Flowers Foods Inc S-3ASR, filed Aug 21, 2023
Flowers Foods Inc (FLO)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FLOWERS FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Georgia | 58-2582379 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1919 Flowers Circle
Thomasville, Georgia 31757
(229) 226-9110
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Stephanie B. Tillman
Chief Legal Counsel
Flowers Foods, Inc.
1919 Flowers Circle
Thomasville, Georgia 31757
(229) 226-9110
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Joel T. May
Jones Day
1221 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30361
(404) 521-3939
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
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PROSPECTUS
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Rights
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, together or separately:
| • | common stock; |
| • | preferred stock; |
| • | debt securities; |
| • | rights; |
| • | warrants; |
| • | purchase contracts; and |
| • | units. |
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. We will provide the specific terms of the securities and their offering prices in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you decide to invest in any of these securities.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FLO.”
Our securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from time to time by us or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any of our securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. None of our securities may be sold without delivery of the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is August 21, 2023
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement, containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered and the manner in which they may be offered. The prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. The prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement may also add to, update or change the information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read the entire prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before making an investment decision.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated by reference therein, together with any pricing supplement. No one is authorized to provide you with information different from that which is contained, or deemed to be contained or incorporated by reference, in the prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement. We are not making offers to sell securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any pricing supplement or any document incorporated by reference therein is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document in which the information is contained or other date referred to in that document, regardless of the time of sale or issuance of any security.
Unless otherwise specified or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Flowers Foods,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” refer to Flowers Foods, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia, and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 22, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”), including those portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 11, 2023, that are specifically incorporated by reference into the Form 10-K; |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended April 22, 2023 and July 15, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 18, 2023 and August 10, 2023, respectively; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2023, June 1, 2023, August 11, 2023 (Item 5.02 only) and August 21, 2023; |
| • | the description of our capital stock in our Form 10/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2001, as updated by Exhibit 4.8 to our Form 10-K, and as subsequently amended or updated; and |
| • | all documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus. |
You may request a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement but not delivered with this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Flowers Foods, Inc.
1919 Flowers Circle
Thomasville, Georgia 31757
Telephone: (229) 226-9110
Attention: Investor Relations
We maintain an Internet site at http://www.flowersfoods.com, which contains our SEC filings and information concerning Flowers Foods and its consolidated subsidiaries. The information contained at our Internet site is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.
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CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and certain other written or oral statements made from time to time by the Company and its representatives that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to current expectations regarding our business and our future financial condition and results of operations and are often identified by the use of words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “is likely to,” “is expected to” or “will continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions we believe are reasonable.
Forward-looking statements are based on current information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. Certain factors that may cause actual results, performance, liquidity, and achievements to differ materially from those projected are discussed in this prospectus and may include, but are not limited to:
| • | unexpected changes in any of the following: (i) general economic and business conditions; (ii) the competitive setting in which we operate, including advertising or promotional strategies by us or our competitors, as well as changes in consumer demand; (iii) interest rates and other terms available to us on our borrowings; (iv) supply chain conditions and any related impact on energy and raw materials costs and availability and hedging counter-party risks; (v) relationships with or increased costs related to our employees and third-party service providers; (vi) laws and regulations (including environmental and health-related issues); and (vii) accounting standards or tax rates in the markets in which we operate; |
| • | the loss or financial instability of any significant customer(s), including as a result of product recalls or safety concerns related to our products; |
| • | changes in consumer behavior, trends and preferences, including health and whole grain trends, and the movement toward less expensive store branded products; |
| • | the level of success we achieve in developing and introducing new products and entering new markets; |
| • | our ability to implement new technology and customer requirements as required; |
| • | our ability to operate existing, and any new, manufacturing lines according to schedule; |
| • | our ability to implement and achieve our environmental, social, and governance goals in accordance with regulatory requirements and expectations of stakeholders, suppliers, and customers; |
| • | our ability to execute our business strategies which may involve, among other things, (i) the ability to realize the intended benefits of completed, planned or contemplated acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures, (ii) the deployment of new systems (e.g., our enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system), distribution channels and technology, and (iii) an enhanced organizational structure (e.g., our sales and supply chain reorganization); |
| • | consolidation within the baking industry and related industries; |
| • | changes in pricing, customer and consumer reaction to pricing actions (including decreased volumes), and the pricing environment among competitors within the industry; |
| • | our ability to adjust pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressure on the cost of our products, including ingredient and packaging costs; |
| • | disruptions in our direct-store-delivery distribution model, including litigation or an adverse ruling by a court or regulatory or governmental body that could affect the independent contractor classifications of the independent distributor partners; |
| • | increasing legal complexity and legal proceedings that we are or may become subject to; |
| • | labor shortages and turnover or increases in employee and employee-related costs; |
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| • | the credit, business, and legal risks associated with independent distributor partners and customers, which operate in the highly competitive retail food and foodservice industries; |
| • | any business disruptions due to political instability, pandemics, armed hostilities (including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine), incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, labor strikes or work stoppages, technological breakdowns, product contamination, product recalls or safety concerns related to our products, or the responses to or repercussions from any of these or similar events or conditions and our ability to insure against such events; |
| • | the failure of our information technology systems to perform adequately, including any interruptions, intrusions, cyber-attacks or security breaches of such systems or risks associated with the implementation of the upgrade of our ERP system; and |
| • | the potential impact of climate change on the Company, including physical and transition risks, availability or restriction of resources, higher regulatory and compliance costs, reputational risks, and availability of capital on attractive terms. |
The foregoing list of important factors does not include all such factors, nor does it necessarily present them in order of importance. In addition, you should consult other disclosures made by the Company (such as in our other filings with the SEC or in Company press releases) for other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the Company. Refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of the Form 10-K and any subsequent Form 10-Q for additional information regarding factors that could affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date made and are inherently uncertain. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update such statements, except as required by law. You are advised, however, to consult any further public disclosures by the Company (such as in our filings with the SEC or in Company press releases) on related subjects.
