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) December 2, 2014

 

 

LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Missouri   001-07845   44-0324630

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

No. 1 Leggett Road, Carthage, MO   64836
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 417-358-8131

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Commercial Paper Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement

On December 2, 2014, we entered into an Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement (the “Agreement”) between us and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Bank”) where the Bank will act as (a) depository for the safekeeping of our commercial paper notes (the “Notes”); (b) issuing agent on behalf of us in connection with the issuance of the Notes; (c) paying agent for the Notes; and (d) depository to receive funds on our behalf (our “CP Program”). The Agreement replaces our former Commercial Paper Agency Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JP Morgan”), as discussed below.

In connection with the entry into the Agreement, on December 3, 2014, we executed a Master Note which will evidence the Notes issued from time to time. The Agreement provides for the issuance and payment of the Notes and contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions. The Agreement, along with the Master Note is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 10.1.

As of December 2, 2014, we had no Notes outstanding. The total indebtedness authorized under our CP Program is $600 million outstanding at any time. Amounts available under our CP Program may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed from time to time. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes are expected to be used for general corporate purposes. Our CP Program is supported by our unsecured $600 million multi-currency revolving credit agreement. Reference is made to (i) our Credit Agreement filed August 19, 2011 as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K; (ii) the First Amendment to Credit Agreement filed August 26, 2013 as Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K; and (iii) the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement filed August 19, 2014 as Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K. As of December 2, 2014, there was no outstanding indebtedness under our Credit Agreement.

Commercial Paper Dealer Agreements

On December 2, 2014, we amended and restated our commercial paper dealer agreements (“Dealer Agreements”) with certain dealers selected by us (the “Dealers”). Each Dealer Agreement provides for the terms under which the respective Dealer will either purchase from us or arrange for the sale by us of the Notes in transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Dealer Agreements are substantially identical, in all material respects, and contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions. The form of Dealer Agreement is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 10.2.

The Notes are issued in $250,000 minimum face or principal amounts at par less a discount representing an interest factor, or at par, if interest bearing, with interest established based upon market conditions and credit ratings in effect at the time of issuance. The maturities of the Notes will vary but may not exceed 270 days. The Notes are not subject to voluntary pre-payment by us or redemption prior to maturity. The Notes rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Such Notes shall be subject to certain event of default provisions, including those related to non-payment of principal or interest when due and the bankruptcy or insolvency of our company, which shall cause the Notes to become immediately due and payable. Over the long term, and subject to our capital needs, market conditions and alternative capital market opportunities, we expect to maintain or increase the indebtedness under the CP Program by continuously repaying and reissuing Notes until such time, if any, that the outstanding Notes are replaced with longer term debt. However, our outstanding Note balance may increase or decrease in the short term due to acquisition or divestiture activity and our working capital needs.

The Bank and Dealers and/or their affiliates have provided from time to time, and may continue to provide commercial banking and related services, as well as investment banking, financial advisory and other services to us and our affiliates, for which we have paid, and intend to pay customary fees, and, in some cases, out-of-pocket expenses. The foregoing is only a summary of certain terms of the Agreement and Dealer Agreements, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement and the form of Dealer Agreement which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.


The Notes will not be, and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered, reoffered or sold in the United States, or elsewhere, absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction or an exemption. This Form 8-K is not intended to condition the market in the United States, or elsewhere, for the issuance of any Notes.

Statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are not historical in nature are “forward-looking,” including, without limitation, our expectations regarding our plans to maintain or increase our commercial paper indebtedness under certain circumstances. These statements involve uncertainties and risks, including, without limitation, (i) increases or decreases in our capital needs, which may vary depending on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, any acquisition or divestiture activity and our working capital needs, (ii) market conditions and (iii) alternative capital market opportunities, including, without limitation, the relative attractiveness of longer-term debt financing or equity financing. Any forward-looking statement reflects only our beliefs when the statement is made. Actual results could differ materially from our expectations, and we do not undertake any duty to update these statements.

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

Terminated Commercial Paper Agency Agreement

On December 2, 2014, in connection with the entry of the Agreement, our Commercial Paper Agency Agreement previously entered into between us and JPMorgan (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.) (the “JP Morgan Agreement”) was terminated. Under the JP Morgan Agreement, JP Morgan (a) provided for the safekeeping of Notes; (b) acted as issuing agent for the Notes; (c) acted as paying agent for the Notes; and (d) acted as depository to receive funds on our behalf. The JP Morgan Agreement contained customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions. The foregoing is only a summary of certain terms of the terminated JP Morgan Agreement, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

JP Morgan and/or its affiliates have provided from time to time, and may continue to provide commercial banking and related services, as well as investment banking, financial advisory and other services to us and our affiliates, for which we have paid, and intend to pay customary fees, and, in some cases, out-of-pocket expenses.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information provided in Item 1.01 is incorporated into this item by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1*    Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement between U.S. Bank National Association and the Company, dated December 2, 2014, including the Master Note, dated December 3, 2014
10.2*    Form of Amended and Restated Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement
10.3    Commercial Paper Agency Agreement between JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.) and the Company, including the forms of Master Note, dated December 21, 1994, filed March 15, 2007 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, is incorporated by reference. (SEC File No. 001-07845)

 

* Denotes filed herewith.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

        LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED

Date: December 5, 2014

    By:   /s/ John G. Moore
     

 

     

John G. Moore

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & HR Officer and Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1*    Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement between U.S. Bank National Association and the Company, dated December 2, 2014, including the Master Note, dated December 3, 2014
10.2*    Form of Amended and Restated Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement
10.3    Commercial Paper Agency Agreement between JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.) and the Company, including the forms of Master Note, dated December 21, 1994, filed March 15, 2007 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, is incorporated by reference. (SEC File No. 001-07845)

 

* Denotes filed herewith.

Exhibit 10.1

ISSUING AND PAYING AGENT AGREEMENT

THIS ISSUING AND PAYING AGENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 2, 2014 by and between U.S. Bank National Association (the “Bank”) with offices at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005 and Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (the “Company”) regarding the commercial paper program of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Program”):

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS , at the request of the Company, the Bank is prepared to (a) act as depositary for the safekeeping of certain notes of the Company which may be issued and sold in the United States commercial paper market under the Program (the “Commercial Paper Notes”; such Commercial Paper Notes when issued in book-entry form being hereinafter referred to as “Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes” and when issued in the form of certificated promissory notes being hereinafter referred to as “Certificated Commercial Paper Notes”), (b) as issuing agent on behalf of the Company in connection with the issuance of the Commercial Paper Notes, (c) as paying agent to undertake certain obligations to make payments in respect of the Commercial Paper Notes, and (d) as depositary to receive certain funds on behalf of the Company, as set forth herein, and

WHEREAS , this Agreement will govern the Bank’s rights, powers and duties as such depositary, issuing agent and paying agent for the Commercial Paper Notes and the Company’s rights and obligations in connection therewith.

NOW THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Bank. The Company hereby appoints the Bank and the Bank hereby agrees to act, on the terms and conditions specified herein, as depositary, and issuing and paying agent for the Commercial Paper Notes issued under the Program. The Commercial Paper Notes will be sold through such commercial paper dealers and/or placement agents as the Company shall have notified the Bank in writing from time to time (collectively, the “Dealers”). The Dealer(s) are currently                     .

2. Letter of Representations. The Company will promptly deliver to the Bank an executed version of the form of Letter of Representations (the “Letter of Representations”) provided by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The Company understands and agrees that such Letter of Representations when executed by the Company, the Bank and DTC shall supplement the provisions of this Agreement and that the Company, the Bank, and DTC shall be bound by the terms and provisions of the Letter of Representations, including any procedures and operational arrangements applicable thereunder.


3. Supply of Commercial Paper Notes.

(a) The Company will from time to time furnish the Bank with an adequate supply of Commercial Paper Notes, which shall be Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes and/or Certificated Commercial Paper Notes, as the Company in its sole and absolute discretion considers appropriate. If Certificated Commercial Paper Notes are to be issued, they shall be in the form provided by the Company, shall be serially numbered and shall have been executed by manual or facsimile signature of an Authorized Representative (as hereafter defined), but shall otherwise be uncompleted. Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes shall be substantially in the forms attached to the Letter of Representations and shall be represented by one or more master notes (“Master Note” or “Master Notes”) which shall be executed by manual or facsimile signature by an Authorized Representative in accordance with the Letter of Representations. Pending receipt of instructions pursuant to this Agreement, the Bank will hold the Certificated Commercial Paper Notes and Master Note(s) in safekeeping for the account of the Company or DTC, as the case may be, in accordance with the Bank’s customary practice.

(b) Each Certificated Commercial Paper Note or Master Note delivered to the Bank shall be accompanied by a letter from the Company, as the case may be, identifying the Certificated Commercial Paper Note or Master Note(s) transmitted therewith, and the Bank shall acknowledge receipt of such Certificated Commercial Paper Note(s) or Master Note(s) on the copy of such letter or pursuant to some other form of written receipt deemed appropriate by the Bank at the time of delivery to the Bank of such Certificated Commercial Paper Note(s) or Master Note(s). Pending the issuance of Certificated Commercial Paper Notes as provided in Section 5 hereof, all Certificated Commercial Paper Notes and Master Note(s) delivered to the Bank shall be held by the Bank for the account of the Company or DTC, as the case may be, for safekeeping in accordance with the Bank’s customary practice.

