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false00000299150001751788MIMI 0001751788 2024-02-07 2024-02-07 0001751788 dow:TheDowChemicalCompanyMember 2024-02-07 2024-02-07 0001751788 dow:ZeroPointFiveZeroZeroMarch152027Member dow:TheDowChemicalCompanyMember 2024-02-07 2024-02-07 0001751788 dow:OnePointOneTwoFiveNotesDueMarch152032Member dow:TheDowChemicalCompanyMember 2024-02-07 2024-02-07 0001751788 dow:OnePointEightSevenFiveNotesDueMarch152040Member dow:TheDowChemicalCompanyMember 2024-02-07 2024-02-07 0001751788 dow:FourPointSixTwoFiveNotesDueOctober12044Member dow:TheDowChemicalCompanyMember 2024-02-07 2024-02-07
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 9, 2024 (February 7, 2024)
 

 
Commission
File Number
  
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter,
Principal Office Address and Telephone Number
  
State of Incorporation
or Organization
  
I.R.S Employer
Identification No.
001-38646
  
Dow Inc.
2211 H.H. Dow Way, Midland,
MI
48674
(989)
636-1000
  
Delaware
  
30-1128146
001-03433
  
The Dow Chemical Company
2211 H.H. Dow Way, Midland,
MI
48674
(989)
636-1000
  
Delaware
  
38-1285128
Check the appropriate box below if the Form
8-K
filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule
14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Registrant
  
Title of each class
  
Trading
Symbol(s)
  
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Dow Inc.
   Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share    DOW    New York Stock Exchange
The Dow Chemical Company
  
0.500% Notes due March 15, 2
027
   DOW/27    New York Stock Exchange
The Dow Chemical Company
   1.125% Notes due March 15, 2032    DOW/32    New York Stock Exchange
The Dow Chemical Company
   1.875% Notes due March 15, 2040    DOW/40    New York Stock Exchange
The Dow Chemical Company
   4.625% Notes due October 1, 2044    DOW/44    New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule
12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(§240.12b-2
of this chapter).
 
Dow Inc.
  
  
The Dow Chemical Company
  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
Dow Inc.
  
  
The Dow Chemical Company
  

Section 8 - Other Events
 
Item 8.01.
Other Events.
On February 7, 2024, The Dow Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., ING Financial Markets LLC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $1.25 billion in aggregate principal amount of notes, consisting of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.150% Notes due 2034 (the “2034 Notes”) and $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.600% Notes due 2054 (the “2054 Notes”, and together with the 2034 Notes, the “Notes”). The Notes were offered and issued pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form
S-3
(File
No. 333-265556-01),
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”).
In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company is filing a copy of the Underwriting Agreement attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K
and incorporated herein by reference.
On February 9, 2024, the Company completed the offering of the Notes.
The Notes were issued under an Indenture dated as of July 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, Dow Inc., as a party with respect to the sections described therein, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company is filing a legal opinion by counsel regarding the validity of the Notes, attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K.
The foregoing descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such documents, which are attached as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 to this Current Report on Form
8-K,
respectively, and all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, the Company is replacing its previously provided legality opinion, attached as Exhibit 5.2 to this
Current
Report on Form
8-K,
with respect to its Dow InterNotes and Medium-Term Notes, which may be offered and sold from time to time as described in the prospectus supplements dated July 22, 2022, relating to the Dow InterNotes and Medium-Term Notes. The Dow InterNotes and Medium-Term Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits. The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index are incorporated herein by reference.
 
Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
1.1*
  Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2024, among The Dow Chemical Company and the several underwriters named therein.
4.1
  Indenture dated as of July 26, 2019, between The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 7, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2*
  Form of 5.150% Notes due 2034.
4.3*
  Form of 5.600% Notes due 2054.
5.1*
  Opinion dated February 9, 2024 of Shearman & Sterling LLP.
5.2*
  Opinion of Shandell S. Massey, Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company, as to the legality of the Dow InterNotes and Medium-Term Notes.
23.1*
  Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2*
  Consent of Shandell S. Massey, Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company (included in Exhibit 5.2).
104
  Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
  * Documents filed with this report.

 
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
DOW INC.
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Dated: February 9, 2024
By:  
/s/ ANDREA L. DOMINOWSKI
  Andrea L. Dominowski
  Controller and Vice President of Controllers
 
EX-1.1 2 d747158dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

$1,250,000,000

THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

$600,000,000 5.150% Notes due 2034

$650,000,000 5.600% Notes due 2054

Underwriting Agreement

New York, New York

February 7, 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

452 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10018

ING Financial Markets LLC

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

As representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Dow Chemical Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., ING Financial Markets LLC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. (collectively, the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.150% Notes due 2034 (the “Notes due 2034”) and $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.600% Notes due 2054 (the “Notes due 2054” and, together with the Notes due 2034, the “Securities”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of July 26, 2019, among the Company, Dow Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Dow”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

1


Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 22 hereof.

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to subsidiaries of the Company refer to those legal entities that are subsidiaries of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, and all references to subsidiaries of Dow, refer to those legal entities that are subsidiaries of Dow as of the date of this Agreement.

1. Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3) as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined in Rule 405 on Form S-3 (File No. 333-265556-01), including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon filing and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 40l(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).

 

2


(b) On each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; on each Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) At the Execution Time, (i) the Disclosure Package and (ii) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II(a) or (b), when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package or an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(d) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, and (iv) at the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company was or is (as the case may be) a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(e) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Securities and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

3


(f) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(g) The documents incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder then in effect and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(h) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

4


(i) Each of the Company’s subsidiaries that qualify as a “significant subsidiary” under Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X (a “Significant Subsidiary”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and (except for shares necessary to qualify directors or to maintain any minimum number of shareholders required by law) is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, or claim.

