Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-222963

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(1)(2)

5.250% Notes due 2025

  $300,000,000   106.768%   $320,304,000.00   $41,575.46

5.125% Notes due 2027

  $700,000,000   105.170%   $736,190,000.00   $95,557.46

Total

  $1,000,000,000     $1,056,494,000.00   $137,132.93

 

 

 

(1)

Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2)

This “Calculation of Registration Fee” table shall be deemed to update the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-222963) in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933.


Table of Contents

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated February 9, 2018)

$1,000,000,000

 

LOGO

Southwest Airlines Co.

$300,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2025

$700,000,000 5.125% Notes due 2027

 

 

This is an offering by Southwest Airlines Co. of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of debt securities, consisting of $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Notes due 2025 (the “2025 notes”) and $700 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Notes due 2027 (the “2027 notes” and, together with the 2025 notes, the “notes”).

The 2025 notes offered hereby are being offered as an additional issuance of our 5.250% Notes due 2025, of which we issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount on May 4, 2020, and the 2027 notes offered hereby are being offered as an additional issuance of our 5.125% Notes due 2027, of which we issued $1.3 billion aggregate principal amount on June 8, 2020. Each series of the notes offered hereby will form a single series with the initial notes of such series, will have identical terms, other than the issue date and the issue price, as the initial notes of such series, and will have the same CUSIP number as and will trade interchangeably with the initial notes of such series. We refer to both the 2025 notes offered hereby and the initial notes of that series as the “2025 notes,” and we refer to both the 2027 notes offered hereby and the initial notes of that series as the “2027 notes.”

The 2025 notes will bear interest at the rate of 5.250% per year and will mature on May 4, 2025, and the 2027 notes will bear interest at the rate of 5.125% per year and will mature on June 15, 2027. Interest on the 2025 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 4 and November 4 of each year, beginning on November 4, 2020. Interest on the 2027 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2020.

In the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event, as defined in this prospectus supplement, with respect to either series of notes, the holders of such series of notes may require us to purchase for cash all or a portion of their notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time. The redemption prices are discussed under the caption “Description of Notes—Redemption.”

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and will rank equally with all of its other unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5.

 

 

 

     Per 2025
Note
    Total 2025
Notes
     Per 2027
Note
    Total 2027
Notes
 

Public Offering Price(i)

     106.768   $ 320,304,000        105.170   $ 736,190,000  

Underwriting Discounts

     0.600   $ 1,800,000        0.625   $ 4,375,000  

Proceeds to Southwest Airlines Co. (before expenses)(i)

     106.168   $ 318,504,000        104.545   $ 731,815,000  

 

(i)

Plus accrued interest from May 4, 2020, for the 2025 notes, and plus accrued interest from June 8, 2020, for the 2027 notes.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to investors in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking S.A., and Euroclear Bank SA/NV, on July 31, 2020. See “Underwriting.”

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC    Wells Fargo Securities

Co-Managers

 

Comerica Securities        Cowen   Penserra Securities LLC

 

 

July 28, 2020


Table of Contents

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering of notes. If the information about the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the dates of the respective documents.

Unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, as used in this prospectus supplement, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Southwest Airlines Co.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
Prospectus Supplement  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     S-ii  

Summary

     S-1  

The Offering

     S-2  

Risk Factors

     S-5  

Use of Proceeds

     S-8  

Capitalization

     S-9  

Description of Notes

     S-11  

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     S-17  

Underwriting

     S-23  

Legal Matters

     S-29  

Experts

     S-29  

Where You Can Find More Information

     S-29  
Prospectus

 

About This Prospectus

     1  

Forward-Looking Statements

     1  

About Southwest Airlines Co.

     1  

Risk Factors

     2  

Use of Proceeds

     2  

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     2  

Description of Debt Securities

     3  

Description of Capital Stock

     11  

Legal Matters

     13  

Experts

     13  

Where You Can Find More Information

     13  

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     14  

 

S-i


Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are based on, and include statements about, our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, and strategies for the future, and the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, statements related to the following:

 

   

our financial and operational outlook, projections, and expectations, including underlying factors and assumptions, in particular assumptions regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the timing of The Boeing Company’s (“Boeing”) 737 MAX aircraft (the “MAX”) return to service;

 

   

our fleet and capacity plans and expectations, including underlying factors and assumptions, in particular the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand and bookings;

 

   

our expectations about future receipts pursuant to the Payroll Support Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act” and such funding support, the “Payroll Support Program Financing”);

 

   

our expectations with respect to the secured loan program under the CARES Act;

 

   

our goals and expectations with respect to our voluntary leave programs;

 

   

our plans and expectations related to the return of the MAX to service and related fleet plans and assumptions, including with respect to our fleet order book;

 

   

our operational and financial initiatives and related plans and expectations, including with respect to our global distribution systems and related alliances and capabilities;

 

   

our network plans;

 

   

our plans, expectations, and estimates related to fuel costs and our related management of risk associated with changing jet fuel prices, including the assumptions underlying the estimates;

 

   

our expectations with respect to capital expenditures, daily cash burn, and liquidity, including our ability to meet our ongoing capital, operating, and other obligations, and our anticipated needs for, and sources of, funds;

 

   

the successful completion of this offering;

 

   

our use of proceeds from this offering;

 

   

our assessment of market risks; and

 

   

our plans and expectations related to legal and regulatory proceedings.

While management believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by our forward-looking statements or from historical experience or our present expectations. Factors that could cause these differences include, among others:

 

   

the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the duration, spread, severity, and any recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic; the duration and scope of related government orders and restrictions; the duration and scope of our related self-imposed restrictions to address customer and employee health concerns; the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall demand for air travel and our related business plans and decisions; and any negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our access to capital;

 

S-ii


Table of Contents
   

the impact of economic conditions, governmental actions, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, fears of terrorism or war, actions of competitors, fuel prices, consumer perception, and other factors beyond our control, on consumer behavior and our results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results;

 

   

the impact of our obligations and restrictions related to our participation in the United States Department of the Treasury’s (the “Treasury”) Payroll Support Program, including restrictions and obligations related to our loan from, and warrants issued to, the Treasury, and the Treasury’s right pursuant to the Payroll Support Program to amend the documents or require new or additional conditions of the payroll support in ways that may be materially adverse to us;

 

   

any decision by us to obtain additional loans from the Treasury and the impact of any additional restrictions on the manner in which we operate our business;

 

   

the enactment or adoption of future laws, statutes, and regulations and interpretation or enforcement of current and future laws, statutes, and regulations that affect the terms or application of the Payroll Support Program documents and that may have a material adverse effect on us;

 

   

our dependence on Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (the “FAA”) with respect to the timing of the return of the MAX to service and any related changes to our operational and financial assumptions and decisions;

 

   

our dependence on Boeing with respect to our fleet order book and delivery schedule;

 

   

our dependence on other third parties, and the impact on our operations and results of operations of any third party delays or non-performance;

 

   

the impact of fuel price changes, fuel price volatility, volatility of commodities used by us for hedging jet fuel, and any changes to our fuel hedging strategies and positions, on our business plans and results of operations;

 

   

the impact of labor matters on our results of operations, business decisions, plans, and strategies; and

 

   

other factors as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the detailed factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which represent our views only as of the dates of the respective documents. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

S-iii


Table of Contents

SUMMARY

Southwest Airlines Co. operates Southwest Airlines, a major passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation in the United States and near-international markets. We commenced service on June 18, 1971, with three Boeing 737 aircraft serving three Texas cities: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. At June 30, 2020, we had 737 Boeing 737 aircraft in our fleet. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries.

Our financial results have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as demand for both business and leisure air travel has declined considerably. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration, spread, severity, and any recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic; the duration and scope of related government orders and restrictions; the duration and scope of our related self-imposed restrictions to address customer and employee health concerns; the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on overall demand for air travel and our related business plans and decisions; and any negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our access to capital, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

Air travel is also significantly affected by general economic conditions, the amount of disposable income available to consumers, unemployment levels, corporate travel budgets, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, fears of terrorism or war, and other factors beyond our control. These and other factors, such as the price of jet fuel in some periods, the nature of our fuel hedging program, and the periodic volatility of commodities used by us for hedging jet fuel, have created, and may continue to create, significant volatility in our financial results.