4. Authorized Representatives . With the delivery of this Agreement, the Company is furnishing to the Bank, and from time to time thereafter may furnish to the Bank, and shall furnish to the Bank upon the Bank’s request, certificates (“Incumbency Certificates”) of a responsible officer (a “Responsible Officer”) of the Company certifying the incumbency and specimen signatures of officers or agents of the Company authorized to execute Commercial Paper Notes on behalf of the Company by manual or facsimile signature and/or to take other action hereunder on behalf of the Company (each an “Authorized Representative”); such Incumbency Certificate shall also specify the names of employees of Dealers who are authorized to give notices and/or issuance instructions to the Bank as provided herein (a “Dealer Representative”). Until the Bank receives a subsequent Incumbency Certificate of the Company, the Bank is entitled to rely on the last such Incumbency Certificate delivered to the Bank for purposes of determining the Authorized Representatives and Dealer Representatives. The Bank shall not have any responsibility to the Company to determine by whom or by what means a facsimile signature may have been affixed on the Commercial Paper Notes, or to determine whether any facsimile or manual signature resembles the specimen signature(s) filed with the Bank by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Any Commercial Paper Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a person who is an Authorized Representative on the date such signature is affixed shall be binding on the Company after the authentication thereof by the Bank notwithstanding that such person shall have died or shall have otherwise ceased to hold his office on the date such Commercial Paper Note is countersigned or delivered to the Bank.


5. Completion, Authentication and Delivery of Commercial Paper Notes.

(a) In the case of Certificated Commercial Paper Notes, from time to time during the term of this Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and upon the Bank’s timely receipt of written, telecopy or telex instructions or notice transmitted directly to the Bank’s computers or in such other manner as the Bank then employs as the Bank’s normal business practice, not later than 12:30 pm New York City time on a day on which the Bank is open for business (a “Business Day”), from an Authorized Representative or a Dealer Representative, on the date of issuance of any Certificated Commercial Paper Notes (in the case of instructions from an Authorized Representative, a copy of such instructions shall be sent to the Dealer Representative by said Authorized Representative), the Bank shall withdraw the respective Certificated Commercial Paper Notes from safekeeping and in accordance with the instructions so received, take the following actions with respect to each such Certificated Commercial Paper Note:

 

  i. date each such Certificated Commercial Paper Note the date of issuance thereof (which shall be a Business Day) and insert the maturity date thereof (provided that the Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative shall ensure that such date is a Business Day and that it shall not be more than 270 days from the date of issue) and the face amount (provided that Authorized Representative or the Dealer Representative shall ensure that such face amount is $250,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) thereof in figures;

 

  ii. authenticate (by countersigning) each such Certificated Commercial Paper Note in the appropriate space provided thereon; and

 

  iii. deliver in the Borough of Manhattan south of Chambers Street each such Certificated Commercial Paper Note to the Dealer, or the consignee, if any, designated by such Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative for the account of the Dealer.

 

  iv. the interest rate and applicable discount amount.

(b) In the case of Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes, from time to time during the term of this Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and upon the Bank’s timely receipt of written, telecopy or telex instructions or notice transmitted directly to the Bank’s computers or in such other a manner as the Bank then employs as the Bank’s normal business practices, not later than 2:00 pm New York City time on a Business Day, from an Authorized Representative or a Dealer Representative, on the date of issuance of any Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes (in the case of instructions from an Authorized Representative, a copy of such instructions shall be sent to the Dealer Representative by said Authorized Representative), the Bank shall give issuance instructions for the issuance of Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes to DTC in a manner set forth in, and take other actions as are required


by, the Letter of Representations. Instructions for the issuance of Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes shall include the following information with respect to each Book-Entry Commercial Paper Note:

 

  i. the date of issuance of each such Book-Entry Commercial Paper Note (which shall be a Business Day);

 

  ii. the maturity date of each such Book-Entry Commercial Paper Note (provided that the Representative or Dealer Representative shall ensure that such date is a Business Day and that it shall not be more than 270 days from the date of issue); and

 

  iii. the face amount (provided that the Authorized Representative or the Dealer Representative shall ensure that such face amount is $250,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) in figures; and

 

  iv. the interest rate and applicable discount amount.

(c) The Company understands that although the Bank has been instructed to deliver Commercial Paper Notes against payment, delivery of Commercial Paper Notes will, in accordance with the custom prevailing in the commercial paper market, be made before receipt of payment in immediately available funds. Therefore, once the Bank has delivered a Commercial Paper Note to a Dealer or its agent as provided herein, the Company shall bear the risk that a Dealer or its agent fails to remit payment for the Commercial Paper Note to the Bank. The Bank shall have no liability to the Company for any failure or inability on the part of the Dealer to make payment for Commercial Paper Notes. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Bank to purchase any Commercial Paper Note or expend the Bank’s own funds for the purchase price of a Commercial Paper Note or Commercial Paper Notes.

(d) Except as may otherwise be provided in the Letter of Representations, if at any time the Company instructs the Bank to cease issuing Certificated Commercial Paper Notes and to issue only Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes, the Bank agrees that all Commercial Paper Notes will be issued as Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes and that no Certificated Commercial Paper Notes shall be exchanged for Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes unless and until the Bank has received written instructions from an Authorized Representative (any such instructions from a Dealer Representative shall not be sufficient for this purpose) to the contrary.

(e) It is understood that the Bank is not under any obligation to assess or review the financial condition or creditworthiness of any person to or for whose account the Bank delivers a Commercial Paper Note pursuant to instructions from an Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative or advise the Company as to the results of any such appraisal or investigation the Bank may have conducted on its own or of any adverse information concerning any such person that may in any way have come to the Bank’s attention.


(f) It is understood that DTC may request the delivery of Certificated Commercial Paper Notes in exchange for Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes upon the termination of DTC’s services pursuant to the DTC Letter of Representations. Accordingly, upon such termination, the Bank is authorized to complete and deliver Certificated Commercial Paper Notes in partial or complete substitution for Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes of the same face amount and maturity as requested by DTC. Upon the completion or delivery of any such Certificated Commercial Paper Note, the Bank shall annotate the Bank’s records regarding the Master Note with respect to such Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes to reflect a corresponding reduction in the face amount of the outstanding Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes. The Bank’s authority to so complete and deliver such Certificated Commercial Paper Notes shall be irrevocable at all times from the time a Book-Entry Commercial Paper Note is purchased until the indebtedness evidenced thereby is paid in full.

(g) If the Bank shall receive written or telecopy instructions (confirmed in writing in accordance with this Agreement) from the Company not to issue or deliver Commercial Paper Notes, until revoked in writing or superseded by further written instructions from the Company, the Bank shall not issue or deliver Commercial Paper Notes, provided, however, that notwithstanding contrary instructions from the Company, the Bank shall be required to deliver Commercial Paper Notes with respect to agreements for the sale of Commercial Paper Notes concluded by an Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative prior to receipt by the Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative of notice of such instructions from the Company, which the Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative shall be required to confirm to the Bank in writing prior to the Bank’s delivery of the Commercial Paper Notes. For purposes of the preceding provision, the Bank may rely on written notice given or delivered to the Bank by an Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative as to whether any particular Commercial Paper Notes are to be issued in respect of such agreements concluded by such Authorized Representative or Dealer Representative, and the Bank shall have no obligation to make any other or further investigation.

6. Proceeds of Sale of the Commercial Paper Notes. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and for the purposes of this Agreement, the Bank will establish an account designated as the Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Note Account (the “Note Account”). On each day on which a Dealer or its agent receives Commercial Paper Notes (whether through the facilities of DTC in the manner set forth in the Letter of Representations or by delivery in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement), all proceeds received by the Bank in connection with such sale shall be credited in immediately available funds to the Note Account. From time to time upon written instructions received by the Bank from an Authorized Representative, the Bank agrees to transfer immediately available funds from the Note Account to any bank or trust company in the United States for the Company’s account. If the Bank chooses, in its sole discretion, to credit the Company’s account before the Bank has collected funds for delivery of Commercial Paper Notes, it is understood that such credit shall be an advance to the Company to be promptly repaid to the Bank from the proceeds of sale of Commercial Paper Notes. If any such advance is not repaid on the day it is used, the Company shall repay such advance on the next business day together with interest thereon at the rate charged by the Bank for such advance (which rate shall be no less than the “Prime Rate”). As used in this Agreement, “Prime Rate” means the rate of per annum interest which U.S. Bank


National Association (“USBNA”) announces publicly or otherwise makes available to the public from time to time as its “prime rate” (currently calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) with any change in the “prime rate” to be effective on and as of the date of any change in said “prime rate”. The Prime Rate and the calculation thereof may be established by USBNA in its sole discretion and is not necessarily the lowest rate of interest offered by USBNA to its most creditworthy customers. The Prime Rate is a variable or fluctuating rate which increases or decreases from time to time.

7. Payment of Matured Commercial Paper Notes.

(a) By 1:00 pm, New York time, on the date that any Commercial Paper Notes are scheduled to mature, the Company shall ensure that there shall have been transferred to the Bank for deposit in the Note Account immediately available funds at least equal to the amount of Commercial Paper Notes maturing on such date. If Commercial Paper Notes are being issued on the same day that Commercial Paper Notes are maturing, the Company shall ensure that immediately available funds are wired into the Note Account by 1:00 pm, New York time on such date in an amount equal to the amount by which the face value of the Commercial Paper Notes maturing on such date exceeds the face value of Commercial Paper Notes being issued on such date,. When any matured Commercial Paper Note is presented to the Bank for payment by the holder thereof (which may, in the case of Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes, be DTC or a nominee of DTC), payment shall be made from and charged to the Note Account to the extent funds are available in said account.

(b) Each Commercial Paper Note presented to the Bank for payment at or prior to 2:15 pm, New York City time, on any Business Day at or after the maturity date of such Commercial Paper Note shall be paid by the Bank on the same day as such presentation (or if presented after 2:15 pm, New York City time on any such Business Day, then on the next succeeding Business Day) to the extent funds are available in the Note Account.

8. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby warrants and represents to the Bank, and, each request to issue Commercial Paper Notes shall constitute the Company’s continuing warranty and representation, as follows:

(a) This Agreement is, and all Commercial Paper Notes delivered to the Bank pursuant to this Agreement will be, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. The Bank’s appointment to act for the Company hereunder is duly authorized by the Company.