We own or have rights to trademarks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate names, logos and website names. In addition, we own or have the rights to copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights that protect the content of our products and the formulations for such products. Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this prospectus are listed without the ©, ® and ™ symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks, trade names and copyrights.
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Flowers Foods is the second-largest producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the U.S. We operate in the highly competitive fresh bakery market and our principal products include breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas. We are a brand-focused company dedicated to the consumer and committed to growing our most profitable brands through innovation, market expansion, and prudent mergers and acquisitions. We manage our business as one operating segment.
We maintain our principal executive offices at 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, Georgia 31757. Our telephone number there is (229) 226-9110.
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Before deciding whether to invest in any of our securities, in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the risk factors under the heading “Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors” of the Form 10-K and any subsequent Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by:
| • | risk factors contained in other periodic reports or information that we file with the SEC, which will be subsequently incorporated herein by reference; |
| • | any prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus; or |
| • | a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. |
In addition, new risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations. See “Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include share repurchases, refinancing existing indebtedness, capital expenditures and possible acquisitions. We have not allocated a specific portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for any particular use at this time. Specific information concerning the use of proceeds from the sale of any securities will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities.
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The following description of our capital stock is based upon our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended through May 21, 2020 (“Articles of Incorporation”), our amended and restated bylaws, as amended through August 18, 2023 (“Bylaws”), each of which has been publicly filed with the SEC, and applicable provisions of law. We have summarized certain portions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws below. The summary is not complete. You should read the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for the provisions that are important to you.
Our authorized capital stock consists of:
| • | 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share; |
| • | 200,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share; and |
| • | 800,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. |
As of August 4, 2023, there were 211,319,808 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. No shares of our preferred stock are issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Subject to preferential rights of any issued and outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of Flowers Foods, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets of Flowers Foods, if any, remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights, no cumulative voting rights and no rights to convert their shares of our common stock into any other securities of Flowers Foods or any other person.
Preferred Stock
Our authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for issuance without further action by our shareholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which our securities may be listed or traded. If the approval of our shareholders is not required for the issuance of shares of our common stock or preferred stock, our Board of Directors may determine to issue shares without seeking shareholder approval.
Our Board of Directors is authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to establish out of our authorized 800,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, one or more classes or series of preferred stock, having such relative rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series of the designation of such series, as our Board of Directors shall determine without further vote or action by the shareholders.
You should read the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of the preferred stock offered. The terms of the preferred stock set forth in such prospectus supplement may include the following, as applicable to the preferred stock offered thereby:
| • | the designation of the series of preferred stock, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title; |
| • | the number of shares of such preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of such preferred stock; |
| • | the dividend rate or rates of such shares, the date at which dividends, if declared, will be payable, and whether or not such dividends are to be cumulative and, if cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends shall be cumulative; |
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| • | the amounts payable on shares of such preferred stock in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; |
| • | the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for the shares of such preferred stock; |
| • | the terms and amount of any sinking fund or analogous fund providing for the purchase or redemption of the shares of such preferred stock, if any; |
| • | the voting rights, if any, granted to the holders of the shares of such preferred stock in addition to those required by Georgia law or the Articles of Incorporation; |
| • | whether the shares of preferred stock shall be convertible into shares of our common stock or any other class of our capital stock, and if convertible, the conversion price or prices, any adjustment thereof and any other terms and conditions upon which such conversion shall be made; |
| • | any other rights, preferences, restrictions, limitations or conditions relating to the shares of preferred stock as may be permitted by Georgia law or the Articles of Incorporation; |
| • | any listing of such preferred stock on any securities exchange; and |
| • | a discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable to such preferred stock. |
The specific terms of any preferred stock to be sold under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so indicated in such prospectus supplement, the terms of the preferred stock offered may differ from the general terms set forth below. The preferred stock offered will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.
The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us without further action by our shareholders. The issuance of shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common stock.
Certain Provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws and Georgia Law
Certain provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws and Georgia law may encourage persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover provisions to negotiate with our Board of Directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions could delay or discourage certain types of transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us or our management (including transactions in which shareholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the then current prices) and may limit the ability of shareholders to remove current management or approve transactions that shareholders may deem to be in their best interests and, therefore, could adversely affect the value of our securities.
Board of Directors
The Bylaws provide that the number of directors shall be between 3 and 16, and will be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. The Bylaws also provide that newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors or any vacancies occurring on our Board of Directors will be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of our Board of Directors, or by a sole remaining director. These provisions may deter a shareholder from seeking to remove incumbent directors and simultaneously attempting to gain control of our Board of Directors by filling newly created directorships or any vacancies with its own nominees.
Advance Notice of Proposals and Nominations
The Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for shareholder proposals to be brought before a meeting of shareholders and for nominations by shareholders of candidates for election as directors at a meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected. As described more fully in the Bylaws, only such business may be conducted at
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a meeting of shareholders as has been brought before the meeting by, or at the direction of, our Board of Directors, or by a shareholder who has given to the Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the shareholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Furthermore, only persons who are nominated by, or at the direction of, our Board of Directors, or who are nominated by a shareholder who has given timely written notice, in proper form, to the Secretary prior to a meeting at which directors are to be elected will be eligible for election as our directors. The presiding officer at a shareholders meeting has the authority to make these determinations.
Special Meetings of Shareholders
The Articles of Incorporation provides that special meetings of shareholders may be called only by the Chairman of our Board of Directors or by the Chairman of our Board of Directors or Secretary when requested in writing by a majority of the total number of Directors or by the holders of at least 25% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of our common stock. This provision could have the effect of inhibiting shareholder actions that require a special meeting of shareholders, unless our Board of Directors requests or the Chairman of our Board of Directors calls such a special meeting.
Preferred Stock
As discussed above, the Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of undesignated preferred stock, in one or more classes or series. Undesignated preferred stock may enable our Board of Directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and to thereby protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common stock. For example, any preferred stock issued may rank prior to our common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. As a result, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may discourage bids for our common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common stock or any existing preferred stock. In some instances the preferred stock could be issued and have the effect of preventing a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt that our Board of Directors opposes.