(j) The Company has outstanding capital stock as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus pursuant to employee benefit plans or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options and except for repurchases in connection with open market or repurchase plans or redemptions of shares of preferred stock). All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

(k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(l) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the Securities will have been duly executed, issued and delivered and (assuming the due authentication thereof by the Trustee) will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, will be entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture and will be enforceable in accordance with their terms except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(m) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

(n) The Indenture conforms, and the Securities will conform, in all material respects, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(o) The statements in each of the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes,” “Description of Debt Securities of The Dow Chemical Company,” “Description of Guarantees of Debt Securities of The Dow Chemical Company” and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” in each case insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

 

5


(p) The issuance and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein and herein contemplated, will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is bound or to which any property or assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or affect the validity of the Securities or the legal authority of the Company to comply with the Securities, the Indenture or this Agreement; nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company; nor will such action result in a violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body in the United States having jurisdiction over the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any of their properties, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or affect the validity of the Securities or the legal authority of the Company to comply with the Securities, the Indenture or this Agreement.

(q) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or any such regulatory authority or other governmental body in the United States having jurisdiction over the Company is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, except such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states and the securities laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States in which the Securities are offered.

(r) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened that (i) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s) Since the dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the date hereof), there has not been (i) any material change in the capital stock (other than changes pursuant to open market or repurchase plans or employee benefit plans or changes resulting from the conversion or redemption of outstanding shares of preferred stock or convertible debt) or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries considered as a whole, or (ii) any material adverse change, in or affecting the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries considered as a whole, otherwise than, in the case of (i) or (ii) above, as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the date hereof).

 

6


(t) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

(u) The Company’s consolidated financial statements and schedules incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein).

(v) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(w) No material, collective labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws (including all applicable laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment, or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively “Environmental Laws”)), ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental authorities, except where (i) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) noncompliance therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). To the Company’s knowledge, no such associated costs and liabilities would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(z) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), to the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the right to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patentable inventions, trade secrets and know-how used by the Company or its subsidiaries in, and material to, the conduct of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business taken as a whole as now conducted (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”).

 

7


Except as would not otherwise reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there are no legal or governmental actions, suits, proceedings or claims pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, against the Company (i) challenging the Company’s rights in or to any Intellectual Property, (ii) challenging the validity or scope of any Intellectual Property owned by the Company, or (iii) alleging that the operation of the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of a third party.

(aa) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting with respect to itself and its consolidated subsidiaries sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) receipts and expenditures of the Company are made only in accordance with the general or specific authorizations of the management or directors of the Company; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences. The management of the Company concluded that such internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023 and there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting since such date that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(bb) The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); based on the evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023.

(cc) Neither the Company nor any of their affiliates nor any person acting on their behalf (other than the Underwriters, as to whom the Company makes no representation) has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or that constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities; provided, however, that no such representation is made with respect to any action undertaken by the Underwriters.

(dd) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is controlled by a Person that is, the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council (UN), the European Union (EU), or His Majesty’s Treasury (UK HMT) (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident nor are any of its facilities located in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Regions of Ukraine, any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Ukraine or Venezuela) in violation of Sanctions; provided that, following the date hereof, to the extent that any such subsidiaries are within the categories set forth in the immediately preceding clause, it shall not be considered in non-compliance if the Company is acting in good faith to remove (including, but not limited to, disposing of, liquidating, shutting down or winding up such subsidiary or the relevant portion of its assets or businesses) such subsidiary from such category in accordance with applicable laws.

 

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The Company will not, knowingly, use the proceeds of the offering to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions, except as permitted by law, regulation or license.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at 99.473% of the principal amount thereof with respect to the Notes due 2034 and 98.663% of the principal amount thereof with respect to the Notes due 2054, in each case, plus accrued interest from February 9, 2024, the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto, plus any additional principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof.

3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on February 9, 2024 or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives and the Company shall mutually agree upon, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the aggregate purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and for the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. The Representatives may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

 

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(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished to the Representatives a copy for their review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object. The Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b); (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective; (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) amendment to the Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose; and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as practicable the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) The Company will prepare (or cause to be prepared) a final term sheet, containing a description of the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form approved by the Representatives and attached as Schedule III hereto and file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

(c) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

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(d) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus; and (iv) supply any supplemented Disclosure Package or Final Prospectus to the Representatives in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

(e) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(f) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

(g) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Representatives may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(h) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433, other than a free writing prospectus containing the information contained in the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, and record keeping.

 

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(i) None of the Company, its affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf will, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until the Closing Date; provided that the foregoing shall not preclude the Company from continuing to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of debt securities of the Company in the ordinary course pursuant to its Dow InterNotes program, its medium term note program or its commercial paper program.

(j) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities; (ii) issue, without the prior consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, any press release or other public announcement referring specifically to the proposed issue of, or the terms of, the Securities unless the announcement adequately discloses that stabilizing action may take place in relation to the Securities (but only to the extent required by laws, regulations or guidelines applicable to the Company, the Underwriters, the Representatives or any other entity undertaking stabilization in connection with the issue of the Securities).

(k) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing (if any), authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Side Letter (as defined below), any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) any registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings required to be made with FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings); (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (x) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel (if any); and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

 

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6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein and the representations and warranties of Dow, contained in the letter, dated as of the date hereof (the “Side Letter”), of Dow, addressed to you, in each case, as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(b) hereto, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Shearman & Sterling LLP, external counsel of the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

(i) assuming that the Company and Dow have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Indenture and assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery by the Trustee, the Indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and Dow, enforceable against the Company and Dow in accordance with its terms and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

(ii) assuming that the Company has duly authorized and executed the Securities and, when authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered and paid for as provided in the Agreement, the Securities will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

 