(b) The issuance and delivery of the Commercial Paper Notes will not violate any state or federal law and the Commercial Paper Notes do not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(c) This Agreement constitutes, and the Commercial Paper Notes, when completed, countersigned, and delivered pursuant hereto, will constitute, the Company’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and by general principles of equity.


(d) The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Missouri and no liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy, windup or similar proceedings have been instituted with respect to the Company.

(e) The Company has, and at all relevant times has had, all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to issue the Commercial Paper Notes.

(f) The Company has taken all actions which are required for the authorization of the issuance of the Commercial Paper Notes, and for the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and such actions do not require the approval or consent of any holder or trustee of any indebtedness or obligations of the Company.

(g) The issuance of Commercial Paper Notes by the Company (i) does not and will not contravene any provision of any governmental law, regulation or rule applicable to the Company, and (ii) does not and will not conflict with, breach or contravene the provisions of any contract or other instrument binding upon the Company.

(h) Each instruction given to the Bank in accordance with Section 5 hereof shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that the issuance and delivery of such Commercial Paper Note(s) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company.

9. Reliance on Instructions. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Bank shall incur no liability to the Company in acting hereunder upon telephonic or other instructions contemplated hereby which the Bank reasonably believed in good faith to have been given by an Authorized Representative or a Dealer Representative, as the case may be. In the event a discrepancy exists with respect to such instructions, the telephonic instructions as understood by the Bank will be deemed the controlling and proper instructions, unless such instructions are required by this Agreement to be in writing.

10. Cancellation of Commercial Paper Notes. Upon payment by the Bank of Certificated Commercial Paper Note(s) presented for payment, the Bank shall mark such Certificated Commercial Paper Note(s) as paid and (i) in due course cancel Certificated Commercial Paper Note(s) presented for payment and from time to time return such canceled Certificated Commercial Paper Notes to the Company, or (ii) destroy such Certificated Commercial Paper Notes(s) and deliver to the Company from time to time a destruction certificate identifying all Certificated Commercial Paper Notes destroyed since the issuance of the prior destruction certificate. After payment of any matured Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes, the Bank shall annotate the Bank’s records to reflect the face amount of Book-Entry Commercial Paper Notes outstanding in accordance with the Letter of Representations. Promptly upon the written request of the Company, the Bank agrees to cancel and return to the Company all unissued Certificated Commercial Paper Notes in the Bank’s possession at the time of such request.


11. Notices; Addresses.

(a) All communications to the Bank by or on behalf of the Company or a Dealer, by writing, telecopy, telex or telephone, and which relates to the completion, delivery or payment of the Commercial Paper Note(s), are to be directed to Commercial Paper Operations at the address indicated in Section 11(b) below.

(b) Notices and other communications hereunder shall (except to the extent otherwise expressly provided) be in writing (which may be by facsimile) and shall be addressed as follows, or to such other address as the party receiving such notice shall have previously specified to the party sending such notice:

 

  if to the Company, at:    Leggett & Platt, Incorporated   
     1 Leggett Road   
     Carthage, MO 64836   
  Attention:    Treasurer   
  Facsimile No.:    417-358-8027   
  Telephone No.:    417-358-8131   
  if to the Bank,      
  concerning the daily issuance of Commercial Paper Notes:
 

U.S. Bank National Association

 

100 Wall Street, 16th Floor

 

New York, NY 10005

  Attention:    Commercial Paper Operations   
  Facsimile No.:    (212) 509-4529   
  Telephone No.:    (212) 951-8508   
  concerning all other matters:   
 

U.S. Bank National Association

 

100 Wall Street, Suite 1600

 

New York, NY 10005

  Attention:    Corporate Trust Administration   
  Facsimile No.:    (212) 509-3384   
  Telephone No.:    (212) 951-8561   


(c) In any case where it is provided in this Agreement that a copy of any instruction, demand or other notice is to be delivered to a Dealer, such copy shall be delivered to the Dealer at the address set forth below by the same means as the original thereof shall have been given, provided that the failure of such copy to be given to any Dealer shall not invalidate or adversely affect the original thereof:

 

  Dealer:     
    [Dealer Name]   
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
 

Attention:

    
   

 

  
 

Facsimile No.:

    
   

 

  
 

Telephone No.:

    
   

 

  
    [Dealer Name]   
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
 

Attention:

    
   

 

  
 

Facsimile No.:

    
   

 

  
 

Telephone No.:

    
   

 

  
    [Dealer Name]   
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
 

Attention:

    
   

 

  
 

Telephone No.:

    
   

 

  
 

Facsimile No.:

    
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
    [Dealer Name]   
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
      
   

 

  
  Attention:     
   

 

  
  Telephone No.:     
   

 

  
      
   

 

  


Notices shall be deemed delivered when received at the address specified above. For purposes of this Section 11, “when received” shall mean actual receipt (i) of an electronic communication by telecopier or issuance system specified in or pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) of an oral communication by any person answering the telephone at the office of the individual or department specified in or pursuant to this Agreement; or (iii) of a written communication hand-delivered at the office specified in or pursuant to this Agreement.

12. Liability. Neither the Bank nor the Bank’s agents shall be liable for any act or omission hereunder, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct as described in Section 13 herein. The Bank’s duties and obligations shall be determined by the express provisions of this Agreement, and the Letter of Representations (including the documents referred to therein), and the Bank and the Bank’s agents shall be responsible for the performance of only such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth herein and therein, and no implied covenants shall be read into any such document against the Bank or the Bank’s agents. Neither the Bank nor the Bank’s agents shall be required to ascertain whether any issuance or sale of Commercial Paper Note(s) (or any amendment or termination of this Agreement) has been duly authorized or is in compliance with any other agreement to which the Company is a party (whether or not the Bank or any such agent is a party to such other agreement).

13. Indemnity. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold the Bank, the Bank’s employees and any and all of the Bank’s officers and agents harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities (including liabilities for penalties), actions, suits, judgments, demands, damages, costs and expenses of any nature (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses) arising out of or resulting from this Agreement or the transactions or activities contemplated hereby or the exercise of the Bank’s rights and/or the performance of the Bank’s duties (or those of the Bank’s agents and employees) hereunder; provided, however that the Company shall not be liable to indemnify or pay the Bank or any of the Bank’s officers or employees with respect to any loss, liability, action, suit, judgment, demand, damage, cost or expense that results from or is attributable to the Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or that of the Bank’s officers or employees. The foregoing indemnity includes, but is not limited to, (a) any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Bank or any of the Bank’s officers or employees upon written, telecopy, telephonic or other electronically transmitted instructions (authorized herein) received by the Bank from, or believed by the Bank in good faith to have been given by, the proper person or persons, (b) the Bank’s improperly executing or failing to execute any instruction because of unclear instructions, failure of communications media or any other circumstances beyond the Bank’s control, and (c) the actions or inactions of DTC. The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive (i) the Bank’s resignation or removal hereunder and (ii) the termination of this Agreement. In no event shall the Bank be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages.


14. Termination.

(a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either the Bank or the Company by 15 days’ prior written notice to the other, provided that the Bank agrees to continue acting as issuing and paying agent hereunder until such time as the Bank’s successor has been selected and has entered into an agreement with the Company to that effect. Such termination shall not affect the respective liabilities of the parties hereunder arising prior to such termination.

(b) If no successor has been appointed within 30 days, then the Bank have the right to petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor issuing and paying agent hereunder. The Bank shall be reimbursed for any and all expenses in connection with any such petition and appointment.

(c) On the Business Day following the date of termination of this Agreement, the Bank shall destroy all Certificated Commercial Paper Notes in the Bank’s possession and shall transfer to the Company all funds, if any, then on deposit in the Note Account. The Bank shall promptly notify the Company of all Certificated Commercial Paper Notes so destroyed.

15. Amendments and Modifications. No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent to any departure by any party from any provision hereof binding upon such party, shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all the parties hereto.

16. Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective successors, including successors by merger, and assigns; provided, however, that no party hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder, except with the prior written consent of all the other parties hereto.

17. Governing Law.

(a) This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and performed in the State of New York and, to the extent applicable, operating circulars of the Federal Reserve Bank, federal laws and regulations as amended, New York Clearing House rules and, to the extent not otherwise inconsistent with this Agreement, general commercial bank practices applicable to commercial paper issuance and payment.

(b) Each party irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan and the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan.

18. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts; each counterpart, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original; and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.


19. Headings. Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

20. Compensation and Expenses. The Company shall pay the Bank from time to time following the execution of this Agreement reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Bank hereunder as agreed between the Bank and the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Bank upon the Bank’s request for all expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Bank in accordance with any provision of this Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of the Bank’s agents and counsel) except any expense or disbursement attributable to the Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

21. Miscellaneous.

(a) No implied covenants or obligations of or against the Bank are to read into this Agreement or any other agreement. No provision of this Agreement shall require the Bank to risk the Bank’s own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of the Bank’s duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of the Bank’s duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of the Bank’s rights and powers hereunder. If the Bank makes a deposit, payment or transfer of funds before the Bank receives immediately available funds, such deposit, payment or transfer shall represent an advance by the Bank to the Company to be repaid from such funds or by the Company in the event that such funds are not promptly received by the Bank. It is intended that such advance be for no longer than 24 hours. Interest on each such unpaid advance shall be at the rate charged by the Bank for such advance (which rate shall be no less than USBNA’s Prime Rate). The Company shall ensure the prompt reimbursement to the Bank of any such advance (including the interest thereon).

(b) The Bank may consult with counsel, and any advice or written opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Bank, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the Bank’s part, in reliance on such advice or opinion.

(c) The Bank makes no representation as to, and shall have no responsibility for, the correctness of any statement contained in, or the validity or sufficiency of, this Agreement or any documents or instruments referred to in this Agreement or as to or for the validity or collectibility of any obligation contemplated by this Agreement. The Bank shall not be accountable for the use or application by any person of disbursements properly made by the Bank in conformity with the provisions of this Agreement.