Additional information about us is included in our reports and other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”



 

S-1


Table of Contents

THE OFFERING

 

Issuer

Southwest Airlines Co., a Texas corporation.

 

Notes Offered

$300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Notes due 2025.

 

  $700 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Notes due 2027.

 

  The 2025 notes offered hereby are being offered as an additional issuance of our 2025 notes, of which we issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount on May 4, 2020, and the 2027 notes offered hereby are being offered as an additional issuance of our 2027 notes, of which we issued $1.3 billion aggregate principal amount on June 8, 2020. Each series of the notes offered hereby will form a single series with the initial notes of such series, will have identical terms, other than the issue date and the issue price, as the initial notes of such series, and will have the same CUSIP number as and will trade interchangeably with the initial notes of such series. Immediately following the issuance of the notes offered hereby, there will be $1.55 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2025 notes outstanding and $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2027 notes outstanding.

 

Maturity Dates

The 2025 notes will mature on May 4, 2025.

 

  The 2027 notes will mature on June 15, 2027.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest on the 2025 notes will be payable on May 4 and November 4 of each year, commencing November 4, 2020. Interest on the 2025 notes will accrue from May 4, 2020.

 

  Interest on the 2027 notes will be payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2020. Interest on the 2027 notes will accrue from June 8, 2020.

 

Ranking

The notes will be our direct, unsecured, and unsubordinated obligations and will rank pari passu, or equal in right of payment, with our other unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

Redemption

We may redeem the 2025 notes at our option at any time prior to April 4, 2025 (the “2025 Notes Par Call Date”), in whole or in part, at the redemption price described under “Description of Notes—Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

 

  We may redeem the 2027 notes at our option at any time prior to April 15, 2027 (the “2027 Notes Par Call Date”), in whole or in part, at the redemption price described under “Description of Notes—Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.


 

S-2


Table of Contents
  If we elect to redeem either series of the notes, in whole or in part, on or after the applicable Par Call Date, we will pay an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

 

  We are not required to establish a sinking fund to retire the notes prior to their applicable maturity.

 

Offer to Repurchase

If we experience a change of control and a ratings decline to a rating below investment grade with respect to either series of notes, within a certain period of time following the change of control, we must offer to repurchase all of the applicable series of notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such series of notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the repurchase date. See “Description of Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.”

 

Certain Covenants

The indenture governing the notes contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to engage in mergers and consolidations or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. Other than these provisions, the indenture governing the notes does not contain any provisions applicable to these notes that would afford holders of the notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. See “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Use of Proceeds

We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, repayment or redemption of unsecured indebtedness maturing in the next 12 months or other corporate obligations. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Further Issuances

We may create and issue further notes ranking equally and ratably with either series of notes offered by this prospectus supplement in all respects, so that such further notes may, but are not required to, be consolidated and form a single series with the applicable series of notes offered by this prospectus supplement and will have the same terms as to status, redemption, or otherwise as the applicable series of notes.

 

Trading

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system, and currently have a limited trading market. We can give no assurance that an active trading market for either series of notes will develop or be maintained.

 

Form and Denomination

The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Initially, each series of the notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more permanent global certificates deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Beneficial interests in any of the notes



 

S-3


Table of Contents
 

will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances.

 

Trustee, Registrar, and Paying Agent

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

Risk Factors

In evaluating an investment in the notes, prospective investors should carefully consider, along with the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the specific factors set forth under “Risk Factors” for risks involved with an investment in the notes.


 

S-4


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the notes involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the information and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering before you make a decision to invest in the notes. If any of the following events actually occurs, our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of the notes to decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to the Notes

The notes are subject to prior claims of secured creditors, and if a default occurs we may not have sufficient funds to fulfill our obligations under the notes.

The notes are our general unsecured obligations, ranking equally with our other senior unsecured indebtedness and liabilities but effectively ranking below our secured indebtedness and structurally ranking below any debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. As of July 24, 2020 we had $1.1 billion of outstanding secured indebtedness; however, we have the capacity to borrow $1.0 billion under our revolving credit facility agreement expiring in August 2022 (the “Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement”), which is secured. In addition, the Company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with the Treasury, effective in June 2020, pursuant to which the Company may choose to enter into another secured loan with an estimated principal amount of up to approximately $2.8 billion. We have not yet determined if we will ultimately participate in this secured loan. The indenture governing the notes permits us and our subsidiaries to incur additional secured debt. If we incur any additional secured debt, our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries that are security for that debt will be subject to prior claims by our secured creditors. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, or other winding up, assets that secure debt will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after all debt secured by those assets has been repaid in full. Holders of the notes will participate in our remaining assets ratably with all of our unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, including our trade creditors.

If we incur any additional obligations that rank equally with the notes, including trade payables, the holders of those obligations will be entitled to share ratably with the holders of the notes in any proceeds distributed upon our insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, or other winding up. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. If there are not sufficient assets remaining to pay all of these creditors, all or a portion of the notes then outstanding would remain unpaid.

The limited covenants in the indenture governing the notes, and the terms of the notes, do not contain financial covenants and provide only limited protection against some types of important corporate events and may not protect your investment.

The indenture governing the notes does not:

 

   

require us to maintain any financial ratios or specific levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity and, accordingly, does not protect holders of the notes in the event that we experience significant adverse changes in our financial condition or results of operations;

 

   

limit our ability to incur any amount or type of indebtedness, including secured indebtedness that would rank effectively senior to the notes to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness;

 

   

limit our ability to engage in sale-leaseback transactions;

 

S-5


Table of Contents
   

limit our ability to incur indebtedness that is equal in right of payment to the notes;

 

   

restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to issue securities or otherwise incur indebtedness that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore would be structurally senior to the notes;

 

   

restrict our ability to repurchase or prepay our securities; or

 

   

restrict our ability to make investments or to repurchase securities or pay dividends or make other payments in respect of our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the notes.

Furthermore, the indenture governing the notes contains only limited protections in the event of a change in control. We could engage in many types of transactions, such as certain acquisitions, refinancings, or recapitalizations, that could substantially affect our capital structure and the value of the notes. For these reasons, you should not consider the covenants in the indenture as a significant factor in evaluating whether to invest in the notes.

Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt.

As of June 30, 2020, after giving effect to the issuance of the notes and the fourth and final disbursement from the Treasury under the Payroll Support Program Financing expected on or before July 31, 2020, on an as adjusted basis as set forth under “Capitalization” below, we would have had approximately $10.7 billion of indebtedness outstanding. Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, or to make cash payments in connection with any conversions of our 1.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Convertible Notes”), depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations, including the notes.

To the extent we would be required to repurchase the notes of either series upon a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to that series, we may not have sufficient cash at such time to repurchase all the applicable notes plus all other outstanding series of our notes subject to a repurchase obligation upon a Change of Control Triggering Event or similar event.

Each series of notes that we are offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement requires us to repurchase all or any part of each holder’s notes of such series upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, as defined herein, with respect to each series of notes. We have issued, and may in the future issue, new series of notes and enter into additional debt instruments that require us to repurchase or repay the principal amount of debt outstanding (plus, in certain circumstances, a premium) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event or similar event. If such an event were to occur, we may not have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy all of those obligations. Consequently, we may not be able to satisfy our obligations to repurchase your notes upon the terms of the indenture.

The ratings of the notes could be lowered or withdrawn in the future.

The 2025 notes and the 2027 notes are each currently rated by certain rating agencies. A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, hold, or sell debt securities since a rating does not predict the market price of a particular security or its suitability for a particular investor. Any rating agency that rates the notes may lower our rating or decide not to rate the notes in its sole discretion. The ratings of each series of notes are or will be based

 

S-6


Table of Contents

primarily on the rating agency’s assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of interest when due and the payment of principal on the applicable maturity date. Any downgrade or withdrawal of a rating by a rating agency that rates either series of notes could have an adverse effect on the trading prices or liquidity of such notes.

An active trading market for the notes of either series may not develop.