Certain Anti-Takeover Effects of Georgia Law
We have elected in the Bylaws to be subject to the Fair Price and Business Combination provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the “GBCC”). Under the Fair Price Provision, in addition to any vote required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, “business combinations” with an “interested shareholder” must be:
| • | unanimously approved by the “continuing directors,” provided that the continuing directors constitute at least three members of the board of directors at the time of the approval; or |
| • | recommended by at least two-thirds of the continuing directors and approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares, other than voting shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder, who is, or whose affiliate is, a party to the business combination. |
Under the Business Combinations provision, we are generally prohibited from entering into business combination transactions with any “interested shareholder” for a five-year period following the time that such shareholder became an interested shareholder unless:
| • | prior to such time, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the shareholder became an interested shareholder; |
| • | in the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder became the beneficial owner of at least 90% of the voting stock of Flowers Foods outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding those shares owned by directors or officers, their affiliates, or associates, subsidiaries of Flowers Foods, or specified employee stock plans of Flowers Foods; or |
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| • | subsequent to becoming an interested shareholder, such shareholder acquired additional shares resulting in the interested shareholder becoming the beneficial owner of at least 90% of the outstanding voting stock of Flowers Foods, excluding those shares owned by directors or officers, their affiliates, or associates, subsidiaries of Flowers Foods, or specified employee stock plans of Flowers Foods, and the business combination was approved at an annual or special meeting of shareholders by the holders of a majority of the voting stock entitled to vote thereon, excluding voting stock beneficially owned by the interested shareholder or by directors or officers, their affiliates, or associates, subsidiaries of Flowers Foods, or specified employee stock plans of Flowers Foods. |
Under the GBCC, repeal of the bylaws subjecting us to these provisions requires the affirmative vote of (i) at least two-thirds of the continuing directors, (ii) the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of our common stock and preferred stock entitled to vote thereon, excluding any shares beneficially owned by any interested shareholder and affiliates and associates of any interested shareholder, and (iii) the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of our common stock and preferred stock voting together, to the extent the outstanding shares of our preferred stock are afforded voting rights and powers generally equal to the voting rights and powers of our common stock. A “continuing director” means (i) any director who is not an affiliate or associate of an interested shareholder or its affiliates, other than Flowers Foods or any of our subsidiaries, and who was a director of Flowers Foods prior to the date the shareholder became an interested shareholder, and (ii) any successor to such continuing director who is not an affiliate or associate of an interested shareholder or any of its affiliates, other than Flowers Foods or our subsidiaries, and is recommended or elected by a majority of all of the continuing directors. An “interested shareholder” means any person, other than Flowers Foods or our subsidiaries, that (i) with its affiliates, beneficially owns or has the right to own 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of Flowers Foods, or (ii) is an affiliate of Flowers Foods and has, at any time within the preceding two-year period, been the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of Flowers Foods.
Exclusive Forum
Our Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any shareholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary or legal duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, shareholder, or agent of ours to us or our shareholders, including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of any such breach of fiduciary duty, (c) any action asserting a claim against us, our current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the GBCC or our Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), (d) any action asserting a claim against us, our current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, or agents governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (e) any action against us, our current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, or agents asserting a claim identified in O.C.G.A. § 15-5A-3 shall be the Georgia State-Wide Business Court. Additionally, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”).
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Inc. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section summarizes the general terms of the debt securities that we may offer. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular debt securities offered will describe the specific terms of the debt securities, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this section. As required by U.S. federal securities law, the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus are governed by a document called an indenture, dated as of April 3, 2012, between us, as issuer, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “indenture”). The indenture is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). You should read the indenture for a more complete understanding of the provisions we describe below. Please see “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.
In the discussion that follows, we summarize certain provisions of the indenture and describe in this section the general terms that will apply to any debt securities that may be offered by us pursuant to this prospectus. This discussion is not complete, and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of terms used in the indenture. At the time that we offer debt securities, we will describe in the related prospectus supplement the specific terms of the offered debt securities and the extent to which the general terms described in this section apply to those debt securities.
The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities will describe the terms of any series of debt securities being offered, including:
| • | the title of the series (which will distinguish the debt securities of that particular series from the debt securities of any other series but which may be part of a series of debt securities previously issued); |
| • | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the debt securities of the series will be issued; |
| • | the denominations in which the debt securities of the series will be issuable if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| • | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under the indenture (except for debt securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other debt securities of the series pursuant to the indenture); |
| • | whether the debt securities of the series will be issuable as global securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities of such series in certificated form registered in the names of the individual holders thereof, the depositary for such global securities, and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such global securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend set forth in the indenture; |
| • | the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities of the series is payable; |
| • | (i) the rate or rates, if any, at which the debt securities of the series will bear interest (which may be fixed or variable); (ii) the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal (including amounts payable in excess thereof) of or interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to any commodity or commodity, currency, stock exchange or financial index; (iii) the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue; (iv) the date or dates on which interest, if any, of the debt securities of the series will commence and be payable; and (v) any regular or special record date for the payment of interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series; |
| • | (i) if other than in U.S. dollars, the currency in which debt securities of a series are denominated, which may include any foreign currency or any composite of two or more currencies; and (ii) the currency or currencies in which payments on such debt securities are payable, if other than the currency in which such debt securities are denominated; |
| • | the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series shall be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means; |
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| • | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to debt securities of such series if other than those appointed in the indenture; |
| • | if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities of the series may be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, at the option of Flowers Foods; |
| • | our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof upon the happening of any event and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series will be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
| • | if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series that will be payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | any addition to or change in the covenants (and related defined terms) set forth in the indenture that applies to debt securities of the series; |
| • | any addition to or change in the events of default that applies to any debt securities of the series and any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of such debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | the provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities of the series; |
| • | the subordination, if any, of the debt securities of the series pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | the form and terms of any guarantee of the debt securities of the series and the subordination, if any, of such guarantees pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | if and as applicable, the terms and conditions of any right to exchange for or convert debt securities of the series into shares of our common stock or other securities or another person; and |
| • | any other terms of the debt securities of the series. |
The terms of any series of debt securities may vary from the terms described here. Thus, this summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of the debt securities to be described in the prospectus supplement.