(d) The Bank may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any document or writing presented to the Bank hereunder and in good faith believed by the Bank to be genuine and to have been signed and presented by an authorized person or persons.


(e) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED

/s/ Sheri L. Mossbeck

 

Authorized Officer’s Signature

Name:   Sheri L. Mossbeck
Title:   Senior Vice President & Treasurer

/s/ Matthew C. Flanigan

  Authorized Officer’s Signature
Name:   Matthew C. Flanigan
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief
  Financial Officer
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/ Millie Rolla

  Authorized Officer’s Signature
Name:   Millie Rolla
Title:   Vice President


The Depository Trust Company

A subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation

CORPORATE COMMERCIAL PAPER – MASTER NOTE

 

 

December 3, 2014

  (Date of Issuance)

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (“Issuer”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or to registered assigns: (i) the principal amount, together with unpaid accrued interest thereon, if any, on the maturity date of each obligation identified on the records of Issuer (the “Underlying Records”) as being evidenced by this Master Note, which Underlying Records are maintained by U.S. Bank National Association (“Paying Agent”); (ii) interest on the principal amount of each such obligation that is payable in installments, if any, on the due date of each installment, as specified on the Underlying Records; and (iii) the principal amount of each such obligation that is payable in installments, if any, on the due date of each installment, as specified on the Underlying Records. Interest shall be calculated at the rate and according to the calculation convention specified on the Underlying Records. Payments shall be made by wire transfer to the registered owner from Paying Agent without the necessity of presentation and surrender of this Master Note.

    REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS MASTER NOTE SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

    This Master Note is a valid and binding obligation of Issuer.

Not Valid Unless Countersigned for Authentication by Paying Agent.

 

U.S. Bank National Association

   

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated

(Paying Agent)     (Issuer)
By:  

/s/ Millie Rolla

    By:  

/s/ Matthew C. Flanigan

(Authorized Countersignature)     (Authorized Signature)
     

Matthew C. Flanigan, Executive Vice

President and Chief Financial Officer

      By:  

/s/ John G. Moore

      (Authorized Signature)
     

John G. Moore, Senior Vice President,

Chief Legal & HR Officer, and Secretary

CCPMN March 2014


(Reverse Side of Note)

At the request of the registered owner, Issuer shall promptly issue and deliver one or more separate note certificates evidencing each obligation evidenced by this Master Note. As of the date any such note certificate or certificates are issued, the obligations which are evidenced thereby shall no longer be evidenced by this Master Note.

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto

 

 

(Name, Address. and Taxpayer Identification Number of Assignee)

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

 

Dated:                                                            

 

      (Signature)
Signature(s) Guaranteed:      
      Notice: The signature on this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Master Note, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

 

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.

CCPMN March 2014

Exhibit 10.2

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED COMMERCIAL PAPER DEALER AGREEMENT

Between:

LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED , as Issuer, and                 , as Dealer, Concerning Notes to be issued pursuant to an Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement dated as of December 2, 2014 between the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, as Issuing and Paying Agent dated as of December 2, 2014.

Amended and Restated Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement

4(a)(2) Program

The Issuer and Dealer are parties to that certain Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated as of                 . This agreement (the “Agreement”) amends, restates and supersedes in its entirety that agreement and sets forth the understandings between the Issuer and the Dealer, each named on the cover page hereof, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Issuer of its short-term promissory notes (the “Notes”) through the Dealer.

Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 6 hereof.

The Addendum to this Agreement, and any Annexes or Exhibits described in this Agreement or such Addendum, are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and made fully a part hereof.

 

1. Offers, Sales and Resales of Notes.

 

  1.1. While (i) the Issuer has and shall have no obligation to sell the Notes to the Dealer or to permit the Dealer to arrange any sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, and (ii) the Dealer has and shall have no obligation to purchase the Notes from the Issuer or to arrange any sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, the parties hereto agree that in any case where the Dealer purchases Notes from the Issuer, or arranges for the sale of Notes by the Issuer, such Notes will be purchased or sold by the Dealer in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Issuer contained herein or made pursuant hereto and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein; and where the Issuer sells the Notes to the Dealer, or the Dealer arranges the sale of the Notes, such Notes will be issued and sold in reliance on the covenants and agreements of the Dealer contained herein and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein.

 

  1.2.

So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, and in addition to the limitations contained in Section 1.7 hereof, the Issuer shall not, without the consent of the Dealer, offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any Notes except (a) in transactions with one or more dealers which may from time to time after the date hereof become dealers with respect to the Notes by executing with the Issuer one or more agreements which


  contain provisions substantially identical to those contained in Section 1 of this Agreement, of which the Issuer hereby undertakes to provide the Dealer prompt notice or (b) in transactions with the other dealers listed on the Addendum hereto, which are executing agreements with the Issuer which contain provisions substantially identical to Section 1 of this Agreement contemporaneously herewith. In no event shall the Issuer offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any Notes directly on its own behalf in transactions with persons other than broker-dealers as specifically permitted in this Section 1.2.

 

  1.3. The Notes shall be in a minimum denomination of $250,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, will bear such interest rates, if interest bearing, or will be sold at such discount from their face amounts, as shall be agreed upon by the Dealer and the Issuer, shall have a maturity not exceeding 270 days from the date of issuance and may have such terms as are specified in Exhibit C hereto or the Private Placement Memorandum. The Notes shall not contain any provision for extension, renewal or automatic “rollover.”

 

  1.4. The authentication and issuance of, and payment for, the Notes shall be effected in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, and the Notes shall be either individual physical certificates or book-entry notes evidenced by one or more master notes (each, a “Master Note”) registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee, in the form or forms annexed to the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  1.5. If the Issuer and the Dealer shall agree on the terms of the purchase of any Note by the Dealer or the sale of any Note arranged by the Dealer (including, but not limited to, agreement with respect to the date of issue, purchase price, principal amount, maturity and interest rate or interest rate index and margin (in the case of interest-bearing Notes) or discount thereof (in the case of Notes issued on a discount basis), and appropriate compensation for the Dealer’s services hereunder) pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuer shall cause such Note to be issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement and payment for such Note shall be made by the purchaser thereof, either directly or through the Dealer, to the Issuing and Paying Agent, for the account of the Issuer. Except as otherwise agreed, in the event that the Dealer is acting as an agent and a purchaser shall either fail to accept delivery of or make payment for a Note on the date fixed for settlement, the Dealer shall promptly notify the Issuer, and if the Dealer has theretofore paid the Issuer for the Note, the Issuer will promptly return such funds to the Dealer against its return of the Note to the Issuer, in the case of a certificated Note, and upon notice of such failure in the case of a book-entry Note. If such failure occurred for any reason other than default by the Dealer, the Issuer agrees to reimburse the Dealer on an equitable basis for the Dealer’s loss of the use of such funds for the period such funds were credited to the Issuer’s account.

 

  1.6. The Dealer and the Issuer hereby establish and agree to comply with the following procedures in connection with offers, sales and subsequent resales or other transfers of the Notes, it being understood that such agreement is made with a view to bringing the offer, sale and resale or other transfer of the Notes within the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act:

 

2


  (a) The Dealer agrees that offers and sales of the Notes by or through the Dealer shall be made only to an offeree or purchaser that the Dealer reasonably believes (1) has been afforded an opportunity to investigate matters relating to the Issuer and the Notes prior to the time of sale, (2) is not acquiring the Notes with a view to any distribution thereof, and (3) at the time of sale, is either (A) an Institutional Accredited Investor which (x) itself possesses such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic risk of an investment in the Notes or (y) with respect to which such Institutional Accredited Investor has sole investment discretion or (B) a Qualified Institutional Buyer that is acquiring Notes for its own account or for one or more accounts, each of which accounts is a Qualified Institutional Buyer and with respect to each of which the purchaser has sole investment discretion.

 

  (b) The Dealer agrees that resales and other transfers of the Notes by the holders thereof shall be made only in accordance with the restrictions in the legend described in clause (e) below and attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

  (c) No general solicitation or general advertising shall be used in connection with the offering within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the prior written approval of the other, neither the Dealer nor Issuer will issue any press release, make any other statement to any member of the press making reference to the Notes, the offer or sale of the Notes or this Agreement or place or publish any “tombstone” or other advertisement relating to the Notes or the offer or sale thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall be permitted to make such filings with the SEC that in the opinion of counsel for the Issuer are required to comply with Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Issuer shall (i) omit the name of the Dealer from any publicly available filing by the Issuer that makes reference to the Notes or the offer or sale of the Notes or this Agreement, (ii) redact the name of the Dealer or other information that could identify the Dealer from any agreement or other information included in such filing, or an exhibit thereto, and (iii) ensure that any such filing complies with Rule 135c of the Securities Act.

 

  (d) No sale of Notes to any one purchaser shall be for less than $250,000 principal or face amount, and no Note shall be issued in a smaller principal or face amount. If the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary or agent acting on behalf of others, such purchaser shall represent that each person for whom such purchaser is acting must purchase at least $250,000 principal or face amount of Notes.

 

  (e) Offers and sales of the Notes shall be subject to the restrictions described in the legend appearing on Exhibit A hereto. A legend substantially to the effect of such Exhibit A shall appear as part of the Private Placement Memorandum used in connection with offers and sales of Notes hereunder, as well as on each individual certificate representing a Note and each Master Note representing book-entry Notes offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  (f)

The Dealer shall furnish or shall have furnished to each purchaser of Notes for which it has acted as the dealer, at or prior to the sale of such Notes, a copy of the then-current Private Placement Memorandum unless such purchaser has previously received a copy of the Private Placement Memorandum as then in effect. The Private Placement Memorandum shall expressly state that any person to whom

 

3


  Notes are offered shall have an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive information from the Issuer and the Dealer and shall provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons from whom information regarding the Issuer may be obtained.