There is a limited trading market for each of the 2025 notes and the 2027 notes, and we do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the notes of either series will ever develop or will be maintained. Further, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for either series of the notes, your ability to sell your notes, or the price at which you will be able to sell your notes. Future trading prices of each series of the notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, our financial condition and results of operations, the then-current ratings assigned to such notes, and the market for similar debt securities.

Any trading market that develops for either series of the notes would be affected by many factors independent of, and in addition to, the foregoing, including:

 

   

the time remaining to the maturity of the applicable series of notes;

 

   

the outstanding amount of the applicable series of notes;

 

   

the terms related to optional redemption of the applicable series of notes; and

 

   

the level, direction, and volatility of market interest rates generally.

The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the notes of each series, but they are not obligated to do so and may cease market-making at any time in their sole discretion without notice.

 

S-7


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $1.0 billion, after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding accrued interest. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, repayment or redemption of unsecured indebtedness maturing in the next 12 months or other corporate obligations.

We have not fully determined the specific amounts we plan to spend on any of the particular uses listed above or the timing of these expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds from this offering, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds.

 

S-8


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated capitalization at June 30, 2020:

 

   

on an actual basis, and

 

   

as adjusted for (i) the fourth and final disbursement from Treasury under the Payroll Support Program Financing expected on or before July 31, 2020, as described further below; and (ii) completion of this offering. See “Use of Proceeds.”

You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

     Actual     As Adjusted  
     (In millions)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 12,351     $ 13,733 (2) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt (including current maturities of long-term debt):

    

Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement(1)

   $ —       $ —    

2.65% Notes due 2020

     500       500  

2.75% Notes due 2022

     300       300  

Pass Through Certificates due 2022—6.24%

     168       168  

4.750% Notes due 2023

     1,250       1,250  

1.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025

     2,300       2,300  

Term Loan Agreement payable through 2026—1.99%

     169       169  

3.00% Notes due 2026

     300       300  

3.45% Notes due 2027

     300       300  

7.375% Debentures due 2027

     121       121  

Term Loan Agreements payable through 2028—1.71%

     196       196  

2.625% Notes due 2030

     500       500  

1.000% Payroll Support Program Loan due 2030(2)

     850       948  

Finance Leases

     585       585  

5.250% Notes due 2025 (including additional 2025 notes offered hereby)

     1,250       1,550  

5.125% Notes due 2027 (including additional 2027 notes offered hereby)

     1,300       2,000  

Debt discount and issue costs, other

     (489     (442
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt

   $ 9,600     $ 10,745  

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $1.00 par value; authorized—2,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding—589,733,196 shares, actual and as adjusted

   $ 888     $ 888  

Capital in excess of par value

     4,159       4,159  

Retained earnings

     16,842       16,842  

Treasury stock, at cost

     (10,881     (10,881

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (130     (130
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     10,878       10,878  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 20,478     $ 21,623  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Our Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement currently provides for up to $1 billion in borrowings. As of June 30, 2020 and July 24, 2020, there were no outstanding borrowings under this facility.

(2)

As part of the Payroll Support Program Financing, on April 21, 2020, we received our first disbursement under the program and issued a promissory note in favor of the Treasury at an initial amount of $458.9 million. On May 29, 2020, we received our second disbursement under the program and the amount

 

S-9


Table of Contents
  of the promissory note was increased to $654.4 million, and on June 30, 2020, we received our third disbursement under the program and the amount of the promissory note was increased to $850.0 million. We expect to receive the fourth and final disbursement under the Payroll Support Program in the amount of $325.9 million and the amount of the promissory note to increase to $947.8 million on or before July 31, 2020. The promissory note matures in full on April 19, 2030, and is subject to mandatory prepayment requirements in connection with certain change of control triggering events that may occur prior to its maturity. We have an option to prepay the promissory note at any time without premium or penalty. Amounts outstanding under the promissory note bear interest at a rate of 1.00% before April 20, 2025 and, afterwards, at a rate equal to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) or other benchmark replacement rate consistent with customary market conventions plus margin of 2.00%.

 

S-10


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

We will issue the 2025 notes and the 2027 notes each as a separate series of debt securities under the indenture referred to in the accompanying prospectus between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The 2025 notes offered hereby are being offered as an additional issuance of our 5.250% Notes due 2025, of which we issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount on May 4, 2020, and the 2027 notes offered hereby are being offered as an additional issuance of our 5.125% Notes due 2027, of which we issued $1.3 billion aggregate principal amount on June 8, 2020. Each series of the notes offered hereby will form a single series with the initial notes of such series, will have identical terms, other than the issue date and the issue price, as the initial notes of such series, and will have the same CUSIP number as and will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the initial notes of such series. The following description, together with the description in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities,” is a summary of the material provisions of each series of notes and the indenture. It does not restate the indenture in its entirety. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the applicable series of notes. We have filed the indenture as an exhibit to our registration statement, which includes the accompanying prospectus. This description of the notes supplements, and, to the extent it is inconsistent with, replaces, the description of the general provisions of the notes and the indenture in the accompanying prospectus.

With certain exceptions and pursuant to certain requirements set forth in the indenture, we may discharge our obligations under the indenture with respect to the notes of either series as described under the captions “Description of Debt Securities—Defeasance” and “Description of Debt Securities—Satisfaction and Discharge” in the accompanying prospectus.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

The 2025 notes will mature on May 4, 2025 and the 2027 notes will mature on June 15, 2027. The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations. We are issuing $300 million aggregate principal amount of 2025 notes in this offering, which will become part of the same series as the $1.25 billion initial 2025 notes issued on May 4, 2020, and we are issuing $700 million aggregate principal amount of 2027 notes in this offering, which will become part of the same series as the $1.3 billion initial 2027 notes issued on June 8, 2020. We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, increase the principal amount of either series of notes under the indenture and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof), in which case any additional notes of such series so issued will have the same form and terms (other than the date of issuance and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue), and will carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest, as the applicable series of notes previously issued, and such additional notes will form a single series with the notes of such series previously issued.

The 2025 notes will bear interest at the rate of 5.250% per year, accruing from May 4, 2020. Interest on the 2025 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 4 and November 4, commencing November 4, 2020. We will make each interest payment on the 2025 notes to the persons in whose name the notes are registered at the close of business on the relevant April 19 and October 20 preceding the applicable interest payment date.

The 2027 notes will bear interest at the rate of 5.125% per year, accruing from June 8, 2020. Interest on the 2027 notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 15 and December 15, commencing December 15, 2020. We will make each interest payment on the 2027 notes to the persons in whose name the notes are registered at the close of business on the relevant June 1 and December 1 preceding the applicable interest payment date.

Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If any interest payment date, redemption date, or maturity date of a particular series of notes falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day with the same force and effect as if made

 

S-11


Table of Contents

on the relevant interest payment date, redemption date, or maturity date, and, unless we default on the payment, no interest will accrue for the period from and after the interest payment date, redemption date, or maturity date on the applicable series of notes. “Business day” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in Dallas, Texas, are authorized or obligated to close.

Initially, the notes will be issued in global form as indicated under “—Book-Entry, Delivery, and Form” below. We may make payments on any notes that are later issued in certificated form at the corporate trust office of the trustee, which is currently located at 600 South 4th Street, 6th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

Redemption

We will have the right to redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time at the redemption price set forth below. If either series of the notes are redeemed at any time prior to the applicable Par Call Date (as defined below), such notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such notes that would have been made if the notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date (exclusive of interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to such redemption date. If either series of the notes are redeemed on or after the applicable Par Call Date, such notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date. In each case, the redemption is subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or before the date of redemption.

For purposes of determining the redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

“2025 Notes Par Call Date” means April 4, 2025.

“2027 Notes Par Call Date” means April 15, 2027.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the series of the notes to be redeemed, calculated as if the maturity date of such notes were the applicable Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”), that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Remaining Life.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.

“Par Call Date” means each of the 2025 Notes Par Call Date and the 2027 Notes Par Call Date.

“Quotation Agent” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us and the trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

S-12


Table of Contents

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated yield (on a day count basis) of the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated by the Quotation Agent on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

Any such redemption may, at our discretion, be conditioned upon (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) the closing of another transaction, including a sale of securities or other financing, in each case as specified in the notice in reasonable detail. A notice of conditional redemption will be of no effect unless all conditions to the redemption have occurred on or before the redemption date or have been waived by us on or before the redemption date. We will provide notice of the satisfaction of all conditions as soon as practicable following occurrence of the conditions. We will provide notice of any waiver of a condition or failure to meet such conditions no later than the redemption date.

