such Controlled Foreign Corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or a CFC Holding Company shall be required to give a guarantee or pledge any of its assets (including shares in a subsidiary) as security for an obligation of a United States Person (as defined in the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). Furthermore, not more than 65% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to vote of any such subsidiary may be pledged as security for an obligation of a United States Person. These principles also apply with respect to any entity that becomes a United States Person and/or a Controlled Foreign Corporation, CFC Holding Company or subsidiary of a Controlled Foreign Corporation or CFC Holding Company following any guarantee or pledge of assets or shares. |
For purposes of this section 2.6, “Controlled Foreign Corporation” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, and “CFC Holding Company” means any Subsidiary of the U.S. Borrower that owns no material assets other than (i) equity interests (including, for this purpose, any debt or other instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or (ii) equity interests (including, for this purpose, any debt or other instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and debt, in each case in one or more Non-U.S. Subsidiaries that are Controlled Foreign Corporations.
| 3.1 | Security shall (to the extent legally possible, subject to the general principles above) be created in favor of the Security Agent, the Trustee and the Holders or the Security Agent on behalf of or as trustee for the Trustee and the Holders (as considered appropriate by counsel to the Security Agent), to secure all of the obligations of the party giving the relevant security as well as all liabilities under the Indenture and the Notes (to the extent permitted by local law); provided that, if agreed between the Security Agent and the Company, or as required by the Intercreditor Agreement or any applicable Additional Intercreditor Agreement, such security may be created in favor of a common security agent for the benefit of the Security Agent and the other Secured Parties, as well as additional classes of secured parties. |
|
Schedule II - 4 |
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| 3.2 | The security documents should only operate to create security rather than to impose new commercial obligations. Accordingly, representations shall not be included and undertakings (such as in respect of insurance, maintenance of assets, information or the payment of costs) shall be strictly limited to those necessary for the creation or perfection of the security, will not unreasonably interfere with the normal running of the business or the ability of the members of the Group or security providers to deal with the receivables and inventory in the ordinary course of business (save to the extent arising from the imposition of cash dominion, cash management or, once such security has become enforceable, enforcement) and shall not be included to the extent the subject matter thereof is the same as a corresponding undertaking in the Indenture and shall not operate so as to prevent transactions which are otherwise permitted under the Indenture or to require additional consents or authorizations or to impose commercial obligations. |
| 3.3 | The following principles will be reflected in the terms of any security taken as part of this transaction: |
| (a) | security will not be enforceable in respect of the Notes until an Event of Default has occurred in respect of which the Notes are being accelerated (a “Declared Default”); |
| (b) | information, such as lists of assets, will be provided if, in the opinion of counsel to the Security Agent, these are required by local law to be provided to perfect or register the security or to ensure the security can be enforced and, unless in the opinion of counsel to the Security Agent required to be provided by local law more frequently, be provided annually or, following an Event of Default which is continuing, on the Security Agent’s reasonable request (provided in each case that information shall only be provided at the Security Agent’s request and there shall be no requirement to update information on an ongoing or ad hoc basis); and |
| (c) | each of the Trustee, the Security Agent and the Holders should only be able to exercise any power of attorney granted to it under the security documents following a Declared Default. |
| 4.1 | If a member of the Group grants security over its bank accounts it shall be free to deal with those accounts in the ordinary course of its business until a Declared Default has occurred. No control agreements will be required in respect of any account located in the United States of America. |
| 4.2 | If required by local law to perfect the security, notice of the security will be served on the account bank within 10 Business Days of the security being granted and the relevant member of the Group shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgment of that notice within 20 business days of service. If the relevant member of the Group has used its commercially reasonable efforts but has not been able to obtain acknowledgment its obligation to obtain acknowledgment shall cease on the expiry of that 20 Business Day period. Irrespective of whether notice of the security is required for |
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Schedule II - 5 |
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| perfection, if the service of notice would prevent the relevant member of the Group from using a bank account in the ordinary course of its business no notice of security shall be served until a Declared Default has occurred. There will be no restriction on the closure of any bank accounts which are no longer required by the Group. |
| 4.3 | Any security over bank accounts shall be subject to any prior security interests in favor of the account bank which are created either by law or in the standard terms and conditions of the account bank. The notice of security may request these are waived or subordinated by the account bank but the Guarantor shall not be required to change its banking arrangements if these security interests are not waived or subordinated or only partially waived or subordinated. |
| 4.4 | If required under local law, security over bank accounts will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles. |
| 5.1 | No security will be given over real property. |
| 6.1 | If a member of the Group grants security over its fixed assets it shall be free to deal with those assets in the ordinary course of its business until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing. |
| 6.2 | If required under local law, security over fixed assets will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles. |
| 7.1 | If required by local law to perfect the security or to exclude the possibility that the debtor pays to the relevant member of the Group with discharging effect, notice of the security will be served on the insurance provider within 10 Business Days of the security being granted and the relevant member of the Group shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgment of that notice within 20 Business Days of service. If the relevant member of the Group has used its commercially reasonable efforts but has not been able to obtain acknowledgment its obligation to obtain acknowledgment shall cease on the expiry of that 20 Business Day period. |
| 7.2 | No loss payee or other endorsement shall be made on the insurance policy. |
| 8.1 | If a member of the Group grants security over its intellectual property it shall be free to deal with those assets in the ordinary course of its business (including, without limitation, allowing its intellectual property to lapse if no longer material to its business and if permitted by the Indenture) until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing. |
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Schedule II - 6 |
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| 8.2 | No security shall be granted over any intellectual property which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant licensing agreement. No notice shall be prepared or given to any third party from whom intellectual property is licensed until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing. |
| 8.3 | The security documents may provide for the applications of registration as may be required under local law for the applicable registration of the security over intellectual property to be provided by the relevant member of the Group in its jurisdiction of incorporation and any central registry only and subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles; provided that no registration of the transfer of the relevant intellectual property to the Holders, the Trustee or the Security Agent shall be required under the relevant security documents. |
| 9.1 | If a member of the Group grants security over its intercompany receivables it shall be free to deal with those receivables in the ordinary course of its business until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing. |
| 9.2 | If required by local law to perfect the security or to exclude the possibility that the debtor pays to the relevant member of the Group with discharging effect, notice of the security will be served on the relevant debtor within 10 Business Days of the security being granted. |
| 9.3 | If required under local law security over intercompany receivables will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles. |
| 10.1 | If a member of the Group grants security over its trade receivables and/or its inventory it shall be free to deal with those receivables and/or inventory in the ordinary course of its business until a Declared Default has occurred. |
| 10.2 | No notice of security may be prepared or served until the occurrence of a Declared Default. |
| 10.3 | No security will be granted over any trade receivables which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant contract. |
| 10.4 | If required under local law, security over trade receivables and inventory will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Agreed Security Principles. |
| 10.5 | Any list of trade receivables required shall not include details of the underlying contracts to the extent not required to perfect the security transfer and make the receivables identifiable (bestimmbar) or to ensure the security can be enforced. |
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Schedule II - 7 |
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| 11.1 | The security document will be governed by the laws of the person whose shares or partnership interests are being secured and not by the law of the country of the person granting the security. |
| 11.2 | Until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing, the securing person will be permitted to retain and to exercise voting rights to any shares or partnership interests pledged by it in a manner which does not adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the security or cause an Event of Default to occur and the company whose shares or partnership interests have been pledged will, subject to the terms of the Indenture, be permitted to pay dividends. |
| 11.3 | Where customary, within the time frame required by the applicable security documents, the, the share certificate and (where available and customary) a stock transfer form executed in blank will be provided to the Security Agent and where required by law the share certificate or shareholders register will be endorsed or written up and the endorsed share certificate or a copy of the written up register provided to the Security Agent. |
| 12.1 | Unless required by local law the circumstances in which the security shall be released should not be dealt with in individual security documents but, if so required, shall, except to the extent required by local law, be the same as those set out in the Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and not require any further consent by the Security Agent, the Trustee or any Holder. |
| 13.1 | The guarantees and (in respect of the Fixed Assets Collateral) security to be provided under and in connection with the Notes and the Indenture will only be granted by members of the Group organized under the laws of the following jurisdictions: |
(i) |
England & Wales; |
(ii) |
Germany; |
(iii) |
Ireland; |
(iv) |
Luxembourg; |
(vii) |
The Netherlands; and |
(viii) |
The United States of America, |
provided that the Swiss guarantor will provide a guarantee.
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Schedule II - 8 |
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[Form of Face of Note]
5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT TO A PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND NOT KNOWN BY THE TRANSFEROR TO BE A US PERSON BY PRE-ARRANGEMENT OR OTHERWISE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.
AN INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY DOES NOT HAVE THE STATUS OF A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE DEPOSIT PROTECTION SCHEME OPERATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND. THE ISSUERS ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND BY VIRTUE OF THE ISSUE OF THIS SECURITY.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) WHICH IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE DATE WHEN THE SECURITIES WERE FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S AND THE DATE OF THE COMPLETION OF THE DISTRIBUTION] ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUERS, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S.
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SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
[IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, REPRESENTS THAT IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.]
BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN), THE PURCHASER OR HOLDER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT (A) IT IS NOT AND FOR SO LONG AS IT HOLDS THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL NOT BE (I) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (II) A “PLAN” AS DEFINED IN AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), (III) AN ENTITY OR ACCOUNT WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE DEEMED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY SUCH EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO ERISA OR OTHER PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR (IV) A NON-U.S., GOVERNMENTAL, CHURCH OR OTHER BENEFIT PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO ANY NON-U.S. OR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAW THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAW”) (EACH OF (I), (II), (III) AND (IV), A “PLAN”), (B) NO ASSETS OF A PLAN HAVE BEEN USED BY IT TO ACQUIRE THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) OR (C) ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH AN EXEMPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE OR VIOLATION OF ANY SIMILAR LAW, AND NONE OF THE ISSUERS, THE INITIAL PURCHASERS NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES IS ITS FIDUCIARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE.
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[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(A) OF THE INDENTURE, AND (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE.] 1
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Use the Global Note legend if the Note is in Global Form. |
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[Regulation S] / [Rule 144A]
Common Code __________
ISIN __________
5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031
No._____€______________
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc, a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland, each promise to pay to Citivic Nominees Limited, acting as nominee for the common depositary on behalf of Clearstream Banking, S.A. and Euroclear Bank SA/NV, or their registered assigns, upon surrender hereof, the principal sum of €[•][, subject to any adjustments as indicated in the schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note]2 on January 30, 2031.
Interest Payment Dates: June 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing ([__________________]).
Record dates: the Business Day immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
2 |
Use the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests language if Note is in Global Form. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by the duly authorized officers referred to below.
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE USA LLC
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ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE PLC
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This is one of the Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
Citibank, N.A., London Branch,
as Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
Dated: [•]
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[Back of Note]
5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1)INTEREST. Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Issuer”) and, Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc, a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (the “Irish Issuer” and together with the US Issuer, the “Issuers”), each promise to pay or cause to be paid interest on the principal amount of this Senior Secured Euro Note (the “Note”) at a rate of 5.000% per annum. The Issuers will pay interest in cash semi annually in arrears on June 30 and December 30 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the Interest Payment Date for which interest was most recently paid; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be June 30, 2026. The Issuers will pay interest (including Post Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including Post-Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue instalments of interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace periods), from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
(2)METHOD OF PAYMENT. For so long as the Notes are Global Notes, the Issuers will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, through the Principal Paying Agent as provided in the Indenture or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and Additional Amounts, if any, may be made by check mailed by the Issuers to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Additional Amounts payable in cash, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Principal Paying Agent. Such payments shall be made in euro.
(3)PRINCIPAL PAYING AGENT, REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT. Initially, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, will act as Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent and Citibank Europe plc will act as Registrar. Upon notice to the Trustee, the Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent.
(4)INDENTURE. The Issuers issued the Notes under an indenture dated as of December 1, 2025 (the “Indenture”), among, the Issuers, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Trustee, Security Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent and Citibank Europe plc as Registrar. The Notes are subject to all terms of the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the
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Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are general senior obligations of the Issuers.
(5)OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a)Except as set forth in this paragraph 5 and paragraph 6 of this Note, the Notes are not redeemable at the option of the Issuers.
(b)At any time prior to December 1, 2027, the Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at their option, upon notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
(c)At any time and from time to time prior to December 1, 2027, the Issuers may, at their option, during each calendar year redeem up to 10% of the original principal amount of the Notes (including the original principal amount of any Additional Notes), upon giving notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to but excluding the redemption date.
(d)At any time and from time to time prior to December 1, 2027, the Issuers may, at their option, redeem the Notes, upon notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, with the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuers from any Equity Offering at a redemption price equal to 105.000% of the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date in an aggregate principal amount for all such redemptions not to exceed 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes); provided that:
(1)in each case the redemption takes place not later than 180 days after the closing of the related Equity Offering; and
(2)not less than 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately thereafter.
(e)At any time and from time to time on or after December 1, 2027, the Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, upon notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to the percentage of principal amount of the Notes so redeemed set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date and Additional Amounts, if any, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 1 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Percentage |
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102.500% |
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101.250% |
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Year |
Percentage |
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100.000% |
(f)Unless the Issuers defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.
(g)Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including, but not limited to, an Equity Offering, an Incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control, a Change of Control Triggering Event or other transaction) and any redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a related transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time (but not more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
(h)If the Issuers effect an optional redemption of the Notes, it will, for so long as the Notes are listed on the Exchange and admitted for trading on the Exchange and the rules of the Authority so require, inform the Authority of such optional redemption and confirm the aggregate principal amount of the Notes that will remain outstanding immediately after such redemption.
(i)Subject to compliance with the covenants contained herein, and provided that no Default is triggered thereby, the Issuers and their respective Affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes. Any such purchases may be made through open market or privately negotiated transactions with third parties or pursuant to one or more tender or exchange offers or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as well as with such consideration as the Issuers or any such Affiliates may determine.