 

  (g) The Issuer agrees for the benefit of the Dealer and each of the holders and prospective purchasers from time to time of the Notes that, if at any time the Issuer shall not be subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer will furnish, upon request and at its expense, to the Dealer and to holders and prospective purchasers of Notes information required by Rule 144A(d)(4)(i) in compliance with Rule 144A(d).

 

  (h) In the event that any Note offered or to be offered by the Dealer would be ineligible for resale under Rule 144A, the Issuer shall immediately notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such fact and shall promptly prepare and deliver to the Dealer an amendment or supplement to the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Notes that are ineligible, the reason for such ineligibility and any other relevant information relating thereto.

 

  (i) The Issuer represents that it is not currently issuing commercial paper in the United States market in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act. The Issuer agrees that , if it shall issue commercial paper after the date hereof in reliance upon such exemption (a) the proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be segregated from the proceeds of the sale of any such commercial paper by being placed in a separate account; (b) the Issuer will institute appropriate corporate procedures to ensure that the offers and sales of notes issued by the Issuer, as the case may be, pursuant to the Section 3(a)(3) exemption are not integrated with offerings and sales of Notes hereunder; and (c) the Issuer will comply with each of the requirements of Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act in selling commercial paper or other short-term debt securities other than the Notes in the United States.

 

  1.7. The Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Dealer, in connection with offers, sales and resales of Notes, as follows:

 

  (a)

The Issuer hereby confirms to the Dealer that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i) and except for the Issuer’s November 10, 2014 public offer and sale of 3.80% senior notes due November 15, 2024) within the preceding six months neither the Issuer nor any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof acting on behalf of the Issuer has offered or sold any Notes, or any substantially similar security of the Issuer (including, without limitation, medium-term notes issued by the Issuer), to, or solicited offers to buy any such security from, any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof. The Issuer also agrees that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i)), as long as the Notes are being offered for sale by the Dealer and the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof as contemplated hereby and until at least six months after the offer of Notes hereunder has been terminated, neither the Issuer nor any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof (except as contemplated by Section 1.2 hereof) will offer the Notes or any substantially similar security of the Issuer for sale to, or solicit offers to buy any such security from, any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof, it being understood that such agreement is made with a view to bringing the offer and

 

4


  sale of the Notes within the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and shall survive any termination of this Agreement. The Issuer hereby represents and warrants that it has not taken or omitted to take, and will not take or omit to take, any action that would cause the offering and sale of Notes hereunder to be integrated with any other offering of securities, whether such offering is made by the Issuer or some other party or parties, except for the offer and sale of notes under the former Commercial Paper Agency Agreement, dated December 21, 1994, between the Issuer and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as issuing and paying agent, and the respective dealers thereunder.

 

  (b) The Issuer represents and agrees that the proceeds of the sale of the Notes are not currently contemplated to be used for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities within the meaning of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In the event that the Issuer determines to use such proceeds for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities, whether in connection with an acquisition of another company or otherwise, the Issuer shall give the Dealer at least five business days’ prior written notice to that effect. The Issuer shall also give the Dealer prompt notice of the actual date that it commences to purchase securities with the proceeds of the Notes. Thereafter, in the event that the Dealer purchases Notes as principal and does not resell such Notes on the day of such purchase, to the extent necessary to comply with Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder, the Dealer will sell such Notes either (i) only to offerees it reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or to Qualified Institutional Buyers it reasonably believes are acting for other Qualified Institutional Buyers, in each case in accordance with Rule 144A or (ii) in a manner which would not cause a violation of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder.

 

2. Representations and Warranties of the Issuer.

The Issuer represents and warrants that:

 

  2.1 The Issuer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes, this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2.2 This Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

  2.3 The Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided in the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

5


  2.4 Subject to the offer and sale of Notes being conducted by Dealer in accordance with this Agreement, the offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated hereby do not require registration of the Notes under the Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) thereof, and no indenture in respect of the Notes is required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

  2.5 The Notes will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer, other than in the case of obligations preferred by mandatory provisions of law.

 

  2.6 No consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body or authority, including the SEC, is required to authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of, this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement by the Issuer, except as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes and the filing of a current report with the SEC by the Issuer.

 

  2.7 Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement by the Issuer, nor the issuance of the Notes in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement by the Issuer, nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by the Issuer, will (i) result in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or result in a breach or a default under any of the terms of the Issuer’s charter documents or by-laws, any contract or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or its property is bound, or any law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government instrumentality, to which the Issuer is subject or by which it or its property is bound, which breach or default would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2.8 There is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Issuer threatened, against or affecting the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, other than that which is disclosed in the Company Information, which would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the financial condition or operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2.9 The Issuer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  2.10 Neither the Private Placement Memorandum nor the Company Information contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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  2.11 Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer, nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any agent, employee, representative or affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that could result in a violation or a sanction for violation by such persons of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”) or similar law or regulation of any other relevant jurisdiction; and the Issuer, its subsidiaries and affiliates have each conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and any applicable similar law or regulation and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

  2.12 The operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including, without limitation, those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 and the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the applicable money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Issuer or its subsidiaries conduct business, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency where the Issuer or its subsidiaries conduct business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Issuer, threatened.

 

  2.13 Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer, nor to the knowledge of the Issuer, any agent, employee, representative or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries (i) is currently the subject of any sanctions administered or imposed by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. Department of State, or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce) (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanctioned Persons”) or (ii) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Notes, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person (x) 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, or (y) in any manner that will result in a violation of any economic Sanctions by any person (including any person participating in the offering of Notes, whether as dealer, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

  2.14 Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer, nor to the knowledge of the Issuer, any agent, employee, representative or affiliate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, is a person that is, or is 50% or more owned or otherwise controlled by a person that is: (i) the subject of any Sanctions; or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria) (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”).

 

  2.15

Each (a) issuance of Notes by the Issuer hereunder and (b) amendment or supplement of the Private Placement Memorandum shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Issuer to the Dealer, as of the date thereof, that, both before and after giving effect to such issuance and

 

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  after giving effect to such amendment or supplement, (i) the representations and warranties given by the Issuer set forth in this Section 2 remain true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, (ii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, the Notes being issued on such date have been duly and validly issued and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, since the date of the most recent Private Placement Memorandum, there has been no occurrence in relation to the Issuer that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement which has not been disclosed to the Dealer in writing or in the Company Information and (iv) the Issuer is not in default of any of its obligations hereunder or under the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

3. Covenants and Agreements of the Issuer.

The Issuer covenants and agrees that:

 

  3.1 The Issuer will give the Dealer prompt notice (but in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder) of any amendment to, modification of or waiver with respect to, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, including a complete copy of any such amendment, modification or waiver.

 

  3.2 The Issuer shall, whenever there shall occur any change in the financial condition or business operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole that would reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Issuer’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing Paying Agent Agreement or occurrence in relation to the Issuer that would otherwise be material to holders of the Notes or potential holders of the Notes (including any downgrading or receipt of any written notice of (a) intended or potential downgrading or (b) any review for potential change in the rating accorded any of the Issuer’s securities by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization which has published a rating of the Notes), promptly, and in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder, notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such change, development or occurrence.

 

  3.3 The Issuer shall from time to time furnish to the Dealer such information as the Dealer may reasonably request, including, without limitation, any press releases or non-confidential material provided by the Issuer to any national securities exchange or rating agency, regarding (i) the Issuer’s operations and financial condition, (ii) the due authorization and execution of the Notes, and (iii) the Issuer’s ability to pay the Notes as they mature, provided that the Issuer shall in no case be required to furnish information that it deems to be material nonpublic information.

 

  3.4 The Issuer will take all such action as the Dealer may reasonably request to ensure that each offer and each sale of the Notes will comply with any applicable state Blue Sky laws in the United States; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

 

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  3.5 The Issuer will not be in default of any of its obligations hereunder, under the Notes or under the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, at any time that any of the Notes are outstanding.

 

  3.6 The Issuer shall not issue Notes hereunder until the Dealer shall have received (a) an opinion of counsel to the Issuer, addressed to the Dealer, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto, (b) a copy of the executed Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement as then in effect, (c) a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Dealer and certified by the Secretary or similar officer of the Issuer, authorizing execution and delivery by the Issuer of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement and the Notes and consummation by the Issuer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (d) prior to the issuance of any book-entry Notes represented by a master note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, a copy of the executed Letter of Representations among the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC and of the executed master note, (e) prior to the issuance of any Notes in physical form, a copy of such form (unless attached to this Agreement or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement) and (f) such other certificates, opinions, letters and documents as the Dealer shall have reasonably requested.

 

  3.7 The Issuer shall reimburse the Dealer for all of the Dealer’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to this Agreement, including reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with its preparation and negotiation, and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, but not limited to, the printing and distribution of the Private Placement Memorandum), and, if applicable, for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Dealer’s external counsel, subject to the receipt of reasonably satisfactory supporting documentation.

 

  3.8 The Issuer shall not file a Form D (as referenced in Rule 503 under the Securities Act) at any time in respect of the offer or sale of the Notes.

 

4. Disclosure.

 

  4.1 The Private Placement Memorandum and its contents (other than the Dealer Information) shall be the sole responsibility of the Issuer. The Private Placement Memorandum shall contain a statement expressly offering an opportunity for each prospective purchaser to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Issuer concerning the offering of Notes and to obtain relevant additional information which the Issuer possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

  4.2 The Issuer agrees to promptly furnish the Dealer the Company Information that has not been otherwise publicly disclosed by public filing with the SEC as it becomes available.

 

  4.3 (a) The Issuer further agrees to notify the Dealer promptly upon the occurrence of any event relating to or affecting the Issuer that would cause the Company Information then in existence to include an untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Dealer agrees to promptly suspend offers and sales of the Notes upon receipt of such notice.