There will be no sinking fund for the notes.

Redemption Procedures

We will provide not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice sent to each registered holder of the notes to be redeemed. If the redemption notice is given and funds deposited as required, then interest will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date on the notes or portions of such notes called for redemption.

If fewer than all of the notes of either series are to be redeemed at any time, selection of notes for redemption will be made by the trustee in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair (or, in the case of notes issued in global form, by such other method as The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) may require); provided, however, that the notes will be redeemed only in the minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples thereof of $1,000.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to either series of the notes, unless we have otherwise exercised our right to redeem the notes of such series, each holder of notes of such series will have the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of such holder’s notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of holders of notes of such series on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to either series of the notes, or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, unless we have otherwise exercised our right to redeem the notes of such series, we will be required to deliver a notice to each holder of such notes, with a copy to the trustee, which notice will govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice will state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent, other than as may be required by law (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice, if sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders electing to have their notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer must surrender their notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such note completed, to the paying agent at the address specified in the notice, or transfer their notes to the paying agent by book-entry transfer pursuant to the applicable procedures of DTC, before the close of business on the third business day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

S-13


Table of Contents

We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer with respect to the 2025 notes or the 2027 notes if a third party makes such an offer for such series in the manner, at the times, and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

If holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series validly tender and do not withdraw their notes in a Change of Control Offer and we, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of us, purchases all of the notes of such series validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, we will have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all notes of such series that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date).

We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes of either series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of either series of the notes, we will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the 2025 notes or the 2027 notes, as applicable, by virtue of any such conflict.

Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control Triggering Event, the indenture does not and the notes will not contain any other provisions that permit the holders of either series of the notes to require us to repurchase or redeem the notes of such series in the event of a takeover, recapitalization, or similar transaction.

As used herein:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means, with respect to a series of notes, the rating on the notes of such series is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and the notes of such series are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any day within the 60-day period (which 60-day period will be extended if, and so long as, the rating of the notes of such series is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade to below Investment Grade by all Rating Agencies that have not lowered the rating on the notes of such series to below Investment Grade, but in any event not beyond the 60th day following the occurrence of the Change of Control) after the earlier of (1) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (2) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or our intention to effect a Change of Control; provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform us and the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

 

S-14


Table of Contents

“Change of Control” means the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than us or our subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which our Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged, or changed measured by voting power rather than number of shares, other than any such transaction where:

(a)    our outstanding Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged, or changed for other Voting Stock of ours or for Voting Stock of the surviving corporation, and

(b)    the holders of our Voting Stock immediately before that transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of our Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of the surviving parent corporation immediately after such transaction and in substantially the same proportion as their ownership in us before the transaction.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means, with respect to each series of notes, the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event with respect to such series.

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

“Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Fitch); a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s); and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P, and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s, or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our board of directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s, or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

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

“Voting Stock” of any specified person as of any date means the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Ranking

The notes will be our direct, unsecured, and unsubordinated obligations. The notes will rank pari passu, or equal in right of payment, with all of our other unsubordinated indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of our future subordinated debt. The indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that we may issue under it.

Denominations

The notes will be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples thereof of $1,000.

No Listing

We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.

 

S-15


Table of Contents

Book-Entry, Delivery, and Form

The notes of each series will be issued initially in the form of a global security registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, or through the accounts that Clearstream Banking S.A., or Euroclear Bank SA/NV, maintains as a participant in DTC, as described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus. Beneficial interests in any of the notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances, as described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters of the notes), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of which (and/or their representatives) own interests in DTC. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

Settlement for each series of notes will be made in same-day funds. We will make all payments of principal and interest on any notes held by DTC in immediately available funds. To the extent any notes are held by DTC, DTC will require secondary trading activity in the notes to be settled in immediately available funds.

Governing Law

The indenture provides that it and the notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas.

 

S-16


Table of Contents

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the notes. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority, and administrative interpretations, all as of the date of this document, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or are subject to different interpretations. We cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described in this discussion, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, or disposing of the notes.

The 2025 notes offered hereby will be issued as an additional issue of our 5.250% Notes due 2025 (the “Existing 2025 Notes”), and the 2027 notes offered hereby will be issued as an additional issue of our 5.125% Notes due 2027 (the “Existing 2027 Notes”). We intend, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the following discussion assumes, that the 2025 notes offered hereby will be treated as part of the same issue as the Existing 2025 Notes and will have the same issue date and the same issue price as the Existing 2025 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and that that the 2027 notes offered hereby will be treated as part of the same issue as the Existing 2027 Notes and will have the same issue date and the same issue price as the Existing 2027 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes

This discussion is limited to holders who purchase the notes offered hereby in this offering for cash at the price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement and hold the notes as capital assets (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address any U.S. federal tax considerations other than U.S. federal income tax considerations (such as estate and gift tax considerations), or the tax considerations arising under the laws of any foreign, state, local, or other jurisdiction or any income tax treaty. In addition, this discussion does not address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular holder in light of the holder’s circumstances, or to certain categories of investors that may be subject to special rules, such as:

 

   

dealers in securities or currencies;

 

   

traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities;

 

   

U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

U.S. holders who hold notes through non-U.S. brokers or other non-U.S. intermediaries;

 

   

persons holding notes as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion, or other “synthetic security” or integrated transaction;

 

   

former U.S. citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

banks or other financial institutions;

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

regulated investment companies;

 

   

real estate investment trusts;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

entities that are tax-exempt for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to the notes as a result of such income being recognized on an “applicable financial statement” (within the meaning of Section 451(b) of the Code); and

 

   

partnerships and other entities treated as pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and holders of interests therein.

 

S-17


Table of Contents

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner of the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership and upon certain determinations made at the partner level. Partnerships considering an investment in the notes and partners therein should consult their own tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes.

INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF NOTES ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP, AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES UNDER OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Certain Additional Payments

In certain circumstances (see “Description of Notes—Redemption” and “Description of Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event”), we may be obligated to pay amounts on the notes that are in excess of stated interest or principal on the notes. These potential payments may implicate the provisions of the U.S. Treasury regulations relating to “contingent payment debt instruments.” We do not intend to treat the possibility of paying such additional amounts as causing the notes to be treated as contingent payment debt instruments. Our position is binding on a holder unless such holder discloses its contrary position in the manner required by applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. However, our position is not binding on the IRS, and it is possible that the IRS may take a different position, in which case, if the IRS’s position is sustained, a holder might be required to accrue ordinary interest income at a higher rate than the stated interest rate and to treat as ordinary income rather than capital gain any gain recognized on a taxable disposition of a note. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the possible application of the contingent payment debt instrument rules to the notes.

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

The following summary will apply to you if you are a U.S. holder of the notes. You are a “U.S. holder” for purposes of this discussion if you are a beneficial owner of a note and you are for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

an individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that was created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (i) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and that has one or more United States persons that have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) that has made a valid election under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

Interest on the Notes

Interest on the notes (other than pre-issuance accrued interest on the notes offered hereby, as described below) generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued in accordance with your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

S-18


Table of Contents

Pre-Issuance Accrued Interest

A portion of the purchase price of the 2025 notes offered hereby is attributable to the amount of interest accrued for the period from May 4, 2020 until the date of issuance, and a portion of the purchase price of the 2027 notes offered hereby is attributable to the amount of interest for the period from June 8, 2020 until the date of issuance (collectively, the “pre-issuance accrued interest”). A U.S. holder may treat the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having been purchased for a price that does not include any pre-issuance accrued interest. Based on this treatment, the portion of the first stated interest payment equal to the pre-issuance accrued interest will be treated as a non-taxable return of such pre-issuance accrued interest and, accordingly, will not be taxable as interest on either series of notes offered hereby.