Payment and Paying Agents
We will pay interest to holders listed in the trustee’s records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if such holders no longer own the debt security on the interest due date. We may choose to pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee. Payments in any other manner will be specified in the prospectus supplement.
We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called “paying agents.” We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We will notify the trustee of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Flowers Foods will not: (i) consolidate or merge with or into another person or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its and its subsidiaries’ properties or assets taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another person, unless:
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| • | either: (a) Flowers Foods is the surviving entity; or (b) the person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Flowers Foods) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability Company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; |
| • | the person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Flowers Foods) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of Flowers Foods under the debt securities and the indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee; and |
| • | immediately after such transaction, no default or event of default exists (other than in the case of: (i) a merger of Flowers Foods with an affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating Flowers Foods in another jurisdiction; or (ii) any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among Flowers Foods and its subsidiaries). |
Modification of the Indenture
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Flowers Foods and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series without the consent of any holder of debt securities:
| • | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, provided that no such action shall adversely affect the interests of the holders in any material respect; |
| • | to comply with the indenture’s provisions regarding merger, consolidation or sale of assets; |
| • | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
| • | to evidence the assumption of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities by a successor thereto in the case of a consolidation or merger or a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ properties or assets, taken as a whole; |
| • | to comply with the provisions of any clearing agency, clearing corporation or clearing system, or the requirements of the trustee or the registrar, relating to transfers and exchanges of the debt securities pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the debt securities of a series, that would surrender any right, power or option conferred by the indenture on Flowers Foods or, with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture or the debt securities, that does not adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any holder of such debt securities; |
| • | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
| • | to conform the text of the indenture (only with respect to such series) or any board resolution, supplemental indenture or officer’s certificate with respect to the debt securities of such series to the description of notes contained in the offering document pursuant to which such debt securities were sold; |
| • | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture; |
| • | in the case of subordinated debt securities, to make any change in the provisions of the indenture or any supplemental indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior indebtedness under such provisions; provided that such change is made in accordance with the provisions of such senior indebtedness; |
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| • | to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities; although no such addition, change or elimination may apply to any series of debt security created prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor may any such amendment modify the legal rights of a holder of any such debt security with respect to such provision, unless the amendment becomes effective only when there is no outstanding debt security of any series created prior to such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
| • | to secure Flowers Foods’ obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; |
| • | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as may be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee; or |
| • | to allow any guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture or a guarantee with respect to the debt securities. |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Flowers Foods and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Without the consent of the holder of each security affected, no amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver may be made that, as to any non-consenting holders:
| • | reduces the percentage of principal amount of outstanding securities of any series whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver; |
| • | reduces the rate of interest on the securities or changes the index or reduces the spread applicable to any floating rate securities; |
| • | reduces the principal amount of or premium, if any, on the securities or changes the stated maturity of any of the securities; |
| • | changes the place, manner or currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the securities; |
| • | makes any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to seniority or subordination of any security that adversely affects the rights of any holder under such provisions; |
| • | reduces the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| • | waives a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the securities (except a rescission of the declaration of acceleration of the securities of any series by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series and a waiver of the payment default resulting from such declaration that has been rescinded); |
| • | makes any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past defaults or the rights of holders of securities to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the securities or the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payments; |
| • | waives a payment with respect to any securities payable on redemption at the option of Flowers Foods or repurchase at the option of the holder thereof or changes any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of any securities; or |
| • | makes any change in the amendment and waiver provisions of the indenture requiring the consent of the holder of each security affected thereby. |
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Events of Default and Remedies
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture provides that events of default regarding the debt securities of any series will be:
| • | default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on debt securities of that series; |
| • | default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the debt securities of that series; |
| • | failure by Flowers Foods to comply with any non-payment covenant in the indenture (other than a covenant that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series) after the trustee notifies Flowers Foods, or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding voting as a single class notify Flowers Foods and the trustee, of such default and Flowers Foods does not cure such default or such default is not waived within 60 days after the receipt of such notice; |
| • | default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by Flowers Foods, whether such indebtedness now exists, or is created after the date of the indenture, if that default: |
| • | is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such indebtedness following the stated maturity of such obligation (a “Payment Default”); or |
| • | results in the acceleration of such indebtedness prior to its stated maturity, |
and, in each case, the principal amount of any such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to such amount as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement;
| • | certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency described in the indenture with respect to Flowers Foods or any of its significant subsidiaries or any group of subsidiaries of Flowers Foods that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary; and |
| • | any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series, which is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
If an event of default (other than pursuant to the bankruptcy or insolvency provisions of the indenture with respect to Flowers Foods) regarding debt securities of any series issued under the indenture should occur and be continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in the principal amount (or, if such securities are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement) of the then outstanding debt securities of such series may declare each debt security of that series due and payable immediately. If a bankruptcy or insolvency event occurs with respect to Flowers Foods, the debt securities of such series will immediately become due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities of such series. The holders of a majority in principal amount of debt securities of such series may rescind any acceleration and its consequences (other than with respect to an event of default pursuant to the bankruptcy or insolvency provisions of the indenture with respect to Flowers Foods) if (1) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree, (2) Flowers Foods has paid or deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the currency in which the debt securities of that series are payable (A) all overdue interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities of that series, (B) all unpaid principal of and premium, if any, any outstanding debt securities of that series which has become due otherwise than by such a declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal or premium at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such notes or, if no such rate or rates are so prescribed, at the rate borne by the debt securities during the period of such default, and (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, interest upon overdue interest to that date of such payment or deposit at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such debt securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so prescribed, at the rate borne by the debt securities during the period of such default and (3) all existing events of default (other than for nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee under the indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series also will be entitled to waive past defaults regarding such debt securities, except for a default in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities or in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended hereunder without the consent of the holder of each such debt security. The trustee generally may not be ordered or directed by any of the holders of debt securities to take any action unless one or more of the holders shall have offered to the trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it.