 

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(b) In the event that the Issuer gives the Dealer notice pursuant to Section 4.3(a) and the Dealer notifies the Issuer that it then has Notes it is holding in inventory (“Inventory”), the Issuer agrees either to (i) purchase the entire Inventory of the Dealer at a purchase price equal to either (x) in the case of an interest-bearing Note, the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of the purchase or (y) in the case of a Note issued on a discount basis, the price paid by the Dealer for the purchase thereof, plus the accreted discount thereon through the date of the purchase based on the purchase price thereof, or (ii) promptly to supplement or amend the Private Placement Memorandum so that the Private Placement Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the Issuer shall make such supplement or amendment available to the Dealer.

(c) In the event that (i) the Issuer gives the Dealer notice pursuant to Section 4.3(a), (ii) the Dealer does not notify the Issuer that it is then holding Notes in Inventory and (iii) the Issuer chooses not to promptly amend or supplement the Private Placement Memorandum in the manner described in clause (b) above, then the Dealer will maintain the confidentiality of such notice and all solicitations and sales of Notes shall be suspended until such time as (x) the Issuer has so amended or supplemented the Private Placement Memorandum, and made such amendment or supplement available to the Dealer, or (y) the Issuer determines that the Company Information then in existence satisfy the representation contained in Section 2.10 hereof.

(d) Without limiting the generality of Section 4.3(a), to the extent that the Private Placement Memorandum sets forth financial information of the Issuer (other than financial information included in a report described in clause (i) of the definition of “Company Information” that (i) is incorporated by reference in the Private Placement Memorandum or (ii) the Private Placement Memorandum expressly states is being made available to holders and prospective purchasers of the Notes but is not otherwise set forth therein), the Issuer shall review, amend and supplement the Private Placement Memorandum on a periodic basis, but no less than at least once annually, to incorporate current financial information of the Issuer to the extent necessary to ensure that the financial information provided in the Private Placement Memorandum is accurate and complete.

 

5. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

  5.1

The Issuer will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer, each individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association or other entity controlling the Dealer, any affiliate of the Dealer or any such controlling entity and their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, incorporators, shareholders, servants, trustees and agents (hereinafter the “Indemnitees”) against any and all liabilities, penalties, suits, causes of action, losses, damages, claims, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) or judgments of whatever kind or nature (each a “Claim”), imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the Indemnitees arising out of or based upon (i) any allegation that the Private Placement Memorandum, the Company Information or any information provided by the Issuer to the Dealer for distribution to holders and potential holders of Notes included (as of any relevant time) or includes an untrue statement of a material fact with respect to the Issuer or

 

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  omitted (as of any relevant time) or omits to state any material fact with respect to the Issuer necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) the breach by the Issuer of any agreement, covenant or representation made in or pursuant to this Agreement. This indemnification shall not apply to the extent that the Claim arises out of or is based upon Dealer Information.

 

  5.2 Provisions relating to claims made for indemnification under this Section 5 are set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement.

 

  5.3 In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is held to be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the Indemnitees, although applicable in accordance with the terms of this Section 5, the Issuer shall contribute to the aggregate costs incurred by the Dealer in connection with any Claim in the proportion of the respective economic interests of the Issuer and the Dealer; provided, however, that such contribution by the Issuer shall be in an amount such that the aggregate costs incurred by the Dealer do not exceed the aggregate of the commissions and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder with respect to the issue or issues of Notes to which such Claim relates. The respective economic interests shall be calculated by reference to the aggregate proceeds to the Issuer of the Notes issued hereunder and the aggregate commissions and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder.

 

6. Definitions.

 

  6.1 “Bribery Act” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

  6.2 “Claim” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

  6.3 “Company Information” at any given time shall mean the Private Placement Memorandum together with, to the extent applicable, (i) the Issuer’s most recent report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and each report on Form 10-Q or 8-K filed by the Issuer with the SEC since the most recent Form 10-K, (ii) the Issuer’s most recent annual audited financial statements and each interim financial statement or report prepared subsequent thereto, if not included in item (i) above, (iii) the Issuer’s other publicly available recent reports, including, but not limited to, any publicly available filings or reports provided to its shareholders, (iv) any other information or disclosure prepared pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof and (v) any information prepared or approved by the Issuer for dissemination to investors or potential investors in the Notes.

 

  6.4 “Current Issuing and Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.5 “Dealer Information” shall mean material concerning the Dealer provided by the Dealer in writing expressly for inclusion in the Private Placement Memorandum.

 

  6.6 “Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

  6.7 “FCPA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

  6.8 “Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

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  6.9 “Institutional Accredited Investor” shall mean an institutional investor that is an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(c)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic risk of an investment in the Notes, including, but not limited to, a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or a savings and loan association or other institution, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity.

 

  6.10 “Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement” shall mean the issuing and paying agency agreement described on the cover page of this Agreement, or any replacement thereof, as such agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

  6.11 “Issuing and Paying Agent” shall mean the party designated as such on the cover page of this Agreement, or any successor thereto or replacement thereof, as issuing and paying agent under the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement.

 

  6.12 “Money Laundering Laws” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.

 

  6.13 “Non-bank fiduciary or agent” shall mean a fiduciary or agent other than (a) a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or (b) a savings and loan association, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act.

 

  6.14 “Outstanding Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(ii).

 

  6.15 “Private Placement Memorandum” shall mean offering materials prepared in accordance with Section 4 (including materials referred to therein or incorporated by reference therein, if any) provided to purchasers and prospective purchasers of the Notes, and shall include amendments and supplements thereto which may be prepared from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (other than any amendment or supplement that has been completely superseded by a later amendment or supplement).

 

  6.16 “Qualified Institutional Buyer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

  6.17 “Replacement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.18 “Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.19 “Replacement Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(i).

 

  6.20 “Rule 144A” shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

  6.21 “Sanctioned Countries” and “Sanctioned Country” shall have the meanings set forth in Section 2.14.

 

  6.22 “Sanctioned Persons” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

  6.23 “Sanctions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

  6.24 “SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

  6.25 “Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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7. General

 

  7.1 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices under this Agreement to parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be effective when received at the address of the respective party set forth in the Addendum to this Agreement.

 

  7.2 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

 

  7.3 The Issuer agrees that any suit, action or proceeding brought by the Issuer against the Dealer in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes shall be brought solely in the United States federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan or the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan. EACH OF THE DEALER AND THE ISSUER WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

  7.4 This Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by the Issuer, upon one business day’s prior notice to such effect to the Dealer, or by the Dealer upon one business day’s prior notice to such effect to the Issuer. Any such termination, however, shall not affect the obligations of the Issuer under Sections 3.7, 5 and 7.3 hereof or the respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, rights or responsibilities of the parties made or arising prior to the termination of this Agreement.

 

  7.5 This Agreement is not assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Dealer may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate of the Dealer.

 

  7.6 This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

  7.7 This Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective permitted successors and assigns hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.

 

  7.8

The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that the Dealer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Issuer with respect to the offering of the Notes contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the price and terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of (except to the extent explicitly set forth herein), the Issuer or any other person. The Dealer has not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Issuer with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Dealer has advised or is currently advising the Issuer on other matters) or any other obligation to the Issuer except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement. Additionally, the Dealer is not advising the Issuer or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction (except as provided in Section 3.4 hereto). The Issuer shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Dealer

 

13


  shall have no responsibility or liability to the Issuer with respect to Issuer’s investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby. Any review by the Dealer of the Issuer, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Dealer and shall not be on behalf of the Issuer.

 

  7.9 (i) The parties hereto agree that the Issuer may, in accordance with the terms of this Section 7.9, from time to time replace the party which is then acting as Issuing and Paying Agent (the “Current Issuing and Paying Agent”) with another party (such other party, the “Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent”), and enter into an agreement with the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent covering the provision of issuing and paying agency functions in respect of the Notes by the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent (the “Replacement Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement”) (any such replacement, a “Replacement”).

(ii) From and after the effective date of any Replacement, (A) to the extent that the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement provides that the Current Issuing and Paying Agent will continue to act in respect of Notes outstanding as of the effective date of such Replacement (the “Outstanding Notes”), then (i) the “Issuing and Paying Agent” for the Notes shall be deemed to be the Current Issuing and Paying Agent, in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent, in respect of Notes issued on or after the Replacement, (ii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agent” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the Current Issuing and Paying Agent in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent in respect of Notes issued on or after the Replacement, and (iii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the existing Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, in respect of the Outstanding Notes, and the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, in respect of Notes issued on or after the Replacement; and (B) to the extent that the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement does not provide that the Current Issuing and Paying Agent will continue to act in respect of the Outstanding Notes, then (i) the “Issuing and Paying Agent” for the Notes shall be deemed to be the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent, (ii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agent” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent, and (iii) all references to the “Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement” hereunder shall be deemed to refer to the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement.

(iii) From and after the effective date of any Replacement, the Issuer shall not issue any Notes hereunder unless and until the Dealer shall have received: (a) a copy of the executed Replacement Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, (b) a copy of the executed Letter of Representations among the Issuer, the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC, (c) a copy of the executed Master Note authenticated by the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, (d) an amendment or supplement to the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agent as the Issuing and Paying Agent for the Notes, and reflecting any other changes thereto necessary in light of the Replacement so that the Private Placement Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, satisfies the requirements of this Agreement, and (e) a legal opinion of counsel to the Issuer, addressed to the Dealer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer, as to (x) the due authorization, delivery, validity and enforceability of Notes issued pursuant to the Replacement Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, and (y) such other matters as the Dealer may reasonably request.

 

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  7.10 This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Issuer and the Dealer with respect to the subject matter hereof.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

 

15


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date and year first above written.

 

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, as Issuer                                                   , as Dealer
By:   /s/ Sheri L. Mossbeck     By:  

 

Name:   Sheri L. Mossbeck     Name:  

 

Title:   Senior Vice President and Treasurer     Title:  

 

 

By:   /s/ John G. Moore
Name:   John G. Moore
Title:  

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & HR

Officer, and Secretary

 

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Addendum

The following additional clauses shall apply to the Agreement and be deemed a part thereof.