Amortizable Bond Premium

If a U.S. holder’s purchase price for a note offered hereby (excluding any amount of pre-issuance accrued interest) exceeds such note’s stated principal amount, such U.S. holder will be treated as having purchased such note with “amortizable bond premium” equal in amount to such excess. A U.S. holder generally may elect to amortize such bond premium using a constant yield method over the remaining term of such note offered hereby and may offset interest income otherwise required to be included in respect of such note during any taxable year by the amortized amount of such excess for the taxable year. However, because the notes may be redeemed by us prior to maturity at a premium, special rules apply that may reduce or eliminate the amount of bond premium that such U.S. holder may amortize with respect to the notes offered hereby. If a U.S. holder elects to amortize any bond premium on the notes offered hereby, such U.S. holder must reduce its adjusted tax basis in such notes by the amount of the bond premium amortized in any year. An election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable debt instruments having bond premium then owned and thereafter acquired by the U.S. holder and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. If a U.S. holder does not elect to amortize bond premium, that premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss such U.S. holder would otherwise recognize on a disposition of the notes offered hereby. A U.S. holder should consult its tax advisor about the advisability and effects of making such an election and any special rules that may apply as a result of our right to redeem the notes prior to maturity.

Disposition of the Notes

You generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, redemption, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of a note equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized on such disposition and your adjusted tax basis in the note. The amount realized will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any other property received for the note. To the extent that any portion of the amount realized on a sale, redemption, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of a note is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the note (other than pre-issuance accrued interest), this amount generally will not be included in the “amount realized” but will instead be treated in the same manner as described above in “—Interest on the Notes.” Your adjusted tax basis in the note will generally equal the amount you paid for the note (other than with respect to any pre-issuance accrued interest), decreased by the amount of any amortizable bond premium previously amortized. Any gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the note for more than one year at the time of the sale, redemption, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition. Long-term capital gains of individuals, estates, and trusts currently are eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax. The deductibility of capital losses may be subject to limitation.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest on, and the proceeds of the sale or other disposition (including a redemption, exchange, or retirement) of, notes held by you, and backup withholding will apply to such payments unless you provide to the applicable withholding agent your taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as well as certain other information or otherwise establish an

 

S-19


Table of Contents

exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and a refund may be obtained from the IRS if the amounts withheld exceed your actual U.S. federal income tax liability and you timely provide the required information or appropriate claim form to the IRS.

Additional Tax on Net Investment Income

An additional 3.8% tax is imposed on the “net investment income” of certain U.S. citizens and U.S. residents, and on the undistributed “net investment income” of certain estates and trusts. Among other items, “net investment income” generally includes gross income from interest and net gain from the disposition of property, such as the notes, less certain deductions. You should consult your tax advisor with respect to this additional tax and its applicability in your particular circumstances.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

The following summary will apply to you if you are a non-U.S. holder of notes. You are a “non-U.S. holder” for purposes of this discussion if you are a beneficial owner of notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an individual, corporation, estate, or trust that is not a U.S. holder.

Interest on the Notes

Subject to the discussion below of backup withholding and FATCA withholding, payments to you of interest on the notes (including for this purpose any pre-issuance accrued interest) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax and will be exempt from withholding of U.S. federal income tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption if you properly certify as to your foreign status, as described below, and:

 

   

you do not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

   

you are not a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related to us (actually or constructively);

 

   

you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on the notes is in connection with an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of your trade or business; and

 

   

interest on the notes is not effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

The portfolio interest exemption generally applies only if you also appropriately certify as to your foreign status. You can generally meet the certification requirement by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) to the applicable withholding agent. If you hold the notes through a financial institution or other agent acting on your behalf, you may be required to provide appropriate certifications to the agent. Your agent will then generally be required to provide appropriate certifications to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. Special rules apply to foreign partnerships, estates, and trusts, and in certain circumstances certifications as to the foreign status of partners, trust owners, or beneficiaries may have to be provided to the applicable withholding agent. In addition, special rules apply to qualified intermediaries that enter into withholding agreements with the IRS.

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, unless (i) you provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) claiming an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty, or (ii) the payments of such interest are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States and you meet the certification requirements described below. (See “ —Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business.”)

 

S-20


Table of Contents

The certifications described above and below must be provided to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment of interest and must be updated periodically. If you do not timely provide the applicable withholding agent with the required certification, but you qualify for an exemption or a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty, you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld if you timely provide the required information or appropriate claim form to the IRS.

Disposition of the Notes

Subject to the discussion below of backup withholding, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on the sale, redemption, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of a note unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by you of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, you maintain a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States to which such gain is attributable); or

 

   

you are an individual who has been present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other requirements are met.

If your gain is described in the first bullet point above, you generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the manner described under “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business.” If you are a non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above, you will be subject to a flat 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) U.S. federal income tax on the gain derived from the sale or other disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses. To the extent that any portion of the amount realized on a sale, redemption, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of a note is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the note, this amount generally will be treated in the same manner as described above in “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Interest on the Notes.”

Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business

If any interest on the notes (excluding any pre-issuance accrued interest) or gain from the sale, redemption, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of the notes is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by you then, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise, the interest income or gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular graduated income tax rates generally in the same manner as if you were a U.S. holder. Effectively connected interest income will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax if you satisfy certain certification requirements by providing to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form). In addition, if you are a corporation, that portion of your earnings and profits that is effectively connected with your U.S. trade or business may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate. For this purpose, interest received on a note and gain recognized on the disposition of a note will be included in earnings and profits if the interest or gain is effectively connected with the conduct by you of a U.S. trade or business.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments to you of interest on a note, and amounts withheld from such payments, if any, generally will be required to be reported to the IRS and to you. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which you reside or are established under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.

Backup withholding generally will not apply to payments to you of interest on a note if the certification described in “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Interest on the Notes” is duly provided or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

S-21


Table of Contents

Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of a note effected by the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting requirements and backup withholding unless you properly certify under penalties of perjury as to your foreign status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or other applicable or successor form) and certain other conditions are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Information reporting requirements and backup withholding generally will not apply to any payment of the proceeds from the disposition of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a broker. However, unless such a broker has documentary evidence in its records that you are not a United States person and certain other conditions are met, or you otherwise establish an exemption, information reporting will apply to a payment of the proceeds of the disposition of a note effected outside the United States by such a broker if it has certain relationships with the United States.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and a refund may be obtained from the IRS if the amounts withheld exceed your actual U.S. federal income tax liability and you timely provide the required information or appropriate claim form to the IRS.

Withholding on Payments to Certain Foreign Entities

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (referred to as “FATCA”) impose a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on “withholdable payments” (as defined in the Code), including payments of interest on the notes, if paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code) (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary), unless: (i) in the case of a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments, and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners); (ii) in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying its direct and indirect substantial United States owners (generally by providing an IRS Form W-8BEN-E); or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules and provides appropriate documentation (such as an IRS Form W-8BEN-E). While withholdable payments would have originally included payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note on or after January 1, 2019, proposed U.S. Treasury regulations provide that such payments of gross proceeds (other than amounts treated as interest) do not constitute withholdable payments. Taxpayers may rely generally on these proposed U.S. Treasury regulations until they are revoked or final U.S. Treasury regulations are issued.

Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States with respect to these rules may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a beneficial owner of notes might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the effects of FATCA on your investment in the notes.

THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIRING, OWNING, AND DISPOSING OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAWS.

 

S-22


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below, for whom Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors are acting as representatives, has agreed severally and not jointly to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the aggregate principal amount of notes of each series set forth opposite that underwriter’s name in the following table:

 

Underwriters

   Principal
Amount of
2025 Notes
     Principal
Amount of
2027 Notes
 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   $ 142,500,000      $ 332,500,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     142,500,000        332,500,000  

Comerica Securities, Inc.

     5,000,000        11,667,000  

Cowen and Company, LLC

     5,000,000        11,667,000  

Penserra Securities LLC

     5,000,000        11,666,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 300,000,000      $ 700,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters severally and not jointly, to purchase the notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters have reserved the right to withdraw, cancel, or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the notes if they purchase any of the notes. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering of the notes may be terminated.

The underwriters propose to offer the notes directly to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement or to certain dealers at the public offering prices less a concession not to exceed 0.360% of the principal amount of the 2025 notes and 0.375% of the principal amount of the 2027 notes. The underwriters may allow, and any such dealer may reallow, a concession not to exceed 0.200% of the principal amount of the 2025 notes and 0.250% of the principal amount of the 2027 notes. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the representatives may change the public offering prices and other selling terms.