(j)Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the applicable outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchases, all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than five nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such tender offer expiration date, to redeem the Notes that remain outstanding in whole, but not in part, following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee)in such tender offer, plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, such redemption date.
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(6)REDEMPTION FOR TAXATION REASONS.
(a)The Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part, at any time upon giving not less than five nor more than 60 days’ prior written notice to the Holders (which notice will be irrevocable) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (a “Tax Redemption Date”) (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) and all Additional Amounts as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Indenture, if any, then due and which will become due on the Tax Redemption Date as a result of the redemption or otherwise, if the Issuers determine in good faith that, as a result of:
(1)any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (as defined in the Indenture) affecting taxation which is announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, where such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at a later date, after such later date); or
(2)any change in, or amendment to, the official application, administration or written interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice) which is announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, where such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at a later date, after such later date) (each of the foregoing in clauses (1) and (2), a “Change in Tax Law”),
a Payor (as defined in Section 4.15(a) of the Indenture) is, or on the next interest payment date in respect of the Notes would be, required to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the Notes (but, in the case of a Guarantor, only if the payment giving rise to such requirement cannot be made by the Issuers or a Guarantor who can make such payment without the obligation to pay Additional Amounts), and such obligation cannot be avoided by taking reasonable measures available to the Payor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of a new Paying Agent where this would be reasonable). The foregoing provisions shall apply (a) to a Guarantor only after such time as such Guarantor is obliged to make at least one payment on the Notes and (b) mutatis mutandis to any successor Person, after such successor Person becomes a party to the Indenture, with respect to a Change in Tax Law occurring after the time such successor Person becomes a party to the Indenture. Notice of redemption for taxation reasons will be published in accordance with the procedures described under Section 3.03 of the Indenture and paragraph 8 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such notice of redemption will be given (a) earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Payor would be obligated to make such payment of Additional Amounts and (b) unless at the time such notice is given, the obligation to pay Additional Amounts remains in effect. Prior to the publication or mailing of any notice of redemption of Notes pursuant to the foregoing, the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee (a) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the relevant Payor taking reasonable measures available to it and (b) a written opinion of an independent tax counsel of recognized standing qualified under the laws of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and satisfactory to the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) to the effect that the Payor has been or
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will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of a Change in Tax Law. The Trustee will accept and shall be entitled to rely on such Officer’s Certificate and opinion as sufficient evidence of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent described above, without liability or further inquiry, in which event it will be conclusive and binding on the Holders.
(7)SINKING FUND. The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuers may be required to offer to purchase Notes as described under Sections 4.07 and 4.11 of the Indenture.
(8)NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
(a)At least five days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the Issuers shall deliver electronically or mail, or at the expense of the Issuers, cause to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) or otherwise transmit, any notice of redemption in accordance with Section 13.01 of the Indenture and as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, except that redemption notices may be delivered electronically or mailed or otherwise transmitted more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Article 8 or Article 12 of the Indenture. Notices may be given by delivery of the relevant notices to Euroclear and Clearstream for communication to entitled account holders in substitution for the aforesaid mailing.
(b)If and for so long as any Notes are listed on the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Issuers will notify the Authority of any such notice to the Holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption, the Issuers will notify the Exchange of any change in the principal amount of the Notes outstanding.
(c)Notes in denominations larger than €100,000 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of €1,000; provided, however, that, after giving effect to such redemption, the applicable Note shall have a denomination of no less than €100,000.
(d)No later than 10:00 a.m. (London time) on each date of redemption or purchase, the Issuers will deposit with the Trustee or with the Principal Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest, the Applicable Premium, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent will promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest, the Applicable Premium, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased. If the Issuers comply with the provisions of this paragraph 8(d) and the provisions of Section 3.05(a) of the Indenture, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
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(9)REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER
(a)If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless (i) a third party makes a change of control offer as described herein or (ii) the Issuers have previously or substantially concurrently therewith delivered a redemption notice with respect to the outstanding Notes as described under paragraph 5 of this Note, the Issuers will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes (equal to €100,000 in principal amount or in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof; provided that the Notes of €100,000 or less in principal amount may only be redeemed in whole and not in part) pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase. Within 60 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuers will deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes for the specified purchase price on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice, except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event as described below.
(b)The amount of any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that is not applied or invested or committed to be applied or invested as provided in Section 4.07(a) of the Indenture will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds”; provided that, if at the time of any definitive agreement, put option or similar arrangement in respect of any Asset Disposition or (at the option of the Company) the date on which Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition is received, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after giving pro forma effect to such Asset Disposition and the use of proceeds therefrom is (x) no greater than 4.50 to 1.00, 100.0% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition shall be deemed not to constitute Excess Proceeds and (y) greater than 4.50 to 1.00 and no greater than 5.00 to 1.00, 50.0% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition shall be deemed not to constitute Excess Proceeds. Any amount deemed not to constitute Excess Proceeds may be used by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose not prohibited by this Indenture. On the 451st day (or such longer period permitted by Section 4.07(a)(3)(b) of the Indenture) after the later of an Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds under the Indenture exceeds the greater of $200.0 million and 25.0% of LTM EBITDA, the Company will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) within 10 Business Days to all Holders under the Indenture and, to the extent the Company elects, to all holders of other outstanding Pari Passu Indebtedness, to repay, prepay or purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes and any such Pari Passu Indebtedness to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be repaid, prepaid or purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in respect of the Notes in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (and, in the case of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, an offer price of no more than 100% of the principal amount of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repayment, prepayment or purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari
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Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, and with respect to the Notes, in minimum denominations of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will deliver notice of such Asset Disposition Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, the Principal Paying Agent and each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Asset Disposition and offering to repurchase the Notes for the specified purchase price on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than five days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition by making an Asset Disposition Offer with respect to all Net Available Cash prior to the expiration of the relevant 450 days (or such longer period as provided above) or with respect to any unapplied Excess Proceeds.
(c)[Reserved].
(10)DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons attached in denominations of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes, duties and governmental charges required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(11)PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
(12)AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Notes Documents may be amended as set forth in the Indenture.
(13)DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.
(a)Each of the following is an “Event of Default” under the Indenture:
(1)default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, continued for 30 days;
(2)default in the payment of the principal amount of or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
(3)failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after written notice by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or by the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes with any agreement or obligation contained in the Indenture (in each case, other than those set out in clauses (1) or (2) of this paragraph 13(a));
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(4)the occurrence of any default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed which is Incurred or Guaranteed by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, which:
(a)is caused by a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness, at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) provided in such Indebtedness (a “payment default”); or
(b)results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated final maturity (the “cross acceleration provision”),
and, in each case, the aggregate principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default of principal at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or the maturity of which has been accelerated, is in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA;
(5)any of the following occurs:
(a)a decree or order for relief in respect of either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law is sanctioned by a court of competent jurisdiction and becomes unconditional;
(b)a decree or order under any applicable Bankruptcy Law is sanctioned by a court of competent jurisdiction and becomes unconditional:
(i)adjudging that either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary is bankrupt or insolvent;
(ii)other than on a solvent basis, seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, proposal or composition of or in respect of any Issuer, the Company or that Significant Subsidiary;
(iii)other than on a solvent basis, appointing a custodian, receiver, (provisional, interim or permanent) or manager, liquidator, examiner, process adviser, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) for any substantial part of their respective properties; or
(iv)other than on a solvent basis, ordering the winding up, dissolution or liquidation of the affairs of either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary,
and any such decree, order or appointment continues to be in effect and unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
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(c)either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary:
(i)consents to the filing of a petition, application, answer, proposal or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(ii)consents to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect thereof in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(iii)consent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency in respect thereof under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(iv)other than on a solvent basis, consents to the appointment of, or taking possession by, a custodian, receiver, (provisional, interim or permanent) or manager, liquidator, administrator, examiner, process adviser, supervisor, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for any substantial part of their respective properties;
(v)other than on a solvent basis, makes an assignment or proposal for the benefit of its creditors generally; or
(vi)admits it is insolvent or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or commits an “act of bankruptcy” under any applicable Bankruptcy Law,
which, in each case, is sanctioned by a court and becomes unconditional;
(6)failure by the Company, the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA, other than any judgments covered by indemnities provided by, or insurance policies issued by, reputable and creditworthy companies, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days (after receipt of notice as described in clause (b) below) after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed (the “judgment default provision”);
(7)any Security Interest under the Security Documents having a fair market value in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA shall, at any time, cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of the relevant Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and the Indenture) for any reason other than the satisfaction in full of all obligations under the Indenture or the release of any such Security Interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents or any such Security Interest created thereunder shall be declared invalid or unenforceable or the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
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shall assert in writing that any such Security Interest is invalid or unenforceable and any such Default continues for 30 days; and
(8)except as permitted under the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement (including with respect to any limitations), any Notes Guarantee of one or more Guarantors that together constitute a Significant Subsidiary (a “Significant Guarantor”) is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or is denied or disaffirmed by such Significant Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of it.
(b)However, a Default under clauses (4) or (6) of paragraph 13(a) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuers of the Default and, with respect to clauses (4) and (6) of paragraph 13(a), the Company does not cure such Default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
(c)If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (5) of paragraph 13(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee may, and the Trustee (subject to certain conditions) at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately. In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in Section clause of (4) of paragraph 13(a) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (4) of paragraph 13(a) shall be remedied or cured, or waived by the holders of the Indebtedness, or the Indebtedness that gave rise to such Event of Default shall have been discharged in full, in each case, within 30 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d)If an Event of Default described in clause (5) of paragraph 13(a) with respect to the Issuers occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
(e)Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and may not enforce the Security Documents except as provided in such Security Documents and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement.
(f)Except as otherwise set forth in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice, the Trustee
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will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification and/or security satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
(14)AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.
(15)ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM(= tenants in common), TEN ENT(= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN(= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/ A(= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
(16)ISIN AND COMMON CODE NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused ISIN and Common Code numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use ISIN and Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. Any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the ISIN or Common Code number printed in the notice or on the Notes, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
(17)GOVERNING LAW THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE, THE NOTES GUARANTEES AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES THEREUNDER, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLES 470-1 TO 470-19 (BOTH INCLUSIVE) OF THE LUXEMBOURG LAW DATED 10 AUGUST 1915 ON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES, AS AMENDED, IS EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND SHALL HENCE NOT APPLY TO THE INDENTURE OR THIS NOTE.
The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture, the form of Note, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement. Requests may be made to:
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: _________________________________________ |
(Insert assignee’s legal name) |
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) |
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code) |
and irrevocably appoint __________________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:
Your Signature: ____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*:
* |
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.11 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
o Section 4.07 |
o Section 4.11 |
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.11 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased (in denominations of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof):
€
Date:
Your Signature: ____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.: _____________________________
Signature Guarantee*:
* |
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
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SCHEDULE A
EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE3
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Registered Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Registered Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
Amount of decrease in principal amount of this Global Note |
Amount of increase in principal amount of this Global Note |
Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease (or increase) |
Signature of authorized officer of Registrar or Paying Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 |
Use the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests language if Note is in Global Form. |
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[Form of Face of Note]
6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT TO A PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND NOT KNOWN BY THE TRANSFEROR TO BE A US PERSON BY PRE-ARRANGEMENT OR OTHERWISE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.
AN INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY DOES NOT HAVE THE STATUS OF A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE DEPOSIT PROTECTION SCHEME OPERATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND. THE ISSUERS ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND BY VIRTUE OF THE ISSUE OF THIS SECURITY.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) WHICH IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE DATE WHEN THE SECURITIES WERE FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S AND THE DATE OF THE COMPLETION OF THE DISTRIBUTION] ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUERS, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S.
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SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
[IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, REPRESENTS THAT IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.]
BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN), THE PURCHASER OR HOLDER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT (A) IT IS NOT AND FOR SO LONG AS IT HOLDS THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL NOT BE (I) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (II) A “PLAN” AS DEFINED IN AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), (III) AN ENTITY OR ACCOUNT WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE DEEMED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY SUCH EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO ERISA OR OTHER PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR (IV) A NON-U.S., GOVERNMENTAL, CHURCH OR OTHER BENEFIT PLAN WHICH IS SUBJECT TO ANY NON-U.S. OR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAW THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAW”) (EACH OF (I), (II), (III) AND (IV), A “PLAN”), (B) NO ASSETS OF A PLAN HAVE BEEN USED BY IT TO ACQUIRE THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) OR (C) ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH AN EXEMPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE OR VIOLATION OF ANY SIMILAR LAW, AND NONE OF THE ISSUERS, THE INITIAL PURCHASERS NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES IS ITS FIDUCIARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE.
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THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE CUSTODIAN FOR THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, AND (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE.
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[Regulation S] / [Rule 144A]
CUSIP__________
ISIN__________
6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031
No._____$______________
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc, a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland, each promise to pay to Cede & Co. acting as nominee on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, or its registered assigns, upon surrender hereof, the principal sum of $[•]1 [, subject to any adjustments as indicated in the schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note] on January 30, 2031.
Interest Payment Dates: June 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing ([__________________]).
Record dates: the Business Day immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
1 |
Use the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests language if Note is in Global Form. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by the duly authorized officers referred to below.
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE USA LLC
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ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE PLC
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This is one of the Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
Dated: [•]
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[Back of Note]
6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1)INTEREST. Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Issuer”) and Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc, a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (the “Irish Issuer” and together with the US Issuer, the “Issuers”), each promise to pay or cause to be paid interest on the principal amount of this Senior Secured Dollar Note (the “Note”) at a rate of 6.250% per annum. The Issuers will pay interest in cash semi annually in arrears on June 30 and December 30 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the Interest Payment Date for which interest was most recently paid; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be June 30, 2026. The Issuers will pay interest (including Post Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including Post-Petition Interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue instalments of interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace periods), from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
(2)METHOD OF PAYMENT. For so long as the Notes are Global Notes, the Issuers will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, through the Principal Paying Agent as provided in the Indenture or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and Additional Amounts, if any, may be made by check mailed by the Issuers to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Additional Amounts payable in cash, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Principal Paying Agent. Such payments shall be made in dollars.