 

1. The other dealers referred to in clause (b) of Section 1.2 of the Agreement are                                                   .

 

2. The addresses of the respective parties for purposes of notices under Section 7.1 are as follows:

 

  For the Issuer:
  Address: 1 Leggett Road, Carthage, MO 64836
  Attention: Treasurer
  Telephone number: (417) 358-8131
  Fax number: (417) 358-8027
  For the Dealer:
  Address:                                                                               
  Attention:                                                                             
  Telephone number:                                                              
  Fax number:                                                                         

 

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Exhibit A

Form of Legend for Private Placement Memorandum and Notes

THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW, AND OFFERS AND SALES THEREOF MAY BE MADE ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT THAT (I) IT HAS BEEN AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE MATTERS RELATING TO THE ISSUER AND THE NOTES, (II) IT IS NOT ACQUIRING SUCH NOTE WITH A VIEW TO ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND (III) IT IS EITHER (A)(1) AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a) UNDER THE ACT (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”) AND (2)(i) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, (ii) A BANK (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(2) OF THE ACT) OR A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OR OTHER INSTITUTION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(5)(A) OF THE ACT) ACTING IN ITS INDIVIDUAL OR FIDUCIARY CAPACITY OR (iii) A FIDUCIARY OR AGENT (OTHER THAN A U.S. BANK OR SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS EACH OF WHICH ACCOUNTS IS SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR (i) WHICH ITSELF POSSESSES SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS MATTERS THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF EVALUATING AND BEARING THE ECONOMIC RISK OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES OR (ii) WITH RESPECT TO WHICH SUCH PURCHASER HAS SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION; OR (B) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (“QIB”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS, EACH OF WHICH ACCOUNTS IS A QIB AND WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF WHICH THE PURCHASER HAS SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION; AND THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS AWARE THAT THE SELLER MAY RELY UPON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE ACT PROVIDED BY SECTION 4(A)(2) OF THE ACT AND RULE 144A. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER THEREOF SHALL ALSO BE DEEMED TO AGREE THAT ANY RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER THEREOF WILL BE MADE ONLY (A) IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT, EITHER (1) TO THE ISSUER OR TO A PLACEMENT AGENT DESIGNATED BY THE ISSUER AS A PLACEMENT AGENT FOR THE NOTES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PLACEMENT AGENTS”), NONE OF WHICH SHALL HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO ACQUIRE SUCH NOTE, (2) THROUGH A PLACEMENT AGENT TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR A QIB, OR (3) TO A QIB IN A TRANSACTION THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A AND (B) IN MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF $250,000.

 

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Exhibit B

Further Provisions Relating to Indemnification

 

(a) The Issuer agrees to reimburse each Indemnitee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of external counsel) as they are incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect of which indemnification may be sought under Section 5 of the Agreement (whether or not it is a party to any such proceedings).

 

(b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnitee of notice of the existence of a Claim, such Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Issuer, notify the Issuer in writing of the existence thereof; provided that (i) the omission to so notify the Issuer will not relieve it from any liability which it may have hereunder unless and except to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such Claim and such failure results in the forfeiture by it of substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) the omission to so notify the Issuer will not relieve it from liability which it may have to an Indemnitee otherwise than on account of this Agreement. In case any such Claim is made against any Indemnitee and it notifies the Issuer of the existence thereof, the Issuer will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the Indemnitee, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee; provided that if the defendants in any such Claim include both the Indemnitee and the Issuer, and the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Claim on behalf of such Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such legal defenses on behalf of such Indemnitee. Upon receipt of notice from the Issuer to such Indemnitee of the election of the Issuer to assume the defense of such Claim and approval by the Indemnitee of counsel, the Issuer will not be liable to such Indemnitee for expenses incurred thereafter by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof (other than reasonable costs of investigation) unless (i) the Indemnitee shall have employed separate counsel in connection with the assertion of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the Issuer shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel in the jurisdiction in which any Claim is brought), approved by the Dealer, representing the Indemnitee who is party to such Claim), (ii) the Issuer shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee to represent the Indemnitee within a reasonable time after notice of existence of the Claim or (iii) the Issuer has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the Indemnitee. The indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations of the Issuer hereunder shall be in addition to any other liability the Issuer may otherwise have to an Indemnitee and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Issuer and any Indemnitee. The Issuer agrees that without the Dealer’s prior written consent, it will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought under the indemnification provision of the Agreement (whether or not the Dealer or any other Indemnitee is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnitee from all liability arising out of such Claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnitee.

 

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Exhibit C

Statement of Terms for Interest – Bearing Commercial Paper Notes of Leggett & Platt, Incorporated

THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH BELOW ARE QUALIFIED TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE BY THE TRANSACTION SPECIFIC PRICING SUPPLEMENT (THE “SUPPLEMENT”) (IF ANY) SENT TO EACH PURCHASER AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSACTION.

1. General . (a) The obligations of the Issuer to which these terms apply (each a “Note”) are represented by one or more Master Notes (each, a “Master Note”) issued in the name of (or of a nominee for) The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), which Master Note includes the terms and provisions for the Issuer’s Interest-Bearing Commercial Paper Notes that are set forth in this Statement of Terms, since this Statement of Terms constitutes an integral part of the Underlying Records as defined and referred to in the Master Note.

(b) “ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, executive order or regulation to be closed in New York City and, with respect to LIBOR Notes (as defined below) is also a London Business Day. “London Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

2. Interest . (a) Each Note will bear interest at a fixed rate (a “Fixed Rate Note”) or at a floating rate (a “Floating Rate Note”).

(b) The Supplement sent to each holder of such Note will describe the following terms: (i) whether such Note is a Fixed Rate Note or a Floating Rate Note and whether such Note is an Original Issue Discount Note (as defined below); (ii) the date on which such Note will be issued (the “Issue Date”); (iii) the Stated Maturity Date (as defined below); (iv) if such Note is a Fixed Rate Note, the rate per annum at which such Note will bear interest, if any, and the Interest Payment Dates; (v) if such Note is a Floating Rate Note, the Base Rate, the Index Maturity, the Interest Reset Dates, the Interest Payment Dates and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any (all as defined below), and any other terms relating to the particular method of calculating the interest rate for such Note; and (vi) any other terms applicable specifically to such Note. “Original Issue Discount Note” means a Note which has a stated redemption price at the Stated Maturity Date that exceeds its Issue Price by more than a specified de minimis amount and which the Supplement indicates will be an “Original Issue Discount Note”.

(c) Each Fixed Rate Note will bear interest from its Issue Date at the rate per annum specified in the Supplement until the principal amount thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest on each Fixed Rate Note will be payable on the dates specified in the Supplement (each an “Interest Payment Date” for a Fixed Rate Note) and on the Maturity Date (as defined below). Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date of a Fixed Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest will be payable on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue in respect of the payment made on that next succeeding Business Day.

 

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(d) The interest rate on each Floating Rate Note for each Interest Reset Period (as defined below) will be determined by reference to an interest rate basis (a “Base Rate”) plus or minus a number of basis points (one basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage point) (the “Spread”), if any, and/or multiplied by a certain percentage (the “Spread Multiplier”), if any, until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. The Supplement will designate which of the following Base Rates is applicable to the related Floating Rate Note: (a) the CD Rate (a “CD Rate Note”), (b) the Commercial Paper Rate (a “Commercial Paper Rate Note”), (c) the Federal Funds Rate (a “Federal Funds Rate Note”), (d) LIBOR (a “LIBOR Note”), (e) the Prime Rate (a “Prime Rate Note”), (f) the Treasury Rate (a “Treasury Rate Note”) or (g) such other Base Rate as may be specified in such Supplement.

The rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually (the “Interest Reset Period”). The date or dates on which interest will be reset (each an “Interest Reset Date”) will be, unless otherwise specified in the Supplement, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset daily, each Business Day, in the case of Floating Rate Notes (other than Treasury Rate Notes) that reset weekly, the Wednesday of each week; in the case of Treasury Rate Notes that reset weekly, the Tuesday of each week; in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset monthly, the third Wednesday of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset semiannually, the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the Supplement. If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. Interest on each Floating Rate Note will be payable monthly, quarterly or semiannually (the “Interest Payment Period”) and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise specified in the Supplement, and except as provided below, the date or dates on which interest will be payable (each an “Interest Payment Date” for a Floating Rate Note) will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a monthly Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a quarterly Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a semiannual Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the Supplement. In addition, the Maturity Date will also be an Interest Payment Date.

If any Interest Payment Date for any Floating Rate Note (other than an Interest Payment Date occurring on the Maturity Date) would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of a Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after such maturity.

Interest payments on each Interest Payment Date for Floating Rate Notes will include accrued interest from and including the Issue Date or from and including the last date in respect of which interest has been paid, as the case may be, to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date. On the Maturity Date, the interest payable on a Floating Rate Note will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the Maturity Date. Accrued interest will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of a Floating

 

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Rate Note by an accrued interest factor. This accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor (expressed as a decimal) for each such day will be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360, in the cases where the Base Rate is the CD Rate, Commercial Paper Rate, Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or Prime Rate, or by the actual number of days in the year, in the case where the Base Rate is the Treasury Rate. The interest rate in effect on each day will be (i) if such day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate with respect to the Interest Determination Date (as defined below) pertaining to such Interest Reset Date, or (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate with respect to the Interest Determination Date pertaining to the next preceding Interest Reset Date, subject in either case to any adjustment by a Spread and/or a Spread Multiplier.

The “Interest Determination Date” where the Base Rate is the CD Rate or the Commercial Paper Rate will be the second Business Day next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base Rate is the Federal Funds Rate or the Prime Rate will be the Business Day next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base Rate is LIBOR will be the second London Business Day next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base Rate is the Treasury Rate will be the day of the week in which such Interest Reset Date falls when Treasury Bills are normally auctioned. Treasury Bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is held on the following Tuesday or the preceding Friday. If an auction is so held on the preceding Friday, such Friday will be the Interest Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next succeeding week.