If the trustee collects any money in connection with an event of default regarding the debt securities of any series, the trustee may use any sums that it holds under the applicable indenture for its own reasonable compensation and expenses incurred prior to paying the holders of debt securities of such series.
Before any holder of any series of debt securities may institute action for any remedy, except payment on the holder’s debt security when due, the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding must request the trustee to take action. Holders must also offer and give the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against liabilities incurred by the trustee for taking such action.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Flowers Foods may at any time elect to have all of its obligations and certain other provisions discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities (“Legal Defeasance”) except for the rights of holders of outstanding debt securities to receive payments in respect of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on, such debt securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to below, certain other obligations of Flowers Foods and certain other rights of the trustee under the indenture.
In addition, Flowers Foods may at any time elect to have the obligations of Flowers Foods released with respect to certain covenants and thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a default or event of default with respect to the debt securities (“Covenant Defeasance”). In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events described under “—Events of Default and Remedies” (not including non-payment) will no longer constitute an event of default with respect to the debt securities.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in respect of any series of debt securities, in addition to the satisfaction of other conditions, Flowers Foods must irrevocably deposit with the trustee for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities to be defeased money in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be. In addition, Flowers Foods must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and officer’s certificate in connection with such defeasance, and Flowers Foods may not exercise such defeasance if certain defaults or events of default with respect to debt securities of such series have occurred and are continuing on the date of such deposit or if such defeasance would result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the indenture) to which Flowers Foods or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Flowers Foods or any of its subsidiaries is bound.
Satisfaction and Discharge
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, when:
| • | either: |
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| • | all debt securities of such series that have been authenticated and, except for lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities of such series that have been replaced or paid and debt securities of such series for whose payment money has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by Flowers Foods and thereafter repaid to Flowers Foods, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or |
| • | all debt securities of such series that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation: |
| • | have become due and payable; |
| • | will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year; or |
| • | if redeemable in accordance with the terms of such debt securities, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in Flowers Foods’ name, and at Flowers Foods’ expense; |
and Flowers Foods has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of such series, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness (including all principal, premium, if any, and interest) on such series of debt securities delivered to the trustee for cancellation (in the case of debt securities of such series that have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
| • | Flowers Foods has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it under the indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series; and |
| • | Flowers Foods has delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee under the indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the debt securities at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be. |
In addition, Flowers Foods must deliver an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
Subordination
If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series may be subordinated, which we refer to as subordinated debt securities, to senior indebtedness (as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement) to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. To the extent we conduct operations through subsidiaries, the holders of debt securities (whether or not subordinated debt securities) will be structurally subordinated to the creditors and any preferred equity holders of our subsidiaries.
Conversion and Exchange Rights
If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other securities of Flowers Foods or another entity. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement, among other things, the conversion or exchange rate or price and any adjustments thereto, the conversion or exchange period or periods, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at our option or at the option of the holders of that series of debt securities, and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of that series of debt securities.
Guarantees
Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries.
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Reporting
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture requires Flowers Foods to provide the trustee with a copy of the reports, information and documents that it files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC. Documents filed by Flowers Foods with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR; provided, however, that the trustee shall have no liability to determine if such filing has occurred. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the trustee is for informational purposes only, and the trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including Flowers Foods compliance with any of the covenants under the indenture. Flowers Foods will also comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding anything in the indenture to the contrary, Flowers Foods will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its agreements under this covenant for purposes of the third bullet under “—Events of Default and Remedies” until 90 days after the date any report, information or document is required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to this covenant.
Further Issues
Unless specified otherwise with respect to a series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement, Flowers Foods may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the registered holders of a series of debt securities, create and issue further debt securities of ranking equally with the debt securities of any series in all respects (or in all respects other than the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further debt securities or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further debt securities). Such further debt securities may be consolidated and form a single series with, and have the same terms as to status or otherwise as, such previously issued debt securities.
Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer
The debt securities will be issued only in registered form. Debt securities of a series will either be global securities registered in book-entry form or definitive certificates registered in the name of the holders thereof. Procedures relating to global securities are described below under “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.” Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities denominated in United States dollars will be issued only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The prospectus supplement relating to offered securities denominated in a foreign or composite currency will specify the denomination of the offered securities.
Debt securities represented by a paper certificate may be presented for exchange or transfer at the office of the registrar. Holders will not have to pay any service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of their certificates, but Flowers Foods may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such registration of transfer.
Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement
The debt securities initially will be issued in book-entry form only and represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of, and deposited with a custodian for, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), or its nominee. DTC or its nominee will be the sole registered holder of the debt securities for all purposes under the indenture. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities represented by the global securities will hold their interests pursuant to the procedures and practices of DTC. As a result, beneficial interests in these securities will be shown on, and may only be transferred through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances. Owners of beneficial interests must exercise any rights in respect of their interests in accordance with the procedures and practices of DTC. Beneficial owners will not be holders and will not be entitled to any rights provided to the holders of debt securities under the global securities or the indenture. Flowers Foods and the trustee, and any of their respective agents, may treat DTC as the sole holder and registered owner of the global securities under the terms of the indenture.