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(iii) no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States federal or New York governmental authority or regulatory body, is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of the Agreement, the Indenture and the issuance and sale of the Securities or the execution, delivery or performance by Dow of its obligations under the Indenture, except as have been obtained and are in full force and effect under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company; (iv) the execution and delivery by the Company of each of the Agreement, the Indenture and the issuance of the Securities do not, and the execution and delivery by Dow of the Indenture did not, at the time of execution and delivery and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Agreement and the Indenture, and Dow of its obligations under the Indenture, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will not result in a violation of the law of the State of New York (including the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), and that a New York lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company, Dow, the Agreement, the Indenture and the transactions governed thereby.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (i) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the corporate law of the State of Delaware or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Final Prospectus in this Section 6(b) shall also include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(c) The Company shall have requested and caused Shandell Massey, Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives her opinion dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:

(i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full corporate power and authority to own, lease, and/or operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or leases material properties or conducts material business, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) Dow is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

(iii) each Significant Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with full corporate power and authority to own, lease, and/or operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or leases material properties or conducts material business, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) each of the Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (v) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Dow;

 

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(vi) except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, all the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and except for shares necessary to qualify directors or to maintain any minimum number of shareholders required by law, all outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any other security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance;

(vii) the Company has outstanding capital stock as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances pursuant to employee benefit plans or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options and except for repurchases in connection with open market or repurchase plans or redemptions of shares of preferred stock);

(viii) to the knowledge of such counsel, except as disclosed in, or contemplated in, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, that (A) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of the Agreement, the Indenture or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby; or (B) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ix) none of the execution and delivery of the Agreement, the Indenture, the issuance and sale of the Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the transactions therein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms thereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to, (A) the charter or by-laws of the Company and each Significant Subsidiary, (B) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (C) any statute, law, rule, regulation, other than of the State of New York, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, which conflict, breach, violation, lien, charge or encumbrance, in the case of (B) and (C), would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or affect the validity of the Securities or the legal authority of the Company to comply with the Securities, the Indenture or the Agreement in any material respect;

 

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(x) neither the Company nor Dow is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither will be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (xi) the Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) amendment to the Registration Statement, became effective under the Act and any required filing of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); on the Closing Date, the Commission’s website did not indicate the existence of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement;

(xii) the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act;

(xiii) the documents incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they were filed with the Commission complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and nothing has come to her attention that caused her to believe that any of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(xiv) the statements in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes,” “Description of Debt Securities of The Dow Chemical Company” and “Description of Guarantees of Debt Securities of The Dow Chemical Company,” in each case, insofar as such statements constitute summaries of documents referred to therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the documents referred to therein; and

(xv) the statements in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of legal matters referred to therein and subject to the limitations set forth therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the legal matters referred to therein.

In addition, such counsel shall state that no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom and the Trustee’s Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1), as to which such counsel has not been requested to comment), as of the Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) the Disclosure Package (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been requested to comment), at the Execution Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been requested to comment), as of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan, the corporate law of the State of Delaware or the federal laws of the United States, to the extent she deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom she believes to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent she deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Final Prospectus in this Section 6(c) shall also include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(d) The Representatives shall have received from Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined (or caused to be examined) the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto, as well as each electronic road show, if any, used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change in or affecting the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the date hereof).

 

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(f) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of Dow, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect the representations and warranties of Dow in the Side Letter are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and that Dow has satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

(g) At the Execution Time and on the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been any change, or any development involving an impending prospective change, in or affecting the business, financial position, results of operations or properties of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to above, is, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(i) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

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The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, on the Closing Date.

7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all reasonable and properly documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act or other U.S. federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any other preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the information contained in the final term sheet required to be prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity to each Underwriter contained in paragraph (a) above, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.

 

19


The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in (i) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (ii) the first two sentences of the third paragraph (related to concessions and reallowances) and (iii) the paragraphs related to stabilization and syndicate covering transactions in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in any such action and appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (w) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (x) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (other than local counsel), approved by the Underwriters in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 8, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) who are parties to such action); (y) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (z) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes (i) an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

20


(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether an untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such non-defaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will, subject to the immediately following sentence, terminate without liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company.

 

21


In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not less than one but not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. During such time, the Company shall be entitled to procure another party or parties to purchase such Securities on such terms; provided that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall consent to such other party or parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange; (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by U.S. federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 9 and 10 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, (i) if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered, telefaxed or e-mailed to:

BofA Securities, Inc.

114 West 47th Street

NY8-114-07-01

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (212) 901-7881

Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Facsimile: (646) 291-1469

Attention: General Counsel

 

22


HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

452 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10018

Attention: Transaction Management Group

Email: tmg.americas@us.hsbc.com

ING Financial Markets LLC

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: 646-424-8972

Attention: DCM Syndicate Desk

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

277 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10172

Email: prospectus@smbcnikko-si.com

Attention: Debt Capital Markets

with a copy to:

Mayer Brown LLP

71 South Wacker Drive,

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Facsimile: (312) 701-7711

Attention: Edward S. Best

and (ii) if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered, telefaxed or e-mailed to:

The Dow Chemical Company

2211 H.H. Dow Way

Midland, Michigan 48674

Facsimile: (989) 633-7375

Attention: Treasurer

with a copy to:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Facsimile: (646) 848-7333

Attention: Richard Alsop

13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and their respective successors and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

23


14. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other; (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company; and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

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

16. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

17. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

19. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

20. Recognition of U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

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

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

 

24


(c) As used in this Section 20:

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

“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

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

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

21. Stabilization. If an Underwriter (or persons acting on its behalf), in connection with the distribution of the Securities, offers Securities in excess of the aggregate principal amount to be issued or effects transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Securities at levels other than those which might otherwise prevail in the open market, such person(s) shall not in doing so be deemed to act as an agent of the Company. The Company will not as a result of any action taken by an Underwriter (or persons acting on its behalf) under this clause be obliged to issue Securities in excess of the aggregate amount of Securities to be issued under this Agreement, nor shall the Company be liable for any loss, or entitled to any profit, arising from any excess offers or stabilization.

22. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

“Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks settle payments and are open for general business in New York City.

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Execution Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II(a) hereto, (iv) the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto, if any, and (v) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

 

25


“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective on or prior to the Closing Date.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above which is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) of this Agreement, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.

“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.

“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405.

23. Contractual Recognition of Bail-In. Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Agreement or any other agreements, arrangements, or understanding between any BRRD Party and any other party to this Agreement (each, a “Party”), each Party acknowledges and accepts that a BRRD Liability arising under this Agreement may be subject to the exercise of Bail-In Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges, accepts and agrees to be bound by:

 

26


(a)  the effect of the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority in relation to any BRRD Liability of any BRRD Party to any other Party under this Agreement, that (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof:

(i) the reduction of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability, or outstanding amount due thereon;

(ii)  the conversion of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability into shares, other securities or other obligations of the relevant BRRD Party or another person, and the issue to or conferral on one or more other Parties of such shares, securities or obligations;

(iii)  the cancellation of the BRRD Liability;

(iv)  the amendment or alteration of the amounts due in relation to the BRRD Liability, including any interest, if applicable, thereon, the maturity or the dates on which any payments are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and

(b)  the variation of the terms of this Agreement, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority.

For purposes of this Section 23:

“Bail-in Legislation” means in relation to the United Kingdom and any member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which at any time implements, the BRRD, the relevant implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement as described in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule from time to time.

“Bail-in Powers” means any write-down and conversion powers, as defined in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule, in relation to the relevant Bail-in Legislation.

“BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

“BRRD Liability” means a liability in respect of which the relevant write-down and conversion powers in the applicable Bail-in Legislation may be exercised.

“BRRD Party” means any institution specified as an Underwriter in this Agreement that is subject to Bail-in Powers; “EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such, then in effect, and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time at https://www.lma.eu.com/documents-guidelines/eu-bail-legislation-schedule.

“Relevant Resolution Authority” means the resolution authority with the ability to exercise any Bail-in Powers in relation to the relevant BRRD Party.

 

27


[Signature Pages to Follow]

 

28


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,  
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY  
By:  

  /s/ Gary J. McGuire

 
    Name:   Gary J. McGuire  
    Title:   Vice President and Treasurer  

 

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above.

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

ING Financial Markets LLC

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto

 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

By:

 

  /s/ Kevin Wehler

 

  Name:

 

Kevin Wehler

 

  Title:

 

Managing Director

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

By:

 

  /s/ Adam D. Bordner

 

  Name:

 

Adam D. Bordner

 

  Title:

 

Managing Director

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.

By:

 

  /s/ Patrice Altongy

 

  Name:

 

Patrice Altongy

 

  Title:

 

Managing Director

 

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]


ING FINANCIAL MARKETS LLC

By:

 

  /s/ Christophe Dugardyn

 

  Name:

 

Christophe Dugardyn

 

  Title:

 

Managing Director

By:

 

  /s/ Robert Londrigan

 

  Name:

 

Robert Londrigan

 

  Title:

 

Director

SMBC NIKKO SECURITIES AMERICA, INC.

By:

 

  /s/ John Bolger

 

  Name:

 

John Bolger

 

  Title:

 

Managing Director

 

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

UNDERWRITERS

 

Underwriters

   Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Notes due 2034
to be Purchased
     Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Notes due 2054
to be Purchased
     

ING Financial Markets LLC

     $85,084,000        $92,174,000    

BofA Securities, Inc.

     61,003,000        66,087,000    

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     61,003,000        66,087,000    

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     61,003,000        66,087,000    

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

     61,003,000        66,087,000    

BBVA Securities Inc.

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

Standard Chartered Bank

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

TD Securities (USA) LLC

     22,073,000        23,913,000    

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     14,047,000        15,217,000    

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     14,047,000        15,217,000    

Santander US Capital Markets LLC

     14,047,000        15,217,000    

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     14,047,000        15,216,000    

Academy Securities, Inc.

     12,041,000        13,044,000    

Blaylock Van, LLC

     12,041,000        13,044,000    

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC

     12,041,000        13,044,000    

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

     12,041,000        13,044,000    

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

     12,041,000        13,044,000    
  

 

 

 Total

   $ 600,000,000       $ 650,000,000     
  

 

 

 

Sch. I -1


SCHEDULE II

(a) Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package (exclusive of the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b))

None.

(b) Schedule of Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses Not Included in Disclosure Package Supplement dated February 7, 2024

None.

 

Sch. II - 1


SCHEDULE III

Supplementing the Preliminary Prospectus

(To Prospectus dated June 13, 2022)

$1,250,000,000

The Dow Chemical Company

$600,000,000 5.150% Notes due 2034

$650,000,000 5.600% Notes due 2054

Final Term Sheet

February 7, 2024

 

Issuer:    The Dow Chemical Company
Ranking:    Senior Unsecured
Offering Format:    SEC Registered
Trade Date:    February 7, 2024
Settlement Date (T+2):    February 9, 2024
Denominations:    $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

ING Financial Markets LLC

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

BBVA Securities Inc.

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Standard Chartered Bank

TD Securities (USA) LLC

Senior Co-Managers:   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Santander US Capital Markets LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

Sch. III - 1


Co-Managers:   

Academy Securities, Inc.