The “Index Maturity” is the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation from which the applicable Base Rate is calculated.

The “Calculation Date,” where applicable, shall be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day following the applicable Interest Determination Date or (ii) the Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date.

All times referred to herein reflect New York City time, unless otherwise specified.

The Issuer shall specify in writing to the Issuing and Paying Agent which party will be the calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”) with respect to the Floating Rate Notes. The Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate which will become effective on the next Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note to the Issuing and Paying Agent as soon as the interest rate with respect to such Floating Rate Note has been determined and as soon as practicable after any change in such interest rate.

All percentages resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five-one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards. For example, 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655). All dollar amounts used in or resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, in the case of U.S. dollars, to the nearest cent or, in the case of a foreign currency, to the nearest unit (with one-half cent or unit being rounded upwards).

 

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CD Rate Notes

“CD Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity as published in the source specified in the Supplement.

If the above rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the CD Rate will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date published under the caption specified in the Supplement in another recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate.

If such rate is not published in either the source specified on the Supplement or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the CD Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Interest Determination Date of three leading nonbank dealers 1 in negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit of major United States money center banks of the highest credit standing in the market for negotiable certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity in the denomination of $5,000,000.

If fewer than the three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as set forth above, the CD Rate will remain the CD Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

Commercial Paper Rate Notes

“Commercial Paper Rate” means the Money Market Yield (calculated as described below) of the rate on any Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity, as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) in “Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates” or any successor publication of the FRB (“H.15(519)”) under the heading “Commercial Paper-[Financial][Nonfinancial]”.

If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate will be the Money Market Yield of the rate on such Interest Determination Date for commercial paper of the Index Maturity published in the daily update of H.15(519), available through the world wide website of the FRB at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/Update, or any successor site or publication or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate (“H.15 Daily Update”) under the heading “Commercial Paper-[Financial][Nonfinancial]”.

If by 3:00 p.m. on such Calculation Date such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Commercial Paper Rate to be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m. on such Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of U.S. dollar commercial paper in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper of the Index Maturity placed for an industrial issuer whose bond rating is “AA,” or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

 

1   Such nonbank dealers referred to in this Statement of Terms may include affiliates of the Dealer.

 

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If the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned above, the Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such Interest Determination Date will remain the Commercial Paper Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

“Money Market Yield” will be a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

        
  

            D x 360

 

  

 

x 100

  
Money Market Yield =                360 - (D x M)      

where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.

Federal Funds Rate Notes

“Federal Funds Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date for federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Federal Funds (Effective)” and displayed on Moneyline Telerate (or any successor service) on page 120 (or any other page as may replace the specified page on that service) (“Telerate Page 120”).

If the above rate does not appear on Telerate Page 120 or is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Federal Funds Rate will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily Update under the heading “Federal Funds/(Effective)”.

If such rate is not published as described above by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Federal Funds Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds arranged by each of three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent prior to 9:00 a.m. on such Interest Determination Date.

If the brokers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned above, the Federal Funds Rate will remain the Federal Funds Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

LIBOR Notes

The London Interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date, the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having the Index Maturity that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m. London time, on such Interest Determination Date.

If no rate appears, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in such market selected by the Calculation Agent for a term equal to the Index Maturity and in principal amount equal to an amount that in the Calculation Agent’s judgment is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in

 

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such market at such time (a “Representative Amount”). The Calculation Agent will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest period will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., in New York City, on such Interest Determination Date by three major banks in New York City, selected by the Calculation Agent, for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, for a term equal to the Index Maturity and in a Representative Amount; provided, however, that if fewer than three banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are providing such quotations, the then existing LIBOR rate will remain in effect for such Interest Payment Period.

“Designated LIBOR Page” means the display designated as page “3750” on Moneyline Telerate (or such other page as may replace the 3750 page on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association for the purposes of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits).

Prime Rate Notes

“Prime Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Bank Prime Loan”.

If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily Update opposite the caption “Bank Prime Loan”.

If the rate is not published prior to 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date in either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen US PRIME1 Page (as defined below) as such bank’s prime rate or base lending rate as of 11:00 a.m. on that Interest Determination Date.

If fewer than four such rates referred to above are so published by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by 360 as of the close of business on such Interest Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent.

If the banks selected are not quoting as mentioned above, the Prime Rate will remain the Prime Rate in effect on such Interest Determination Date.

“Reuters Screen US PRIME1 Page” means the display designated as page “US PRIME1” on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may replace the US PRIME1 page on that service for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks).

Treasury Rate Notes

“Treasury Rate” means:

(1) the rate from the auction held on the Interest Determination Date (the “Auction”) of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury Bills”) having the Index Maturity specified in the Supplement under the caption “INVESTMENT RATE” on the display on Moneyline Telerate (or any successor service) on page 56 (or any other page as may replace that page on that service) (“Telerate Page 56”) or page 57 (or any other page as may replace that page on that service) (“Telerate Page 57”), or

 

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(2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield (as defined below) of the rate for the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High”, or

(3) if the rate referred to in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills as announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or

(4) if the rate referred to in clause (3) is not so announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or if the Auction is not held, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the particular Interest Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15(519) under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”, or

(5) if the rate referred to in clause (4) not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the particular Interest Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”, or

(6) if the rate referred to in clause (5) is not so published by 3:00 p.m. on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the particular Interest Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as the Bond Equivalent Yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m. on that Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers selected by the Calculation Agent for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the Supplement, or

(7) if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (6), the Treasury Rate in effect on the particular Interest Determination Date.

“Bond Equivalent Yield” means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

Bond Equivalent Yield =   

                D x N

 

  

 

x 100

  
  

 

        360 - (D x M)

     

where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, “N” refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be, and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period.

 

  3. Final Maturity. The Stated Maturity Date for any Note will be the date so specified in the Supplement, which shall be no later than 270 days from the date of issuance. On its Stated Maturity Date, or any date prior to the Stated Maturity Date on which the particular Note becomes due and payable by the declaration of acceleration, each such date being referred to as a Maturity Date, the principal amount of each Note, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be immediately due and payable .

 

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  4. Events of Default . The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default” with respect to a Note: (i) default in any payment of principal of or interest on such Note (including on a redemption thereof); (ii) the Issuer makes any compromise arrangement with its creditors generally including the entering into any form of moratorium with its creditors generally; (iii) a court having jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Issuer in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or there shall be appointed a receiver, administrator, liquidator, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar officer) with respect to the whole or substantially the whole of the assets of the Issuer and any such decree, order or appointment is not removed, discharged or withdrawn within 60 days thereafter; or (iv) the Issuer shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, administrator, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official), with respect to the whole or substantially the whole of the assets of the Issuer or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the principal of such Note (together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon) shall become, without any notice or demand, immediately due and payable.

 

  5. Obligation Absolute . No provision of the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement under which the Notes are issued shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on each Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

  6. Supplement . Any term contained in the Supplement shall supersede any conflicting term contained herein.

 

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Exhibit D

Opinion of Counsel to Issuer

December 2, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have acted as counsel to Leggett & Platt, Incorporated a Missouri corporation (the “Issuer”), in connection with the proposed offering and sale by the Issuer in the United States of commercial paper in the form of short-term promissory notes (the “Notes”).

In my capacity as such counsel, I have examined a specimen form of Note, an executed copy of the Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated as of December 2, 2014 (the “Agreement”) between the Issuer and                                  (the “Dealer”) and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement dated as of December 2, 2014 (the “Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement”) between the Issuer and US Bank National Association, as issuing and paying agent (the “Issuing and Paying Agent”), as well as originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other records and documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below. In such examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Agreement.

Based upon the foregoing, it is my opinion that:

 

  1. The Issuer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Missouri and has all the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes, the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  2. Each of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and except as rights under the Agreement to indemnity and contribution may be limited by U.S. Federal or state laws.

 

  3. The Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided in the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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  4. Assuming the due performance by the Issuer and the Dealer of their respective covenants and agreements in or pursuant to the Agreement (except to the extent that any such covenant or agreement constitutes a conclusion of law covered herein), the issuance and sale of Notes under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement do not require registration of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) thereof (it being understood that no opinion is being expressed as to any resale of a Note other than the initial resale by the Dealer of a Note purchased from the Issuer), and do not require compliance with any provision of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and the Notes will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.

 

  5. No consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any U.S. Federal, New York or Missouri State governmental or public regulatory body or authority, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), pursuant to any U.S. Federal, New York or Missouri State statute that I, based upon my experience, recognize as applicable to the Issuer in a transaction of this type, is required to authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with the execution, delivery or consummation of the transactions contemplated by, the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, except as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes and the filing of a current report with the SEC by the Issuer.

 

  6. Neither the execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, nor the offer, sale and issuance of the Notes in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the Issuer, will (i) result in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or result in a breach or default under any of the terms of the Issuer’s charter documents or by-laws, any contract or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or its property is bound, or any U.S. Federal, New York or Missouri law or regulation that I, based upon my experience, recognize as applicable to the Issuer in a transaction of this type, or, to my knowledge, any order, writ, injunction or decree of any U.S. Federal or Missouri State court or government instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries that names or is specifically directed to the Issuer or any such subsidiary, to which the Issuer is subject or by which it or its property is bound.

 

  7. There is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to my knowledge, overtly threatened by written communication, against and naming the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, other than that which is disclosed in the Company Information, which would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement.

 

  8. The Issuer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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This opinion may be delivered to the Issuing and Paying Agent, each holder from time to time of Notes and any nationally recognized rating agency (in connection with the rating of the Notes), each of which may rely on this opinion to the same extent as if such opinion were addressed to it.

 

Very truly yours,
LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED
John G. Moore
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & HR
Officer and Secretary

 

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