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Concerning the Trustee
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) is the trustee under the indenture. Computershare Inc., an affiliate of the trustee, serves as the transfer agent for our common stock, and the trustee and its affiliates may engage in other transactions with, or perform services for, Flowers Foods and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Governing Law
The debt securities and the indenture will be governed by, and construed in accordance, with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
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We may issue subscription rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by us and may or may not be transferable by the securityholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other investors pursuant to which the underwriters or other investors may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
To the extent appropriate, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the rights to purchase shares of our securities offered thereby, including the following:
| • | the date of determining the securityholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| • | the price, if any, for the subscription rights; |
| • | the exercise price payable for the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities upon the exercise of the subscription right; |
| • | the number of subscription rights issued to each securityholder; |
| • | the amount of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities that may be purchased per each subscription right; |
| • | any provisions for adjustment of the amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the subscription rights or of the exercise price of the subscription rights; |
| • | the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire; |
| • | the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| • | the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights; |
| • | any applicable U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange and exercise of the subscription rights. |
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We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock, rights, debt securities or any combination of these securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between a warrant agent and us. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. In connection with any warrants, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters or other investors pursuant to which the underwriters or other investors will agree to purchase any securities underlying such warrants that remain unpurchased upon the expiration of such warrants.
The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue from time to time. Additional terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description, and any description of the warrants included in a prospectus supplement, may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the applicable warrant agreement, which we will file with the SEC in connection with any offering of warrants.
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants exercisable for debt securities will describe the terms of those warrants, including the following:
| • | the title of the warrants; |
| • | the offering price for the warrants, if any; |
| • | the aggregate number of the warrants; |
| • | the designation, number or principal amount and terms of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, other securities or combination thereof, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security; |
| • | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable; |
| • | the principal amount and price of each underlying security that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant; |
| • | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commences and expires; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | whether the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
| • | information relating to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | the material terms of any standby underwriting agreement entered into by us in connection with any warrants; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
| • | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| • | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; and |
| • | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders of such contracts to purchase from us, and for us to sell to holders, a specific or variable number of shares of our common stock or preferred stock, rights, warrants, debt securities or other property, or any combination of the above, at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or variable number of shares of our common stock or preferred stock, rights, warrants, debt securities or other property, or any combination of the above. The price of the securities or other property subject to the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts separately or as a part of units each consisting of a purchase contract and one or more of our other securities described in this prospectus or securities or other obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holder’s obligations under the purchase contract. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders or vice versa and the payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure the holder’s obligations in a manner specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
To the extent appropriate, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any purchase contracts offered thereby, including the following:
| • | whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts; |
| • | whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not; |
| • | whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract; |
| • | any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; |
| • | any applicable federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
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We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date or occurrence. The units may be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to the units being offered.
To the extent appropriate, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any units offered thereby, including the following:
| • | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately; |
| • | a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; |
| • | a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units; |
| • | a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and |
| • | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
A summary of any material U.S. federal income tax consequences to persons investing in the securities offered by this prospectus may be set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement. The summary will be prepared for information purposes only, however, and will not be intended as legal or tax advice to prospective purchasers. Prospective purchasers of securities are urged to consult their own tax advisors prior to any acquisition of securities.
We may sell the securities being offered by this prospectus through agents, underwriters and dealers, or through a combination of those means. Additionally, securities may be sold to other purchasers directly or through agents, or in another manner as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Offers to purchase securities may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent involved in the offer or sale of any of the securities covered by this prospectus will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Agents may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and such agents or their affiliates may be customers of, extend credit to or engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If any underwriters are utilized in the sale, securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. We will enter into an underwriting agreement with those underwriters at the time of sale to them and the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities covered by this prospectus to the public. The underwriters may be entitled, under the relevant underwriting agreement, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and the underwriters or their affiliates may be customers of, extend credit to or engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
If dealers are utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to such dealers, as principal. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealers at the time of resale. Dealers may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and those dealers or their affiliates may be customers of, extend credit to or engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and we may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
In connection with the sale of any of these securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of securities by them, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
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Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in a supplement to this prospectus, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Jones Day, Atlanta, Georgia.
The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Set forth below are the expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be incurred by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts set forth below are estimated.
| SEC registration fee |
* | |||
| Transfer agent and trustee fees and expenses |
(1 | ) | ||
| Printing |
(1 | ) | ||
| Legal fees and expenses |
(1 | ) | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
(1 | ) | ||
| Rating agency fees |
(1 | ) | ||
| Miscellaneous |
(1 | ) | ||
| Total |
(1 | ) |
| * | Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
| (1) | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
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ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the GBCC provides that a corporation’s articles of incorporation may include a provision that eliminates or limits the personal liability of directors for monetary damages to the corporation or its shareholders for breach of the directors’ duty of care and other duties as directors. However, Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the GBCC does not permit a corporation to eliminate or limit the liability of a director for (i) a breach of duty involving appropriation of a business opportunity of the corporation; (ii) an act or omission that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) any transaction from which the director received an improper personal benefit; or (iv) any payments of a dividend or any other type of distribution that is illegal under Section 14-2-832 of the GBCC. Additionally, Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the GBCC does not eliminate or limit the rights of a corporation or any shareholder to seek an injunction or other non-monetary relief in the event of a breach of a director’s fiduciary duty, and applies only to claims against a director arising out of his role as a director and does not relieve a director from liability arising from his role as an officer or in any other capacity.
Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC authorizes a corporation to indemnify individuals who are parties to proceedings because they are or were directors against liability incurred in such proceedings if they are determined to have met the standard of conduct set forth in that section. However, Section 14-2-856(a) of the GBCC provides that, if authorized by its articles of incorporation or a bylaw, contract, or resolution approved or ratified by the shareholders by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast, a corporation may indemnify its directors without regard to the limitations in other sections of the GBCC, including the limitation in Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC, which requires a determination that a director seeking indemnification must first be determined to have met the statutorily prescribed standard of conduct. Section 14-2-856(b), however, prohibits a corporation from indemnifying a director for liability incurred in a proceeding in which the director is adjudged liable or subjected to injunctive relief in favor of the corporation for any of the four acts, outlined above, from which a director cannot be exculpated from liability as provided in Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the GBCC. Section 14-2-856 of the GBCC sets forth the fullest extent to which a corporation may indemnify its directors.