We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, other than the underwriting discounts, will be approximately $2.6 million.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing, and brokerage activities. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, acts as trustee under the indenture, dated September 17, 2004, between us and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates perform, and may perform in the future, various financial advisory, investment banking, and commercial banking services from time to time for us and our affiliates, for which they receive, or will receive, customary fees and expense reimbursement. The underwriters and their affiliates also may be lenders under our Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, and certain of the underwriters and their affiliates are lenders under term loans to which we are party or which we guarantee.

In connection with the issuance of the notes, we may enter into interest rate swap agreements with financial institutions, which may include one or more of the underwriters or their respective affiliates. In addition, in the

 

S-23


Table of Contents

ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

There is a limited trading market for each of the 2025 notes and the 2027 notes. We have not applied and do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or to arrange for the notes to be quoted on any quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in each series of the notes. However, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making in the notes of either series at any time in their sole discretion. Therefore, we cannot assure you that liquid trading markets for either series of the notes will develop, that you will be able to sell your notes at a particular time, or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable.

We expect to deliver the notes against payment for the notes on or about the date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the third business day following the date of the pricing of the notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the second business day before the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering, the underwriters are permitted to engage in transactions that stabilize the market price of the notes. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases to peg, fix, or maintain the price of the notes. If the underwriters create a short position in the notes in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more notes than are on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing the notes in the open market. Purchases of a security to stabilize the price or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Sales Outside the United States

European Economic Area and the United Kingdom

Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (the “UK”) (each, a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so with respect to Qualified Investors. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

 

S-24


Table of Contents

PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA AND UK RETAIL INVESTORS—The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the UK. For these purposes, (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and (b) the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the UK may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the notes in the United Kingdom.

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant person.

Switzerland

This document is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes described herein. The notes may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated trading facility in Switzerland, and neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, nor the Company nor the notes have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. The notes are not subject to the supervision by any Swiss regulatory authority, e.g., the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and investors in the notes will not benefit from protection or supervision by such authority.

Canada

The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

S-25


Table of Contents

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

The notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation, or document relating to the notes has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issuance, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (SFA), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

  (a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

  (b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

  (i)

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i) (B) of the SFA;

 

  (ii)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

S-26


Table of Contents
  (iii)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

  (iv)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

  (v)

as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification—Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and “Excluded Investment Products” (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”) and each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to, or for the account or benefit of, others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

People’s Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)

The notes are not being offered or sold and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC (for such purposes, not including the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions or Taiwan), except as permitted by all relevant laws and regulations of the PRC.

This prospectus supplement (i) has not been filed with or approved by the PRC authorities and (ii) does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any notes in the PRC to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer of solicitation in the PRC.

The notes may not be offered, sold or delivered, or offered, sold or delivered to any person for reoffering or resale or redelivery, in any such case directly or indirectly (i) by means of any advertisement, invitation, document or activity which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in the PRC, or (ii) to any person within the PRC, other than in full compliance with the relevant laws and regulations of the PRC.

Dubai     

This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The notes to which this prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the notes offered should conduct their own due diligence on the notes. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

 

S-27


Table of Contents

Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document (including as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Corporations Act”)) has been or will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) or any other governmental agency, in relation to the offering. This document does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document for the purposes of Corporations Act, and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act. No action has been taken which would permit an offering of the notes in circumstances that would require disclosure under Parts 6D.2 or 7.9 of the Corporations Act.

The notes may not be offered for sale, nor may application for the sale or purchase or any notes be invited in Australia (including an offer or invitation which is received by a person in Australia) and neither this document nor any other offering material or advertisement relating to the notes may be distributed or published in Australia unless, in each case:

(a) the aggregate consideration payable on acceptance of the offer or invitation by each offeree or invitee is at least A$500,000 (or its equivalent in another currency, in either case, disregarding moneys lent by the person offering the notes or making the invitation or its associates) or the offer or invitation otherwise does not require disclosure to investors in accordance with Part 6D.2 or 7.9 of the Corporations Act;

(b) the offer, invitation or distribution complied with the conditions of the Australian financial services license of the person making the offer, invitation or distribution or an applicable exemption from the requirement to hold such license;

(c) the offer, invitation or distribution complies with all applicable Australian laws, regulations and directives (including, without limitation, the licensing requirements set out in Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act);

(d) the offer or invitation does not constitute an offer or invitation to a person in Australia who is a “retail client” as defined for the purposes of Section 761G of the Corporations Act; and

(e) such action does not require any document to be lodged with ASIC or the ASX.

This prospectus supplement contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

 

S-28


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Vinson  & Elkins L.L.P., Dallas, Texas, and for the underwriters by Sidley Austin LLP, Houston, Texas.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Southwest Airlines Co. appearing in Southwest Airlines Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines Co.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and Southwest Airlines Co. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov and through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common stock is listed.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information as well as the information included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K) until we sell all the notes offered hereby.

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December  31, 2019; including those portions of our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 9, 2020 that are specifically incorporated by reference into such Annual Report on Form 10-K;

 

   

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31 , 2020 and June 30, 2020; and

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 10, 2020, March  16, 2020, April  2, 2020, April  21, 2020, May  1, 2020, May  4, 2020, May  26, 2020, June  1, 2020, June  8, 2020, June  17, 2020, and June 30, 2020.

We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website, www.southwest.com, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information contained on our Internet website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

S-29


Table of Contents

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Southwest Airlines Co. c/o Investor Relations

P. O. Box 36611, HDQ-6IR

2702 Love Field Drive

Dallas, Texas 75235

(214) 792-4908

 

S-30


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

Southwest Airlines Co.

DEBT SECURITIES

and

COMMON STOCK

 

 

We may offer and sell our unsecured debt securities and shares of our common stock from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

We will provide specific terms of these securities and the manner in which we will sell them in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LUV.”

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISK FACTORS THAT ARE REFERENCED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 2 OF THIS PROSPECTUS BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES.

 

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED THAT THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this prospectus is February 9, 2018.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Forward-Looking Statements

     1  

About Southwest Airlines Co.

     1  

Risk Factors

     2  

Use of Proceeds

     2  

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     2  

Description of Debt Securities

     3  

Description of Capital Stock

     11  

Legal Matters

     13  

Experts

     13  

Where You Can Find More Information

     13  

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     14  

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We are offering to sell the securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or any sale of the securities.

 

i


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer the securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the securities being offered at that time. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. In this prospectus, “Southwest,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “company” each refers to Southwest Airlines Co. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

To the extent information in this prospectus is inconsistent with information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement delivered with this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference may contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on, and include statements about, Southwest’s estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions and strategies for the future, and the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “plan,” “goal” and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by Southwest’s forward-looking statements or from historical experience or Southwest’s present expectations. Known material risk factors that could cause these differences are set forth in our filings with the SEC that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference or that are stated in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on the company’s forward-looking statements, which represent the company’s views only as of the dates of the respective documents. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

Southwest Airlines Co. operates Southwest Airlines, a major passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation in the United States and selected near-international markets. Our principal executive offices are located at P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, Texas 75235, and our telephone number is (214) 792-4000. We maintain a website on the Internet at http://www.southwest.com. Information that you may find on this website is not part of this prospectus.

Additional information about us is included in our reports and other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

 

1


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves risks. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and those that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the cautionary notes regarding forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference.

If any of these risks were to materialize, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In that case, our ability to pay interest on, or the principal of, any debt securities may be reduced, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from any offering of the securities for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a specific issuance of securities. Such general corporate purposes may include, among other possible uses, the repayment of short-term or long-term indebtedness and capital expenditures.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

Year Ended December 31,  
2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
  9.07       9.62       9.60       5.37       3.92  

Earnings represent:

 

   

Income before income taxes, excluding the cumulative effect of accounting changes; plus

 

   

Fixed charges, excluding capitalized interest.

Fixed charges include:

 

   

Interest, whether expensed or capitalized; and

 

   

A portion of rental expense. Our management believes this is representative of the interest factor in those periods.