Blaylock Van, LLC

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

 

    

5.150% Notes due 2034 (the “2034

Notes”)

  

5.600% Notes due 2054 (the “2054

Notes”)

Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:    $600,000,000    $650,000,000
Maturity Date:    February 15, 2034    February 15, 2054
Interest Payment Dates:    February 15 and August 15, beginning August 15, 2024 (long first coupon)    February 15 and August 15, beginning August 15, 2024 (long first coupon)
Coupon (Interest Rate):    5.150%    5.600%
Price to Public (Issue Price):    99.983%    99.653%
Yield to Maturity:    5.152%    5.624%
Benchmark Treasury:    UST 4.500% due November 15, 2033    UST 4.125% due August 15, 2053
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:    103-05+; 4.102%    96-22+; 4.324%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    1.050% (+105 bps)    1.300% (+130 bps)
Make-Whole Call:   

Prior to November 15, 2033 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2034 Notes) (the “2034 Notes Par Call Date”), we may redeem the 2034 Notes at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

 

(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the 2034 Notes matured on the 2034 Notes Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the

  

Prior to August 15, 2053 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 2054 Notes) (the “2054 Notes Par Call Date”), we may redeem the 2054 Notes at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

 

(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the 2054 Notes matured on the 2054 Notes Par Call Date) on a semi-annual

 

Sch. III - 2


  

    Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and

 

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the 2034 Notes to be redeemed,

 

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

    

   basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and

 

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the 2054 Notes to be redeemed,

 

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

Par Call:

  

On and after November 15, 2033 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2034 Notes), we may redeem the 2034 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2034 Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

    

On and after August 15, 2053 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 2054 Notes), we may redeem the 2054 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2054 Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

CUSIP:

  

260543 DJ9

    

260543 DK6

ISIN:

  

US260543DJ91

    

US260543DK64

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offerings to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer, the guarantor and these offerings. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in these offerings will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. toll-free at 1-866-811-8049, ING Financial Markets LLC toll-free at 1-877-446-4930, or SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. toll-free at 1-888-868-6856.

 

Sch. III - 3

EX-4.2 3 d747158dex42.htm EX-4.2 EX-4.2

Exhibit 4.2

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A NOTE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

5.150% Notes due 2034

 

CUSIP NO.: 260543 DJ9

  

ISIN NO.: US260543DJ91

  

No. [1][2]

   $[500,000,000][100,000,000]

THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000)][ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($100,000,000)] or such other principal sum set forth on the Schedule attached hereto (which shall not exceed $500,000,000) on February 15, 2034, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon semi-annually on each February 15 and August 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 15, 2024 and at maturity on said principal sum, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Security from the February 15 or August 15, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Security to which interest has been paid, unless the date hereof is a date to which interest has been paid, in which case from the date of this Security, or unless no interest has been paid on this Security, in which case from February 9, 2024, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly provided for. Payments of such principal and interest shall be made at the office or agency of the Company in Chicago, Illinois, which, subject to the right of the Company to vary or terminate the appointment of such agency, shall initially be at the principal office of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6200B, Floor 62, Chicago, Illinois 60606; provided, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Security register; provided, further that so long as CEDE & CO. or another nominee of the Depositary is the registered owner of this Security payments of principal and interest will be made in immediately available funds through the Depositary’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after February 1 or August 1, as the case may be, and before the following February 15 or August 15, this Security shall bear interest from such February 15 or August 15; provided, that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such February 15 or August 15, then this Security shall bear interest from the next preceding February 15 or August 15, to which interest, has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on this Security, from February 9, 2024. The interest payable on any February 15 or August 15 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (each a “Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such February 15 or August 15, and the interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom the principal hereof shall be payable.Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof.


Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank Signature page follows.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY has caused this instrument to be signed by facsimile by its duly authorized representative.

Dated: February 9, 2024

 

 

Attest:

 

THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

 

By:

 

 

   

By:

 

 

   

Name:

     

Name:

   

Title:

     

Title:


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated: February 9, 2024

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., as Trustee

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory


THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

5.150% Notes due 2034

Section 1. General. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of July 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among The Dow Chemical Company (the “Company”), Dow Inc. (“Dow”), as a party with respect to the sections described therein, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, Dow, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the Securities of the series designated on the face hereof.

Section 2. Redemption; Sinking Fund. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, the Securities are not redeemable prior to maturity.

(b) Prior to November 15, 2033 (the date that is three months prior to the maturity date of the Securities) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(1)  (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed,

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

On and after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

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

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the

 

6


Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

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

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

The Trustee will have no responsibility to determine the redemption price of the Securities.

(b) The Securities will not be subject to any sinking fund.

(c) The Company will mail or electronically deliver (or otherwise transmit in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) a notice of any redemption at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder; provided that such notice of redemption may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of the Securities. Once notice of redemption is mailed, the Securities called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

7


(d) The notice of redemption will state any conditions applicable to a redemption and the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed. If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select by lot, not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the particular Securities or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Securities previously called, or if the Securities are in global form, the Securities to be redeemed will be selected by the Depositary in accordance with Depositary’s customary procedures. The Company shall provide written notice to the Trustee prior to the close of business two Business Days prior to the redemption date if any such condition precedent has not been satisfied and the redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee will provide such notice to each Holder of the Securities in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

Section 3. Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.

(a) If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities as provided in Section 2 above, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of Securities to repurchase all or any part (in integral multiples of $1,000 and no Security of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be repurchased in part) of that Holder’s Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities repurchased, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but after the public announcement of an impending Change of Control, the Company will mail (or electronically deliver) a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Securities on the payment 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 mailed. The notice shall, if mailed or electronically delivered prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to repurchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

(c) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 3, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3 by virtue of such conflict.

(d) On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities (in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount) properly tendered pursuant to the aforementioned offer;

 

8


(ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities being repurchased by the Company.

(e) The paying agent will promptly mail (or cause to be delivered through the facilities of the Depositary) to each Holder of Securities properly tendered the repurchase price for the Securities, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Securities surrendered; provided, that each new Security will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 above that amount.

