Wrap Text
Anheuser-Busch Inbev announces implementation of amendments to Notes
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
(Incorporated in the Kingdom of Belgium)
Register of Companies Number: 0417.497.106
Euronext Brussels Share Code: ABI
Mexican Stock Exchange Share Code: ANB
NYSE ADS Code: BUD
JSE Share Code: ANH
ISIN: BE0974293251
(“AB InBev”)
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF
AMENDMENTS TO NOTES
Following the successful completion of a Noteholder consent solicitation in December 2016,
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV announces that the modifications to the €1,000,000,000
1.875% Notes due January 2020 (the "Notes") issued by Anheuser-Busch North American
Holding Corporation (formerly SABMiller Holdings Inc.) (the "Original Issuer") and
guaranteed by SABMiller Limited (formerly known as SABMiller plc) (the "Original
Guarantor"), including the substitution of the Original Issuer and Original Guarantor, are
effective as of 20 January 2017 (the "Effective Date").
Amendments to Notes
As a result of the consent solicitation, the Original Issuer is being substituted with Anheuser-
Busch InBev SA/NV (the "New Issuer") and the guarantor structure is being amended so that
the Original Guarantor is substituted with Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, Anheuser-Busch
InBev Finance Inc., Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Brandbev S.à r.l., Brandbrew
S.A. and Cobrew NV (each a "New Guarantor" and together, the "New Guarantors"). As a
result of these changes, the obligor group in respect of the Notes is consistent with notes
issued under the New Issuer's existing Euro Medium Term Note Programme (the
"Programme").
The terms and conditions that are applicable to the Notes from the Effective Date are set out
in Annex B, as completed by the amended and restated Final Terms set out in Annex A.
In order to implement the modifications to the Notes, a Deed Poll attaching the modified
terms and conditions of the Notes and applicable final terms dated 8 December 2016, Deeds
of Guarantee with respect to the Notes from each New Guarantor, each dated 8 December
2016 and a Supplementary Domiciliary Agency Agreement dated 8 December 2016 have
been executed and are available for inspection from the registered offices of the Issuer and
from the specified offices of the Domiciliary Agent: BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV, Montagne
du Parc 3, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
The New Issuer
The New Issuer is a publicly traded company, listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol
ABI, with secondary listings on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores under the symbol ANB and
the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the symbol ANH. American Depository Shares
representing rights to receive the Original Issuer's ordinary shares trade on the NYSE under
the symbol BUD.
The New Issuer was incorporated on 3 March 2016 for an unlimited duration under the laws
of Belgium under the original name Newbelco SA/NV, and is the successor entity to
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, which was incorporated on 2 August 1977 for an unlimited
duration under the laws of Belgium under the original name BEMES. It has the legal form of
a public limited liability company (société anonyme/naamloze vennootschap). Its registered
office is located at Grand-Place/Grote Markt 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, and it is registered
with the Register of Legal Entities of Brussels under the number 0417.497.106. The global
headquarters for the New Issuer and the group of companies owned and/or controlled by it
(the "Group") are located at Brouwerijplein 1, 3000 Leuven, Belgium (tel.: +32 16 27 61 11).
For further information on the New Issuer, the Group and each of the New Guarantors, please
refer to the base prospectus dated 6 December 2016 relating to the Programme (the "Base
Prospectus"), available at the New Issuer's registered office and published at:
https://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0974R_-2016-12-
6.pdf?_ga=1.125634825.2040454663.1473851096
Significant or Material Change
There has been no material or adverse change in the prospects of the New Issuer or the Group
since 31 December 2015, nor any significant change in the financial or trading position of the
New Issuer or the Group since 30 June 2016.
Litigation
Save as disclosed in Section 5 (Description of the Issuer – Legal and Arbitration proceedings)
on pages 98 to 102 of the Base Prospectus (other than the section entitled "Budweiser
Trademark Litigation" on page 98), there are no governmental, legal or arbitration
proceedings (including any such proceedings which are pending or threatened of which the
Obligors (as defined in the Base Prospectus) are aware) in the 12 months preceding the date of
the Base Prospectus which may have or have in such period had a significant effect on the
financial position or profitability of the Obligors or the Group (as defined in the Base
Prospectus) as a whole.
Listing
The Notes will continue to be admitted to the official list and to trading on the regulated
market of the Irish Stock Exchange.
BE ISIN
As part of the modifications to the Notes, a new ISIN (BE6291424040) and Common Code
(153316899) will apply to the Notes from the Effective Date.
Disclaimer – Intended addressees
This announcement is not for distribution in the United States.
Please note that the information contained in the Base Prospectus may be addressed to and/or
targeted at persons who are residents of particular countries (specified in the Base Prospectus)
only and is not intended for use and should not be relied upon by any person outside these
countries and/or to whom the offer contained in the Base Prospectus is not addressed. Prior to
relying on the information contained in the Base Prospectus you must ascertain from the Base
Prospectus whether or not you are part of the intended addressees of, and eligible to view, the
information contained therein.
In particular, neither this announcement nor the Base Prospectus shall constitute an offer to
sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or in any other
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration,
exemption from registration or qualification under the securities law of any such jurisdiction.
The Notes and securities described in the Base Prospectus (the "Securities") have not been,
and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or under any relevant securities laws of any state of the United States of America and
are subject to U.S. tax law requirements. Subject to certain exceptions, the Securities may not
be offered or sold directly or indirectly within the United States or to, or for the account or
benefit of, U.S. persons or to persons within the United States of America, as such terms are
defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act. Any forwarding, distribution or reproduction
of the Base Prospectus in whole or in part is prohibited. Failure to comply with this notice
may result in a violation of the Securities Act or the applicable laws of other jurisdictions.
There will be no public offering of the Securities in the United States.
Enquiries:
Media Investors
Marianne Amssoms Lauren Abbott
Tel: +1-212-573-9281 Tel: +1-212-573-9287
E-mail: marianne.amssoms@ab-inbev.com E-mail: lauren.abbott@ab-inbev.com
Richard Farnsworth Mariusz Jamka
Tel: +44-1483-754-988 Tel: +32-16-27-68-88
E-mail: richard.farnsworth@ab-inbev.com E-mail: mariusz.jamka@ab-inbev.com
Kathleen Van Boxelaer
Tel: +32-16-27-68-23
E-mail: kathleen.vanboxelaer@ab-inbev.com
23 January 2017
JSE Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
ANNEX A
AMENDED AND RESTATED FINAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
Originally dated 4 December 2012 and amended and restated on 8 December 2016
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV
Issue of EUR 1,000,000,000 1.875 per cent. Notes due 20 January 2020
Guaranteed by
ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES, LLC
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV FINANCE INC.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV WORLDWIDE INC.
BRANDBEV S.À R.L.
BRANDBREW S.A.
and
COBREW NV
Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the Conditions (the "Conditions")
set forth in the Annex hereto. This document constitutes the Final Terms of the Notes described herein and must
be read in conjunction with the Conditions.
PART A CONTRACTUAL TERMS
1. (a) Issuer: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
(b) Guarantors: Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC
Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance Inc.
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc.
Brandbev S.à r.l.
Brandbrew S.A.
Cobrew NV
2. (a) Series Number: Not Applicable
(b) Tranche Number: 1
(c) Date on which the Notes will be Not Applicable
consolidated and form a single
Series:
3. Specified Currency or Currencies: Euro ("EUR")
4. Aggregate Nominal Amount: EUR 1,000,000,000
(a) Series: EUR 1,000,000,000
(b) Tranche: EUR 1,000,000,000
5. Issue Price: 99.392 per cent. of the Aggregate Nominal
Amount
6. (a) Specified Denominations: EUR 100,000 and integral multiples of EUR
1,000 in excess thereof up to and including
EUR 199,000. No notes in definitive form will
be issued with a denomination above EUR
199,000
(b) Calculation Amount: EUR 1,000
7. (a) Issue Date: 6 December 2012
(b) Interest Commencement Date: Issue Date
8. Maturity Date: 20 January 2020
9. Interest Basis: 1.875 per cent. Fixed Rate
(further particulars specified below)
10. Redemption Basis: Subject to any purchase and cancellation or
early redemption the Notes will be redeemed
on the Maturity Date at 100 per cent. of their
nominal amount
11. Change of Interest Basis: Not Applicable
12. Put/Call Options: Not Applicable
13. Date of Board approval for issuance of Resolutions of (i) the Board of Directors of
Notes and Guarantee obtained: SABMiller Holdings Inc. (being the original
issuer of the Notes) dated 9 January 2012 and
committee of the Board of Directors of
SABMiller Holdings Inc. dated 28 November
2012 and (ii) the Board of Directors of
SABMiller plc (being the original guarantor of
the Notes) dated 21 November 2012 and
committee of the Board of Directors of
SABMiller plc dated 28 November 2012,
respectively.
Resolutions of (i) the Board of Directors of the
Issuer dated 10 November 2016; (ii) the Board
of Directors of Anheuser-Busch
Companies, LLC dated 11 November 2016;
(iii) the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch
InBev Finance Inc. dated 8 November 2016;
(iv) the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch
InBev Worldwide Inc. dated 11 November
2016; (v) the Board of Directors of Brandbev
S.à r.l. dated 9 November 2016; (vi) the Board
of Directors of Brandbrew S.A. dated 10
November 2016; and (vii) the Board of
Directors of Cobrew NV dated 10 November
2016.
14. Fixed Rate Note Provisions: Applicable
(a) Rate(s) of Interest: 1.875 per cent. per annum payable in arrear on
each Interest Payment Date
(b) Interest Payment Date(s): 20 January in each year, commencing on 20
January 2014, up to and including the Maturity
Date
(c) Day Count Fraction: Actual/Actual (ICMA)
(d) Determination Date(s): 20 January in each year
(e) Ratings Step-up/Step-down: Not Applicable
15. Floating Rate Note Provisions: Not Applicable
16. Zero Coupon Note Provisions: Not Applicable
PROVISIONS RELATING TO REDEMPTION
17. Issuer Call: Not Applicable
18. Investor Put: Not Applicable
19. Final Redemption Amount: EUR 1,000 per Calculation Amount
20. Early Redemption Amount payable on EUR 1,000 per Calculation Amount
redemption for taxation reasons or on
event of default:
GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES
21. Additional Financial Centre(s) or other London
special provisions relating to Payment
Days:
Signed on behalf of the Issuer: Signed on behalf of the Issuer:
By: ........................................................................... By: ………………………………......................
Duly authorised Duly authorised
Signed on behalf of Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC:
By: ...........................................................................
Duly authorised
Signed on behalf of Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance Inc.:
By: ...........................................................................
Duly authorised
Signed on behalf of Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc.:
By: ...........................................................................
Duly authorised
Signed on behalf of Brandbev S.à r.l. (a société à responsabilité limitée, incorporated and existing under the
laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at Zone Industrielle Breedewues No. 15, L-1259 Senningerberg,
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies under
the number B 80.984):
By: ...........................................................................
Name:
Title: authorised signatory
Signed on behalf of Brandbrew S.A. (a société anonyme, incorporated and existing under the laws of
Luxembourg, with its registered office at Zone Industrielle Breedewues No. 15, L-1259 Senningerberg, Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies under the
number B 75.696):
By: ...........................................................................
Name:
Title: authorised signatory
Signed on behalf of Cobrew NV:
By: ...........................................................................
Duly authorised
-7-
PART B – OTHER INFORMATION
22. LISTING AND ADMISSION TO TRADING
(i) Listing and Admission to trading: Application will be made for the Notes to be
admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange's
Regulated Market and to listing on the Official List
of the Irish Stock Exchange with effect from 20
January 2017.