 

2


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We will issue the debt securities under the indenture, dated September 17, 2004, between us and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., which acts as trustee. We may issue as many distinct series of debt securities under the indenture as we wish.

The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described later in this section under “Default and Related Matters — Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.” Second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending you interest payments, transferring your debt securities to a new buyer if you sell, and sending you notices.

The indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indenture and the debt securities are governed by Texas law. A copy of the indenture may be obtained from us as described below under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that we expect will be common to all series, although the prospectus supplement which describes the terms of each series of debt securities may also describe differences with the material terms summarized here.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. In this summary, we describe the meaning for only the more important terms. You must look to the indenture for the most complete description of what is described in summary form in this prospectus.

This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus. There may also be a further prospectus supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which contains the precise terms of debt securities you are offered.

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which will be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement relating to the original issue discount securities will describe federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities are described in the prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

 

   

the title of the series of debt securities;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities;

 

   

the person to whom interest on a debt security is payable, if other than the holder on the regular record date;

 

   

the date or dates on which the series of debt securities will mature;

 

   

the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, per annum at which the series of debt securities will bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which that interest, if any, will accrue;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the debt securities are payable;

 

3


Table of Contents
   

the dates on which interest, if any, on the series of debt securities will be payable and the regular record dates for the interest payment dates;

 

   

any mandatory or optional sinking funds or similar provisions;

 

   

the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the series of debt securities may, in accordance with any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed and the other detailed terms and provisions of those optional or mandatory redemption provisions, if any;

 

   

if other than denominations of $1,000 and any of its integral multiples, the denominations in which the series of debt securities will be issuable;

 

   

the applicability of the provisions described under “Defeasance”;

 

   

if the series of debt securities will be issuable only in the form of a global security, the depository or its nominee with respect to the series of debt securities and the circumstances under which the global security may be registered for transfer or exchange in the name of a person other than the depositary or the nominee; and

 

   

any other special feature of the series of debt securities (including its convertibility into our common stock).

Legal Ownership

Street Name and Other Indirect Holders. Investors who hold debt securities in accounts at banks or brokers will generally not be recognized by us as legal holders of debt securities. This is called holding in street name. Instead, we would recognize only the bank or broker, or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its debt securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along principal, interest and other payments on the debt securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to. If you hold debt securities in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle voting if required;

 

   

whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so that you can be a direct holder as described below; and

 

   

how it would pursue rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests.

Direct Holders. Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, run only to persons who are registered as holders of debt securities. As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold debt securities in street name or other indirect means, either because you choose to hold debt securities in that manner or because the debt securities are issued in the form of global securities as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment, even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a street name customer but does not do so.

Global Securities

What is a Global Security? A global security is a special type of indirectly held security, as described above under “Legal Ownership — Street Name and Other Indirect Holders.” If we choose to issue debt securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders. We do this by requiring that

 

4


Table of Contents

the global security be registered in the name of a financial institution we select and by requiring that the debt securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the global security is called the depositary. Any person wishing to own a debt security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The prospectus supplement indicates whether your series of securities will be issued only in the form of global securities.

Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities. As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of debt securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If you are an investor, you should be aware that if debt securities are issued only in the form of global securities:

 

   

You cannot get debt securities registered in your own name.

 

   

You cannot receive physical certificates for your interest in the debt securities.

 

   

You will be a street name holder and must look to your own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and protection of your legal rights relating to the debt securities. See “Legal Ownership — Street Name and Other Indirect Holders.”

 

   

You may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in the form of physical certificates.

 

   

The depositary’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to your interest in the global security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interest in the global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way.

Special Situations when Global Security will be Terminated. In a few special situations described in the next paragraph, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or in street name will be up to you. You must consult your own bank or broker to find out how to have your interests in debt securities transferred to your own name, so that you will be a direct holder. The rights of street name investors and direct holders in the debt securities have been previously described under “Legal Ownership” in the subsections entitled “Street Name and Other Indirect Holders” and “Direct Holders.”

The special situations for termination of a global security are:

 

   

When the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days.

 

   

When we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate the global security.

 

   

When an event of default on the securities has occurred and has not been cured, disregarding for this purpose any requirement of notice or that the default exists for a specified period of time. (Default is discussed later under “Default and Related Matters.”) The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary (and not us or the trustee) is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

5


Table of Contents

IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS DESCRIPTION, “YOU” MEANS DIRECT HOLDERS AND NOT STREET NAME OR OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS OF DEBT SECURITIES. INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD READ THE PREVIOUS SUBSECTION ENTITLED “STREET NAME AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS.”

Overview of Remainder of this Description

The remainder of this description summarizes:

 

   

Additional Mechanics relevant to the debt securities under normal circumstances, such as how you transfer ownership and where we make payments;

 

   

Your rights in several Special Situations, such as if we merge with another company, or if we want to change a term of the debt securities via Modification and Waiver;

 

   

A Defeasance clause and a Satisfaction and Discharge provision, each of which may allow for us to be completely released from our payment and other obligations on the debt securities; and

 

   

Your rights if we Default.

Additional Mechanics

Form, Exchange and Transfer. The debt securities will be issued:

 

   

only in fully registered form;

 

   

without interest coupons; and

 

   

in denominations that are even multiples of $1,000.

You may have your debt securities divided into more debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. This is called an exchange.

You may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform these functions ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It will also perform transfers.

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will only be made if we and the security registrar are satisfied with your proof of ownership.

If we have designated additional transfer agents, they are named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If the debt securities are redeemable, we may block the transfer or exchange of debt securities for a period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed.

Payment and Paying Agents. We will pay interest to you if you are a direct holder 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 you no longer own the debt security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the regular record date and is stated in the prospectus supplement. Holders buying and

 

6


Table of Contents

selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the securities to pro rate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This prorated interest amount is called accrued interest.

We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee in Dallas, Texas. You must make arrangements to have your payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks. However, if the debt securities are represented by a global security, we will make payments to the depositary by wire.

STREET NAME AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW THEY WILL RECEIVE PAYMENTS.

We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including the 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 must notify you of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities.

Notices. We and the trustee will send notices regarding the debt securities only to direct holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee’s records.

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to direct holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, you may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else.

Special Situations

Mergers and Similar Events. We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We are also permitted to sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all of the following conditions are met:

 

   

Where we consolidate or merge out of existence or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets, the other entity must be organized under the laws of a state or under federal law, and it must agree to be legally responsible for the debt securities.

 

   

Immediately after the merger, sale of assets or other transaction, we must not be in default on the debt securities. A default for this purpose would also include any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

Modification and Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the debt securities.

Changes Requiring Your Approval. First, there are changes that cannot be made to your debt securities without your specific approval. Following is a list of those types of changes:

 

   

extend the stated maturity of the principal or interest on a debt security;

 

   

reduce any amounts due on a debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal payable on an original discount security upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt security following a default;

 

7


Table of Contents
   

impair your right to sue for payment; and

 

   

reduce the percentage of the principal amount of debt securities of any series or all series (voting as one class) the consent of which is needed to modify or amend the indenture.

Changes Requiring a Vote. The second type of change to the indenture and the debt securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor by the holders of debt securities owning at least a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes and certain other changes that would not adversely affect the interests of holders of the debt securities described in the next paragraph. We may obtain a waiver of a past default from the holders of debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default unless we obtain an individual consent to the waiver from every holder.

Changes Not Requiring Approval. The third type of change to the indenture and the debt securities does not require any vote by holders of debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect the interests of holders of the debt securities. Holders of debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if the debt securities have been fully defeased as described below under “Defeasance.”

STREET NAME AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW APPROVAL MAY BE GRANTED OR DENIED IF WE SEEK TO CHANGE THE INDENTURE OR THE DEBT SECURITIES OR REQUEST A WAIVER.

Absence of Restrictive Covenants

The indenture does not contain any promises by us on how we will operate our business, and does not restrict our ability to incur debt or grant liens on our assets. If we determine to include such a promise for the benefit of a particular series of debt securities, such promise, or restrictive covenant, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of debt securities.

Defeasance

We may be completely released from our payment and other obligations on the debt securities. The following discussion of defeasance will be applicable to your series of debt securities only if we choose to have them apply to that series. If we do so choose, we will state that in the prospectus supplement.