(f) The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Securities upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

(g) The following terms for purposes of this Section 3 shall have the respective meanings specified below:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the rating on the Securities is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and the Securities are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if any of the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request 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 shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and those of its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, Dow or one or more of wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dow;

(2) the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group”

 

9


(as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than Dow or one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dow, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of the Voting Stock of Dow or the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares;

(3) the Company or Dow consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company or Dow, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, Dow or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company or Dow outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company or the board of directors of Dow are not Continuing Directors; or

(5) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or Dow.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (a) the Company or Dow becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b) (y) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of Dow’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (z) immediately following that transaction, no person (as that term is used in Section 13(d) (3) of the Exchange Act) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company. Furthermore, neither the formation of an intermediate holding company of the Company that is 100% owned by Dow (directly or indirectly) or any business combination between the Company and Dow or any wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dow will constitute a Change of Control.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, (a) with respect to any member of the board of directors of Dow, any such member who (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of the issuance of the Securities; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director) and (b) with respect to any member of the board of directors of the Company, any such member who (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of the issuance of the Securities; or (2) was appointed, nominated for election or elected to such board of directors by Dow.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and its successors.

 

10


“Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch), Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services Inc. and its successors.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” registered pursuant to Section 15E of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and its successors.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any person, capital stock of any class or kind the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Section 4. Events of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Section 5. Modifications and Waivers; Obligation of the Company Absolute. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

Section 6. Authorized Denominations. The Securities are issuable in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth and to the limitations described below, if applicable, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like

 

11


aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

Section 7. Registration of Transfer. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security register upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of Chicago, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the securities registrar (which shall initially be the Trustee, 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6200B, Floor 62, Mailbox #44, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (Attention: Corporate Trust Department) or at such other address as it may designate as its principal corporate trust office in the City of Chicago), duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

This Security is exchangeable for a certificated Security only if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is no longer willing or able to act as a Depositary for this Security or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company has not appointed a successor depositary within 90 days of that notice or becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered or (y) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this Security shall be exchangeable for certificated Securities in registered form or (z) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented hereby has occurred and is continuing, and the Depositary requested the issuance of certificated Securities, provided that the definitive Securities so issued in exchange for this permanent Security shall be in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and be of like aggregate principal amount and tenor as the portion of this permanent Security to be exchanged, and provided further that, unless the Company agrees otherwise, Securities of this series in certificated registered form will be issued in exchange for this permanent Security, or any portion hereof, only if such Securities in certificated registered form were requested by written notice to the Trustee or the Securities Registrar by or on behalf of a person who is beneficial owner of an interest hereof given through the Holder hereof. Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in this permanent Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Securities in certificated registered form and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Section 8. Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 9. No Recourse Against Certain Persons. No recourse for the payment of the principal or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof,

 

12


and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or any Supplemental Indenture thereto or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation of either of them, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of either of them, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule or law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

Section 10. Defeasance. The Indenture with respect to any series will be discharged and cancelled except for certain Sections thereof, subject to the terms of the Indenture, upon payment of all of the Securities of such series or upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee of cash or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) sufficient for such payment in accordance with Article Ten of the Indenture.

Section 11. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Section 12. Defined Terms. All terms used in this Security which are not defined in this Security but which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

13


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM - as tenants in common

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -                        

   

                   (Minor)

Custodian                          

   

                (Cust)

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors  Act                      

   

                       (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

14


ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR

OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:              

  

Signature:            

  

NOTICE:

  

THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

Signature Guarantee:

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

15


SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES

The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

 

Amount of Decrease in

Principal Amount of this

Global Security

 

Amount of Increase

in Principal Amount of

this Global Security

 

Principal Amount of this

Global Security

following such Decrease

or Increase

 

Signature of

Authorized Signatory of

Trustee or Custodian

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

EX-4.3 4 d747158dex43.htm EX-4.3 EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A NOTE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

5.600% Notes due 2054

 

CUSIP NO.: 260543 DK6

  

ISIN NO.: US260543DK64

  

No. [1][2]

   $[500,000,000][150,000,000]

THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000)][ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000)] or such other principal sum set forth on the Schedule attached hereto (which shall not exceed $500,000,000) on February 15, 2054, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon semi-annually on each February 15 and August 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 15, 2024 and at maturity on said principal sum, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Security from the February 15 or August 15, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Security to which interest has been paid, unless the date hereof is a date to which interest has been paid, in which case from the date of this Security, or unless no interest has been paid on this Security, in which case from February 9, 2024, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly provided for. Payments of such principal and interest shall be made at the office or agency of the Company in Chicago, Illinois, which, subject to the right of the Company to vary or terminate the appointment of such agency, shall initially be at the principal office of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6200B, Floor 62, Chicago, Illinois 60606; provided, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Security register; provided, further that so long as CEDE & CO. or another nominee of the Depositary is the registered owner of this Security payments of principal and interest will be made in immediately available funds through the Depositary’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after February 1 or August 1, as the case may be, and before the following February 15 or August 15, this Security shall bear interest from such February 15 or August 15; provided, that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such February 15 or August 15, then this Security shall bear interest from the next preceding February 15 or August 15, to which interest, has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on this Security, from February 9, 2024. The interest payable on any February 15 or August 15 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (each a “Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such February 15 or August 15, and the interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom the principal hereof shall be payable.


Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank Signature page follows.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY has caused this instrument to be signed by facsimile by its duly authorized representative.

Dated: February 9, 2024

 

Attest:

   

THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

 

By:

 

 

   

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

     

Name:

 
 

Title:

     

Title:

 


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated: February 9, 2024

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory


THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

5.600% Notes due 2054

Section 1. General. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of July 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among The Dow Chemical Company (the “Company”), Dow Inc. (“Dow”), as a party with respect to the sections described therein, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, Dow, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the Securities of the series designated on the face hereof.

Section 2. Redemption; Sinking Fund. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, the Securities are not redeemable prior to maturity.

(b) Prior to August 15, 2053 (the date that is six months prior to the maturity date of the Securities) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(1)  (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the redemption date, and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed,

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

On and after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

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

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the

 

6


Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

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

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

The Trustee will have no responsibility to determine the redemption price of the Securities.

(b) The Securities will not be subject to any sinking fund.