(ii) Estimate of total expenses related to EUR 0
admission to trading:
23. RATINGS The Notes to be issued have been rated:
S&P: BBB+
Moody's: Baa1
24. INTERESTS OF NATURAL AND LEGAL PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE
So far as the Issuer is aware, no person involved in the issue of the Notes has an interest material to
the offer.
25. YIELD
Indication of yield: 1.967 per cent.
The yield is calculated at the Issue Date on the basis
of the Issue Price. It is not an indication of future
yield.
26. OPERATIONAL INFORMATION
(i) ISIN Code: BE6291424040
(ii) Common Code: 153316899
(iii) Any clearing system(s) other than Not Applicable
X/N clearing system and the
relevant identification number(s):
(iv) Delivery: Delivery against payment
(v) Names and addresses of additional Not Applicable
paying agent(s) (if any):
(vi) Intended to be held in a manner Yes. Note that the designation "yes" does not
which would allow Eurosystem necessarily mean that the Notes will be recognised as
eligibility: eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy
and intra day credit operations by the Eurosystem
either upon issue or at any or all times during their
life. Such recognition will depend upon the ECB
being satisfied that Eurosystem eligibility criteria
have been met.
27. DISTRIBUTION
(i) Method of distribution: Syndicated
(ii) If syndicated:
(a) Names and addresses of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.
Dealers and underwriting Banco Santander S.A.
commitments: Barclays Bank PLC
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
Citigroup Global Markets Limited
J.P. Morgan Securities plc
Merrill Lynch International
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc
Mizuho International plc
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
(b) Date of subscription 4 December 2012
agreement:
(c) Stabilising Manager(s) (if Barclays Bank PLC
any):
(iii) If non-syndicated, name and Not Applicable
address of Dealer:
(iv) U.S. Selling Restrictions: Reg. S Compliance Category 2
ANNEX B
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
References in these Terms and Conditions to "Notes" are to the Notes of one Series (as defined below) issued by
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (the "Issuer") (legal entity identifier: 5493008H3828EMEXB082) pursuant to
the Domiciliary Agency Agreement (as defined below) only, not to any notes that may be issued under the
Programme (as defined below). All capitalised terms which are not defined in these Terms and Conditions will
have the meanings given to them or refer to information specified in, Part A of the applicable Final Terms.
The Notes have the benefit of an Amended and Restated Domiciliary and Belgian Paying Agency Agreement
(such Domiciliary and Belgian Paying Agency Agreement as supplemented by the Supplemental Domiciliary
and Belgian Paying Agency Agreement dated 8 December 2016 and as further amended and/or supplemented
and/or restated from time to time, the "Domiciliary Agency Agreement") dated 6 December 2016 and made
between the Issuer, the Guarantors (as defined below) and BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV as domiciliary agent and
paying agent (the "Domiciliary Agent" and the "Paying Agent", which expression shall include any successor
domiciliary agent and paying agent).
The final terms for a Tranche of Notes (or the relevant provisions thereof) are set out in Part A of the Final
Terms relating to such Notes and complete these Terms and Conditions (the "Conditions"). References to the
"applicable Final Terms" are, unless otherwise stated, to Part A of the Final Terms (or the relevant provisions
thereof) relating to such Notes.
The payment of all amounts in respect of the Notes have been guaranteed by whichever of (i) Anheuser-Busch
InBev Finance Inc. ("ABIFI"), (ii) Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc. ("ABIWW"), (iii) Anheuser-Busch
Companies, LLC ("Anheuser-Busch Companies"), (iv) Brandbev S.à r.l. ("Brandbev"), (v) Cobrew NV
("Cobrew") and (vi) Brandbrew S.A. ("Brandbrew") are specified as Guarantors in the applicable Final Terms
(together the "Guarantors" and each a "Guarantor"; provided that, upon any such company terminating its
guarantee in accordance with Condition 2.3 (Termination of the Guarantees), such company will cease to be a
Guarantor) pursuant to separate guarantees (each a "Guarantee" and together the "Guarantees", which
expressions include the same as each may be amended, supplemented, novated or restated from time to time)
executed by each of the relevant Guarantors on 8 December 2016. Certain of the Guarantees are subject to
certain limitations, as described in Condition 2.2 (Status of the Guarantees). If the Issuer executes a New
Guarantee pursuant to Condition 12 (Substitution) each reference in these Conditions to a "Guarantor" and a
"Guarantee" shall, save where the context does not permit, include the Issuer in its capacity as such and its new
Guarantee, respectively. The original of each Guarantee is held by the Domiciliary Agent on behalf of the
Noteholders at its specified office.
As used herein, "Tranche" means Notes which are identical in all respects (including as to listing and admission
to trading) and "Series" means a Tranche of Notes together with any further Tranche or Tranches of Notes
which are (a) expressed to be consolidated and form a single series and (b) identical in all respects (including as
to listing and admission to trading) except for their respective Issue Dates, Interest Commencement Dates and/or
Issue Prices.
The holders of interests in Notes will be entitled to proceed directly against the Issuer in case of an Event of
Default of the Issuer based on statements of accounts provided by the participant, sub-participant or the operator
of the X/N clearing system (the "X/N Clearing System").
Copies of the Guarantees, the deed poll dated 8 December 2016 (the "Deed Poll"), the Domiciliary Agency
Agreement and the applicable Final Terms are available for inspection during normal business hours at the
specified office of the Domiciliary Agent. The Noteholders (as defined below) are deemed to have notice of, and
are entitled to the benefit of, all the provisions of the Domiciliary Agency Agreement, the Deed Poll, the
Guarantees and the applicable Final Terms which are applicable to them. The statements in the Conditions
include summaries of, and are subject to, the detailed provisions of the Domiciliary Agency Agreement.
Words and expressions defined in the Domiciliary Agency Agreement or used in the applicable Final Terms
shall have the same meanings where used in the Conditions unless the context otherwise requires or unless
otherwise stated and provided that, in the event of inconsistency between the Domiciliary Agency Agreement
and the applicable Final Terms, the applicable Final Terms will prevail.
1. FORM, DENOMINATION AND TITLE
The Notes are issued in dematerialised book-entry form within the meaning of Article 468 of the
Belgian Companies Code. Noteholders of Notes will not be entitled to exchange Notes into bearer or
registered Notes.
The Notes may be Fixed Rate Notes, Floating Rate Notes, Zero Coupon Notes or a combination of any
of the foregoing, depending upon the Interest Basis shown in the applicable Final Terms.
Title to the Notes will be evidenced in accordance with Article 468 of the Belgian Companies Code by
entries in securities accounts maintained with the X/N Clearing System itself or participants or
sub-participants in such system approved by the Belgian Minister of Finance. The X/N Clearing
System maintains securities accounts in the name of authorised participants only. Such participants
include Euroclear Bank SA/NV ("Euroclear"), Clearstream Banking S.A. ("Clearstream,
Luxembourg"), SIX SIS Ltd, Monte Titoli and Euroclear France. Noteholders, unless they are
participants, will not hold Notes directly with the operator of the X/N Clearing System but will hold
them in a securities account through a financial institution which is a participant in the X/N Clearing
System or which holds them through another financial institution which is such a participant.
The operator of the X/N Clearing System will credit the securities account of the Domiciliary Agent
with the aggregate nominal amount of Notes. Such Domiciliary Agent will credit each subscriber
which is a participant in the X/N Clearing System and each other subscriber which has a securities
account with such Domiciliary Agent, with a nominal amount of Notes equal to a nominal amount of
Notes to which such participant or such securities account holders have subscribed and paid for (both
acting on their own behalf or as agent for other subscribers). Any participant in respect of its
sub-participants and its account holders and any sub-participant in respect of its account holders will,
upon such Notes being credited as aforesaid, credit the securities accounts of such account holder or
sub-participant, as the case may be. Each person who is for the time being shown in the records of a
participant, a sub-participant or the operator of the X/N Clearing System as the holder of a particular
nominal amount of such Notes (in which regard any certificate or other documents issued by a
participant, sub-participant or the operator of the X/N Clearing System as to the nominal amount of
such Notes standing to the account of such person shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,
save in the case of manifest error) shall be treated by the Issuer and the Domiciliary Agent as the holder
of such nominal amount of such Notes for all purposes other than (i) with respect to the payment of
principal or interest on the Notes, which shall be paid through the Domiciliary Agent and the
X/N Clearing System in accordance with the rules of the X/N Clearing System, and (ii) with respect to
the delivery of any notice to be given by a Noteholder in respect of the Notes pursuant to these
Conditions, which notice must be given in accordance with the standard procedures of the
X/N Clearing System and may only be given by a participant in the X/N Clearing System (whether
acting on its own behalf or on behalf of other subscribers holding through such participant) in respect
of the relevant Notes held by or through it, and the expressions "Noteholder" and "holder of Notes"
and related expressions shall be construed accordingly. The Notes issued will be transferable only in
accordance with the rules and procedures for the time being of the X/N Clearing System.
References to the X/N Clearing System shall, whenever the context so permits, be deemed to include a
reference to any additional or alternative clearing system specified in Part B of the applicable Final
Terms.
2. STATUS OF THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES
2.1 Status of the Notes
The Notes are direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the provisions of Condition 3.1
(Covenants - Negative Pledge)) unsecured obligations of the Issuer and rank pari passu (i.e., equally in
right of payment) among themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law)
equally with all other unsecured obligations (other than subordinated obligations, if any) of the Issuer,
from time to time outstanding.
2.2 Status of the Guarantees
(a) The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee are direct, (subject, in the case of
Brandbev and Brandbrew, to Condition 2.2(b) and Condition 2.2(c), respectively, below)
unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the provisions of Condition 3.1 (Covenants -
Negative Pledge)) unsecured obligations of such Guarantor and (save for certain obligations
required to be preferred by law) rank equally with all other unsecured obligations (other than
subordinated obligations, if any) of the relevant Guarantor, from time to time outstanding.
(b) The obligations of Brandbev under its Guarantee are subject to the following limitations:
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Brandbev's Guarantee, the maximum aggregate
liability of Brandbev under its Guarantee and after having accounted for any actual or
contingent liabilities as a guarantor under the Other Guaranteed Facilities shall not exceed an
amount equal to the aggregate of (without double counting):
(A) the aggregate amount of all moneys received by Brandbev and the Brandbev
Subsidiaries under the Other Guaranteed Facilities;
(B) the aggregate amount of all outstanding intercompany loans made to Brandbev and the
Brandbev Subsidiaries by other members of the group of companies owned and/or
controlled by the Issuer (the "Group", which term includes the Issuer) which have
been directly or indirectly funded using the proceeds of borrowings under the Other
Guaranteed Facilities; and
(C) an amount equal to 100 per cent. of the greater of:
I the sum of (x) Brandbev's own capital (capitaux propres) as referred to in
article 34 of the Law of 19 December 2002 on the register of commerce and
companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings (the
"Law of 2002") and as implemented by the Grand-Ducal regulation dated 18
December 2015 setting out the form and content of the presentation of the
balance sheet and profit and loss account (the "Luxembourg Regulation") as
reflected in Brandbev's then most recent annual accounts approved by the
competent organ of Brandbev (as audited by its external auditor (réviseur
d'entreprises), if required by law) at the date an enforcement is made under its
Guarantee and (y) any amounts owed by Brandbev to any other member of the
Anheuser-Busch InBev Group which have not been funded, directly or
indirectly, using the proceeds of borrowings under the Notes or the Other
Guaranteed Facilities; and
II the sum of (x) Brandbev's own capital (capitaux propres) as referred to in
article 34 of the Law of 2002) and as implemented by the Luxembourg
Regulation as reflected in its most recent annual accounts as available as at 20
January 2017 and (y) any amounts owed by Brandbev to any other member of
the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group which have not been funded, directly or
indirectly, using the proceeds of borrowings under the Notes or the Other
Guaranteed Facilities.
For the avoidance of doubt, the limitation referred to in this Condition 2.2(b) shall not apply to
the guarantee by Brandbev of any obligations owed by its Subsidiaries under any Other
Guaranteed Facilities.
(c) The obligations of Brandbrew under its Guarantee are subject to the following limitations:
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Brandbrew's Guarantee, the maximum aggregate
liability of Brandbrew under its Guarantee and after having accounted for any actual or
contingent liabilities as a guarantor under the Other Guaranteed Facilities (excluding its
Guarantee) shall not exceed an amount equal to the aggregate of (without double counting):
(A) the aggregate amount of all moneys received by Brandbrew and the Brandbrew
Subsidiaries under the Other Guaranteed Facilities;
(B) the aggregate amount of all outstanding intercompany loans made to Brandbrew and
the Brandbrew Subsidiaries by other members of the Group which have been directly
or indirectly funded using the proceeds of borrowings under the Other Guaranteed
Facilities; and
(C) an amount equal to 100 per cent. of the greater of:
I the sum of (x) Brandbrew's own capital (capitaux propres) as referred to in
article 34 of the Law of 2002 and as implemented by the Luxembourg
Regulation as reflected in Brandbrew's then most recent annual accounts
approved by the competent organ of Brandbrew (as audited by its external
auditor (réviseur d'entreprises), if required by law) at the date an enforcement
is made under its Guarantee and (y) any amounts owed by Brandbrew to any
other member of the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group which have not been
funded, directly or indirectly, using the proceeds of borrowings under the
Notes or the Other Guaranteed Facilities; and
II the sum of (x) Brandbrew's own capital (capitaux propres) as referred to in
article 34 of the Law of 2002 and as implemented by the Luxembourg
Regulation as reflected in its most recent annual accounts as available as at 20
January 2017 and (y) any amounts owed by Brandbrew to any other member
of the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group which have not been funded, directly or
indirectly, using the proceeds of borrowings under the Notes or the Other
Guaranteed Facilities.
For the avoidance of doubt, the limitation referred to in this Condition 2.2(c) shall not apply to
the guarantee by Brandbrew of any obligations owed by the Brandbrew Subsidiaries under the
Other Guaranteed Facilities.
(d) For the purposes of this Condition 2.2 (Status of the Guarantees):
"Brandbev Subsidiaries" means each entity of which Brandbev has direct or indirect control
or owns directly or indirectly more than 50 per cent. of the voting share capital or similar right
of ownership; and "control" for this purpose means the power to direct the management and
the policies of the entity whether through the ownership of voting capital, by contract or
otherwise;
"Brandbrew Subsidiaries" means each entity of which Brandbrew has direct or indirect
control or owns directly or indirectly more than 50 per cent. of the voting share capital or
similar right of ownership; and "control" for this purpose means the power to direct the
management and the policies of the entity whether through the ownership of voting capital, by
contract or otherwise;
"Other Guaranteed Facilities" means:
(i) the 2010 Senior Facilities Agreement, as amended from time to time;
(ii) the 2015 Senior Facilities Agreement, as amended from time to time;
(iii) the Notes and any notes issued under the Programme;
(iv) any debt securities guaranteed by Brandbrew or Brandbev under the Indenture dated
12 January 2009, among ABIWW, the Issuer, the subsidiary guarantors listed therein
and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee;
(v) any bonds guaranteed by Brandbrew or Brandbev under the Indenture, dated
16 October 2009 among ABIWW, the Issuer, the subsidiary guarantors named
therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee;
(vi) any debt securities guaranteed by Brandbrew or Brandbev pursuant to the U.S.
commercial paper programme entered into on 6 June 2011 as amended and restated
on or around 20 August 2014;
(vii) any debt securities guaranteed by Brandbev or Brandbrew under the Indenture among
ABIFI, the Issuer, Brandbev, Brandbrew, the other subsidiary guarantors listed
therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee entered
into on 17 January 2013;
(viii) any bonds guaranteed by Brandbev or Brandbrew under the Indenture, dated 1
August 1995 among Anheuser-Busch Companies and The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, N.A., as trustee;
(ix) any bonds guaranteed by Brandbev or Brandbrew under the Indenture, dated 1 July
2001 among Anheuser-Busch Companies and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as trustee; and
(x) any bonds guaranteed by Brandbev or Brandbrew under the Indenture, dated 1
October 2007 among Anheuser-Busch Companies and The Bank of New York
Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee,
and any refinancing (in whole or part) of any of the above items for the same or a lower
amount;
"Programme" means the Euro Medium Term Note Programme established by the Issuer on
16 January 2009 (as amended or updated from time to time).
2.3 Termination of the Guarantees
(a) Each of the Guarantors shall be entitled to terminate the relevant Guarantee on giving not less
than 30 days' notice to the Domiciliary Agent and, in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices),
the Noteholders, in the event that, at the time the relevant Guarantee is terminated (i) such
Guarantor is not or ceases to be an obligor, as borrower or guarantor, with respect to the 2010
Senior Facilities Agreement and (ii) such Guarantor is not or ceases to be an obligor, as
borrower or guarantor, with respect to the 2015 Senior Facilities Agreement and (iii) the
aggregate amount of indebtedness for borrowed money for which the relevant Guarantor is an
obligor (as a guarantor or borrower) does not exceed 10 per cent. of the Issuer's consolidated
gross assets as reflected in the balance sheet included in its most recent publicly released
interim or annual consolidated financial statements. For the purposes of this Condition 2.3
(Termination of the Guarantees), the amount of a Guarantor's indebtedness for borrowed
money shall not include (A) the Notes, (B) any other debt the terms of which permit the
termination of the Guarantor's guarantee of such debt under similar circumstances, as long as
such Guarantor's obligations in respect of such other debt are terminated at substantially the
same time as its guarantee of the Notes, and (C) any debt that is being refinanced at
substantially the same time that the Guarantee of the Notes is being terminated, provided that
any obligations of the Guarantor in respect of the debt that is incurred in the refinancing shall
be included in the calculation of the Guarantor's indebtedness for borrowed money.
(b) Each of the Guarantors shall be entitled to terminate the relevant Guarantee on giving not less
than 30 days' notice to the Domiciliary Agent and in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices),
the Noteholders, in the event that such Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Issuer or
disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to a Person who is not a Subsidiary of the Issuer.
(c) In the Conditions, "2010 Senior Facilities Agreement" means the U.S.$9,000,000,000 Senior
Facilities Agreement dated 26 February 2010, as amended and restated on 28 August 2015
between inter alios the Issuer, certain subsidiary guarantors and the lenders party thereto, the
"2015 Senior Facilities Agreement" means the U.S.$75,000,000,000 Senior Facilities
Agreement dated 28 October 2015 between inter alios the Issuer, certain subsidiary guarantors
and the lenders party thereto, and "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, unincorporated organisation or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
3. COVENANTS
3.1 Negative Pledge
So long as any Note remains outstanding (as defined in the Domiciliary Agency Agreement) neither the
Issuer nor the Guarantor(s) will, and the Issuer will ensure that none of its Significant Subsidiaries (as
defined in Condition 9 (Events of Default)) will, create, or have outstanding any mortgage, charge, lien,
pledge or other security interest (each a "Security Interest"), other than a Permitted Security Interest,
upon, or with respect to, the whole or any part of its present or future undertaking, assets or revenues
(including any uncalled capital) to secure any Relevant Indebtedness, or any guarantee or indemnity in
respect of any Relevant Indebtedness without at the same time or prior thereto according to the Notes
the same security as is created or subsisting to secure any such Relevant Indebtedness, guarantee or
indemnity or such other security as shall be approved by an Extraordinary Resolution of the
Noteholders.
3.2 Definitions
In the Conditions, the following expressions have the following meanings:
"Excluded Subsidiary" means each of:
(a) Companhia de Bebidas das Américas-AmBev and each of its Subsidiaries from time to time;
and
(b) Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. and each of its Subsidiaries from time to time,
provided that if Companhia de Bebidas das Américas-AmBev or, as the case may be, Grupo
Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Issuer, it and its Subsidiaries shall
cease to be Excluded Subsidiaries;
"Permitted Security Interest" means:
(a) any Security Interest over or affecting any asset of any company which becomes a Subsidiary
after the Issue Date, where the Security Interest is created prior to the date on which that
company becomes a Subsidiary, provided that:
(i) the Security Interest was not created in contemplation of the acquisition (or proposed
acquisition) of that company; and
(ii) the principal amount secured has not increased in contemplation of or since the
acquisition (or proposed acquisition) of that company; and
(b) any Security Interest created by an Excluded Subsidiary;
"Relevant Indebtedness" means any present or future indebtedness (whether being principal,
premium, interest or other amounts) which is in the form of, or represented or evidenced by, bonds,
notes, debentures, loan stock or other securities which for the time being are, or are intended to be,
quoted, listed or dealt in or traded, in each case with the agreement of the Issuer on any stock exchange
or over-the-counter or other securities market; and
"Subsidiary" means any corporation of which more than 50 per cent. of the issued and outstanding
stock entitled to vote for the election of directors (otherwise than by reason of default in dividends) is
at the time owned directly or indirectly by the Issuer or a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries or by the Issuer
and a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries.
4. INTEREST
4.1 Interest on Fixed Rate Notes
Each Fixed Rate Note bears interest from (and including) the Interest Commencement Date at the
rate(s) per annum equal to the Rate(s) of Interest. Interest will be payable in arrear on the Interest
Payment Date(s) in each year up to (and including) the Maturity Date.
Interest shall be calculated in respect of any period in accordance with the rules of the X/N Clearing
System and the Day Count Fraction set out in the Final Terms.
"Day Count Fraction" means, in respect of the calculation of an amount of interest in accordance with
this Condition 4.1 (Interest on Fixed Rate Notes):
(a) if "Actual/Actual (ICMA)" is specified in the applicable Final Terms:
(i) in the case of Notes where the number of days in the relevant period from (and
including) the most recent Interest Payment Date (or, if none, the Interest
Commencement Date) to (but excluding) the relevant payment date (the "Accrual
Period") is equal to or shorter than the Determination Period during which the Accrual
Period ends, the number of days in such Accrual Period divided by the product of
(I) the number of days in such Determination Period and (II) the number of
Determination Dates (as specified in the applicable Final Terms) that would occur in
one calendar year; or
(ii) in the case of Notes where the Accrual Period is longer than the Determination Period
during which the Accrual Period ends, the sum of:
(A) the number of days in such Accrual Period falling in the Determination Period
in which the Accrual Period begins divided by the product of (x) the number
of days in such Determination Period and (y) the number of Determination
Dates that would occur in one calendar year; and
(B) the number of days in such Accrual Period falling in the next Determination
Period divided by the product of (x) the number of days in such Determination
Period and (y) the number of Determination Dates that would occur in one
calendar year;
(b) if "30/360" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the number of days in the period from
(and including) the most recent Interest Payment Date (or, if none, the Interest Commencement
Date) to (but excluding) the relevant payment date (such number of days being calculated on
the basis of a year of 360 days with 12 30-day months) divided by 360; and
(c) if "Actual/365 (Fixed)" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the actual number of days in
the Interest Period divided by 365.
In the Conditions:
"Determination Period" means each period from (and including) a Determination Date to (but
excluding) the next Determination Date (including, where either the Interest Commencement Date or
the final Interest Payment Date is not a Determination Date, the period commencing on the first
Determination Date prior to, and ending on the first Determination Date falling after, such date); and
"sub-unit" means, with respect to any currency other than euro, the lowest amount of such currency
that is available as legal tender in the country of such currency and, with respect to euro, one cent.
4.2 Interest on Floating Rate Notes
(a) Interest Payment Dates
Each Floating Rate Note bears interest from (and including) the Interest Commencement Date
and such interest will be payable in arrear on either:
(i) the Specified Interest Payment Date(s) in each year specified in the applicable Final
Terms; or
(ii) if no Specified Interest Payment Date(s) is/are specified in the applicable Final Terms,
each date (each such date, together with each Specified Interest Payment Date, an
"Interest Payment Date") which falls the number of months or other period specified
as the Specified Period in the applicable Final Terms after the preceding Interest
Payment Date or, in the case of the first Interest Payment Date, after the Interest
Commencement Date.
Such interest will be payable in respect of each Interest Period (which expression shall, in the
Conditions, mean the period from (and including) an Interest Payment Date (or the Interest
Commencement Date) to (but excluding) the next (or first) Interest Payment Date).
If (x) there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which an Interest
Payment Date should occur or (y) any Interest Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day
which is not a Business Day, then such Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next
day which is a Business Day.
In the Conditions, "Business Day" means a day which is both:
(a) a day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and
are open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign
currency deposits) in London, Brussels and each Additional Business Centre specified
in the applicable Final Terms;
(b) either (i) in relation to any sum payable in a Specified Currency other than euro, a day
on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are
open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency
deposits) in the principal financial centre of the country of the relevant Specified
Currency (which if the Specified Currency is Australian dollars or New Zealand
dollars shall be Sydney and Auckland, respectively) or (ii) in relation to any sum
payable in euro, a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross
Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) System (the "TARGET2 System") is open;
and
(c) a day on which the X/N Clearing System is operating.
(b) Rate of Interest
The Rate of Interest payable from time to time in respect of Floating Rate Notes will be
determined in the manner specified in the applicable Final Terms.
(i) ISDA Determination for Floating Rate Notes
Where "ISDA Determination" is specified in the applicable Final Terms as the
manner in which the Rate of Interest is to be determined, the Rate of Interest for each
Interest Period will be the relevant ISDA Rate plus or minus (as indicated in the
applicable Final Terms) the Margin (if any). For the purposes of this
subparagraph (i), "ISDA Rate" for an Interest Period means a rate equal to the
Floating Rate that would be determined by the Domiciliary Agent under an interest
rate swap transaction if the Domiciliary Agent is acting as Calculation Agent for that
swap transaction under the terms of an agreement incorporating the 2006 ISDA
Definitions, as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association, Inc. and as amended and updated as at the Issue Date of the first
Tranche of the Notes (the "ISDA Definitions") and under which:
(A) the Floating Rate Option is as specified in the applicable Final Terms;
(B) the Designated Maturity is a period specified in the applicable Final Terms;
and
(C) the relevant Reset Date is the day specified in the applicable Final Terms.
For the purposes of this subparagraph (i), "Floating Rate", "Calculation Agent",
"Floating Rate Option", "Designated Maturity" and "Reset Date" have the
meanings given to those terms in the ISDA Definitions.
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Final Terms, the Minimum Rate of Interest
shall be deemed to be zero.
(ii) Screen Rate Determination for Floating Rate Notes
Where "Screen Rate Determination" is specified in the applicable Final Terms as
the manner in which the Rate of Interest is to be determined, the Rate of Interest for
each Interest Period will, subject as provided below, be either:
(A) the offered quotation; or
(B) the arithmetic mean (rounded if necessary to the fifth decimal place, with
0.000005 being rounded upwards) of the offered quotations,
(expressed as a percentage rate per annum) for the Reference Rate which appears or
appear, as the case may be, on the Relevant Screen Page as at 11.00 a.m. (London
time, in the case of LIBOR, or Brussels time, in the case of EURIBOR) on the
Interest Determination Date in question plus or minus (as indicated in the applicable
Final Terms) the Margin (if any), all as determined by the Domiciliary Agent. If five
or more of such offered quotations are available on the Relevant Screen Page, the
highest (or, if there is more than one such highest quotation, one only of such
quotations) and the lowest (or, if there is more than one such lowest quotation, one
only of such quotations) shall be disregarded by the Domiciliary Agent for the
purpose of determining the arithmetic mean (rounded as provided above) of such
offered quotations.
If the Relevant Screen Page is not available or if, in the case of Condition
4.2(b)(ii)(A), no offered quotation appears or if, in the case of Condition
4.2(b)(ii)(B), fewer than three offered quotations appear, in each case as at the
Specified Time, the Domiciliary Agent shall request each of the Reference Banks to
provide the Domiciliary Agent with its offered quotation (expressed as a percentage
rate per annum) for the Reference Rate at approximately the Specified Time on the
Interest Determination Date in question. If two or more of the Reference Banks
provide the Domiciliary Agent with offered quotations, the Rate of Interest for the
Interest Period shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded if necessary to the fifth decimal
place with 0.000005 being rounded upwards) of the offered quotations plus or minus
(as appropriate) the Margin (if any), all as determined by the Domiciliary Agent.
If on any Interest Determination Date one only or none of the Reference Banks
provides the Domiciliary Agent with an offered quotation as provided in the
preceding paragraph, the Rate of Interest for the relevant Interest Period shall be the
rate per annum which the Domiciliary Agent determines as being the arithmetic mean
(rounded if necessary to the fifth decimal place, with 0.000005 being rounded
upwards) of the rates, as communicated to (and at the request of) the Domiciliary
Agent by the Reference Banks or any two or more of them, at which such banks were
offered, at approximately the Specified Time on the relevant Interest Determination
Date, deposits in the Specified Currency for a period equal to that which would have
been used for the Reference Rate by leading banks in the London inter-bank market
(if the Reference Rate is LIBOR) or the Euro-zone inter-bank market (if the
Reference Rate is EURIBOR) plus or minus (as appropriate) the Margin (if any) or,
if fewer than two of the Reference Banks provide the Domiciliary Agent with offered
rates, the offered rate for deposits in the Specified Currency for a period equal to that
which would have been used for the Reference Rate, or the arithmetic mean (rounded
as provided above) of the offered rates for deposits in the Specified Currency for a
period equal to that which would have been used for the Reference Rate, at which, at
approximately the Specified Time on the relevant Interest Determination Date, any
one or more banks (which bank or banks is or are in the opinion of the Issuer suitable
for the purpose) informs the Domiciliary Agent is quoting to leading banks in the
London inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is LIBOR) or the Euro-zone inter-
bank market (if the Reference Rate is EURIBOR) plus or minus (as appropriate) the
Margin (if any), provided that, if the Rate of Interest cannot be determined in
accordance with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the Rate of Interest shall
be determined as at the last preceding Interest Determination Date (though
substituting, where a different Margin is to be applied to the relevant Interest Period
from that which applied to the last preceding Interest Period, the Margin relating to
the relevant Interest Period in place of the Margin relating to that last preceding
Interest Period).
(c) Minimum Rate of Interest and/or Maximum Rate of Interest
If the applicable Final Terms specifies a Minimum Rate of Interest for any Interest Period,
then, in the event that the Rate of Interest in respect of such Interest Period determined in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) above is less than such Minimum Rate of
Interest, the Rate of Interest for such Interest Period shall be such Minimum Rate of Interest.
If the applicable Final Terms specifies a Maximum Rate of Interest for any Interest Period,
then, in the event that the Rate of Interest in respect of such Interest Period determined in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) above is greater than such Maximum Rate of
Interest, the Rate of Interest for such Interest Period shall be such Maximum Rate of Interest.
(d) Determination of Rate of Interest and calculation of Interest Amounts
The Domiciliary Agent will, at or as soon as practicable after each time at which the Rate of
Interest is to be determined, determine the Rate of Interest for the relevant Interest Period.
The amount of interest (the "Interest Amount" payable on the Floating Rate Notes for the
relevant Interest Period shall be calculated in accordance with the rules of the X/N Clearing
System and the Day Count Fraction set out in the Final Terms.
"Day Count Fraction" means, in respect of the calculation of an amount of interest in
accordance with this Condition 0 (Interest on Floating Rate Notes):
(i) if "Actual/Actual (ISDA)" or "Actual/Actual" is specified in the applicable Final
Terms, the actual number of days in the Interest Period divided by 365 (or, if any
portion of that Interest Period falls in a leap year, the sum of (I) the actual number of
days in that portion of the Interest Period falling in a leap year divided by 366 and
(II) the actual number of days in that portion of the Interest Period falling in a non-leap
year divided by 365);
(ii) if "Actual/365 (Fixed)" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the actual number
of days in the Interest Period divided by 365;
(iii) if "Actual/365 (Sterling)" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the actual
number of days in the Interest Period divided by 365 or, in the case of an Interest
Payment Date falling in a leap year, 366;
(iv) if "Actual/360" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the actual number of days in
the Interest Period divided by 360;
(v) if "30/360", "360/360" or "Bond Basis" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the
number of days in the Interest Period divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as
follows:
Day Count Fraction =
[360 x (Y2 - Y1] + [30 x (M2 - M1)] + (D2 - D1)
360
where:
"Y1" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period
falls;
"Y2" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the
last day of the Interest Period falls;
"M1" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the
Interest Period falls;
"M2" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately
following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"D1" is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless
such number is 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and
"D2" is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day
included in the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31 and D 1 is greater
than 29, in which case D2 will be 30;
(vi) if "30E/360" or "Eurobond Basis" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the
number of days in the Interest Period divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as
follows:
Day Count Fraction =
[360 x (Y2 - Y1)] + [30 x (M2 - M1)] + (D2 - D1)
360
where:
"Y1" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period
falls;
"Y2" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the
last day of the Interest Period falls;
"M1" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the
Interest Period falls;
"M2" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately
following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"D1" is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless
such number would be 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and
"D2" is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day
included in the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31, in which case D 2
will be 30;
(vii) if "30E/360 (ISDA)" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the number of days in
the Interest Period divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as follows:
Day Count Fraction =
[360 x (Y2 - Y1)] + [30 x (M2 - M1)] + (D2 -D1)
360
where:
"Y1" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period
falls;
"Y2" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the
last day of the Interest Period falls;
"M1" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the
Interest Period falls;
"M2" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately
following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"D1" is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless
(i) that day is the last day of February or (ii) such number would be 31, in which case
D1 will be 30; and
"D2" is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day
included in the Interest Period, unless (i) that day is the last day of February but not
the Maturity Date or (ii) such number would be 31, in which case D2 will be 30.
(e) Notification of Rate of Interest and Interest Amounts
The Domiciliary Agent will cause the Rate of Interest and each Interest Amount for each
Interest Period and the relevant Interest Payment Date to be notified to the Issuer and any
stock exchange on which the relevant Floating Rate Notes are for the time being listed (by no
later than the first day of each Interest Period) and notice thereof to be published in
accordance with Condition 11 (Notices) as soon as possible after their determination but in no
event later than the fourth London Business Day thereafter. Each Interest Amount and Interest
Payment Date so notified may subsequently be amended (or appropriate alternative
arrangements made by way of adjustment) without prior notice in the event of an extension or
shortening of the Interest Period. Any such amendment will be promptly notified to each stock
exchange on which the relevant Floating Rate Notes are for the time being listed and to the
Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices). For the purposes of this paragraph,
the expression "London Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on
which banks and foreign exchange markets are open for general business in London.
(f) Certificates to be final
All certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and
decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions of this
Condition 0 (Interest on Floating Rate Notes), whether by the Domiciliary Agent or, if
applicable, the Calculation Agent, shall (in the absence of wilful default, bad faith, manifest
error or proven error) be binding on the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Domiciliary Agent (as
applicable), the Calculation Agent (if applicable) and all Noteholders and (in the absence of
wilful default or bad faith) no liability to the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Noteholders shall
attach to the Domiciliary Agent or, if applicable, the Calculation Agent in connection with the
exercise or non-exercise by it of its powers, duties and discretions pursuant to such provisions.
- 21 -
4.3 Accrual of interest
Each Note (or in the case of the redemption of part only of a Note, that part only of such Note) will
cease to bear interest (if any) from the date for its redemption unless payment of principal is improperly
withheld or refused. In such event, interest will continue to accrue until whichever is the earlier of:
(a) the date on which all amounts due in respect of such Note have been paid; and
(b) five days after the date on which the full amount of the moneys payable in respect of such Note
has been received by the Domiciliary Agent and notice to that effect has been given to the
Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices).
4.4 Ratings Step-up/Step-down
(a) If Ratings Step-up/Step-down is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the Rate of Interest
payable on the Notes will be subject to adjustment from time to time in the event of a Step Up
Rating Change or a Step Down Rating Change, as the case may be, in accordance with this
Condition 4.4 (Ratings Step-up/Step-down).
(b) Subject to Condition 4.4(d) below, from and including the first Interest Payment Date
following the date of a Step Up Rating Change, if any, the Rate of Interest payable on the
Notes (in the case of Fixed Rate Notes) or the Margin (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) shall
be increased by the Step-up/Step-down Margin specified in the applicable Final Terms
provided, however, that any such increase which is notified to the operator of the X/N
Clearing System by the Domiciliary Agent after 12.00 p.m. (Central European Time) on the
Business Day prior to the start of the next Fixed Interest Period (in the case of Fixed Rate
Notes) or Interest Period (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) following the Step Up Rating
Change will only take effect from the start of the second Fixed Interest Period (in the case of
Fixed Rate Notes) or Interest Period (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) following such Step
Up Rating Change.
(c) Furthermore, subject to Condition 4.4(d) below, in the event of a Step Down Rating Change
following a Step Up Rating Change, with effect from and including the first Interest Payment
Date following the date of such Step Down Rating Change, the Rate of Interest payable on the
Notes (in the case of Fixed Rate Notes) or the Margin (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) shall
be decreased by the Step-up/Step-down Margin specified in the applicable Final Terms
provided, however, that any such decrease which is notified to the operator of the X/N
Clearing System by the Domiciliary Agent after 12.00 p.m. (Central European Time) on the
Business Day prior to the start of the next Fixed Interest Period (in the case of Fixed Rate
Notes) or Interest Period (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) following the Step Down Rating
Change will only take effect from the start of the second Fixed Interest Period (in the case of
Fixed Rate Notes) or Interest Period (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) following such Step
Down Rating Change and provided further that no such decrease shall become effective prior
to the time at which an increase in the Rate of Interest or Margin (as applicable) has taken place
pursuant to Condition 4.4(b).
(d) In the event that a Step Up Rating Change and, subsequently, a Step Down Rating Change
occur and pursuant to Conditions 4.4(b) and (c) above, the consequential increase and decrease
in the Rate of Interest (in the case of Fixed Rate Notes) or the Margin (in the case of Floating
Rate Notes) would, but for this Condition 4.4(d), become effective from the start of the same
Fixed Interest Period or Interest Period, as applicable, the Rate of Interest payable on the Notes
(in the case of Fixed Rate Notes) or the Margin (in the case of Floating Rate Notes) shall
neither be increased nor decreased as a result of either such event.
As used in the Conditions, "Fixed Interest Period" means the period from (and including) an
Interest Payment Date (or the Interest Commencement Date) to (but excluding) the next (or
first) Interest Payment Date.
(e) The Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to maintain credit ratings for the Notes from the
Rating Agencies.
(f) The Issuer will cause the occurrence of a Step Up Rating Change or a Step Down Rating
Change to be notified to the Domiciliary Agent (with a request to notify such occurrence to the
operator of the X/N Clearing System forthwith) and notice thereof to be published in
accordance with Condition 11 (Notices) as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence
of the Step Up Rating Change or the Step Down Rating Change (whichever the case may be)
but in no event later than the fifth London Business Day (as defined in Condition 4.2(e)
(Notification of Rate of Interest and Interest Amounts)) thereafter.
(g) In this Condition 4.4 (Ratings Step-up/Step-down):
a credit rating "below investment grade" shall mean, in relation to Standard & Poor's Credit
Market Services Europe Limited, a rating of BB+ or below, in relation to Moody's Investors
Service, Inc., a rating of Ba1 or below, in relation to Fitch Ratings Limited, a rating of BB+ or
below and, where another "nationally recognised statistical rating agency" has been
designated by the Issuer, a comparable rating;
"Rating Agencies" shall mean Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe Limited,
Fitch Ratings Limited, or Moody's Investors Service, Inc., their respective successors, or any
other nationally recognised statistical rating agency designated by the Issuer;
"Step Down Rating Change" means the first public announcement after a Step Up Rating
Change by one or more Rating Agencies of an increase in the credit rating of the Notes with
the result that, following such public announcement(s), none of the Rating Agencies rates the
Notes below investment grade. For the avoidance of doubt, following a Step Down Rating
Change, any further increase in the credit rating of the Notes from BBB? or above in relation
to Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe Limited, Baa3 or above in the case of
Moody's Investors Service, Inc., BBB? or above in relation to Fitch Limited or, where another
"nationally recognised statistical rating agency" has been designated by the Issuer, a
comparable rating or above, shall not constitute a further Step Down Rating Change; and
"Step Up Rating Change" means the first public announcement by one or more Rating
Agencies of a decrease in the credit rating of the Notes to below investment grade. For the
avoidance of doubt, following a Step Up Rating Change, any further decrease in the credit
rating of the Notes from BB+ or below in relation to Standard & Poor's Credit Market
Services Europe Limited, Ba1 or below in the case of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., BB+ or
below in relation to Fitch Limited or, where another "nationally recognised statistical rating
agency" has been designated by the Issuer, a comparable rating or below, shall not constitute a
further Step Up Rating Change.
5. PAYMENTS
5.1 Payments in respect of Notes
Payments in euro of principal and interest in respect of any Notes shall be made through the
Domiciliary Agent and the X/N Clearing System in accordance with the Domiciliary Agency
Agreement and the rules of the X/N Clearing System.
If payments of principal and interest in respect of any Notes are to be made in a currency other than
euro, such payment will be made by the Issuer or, as the case may be, by the Domiciliary Agent, to the
relevant participant in the X/N Clearing System who will in turn redistribute the payments to their own
accountholders holding the Notes. For so long as the rules of the X/N Clearing System so require,
payments of principal and interest to be made on any particular date (a "payment date") in a currency
other than euro shall be made to the person who is shown in the records of the X/N Clearing System as
the holder of a particular nominal amount of the Notes at the close of business on the second TARGET
2 Business Day before the relevant payment date (or at such other time as required by the rules of the
X/N Clearing System applicable on the relevant payment date) and no transfers of the Notes shall be
permitted between participants in the X/N Clearing System between such dates. For these purposes,
"TARGET 2 Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which the TARGET 2
System is open.
5.2 General provisions applicable to payments
Save as provided in Condition 7 (Taxation), payments will be subject in all cases to any other
applicable fiscal or other laws and regulations in the place of payment or other laws and regulations to
which the Issuer or the Guarantors or the Domiciliary Agent agree to be subject and neither the Issuer
nor the Guarantors will be liable for any taxes or duties of whatever nature imposed or levied by such
laws, regulations or agreements.
Subject to applicable Belgian law, the Domiciliary Agent shall be the only person entitled to receive
payments in respect of Notes and the Issuer will be discharged by payment to, or to the order of, the
Domiciliary Agent in respect of each amount so paid. Each of the persons shown in the records of a
participant, a sub-participant or the operator of the X/N Clearing System as the beneficial holder of a
particular nominal amount of Notes must look solely to a participant, a sub-participant or the operator
of the X/N Clearing System, as the case may be, for his share of each payment so made by the Issuer
to, or to the order of, the holder of such Note.
5.3 Payment Day
If the date for payment of any amount in respect of any Note is not a Payment Day, the holder thereof
shall not be entitled to payment until the next following Payment Day in the relevant place and shall not
be entitled to further interest or other payment in respect of such delay. For these purposes, "Payment
Day" means any day which (subject to Condition 8 (Prescription)) is:
(a) a day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open
for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in
each Additional Financial Centre specified in the applicable Final Terms;
(b) either (A) in relation to any sum payable in a Specified Currency other than euro, a day on
which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open for
general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in the
principal financial centre of the country of the relevant Specified Currency (which if the
Specified Currency is Australian dollars or New Zealand dollars shall be Sydney and Auckland,
respectively) or (B) in relation to any sum payable in euro, a day on which the TARGET2
System is open; and
(c) a day on which the X/N Clearing System is operating.
5.4 Interpretation of principal and interest
Any reference in the Conditions to principal in respect of the Notes shall be deemed to include, as
applicable:
(a) any additional amounts which may be payable with respect to principal under Condition 7
(Taxation);
(b) the Final Redemption Amount of the Notes;
(c) the Early Redemption Amount of the Notes;
(d) the Optional Redemption Amount(s) (if any) of the Notes;
(e) in relation to Zero Coupon Notes, the Amortised Face Amount (as defined in Condition 6.5
(Early Redemption Amounts)); and
(f) any premium and any other amounts (other than interest) which may be payable by the Issuer
under or in respect of the Notes.
Any reference in the Conditions to interest in respect of the Notes shall be deemed to include, as
applicable, any additional amounts which may be payable with respect to interest under Condition 7
(Taxation).
6. REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE
6.1 Redemption at maturity
Unless previously redeemed or purchased and cancelled as specified below, each Note will be
redeemed by the Issuer at its Final Redemption Amount specified in, or determined in the manner
specified in, these Conditions as completed by the applicable Final Terms in the relevant Specified
Currency on the Maturity Date.
6.2 Redemption for tax reasons
The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer in whole, but not in part, at any time (if such
Note is not a Floating Rate Note) or on any Interest Payment Date (if such Note is a Floating Rate Note),
on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to the Domiciliary Agent and, in accordance
with Condition 11 (Notices), the Noteholders (which notice shall be irrevocable), if:
(a) on the occasion of the next payment due under the Notes, the Issuer has or will become obliged
to pay additional amounts as provided or referred to in Condition 7 (Taxation) or the
Guarantors would be unable for reasons outside their control to procure payment by the Issuer
and in making payment themselves would be required to pay such additional amounts, in each
case as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of a Tax Jurisdiction
(as defined in Condition 7 (Taxation)) or any change in the application or official interpretation
of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the date
on which agreement is reached to issue the first Tranche of the Notes; and
(b) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantors taking
reasonable measures available to it/them,
provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date
on which the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantors would be obliged to pay such additional
amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due.
Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this Condition, the Issuer shall deliver
to the Domiciliary Agent a certificate signed by two Directors of the Issuer or, as the case may be, two
Directors of each Guarantor stating that the Issuer is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth
a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer so to redeem have
occurred, and an opinion of independent legal advisers of recognised standing to the effect that the
Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantors has/have or will become obliged to pay such additional
amounts as a result of such change or amendment.
Notes redeemed pursuant to this Condition 6.2 (Redemption for tax reasons) will be redeemed at their
Early Redemption Amount referred to in Condition 6.5 (Early Redemption Amounts) below together (if
appropriate) with interest accrued to (but excluding) the date of redemption.
6.3 Redemption at the option of the Issuer (Issuer Call)
If Issuer Call is specified as being applicable in the applicable Final Terms, the Issuer may, having
given:
(a) not less than 15 nor more than 30 days' notice to the Noteholders in accordance with
Condition 11 (Notices); and
(b) not less than 15 days before the giving of the notice referred to in (a) above, notice to the
Domiciliary Agent,
(which notices shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date fixed for redemption), redeem all or some
only of the Notes then outstanding on any Optional Redemption Date and at the Optional Redemption
Amount(s) applicable to the relevant Optional Redemption Date together, if appropriate, with interest
accrued to (but excluding) the relevant Optional Redemption Date. Any such redemption must be of a
nominal amount not less than the Minimum Redemption Amount and not more than the Maximum
Redemption Amount, in each case as may be specified in the applicable Final Terms. In the case of a
partial redemption of Notes, the Notes to be redeemed ("Redeemed Notes") will be selected in
accordance with the rules of the X/N Clearing System, in each case not more than 30 days prior to the
date fixed for redemption.
In this Condition 6.3 (Redemption at the option of the Issuer (Issuer Call)), "Optional Redemption
Amount(s)" means, in relation to any Optional Redemption Date:
(i) if Reference Bond Basis is specified in the applicable Final Terms, (A) the outstanding
principal amount of the relevant Note or (B) if higher, the sum, as determined by the
Calculation Agent, of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on the Notes to be redeemed (not including any portion of such payments of interest
accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the Optional Redemption Date on an annual
basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Reference Rate plus
the Optional Redemption Margin specified in the applicable Final Terms, where:
"CA Selected Bond" means a government security or securities (which, if the Specified
Currency is euro, will be a German Bundesobligationen) selected by the Calculation Agent as
having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would
be utilised, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term
of such Notes;
"Calculation Agent" means a leading investment, merchant or commercial bank appointed by
the Issuer for the purposes of calculating the Optional Redemption Amount, and notified to
the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices);
"Reference Bond" means (A) if CA Selected Bond is specified in the applicable Final Terms,
the relevant CA Selected Bond or (B) if CA Selected Bond is not specified in the applicable
Final Terms, the security specified in the applicable Final Terms;
"Reference Bond Price" means (i) the average of five Reference Market Maker Quotations
for the relevant Optional Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference
Market Maker Quotations, (ii) if the Calculation Agent obtains fewer than five, but more than
one, such Reference Market Maker Quotations, the average of all such quotations, or (iii) if
only one such Reference Market Maker Quotation is obtained, the amount of the Reference
Market Maker Quotation so obtained;
"Reference Market Maker Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Market
Maker and any Optional Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Calculation
Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Reference Bond (expressed in each case as a
percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Calculation Agent at the Quotation
Time specified in the applicable Final Terms on the Reference Rate Determination Day
specified in the applicable Final Terms;
"Reference Market Makers" means five brokers or market makers of securities such as the
Reference Bond selected by the Calculation Agent or such other five persons operating in the
market for securities such as the Reference Bond as are selected by the Calculation Agent in
consultation with the Issuer; and
"Reference Rate" means, with respect to any Optional Redemption Date, the rate per annum
equal to the equivalent yield to maturity of the Reference Bond, calculated using a price for
the Reference Bond (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Reference
Bond Price for such Optional Redemption Date. The Reference Rate will be calculated on the
Reference Rate Determination Day specified in the applicable Final Terms; or
(ii) if Reference Bond Basis is not specified in the applicable Final Terms, such amount(s) as are
specified in, or determined in the manner specified in, these Conditions as completed by the
applicable Final Terms.
6.4 Redemption at the option of the Noteholders (Investor Put)
If Investor Put is specified as being applicable in the applicable Final Terms, upon the holder of any
Note giving to the Issuer in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices) not less than 15 nor more than
30 days' notice, the Issuer will, upon the expiry of such notice, redeem, subject to, and in accordance
with, the terms specified in the applicable Final Terms, such Note on the Optional Redemption Date
and at the Optional Redemption Amount together, if appropriate, with interest accrued to (but
excluding) the Optional Redemption Date. It may be that before an Investor Put can be exercised,
certain conditions and/or circumstances will need to be satisfied. Where relevant, the provisions will be
set out in the applicable Final Terms.
To exercise the right to require redemption of such Note pursuant to this Condition 6.4 (Redemption at
the option of the Noteholders (Investor Put)), the holder of such Note must, within the notice period,
give notice to the Domiciliary Agent of such exercise in accordance with the standard procedures of the
X/N Clearing System (which may include notice being given on his instruction by the X/N Clearing
System to the Domiciliary Agent by electronic means) in a form acceptable to the X/N Clearing
System from time to time (a "Put Notice").
Any Put Notice or other notice given in accordance with the standard procedures of the X/N Clearing
System given by a holder of any Note pursuant to this Condition 6.4 (Redemption at the option of the
Noteholders (Investor Put)) shall be irrevocable except where, prior to the due date of redemption, an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which event such holder, at its option, may elect by
notice to the Issuer to withdraw the notice given pursuant to this Condition 6.4 (Redemption at the
option of the Noteholders (Investor Put)) and instead to declare such Note forthwith due and payable
pursuant to Condition 9 (Events of Default).
6.5 Early Redemption Amounts
For the purpose of Condition 6.2 (Redemption for tax reasons) above and Condition 9 (Events of
Default), each Note will be redeemed at its Early Redemption Amount calculated as follows:
(a) in the case of a Note with a Final Redemption Amount equal to the Issue Price, at the Final
Redemption Amount thereof;
(b) in the case of a Note (other than a Zero Coupon Note) with a Final Redemption Amount which
is or may be less or greater than the Issue Price or which is payable in a Specified Currency
other than that in which the Note is denominated, at the amount specified in, or determined in
the manner specified in, the applicable Final Terms or, if no such amount or manner is so
specified in the applicable Final Terms, at its nominal amount; or
(c) in the case of a Zero Coupon Note, at an amount (the "Amortised Face Amount") calculated
in accordance with the following formula:
Early Redemption Amount = RP × (1 + AY)y
where:
RP means the Reference Price;
AY means the Accrual Yield expressed as a decimal; and
y is a fraction the numerator of which is equal to the number of days (calculated on the
basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each) from (and including)
the Issue Date of the first Tranche of the Notes to (but excluding) the date fixed for
redemption or (as the case may be) the date upon which such Note becomes due and
repayable and the denominator of which is 360.
6.6 Purchases
The Issuer, the Guarantors or any subsidiary of the Issuer or any Guarantor may at any time purchase
Notes at any price in the open market or otherwise. All Notes so purchased will be surrendered to the
Domiciliary Agent for cancellation.
6.7 Cancellation
All Notes which are redeemed will forthwith be cancelled. All Notes so cancelled and the Notes
purchased and cancelled pursuant to Condition 6.6 (Purchases) shall be forwarded to the Domiciliary
Agent and cannot be reissued or resold.
6.8 Late payment on Zero Coupon Notes
If the amount payable in respect of any Zero Coupon Note upon redemption of such Zero Coupon Note
pursuant to Condition 6.1 (Redemption at maturity), 6.2 (Redemption for tax reasons), 6.3 (Redemption
at the option of the Issuer (Issuer Call)) or 6.4 (Redemption at the option of the Noteholders (Investor
Put)) above or upon its becoming due and repayable as provided in Condition 9 (Events of Default) is
improperly withheld or refused, the amount due and repayable in respect of such Zero Coupon Note
shall be the amount calculated as provided in Condition 6.5(c) (Early Redemption Amounts) above as
though the references therein to the date fixed for the redemption or the date upon which such Zero
Coupon Note becomes due and payable were replaced by references to the date which is the earlier of:
(a) the date on which all amounts due in respect of such Zero Coupon Note have been paid; and
(b) five days after the date on which the full amount of the moneys payable in respect of such Zero
Coupon Notes has been received by the Domiciliary Agent and notice to that effect has been
given to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices).
7. TAXATION
All payments of principal and interest in respect of the Notes by the Issuer or the Guarantors will be
made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future
taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected,
withheld or assessed by or on behalf of any Tax Jurisdiction unless such withholding or deduction is
required by law. In such event, the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantors (subject, in the case of
any Guarantor, to the terms of the relevant Guarantee) will pay such additional amounts as shall be
necessary in order that the net amounts received by the holders of the Notes after such withholding or
deduction shall equal the respective amounts of principal and interest which would otherwise have been
receivable in respect of the Notes in the absence of such withholding or deduction; except that no such
additional amounts shall be payable with respect to any Note:
(a) where the holder who is liable for such taxes or duties in respect of such Note by reason of his
having some connection with a Tax Jurisdiction other than the mere holding of such Note; or
(b) (in respect of any payment by a U.S. Guarantor) where such withholding or deduction is
imposed or withheld by reason of the failure of the holder to provide certification, information,
documents or other evidence concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or
to make any valid or timely declaration or similar claim or satisfy any other reporting
requirements relating to such matters, whether required or imposed by statute, treaty, regulation
or administrative practice, as a precondition to exemption from, or a reduction in the rate of
such withholding or deduction; or
(c) (in respect of any payment by a U.S. Guarantor) is on account of or in respect of any estate,
inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, personal property or similar taxes; or
(d) where such withholding or deduction is imposed because the holder (or the beneficial owner) is
not an eligible investor within the meaning of Article 4 of the Belgian Royal Decree of 26 May
1994 on the deduction of withholding tax (unless that person was an eligible investor at the
time of its acquisition of the relevant Note but has since ceased to be an eligible investor by
reason of a change in Belgian law or regulations or in the interpretation or application thereof
or by reason of another change which was not within that person's control), or is an eligible
investor within the meaning of Article 4 of the Belgian Royal Decree of 26 May 1994 on the
deduction of withholding tax but is not holding the relevant Note in an exempt securities
account with a qualifying clearing system in accordance with the Belgian law of 6 August 1993
relating to transactions in certain securities and its implementation decrees.
In addition, any amounts to be paid by the Issuer or any Guarantor on the Notes will be paid net of any
deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), any current or future regulations or official
interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted
pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of
such Sections of the Code ("FATCA Withholding"). Neither any Guarantor nor the Issuer will be
required to pay additional amounts on account of any FATCA Withholding.
As used herein:
(i) "Tax Jurisdiction" means any jurisdiction under the laws of which the Issuer or any
Guarantor, or any successor to the Issuer or Guarantor, is organised or in which it is
resident for tax purposes, or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or
therein having power to tax;
(ii) the "Relevant Date" means the date on which such payment first becomes due, except
that, if the full amount of the moneys payable has not been duly received by the
Domiciliary Agent on or prior to such due date, it means the date on which, the full
amount of such moneys having been so received, notice to that effect is duly given to
the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices); and
(iii) "U.S. Guarantor" means any Guarantor in respect of which the relevant Tax
Jurisdiction is the United States of America or any political subdivision or any
authority thereof or therein having power to tax.
8. PRESCRIPTION
The Notes will become void unless claims in respect of principal and/or interest (as applicable) are
made within a period of 10 years (in the case of principal) and five years (in the case of interest) after
the Relevant Date (as defined in Condition 7 (Taxation)) therefor.
9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If any one or more of the following events (each an "Event of Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(a) payment default – (i) the Issuer or a Guarantor fails to pay interest within 14 days from the
relevant due date, or (ii) the Issuer or a Guarantor fails to pay the principal (or premium, if any)
due on the Notes within seven days from the relevant due date; or
(b) breach of other obligations – the Issuer or a Guarantor defaults in the performance or
observance of any of its other obligations under the Notes or its Guarantee and (except in any
case where the default is incapable of remedy, when no such continuation or notice as is
hereinafter mentioned will be required) such default remains unremedied for 30 days next
following the service by a Noteholder on the Domiciliary Agent of notice requiring the same to
be remedied; or
(c) cross-acceleration – (i) any obligation for the payment or repayment of borrowed money
("Indebtedness") of the Issuer or a Guarantor becomes due and payable prior to its stated
maturity by reason of a default; (ii) the Issuer or a Guarantor fails to make any payment in
respect of any Indebtedness on the due date for payment or, as the case may be, within any
originally applicable grace period; (iii) any security given by the Issuer or a Guarantor for any
Indebtedness becomes enforceable and steps are taken to enforce such security; or (iv) default
is made by the Issuer or a Guarantor in making any payment due under any guarantee and/or
indemnity given by it in relation to any Indebtedness of any other person and steps are taken to
enforce such guarantee and/or indemnity; provided that no event described in this
Condition 9(c) (Events of Default – cross-acceleration) shall constitute an Event of Default
unless the relevant amount of Indebtedness or other relative liability due and unpaid, either
alone or when aggregated (without duplication) with other amounts of Indebtedness and/or
other liabilities due and unpaid relative to all (if any) other events specified in (i) to (iv) above,
amounts to at least €100,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency); or
(d) cessation of business or insolvency – if (A) the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Significant
Subsidiary ceases or threatens to cease to carry on the whole or substantially all of its business,
save in each case (i) (other than in the case of the Issuer) for the purposes of the Transaction, (ii)
(other than in the case of the Issuer) for a Permitted Reorganisation (Guarantor), (iii) (in the
case of the Issuer) for a Permitted Reorganisation (Issuer), (iv) for the purposes of a
reorganisation on terms previously approved by an Extraordinary Resolution or (v) for a
substitution pursuant to Condition 12 (Substitution), or (B) the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a
Significant Subsidiary is (or is, or could be, deemed by law or a court to be) insolvent or
bankrupt or unable to pay its debts, stops, suspends or threatens to stop or suspend payment of
all or a material part of (or of a particular type of) its debts, proposes or makes a general
assignment or an arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of the relevant creditors in
respect of any such debts or a moratorium is agreed or declared in respect of or affecting all or
a material part of (or of a particular type of) the debts of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a
Significant Subsidiary; or
(e) winding up or dissolution – if any order is made by any competent court or an effective
resolution passed for the winding up or dissolution of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a
Significant Subsidiary, save for the purposes of (i) (other than in the case of the Issuer) the
Transaction, (ii) (other than in the case of the Issuer) a Permitted Reorganisation (Guarantor),
(iii) (in the case of the Issuer) a Permitted Reorganisation (Issuer), (iv) reorganisation on terms
previously approved by an Extraordinary Resolution or (v) a substitution pursuant to
Condition 12 (Substitution); or
(f) insolvency proceedings initiated – if (A) proceedings are initiated against the Issuer or any
Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary under any applicable liquidation, insolvency,
composition, reorganisation or other similar laws, or an application is made (or documents filed
with a court) for the appointment of an administrative or other receiver, manager, administrator
or other similar official, or an administrative or other receiver, manager, administrator or other
similar official is appointed, in relation to the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Significant
Subsidiary or, as the case may be, in relation to the whole or a substantial part of the
undertaking or assets of any of them, or an encumbrancer takes possession of the whole or a
substantial part of the undertaking or assets of any of them, or a distress, execution, attachment,
sequestration or other process is levied, enforced upon, sued out or put in force against the
whole or a substantial part of the undertaking or assets of any of them and (B) in any case
(other than the appointment of an administrator) is not discharged within 45 days; or
(g) judicial proceedings – if the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary initiates or
consents to judicial proceedings relating to itself under any applicable liquidation, insolvency,
composition, reorganisation or other similar laws (including the obtaining of a moratorium),
save in each case for the purposes of (i) (other than in the case of the Issuer) the Transaction, (ii)
(other than in the case of the Issuer) a Permitted Reorganisation (Guarantor), (iii) (in the case
of the Issuer) a Permitted Reorganisation (Issuer), (iv) reorganisation on terms previously
approved by an Extraordinary Resolution or (v) a substitution pursuant to Condition 12
(Substitution); or
(h) impossibility due to government action – the issuance of any governmental order, decree or
enactment in or by the jurisdiction of organisation or incorporation of the Issuer or any
Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a
Significant Subsidiary is prevented from observing and performing in full its obligations
pursuant to the Notes (in the case of the Issuer) or its Guarantee (in the case of any such
Guarantor) and such situation is not cured within 90 days; or
(i) invalidity of the Guarantees – any Guarantee provided by a Guarantor that is a Significant
Subsidiary ceases to be valid and legally binding for any reason whatsoever or any Guarantor
that is a Significant Subsidiary seeks to deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee; or
(j) analogous events – if any event occurs which, under the laws of any jurisdictions of
organisation or incorporation of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, has
or may have an analogous effect to any of the events referred to in paragraphs (e) to (i) above,
then any holder of a Note may, by written notice to the Issuer at the specified office of the Domiciliary
Agent, effective upon the date of receipt thereof by the Domiciliary Agent, as the case may be, declare
any Note held by it to be forthwith due and payable whereupon the same shall become forthwith due
and payable at its Early Redemption Amount, together with accrued interest (if any) to the date of
repayment, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind.
For the purposes of the Conditions:
"Permitted Reorganisation (Guarantor)" means a reconstruction, amalgamation, merger,
consolidation or transfer of assets and/or activities (a "Reorganisation") where the legal entity which
acquires or to which is transferred the whole or substantially the whole of the business and/or activities
of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary:
A) is the Issuer; or
B)
(i) is a company incorporated and resident in a Member State of the OECD;
(ii) carries on the same or similar business and activities of such Guarantor;
(iii) expressly and effectively assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the
Notes or the relevant Guarantee and has obtained all authorisations therefor; and
(iv) to the extent that the senior long-term debt of such Guarantor is then rated by a
Rating Agency, such surviving legal entity benefits from a senior long-term debt
rating from such Rating Agency which is equal to or higher than the senior long-term
debt rating as that of such Guarantor immediately prior to the reorganisation taking
place;
"Permitted Reorganisation (Issuer)" means a reconstruction, amalgamation, merger, consolidation or
transfer of assets and/or activities for the purposes of the Transaction (a "Reorganisation") where:
(i) the entity which acquires or to which is transferred the whole or substantially the whole of the
business and/or activities of the Issuer (the "Survivor"):
(A) is a company incorporated and resident in a Member State of the OECD; and
(B) expressly and effectively assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes
and has obtained all authorisations therefor;
(ii) promptly upon completion of the Reorganisation, the Survivor shall have delivered or
procured the delivery to the Domiciliary Agent a copy of legal opinions addressed to the
Survivor and the Guarantors from:
(A) a leading firm of lawyers to the Survivor in the country of incorporation of the
Survivor; and
(B) a leading firm of lawyers to the Survivor in England and Wales,
in each case to the effect that, as a matter of the relevant law, the Survivor has effectively
assumed all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes, such opinions to be available for
inspection by Noteholders at the specified offices of the Domiciliary Agent; and
(iii) the Issuer is not in default of any payments due under the Notes and immediately after giving
effect to the Transaction, no Event of Default in respect of the Notes shall be continuing;
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary (i) the consolidated revenue of which represents
10 per cent. or more of the Issuer's consolidated revenue, (ii) the consolidated earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA") of which represents 10 per cent. or more of the
Issuer's consolidated EBITDA or (iii) the consolidated gross assets of which represent 10 per cent. or
more of the Issuer's consolidated gross assets, in each case as reflected in the Issuer's most recent
annual audited financial statements, provided that, in the case of a Subsidiary acquired by the Issuer
during or after the financial year shown in the Issuer's most recent annual audited financial statements,
such calculation shall be made on the basis of the contribution of the Subsidiary considered on a pro
forma basis as if it had been acquired at the beginning of the relevant period, with the pro forma
calculation (including any adjustments) being made by the Issuer acting in good faith; and
"Transaction" means the series of transactions by which the Issuer combines with SABMiller plc, as
further described in the base prospectus dated 13 January 2016 relating to the Programme.
10. DOMICILIARY AGENT AND PAYING AGENT
The name of the Domiciliary Agent and Paying Agent and their initial specified office are set out
below:
BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV
Montagne du Parc, 3
1000 Brussels
Belgium
The Issuer is entitled to vary or terminate the appointment of the Domiciliary Agent and/or approve
any change in the specified office through which the Domiciliary Agent acts and/or appoint additional
or other Paying Agents, provided that at all times (i) there will be a Domiciliary Agent and the
Domiciliary Agent will at all times be a participant in the X/N Clearing System and (ii) so long as the
Notes are listed on any stock exchange or admitted to listing by any other relevant authority, there will
at all times be a Paying Agent (which may be the Domiciliary Agent) with a specified office in such
place as may be required by the rules and regulations of the relevant stock exchange or other relevant
authority.
In acting under the Domiciliary Agency Agreement, the Paying Agents and the Domiciliary Agent act
solely as agents of the Issuer and the Guarantors and do not assume any obligation to, or relationship of
agency or trust with, any Noteholders. The Domiciliary Agency Agreement contains provisions
permitting any entity into which the Domiciliary Agent or any Paying Agent is merged or converted or
with which it is consolidated or to which it transfers all or substantially all of its assets to become the
successor paying agent or domiciliary agent.
11. NOTICES
All notices regarding the Notes will be deemed to be validly given if published (a) in a leading English
language daily newspaper of general circulation in London; and (b) to the extent required by Belgian
law, in the Moniteur Belge – Belgisch Staatsblad and in a leading Belgian daily newspaper of general
circulation in Brussels. It is expected that any such publication in a newspaper will be made in the
Financial Times in London and in De Tijd and L'Écho in Brussels. The Issuer shall also ensure that
notices are duly published in a manner which complies with the rules and regulations of any other stock
exchange or other relevant authority on which the Notes are for the time being listed or by which they
have been admitted to trading. Any such notice will be deemed to have been given on the date of the
first publication or, where required to be published in more than one newspaper, on the date of the first
publication in all required newspapers.
There may, so long as the Notes are held in their entirety on behalf of the X/N Clearing System, be
substituted for such publication in such newspaper(s) the delivery of the relevant notice to the X/N
Clearing System for communication by them via participants in the X/N Clearing System to the holders
of the Notes and, in addition, for so long as any Notes are listed on a stock exchange or are admitted to
trading by another relevant authority and the rules of that stock exchange or relevant authority so
require, such notice will be published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the place or places
required by those rules. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given to the holders of the Notes
on the second day after the day on which the said notice was given to the X/N Clearing System.
Notices to be given by any Noteholder shall be in writing and given by lodging the same with the
Domiciliary Agent. Whilst any of the Notes are held through the X/N Clearing System, such notice
may be given by any holder of a Note to the Domiciliary Agent through the X/N Clearing System in
such manner as the Domiciliary Agent and the X/N Clearing System may approve for this purpose.
In addition to the above publications, with respect to notices for a meeting of Noteholders deciding on
any matter contained in the Belgian Companies Code, any convening notice for such meeting shall be
made in accordance with article 570 of the Belgian Companies Code by an announcement to be
inserted, not less than 15 days prior to the meeting, in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur Belge –
Belgisch Staatsblad) and in a nationwide newspaper. Extraordinary Resolutions to be submitted to the
meeting must be described in the convening notice. In addition, the convening notice shall specify the
procedures in respect of voting on resolutions to be decided by the meeting.
12. SUBSTITUTION
(a) The Issuer (or any previous substitute under these provisions) may, without the consent of the
Noteholders, be replaced and substituted as principal debtor in respect of the Notes (and by
subscribing any Notes, each Noteholder expressly consents to such replacement and
substitution) by (A) any company of which 100 per cent. of the shares or other equity interests
(as the case may be) carrying the right to vote are directly or indirectly owned by the Issuer or
(B) any company which directly or indirectly owns 100 per cent. of the shares or other equity
interests (as the case may be) carrying the right to vote in the Issuer (in such capacity, the
"Substitute") provided that:
(i) a deed poll and such other documents (if any) shall be executed by the Substitute, the
Issuer and each Guarantor (or any previous substitute under these provisions) as may
be necessary to give full effect to the substitution (together the "Documents") and
(without limiting the generality of the foregoing) pursuant to which the Substitute shall
undertake in favour of each Noteholder to be bound by the Conditions and the
provisions of the Deed Poll and the Domiciliary Agency Agreement as fully as if the
Substitute had been named in the Notes, the Deed Poll and the Domiciliary Agency
Agreement as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or any previous substitute)
and pursuant to which the Issuer and each Guarantor shall unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantee (each a "New Guarantee") in favour of each Noteholder the
payment of all sums payable by the Substitute as such principal debtor on the same
terms mutatis mutandis as such Guarantor's Guarantee (in the case of the Guarantors)
and on the same terms mutatis mutandis as the guarantee dated 22 August 2013 made
by the Issuer (in the case of the Issuer) (each such Guarantee, a "relevant
Guarantee");
(ii) the Substitute and each Guarantor (which, for this purpose, includes the Issuer in its
capacity as the provider of a New Guarantee) agrees to indemnify each Noteholder
against:
(A) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge that is imposed on such
Noteholder by (or by any authority in or of) the jurisdiction of the country of
residence of the Substitute for tax purposes and, if different, of its
incorporation with respect to any Note and that would not have been so
imposed had the substitution not been made; and
(B) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge, and any cost or expense,
relating to the substitution;
provided, however, that such indemnification shall not apply to any deduction or
withholding imposed or required pursuant to the Code, any current or future
regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to
Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices
adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with
the implementation of such Section of the Code, and shall not require the payment of
additional amounts on account of any such withholding or deduction;
(iii) all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals and consents for (A) such
substitution (B) the giving by each Guarantor of its New Guarantee in respect of the
obligations of the Substitute on the same terms mutatis mutandis as the relevant
Guarantee and (C) the performance by the Substitute and each Guarantor of its
obligations under the Documents having been obtained and being in full force and
effect;
(iv) the Notes would continue to be listed on each stock exchange which has the Notes
listed thereon immediately prior to the substitution;
(v) the Notes would continue to be in dematerialised book-entry form within the meaning
of Article 468 of the Belgian Companies Code and would be eligible to be held within
the X/N Clearing System;
(vi) the Issuer (or any previous substitute) shall have delivered or procured the delivery to
the Domiciliary Agent a copy of a legal opinion addressed to the Issuer, the Substitute
and the Guarantors from a leading firm of lawyers in the country of incorporation of
the Substitute, to the effect that the Documents constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Substitute, such opinion(s) to be dated not more than seven days
prior to the date of substitution of the Substitute for the Issuer and to be available for
inspection by Noteholders at the specified offices of the Domiciliary Agent;
(vii) each Guarantor shall have delivered or procured the delivery to the Domiciliary Agent
a copy of a legal opinion addressed to the Issuer, the Substitute and the Guarantors
from a leading firm of lawyers in the country of incorporation of such Guarantor to the
effect that the Documents (including the New Guarantee given by such Guarantor in
respect of the Substitute) constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such
Guarantor on the same terms mutatis mutandis as the relevant Guarantee, such opinion
to be dated not more than seven days prior to the date of substitution of the Substitute
for the Issuer (or any previous substitute) and to be available for inspection by
Noteholders at the specified offices of the Domiciliary Agent;
(viii) the Issuer (or any previous substitute) shall have delivered or procured the delivery to
the Domiciliary Agent a copy of a legal opinion addressed to the Issuer, the Substitute
and the Guarantors from a leading firm of English lawyers to the effect that the
Documents (including each New Guarantee) constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the parties thereto under English law, such opinion to be dated not more
than seven days prior to the date of substitution of the Substitute for the Issuer (or any
previous substitute) and to be available for inspection by Noteholders at the specified
offices of the Domiciliary Agent;
(ix) if the Substitute is not incorporated in England and Wales, the Substitute shall have
appointed a process agent in England to receive service of process on its behalf in
relation to any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with the
Notes or the Documents and the Issuer shall have appointed such a process agent in
connection with its New Guarantee;
(x) there is no outstanding Event of Default in respect of the Notes;
(xi) any solicited credit rating assigned to the Notes will remain the same or be improved
when the Substitute replaces and substitutes the Issuer (or any previous substitute) in
respect of the Notes, and this has been confirmed in writing by each rating agency
which has assigned any credit rating to the Notes; and
(xii) the substitution complies with all applicable requirements established under law in the
country of incorporation of the Issuer and each Guarantor.
(b) Upon the execution of the Documents as referred to in Condition 12(a) above, the Substitute
shall be deemed to be named in the Notes as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or of
any previous substitute under these provisions) and the Notes shall thereupon be deemed to be
amended to give effect to the substitution. The execution of the Documents shall operate to
release the Issuer (or such previous substitute as aforesaid) from all of its obligations in respect
of the Notes (but, for the avoidance of doubt, without prejudice to its obligations under its New
Guarantee).
(c) The Documents shall be deposited with and held by the Domiciliary Agent for so long as any
Note remains outstanding and for so long as any claim made against the Substitute or any
Guarantor or (if different) the Issuer by any Noteholder in relation to the Notes or the
Documents shall not have been finally adjudicated, settled or discharged. The Substitute and
each Guarantor and (if different) the Issuer shall acknowledge in the Documents the right of
every Noteholder to the production of the Documents for the enforcement of any of the Notes
or the Documents.
(d) Not later than 15 Business Days in London after the execution of the Documents, the Substitute
shall give notice thereof to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices).
13. MEETINGS OF NOTEHOLDERS AND MODIFICATION
All Extraordinary Resolutions (as defined below) of Noteholders which in the opinion of the Issuer
relate to a matter contained in article 568 of the Belgian Companies Code will only be effective if taken
at a meeting convened and decided in accordance with the Belgian Companies Code. The quorum at
any such meeting convened to consider an Extraordinary Resolution will be one or more persons
holding or representing not less than 50 per cent. in nominal amount of the Notes for the time being
outstanding or, at any adjourned meeting after publication of a new convening notice pursuant to
Condition 11 (Notices), one or more persons being or representing Noteholders whatever the aggregate
nominal amount of the Notes so held or represented. An Extraordinary Resolution requires the approval
of Noteholders holding or representing at least 75 per cent. of the aggregate nominal amount
outstanding of the Notes present or represented at the meeting and taking part in the vote. If however
an Extraordinary Resolution is adopted by Noteholders holding or representing less than one-third of
the aggregate nominal amount outstanding of the Notes (whether present or represented at the meeting
or not), such Extraordinary Resolution is not binding unless approved by the competent Court of
Appeal of Brussels. The above quorum and special majority requirements do not apply to
Extraordinary Resolutions relating to interim measures or to the appointment of a representative of the
Noteholders. In such a case, the Extraordinary Resolutions shall be adopted if approved by Noteholders
holding or representing at least a majority of the aggregate nominal amount of the Notes outstanding
present or represented at the meeting. An Extraordinary Resolution duly passed in accordance with the
provisions of the Belgian Companies Code at any such meeting of Noteholders and, to the extent
required by law, approved by the relevant Court of Appeal, will be binding on all Noteholders, whether
or not they are present at the meeting and whether or not they vote in favour thereof.
The matters listed in article 568 of the Belgian Companies Code in respect of which an Extraordinary
Resolution may be adopted include modifying or suspending the date of maturity of Notes, postponing
any day for payment of interest thereon, reducing the rate of interest applicable in respect of such
Notes, deciding urgent interim actions in the common interest of Noteholders, accepting a security in
favour of the Noteholders, accepting a transformation of Notes into shares on conditions proposed by
the Issuer, and appointing a special agent of the Noteholders to implement the resolutions of the
meeting of Noteholders.
For the purpose of this Condition, an "Extraordinary Resolution" means a resolution of Noteholders
duly passed at a meeting called and held in accordance with the Belgian Companies Code.
The Domiciliary Agent and the Issuer may agree, without the consent of the Noteholders, to:
(a) any modification (except where such modification relates to a matter listed in article 568 of the
Belgian Companies Code) of the Notes or the Domiciliary Agency Agreement which is not
prejudicial to the interests of the Noteholders; or
(b) any modification of the Notes or the Domiciliary Agency Agreement which is of a formal,
minor or technical nature or is made to correct a manifest or proven error or to comply with
mandatory provisions of the law.
Any such modification shall be binding on the Noteholders and any such modification shall be notified
to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 11 (Notices) as soon as practicable thereafter.
14. FURTHER ISSUES
The Issuer shall be at liberty from time to time without the consent of the Noteholders to create and
issue further notes having terms and conditions the same as the Notes or the same in all respects save
for the amount and date of the first payment of interest thereon and so that the same shall be
consolidated and form a single Series with the outstanding Notes.
15. CONTRACTS (RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) ACT 1999
No person shall have any right to enforce any term or condition of Notes under the Contracts (Rights of
Third Parties) Act 1999, but this does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is
available apart from that Act.
16. GOVERNING LAW AND SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION
16.1 Governing law
The Guarantees, the Deed Poll, the Notes (other than any matter relating to title to, and the
dematerialised form of, the Notes, and Condition 13 with respect to the rules laid down in the Belgian
Companies Code), and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with the
Guarantees, the Deed Poll and the Notes (other than any matter relating to title to, and the
dematerialised form of, the Notes, and Condition 13 with respect to the rules laid down in the Belgian
Companies Code) are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law. The
Domiciliary Agency Agreement and any matter relating to title to, and the dematerialised form of, the
Notes, and Condition 13 with respect to the rules laid down in the Belgian Companies Code, and any
non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with the Domiciliary Agency Agreement
and any matter relating to title to, and the dematerialised form of, the Notes, and Condition 13 with
respect to the rules laid down in the Belgian Companies Code, are governed by, and shall be construed
in accordance with, Belgian law.
16.2 Submission to jurisdiction
The Issuer irrevocably agrees, for the benefit of the Noteholders, that the courts of England are to have
exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with the Notes
(including any disputes relating to any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with
the Notes) and accordingly submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
The Issuer waives any objection to the courts of England on the grounds that they are an inconvenient
or inappropriate forum. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Noteholders may take any suit,
action or proceedings (together referred to as "Proceedings") arising out of or in connection with the
Notes and (including any Proceedings relating to any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in
connection with the Notes) against the Issuer in any other court of competent jurisdiction and
concurrent Proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.
16.3 Appointment of Process Agent
The Issuer and each Guarantor appoints AB InBev UK Limited at its registered office at Porter Tun
House, 500 Capability Green, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3LS, United Kingdom as its agent for service
of process for Proceedings in England, and undertakes that, in the event of AB InBev UK Limited
ceasing so to act or ceasing to be registered in England, it will appoint another person as its agent for
service of process in England in respect of any Proceedings in England. Nothing herein shall affect the
right to serve proceedings in any other manner permitted by law.
16.4 Other documents
The Issuer and each Guarantor has in the Guarantees and the Deed Poll submitted to the jurisdiction of
the English courts and appointed, or will be required to appoint, an agent for service of process in terms
substantially similar to those set out above. It is expressly stated in the Domiciliary Agency Agreement
that the courts of Belgium will have exclusive jurisdiction to settle disputes which may arise from or in
connection with the Domiciliary Agency Agreement and accordingly any legal action or proceedings
arising from or in connection with the Domiciliary Agency Agreement shall be brought before such
courts.
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