Section 14-2-851(d) of the GBCC provides that a corporation may not indemnify a director in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under GBCC Section 14-2-851, or in connection with any other proceeding in which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him or her, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to Section 14-2-854 a court may order a corporation to indemnify a director if such court determines the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not such director met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC or was adjudged liable as described in subsection (d) of Section 14-2-851 of the GBCC.
Section 14-2-852 of the GBCC provides that to the extent that a director has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, because he or she is or was a director of the corporation, the corporation shall indemnify the director against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection therewith.
The Articles of Incorporation provide that a director of Flowers Foods shall not be liable to Flowers Foods or its shareholders for or with respect to any acts or omissions in the performance of his or her duties as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the GBCC as currently in effect or as the same may be hereafter amended or under any other applicable law currently or hereafter in effect.
The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that each person who is or was or had agreed to become a director or officer of Flowers Foods, or each such person who is or was serving or who had agreed to serve at the request of our Board of Directors or an officer of Flowers Foods as an employee or agent of Flowers Foods or as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall be indemnified by Flowers Foods to the fullest extent permitted by the GBCC or any other applicable law as presently or hereafter in effect. This right of indemnification includes the advancement of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding. We may, by action of our Board of Directors, provide indemnification to other employees and agents of Flowers Foods with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of our directors and officers.
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In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with certain of our executive officers and directors whereby we agree to hold harmless and indemnify such executive officer or director, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding.
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ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
INDEX
| * | To be filed prior to or in connection with the first offering contemplated by such agreement as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. |
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ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Thomasville, State of Georgia, on August 21, 2023.
| FLOWERS FOODS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ R. Steve Kinsey | |
| R. Steve Kinsey | ||
| Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned directors and officers of Flowers Foods, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints A. Ryals McMullian, R. Steve Kinsey and Stephanie B. Tillman, and each of them, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for each of the undersigned and in the name, place and stead of each of the undersigned, to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 one or more registration statement(s) on Form S-3 relating to the registration for sale of the debt and/or equity securities of the Company, with any and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, including pre-effective and post-effective amendments or supplements or any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required, necessary or desirable to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the act of said attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ A. Ryals McMullian A. Ryals McMullian |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ R. Steve Kinsey R. Steve Kinsey |
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ Edward J. Casey, Jr. Edward J. Casey, Jr. |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ Thomas C. Chubb III Thomas C. Chubb III |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ George E. Deese George E. Deese |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ Rhonda Gass Rhonda Gass |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ Margaret G. Lewis Margaret G. Lewis |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ W. Jameson McFadden W. Jameson McFadden |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ James T. Spear James T. Spear |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
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| /s/ Melvin T. Stith, Ph.D. Melvin T. Stith, Ph.D. |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ Terry S. Thomas Terry S. Thomas |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
| /s/ C. Martin Wood III C. Martin Wood III |
Director |
August 21, 2023 | ||
Exhibit 5.1
1221 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. • SUITE 400 • ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30361
TELEPHONE: +1.404.521.3939 • JONESDAY.COM
August 21, 2023
Flowers Foods, Inc.
1919 Flowers Circle
Thomasville, Georgia 31757
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 Filed by Flowers Foods, Inc. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Flowers Foods, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Flowers”), in connection with the authorization of the possible issuance and sale from time to time, on a delayed basis, by Flowers of: (i) debt securities of Flowers (the “Debt Securities”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (as defined below) or other securities; (ii) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Flowers (the “Common Stock”); (iii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Flowers, in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (the “Preferred Stock”); (iv) rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or other securities (the “Rights”); (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Rights, Debt Securities or any combination thereof (the “Warrants”); and (vi) contracts to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Rights, Warrants, Debt Securities or other property, or any combination thereof, at a future date or dates (the “Purchase Contracts”), which may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a Purchase Contract and Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Rights, Warrants, Debt Securities or securities or other obligations of third parties, including United States treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Rights, Warrants, Debt Securities or other property under the Purchase Contracts (the “Units”), in each case, as contemplated by the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion has been filed as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”). The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Rights, the Warrants, the Debt Securities, the Purchase Contracts and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Flowers Foods, Inc.
August 21, 2023
Page 2
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of this opinion. Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | The Debt Securities, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of Flowers. |
| 2. | The shares of Common Stock, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value thereof as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 3. | The shares of Preferred Stock, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value thereof as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 4. | The Rights, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of Flowers. |
| 5. | The Warrants, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of Flowers. |
| 6. | The Purchase Contracts, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of Flowers. |
| 7. | The Units, upon receipt by Flowers of such lawful consideration therefor as Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of Flowers. |
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective (and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder); (ii) a prospectus supplement describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and relevant rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class or series of Securities will have been established in accordance with the authorizing
Flowers Foods, Inc.
August 21, 2023
Page 3
resolutions adopted by Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof), Flowers’ Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through May 21, 2020 (the “Articles of Incorporation”) and applicable law; (iv) Flowers will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security will have been authorized and reserved for issuance, in each case within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such Securities; (v) the resolutions authorizing Flowers to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by Flowers’ Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by Flowers; (vi) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws; and (vii) any Indenture, Purchase Rights Agreement, Warrant Agreement or Purchase Contract Agreement (each as defined below) and each Unit will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each party thereto other than Flowers.
With respect to any Securities consisting of any series of Debt Securities, we have further assumed that: (i) such Debt Securities will have been issued pursuant to an indenture that has been executed and delivered by Flowers and the applicable trustee in a form approved by us (the “Indenture”), and the Indenture will have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; (ii) all terms of such Debt Securities not provided for in the applicable Indenture will have been established in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by Flowers and the applicable trustee; and (iii) such Debt Securities will be executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Preferred Stock, we have further assumed that Flowers will issue and deliver the shares of the Preferred Stock being issued and delivered after the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia of a certificate of amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, approved by us, establishing the designations, preferences and rights of the class or series of the Preferred Stock being issued and delivered.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Rights, we have further assumed that: (i) the purchase rights agreement, approved by us, relating to the Rights (the “Purchase Rights Agreement”) to be entered into between Flowers and an entity selected by Flowers to act as the purchase rights agent (the “Purchase Rights Agent”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by Flowers and the Purchase Rights Agent and (ii) the Purchase Rights will be authorized, executed and delivered by Flowers and the Purchase Rights Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Rights Agreement.