(c) The Company will mail or electronically deliver (or otherwise transmit in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) a notice of any redemption at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder; provided that such notice of redemption may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of the Securities. Once notice of redemption is mailed, the Securities called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

7


(d) The notice of redemption will state any conditions applicable to a redemption and the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed. If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select by lot, not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the particular Securities or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Securities previously called, or if the Securities are in global form, the Securities to be redeemed will be selected by the Depositary in accordance with Depositary’s customary procedures. The Company shall provide written notice to the Trustee prior to the close of business two Business Days prior to the redemption date if any such condition precedent has not been satisfied and the redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee will provide such notice to each Holder of the Securities in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

Section 3. Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.

(a) If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities as provided in Section 2 above, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of Securities to repurchase all or any part (in integral multiples of $1,000 and no Security of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be repurchased in part) of that Holder’s Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities repurchased, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but after the public announcement of an impending Change of Control, the Company will mail (or electronically deliver) a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Securities on the payment 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 mailed. The notice shall, if mailed or electronically delivered prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to repurchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

(c) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 3, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3 by virtue of such conflict.

(d) On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities (in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount) properly tendered pursuant to the aforementioned offer;

 

8


(ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities being repurchased by the Company.

(e) The paying agent will promptly mail (or cause to be delivered through the facilities of the Depositary) to each Holder of Securities properly tendered the repurchase price for the Securities, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Securities surrendered; provided, that each new Security will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 above that amount.

(f) The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Securities upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

(g) The following terms for purposes of this Section 3 shall have the respective meanings specified below:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the rating on the Securities is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and the Securities are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if any of the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request 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 shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and those of its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, Dow or one or more of wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dow;

(2) the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group”

 

9


(as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than Dow or one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dow, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of the Voting Stock of Dow or the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares;

(3) the Company or Dow consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company or Dow, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, Dow or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company or Dow outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company or the board of directors of Dow are not Continuing Directors; or

(5) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or Dow.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (a) the Company or Dow becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b) (y) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of Dow’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (z) immediately following that transaction, no person (as that term is used in Section 13(d) (3) of the Exchange Act) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company. Furthermore, neither the formation of an intermediate holding company of the Company that is 100% owned by Dow (directly or indirectly) or any business combination between the Company and Dow or any wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dow will constitute a Change of Control.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, (a) with respect to any member of the board of directors of Dow, any such member who (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of the issuance of the Securities; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director) and (b) with respect to any member of the board of directors of the Company, any such member who (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of the issuance of the Securities; or (2) was appointed, nominated for election or elected to such board of directors by Dow.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and its successors.

 

10


“Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch), Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services Inc. and its successors.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” registered pursuant to Section 15E of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and its successors.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any person, capital stock of any class or kind the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Section 4. Events of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Section 5. Modifications and Waivers; Obligation of the Company Absolute. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

Section 6. Authorized Denominations. The Securities are issuable in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth and to the limitations described below, if applicable, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like

 

11


aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

Section 7. Registration of Transfer. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security register upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of Chicago, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the securities registrar (which shall initially be the Trustee, 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6200B, Floor 62, Mailbox #44, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (Attention: Corporate Trust Department) or at such other address as it may designate as its principal corporate trust office in the City of Chicago), duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

This Security is exchangeable for a certificated Security only if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is no longer willing or able to act as a Depositary for this Security or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company has not appointed a successor depositary within 90 days of that notice or becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered or (y) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this Security shall be exchangeable for certificated Securities in registered form or (z) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented hereby has occurred and is continuing, and the Depositary requested the issuance of certificated Securities, provided that the definitive Securities so issued in exchange for this permanent Security shall be in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and be of like aggregate principal amount and tenor as the portion of this permanent Security to be exchanged, and provided further that, unless the Company agrees otherwise, Securities of this series in certificated registered form will be issued in exchange for this permanent Security, or any portion hereof, only if such Securities in certificated registered form were requested by written notice to the Trustee or the Securities Registrar by or on behalf of a person who is beneficial owner of an interest hereof given through the Holder hereof. Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in this permanent Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Securities in certificated registered form and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Section 8. Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 9. No Recourse Against Certain Persons. No recourse for the payment of the principal or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof,

 

12


and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or any Supplemental Indenture thereto or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation of either of them, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of either of them, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule or law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

Section 10. Defeasance. The Indenture with respect to any series will be discharged and cancelled except for certain Sections thereof, subject to the terms of the Indenture, upon payment of all of the Securities of such series or upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee of cash or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) sufficient for such payment in accordance with Article Ten of the Indenture.

Section 11. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Section 12. Defined Terms. All terms used in this Security which are not defined in this Security but which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

13


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

 

TEN COM - as tenants in common

 

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -                        

   

                   (Minor)

 

Custodian                          

   

                (Cust)

 

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act                     

   

                       (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

14


ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR

OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:              

  

Signature:            

  

NOTICE:

  

THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

Signature Guarantee:

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

15


SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES

The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

 

Amount of Decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security

 

Amount of Increase
in Principal Amount of

this Global Security

 

Principal Amount of this
Global Security

following such Decrease

or Increase

 

Signature of
Authorized Signatory of
Trustee or Custodian

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

EX-5.1 5 d747158dex51.htm EX-5.1 EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022-6069

+1.212.848.4000

February 9, 2024

The Dow Chemical Company

2211 H.H. Dow Way

Midland, Michigan 48674

The Dow Chemical Company

$600,000,000 5.150% Notes due 2034

$650,000,000 5.600% Notes due 2054

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to The Dow Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the issuance and sale of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.150% Notes due 2034 (the “2034 Notes”) and $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.600% Notes due 2054 (the “2054 Notes,” and together with the 2034 Notes, the “Notes”) subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, dated February 7, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company and each of the underwriters named therein. The Notes are to be issued under an Indenture dated as of July 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”) between the Company, Dow Inc., as a party with respect to the sections described therein, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).