(3)PRINCIPAL PAYING AGENT, REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT. Initially, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, will act as Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent and Citibank Europe plc will act as Registrar. Upon notice to the Trustee, the Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent.
(4)INDENTURE. The Issuers issued the Notes under an indenture dated as of December 1, 2025 (the “Indenture”), among, the Issuers, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Trustee, Security Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent and Citibank Europe plc as Registrar. The Notes are subject to all terms of the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the
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Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are general senior obligations of the Issuers.
(5)OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a)Except as set forth in this paragraph 5 and paragraph 6 of this Note, the Notes are not redeemable at the option of the Issuers.
(b)At any time prior to December 1, 2027, the Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at their option, upon notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
(c)At any time and from time to time prior to December 1, 2027, the Issuers may, at their option, during each calendar year redeem up to 10% of the original principal amount of the Notes (including the original principal amount of any Additional Notes), upon giving notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to but excluding the redemption date.
(d)At any time and from time to time prior to December 1, 2027, the Issuers may, at their option, redeem the Notes, upon notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, with the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuers from any Equity Offering at a redemption price equal to 106.250% of the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date in an aggregate principal amount for all such redemptions not to exceed 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes); provided that:
(1)in each case the redemption takes place not later than 180 days after the closing of the related Equity Offering; and
(2)not less than 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately thereafter.
(e)At any time and from time to time on or after December 1, 2027, the Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, upon notice as described under Article 3 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to the percentage of principal amount of the Notes so redeemed set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date and Additional Amounts, if any, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 1 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Percentage |
|---|---|
103.12500% |
|
101.56250% |
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Year |
Percentage |
|---|---|
100.00000% |
(f)Unless the Issuers defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.
(g)Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including, but not limited to, an Equity Offering, an Incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control, a Change of Control Triggering Event or other transaction) and any redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a related transaction. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time (but not more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
(h)If the Issuers effect an optional redemption of the Notes, it will, for so long as the Notes are listed on the Exchange and admitted for trading on the Exchange and the rules of the Authority so require, inform the Authority of such optional redemption and confirm the aggregate principal amount of the Notes that will remain outstanding immediately after such redemption.
(i)Subject to compliance with the covenants contained herein, and provided that no Default is triggered thereby, the Issuers and their respective Affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes. Any such purchases may be made through open market or privately negotiated transactions with third parties or pursuant to one or more tender or exchange offers or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as well as with such consideration as the Issuers or any such Affiliates may determine.
(j)Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the applicable outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuers, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Issuers, purchases, all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon not less than five nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such tender offer expiration date, to redeem the Notes that remain outstanding in whole, but not in part, following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee)in such tender offer, plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, such redemption date.
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(6)REDEMPTION FOR TAXATION REASONS.
(a)The Issuers may redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part, at any time upon giving not less than five nor more than 60 days’ prior written notice to the Holders (which notice will be irrevocable) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (a “Tax Redemption Date”) (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) and all Additional Amounts as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Indenture, if any, then due and which will become due on the Tax Redemption Date as a result of the redemption or otherwise, if the Issuers determine in good faith that, as a result of:
(1)any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (as defined in the Indenture) affecting taxation which is announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, where such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at a later date, after such later date); or
(2)any change in, or amendment to, the official application, administration or written interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice) which is announced and becomes effective after the Issue Date (or, where such Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at a later date, after such later date) (each of the foregoing in clauses (1) and (2), a “Change in Tax Law”),
a Payor (as defined in Section 4.15(a) of the Indenture) is, or on the next interest payment date in respect of the Notes would be, required to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the Notes (but, in the case of a Guarantor, only if the payment giving rise to such requirement cannot be made by the Issuers or a Guarantor who can make such payment without the obligation to pay Additional Amounts), and such obligation cannot be avoided by taking reasonable measures available to the Payor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of a new Paying Agent where this would be reasonable). The foregoing provisions shall apply (a) to a Guarantor only after such time as such Guarantor is obliged to make at least one payment on the Notes and (b) mutatis mutandis to any successor Person, after such successor Person becomes a party to the Indenture, with respect to a Change in Tax Law occurring after the time such successor Person becomes a party to the Indenture. Notice of redemption for taxation reasons will be published in accordance with the procedures described under Section 3.03 of the Indenture and paragraph 8 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such notice of redemption will be given (a) earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Payor would be obligated to make such payment of Additional Amounts and (b) unless at the time such notice is given, the obligation to pay Additional Amounts remains in effect. Prior to the publication or mailing of any notice of redemption of Notes pursuant to the foregoing, the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee (a) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the relevant Payor taking reasonable measures available to it and (b) a written opinion of an independent tax counsel of recognized standing qualified under the laws of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and satisfactory to the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) to the effect that the Payor has been or
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will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of a Change in Tax Law. The Trustee will accept and shall be entitled to rely on such Officer’s Certificate and opinion as sufficient evidence of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent described above, without liability or further inquiry, in which event it will be conclusive and binding on the Holders.
(7)SINKING FUND. The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Issuers may be required to offer to purchase Notes as described under Sections 4.07 and 4.11 of the Indenture.
(8)NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
(a)At least five days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the Issuers shall deliver electronically or mail, or at the expense of the Issuers, cause to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) or otherwise transmit, any notice of redemption in accordance with Section 13.01 of the Indenture and as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, except that redemption notices may be delivered electronically or mailed or otherwise transmitted more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Article 8 or Article 12 of the Indenture. Notices may be given by delivery of the relevant notices to DTC for communication to entitled account holders in substitution for the aforesaid mailing.
(b)If and for so long as any Notes are listed on the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Issuers will notify the Authority of any such notice to the Holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption, the Issuers will notify the Exchange of any change in the principal amount of the Notes outstanding.
(c)Notes in denominations larger than $200,000 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1,000; provided, however, that, after giving effect to such redemption, the applicable Note shall have a denomination of no less than $200,000.
(d)No later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each date of redemption or purchase, the Issuers will deposit with the Trustee or with the Principal Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest, the Applicable Premium, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent will promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest, the Applicable Premium, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased. If the Issuers comply with the provisions of this paragraph 8(d) and the provisions of Section 3.05(a) of the Indenture, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
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(9)REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER
(a)If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless (i) a third party makes a change of control offer as described herein or (ii) the Issuers have previously or substantially concurrently therewith delivered a redemption notice with respect to the outstanding Notes as described under paragraph 5 of this Note, the Issuers will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes (equal to $200,000 in principal amount or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; provided that the Notes of $200,000 or less in principal amount may only be redeemed in whole and not in part) pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase. Within 60 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Issuers will deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC or by first class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes for the specified purchase price on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice, except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event as described below.
(b)The amount of any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that is not applied or invested or committed to be applied or invested as provided in Section 4.07(a) of the Indenture will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds”; provided that, if at the time of any definitive agreement, put option or similar arrangement in respect of any Asset Disposition or (at the option of the Company) the date on which Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition is received, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after giving pro forma effect to such Asset Disposition and the use of proceeds therefrom is (x) no greater than 4.50 to 1.00, 100.0% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition shall be deemed not to constitute Excess Proceeds and (y) greater than 4.50 to 1.00 and no greater than 5.00 to 1.00, 50.0% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition shall be deemed not to constitute Excess Proceeds. Any amount deemed not to constitute Excess Proceeds may be used by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose not prohibited by this Indenture. On the 451st day (or such longer period permitted by Section 4.07(a)(3)(b) of the Indenture) after the later of an Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds under the Indenture exceeds the greater of $200.0 million and 25.0% of LTM EBITDA, the Company will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) within 10 Business Days to all Holders under the Indenture and, to the extent the Company elects, to all holders of other outstanding Pari Passu Indebtedness, to repay, prepay or purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes and any such Pari Passu Indebtedness to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be repaid, prepaid or purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in respect of the Notes in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (and, in the case of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, an offer price of no more than 100% of the principal amount of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repayment, prepayment or purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari
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Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, and with respect to the Notes, in minimum denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will deliver notice of such Asset Disposition Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, the Principal Paying Agent and each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Asset Disposition and offering to repurchase the Notes for the specified purchase price on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than five days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition by making an Asset Disposition Offer with respect to all Net Available Cash prior to the expiration of the relevant 450 days (or such longer period as provided above) or with respect to any unapplied Excess Proceeds.
(c)[Reserved].
(10)DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons attached in denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes, duties and governmental charges required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(11)PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
(12)AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Notes Documents may be amended as set forth in the Indenture.
(13)DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.
(a)Each of the following is an “Event of Default” under the Indenture:
(1)default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, continued for 30 days;
(2)default in the payment of the principal amount of or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
(3)failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after written notice by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or by the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes with any agreement or obligation contained in the Indenture (in each case, other than those set out in clauses (1) or (2) of this paragraph 13(a));
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(4)the occurrence of any default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed which is Incurred or Guaranteed by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, which:
(a)is caused by a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness, at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) provided in such Indebtedness (a “payment default”); or
(b)results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its stated final maturity (the “cross acceleration provision”),
and, in each case, the aggregate principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default of principal at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or the maturity of which has been accelerated, is in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA;
(5)any of the following occurs:
(a)a decree or order for relief in respect of either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law is sanctioned by a court of competent jurisdiction and becomes unconditional;
(b)a decree or order under any applicable Bankruptcy Law is sanctioned by a court of competent jurisdiction and becomes unconditional:
(i)adjudging that either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary is bankrupt or insolvent;
(ii)other than on a solvent basis, seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, proposal or composition of or in respect of any Issuer, the Company or that Significant Subsidiary;
(iii)other than on a solvent basis, appointing a custodian, receiver, (provisional, interim or permanent) or manager, liquidator, examiner, process adviser, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) for any substantial part of their respective properties; or
(iv)other than on a solvent basis, ordering the winding up, dissolution or liquidation of the affairs of either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary,
and any such decree, order or appointment continues to be in effect and unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
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(c)either Issuer, the Company or a Significant Subsidiary:
(i)consents to the filing of a petition, application, answer, proposal or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(ii)consents to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect thereof in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(iii)consent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency in respect thereof under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(iv)other than on a solvent basis, consents to the appointment of, or taking possession by, a custodian, receiver, (provisional, interim or permanent) or manager, liquidator, administrator, examiner, process adviser, supervisor, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for any substantial part of their respective properties;
(v)other than on a solvent basis, makes an assignment or proposal for the benefit of its creditors generally; or
(vi)admits it is insolvent or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or commits an “act of bankruptcy” under any applicable Bankruptcy Law,
which, in each case, is sanctioned by a court and becomes unconditional;
(6)failure by the Company, the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA, other than any judgments covered by indemnities provided by, or insurance policies issued by, reputable and creditworthy companies, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days (after receipt of notice as described in clause (b) below) after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed (the “judgment default provision”);
(7)any Security Interest under the Security Documents having a fair market value in excess of the greater of (x) $225.0 million and (y) 30.0% of LTM EBITDA shall, at any time, cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of the relevant Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and the Indenture) for any reason other than the satisfaction in full of all obligations under the Indenture or the release of any such Security Interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Additional Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents or any such Security Interest created thereunder shall be declared invalid or unenforceable or the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
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shall assert in writing that any such Security Interest is invalid or unenforceable and any such Default continues for 30 days; and
(8)except as permitted under the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement (including with respect to any limitations), any Notes Guarantee of one or more Guarantors that together constitute a Significant Subsidiary (a “Significant Guarantor”) is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or is denied or disaffirmed by such Significant Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of it.
(b)However, a Default under clauses (4) or (6) of paragraph 13(a) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuers of the Default and, with respect to clauses (4) and (6) of paragraph 13(a), the Company does not cure such Default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
(c)If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (5) of paragraph 13(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee may, and the Trustee (subject to certain conditions) at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately. In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in Section clause of (4) of paragraph 13(a) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (4) of paragraph 13(a) shall be remedied or cured, or waived by the holders of the Indebtedness, or the Indebtedness that gave rise to such Event of Default shall have been discharged in full, in each case, within 30 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d)If an Event of Default described in clause (5) of paragraph 13(a) with respect to the Issuers occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
(e)Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement and may not enforce the Security Documents except as provided in such Security Documents and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and any Additional Intercreditor Agreement.
(f)Except as otherwise set forth in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice, the Trustee
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will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification and/or security satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
(14)AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.
(15)ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM(= tenants in common), TEN ENT(= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN(= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/ A(= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
(16)ISIN AND CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused ISIN and CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use ISIN and CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. Any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the ISIN or CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Notes, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
(17)GOVERNING LAW THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE, THE NOTES GUARANTEES AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES THEREUNDER, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLES 470-1 TO 470-19 (BOTH INCLUSIVE) OF THE LUXEMBOURG LAW DATED 10 AUGUST 1915 ON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES, AS AMENDED, IS EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND SHALL HENCE NOT APPLY TO THE INDENTURE OR THIS NOTE.
The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture, the form of Note, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement or any Additional Intercreditor Agreement. Requests may be made to:
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: _________________________________________ |
(Insert assignee’s legal name) |
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) |
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code) |
and irrevocably appoint __________________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:
Your Signature: ____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*:
* |
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.11 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
o Section 4.07 |
o Section 4.11 |
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.11 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased (in denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof):
$
Date:
Your Signature: ____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.: _______________________
Signature Guarantee*:
* |
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
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SCHEDULE A
EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE2
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Registered Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Registered Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
Amount of decrease in principal amount of this Global Note |
Amount of increase in principal amount of this Global Note |
Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease (or increase) |
Signature of authorized officer of Registrar or Paying Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 |
Use the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests language if Note is in Global Form. |
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FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER FOR NOTES
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc
c/o Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Citibank, N.A., London Branch
Citigroup Centre
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LB
United Kingdom
Re: [5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031] [6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031] (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2025 (the “Indenture”), among, the Issuers, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Trustee, Security Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent and Citibank Europe plc as Registrar. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
________________, (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of[€][$]____________in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to ________________________ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1.Check if Transferee will take delivery of a Book-Entry Interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or a Definitive Registered Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or the Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Registered Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor or any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or the Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Registered Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act to whom notice has been given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state or territory of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or the Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Registered Note will be
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subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Rule 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Registered Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2.oCheck if Transferee will take delivery of a Book-Entry Interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Registered Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Upon consummation of such proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Registered Note will not be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend.
3.oCheck and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a Definitive Registered Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected:
(a)pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States;
OR
(b)to the Issuers, a Guarantor or a subsidiary thereof;
OR
(c)pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
[[TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE IN THE CASE OF A TRANSFER UNDER 3(a) OR 3(b) ABOVE] The restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Registered Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend.]
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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.
[Insert Name of Transferor]
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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1.The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE]
(a)oa Book-Entry Interest held through DTC/Euroclear/Clearstream Account No._______________ in the:
(i)oRule 144A Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(ii)oRegulation S Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(b)oa Rule 144A Definitive Registered Note: or
(c)oa Regulation S Definitive Registered Note,
2.After the Transfer, the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a)oa Book-Entry Interest held through DTC/Euroclear/Clearstream Account No. ________________ in the:
(i)oRule 144A Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(ii)oRegulation S Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(b)oa Rule 144A Definitive Registered Note: or
(c)oa Regulation S Definitive Registered Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
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FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE FOR THE NOTES
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc
c/o Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Citibank, N.A., London Branch
Citigroup Centre
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LB
United Kingdom
Re: [5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031] [6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031]
(ISIN ____________;[Common Code __________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2025 (the “Indenture”), among, the Issuers, Citibank, N.A., London Branch as Trustee and Security Agent, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent and Citibank Europe plc as Registrar.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________________________,(the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of[€][$]____________in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1.oCheck if Exchange is from Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note for Definitive Registered Notes. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note for Definitive Registered Notes in an equal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that such Definitive Registered Notes are being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. The Definitive Registered Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange will be subject to restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the U.S. Securities Act.
2.oCheck if Exchange is from Definitive Registered Notes for Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Definitive Registered Notes for Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note in an equal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that such Book-Entry Interest in a Global Note are being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. The Book-Entry Interests transferred in exchange will be subject to restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the U.S. Securities Act.
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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.
[Insert Name of Transferor]
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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER FOR THE NOTES
1.The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE]
(a)oa Book-Entry Interest held through DTC/Euroclear/Clearstream Account No. ______________ in the:
(i)oRule 144A Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(ii)oRegulation S Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(b)oa Rule 144A Definitive Registered Note: or
(c)oa Regulation S Definitive Registered Note,
2.After the Transfer, the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a)oa Book-Entry Interest held through DTC/Euroclear/Clearstream Account No. _______________ in the:
(i)oRule 144A Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(ii)oRegulation S Global Note([ISIN]/[Common Code]/[CUSIP]) _______),
(b)oa Rule 144A Definitive Registered Note: or
(c)oa Regulation S Definitive Registered Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
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FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY GUARANTORS
SUPPLEMENT AL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of __________________, among __________________,a company organized and existing under the laws of ___________________(the “Guarantor”), Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Issuer”), Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance plc, a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (the “Irish Issuer” and together with the US Issuer, the “Issuers”) and Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December 1, 2025, providing for the issuance of (i) 5.000% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 (the “Senior Secured Euro Notes”) and (ii) 6.250% Senior Secured Green Notes due 2031 (the “Senior Secured Dollar Notes” and, together with the Senior Secured Euro Notes, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guarantor shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Notes Guarantee”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 and Section 11.04 of the Indenture, the Issuers and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:
1.CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2.AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guarantor hereby agrees to provide a Notes Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in the Indenture including but not limited to the provisions of Article 11 thereof, as applicable.
3.[LIMITATIONS ON OBLIGATIONS OF GUARANTOR. [In addition, the obligations of the Guarantor and the granting of its Notes Guarantee shall be limited as follows: [ ]].]1
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Guarantee limitation language to be included in brackets for relevant jurisdiction(s). |
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4.EXECUTION AND DELIVERY.
(a)The Guarantor hereby agrees that its Notes Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Guarantee.
(b)If an Officer or a duly authorized signatory pursuant to a board resolution or power of attorney whose signature is on this Supplemental Indenture or on the Notes Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee procures the authentication of the Note on which a Notes Guarantee is endorsed, the Notes Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.
(c)Upon execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the delivery of any Note by the Trustee shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Supplemental Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor.
5.RELEASES. Each Guarantee shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged in accordance with Section 11.05 of the Indenture.
6.NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of the Issuers or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Notes Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
7.THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE NOTES GUARANTEES AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES THEREUNDER, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
8.COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
9.EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
10.THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guarantor and the Issuers.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
[GUARANTOR]
ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE USA LLC,
as the US Issuer
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ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING FINANCE PLC,
as the Irish Issuer
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CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH,
as Trustee
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Exhibit 2.7
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following description of our share capital summarizes certain provisions of the articles of association of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (the “Articles”). Such summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of our Articles, which have been filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (the “Form 20-F”). References in this section to “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company”, or “AMPSA” generally refer to Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
General
AMPSA is a public limited liability company (société anonyme) incorporated and existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (R.C.S. Luxembourg) under number B 251465.
The corporate objects of the Company are set out in the Articles. They are to be interpreted in the broadest sense and any transaction or agreement which is entered into by the Company that is not inconsistent with the specified objects will be deemed to be within the scope of such objects or powers.
Shares
Share Capital
AMPSA was incorporated on January 20, 2021 by Ardagh Group S.A., with an initial share capital of €30,000, represented by 3,000,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of €0.01 per share.
AMPSA’s current issued share capital equals €5,976,995.86, represented by 597,699,586 ordinary shares with a nominal value of €0.01 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”). All issued shares are fully paid and subscribed for. The authorized capital of AMPSA (including the issued share capital) is set at €1,000,000,000, divided into 100,000,000,000 shares represented by Ordinary Shares. In addition, pursuant to the Articles, AMPSA may issue preferred shares which are non-voting shares (the “Preferred Shares”). AMPSA currently does not have any Preferred Share in issue. There are also 16,749,984 warrants (“Warrants”) outstanding, each exercisable at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”), dated August 10, 2020, by and between Gores Holdings V, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, which has since been dissolved (“GHV”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, as assigned to AMPSA and amended in accordance with a warrant assignment, assumption and amendment agreement (the “Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement”), dated August 4, 2021, by and among AMPSA, GHV, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
A shareholder in a Luxembourg société anonyme holding fully paid up shares is not liable, solely because of his, her or its shareholder status, for additional payments to AMPSA or its creditors.
Share Issuances
Pursuant to Luxembourg law, the issuance of shares requires approval by the general meeting of shareholders subject to necessary quorum and majority requirements. The general meeting of shareholders or the Articles may also approve an authorized capital and authorize the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) to increase the issued share capital in one or several tranches with or without share premium, against payment in (i) cash, including the setting off of claims against AMPSA that are certain, due and payable, (ii) in kind, and (iii) reallocation of the share premium, profit reserves or other reserves of AMPSA, through issuance of shares, the granting of options to subscribe for shares, or the issuance of any other instruments convertible into or repayable by or exchangeable for shares (whether provided in the terms at issue or subsequently provided), the issuance of bonds with warrants or other rights to subscribe for shares attached, or the issuance of standalone warrants or any other instrument carrying an entitlement to, or the right to subscribe for, shares, up to a maximum of the authorized but as yet unissued share capital of AMPSA to such persons and on such terms as the Board determines in its absolute discretion.
The Board can be authorized to remove or limit the statutory preferential subscription right of the shareholders in case of issue of shares up to the maximum amount of such authorized capital for a maximum period of five years after the date that the minutes of the relevant general meeting approving such authorization are published in the Luxembourg official gazette (Recueil Electronique des Sociétés et Associations, “RESA”). The general meeting may amend, renew, or extend such authorized capital and such authorization to the Board to issue shares.
The Articles authorize the Board to issue shares (irrespective of their class) up to the maximum amount of the authorized unissued share capital of the AMPSA and to limit or withdraw any and all statutory preemptive rights which would be applicable in respect of such issuance for a period of five years from July 8, 2022, to such persons, on such terms and for such consideration as the Board determines in its absolute discretion. Shareholders may at a general meeting renew or extend such authorized share capital and authorization to the Board to issue shares.
In addition, the general meeting of shareholders may authorize the Board to make an allotment of existing or newly issued shares without consideration to (a) employees of AMPSA or certain categories amongst those; (b) employees of companies or economic interest grouping in which AMPSA holds directly or indirectly at least ten percent (10%) of the share capital or voting rights; (c) employees of companies or economic interest grouping holding directly or indirectly at least ten percent (10%) of the share capital or voting rights of AMPSA; (d) employees of companies or economic interest grouping in which at least fifty percent (50%) of the share capital or voting rights is held directly or indirectly by a company which holds directly or indirectly at least fifty percent (50%) of the share capital of AMPSA; (e) corporate officers of AMPSA or of the companies or economic interest grouping listed in points (b) to (d) above or certain categories amongst those, for a maximum period of five years after the date that the minutes of the relevant general meeting approving such authorization are published in the RESA.
The Articles authorize the Board to issue shares (irrespective of their class) free of charge within the limitations set out in article 430-15 of the Luxembourg law of August 10, 1915 on commercial companies, as amended (the “1915 Law”).
AMPSA recognizes only one (1) holder per share. In case a share is owned by several persons, AMPSA shall treat the first named holder on the register of shareholders as having been appointed by the joint holders to receive all notices and to give a binding receipt for any dividend(s) payable in respect of such share(s) on behalf of all joint holders, without prejudice to the rights of the other holders to information as set out in the 1915 Law.
The Board resolves on the issuance of shares (irrespective of their class) out of the authorized capital (capital autorisé) in accordance with the quorum and voting thresholds set forth in the Articles and applicable law. The Board also resolves on the applicable procedures and timelines to which such issuance is subjected. If the proposal of the Board to issue new shares exceeds the limits of AMPSA’s authorized share capital, the Board must then convene the shareholders to an extraordinary general meeting to be held in front of a Luxembourg notary for the purpose of increasing the issued share capital. Such meeting will be subject to the quorum and majority requirements required for amending the Articles. If the capital call proposed by the Board consists of an increase in the shareholders’ commitments, the Board must convene the shareholders to an extraordinary general meeting to be held in front of a Luxembourg notary for such purpose. Such meeting will be subject to the unanimous consent of the shareholders.
Preferred Shares
Any Preferred Shares will be issued in the form of redeemable shares and be redeemable at the sole discretion of the Company at such date as decided by the Board. The holders of any Preferred Shares will have no right to request the redemption of their Preferred Shares. Any Preferred Shares will be non-voting shares.
Preemptive Rights
Under Luxembourg law, existing shareholders benefit from a preemptive subscription right on the issuance of shares for cash consideration. However, AMPSA’s shareholders have, in accordance with Luxembourg law, authorized the Board to suppress, waive, or limit any preemptive subscription rights of shareholders provided by law to the extent that the Board deems such suppression, waiver, or limitation advisable for any issuance or issuances of shares (irrespective of their class) within the scope of AMPSA’s authorized share capital. The general meeting of shareholders duly convened to consider an amendment to the Articles also may, by two-thirds majority vote, limit, waive, or cancel such preemptive rights or renew, amend, or extend them, in each case for a period not to exceed five years.
Such shares may be issued above, at, or below market value, and, following a certain procedure, even below the nominal value or below the accounting par value per share. The shares also may be issued by way of incorporation of available reserves, including share premium.
Share Repurchases
AMPSA cannot subscribe for its own shares. AMPSA may, however, repurchase issued shares or have another person repurchase issued shares for its account, subject to the following conditions:
| ● | prior authorization by a simple majority vote at an ordinary general meeting of shareholders, which authorization sets forth: |
| o | the terms and conditions of the proposed repurchase and in particular the maximum number of shares to be repurchased; |
| o | the duration of the period for which the authorization is given, which may not exceed five years; and |
| o | in the case of repurchase for consideration, the minimum and maximum consideration per share, provided that the prior authorization shall not apply in the case of shares acquired by either AMPSA, or by a person acting in his or her own name on its behalf, for the distribution thereof to its staff or to the staff of a company with which it is in a control relationship; |
| ● | only fully paid-up shares may be repurchased; |
| ● | the voting rights attached to the repurchased shares will be suspended as long as the repurchased shares are held by AMPSA, the Board may decide to suspend the right to dividends attached to such repurchased shares; and the acquisition offer must be made on the same terms and conditions to all the shareholders who are in the same position, except for acquisitions which were unanimously decided by a general meeting at which all the shareholders were present or represented. In addition, listed companies may repurchase their own shares on the stock exchange without an acquisition offer having to be made to AMPSA’s shareholders. |
The authorization will be valid for a period ending on the earlier of five years from the date of such shareholder authorization and the date of its renewal by a subsequent general meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to such authorization, the Board is authorized to acquire and sell AMPSA’s shares under the conditions set forth in article 430-15 of the 1915 Law, which are described above. Such purchases and sales may be carried out for any authorized purpose or any purpose that is authorized by the laws and regulations in force.
The Articles authorize the Board to purchase AMPSA’s own shares in accordance with Luxembourg law on such terms and in such manner as may be authorized by the general meeting of shareholders in an ordinary resolution, subject to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are traded. The Articles provide that the Board is authorized for a period of 5 years from July 8, 2022 to make (i) open market repurchases of shares subject to certain conditions, and (ii) repurchases of shares other than as described in (i) where the same terms are offered to all shareholders in a similar situation, it being understood that holders of Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to be in a similar situation to holders of Ordinary Shares.
In addition, pursuant to Luxembourg law, AMPSA may directly or indirectly repurchase shares by resolution of its Board without the prior approval of the general meeting of shareholders if such repurchase is deemed by the Board to be necessary to prevent serious and imminent harm to AMPSA, or if the acquisition of shares has been made with the intent of distribution to its employees and/or the employees of any entity having a controlling relationship with it (i.e., its subsidiaries or controlling shareholder) or in any of the circumstances listed in article 430-16 of the 1915 Law.