Flowers Foods, Inc.
August 21, 2023
Page 4
With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that: (i) the warrant agreement, approved by us, relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between Flowers and an entity selected by Flowers to act as the warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by Flowers and the Warrant Agent and (ii) the Warrants will be authorized, executed and delivered by Flowers and the Warrant Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Purchase Contracts, we have further assumed that: (i) the purchase contract agreement, approved by us, relating to the Purchase Contracts (the “Purchase Contract Agreement”) to be entered into between Flowers and an entity selected by Flowers to act as the purchase contract agent (the “Purchase Contract Agent”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by Flowers and the Purchase Contract Agent and (ii) the Purchase Contracts will be authorized, executed and delivered by Flowers and the Purchase Contract Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Units, we have further assumed that each component of such Units will be authorized, validly issued and fully paid (to the extent applicable) as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable Unit agreement, if any.
Our opinions expressed herein are limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar laws and related regulations and judicial doctrines from time to time in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and considerations are considered in a proceeding at law or at equity.
As to facts material to the opinions and assumptions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of Flowers and others. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the State of Georgia, in each case as currently in effect, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Jones Day under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Jones Day |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Flowers Foods, Inc. of our report dated February 22, 2023 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Flowers Foods, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
| Atlanta, Georgia |
| August 21, 2023 |
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
| ☐ | CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) |
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| National Banking Association | 04-3401714 | |
| (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization if not a U.S. national bank) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
| 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA | 02021 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Law Department
Computershare Trust Company, National Association
150 Royall Street, Canton, MA
02021
(781) 575-2000
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
FLOWERS FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| Georgia | 58-2582379 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
| 1919 Flowers Circle Thomasville, Georgia |
31757 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
| Item 1. | General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: |
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
340 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017-2613
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
| Item 2. | Affiliations with the obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe such affiliation. |
None.
| Items 3-15. | No responses are included for Items 3-15 of this Form T-1 because, to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, neither the obligor nor any guarantor is in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee and the Trustee is not a foreign trustee as provided under Item 15. |
| Item 16. | List of exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility. |
1. A copy of the articles of association of the trustee. (See Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-200089).
2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business.
3. A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certification of Fiduciary Powers for Computershare Trust Company, National Association.
4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the trustee, as now in effect. (See Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-200089).
5. Not applicable
6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
8. Not applicable
9. Not applicable
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the trustee, Computershare Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, organized and existing under the laws of the United States, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of St. Paul, and State of Minnesota, on the 9th day of August, 2023.
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Jill Melhus | |
| Name: Jill Melhus Title: Assistant Vice President | ||
EXHIBIT 2
A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certificate of Corporate Existence for Computershare Trust Company, National Association, dated June 2, 2023.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS I, Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that: 1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. “Computershare Trust Company, National Association,” Canton, Massachusetts (Charter No. 23148), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, June 2, 2023, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia. Acting Comptroller of the Currency 2023-00802-C
EXHIBIT 3
A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certification of Fiduciary Powers for Computershare Trust Company, National Association, dated June 2, 2023.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS I, Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that: 1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. “Computershare Trust Company, National Association,” Canton, Massachusetts (Charter No. 23148), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, June 2, 2023, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia. Acting Comptroller of the Currency 2023-00802-C
EXHIBIT 6
CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 321 (b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and in connection with the proposed issue of debt securities, Computershare Trust Company, National Association hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefore.
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Jill Melhus | |
| Title: Assistant Vice President | ||
August 9, 2023
EXHIBIT 7
Consolidated Report of Condition of
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
150 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021
at the close of business June 30, 2023.
| Dollar Amounts In Thousands |
||||
| ASSETS | ||||
| Cash and balances due from depository institutions: |
||||
| Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin |
2,598 | |||
| Interest-bearing balances |
366,188 | |||
| Securities: |
||||
| Held-to-maturity securities |
-0- | |||
| Available-for-sale securities |
1,154 | |||
| Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell: |
||||
| Federal funds sold in domestic offices |
-0- | |||
| Securities purchased under agreements to resell |
-0- | |||
| Loans and lease financing receivables: |
||||
| Loans and leases held for sale |
-0- | |||
| Loans and leases, net of unearned income |
-0- | |||
| LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses |
-0- | |||
| Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance |
-0- | |||
| Trading assets |
-0- | |||
| Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) |
10,096 | |||
| Other real estate owned |
-0- | |||
| Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies |
-0- | |||
| Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures |
-0- | |||
| Intangible assets: |
||||
| Goodwill |
134,206 | |||
| Other intangible assets |
512,404 | |||
| Other assets |
148,132 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total assets |
1,174,778 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| LIABILITIES |
||||
| Deposits: |
||||
| In domestic offices |
-0- | |||
| Noninterest-bearing |
-0- | |||
| Interest-bearing |
-0- | |||
| Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase: |
||||
| Federal funds purchased in domestic offices |
-0- | |||
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
-0- | |||
| Trading liabilities |
-0- | |||
| Other borrowed money: |
-0- | |||
| Not applicable |
||||
| Not applicable |
||||
| Subordinated notes and debentures |
-0- | |||
| Other liabilities |
182,086 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total liabilities |
182,086 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| EQUITY CAPITAL |
||||
| Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus |
0 | |||
| Common stock |
500 | |||
| Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) |
827,224 | |||
| Retained earnings |
164,968 | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income |
-0- | |||
| Other equity capital components |
-0- | |||
| Total bank equity capital |
992,692 | |||
| Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries |
-0- | |||
| Total equity capital |
992,692 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total liabilities and equity capital |
1,174,778 | |||
|
|
|
2
I, Robert G. Marshall, Assistant Controller of the above named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
|
| Robert G. Marshall |
| Assistant Controller |
3