In that connection, we have reviewed originals or copies identified to our satisfaction of the following documents:

 

  (a)

The Indenture;

 

  (b)

The officers’ certificate, dated as of February 9, 2024, setting forth certain terms of the Notes; and

 

  (c)

The certificates representing the Notes.

The documents described in the foregoing clauses (a) to (c) are collectively referred to herein as the “Opinion Documents”.

We have also reviewed the following documents:

 

  (a)

The registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-265556-01) filed by the Company as co-registrant with Dow Inc., a Delaware corporation, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 13, 2022 (such registration statement,

 

SHEARMAN.COM
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a limited liability partnership organized in the United States under the laws of the state of Delaware, which laws limit the personal liability of partners.


- 2 -

 

 

including the information deemed to be part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act and the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Registration Statement”).

 

  (b)

The prospectus dated June 13, 2022, forming a part of the Registration Statement with respect to the offering from time to time of the Company’s securities (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the final prospectus supplement dated February 7, 2024 relating to the Notes (the “Final Prospectus Supplement”) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Final Prospectus Supplement, in the forms filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Final Prospectus”).

 

  (c)

The Underwriting Agreement.

 

  (d)

Originals or copies of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws of the Company, each as amended through the date hereof.

 

  (e)

Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In our review of the Opinion Documents and other documents, we have assumed:

 

  (a)

The genuineness of all signatures.

 

  (b)

The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.

 

  (c)

The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.

 

  (d)

As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made in the Underwriting Agreement, and in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company.

 

  (e)

That each of the Opinion Documents is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, other than the Company, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.

 

  (f)

That the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Opinion Documents to which it is a party do not and will not, except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it.

 

  (g)

That the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Opinion Documents to which it is a party do not and will not result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it.

 

  (h)

That, except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, no authorization, approval, consent or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of any Opinion Document to which it is a party or, if any such authorization, approval, consent, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.


- 3 -

 

We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.

“Generally Applicable Law” means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New York (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New York lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company, the Opinion Documents or the transactions governed by the Opinion Documents and, for purposes of assumption paragraphs (f) and (h) above and our opinion in paragraph (1) below, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition of Generally Applicable Law, the term “Generally Applicable Law” does not include any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Opinion Documents or such transactions solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to the specific assets or business of any party to any of the Opinion Documents or any of its affiliates.

Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as we have deemed necessary and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1.

The Company (a) is validly existing, (b) has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform the Notes and (c) has taken all action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Notes.

 

  2.

The Notes have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and, when authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered and paid for as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

Our opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:

(a) Our opinion in paragraph 2 above is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers).

(b) Our opinion in paragraph 2 above is also subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) Our opinions are limited to Generally Applicable Law, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the offering of the Notes.

This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated the date hereof, filed by the Company and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Final Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.


- 4 -

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP

RA/im/dh

EK

EX-5.2 6 d747158dex52.htm EX-5.2 EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

February 9, 2024

The Dow Chemical Company

2211 H.H. Dow Way

Midland, Michigan 48674

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary of The Dow Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and I and other members of the Company’s legal department have represented the Company in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of its Dow InterNotes® and Medium-Term Notes (the “Securities”), pursuant to the Indenture dated as of July 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”), between the Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee (the “Trustee”).

In rendering the opinion expressed below, I have examined (or caused to be examined) the following:

 

  (i)

the Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company;

 

  (ii)

the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company;

 

  (iii)

the Indenture;

 

  (iv)

the distribution agreement, dated July 22, 2022, among the Company, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as agents (the “Distribution Agreement”); and

 

  (v)

the selling agent agreement, dated July 22, 2022, among the Company, InspereX LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC, as agents (the “Selling Agent Agreement”).

I have also examined (or caused to be examined) originals or certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors and/or authorization policies of the Company and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of public authorities, and other documents and instruments as I have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examination, I have assumed (i) the due execution and delivery, pursuant to the due authorization, of the Selling Agent Agreement, the Distribution Agreement and the Indenture by all parties thereto other than the Company, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted as originals and the conformity to originals of documents submitted as copies, and (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons executing the Selling Agent Agreement, the Distribution Agreement and the Indenture. As to various questions of fact that are material to the opinion hereinafter expressed, I have, when such facts were not independently established by me, relied upon the representations and certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.

Based upon the foregoing and upon such investigations as I have deemed necessary, and subject to the qualifications hereinafter set forth, it is my opinion that when the terms of the Securities have been established by authorized officers or representatives of the Company and when the Securities have been completed, executed and issued by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Selling Agent Agreement or Distribution Agreement, as applicable, the Securities will be duly authorized and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.


The opinion expressed above is subject to the effect of (a) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and (b) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

I do not purport to be an expert on, or to express any opinion concerning matters under or involving any law other than the law of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The opinion expressed in this letter is based upon the laws in effect on the date hereof, and I assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should such laws be changed by legislative action, judicial decision, or otherwise.

I hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of this opinion as an Exhibit 5 to the Company’s Form S-3ASR Registration Statement (File No. 333-265556-01) and to the reference to me under the caption “Legal Matters” in any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities. In addition, if a pricing supplement relating to the offer and sale of any Security or Securities is prepared and filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on this date or a future date and the pricing supplement contains a reference to this opinion substantially in the form set forth below, this consent shall apply to the reference to my opinion and to the reference to me as providing such opinion in substantially such form:

“In the opinion of Shandell S. Massey, Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary, of The Dow Chemical Company (the “Company”), the notes offered by this pricing supplement have been duly authorized, and when executed and issued by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture, and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity). This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the law of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof. In addition, this opinion is subject to the same assumptions and qualifications stated in the letter of such counsel dated February 9, 2024, filed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2024 and incorporated by reference as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-265556-01).”

In giving such consents, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Shandell S. Massey

Shandell S. Massey

Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary