HOME DEPOT, INC. false 0000354950 0000354950 2022-03-24 2022-03-24

 

 

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): March 24, 2022

 

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-8207   95-3261426
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

2455 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30339
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(770) 433-8211

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.05 Par Value Per Share   HD   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 8.01.

Other Events.

On March 28, 2022, The Home Depot, Inc. (the “Company”) completed a public offering of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.700% Notes due April 15, 2025 (the “2025 Notes”), $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Notes due April 15, 2027 (the “2027 Notes”), $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.250% Notes due April 15, 2032 (the “2032 Notes”), and $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Notes due April 15, 2052 (the “2052 Notes,” and together with the 2025 Notes, the 2027 Notes, and the 2032 Notes, the “Notes”). The offering of the Notes was made pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-259121) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2021.

In connection with the offering of the Notes, on March 24, 2022, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (together, the “Underwriters”). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to sell the Notes to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agreed to purchase the Notes for resale to the public. The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company. It also provides for customary indemnification by each of the Company and the Underwriters against certain liabilities and customary contribution provisions in respect of those liabilities.

The Notes were issued under an Indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee.

The foregoing summary is qualified by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, Indenture and the respective forms of global note for the offering, which are filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein and in the above-referenced shelf registration statement.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The documents included as exhibits to this report are filed solely to provide information about their terms, are not intended to provide any factual or other information about the Company or the other parties to the agreements, and should not be relied upon by investors for any other purpose.

 

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(d)    Exhibits

 

Exhibit   

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 24, 2022 between The Home Depot, Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the underwriters.
4.1    Indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-124699).
4.2    Form of 2.700% Note due April 15, 2025.
4.3    Form of 2.875% Note due April 15, 2027.
4.4    Form of 3.250% Note due April 15, 2032.
4.5    Form of 3.625% Note due April 15, 2052.
5.1    Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP.
23.1    Consent of Alston & Bird LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
104    The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101).

 

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SIGNATURE

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.

 

  THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
Date: March 28, 2022   By:  

/s/ Richard V. McPhail

  Name:   Richard V. McPhail
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 1.1

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

2.700% Notes due April 15, 2025

2.875% Notes due April 15, 2027

3.250% Notes due April 15, 2032

3.625% Notes due April 15, 2052

Underwriting Agreement

March 24, 2022

To the Representatives named

in Schedule I hereto of the

several Underwriters

named in Schedule II

hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Home Depot, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, the principal amount of its securities identified in Schedule I hereto (the “Securities”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of May 4, 2005 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”). To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule II other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the documents constituting the Disclosure Package shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the documents constituting the Disclosure Package, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the documents constituting the Disclosure Package shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the documents constituting the Disclosure Package, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 20 hereof.

 


1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more Preliminary Prospectuses relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a Final Prospectus relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b). The Registration Statement, at the Applicable Time, is effective and meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).

(b) On each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein in Section 3 of this Agreement), the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; on each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and as of its date and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(c) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(d) At the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package does not and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3), the Disclosure Package, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(e) (i) At the time of the most recent amendment of the Registration Statement for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus) and (ii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, the Company was or is (as the case may be) a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(f) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Act), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer.

(g) Each Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(h) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(i) The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.

 

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(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom; or (v) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(k) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company or its subsidiaries conduct business, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency in any such jurisdiction (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 Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

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

2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.

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

 

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

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

(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object promptly after receipt thereof. The Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (1) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (2) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed and become effective, (3) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information, (4) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice that would prevent its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (5) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use all reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and, if necessary, using all reasonable efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) If so requested by you, to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in a form approved by you and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

(c) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, the Company will (1) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (2) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (3) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

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(d) If, at any time when a Final Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder the Company promptly will (1) notify the Representatives of such event, (2) prepare, at its own expense, and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (3) use all reasonable efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Final Prospectus, and (4) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

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

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

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

 

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

Each Underwriter agrees to furnish the Company with a copy of each proposed Free Writing Prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter before its first use and not to use any Free Writing Prospectus, to which the Company reasonably objects; provided, however, that without consent of the Company each Underwriter may use one or more preliminary or final term sheets relating to the Securities and the offering thereof containing customary information.

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Applicable Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

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

(b) You shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of the Associate General Counsel and Deputy Corporate Secretary of the Company, to the effect that:

(i) the Company has been duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

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(ii) the Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

(iii) such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus or Final Prospectus which are not described as required or of any contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus or Final Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to any document incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or Final Prospectus which are not described and filed as required;

(iv) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; any required filing of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b), has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice that would prevent its use has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened;

(v) (a) the Registration Statement, on the Effective Date, and the Final Prospectus, as of its date, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules of the Commission thereunder; and (b) such counsel has no reason to believe that (1) on the Effective Date, the Registration Statement contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (2) the Disclosure Package at the Applicable Time, or as amended and supplemented, if applicable, as of the Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (3) the Final Prospectus as of its date and on the Closing Date included or includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b)(1), (2) and (3), other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein or excluded therefrom, assessments of or reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, auditors’ reports on internal controls and the Form T-1, as to each of which such counsel need express no view);

(vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

 

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(vii) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated in this Agreement and in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Disclosure Package and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained; and

(viii) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture, the Securities and this Agreement, compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions thereof and the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company will not (a) result in a breach or violation of any of the material terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any subsidiary of the Company filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or the documents incorporated by reference therein, or (b) result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company.

In giving the opinions required by this subsection (b) of this Section 6, the Associate General Counsel and Deputy Corporate Secretary of the Company (i) may limit such opinion to the laws of the State of Georgia, the corporate law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States and (ii) may rely, as to matters of fact, upon the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials. The foregoing opinions may also be subject to such assumptions and qualifications as are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

(c) You shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Alston &Bird LLP, counsel to the Company, to the effect that:

(i) the Indenture constitutes a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

(ii) each of the Securities, when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture, constitutes a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

 

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(iii) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body of the State of New York is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of such jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated in this Agreement and in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Disclosure Package and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained; and

(iv) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture and this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company, and compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions of the Indenture, this Agreement and the Securities, will not result in a violation of any United States federal or New York State law, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any published rule or regulation that in such counsel’s experience normally would be applicable to general business entities with respect to such execution, delivery, issuance, sale, compliance or performance (though such counsel need express no opinion relating to the United States federal securities laws or any state securities or Blue Sky laws).

In giving the opinions required by this subsection (c) of this Section 6, Alston & Bird LLP (i) may limit such opinion to the laws of the State of New York, the corporate law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States and (ii) may rely, as to matters of fact, upon the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials. The foregoing opinions may also be subject to such assumptions and qualifications as are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

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

(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by any Vice President and by the principal financial or accounting officer or the Treasurer or the Controller of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus, the Disclosure Package and any supplements or amendments thereto, and this Agreement and that, to the knowledge of the signers:

 

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

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

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(f) The Representatives shall have received letters from KPMG LLP, dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, addressed and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that such firm is “independent” within the meaning of the Act and covering matters that are ordinarily covered by “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(g) Subsequent to the Applicable Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, there shall not have been any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus the effect of which is, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(h) Subsequent to the Applicable Time and prior to the closing, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating.

(i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

11


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

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the location specified in Schedule I hereto, on the Closing Date.

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

8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Securities, Final Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the

 

12


Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that (i) the names of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities as set forth in the table of Underwriters under the first paragraph of text under the heading “Underwriting” in the prospectus supplement included in the Final Prospectus, (ii) the third paragraph of text under the heading “Underwriting” in the prospectus supplement included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus relating to the initial sale of the Securities at the initial public offering price, selling concessions and reallowances, (iii) the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting—Stabilizing, Over-Allotment, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” in the prospectus supplement included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus related to stabilization, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids and (iv) the second paragraph under the heading “Underwriting—Other Relationships” in the prospectus supplement included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the prospectus supplement included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the

 

13


entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

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

 

14


9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

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

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The Company’s responsibility for the expenses to be paid by it pursuant to Section 5 hereof and the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

15


12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration, (fax no.: 646-834-8133); BofA Securities, Inc., 1540 Broadway, NY8-540-26-02, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal (fax no.: (212) 901-7881, e-mail: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com); J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk (fax no.: (212) 834 6081); and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036; Attention: Investment Banking Division (fax no.: (212) 507-8999) or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to The Home Depot, Inc., 2455 Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta, Georgia, 30339-4024, (fax no.: (770) 384-5842), to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer and a copy sent to the General Counsel.

13. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

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

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

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

17. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

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

 

16


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

(c) For the purposes of this Section 17, the following definitions apply:

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

(ii) “Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(1) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(2) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(3) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

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

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

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of this Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law) or other transmission method, and the parties hereto agree that any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

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

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

 

17


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

“Applicable Time” shall mean 5:00 P.M. (Eastern Time) on the date of this Agreement.

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

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Applicable Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto, and (iv) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto relating to the Securities became or become effective (including as determined for purposes of Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act).

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

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

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

“Ineligible Issuer” shall mean an ineligible issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Act.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 that the Issuer has filed or is required to file under Rule 433(d) under the Act.

“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean the material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

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

 

18


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

“Rule 158,” “Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 433,” “Rule 456(b)(1),” “Rule 456(b)” and “Rule 457(r)” refer to such rules under the Act.

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

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

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

19


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

/s/ Isabel C. Janci

Name:   Isabel C. Janci
Title:   Vice President – Investor Relations and Treasurer

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date specified in Schedule I hereto.

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

BofA Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

For themselves and the other

several Underwriters, if any,

named in Schedule II to the

foregoing Agreement.

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


By: BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

/s/ Meghan Maher

Name:   Meghan Maher
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


By: BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

 

/s/ Ryan Seifert

Name:   Ryan Seifert
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


By: J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

/s/ Som Bhattacharyya

Name:   Som Bhattacharyya
Title:   Executive Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


By: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

 

/s/ Thomas Hadley

Name:   Thomas Hadley
Title:   Executive Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated: March 24, 2022

Registration Statement No. 333-259121

Representative(s):

Barclays Capital Inc.

BofA Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses:

 

   

Term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 433, substantially in the form of the term sheet attached as Schedule III to the Underwriting Agreement.

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

 

Title: 2.700% Notes due April 15, 2025    Title: 2.875% Notes due April 15, 2027    Title: 3.250% Notes due April 15, 2032    Title: 3.625% Notes due April 15, 2052
Principal amount: $500,000,000    Principal amount: $750,000,000    Principal amount: $1,250,000,000    Principal amount: $1,500,000,000
Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any): 99.625%    Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any): 99.114%    Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any): 99.031%    Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any): 96.993%

Redemption provisions: Optional redemption at the option of the Company as described under the heading “Description of the Notes” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated March 24, 2022, as supplemented by the Term Sheet.

Closing Date and Time: 9:00 A.M. March 28, 2022 New York City time.


SCHEDULE II

 

     Principal Amount
of Securities
to be Purchased
2.700% Notes
due April 15,
2025
     Principal Amount
of Securities to
be Purchased
2.875% Notes
due April 15,
2027
     Principal Amount
of Securities to be
Purchased
3.250% Notes due
April 15,
2032
     Principal Amount
of Securities
to be Purchased
3.625% Notes due
April 15,
2052
 

Underwriters

   (U.S. $)      (U.S. $)      (U.S. $)      (U.S. $)  

BofA Securities, Inc.

     77,500,000        116,250,000        193,750,000        232,500,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     77,500,000        116,250,000        193,750,000        232,500,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     72,500,000        108,750,000        181,250,000        217,500,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     72,500,000        108,750,000        181,250,000        217,500,000  

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

TD Securities (USA) LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Truist Securities, Inc.

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     15,000,000        22,500,000        37,500,000        45,000,000  

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

     5,000,000        7,500,000        12,500,000        15,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 500,000,000      $ 750,000,000      $ 1,250,000,000      $ 1,500,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


SCHEDULE III

Term Sheet

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

$500,000,000 2.700% Notes due April 15, 2025

$750,000,000 2.875% Notes due April 15, 2027

$1,250,000,000 3.250% Notes due April 15, 2032

$1,500,000,000 3.625% Notes due April 15, 2052

 

Issuer:    The Home Depot, Inc.         
Trade Date:    March 24, 2022         
Settlement Date (T+2):    March 28, 2022         
Title of Securities:   

2.700% Notes due

April 15, 2025

  

2.875% Notes due

April 15, 2027

  

3.250% Notes due

April 15, 2032

  

3.625% Notes due

April 15, 2052

Principal Amount:    $500,000,000    $750,000,000    $1,250,000,000    $1,500,000,000
Maturity Date:    April 15, 2025    April 15, 2027    April 15, 2032    April 15, 2052
Treasury Benchmark:    1.750% due March 15, 2025    1.875% due February 28, 2027    1.875% due February 15, 2032    1.875% due November 15, 2051
Benchmark Yield:    2.360%    2.390%    2.361%    2.544%
Spread to Benchmark:    40 bps    60 bps    95 bps    120 bps
Reoffer Yield:    2.760%    2.990%    3.311%    3.744%
Price to Public:    99.825%    99.464%    99.481%    97.863%
Coupon:    2.700% per annum    2.875% per annum    3.250% per annum    3.625% per annum
Interest Payment Dates:    Semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on October 15, 2022.    Semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on October 15, 2022.    Semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on October 15, 2022.    Semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on October 15, 2022.


Optional Redemption:    Prior to March 15, 2025, make-whole call at T+10 bps; par call on and after March 15, 2025.    Prior to March 15, 2027, make-whole call at T+10 bps; par call on and after March 15, 2027.    Prior to January 15, 2032, make-whole call at T+15 bps; par call on and after January 15, 2032.    Prior to October 15, 2051, make-whole call at T+20 bps; par call on and after October 15, 2051.
Day Count Convention:    30/360    30/360    30/360    30/360
CUSIP/ISIN:    437076CM2 / US437076CM21    437076CN0 / US437076CN04    437076CP5 / US437076CP51    437076CQ3 / US437076CQ35

 

Joint Book-Running Managers:   

Barclays Capital Inc.

BofA Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Co-Managers:   

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC
TD Securities (USA) LLC
Truist Securities, Inc.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by contacting (i) Barclays Capital Inc. toll-free at 1-888-603-5847, (ii) BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322, (iii) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533 or (iv) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-800-718-1649.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

Exhibit 4.2

[FORM OF 2025 FIXED RATE GLOBAL NOTE]

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE COMPANY 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 THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITARY, TO THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE.


No. [    ]    $            

CUSIP: 437076CM2

ISIN NUMBER: US437076CM21

The Home Depot, Inc.

Dated: March 28, 2022

2.700% Note due April 15, 2025

The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of              ($            ) at the Company’s office or agency for said purpose in New York City, on April 15, 2025 (the “Maturity Date”), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest, semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”) of each year, commencing on October 15, 2022, on said principal sum in like coin or currency at the rate per annum set forth above at said office or agency from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for, from the date hereof. The interest so payable on any Interest Payment Date will, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”) whether or not such day is a Business Day, provided that interest may be paid, at the option of the Company, by mailing a check therefor payable to the registered holder entitled thereto at such holder’s last address as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to such bank or other entity in the continental United States as shall be designated in writing by such holder prior to the relevant Regular Record Date and shall have appropriate facilities for such purpose. If and for so long as all of the Securities of this series are represented by Securities in global form, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Global Security shall be paid in same day funds to the Depositary, or to such name or entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary.

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

This Security shall not be valid or obligatory until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been duly signed by the Trustee acting under the Indenture.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Isabel C. Janci
Title:   Vice President – Investor Relations and Treasurer

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory                                                                         
 

Date: March 28, 2022

[Signature Page to 2.700% Fixed Rate Global Security]


REVERSE OF SECURITY

The Home Depot, Inc.

2.700% Note due April 15, 2025

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company, issued or to be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture). Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the registered holders or registered holder) of the Securities of this series.

This Security will bear interest until the Maturity Date at the rate per annum shown above. If any Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date (as defined below), or the Maturity Date of this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date, or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date payment is made. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal of, premium, if any, and to the extent lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest on this Security, at the same rate. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in New York City as the office or agency to be maintained by it where this Security may be presented for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respects of this Security or the Indenture may be served. “Business Day” shall mean any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to this series of Securities, the principal of all the outstanding Securities of this series may be declared due and payable, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that in certain events such declaration and its consequences may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series then outstanding and that, prior to any such declaration, such holders may waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of this series. Any consent or waiver by the holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and any Security of this series which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities of this series.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, evidenced as provided in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of Securities of this series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities of this series to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Securities of this series in addition to or in place of certificated Securities of this series, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to holders of Securities of this series in the case of a transaction described in Section 10.01 of the Indenture, to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration


of the trusts by more than one trustee, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of Securities of this series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such holder, or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

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

The Securities of this series are issuable only as registered Securities without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture and this Security, Securities of this series may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of other authorized denominations.

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security at the above-mentioned office or agency of the Company, a new Security or Securities of this series of authorized denominations, for a like aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the transferee as provided in the Indenture. No service charge shall be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.

Default in the performance, or breach, of the covenant set forth under “Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control” will be an “Event of Default” under Section 5.01 of the Indenture, and the covenant set forth under such section will be subject to defeasance in accordance with Section 12.03 of the Indenture.

The Company, the Trustee, and any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee, may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Security (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone other than the Company, the Trustee or any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee), for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest hereon and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

The Securities of this series are subject to defeasance as described in the Indenture.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest on this Security, for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any Indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference and, to the extent of any conflict between the provisions hereof and the Indenture, the Indenture shall control. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

This Security shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.


Optional Redemption

Prior to the Par Call Date (as defined below), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

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

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

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

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

Par Call Date” means March 15, 2025 (the date that is one month prior to the Maturity Date).

Discount Rate” means the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 10 basis points.

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

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

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company or its designee shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company or its designee shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company or its designee shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the


terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

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

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 15 days but not more than 45 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Securities to be redeemed.

Prior to any redemption date, the Company shall be required to deposit with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, the Securities to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all the Securities, the Trustee must select the Securities to be redeemed, either pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems fair and reasonable; provided, that so long as the Securities are represented by one or more Global Securities, interests in such Securities will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to this Security will state the portion of the principal amount of this Security to be redeemed. A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of this Security will be issued in the name of the holder of this Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities are held by the Depositary (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

The Company may, in any notice of redemption delivered to holders of the Securities, specify in its discretion one or more conditions precedent that must be satisfied prior to the Company’s obligation to so redeem the Securities subject to such notice of redemption.

On the redemption date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the redemption price. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining the redemption price. Notwithstanding Section 11.02 of the Indenture, the notice of such redemption need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof if such redemption price is not then ascertainable.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities of this series as described above, holders of the Securities of this series will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Securities pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities of this series repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to mail a notice to holders of the Securities of this series describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Securities on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The Company must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict


with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will be required, to the extent lawful, to (i) accept for payment all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series or portions of such Securities being purchased.

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Securities of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities of this series is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies).

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company’s voting stock.

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

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, business trust, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or political subdivision or agency thereof.

Rating Agencies” means (i) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (ii) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities of this series or fails to make a rating of the Securities of this series publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

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


FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No.:

Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee of the within Security:

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

 

                                                                                  

By:

 

Date:

 


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

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

 

Date of Increase
or Decrease

 

Amount of decrease
in Principal Amount
of the Global
Security

 

Amount of increase
in Principal Amount
of this Global
Security

 

Principal Amount of

this Global Security
following such
decrease or increase

 

Signature of

authorized signatory of
Trustee or Securities
Custodian

Exhibit 4.3

[FORM OF 2027 FIXED RATE GLOBAL NOTE]

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE COMPANY 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 THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITARY, TO THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE.


No. [    ]    $            

CUSIP: 437076CN0

ISIN NUMBER: US437076CN04

The Home Depot, Inc.

Dated: March 28, 2022

2.875% Note due April 15, 2027

The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of                  ($            ) at the Company’s office or agency for said purpose in New York City, on April 15, 2027 (the “Maturity Date”), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest, semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”) of each year, commencing on October 15, 2022, on said principal sum in like coin or currency at the rate per annum set forth above at said office or agency from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for, from the date hereof. The interest so payable on any Interest Payment Date will, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”) whether or not such day is a Business Day, provided that interest may be paid, at the option of the Company, by mailing a check therefor payable to the registered holder entitled thereto at such holder’s last address as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to such bank or other entity in the continental United States as shall be designated in writing by such holder prior to the relevant Regular Record Date and shall have appropriate facilities for such purpose. If and for so long as all of the Securities of this series are represented by Securities in global form, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Global Security shall be paid in same day funds to the Depositary, or to such name or entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary.

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

This Security shall not be valid or obligatory until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been duly signed by the Trustee acting under the Indenture.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Isabel C. Janci
Title:   Vice President – Investor Relations and Treasurer

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory                                                                         
 

Date: March 28, 2022

[Signature Page to 2.875% Fixed Rate Global Security]


REVERSE OF SECURITY

The Home Depot, Inc.

2.875% Note due April 15, 2027

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company, issued or to be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture). Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the registered holders or registered holder) of the Securities of this series.

This Security will bear interest until the Maturity Date at the rate per annum shown above. If any Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date (as defined below), or the Maturity Date of this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date, or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date payment is made. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal of, premium, if any, and to the extent lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest on this Security, at the same rate. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in New York City as the office or agency to be maintained by it where this Security may be presented for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respects of this Security or the Indenture may be served. “Business Day” shall mean any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to this series of Securities, the principal of all the outstanding Securities of this series may be declared due and payable, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that in certain events such declaration and its consequences may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series then outstanding and that, prior to any such declaration, such holders may waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of this series. Any consent or waiver by the holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and any Security of this series which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities of this series.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, evidenced as provided in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of Securities of this series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities of this series to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Securities of this series in addition to or in place of certificated Securities of this series, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to holders of Securities of this series in the case of a transaction described in Section 10.01 of the Indenture, to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration


of the trusts by more than one trustee, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of Securities of this series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such holder, or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

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

The Securities of this series are issuable only as registered Securities without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture and this Security, Securities of this series may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of other authorized denominations.

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security at the above-mentioned office or agency of the Company, a new Security or Securities of this series of authorized denominations, for a like aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the transferee as provided in the Indenture. No service charge shall be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.

Default in the performance, or breach, of the covenant set forth under “Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control” will be an “Event of Default” under Section 5.01 of the Indenture, and the covenant set forth under such section will be subject to defeasance in accordance with Section 12.03 of the Indenture.

The Company, the Trustee, and any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee, may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Security (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone other than the Company, the Trustee or any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee), for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest hereon and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

The Securities of this series are subject to defeasance as described in the Indenture.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest on this Security, for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any Indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference and, to the extent of any conflict between the provisions hereof and the Indenture, the Indenture shall control. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

This Security shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.


Optional Redemption

Prior to the Par Call Date (as defined below), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

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

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

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

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

Par Call Date” means March 15, 2027 (the date that is one month prior to the Maturity Date).

Discount Rate” means the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 10 basis points.

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

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

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company or its designee shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company or its designee shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company or its designee shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the


terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

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

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 15 days but not more than 45 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Securities to be redeemed.

Prior to any redemption date, the Company shall be required to deposit with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, the Securities to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all the Securities, the Trustee must select the Securities to be redeemed, either pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems fair and reasonable; provided, that so long as the Securities are represented by one or more Global Securities, interests in such Securities will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to this Security will state the portion of the principal amount of this Security to be redeemed. A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of this Security will be issued in the name of the holder of this Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities are held by the Depositary (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

The Company may, in any notice of redemption delivered to holders of the Securities, specify in its discretion one or more conditions precedent that must be satisfied prior to the Company’s obligation to so redeem the Securities subject to such notice of redemption.

On the redemption date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the redemption price. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining the redemption price. Notwithstanding Section 11.02 of the Indenture, the notice of such redemption need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof if such redemption price is not then ascertainable.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities of this series as described above, holders of the Securities of this series will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Securities pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities of this series repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to mail a notice to holders of the Securities of this series describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Securities on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The Company must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict


with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will be required, to the extent lawful, to (i) accept for payment all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series or portions of such Securities being purchased.

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Securities of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities of this series is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies).

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company’s voting stock.

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

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, business trust, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or political subdivision or agency thereof.

Rating Agencies” means (i) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (ii) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities of this series or fails to make a rating of the Securities of this series publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

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


FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No.:    

Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee of the within Security:

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

 

 

By:
Date:


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

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

 

Date of Increase
or Decrease

 

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount

of the Global

Security

 

Amount of increase

in Principal Amount

of this Global

Security

 

Principal Amount of

this Global Security
following such

decrease or increase

 

Signature of

authorized signatory of
Trustee or Securities
Custodian

Exhibit 4.4

[FORM OF 2032 FIXED RATE GLOBAL NOTE]

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE COMPANY 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 THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITARY, TO THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE.


No. [    ]    $            

CUSIP: 437076CP5

ISIN NUMBER: US437076CP51

The Home Depot, Inc.

Dated: March 28, 2022

3.250% Note due April 15, 2032

The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of                  ($            ) at the Company’s office or agency for said purpose in New York City, on April 15, 2032 (the “Maturity Date”), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest, semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”) of each year, commencing on October 15, 2022, on said principal sum in like coin or currency at the rate per annum set forth above at said office or agency from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for, from the date hereof. The interest so payable on any Interest Payment Date will, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”) whether or not such day is a Business Day, provided that interest may be paid, at the option of the Company, by mailing a check therefor payable to the registered holder entitled thereto at such holder’s last address as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to such bank or other entity in the continental United States as shall be designated in writing by such holder prior to the relevant Regular Record Date and shall have appropriate facilities for such purpose. If and for so long as all of the Securities of this series are represented by Securities in global form, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Global Security shall be paid in same day funds to the Depositary, or to such name or entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary.

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

This Security shall not be valid or obligatory until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been duly signed by the Trustee acting under the Indenture.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Isabel C. Janci
Title:   Vice President – Investor Relations and Treasurer

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory                                                                         
 

Date: March 28, 2022

[Signature Page to 3.250% Fixed Rate Global Security]


REVERSE OF SECURITY

The Home Depot, Inc.

3.250% Note due April 15, 2032

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company, issued or to be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture). Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the registered holders or registered holder) of the Securities of this series.

This Security will bear interest until the Maturity Date at the rate per annum shown above. If any Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date (as defined below), or the Maturity Date of this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date, or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date payment is made. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal of, premium, if any, and to the extent lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest on this Security, at the same rate. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in New York City as the office or agency to be maintained by it where this Security may be presented for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respects of this Security or the Indenture may be served. “Business Day” shall mean any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to this series of Securities, the principal of all the outstanding Securities of this series may be declared due and payable, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that in certain events such declaration and its consequences may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series then outstanding and that, prior to any such declaration, such holders may waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of this series. Any consent or waiver by the holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and any Security of this series which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities of this series.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, evidenced as provided in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of Securities of this series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities of this series to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Securities of this series in addition to or in place of certificated Securities of this series, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to holders of Securities of this series in the case of a transaction described in Section 10.01 of the Indenture, to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration


of the trusts by more than one trustee, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of Securities of this series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such holder, or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

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

The Securities of this series are issuable only as registered Securities without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture and this Security, Securities of this series may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of other authorized denominations.

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security at the above-mentioned office or agency of the Company, a new Security or Securities of this series of authorized denominations, for a like aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the transferee as provided in the Indenture. No service charge shall be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.

Default in the performance, or breach, of the covenant set forth under “Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control” will be an “Event of Default” under Section 5.01 of the Indenture, and the covenant set forth under such section will be subject to defeasance in accordance with Section 12.03 of the Indenture.

The Company, the Trustee, and any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee, may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Security (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone other than the Company, the Trustee or any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee), for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest hereon and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

The Securities of this series are subject to defeasance as described in the Indenture.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest on this Security, for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any Indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference and, to the extent of any conflict between the provisions hereof and the Indenture, the Indenture shall control. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

This Security shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.


Optional Redemption

Prior to the Par Call Date (as defined below), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

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

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

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

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

Par Call Date” means January 15, 2032 (the date that is three months prior to the Maturity Date).

Discount Rate” means the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 15 basis points.

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

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

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company or its designee shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company or its designee shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company or its designee shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the


terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

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

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 15 days but not more than 45 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Securities to be redeemed.

Prior to any redemption date, the Company shall be required to deposit with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, the Securities to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all the Securities, the Trustee must select the Securities to be redeemed, either pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems fair and reasonable; provided, that so long as the Securities are represented by one or more Global Securities, interests in such Securities will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to this Security will state the portion of the principal amount of this Security to be redeemed. A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of this Security will be issued in the name of the holder of this Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities are held by the Depositary (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

The Company may, in any notice of redemption delivered to holders of the Securities, specify in its discretion one or more conditions precedent that must be satisfied prior to the Company’s obligation to so redeem the Securities subject to such notice of redemption.

On the redemption date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the redemption price. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining the redemption price. Notwithstanding Section 11.02 of the Indenture, the notice of such redemption need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof if such redemption price is not then ascertainable.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities of this series as described above, holders of the Securities of this series will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Securities pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities of this series repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to mail a notice to holders of the Securities of this series describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Securities on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The Company must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict


with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will be required, to the extent lawful, to (i) accept for payment all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series or portions of such Securities being purchased.

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Securities of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities of this series is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies).

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company’s voting stock.

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

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, business trust, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or political subdivision or agency thereof.

Rating Agencies” means (i) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (ii) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities of this series or fails to make a rating of the Securities of this series publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

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


FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No.:    

Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee of the within Security:

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

 

 

By:
Date:


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

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

 

Date of Increase
or Decrease

 

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount

of the Global

Security

 

Amount of increase

in Principal Amount

of this Global

Security

 

Principal Amount of

this Global Security
following such

decrease or increase

 

Signature of

authorized signatory of
Trustee or Securities
Custodian

Exhibit 4.5

[FORM OF 2052 FIXED RATE GLOBAL NOTE]

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE COMPANY 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 THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITARY, TO THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE.


No. [    ]    $            

CUSIP: 437076CQ3

ISIN NUMBER: US437076CQ35

The Home Depot, Inc.

Dated: March 28, 2022

3.625% Note due April 15, 2052

The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of              ($            ) at the Company’s office or agency for said purpose in New York City, on April 15, 2052 (the “Maturity Date”), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest, semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”) of each year, commencing on October 15, 2022, on said principal sum in like coin or currency at the rate per annum set forth above at said office or agency from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest on the Securities of this series has been paid or duly provided for, from the date hereof. The interest so payable on any Interest Payment Date will, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”) whether or not such day is a Business Day, provided that interest may be paid, at the option of the Company, by mailing a check therefor payable to the registered holder entitled thereto at such holder’s last address as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to such bank or other entity in the continental United States as shall be designated in writing by such holder prior to the relevant Regular Record Date and shall have appropriate facilities for such purpose. If and for so long as all of the Securities of this series are represented by Securities in global form, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Global Security shall be paid in same day funds to the Depositary, or to such name or entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary.

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

This Security shall not be valid or obligatory until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been duly signed by the Trustee acting under the Indenture.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Isabel C. Janci
Title:   Vice President – Investor Relations and Treasurer

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory                                                                         
 

Date: March 28, 2022

[Signature Page to 3.625% Fixed Rate Global Security]


REVERSE OF SECURITY

The Home Depot, Inc.

3.625% Note due April 15, 2052

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company, issued or to be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture). Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the registered holders or registered holder) of the Securities of this series.

This Security will bear interest until the Maturity Date at the rate per annum shown above. If any Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date (as defined below), or the Maturity Date of this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Change of Control Payment Date, or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date payment is made. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal of, premium, if any, and to the extent lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest on this Security, at the same rate. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in New York City as the office or agency to be maintained by it where this Security may be presented for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respects of this Security or the Indenture may be served. “Business Day” shall mean any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to this series of Securities, the principal of all the outstanding Securities of this series may be declared due and payable, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that in certain events such declaration and its consequences may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series then outstanding and that, prior to any such declaration, such holders may waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of this series. Any consent or waiver by the holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and any Security of this series which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities of this series.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, evidenced as provided in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of Securities of this series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities of this series to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Securities of this series in addition to or in place of certificated Securities of this series, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to holders of Securities of this series in the case of a transaction described in Section 10.01 of the Indenture, to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration


of the trusts by more than one trustee, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of Securities of this series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such holder, or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

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

The Securities of this series are issuable only as registered Securities without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture and this Security, Securities of this series may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of other authorized denominations.

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security at the above-mentioned office or agency of the Company, a new Security or Securities of this series of authorized denominations, for a like aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the transferee as provided in the Indenture. No service charge shall be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.

Default in the performance, or breach, of the covenant set forth under “Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control” will be an “Event of Default” under Section 5.01 of the Indenture, and the covenant set forth under such section will be subject to defeasance in accordance with Section 12.03 of the Indenture.

The Company, the Trustee, and any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee, may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Security (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone other than the Company, the Trustee or any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee), for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest hereon and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor any authorized agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

The Securities of this series are subject to defeasance as described in the Indenture.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest on this Security, for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any Indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference and, to the extent of any conflict between the provisions hereof and the Indenture, the Indenture shall control. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

This Security shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.


Optional Redemption

Prior to the Par Call Date (as defined below), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

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

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

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

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

Par Call Date” means October 15, 2051 (the date that is six months prior to the Maturity Date).

Discount Rate” means the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 20 basis points.

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

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

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company or its designee shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company or its designee shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company or its designee shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the


terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

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

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 15 days but not more than 45 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Securities to be redeemed.

Prior to any redemption date, the Company shall be required to deposit with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, the Securities to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all the Securities, the Trustee must select the Securities to be redeemed, either pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems fair and reasonable; provided, that so long as the Securities are represented by one or more Global Securities, interests in such Securities will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to this Security will state the portion of the principal amount of this Security to be redeemed. A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of this Security will be issued in the name of the holder of this Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities are held by the Depositary (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

The Company may, in any notice of redemption delivered to holders of the Securities, specify in its discretion one or more conditions precedent that must be satisfied prior to the Company’s obligation to so redeem the Securities subject to such notice of redemption.

On the redemption date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the redemption price. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining the redemption price. Notwithstanding Section 11.02 of the Indenture, the notice of such redemption need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof if such redemption price is not then ascertainable.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities of this series as described above, holders of the Securities of this series will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Securities pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities of this series repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to mail a notice to holders of the Securities of this series describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Securities on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The Company must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict


with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will be required, to the extent lawful, to (i) accept for payment all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities of this series or portions of such Securities properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series or portions of such Securities being purchased.

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Securities of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities of this series is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies).

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company’s voting stock.

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

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, business trust, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or political subdivision or agency thereof.

Rating Agencies” means (i) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (ii) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities of this series or fails to make a rating of the Securities of this series publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

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


FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No.:    

Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee of the within Security:

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

 

 

By:
Date:


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

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

 

Date of Increase
or Decrease

 

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount

of the Global

Security

 

Amount of increase

in Principal Amount

of this Global

Security

 

Principal Amount of

this Global Security
following such

decrease or increase

 

Signature of

authorized signatory of
Trustee or Securities
Custodian

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

One Atlantic Center

1201 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta, GA 30309-3424

404-881-7000

Fax: 404-881-7777

www.alston.com

March 28, 2022

The Home Depot, Inc.

2455 Paces Ferry Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30339

 

  Re:

Notes Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company to the several underwriters referenced below (the “Underwriters”) of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.700% Notes due April 15, 2025, $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.875% Notes due April 15, 2027, $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.250% Notes due April 15, 2032 and $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.625% Notes due April 15, 2052 (collectively, the “Notes”) to be issued under the Indenture dated as of May 4, 2005 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Company is selling the Notes to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated March 24, 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between the Company and the representatives of the several underwriters named therein.

We are furnishing the opinion set forth below pursuant to Item 16 of Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

In such connection, we have examined the following documents:

(i)    an executed copy of the Indenture;

(ii)    facsimile copies of the global certificates evidencing the Notes in the forms delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;

(iii)    an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement;

(iv)    copies of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on February 24, 2005, August 19, 2021 and February 24, 2022 and copies of

 

Alston & Bird LLP    www.alston.com

 

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The Home Depot, Inc.

March 28, 2022

Page 2

 

certain resolutions of a Pricing Committee comprised of officers of the Company established by the Company’s Board of Directors adopted on March 24, 2022, each certified by Stacy S. Ingram, Deputy Corporate Secretary of the Company;

(v)    an Authentication Order dated March 28, 2022 executed by Isabel C. Janci, as Vice President—Investor Relations and Treasurer of the Company;

(vi)    an Officers’ Certificate of Richard V. McPhail, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Isabel C. Janci, as Vice President—Investor Relations and Treasurer of the Company, dated March 28, 2022 (the “Officers’ Certificate”);

(vii)    a Secretary’s Certificate of Stacy S. Ingram, Deputy Corporate Secretary of the Company, dated March 28, 2022 (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);

(viii)    a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as in effect as of the date hereof and at all times since January 26, 2016, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(ix)    a copy of the Company’s By-Laws, as amended and restated and in effect as of the date hereof and at all times since February 28, 2019, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(x)    copies of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation, as in effect on February 24, 2005, May 4, 2005, August 19, 2021, August 27, 2021, February 24, 2022 and March 24, 2022, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(xi)    copies of the Company’s By-Laws, as in effect on February 24, 2005, May 4, 2005, August 19, 2021, August 27, 2021, February 24, 2022 and March 24, 2022, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate; and

(xii)    the other documents delivered at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.

The Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the Notes are referred to herein collectively as the “Transaction Documents.”

We have also examined such other agreements, instruments and other documents and such certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials, and have made such examination of law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes hereof.

As to certain factual matters, but not conclusions of law, we have relied upon the representations and warranties of the parties to the Transaction Documents, the Officers’ Certificate and the Secretary’s Certificate, and other certificates of the Company and of


The Home Depot, Inc.

March 28, 2022

Page 3

 

public officials. Except as otherwise expressly set forth, we have made no independent examination of facts, review of court records or other public records, or factual investigation for the purposes of this opinion letter.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed: (i) the genuineness of all signatures; (ii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (iii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or telefacsimile copies; (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons; and (v) the due authorization, execution, and delivery of and the validity and binding effect of the Transaction Documents with regard to the parties to the Transaction Documents other than the Company.

“Applicable Law” means the laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America and the State of New York that in our experience are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and the Delaware General Corporation Law, but does not include laws that are applicable due to the regulatory status or nature of the business of any party to any of the Transaction Documents other than the Company. We express no opinion herein in respect of any laws other than Applicable Law.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the other assumptions, exceptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company and, when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

The opinions expressed herein are subject to the following additional exceptions, limitations and qualifications:

(a)    The enforceability of the Transaction Documents and the obligations of the parties thereunder, and the availability of certain rights and remedial provisions provided for in the Transaction Documents, are subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, and similar laws, and limitations imposed under judicial decisions, related to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, (ii) general equitable principles, regardless of whether the issue of enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law and principles limiting the availability of the remedy of specific performance, (iii) concepts of good faith, fair dealing, materiality and reasonableness, and (iv) the possible unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions providing for indemnification or contribution that are contrary to public policy.

(b)    Requirements in the Transaction Documents specifying that provisions thereof may only be waived in writing may not be valid, binding or enforceable to the extent that an oral agreement or an implied agreement by trade practice or course of conduct has been created modifying any provision of such documents.


The Home Depot, Inc.

March 28, 2022

Page 4

 

(c)    We express no opinion herein as to the severability of any provision of the Transaction Documents.

(d)    We express no opinion herein with respect to the validity, binding effect, or enforceability of any provision of the Transaction Documents: (i) purporting to permit the exercise, under certain circumstances, of rights or remedies without notice or without providing opportunity to cure failures to perform; (ii) purporting to specify applicable law, except to the extent enforceable under Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law; (iii) purporting to require a waiver of defenses, setoffs, counterclaims or rights to jury trial; or (iv) that provides that determinations by a party or a party’s designee are conclusive or deemed conclusive.

(e)    We express no opinion herein as to the applicability or effect of your compliance or non-compliance with any state, federal or other laws applicable to you or to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents because of the nature of your business, including your legal or regulatory status.

(f)    We express no opinion herein in respect of any federal or state antitrust, banking, insurance, environmental, tax, securities, “blue sky”, commodities, anti-terrorism, anti-money-laundering, foreign investment control, or ERISA or other pension or benefits laws, rules or regulations.

The opinion contained herein is limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the opinion expressly stated.

The foregoing opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we make no undertaking and expressly disclaim any duty to supplement or update such opinion if, after the date hereof, facts or circumstances come to our attention or changes in the law occur which could affect such opinion.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-259121) related to the Notes, including information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B of the Commission (the “Registration Statement”). We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Company’s prospectus supplement dated March 24, 2022 constituting a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.


The Home Depot, Inc.

March 28, 2022

Page 5

 

ALSTON & BIRD LLP
By:  

/s/ Sarah Hess Mackenzie

  A Partner