Voting Rights
Each Ordinary Share entitles the holder thereof to one vote. Neither Luxembourg law nor the Articles contain any restrictions as to the holding or voting of Ordinary Shares by non-Luxembourg residents. Luxembourg law does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Voting of shareholders holding Ordinary Shares at a general meeting may be in person, by proxy or by voting form. The Articles specify how the Company shall determine the shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof.
Preferred Shares (if any) will be non-voting shares. Any shareholder who holds one or more Preferred Share(s) will be able to attend a shareholders meeting in person or be represented by proxy, but will not be able to vote. Any Preferred Shares will not be taken into account for determining the quorum for items submitted to vote to the shareholders save for very specific situations set out in the 1915 Law in which holders of non-voting shares shall be entitled to vote (i.e. where the deliberation of the general meeting is such that it may result in an increase of the commitments of the shareholders or an amendment of the rights attaching to the non-voting shares as well as in any general meeting called upon to decide on the reduction of capital or on the early dissolution of the Company).
The Articles distinguish ordinary resolutions and special resolutions.
Ordinary Resolutions. The Articles (to be read in conjunction with Luxembourg law) require a quorum of at least one-third (1/3) of the voting shares in issue present in person or by proxy, for any ordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting, and such ordinary resolutions are adopted by a simple majority of votes validly cast on such resolution by shareholders entitled to vote. Abstentions and nil votes are not taken into account.
Special Resolutions. The Articles require special resolutions adopted at an extraordinary general meeting for any of the following matters, among other things: (i) an increase or decrease of the authorized or issued capital, (ii) an amendment to the Articles and (iii) dissolving the Company. Pursuant to the Articles (to be read in conjunction with Luxembourg law), for any special resolutions to be considered at an extraordinary general meeting the quorum is at least one-half (1/2) of the voting shares in issue present in person or by proxy, unless otherwise mandatorily required by the 1915 Law. Any special resolution may be adopted at an extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present, subject to the 1915 Law, by the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes validly cast on such resolution by shareholders entitled to vote.
Ardagh Holdings S.A., our ultimate parent company, by virtue of its indirect ownership of approximately 76% of our Ordinary Shares, can control the outcome of any action requiring the general approval of our shareholders.
The Board may suspend the right to vote of any shareholder if such shareholder fails to fulfill its obligations under the Articles or any deed of subscription or deed of commitment entered into by such shareholder.
Amendment of the Articles
Except where the Articles authorize the Board to approve an increase or a reduction in share capital and subsequently record such change within thirty (30) days in the presence of a Luxembourg notary, the Articles require a special resolution approved at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to amend the Articles. The agenda of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders must indicate the proposed amendments to the Articles. Any resolutions to amend the Articles must be taken before a Luxembourg notary and such amendments must be published in accordance with the 1915 Law.
Annual Shareholders Meetings
An annual general meeting of shareholders shall be held in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg within 6 months of the end of the preceding financial year.
Distributions on Winding up of the Company
Any voluntary dissolution of the Company will take place in accordance with the provisions of Luxembourg law. The Company may only be placed into voluntary dissolution if shareholders holding Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares (if any) vote in favor of such dissolution by means of a special resolution passed at an extraordinary general meeting.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares are entitled to share as set forth in our Articles.
Because all shares of the Company will be fully paid, shareholders will have no liability in the event of a winding up of the Company, unless they are deemed to be a de facto manager (gérant de fait) exercising effective and continuing control over the Company by positive actions.
Mergers and De-mergers
A merger by absorption whereby a Luxembourg company, after its dissolution without liquidation, transfers to the absorbing company all of its assets and liabilities in exchange for the issuance to the shareholders of the company being acquired of shares in the acquiring company, or a merger effected by transfer of assets to a newly incorporated company, must, in principle, subject to certain exceptions, be approved by a special resolution of shareholders of the Luxembourg company to be held before a notary. Similarly, a de-merger of a Luxembourg company is, in principle, subject to certain exceptions subject to the approval by a special resolution of shareholders.
Compulsory Transfer of Shares
The Articles provide that at any time a person is or becomes, directly or indirectly, the owner of 75% or more of the number of issued Ordinary Shares of the Company, such person (the “Acquiror”) may require, by giving notice to the Company as specified in the Articles, the holders of the remaining issued Ordinary Shares of the Company to sell their Ordinary Shares to the Acquiror for cash at a price that reflects the fair market value of such shares as initially determined by an independent investment banking firm of international reputation retained by the Acquiror. The Articles contain procedures for determining the fair market value of the shares held by the minority shareholders, which include a dispute resolution provision permitting holders of at least 10% of the remaining Ordinary Shares of the Company to dispute the purchase price proposed by the Acquiror in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Articles.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
The Articles contain provisions that may make acquisition of the Company more difficult, including the following:
| ● | Classified Board. Our Board is classified into three classes of directors that are, as nearly as possible, of equal size. Each class of directors will be elected for a three-year term of office, but the terms are staggered so that the term of only one class of directors expires at each annual general meeting. The existence of a classified board could impede a proxy contest or delay a successful tender offeror from obtaining majority control of the Board, and the prospect of that delay might deter a potential offeror. |
| ● | Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals. Luxembourg law and the Articles provide that one or more shareholders together holding at least 10% of the Company’s share capital may request the addition of one or more items to the agenda of any general meeting. The request must be sent to the registered office by registered mail, at least five clear days before the meeting is held. The Articles also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These requirements may make it difficult for our shareholders to bring matters before a general meeting. |
| ● | Special Resolutions. The Articles require special resolutions adopted at an extraordinary general meeting for any of the following matters, among other things: (a) an increase or decrease of the authorized or issued capital, (b) an amendment to the Articles and (c) dissolving the Company. Pursuant to our Articles, for any special resolutions to be considered at an extraordinary general meeting the quorum is in excess of one-half (1∕2) of the voting share capital in issue present in person or by proxy unless otherwise mandatorily required by Luxembourg law. If such quorum is not met at a first extraordinary general meeting, a second meeting may be convened, and such second meeting shall validly deliberate regardless of the proportion of the capital represented. Any special resolution may be adopted at an extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present (except as otherwise provided by mandatory law) by the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds (2∕3) of the votes validly cast on such resolution by shareholders entitled to vote. |
These anti-takeover provisions could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of the Company, even if such transaction would benefit its shareholders.
Shareholder Suits
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Luxembourg law. Minority shareholders holding securities entitled to vote at the general meeting that resolved on the granting of discharge to the directors, holding at least the 10% threshold (of the subscribed capital) may bring an action against the directors on behalf of the Company.
Minority shareholders holding at least the 10% threshold (of the subscribed capital) may also ask the directors questions in writing concerning acts of management of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, and if the Company fails to answer these questions within one month, these shareholders may apply to the Luxembourg courts to appoint one or more experts instructed to submit a report on these acts of management. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Luxembourg court in summary proceedings to acts that are alleged to constitute an abuse of majority rights against the minority shareholders.
The Articles contain a provision providing for the waiver by each of our shareholders of any claim or right of action they have, both individually and on the Company’s behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take action by such director or officer, except in respect of any matter involving fraud or dishonesty, gross negligence, willful misconduct or action giving rise to criminal liability that may attach to such director or officer.
Interested Directors
The Articles contain specific provisions regarding interested directors and set forth procedures for approval of contracts or transactions involving an interested director. If a director has a direct or indirect financial interest conflicting with that of the Company in any contract or transaction to which the Company will be party, such interested director shall advise the Board thereof, cause a record of his or her statement to be included in the minutes of the meeting, and may not take part in the deliberations of the Board or any Board committee with respect to such contract or transaction and the Articles contain specific quorum and majority rules for meetings of the Board or its committees in case of conflicted directors. Such provisions do not apply to any contract or transaction that is within the ordinary course of business of the Company or its subsidiaries and is entered into on an arms’ length basis under market conditions.
Competition and Corporate Opportunities
The Articles contain specific provisions regarding competition and the allocation of corporate opportunities that are applicable to members of the Board who are not employees of the Company, as well as their respective Affiliates and Affiliated Entities (each as defined in the Articles), in recognition and anticipation that members of the Board who are not employees of the Company and their respective Affiliates and Affiliated Entities may engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, engages.
Warrants
Pursuant to the Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, GHV assigned to AMPSA all of GHV’s right, title and interest in and to the existing Warrant Agreement and AMPSA assumed, and agreed to pay, perform, satisfy and discharge in full, all of GHV’s liabilities and obligations under the existing Warrant Agreement arising from and after the August 4, 2021.
As of December 31, 2024, there were 16,749,984 Warrants outstanding. Each Warrant is exercisable to subscribe for one Ordinary Share and only whole Warrants are exercisable. The exercise price of the Warrants is $11.50 per Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period commencing on the later of (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the consummation of the merger of Ardagh MP MergeCo Inc. with and into GHV, with GHV surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of AMPSA, which occurred on August 4, 2021 (the “Merger”), or (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of GHV’s initial public offering, consummated on August 10, 2020, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (x) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Merger is completed, or (y) the redemption date as provided in Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.
Redemption of Warrants for Cash
Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, the public warrants may be redeemed (i) in whole and not in part, (ii) at a price of $0.01 per warrant, (iii) upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, and (iv) if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before sending the notice of redemption to each warrant holder.
If the public warrants are called for redemption for cash, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the public warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the Warrant Agreement.
Redemption of Warrants for Ordinary Shares
AMPSA may redeem the outstanding Warrants (i) in whole and not in part, (ii) upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption at a price equal to a number of Ordinary Shares to be determined by reference to the table contained in Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement, based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares, (iii) if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $10.00 per Ordinary Share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption to the warrant holders is sent, (iv) if, and only if, the private warrants are also concurrently exchanged at the same price (equal to a number of Ordinary Shares) as the outstanding public warrants, and (v) if, and only if, there is an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and a current prospectus relating thereto is available throughout the 30-day period after the written notice of redemption is given.
The private warrants are identical to the public warrants, except that the private warrants and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the private warrants were not transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Merger, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the private warrants are exercisable on a cashless basis and are non-redeemable (except as mentioned above) so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the private warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the private warrants will be redeemable and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the public warrants.
The foregoing description of the Warrants is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Warrant Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.3 to the Form 20-F, and the Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.2 to the Form 20-F, and incorporated herein by reference.
Dividends
From the annual net profits of AMPSA, at least 5% shall each year be allocated to the reserve required by applicable laws (the “Legal Reserve”). That allocation to the Legal Reserve will cease to be required as soon and as long as the Legal Reserve amounts to 10% of the amount of the share capital of AMPSA. The general meeting of shareholders shall resolve how the remainder of the annual net profits, after allocation to the Legal Reserve, will be disposed of by allocating the whole or part of the remainder to a reserve or to a provision, by carrying it forward to the next following financial year or by distributing it, together with carried forward profits, distributable reserves or share premium to the holders of Ordinary Shares. No distributions may be made to the holders of Ordinary Shares during a financial year if there is any Delta or New Delta (each as defined in our Articles), or unless all Preferred Shares are redeemed, as described in our Articles.
Preferred Shares (if any) will be entitled to an annual preferred dividend amounting to 9% of their nominal value computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months (the “Annual Preferred Share Dividend”). The first pro rata Annual Preferred Share Dividend shall be calculated from the date of issuance of a Preferred Share (with the month of issuance being computed as a full month) until the end of the financial year of the date of issue, and all the subsequent Annual Preferred Share Dividend will be calculated per financial year of the Company. The payment of dividends on any Preferred Shares will be at the discretion of our Board.
The Board may resolve that AMPSA pays out an interim dividend to the shareholders, subject to the conditions of article 461-3 of the 1915 Law and the Articles. The Board shall set the amount and the date of payment of the interim dividend. Any interim dividends declared by the Board and paid during a financial year will be put to the shareholders at the following general meeting to be declared as final.
Subject to applicable laws and regulations, in order for AMPSA to determine which shareholders shall be entitled to receipt of any dividend, the Board may fix a record date, which record date will be the close of business (or such other time as the Board may determine) on the date determined by the Board. In the absence of a record date being fixed, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to receipt of any dividend shall the close of business in Luxembourg on the day the dividend is declared.
Any share premium, assimilated premium or other distributable reserve may be freely distributed to the shareholders subject to the provisions of the 1915 Law and the Articles. In case of a dividend payment, each shareholder is entitled to receive a dividend right pro rata according to his or her respective shareholding. The dividend entitlement lapses upon the expiration of a five-year prescription period from the date of the dividend distribution. The unclaimed dividends return to AMPSA’s accounts.