If there is a change in federal tax law, or if we obtain a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the debt securities, called full or legal defeasance, if we put in place the following arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

   

We must deposit in trust for your benefit and the benefit of all direct holders of the debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates.

 

   

There must be a change in federal tax law or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that lets us make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities. Under current federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities would be treated as though we took back your debt securities and gave you your share of the cash and notes or bonds deposited in trust. In that event, you could recognize gain or loss on the debt securities you give back to us.

 

   

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming, among other things, the tax law change described above.

 

8


Table of Contents

If we are able to fully defease the debt securities, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment on the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture will cease to be of further effect as to all debt securities of any series when either:

 

   

we have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all debt securities of that series that have been authenticated (except for lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has already been deposited in trust and subsequently returned to us); or

 

   

all debt securities of that series have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee, and in any case we have deposited with the trustee as trust funds money in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of all these debt securities to their stated maturity or redemption date; and we have paid all other sums payable by us under the indenture with respect to that series.

Notwithstanding any satisfaction and discharge or any defeasance with respect to the debt securities of any series, your rights of transfer and exchange, your rights to replace lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities, the rights and obligations of the trustee and your rights as beneficiaries with respect to the trust funds deposited with the trustee would survive.

Default and Related Matters

Ranking. The debt securities are not secured by any of our property or assets. Accordingly, your ownership of debt securities means you are one of our unsecured creditors. The debt securities are not subordinated to any of our other debt obligations and therefore they rank equally in contractual right of payment with all of our other unsubordinated indebtedness.

Events of Default. You will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

What is an Event of Default? The term “event of default” means any of the following:

 

   

We do not pay the principal or any premium on a debt security when due.

 

   

We do not pay interest on a debt security within 30 days of its due date.

 

   

We remain in breach of any other covenant or agreement in the indenture for 90 days after we receive a notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of debt securities of the affected series.

 

   

We default on any indebtedness for borrowed money totaling over $50,000,000 and our obligation to repay such indebtedness is accelerated, and this repayment obligation remains accelerated for 10 days after we receive a notice of default by the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the affected debt securities.

 

   

We file for bankruptcy, or certain other events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs. If an event of default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount (or, in the case of original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount that is specified in the terms of the affected debt security) of all the debt securities of that series, plus

 

9


Table of Contents

accrued interest, to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. However, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be cancelled, but only before a judgment or decree based on the acceleration has been obtained, by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series.

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities which are original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and its continuation.

Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability, called an indemnity. If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the securities of all series affected (voting as one class) may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee is required, within 90 days of acquiring knowledge of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, to give you notice of the default, unless the default has been cured or waived before it gives the notice; however, the trustee may withhold notice of any non-payment default if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of debt securities of that series.

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

   

You must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred and remains uncured.

 

   

The holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of all the securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of an event of default, and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action.

 

   

The trustee must have not taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above written request and offer of indemnity and no directions inconsistent with the above written request must have been given to the trustee during such period.

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its due date.

STREET NAME AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO GIVE NOTICE OR DIRECTION TO OR MAKE A REQUEST OF THE TRUSTEE AND TO MAKE OR CANCEL A DECLARATION OF ACCELERATION.

We will furnish to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default and indicating the nature and status of the default.

Concerning the Trustee

The trustee under the indenture is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The indenture contains certain limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of ours, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize for its own account on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be permitted to engage in certain other transactions; however, if after an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as described in the indenture), it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

 

10


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

We are incorporated in the State of Texas. The rights of our shareholders are generally covered by Texas law and our certificate of formation and bylaws (each as amended and restated and in effect on the date hereof). The terms of our capital stock are therefore subject to Texas law, including the Texas Business Organizations Code (the “TBOC”), and the common and constitutional law of Texas. Our certificate of formation was filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, and our bylaws were filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 21, 2016. You are encouraged to read these documents.

We are authorized to issue 2,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value, of which 587,950,973 shares were outstanding on February 5, 2018. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “LUV.” We are not authorized to issue shares of preferred stock.

Voting Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders. No shareholder has the right of cumulative voting.

With respect to any matter other than the election of directors or a matter for which the affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion of the shares entitled to vote is required by Texas law or our certificate of formation, the act of the shareholders shall be the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on, and voted for or against, the matter at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present; provided that, for purposes thereof, all abstentions and broker nonvotes shall not be counted as voted either for or against such matter. Directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present; provided that, if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes thereof, (i) a majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast for a director must exceed the number of votes cast against that director, and (ii) abstentions and broker nonvotes shall not be counted as votes cast either for or against any nominee for director.

Dividend Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

Liquidation Rights

In the event of our liquidation, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment of all debts and other liabilities.

Certain Business Combination Restrictions

Section 21.606 of the TBOC restricts certain business combinations between us and an affiliated shareholder (beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the voting power of our stock entitled to vote for directors) for three years after the shareholder becomes an affiliated shareholder. The restrictions do not apply if the board of directors approved the transaction that caused the shareholder to become an affiliated shareholder or if the business combination is approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of our voting stock that is not beneficially owned by the affiliated shareholder at a meeting of shareholders called for that purpose within six months of the affiliated shareholder’s acquiring the shares. Although we may elect to exclude ourselves from the restrictions imposed by Section 21.606, our certificate of formation does not do so.

 

11


Table of Contents

Certain Provisions of Our Certificate of Formation and Bylaws

Some provisions of our certificate of formation and bylaws could make the acquisition of control of our company and/or the removal of our existing management more difficult, including those that provide as follows:

 

   

cumulative voting in the election of our board of directors, which would otherwise allow less than a majority of shareholders to elect director candidates, is prohibited under our certificate of formation;

 

   

our board of directors fixes the size of the board of directors, may create new directorships and may appoint new directors to serve in such newly-created positions until the next election of one or more directors by our shareholders;

 

   

our board of directors may amend or repeal our bylaws, or adopt new bylaws, unless (a) such power is reserved exclusively to our shareholders in whole or part by our certificate of formation or the laws of Texas or (b) our shareholders in amending, repealing or adopting a particular bylaw have expressly provided that our board of directors may not amend or repeal that bylaw;

 

   

all shareholder actions must be taken at a regular or special meeting of our shareholders and cannot be taken by written consent without a meeting;

 

   

we have advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, which generally require that shareholder proposals be provided to us between 60 and 90 days before the anniversary of our last annual meeting and director nominations be provided to us between 120 and 150 days before the anniversary of our last annual meeting in order to be properly brought before a shareholder meeting;

 

   

our directors may be removed only for cause, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote for the election of directors; and

 

   

unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas or, if such court lacks jurisdiction, the state district court of Dallas County, Texas, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions or proceedings.

These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the company to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection give us the potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us and that these benefits outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging the proposals. Negotiating with the proponent could result in an improvement of the terms of the proposal.

Other

Our common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and is not entitled to the benefits of any redemption or sinking fund provision. The outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is EQ Shareowner Services (formerly Wells Fargo Shareowner Services) at 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120-4100.

 

12


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Dallas, Texas, and will be passed upon for any agents, dealers or underwriters by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Southwest Airlines Co. appearing in Southwest Airlines Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines Co.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and Southwest Airlines Co. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 that registers the offer and sale of the securities covered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

In addition, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LUV.”

 

13


Table of Contents

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” 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 later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information, as well as the information included in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K) until we sell all the securities:

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 7, 2018; and

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 1, 2011, including any subsequently filed amendments and reports updating such description.

We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website, www.southwest.com, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other reports and statements filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information contained on our Internet website is not part of this prospectus.

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may obtain a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and phone number:

Southwest Airlines Co. c/o Investor Relations

P.O. Box 36611, HDQ-6IR

Dallas, Texas 75235

(214) 792-4908

 

14


Table of Contents

 

 

$1,000,000,000

Southwest Airlines Co.

$300,000,000 5.250% Notes due 2025

$700,000,000 5.125% Notes due 2027

 

LOGO

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Wells Fargo Securities

Co-Managers

Comerica Securities

Cowen

Penserra Securities LLC

 

 

July 28, 2020