Registrar, Transfer and Warrant Agent
The registrar and transfer agent for the shares and the warrant agent for the Warrants is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
Comparison of Luxembourg Corporate Law and Delaware Corporate Law
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
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Delaware |
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Luxembourg |
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Generally, under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), completion of a merger, consolidation, dissolution, or the sale, lease, or exchange of substantially all of a corporation’s assets requires approval by the board of directors and by a majority (unless the certificate of incorporation requires a higher percentage) of outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote. Mergers in which less than 20% of the acquirer’s stock is issued generally do not require acquirer stockholder approval. Mergers in which one corporation owns 90% or more of a second corporation may be completed without the vote of the second corporation’s board of directors or stockholders. The DGCL also requires a special vote of stockholders in connection with a business combination with an “interested stockholder” as defined in section 203 of the DGCL. |
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Under Luxembourg law and the Articles, the Board has the broadest powers to take any action necessary or useful to achieve the Company’s purpose. The Board’s powers are limited only by law and the Articles. Any type of dissolution, voluntary liquidation or business combination that would require an amendment to the Articles, such as a merger or de-merger, requires an extraordinary resolution of a general meeting of shareholders. Transactions such as a sale, lease, or exchange of substantial company assets require only the approval of the Board. Neither Luxembourg law nor the Articles contain any provision requiring the Board to obtain shareholder approval of a sale, lease, or exchange of substantial assets of AMPSA. |
SPECIAL VOTE REQUIRED FOR COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS
Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in specified corporate transactions (such as mergers, stock and asset sales, and loans) with an “interested stockholder” for three years following the time that the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Subject to specified exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person or group that owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement, or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the voting stock at any time within the previous three years. |
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Under Luxembourg law, no restriction exists as to the transactions that a shareholder may engage in with AMPSA. The transaction must, however, be in AMPSA’s corporate interest, which for instance requires that the transactions are made on arm’s length terms. |
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
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Under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation of a corporation may give the board of directors the right to issue new classes of preferred shares with voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights to be determined by the board of directors at the time of issuance, which could prevent a takeover attempt and thereby preclude stockholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares. In addition, Delaware law does not prohibit a corporation from adopting a stockholder rights plan, or “poison pill,” which could prevent a takeover attempt and also preclude stockholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares. |
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Pursuant to Luxembourg law, the shareholders may create an authorized share capital which allows the Board to increase the issued share capital in one or several tranches with or without share premium, against payment in (i) cash, including the setting off of claims against AMPSA that are certain, due and payable, (ii) in kind, and (ii) reallocation of the share premium, profit reserves or other reserves of AMPSA, through issuance of shares, the granting of options to subscribe for shares, or the issuance of any other instruments convertible into or repayable by or exchangeable for shares (whether provided in the terms at issue or subsequently provided), the issuance of bonds with warrants or other rights to subscribe for shares attached, or the issuance of standalone warrants or any other instrument carrying an entitlement to, or the right to subscribe for, shares, up to a maximum of the authorized but as yet unissued share capital of AMPSA to such persons and on such terms as the Board determines in its absolute discretion. The Board may be further authorized to, under certain conditions, limit, restrict, or waive preferential subscription rights of existing shareholders when issuing new shares within the authorized share capital. The rights attached to the new shares issued within the authorized share capital will be equal to those attached to existing shares and set forth in the Articles. In addition, the Board may be further authorized to make an allotment of existing or newly issued shares without consideration to (a) employees of AMPSA or certain categories amongst those; (b) employees of companies or economic interest grouping in which AMPSA holds directly or indirectly at least ten per cent (10%) of the share capital or voting rights; (c) employees of companies or economic interest grouping holding directly or indirectly at least ten per cent (10%) of the share capital or voting rights of AMPSA (d) employees of companies or economic interest grouping in which at least fifty per cent (50%) of the share capital or voting rights is held directly or indirectly by a company which holds directly or indirectly at least fifty per cent (50%) of the share capital of AMPSA; (e) corporate officers of AMPSA or of the companies or economic interest grouping listed in point (b) to (d) above or certain categories amongst those. The authorization to the Board to issue additional shares or other instruments as described above within the authorized share capital (and to limit, restrict, or waive, as the case may be, preferential subscription rights) as well as the authorization to |
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allot shares without consideration may be valid for a period of up to five years, starting from either the date of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting resolving upon such authorization or starting from the date of the publication of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting resolving upon such authorization in the RESA. The authorization may be renewed, increased or reduced by a resolution of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, with the quorum and majority rules set for the amendment of the Articles. The Articles authorize the Board to issue new shares (irrespective of their class), to grant options to subscribe for new shares, to issue any other instruments convertible into or repayable by or exchangeable for new shares (whether provided in the terms at issue or subsequently provided), to issue bonds with warrants or other rights to subscribe for new shares attached, or through the issue of standalone warrants or any other instrument carrying an entitlement to, or the right to subscribe for, new shares, up to a maximum of the authorized but as yet unissued share capital of the Company to such persons and on such terms as the Board determines in its absolute discretion AMPSA for a period ending five years after July 8, 2022 unless such period is extended, amended or renewed. Accordingly, the Board is authorized to issue shares up to the limits of authorized share capital until such date. AMPSA currently intends to seek renewals and/or extensions as required from time to time. |
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
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Under the DGCL, a stockholder of a corporation participating in some types of major corporate transactions may, under varying circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which the stockholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair market value of his or her shares in lieu of the consideration he or she would otherwise receive in the transaction. |
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Neither Luxembourg law nor the Articles provide for appraisal rights. |
SHAREHOLDER CONSENT TO ACTION WITHOUT MEETING
Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action that may be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if the holders of outstanding stock, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be |
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A shareholder meeting must always be called if the matter to be considered requires a shareholder resolution under Luxembourg law or the Articles. Pursuant to Luxembourg law, shareholders of a public limited liability company may not take actions by written consent. All shareholder actions must be approved at an actual meeting of shareholders held before a Luxembourg notary |
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necessary to authorize such action, consent in writing. |
public or under private seal, depending on the nature of the matter. Shareholders may vote in person, by proxy or, if the articles of association provide for that possibility, by correspondence. The Articles provide for the possibility of vote in writing (by way of a voting form provided by the Company) on resolutions submitted to the general meeting, provided that the voting form includes (a) the name, first name, address and the signature of the relevant AMPSA shareholder, (b) the indication of the shares for which the AMPSA shareholder will exercise such right, (c) the agenda as set forth in the convening notice and (d) the voting instructions (approval, refusal, abstention) for each point of the agenda. |
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
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Under the DGCL, a special meeting of stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by any other person authorized to do so in the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws. Under the DGCL, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws can specify the number of shares that constitute the quorum required to conduct business at a meeting, provided that in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting. |
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Pursuant to Luxembourg law, at least one general meeting of shareholders must be held each year, within six months as from the close of the financial year. The purpose of such annual general meeting is to approve the annual accounts, allocate the results, proceed to statutory appointments and resolve on the discharge of the directors. Other general meetings of shareholders may be convened. Luxembourg law distinguishes between ordinary resolutions to be adopted and extraordinary resolutions to be adopted by the general meeting of shareholders. Extraordinary resolutions relate to proposed amendments to the articles of association and other limited matters. All other resolutions are ordinary resolutions. Pursuant to Luxemburg law, there is no requirement of a quorum for any ordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting and such ordinary resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes validly cast on such resolution. The Articles (to be read in conjunction with Luxembourg law) provide that ordinary general meetings (including the annual general meeting) the holders of in excess of one-third (1∕3) of the voting shares in issue present in person or by proxy shall form a quorum for the transaction of business and ordinary resolutions are approved by the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the votes validly cast. Abstentions are not considered “votes.” Extraordinary resolutions are required for, among others, any of the following matters: (i) an increase or decrease of the authorized or issued |
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share capital, (ii) a limitation or exclusion of preemptive rights, (iii) approval of a statutory merger or de-merger (scission), (iv) dissolution, (v) an amendment of the articles of association and (vi) change of nationality. Pursuant to Luxembourg law for any extraordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting, the quorum shall be at least one half (50%) of the voting shares in issue. If the said quorum is not present, a second meeting may be convened at which Luxembourg law does not prescribe a quorum. Any extraordinary resolution shall be adopted at a quorate general meeting (except as otherwise provided by mandatory law) by a two-thirds majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution by shareholders. Abstentions are not considered “votes.” The 1915 Law provides that if, as a result of losses, net assets fall below half of the share capital of the company, the Board shall convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders so that it is held within a period not exceeding two months from the time at which the loss was or should have been ascertained by them and such meeting shall resolve on the possible dissolution of the company and possibly on other measures announced in the agenda. The Board shall, in such situation, draw up a special report which sets out the causes of that situation and justify its proposals eight days before the extraordinary general meeting. If it proposes to continue to conduct business, it shall set out in the report the measures it intends to take in order to remedy the financial situation of the company. The same rules apply if, as a result of losses, net assets fall below one-quarter of the share capital provided that in such case dissolution shall take place if approved by one-fourth of the votes casts at the extraordinary general meeting. |
DISTRIBUTIONS AND DIVIDENDS; REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
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Under the DGCL, the board of directors, subject to any restrictions in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, may declare and pay dividends out of: ●
surplus of the corporation, which is defined as net assets less statutory capital; or
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if no surplus exists, out of the net profits of the corporation for the year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding year.
If, however, the capital of the corporation has been diminished by depreciation in the value of its property, or by losses, or otherwise, to an amount less than the aggregate amount of capital |
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Under Luxembourg law, the amount and payment of annual dividends or other distributions is determined by a simple majority vote at a general shareholders’ meeting based on the recommendation of the Board. Pursuant to the Articles, the Board has the power to pay interim dividends or make other distributions in accordance with applicable Luxembourg law. Distributions may be lawfully declared and paid if AMPSA’s net profits and/or distributable reserves are sufficient under Luxembourg law. No distributions may be made to the holders of the Ordinary Shares so long as the preferred dividend due to the holders of Preferred Shares has not been |
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represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets, the board of directors shall not declare and pay dividends out of the corporation’s net profits until the deficiency in the capital has been repaired. Under the DGCL, any corporation may purchase or redeem its own shares, except that generally it may not purchase or redeem these shares if such repurchase or redemption would impair the capital of the corporation. A corporation may, however, purchase or redeem out of capital any of its own shares which are entitled upon any distribution of its assets to a preference over another class or series of its shares if such shares will be retired and the capital reduced. |
paid in accordance with the Articles or unless the Preferred Shares are redeemed. Under Luxembourg law, at least 5% of AMPSA’s net profits per year must be allocated to the creation of a legal reserve until such reserve has reached an amount equal to 10% of AMPSA’s issued share capital. The allocation to the legal reserve becomes compulsory again when the legal reserve no longer represents 10% of AMPSA’s issued share capital. The legal reserve is not available for distribution. Pursuant to Luxembourg law, AMPSA (or any party acting on its behalf) may repurchase its own shares and hold them in treasury, provided that: ●
the shareholders at a general meeting have previously authorized the Board to acquire its shares. The general meeting shall determine the terms and conditions of the proposed acquisition and in particular the maximum number of shares to be acquired, the period for which the authorization is given (which may not exceed five years), and, in the case of acquisition for value, the maximum and minimum consideration;
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the acquisitions, including shares previously acquired by AMPSA and held by it and shares acquired by a person acting in his or her own name but on AMPSA’s behalf, may not have the effect of reducing the net assets below the
amount of the issued share capital plus the reserves (which may not be distributed by law or under the Articles); ●
the shares repurchased are fully paid-up; and
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the acquisition offer must be made on the same terms and conditions to all the shareholders who are in the same position, except for acquisitions which were unanimously decided by a general meeting at which all the shareholders were present or represented. In addition, listed companies may repurchase their own shares on the stock exchange without an acquisition offer having to be made to AMPSA’s shareholders.
No prior authorization by shareholders is required (i) if the acquisition is made to prevent serious and imminent harm to AMPSA, provided that the Board informs the next general meeting of the reasons for and the purpose of the acquisitions made, the number and nominal values or the accounting value of the shares acquired, the proportion of the subscribed capital which they represent, and the consideration paid for them, and |
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(ii) in the case of shares acquired by either AMPSA or by a person acting on its behalf with a view to redistributing the shares to its staff or staff of its controlled subsidiaries, provided that the distribution of such shares is made within twelve months from their acquisition. Luxembourg law provides for further situations in which the above conditions do not apply, including the acquisition of shares pursuant to a decision to reduce AMPSA’s share capital or the acquisition of shares issued as redeemable shares. Such acquisitions may not have the effect of reducing net assets below the aggregate of subscribed capital and reserves (which may not be distributed by law) and are subject to specific provisions on reductions in share capital and redeemable shares under Luxembourg law. Any shares acquired in contravention of the above provisions must be resold within a period of one year after the acquisition or be cancelled at the expiration of the one-year period. As long as shares are held in treasury, the voting rights attached thereto are suspended. Further, to the extent the treasury shares are reflected as assets on AMPSA’s balance sheet a non-distributable reserve of the same amount must be reflected as a liability. The Articles authorize the Board to purchase AMPSA’s own shares (irrespective of their class) in accordance with Luxembourg law on such terms and in such manner as may be authorized by the general meeting of shareholders in an ordinary resolution, subject to the rules of any stock exchange on which AMPSA’s Ordinary Shares are traded. The Articles provide that the Board is authorized for a period of 5 years from July 8, 2022 to make (i) open market repurchases of Ordinary Shares subject to certain conditions and (ii) repurchases of shares other than as described in (i) where the same terms are offered to all shareholders in a similar situation, it being understood that holders of Preferred Shares shall not be deemed to be in a similar situation to holders of Ordinary Shares. |
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
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A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws would provide that the number of directors on the board of directors will be fixed from time to time by a vote of the majority of the authorized directors. |
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The Articles provide that the Board shall be composed of at least three directors and no more than fifteen directors, to be elected by a simple majority vote at a general meeting. Abstentions are not considered “votes.” Pursuant to Luxembourg law, the Board must be composed of at least three directors. They are appointed by the general meeting of shareholders (by proposal of the Board, the shareholders, or a spontaneous candidacy) by a simple majority of the votes cast. Directors may be reelected, but the term of their office may not exceed six years. |
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VACANCIES ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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The DGCL provides that vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) unless (a) otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation or (b) the certificate of incorporation directs that a particular class of stock is to elect such director, in which case any other directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director elected by such class, will fill such vacancy. |
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Under Luxembourg law in case of vacancy of the office of a director appointed by the general meeting, unless the vacancy results from the removal of a director by the shareholders, the remaining directors so appointed may fill the vacancy on a provisional basis. In such circumstances, the next general meeting shall make the final appointment. The decision to fill a vacancy is taken by the remaining directors by simple majority vote. The Articles provide that in case of a vacancy the remaining members of the Board may elect a director to fill the vacancy. A director so appointed shall be appointed to the class of directors that the director he or she is replacing belonged to, provided that such director shall hold office only until ratification by the shareholders of his or her appointment at the next following general meeting and, if such general meeting does not ratify the appointment, such director shall vacate his or her office at the conclusion thereof. |
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS; STAGGERED TERM OF DIRECTORS
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Under Delaware law, a board of directors can be divided into classes. The board of directors is divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term. |
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Under Luxembourg law, a director may be removed by the general meeting of shareholders (by proposal of the Board, the shareholders, or a spontaneous request) by a simple majority of the votes cast, with or without cause. The Articles provide for three different classes of directors designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Initially, the Class I Directors were appointed for a one (1) year term of office, the Class II Directors were appointed for a two (2) year term of office and the Class III Directors were appointed for a three (3) year term of office. At each succeeding annual general meeting, successors to the class of Directors whose term expires at that annual general meeting are elected for a three (3) year term of office. |
CUMULATIVE VOTING
Under the DGCL, a corporation may adopt in its certificate of incorporation that its directors shall |
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Not applicable. |
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be elected by cumulative voting. When directors are elected by cumulative voting, a stockholder has a number of votes equal to the number of shares held by such stockholder multiplied by the number of directors nominated for election. The stockholder may cast all of such votes for one director or among the directors in any proportion. |
AMENDMENT OF GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
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Under the DGCL, a certificate of incorporation may be amended if: ●
the board of directors sets forth the proposed amendment in a resolution, declares the advisability of the amendment and directs that it be submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders; and
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the holders of at least a majority of shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter approve the amendment, unless the certificate of incorporation requires the vote of a greater number of shares.
In addition, under the DGCL, class voting rights exist with respect to amendments to the charter that adversely affect the terms of the shares of a class. Class voting rights do not exist as to other extraordinary matters, unless the charter provides otherwise. Under the DGCL, the board of directors may amend a corporation’s bylaws if so authorized in the charter. The stockholders of a Delaware corporation also have the power to amend bylaws. |
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Under Luxembourg law, amendments to the Articles require an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held in front of a Luxembourg notary at which at least one half (50%) of the voting shares in issue is present or represented. The notice of the extraordinary general meeting shall set out the proposed amendments to the articles of association. If the aforementioned quorum is not reached, a second meeting may be convened by means of a notice published in the RESA and in a Luxembourg newspaper 15 days before the meeting. The second meeting shall be validly constituted regardless of the proportion of the share capital present or represented. At both meetings, resolutions will be adopted if approved by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by shareholders (unless otherwise required by Luxembourg law or the articles of association). Where classes of shares exist and the resolution to be adopted by the general meeting of shareholders changes the respective rights attaching to such shares, the resolution will be adopted only if the conditions as to quorum and majority set out above are fulfilled with respect to each class of shares. An increase of the commitments of its shareholders requires the unanimous consent of the shareholders. The Articles (to be read in conjunction with Luxembourg law) provide that for any extraordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting, the quorum shall be at least one-half of AMPSA’s the voting shares in issue. If the said quorum is not present, a second meeting may be convened at which Luxembourg law does not prescribe a quorum. Any extraordinary resolution shall be adopted at a quorate general meeting (save as otherwise provided by mandatory law) by a two-thirds majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution by shareholders. Abstentions are not considered “votes.” In very limited circumstances, the Board may be authorized by the shareholders to amend the |
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Articles, albeit always within the limits set forth by the shareholders at a duly convened shareholders’ meeting. This is the case in the context of AMPSA’s authorized share capital within which the Board is authorized to issue further shares. The Board is then authorized to appear in front of a Luxembourg notary to record the capital increase and to amend the share capital set forth in the Articles. The above also applies in case of the transfer of AMPSA’s registered office outside the current municipality. |
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
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The DGCL generally permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a third-party action, other than a derivative action, and against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in the defense or settlement of a derivative action, provided that there is a determination made by the corporation that the individual acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Such determination shall be made, in the case of an individual who is a director or officer at the time of the determination: ●
by a majority of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum;
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by a committee of disinterested directors designated by a majority vote of disinterested, directors, even though less than a quorum;
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by independent legal counsel, regardless of whether a quorum of disinterested directors exists; or
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by the stockholders.
Without court approval, however, no indemnification may be made in respect of any derivative action in which an individual is adjudged liable to the corporation. The DGCL requires indemnification of directors and officers for expenses relating to a successful defense on the merits or otherwise of a derivative or third-party action. The DGCL permits a corporation to advance expenses relating to the defense of any proceeding to directors and officers contingent upon those individuals’ commitment to repay any advances, unless it is determined |
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Luxembourg law permits AMPSA to keep directors indemnified against any expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in connection with liability of a director towards AMPSA or a third party for management errors i.e., for wrongful acts committed during the execution of the mandate (mandat) granted to the director by AMPSA, except in connection with criminal offences, gross negligence or fraud. |
ultimately that those individuals are entitled to be indemnified. |
LIMITED LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
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Delaware law permits limiting or eliminating the monetary liability of a director and certain officers to a corporation or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except with regard to breaches of duty of loyalty, any act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, with respect to directors, any liability under section 174 of the DGCL which relates to the payment of unlawful dividends and unlawful stock purchases or redemptions, or with respect to officers, any action by or in the right of the corporation. |
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Luxembourg law does not provide for an ex ante limitation of liability but it permits AMPSA to keep directors indemnified as set out above. |
ADVANCE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
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Delaware corporations typically have provisions in their bylaws that require a stockholder proposing a nominee for election to the board of directors or other proposals at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders to provide notice of any such proposals to the secretary of the corporation in advance of the meeting for any such proposal to be brought before the meeting of the stockholders. In addition, advance notice bylaws frequently require the stockholder nominating a person for election to the board of directors to provide information about the nominee, such as his or her age, address, employment and beneficial ownership of shares of the corporation’s capital stock. The stockholder may also be required to disclose, among other things, his or her name, share ownership and agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination. For other proposals, the proposing stockholder is often required by the bylaws to provide a description of the proposal and any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf that proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The proposing stockholder must also comply with the requirements of applicable law, including Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act. |
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One or several shareholders holding at least 10% of the share capital in issue may request the addition of one or several items on the agenda of a general meeting. Such request must be addressed to the registered office of AMPSA by registered mail at least five days before the general meeting. If one or more shareholders representing at least 10% of the share capital in issue request so in writing, with an indication of the agenda, the convening of a general meeting, the Board or the statutory auditor must convene a general meeting. The general meeting must be held within a period of one month from receipt of such request. |
SHAREHOLDERS’ SUITS
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Under Delaware law, a stockholder may bring a derivative action on a company’s behalf to enforce the rights of a company. An individual also may commence a class action lawsuit on behalf of himself or herself and other similarly situated stockholders if the requirements for maintaining a class action lawsuit under Delaware law are met. An individual may institute and maintain a class action lawsuit only if such person was a stockholder at the time of the transaction that is the subject of the lawsuit or his or her shares thereafter devolved upon him or her by operation of law. In addition, the plaintiff must generally be a stockholder through the duration of the lawsuit. Delaware law requires that a derivative plaintiff make a demand on the directors of the corporation to assert the corporate claim before the lawsuit may be prosecuted, unless such demand would be futile. |
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Under Luxembourg law, the Board has sole authority to decide whether to initiate legal action to enforce a company’s rights (other than, in certain circumstances, an action against board members). Shareholders generally do not have the authority to initiate legal action on a company’s behalf unless the company fails abusively to exercise its legal rights. However, a company’s shareholders may vote at a general meeting to initiate legal action against directors on grounds that the directors have failed to perform their duties. Luxembourg law does not provide for class action lawsuits. However, it is possible for plaintiffs who have similar but separate claims against the same defendant(s) to bring an action on a “group” basis by way of a joint action. It is also possible to ask the court, under article 206 of the Luxembourg New Civil Procedure Code, to join claims which are closely related and to rule on them together. In addition, minority shareholders holding an aggregate of 10% of the voting rights and who voted against the discharge to a director at the annual general meeting of the company can initiate legal action against the director on behalf of the company. |
Exhibit 8.1 |
|
SUBSIDIARIES OF ARDAGH METAL PACKAGING S.A.
The following table provides information relating to our principal operating subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, at December 31, 2025.
|
|
Country of |
Company |
|
incorporation |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Manufacturing Austria GmbH |
|
Austria |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Austria GmbH |
|
Austria |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Brasil Ltda |
|
Brazil |
Ardagh Indústria de Embalagens Metálicas do Brasil Ltda. |
|
Brazil |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading France SAS |
|
France |
Ardagh Metal Packaging France SAS |
|
France |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Germany GmbH |
|
Germany |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Germany GmbH |
|
Germany |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Netherlands B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Netherlands B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Poland Sp. z o.o |
|
Poland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Poland Sp. z o.o |
|
Poland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Spain SLU |
|
Spain |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Spain SLU |
|
Spain |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe GmbH |
|
Switzerland |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
Ardagh Metal Packaging UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. |
|
United States |
|
|
|
A number of the above legal entities act as subsidiary guarantor for the debt of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. at December 31, 2025.
Exhibit 11.1

Contents
1.0 |
Purpose |
2 |
2.0 |
What is Material Non-Public Information |
2 |
3.0 |
Scope |
2 |
3.1 |
Parties |
2 |
3.2 |
Transactions |
3 |
4.0 |
Restrictions for Insiders |
3 |
5.0 |
Additional Restrictions for Permanent Insiders |
3 |
5.1 |
Permanent Insiders |
3 |
5.2 |
Pre-Clearance Procedures |
4 |
5.3 |
Closed Periods |
4 |
6.0 |
Additional Restrictions for Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities |
5 |
7.0 |
Additional Restrictions for Section 16(a) Insiders |
5 |
7.1 |
Section 16(a) Insiders |
5 |
7.2 |
EDGAR Filings |
5 |
7.3 |
Covered Actions |
6 |
7.4 |
Pre‑Clearance and Notification Requirements |
6 |
8.0 |
Insider Lists |
6 |
9.0 |
Prohibited Trading |
6 |
10.0 |
Exception for Approved 10b5-1 Trading Plans |
7 |
11.0 |
Handling of Material Non-Public Information |
7 |
12.0 |
Third-Party Securities Transactions |
7 |
13.0 |
Sanctions |
8 |
14.0 |
Further Information |
8 |
1
1.0 |
Purpose |
This Insider Trading Policy (the “Policy”) provides procedures and guidelines with respect to transactions in the securities of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. and its subsidiaries (“AMP”) and the handling of Material Non-Public Information (as defined below) about AMP and the companies with which AMP does business. AMP’s board of directors (the “Board”) has adopted this Policy to ensure compliance with applicable securities laws, including U.S. federal securities laws and regulations and the EU Market Abuse Regulation, and to protect AMP from the legal and reputational consequences of insider trading.
This Policy also provides guidance with respect to transactions in the securities of third parties. See “Section 12.0 Third Party Securities Transactions” for further information.
2.0What is Material Non-Public Information
“Material Non-Public Information” is information about a company that is not available to the general public and is of such nature that there is a substantial likelihood for a reasonable investor to consider it important in making a decision to buy, hold or sell the security, or where the information is likely to affect the market price of the security. In other words, if such information would affect your decision whether to buy or sell the security, it would probably have the same effect on others and would accordingly qualify as Material Non-Public Information. Material Non-Public Information can be positive or negative, and can relate to any aspect of AMP’s business.
Examples of Material Non-Public Information are as follows:
| ● | Unpublished financial results; |
| ● | Non-public plans to acquire another company or to sell an asset or business; |
| ● | Planned, but unreleased, key product announcements; |
| ● | Significant pending or threatened litigation that is not public; |
| ● | The gain or loss of a significant customer or supplier that is not known to the public; |
| ● | Significant information relating to our competitors, customers or suppliers that is not known to the public; |
| ● | Unannounced changes in senior management; and |
| ● | Any other information that is likely to have a significant impact on financial results or share price. |
3.0 |
Scope |
3.1 |
Parties |
This Policy applies to all directors, officers and employees, contractors and advisers of AMP and where such persons have access to Material Non-Public Information, such persons are referred to as “Insiders”, and any of their spouse, partner and dependent family members, and those who otherwise share a household with such Insider (“Related Persons”).
2
This Policy also applies to any entities controlled by Insiders, including any corporations, partnerships or trusts, and transactions by these entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for the Insider’s own account.
3.2 |
Transactions |
This Policy applies to all transactions involving AMP’s securities, including our ordinary shares, warrants and bonds as well as any other securities that AMP may issue from time to time.
Such transactions include but are not limited to:
| ● | Purchases and sales; |
| ● | Using AMP’s securities as security for a loan or other obligation; and |
| ● | Entering into, amending or terminating any agreement in relation to AMP securities (for example, a trading plan). |
For procedures and guidelines regarding transactions in the securities of Ardagh Holdings S.A. and its subsidiaries, excluding AMP (“Ardagh Group”) by Insiders, please consult the applicable Insider Trading Policy of the relevant entities.
4.0 |
Restrictions for Insiders |
If an Insider is in possession of Material Non-Public Information relating to AMP or a third party, they or their Related Persons must not trade in AMP securities or pass such Material Non-Public Information on to someone who may trade in AMP securities (known as “tipping”).
If you possess any Material Non-Public Information, applicable securities laws and this Policy require that you refrain from trading in AMP securities until after this Material Non-Public Information is released to the public and absorbed by the market or is no longer material.
When in doubt about whether particular information would be considered Material Non-Public Information, the presumption should be that it is considered as such.
5.0 |
Additional Restrictions for Permanent Insiders |
5.1 |
Permanent Insiders |
To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, additional restrictions on trading AMP securities by persons who have access to Material Non-Public Information on an ongoing basis (referred to as “Permanent Insiders”) apply.
3
The following are considered Permanent Insiders:
| ● | members of the Board; |
| ● | senior management team of AMP; |
| ● | direct reports to members of the senior management team of AMP; |
| ● | any other AMP employee identified as a Permanent Insider; and |
| ● | their Related Persons. |
5.2 |
Pre-Clearance Procedures |
Permanent Insiders may not engage in a transaction in AMP securities without first obtaining pre-clearance of the transaction from the Board. A request for pre-clearance should be submitted in writing by email to the Company Secretary at least two business days in advance of the proposed transaction.
The Board is under no obligation to approve a transaction submitted for pre-clearance and may determine, in its sole discretion, not to permit the proposed transaction. Unless revoked, the trade must be executed as soon as possible and in any event within the deadline set by the Board (which normally will be no later than five business days following the day on which pre-clearance was granted). If a Permanent Insider seeks pre-clearance and the request is denied, then they should refrain from initiating any transaction in AMP securities, and should not inform any other person of the restriction.
Permanent Insiders must not submit an application for clearance to trade if they are in possession of Material Non-Public Information. If the Permanent Insider becomes aware that they have or may be in possession of Material Non-Public Information after submitting a request for pre-clearance, they must inform the Company Secretary as soon as possible, and must refrain from trading in any AMP securities (even if clearance has been given).
5.3 |
Closed Periods |
Permanent Insiders are not permitted to trade in AMP’s securities during a “Closed Period,” which occurs during:
| ● | the period between the 15th day of the last month of each fiscal quarter and the date of the publication of AMP’s quarterly results; |
| ● | the period between 15 December and the date of the publication of AMP’s annual results; |
| ● | the 24-hour period after the publication of either AMP’s quarterly or annual results; and |
| ● | such other periods as the Board may designate if necessary to prevent market abuse or the appearance thereof. |
Permanent Insiders should also instruct their investment managers not to trade in AMP securities on their behalf during closed periods.
4
6.0 |
Additional Restrictions for Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities |
Under the EU Market Abuse Regulation, members of the Board and the senior management team of AMP are considered Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities (“PDMRs”) and they and their Related Persons are subject to the further restrictions set out in this section. PDMRs must provide the Company Secretary with a list of persons closely associated with him or her and notify the Company Secretary of any changes that need to be made to that list.
In accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, PDMRs must immediately notify AMP in writing of any transaction in AMP’s bonds by them or their Related Persons. PDMRs are required to notify the relevant regulator of such transactions within three business days of the transaction date, and AMP is required to publish this information on the exchange where the relevant bonds are listed no later than two business days after receiving notification of the transaction.
The Company Secretary can provide you with the appropriate forms and can assist you with completing and submitting them to the relevant regulator. Once completed, you should submit a copy of the notification to the Company Secretary.
7.0 |
Additional Restrictions for Section 16(a) Insiders |
7.1 |
Section 16(a) Insiders |
Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Section 16(a)”), all members of the Board of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. and certain officers (“Section 16(a) Insiders”) are required to publicly report their (and their Related Persons) ownership of, and transactions in, AMP equity securities. This requirement also applies to any entities (including any corporations, partnerships or trusts) controlled by Section 16(a) Insiders or their Related Persons. Transactions by such entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for the Section 16(a) Insider’s own account.
The following are considered Section 16(a) Insiders:
| ● | members of the Board; |
| ● | the AMP Chief Executive Officer; |
| ● | the AMP Chief Financial Officer; |
| ● | the Ardagh Group Financial Controller; |
| ● | the Ardagh Group Chief Accounting Officer. |
7.2 |
EDGAR Filings |
The reporting required under Section 16(a) must be made by way of a public filing on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) web page.
5
If the Section 16(a) Insider elects, the Company Secretary will assist in obtaining the relevant credentials and making the required EDGAR fillings, subject to such Section 16(a) Insider’s timely cooperation in providing the required information for such filings, including as set out in Section 7.4 below. However, ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the Section 16(a) Insider.
In order to facilitate such filings, each electing Section 16(a) Insider will be asked to execute powers of attorney authorizing the Company Secretary (or a delegate thereof) to file on their behalf.
7.3 |
Covered Actions |
Under Section 16(a), the following is required to be disclosed by way of a public filing on EDGAR:
| ● | Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership: Must be filed within 10 calendar days of any person becoming a Section 16(a) Insider. |
| ● | Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership: Must be filed within 2 business days following the completion of any transaction by a Section 16(a) Insider (or their Related Persons) involving AMP’s equity securities or derivative instruments. |
| ● | Annual Statement of Beneficial Ownership: Must be filed within 45 calendar days following the end of AMP’s fiscal year, to report any transaction not otherwise reported as set forth above. If all transactions have been reported, no such filling is required. |
7.4 |
Pre‑Clearance and Notification Requirements |
To ensure timely compliance, all Section 16(a) Insiders must pre-clear any proposed transaction in AMP securities or derivative instruments with the Company Secretary as set out under Section 5.2 above.
In addition, all Section 16(a) Insiders must notify the Company Secretary no later than one business day after any transaction in AMP securities or derivative instruments to allow preparation and filing of the relevant forms within the statutory deadline.
8.0 |
Insider Lists |
AMP is required under the EU Market Abuse Regulation to maintain lists of Insiders who are in possession of Material Non-Public Information (the “Insider Lists”) and PDMRs. The Insider Lists are comprised of (i) our Permanent Insiders and (ii) Insiders involved on specific transactions, as and when required. The Insider Lists will be maintained by the Company Secretary.
9.0 |
Prohibited Trading |
Insiders are also prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in transactions involving trading activities with respect to AMP securities that by their nature are aggressive or speculative or may give rise to an appearance of impropriety.
6
The Company Secretary can provide you with further information on such non-permitted or restricted transactions, which include the following:
| ● | Short Sales: Insiders may not engage in short sales (sale of stock that the seller does not own or a sale that is completed by delivery of borrowed stock) with respect to AMP securities; |
| ● | Hedging Transactions: Insiders may not enter into any derivative or similar transactions, such as puts and calls, options and forward contracts, with respect to AMP securities, without obtaining pre-clearance of the Board; and |
| ● | Margin Accounts and Pledges: Insiders may not pledge AMP securities or hold them in a margin account as collateral for a loan, without obtaining pre-clearance of the Board. |
10.0 |
Exception for Approved 10b5-1 Trading Plans |
The trading restrictions in this Policy do not apply to transactions under a written plan, contract, instruction or arrangement under Rule 10b5-1 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that has been reviewed and approved in advance by the Board outside of a Closed Period before any trades are made.
11.0 |
Handling of Material Non-Public Information |
You may not disclose Material Non-Public Information to anyone, except to persons within AMP or the Ardagh Group, or third-party contractors and advisers of AMP, whose positions require them to know it, until such information has been publicly disclosed by AMP. Where there is a legitimate business purpose for disclosing Material Non-Public Information, you must ensure that the recipient is aware of the confidential nature of the information and that the information remains confidential.
12.0 |
Third-Party Securities Transactions |
Certain Material Non-Public Information that is related to our business or related to another company with a business relationship with AMP may not affect our securities but may affect the price of another company’s securities, such as a competitor, customer or supplier. You or your Related Persons must not use this information to gain personal financial benefit and, accordingly, must not trade in securities of such other company. This type of information would include, for example, AMP’s plan to make a major investment in another company, to acquire a competitor or to award a large piece of business to a supplier. The tipping restriction referred to in “Section 4.0 Restrictions for Insiders” applies equally in these circumstances.
7
13.0 |
Sanctions |
Securities laws prohibit trading based on Material Non-Public Information. A violation of these laws can result in civil and criminal liability. Failure to comply with this Policy may result in internal disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
14.0 |
Further Information |
If you have any questions about this Policy or its application to any proposed transaction, please contact the Company Secretary for additional guidance. This Policy supersedes any previous policy of AMP concerning insider trading.
8
Exhibit 12.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Oliver Graham, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have: |
| a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b. | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: March 5, 2026
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. | |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Oliver Graham |
Name: |
Oliver Graham |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 12.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Stefan Schellinger, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have: |
| a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b. | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: March 5, 2026
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. | |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Stefan Schellinger |
Name: |
Stefan Schellinger |
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 13.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the annual report on Form 20-F of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (the “Company”) for the period ending December 31, 2025, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certify that to the best of our knowledge:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
Date: March 5, 2026
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. | |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Oliver Graham |
Name: |
Oliver Graham |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 13.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the annual report on Form 20-F of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (the “Company”) for the period ending December 31, 2025, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certify that to the best of our knowledge:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
Date: March 5, 2026
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. | |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Stefan Schellinger |
Name: |
Stefan Schellinger |
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
|
Exhibit 15.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-289154) of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. of our report dated February 26, 2026, relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 20-F.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
Dublin, Ireland
March 5, 2026
Exhibit 97.1
Dodd-Frank Clawback Policy
(as amended by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on 24 February 2026)
Introduction
The Dodd-Frank Clawback Policy (the “Policy”) of Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (the “Company”) provides for the recovery of certain incentive compensation in the event of an Accounting Restatement (as defined below). It is designed to comply with Section 303A.14 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (the “Clawback Rules”) as set forth in Appendix A, promulgated pursuant to Rule 10D-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that enacts the clawback standards under Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Definitions
As used in this Policy, the following definitions apply:
| ● | “Accounting Restatement” means an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under U.S. securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period. |
| ● | “Covered Individuals” means the Company’s current and former executive officers, as determined by the Compensation Committee in accordance with the definition of executive officer set forth in Rule 10D-1 and the Clawback Rules. |
| ● | The amount of “Erroneously Awarded Compensation Received” subject to recovery under the Policy, as determined by the Compensation Committee, is the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation received by the Covered Individual that exceeds the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation that would have been received by the Covered Individual had it been determined based on the restated amounts. |
| ● | An “Executive Officer” is the Company’s president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the issuer in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policymaking functions for the Company. Policy-making function is not intended to include policymaking functions that are not significant. |
| ● | A “Financial Reporting Measure” are measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Stock price and total shareholder return are also financial reporting measures. A financial reporting measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the SEC. |
| ● | “Incentive-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is granted, earned or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a Financial Reporting Measure. Incentive-Based Compensation is “Received” for purposes of this Policy in the Company’s fiscal period during which the Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of such Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after |
| the end of that period. |
Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Incentive Compensation
The Company will comply with the Clawback Rules and reasonably promptly recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation Received by Covered Individuals in the event the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement. The Compensation Committee may determine not to recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation pursuant to this Policy in circumstances where non-enforcement is expressly permitted by the Clawback Rules, for example, where recovery would violate the provisions of Luxembourg law in effect prior to 28 November 2022.
Covered Individuals
The Compensation Committee will determine the Company’s Covered Individuals, an initial list of whom is set forth in Appendix B, which may be updated by the Compensation Committee from time to time. Covered Individuals will be required to complete and return to the Company, an acknowledgment form as set forth in Appendix C.
Covered Compensation
This Policy applies to the Incentive-Based Compensation Received by a Covered Individual: (1) after such Covered Individual began service as an Executive Officer; (2) who served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period for that Incentive-Based Compensation; (3) while the Company has a class of securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange or securities association; and (4) during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement as described above (or during any transition period, that results from a change in the Company’s fiscal year, within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years, as determined in accordance with the Clawback Rules).
The amount of Incentive-Based Compensation subject to this Policy is the Erroneously Awarded Compensation, which is the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation Received by a Covered Individual that exceeds the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation that otherwise would have been Received by the Covered Individual had it been determined based on the restated amount (or otherwise determined in accordance with the Clawback Rules), and will be computed without regard to any taxes paid by the Covered Individual (or withheld from the Incentive-Based Compensation). The Compensation Committee will make all determinations regarding the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation in accordance with the Clawback Rules.
Method of Recoupment
The Compensation Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the manner in which any Erroneously Awarded Compensation shall be recovered. Methods of recovery may include, but are not limited to: (1) seeking direct repayment from the Covered Individual; (2) reducing (subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of the applicable plan, program or arrangement pursuant to which the Incentive-Based Compensation was paid) any future amounts that would be payable to the Covered Individual under any compensation, bonus, incentive, equity and other benefit plan, agreement, policy or arrangement maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates; (3) cancelling any award (whether cash- or equity-based) or portion thereof previously granted to the Covered Individual; or (4) any combination of the foregoing.
No-Fault Basis
This Policy applies on a no-fault basis, and Covered Individuals will be subject to recovery under this Policy without regard to their personal culpability or involvement in preparing the previously issued financial statements of the Company subject to the Accounting Restatement.
Other Company Arrangements
This Policy shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other clawback, recovery or recoupment policy maintained by the Company from time to time, as well as any clawback, recovery or recoupment provision in any of the Company’s compensation, bonus, incentive, equity and other benefit plans, awards or individual agreements (including the clawback, recovery and recoupment provisions in the Company’s equity award agreements) (collectively, “Other Company Arrangement”) and any other rights or remedies available to the Company, including termination of employment; provided, however, that there is no intention to, nor shall there be, any duplicative recoupment of the same compensation under more than one policy, plan, award or agreement. In addition, no Other Company Arrangement shall serve to restrict the scope or the recoverability of Erroneously Awarded Compensation under this Policy or in any way limit recovery in compliance with the Clawback Rules.
No Indemnification
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any policy, arrangement, bylaws, charter, articles of association or plan of the Company or any individual agreement between a Covered Individual and the Company or any of its affiliates, no Covered Individual shall be entitled to indemnification from the Company or any of its affiliates for the amount that is or may be recovered by the Company pursuant to this Policy; provided, however, that to the extent expense advancement or reimbursement is available to a Covered Individual, this Policy shall not serve to prohibit such advancement or reimbursement.
Administration; Interpretation
The Compensation Committee shall interpret and construe this Policy consistent with the Clawback Rules and applicable laws and any determinations made by the Compensation Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive on all affected individuals. As required by the Clawback Rules, the Company shall provide public disclosures related to this Policy and any applicable recoveries of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. To the extent this Policy conflicts or is inconsistent with the Clawback Rules, the Clawback Rules shall govern. In no event is this Policy intended to be broader than, or require recoupment in addition to, that required pursuant to the Clawback Rules.
Amendment or Termination of this Policy
The Compensation Committee reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time and for any reason, subject to applicable law and the Clawback Rules. To the extent that the Clawback Rules cease to be in force or cease to apply to the Company, this Policy shall also cease to be in force.
Contact Information
If there are any queries, please contact either the Chief HR Officer – AMP, Group Compensation & Benefits Director or Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary.