424B5 1 d121283d424b5.htm FORM 424B5 Form 424B5
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-232895

 

This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, but is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED MARCH 1, 2021

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 24, 2020

 

LOGO

PPG Industries, Inc.

$                 % Notes due 20    

 

 

We are offering $                 % Notes due 20     (the “notes”). We will pay interest on the notes on                  and                  of each year, beginning on                , 2021. The notes will mature on                ,    20    . We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time and from time to time at the applicable redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.”

We must offer to repurchase the notes upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event at the price described in this prospectus supplement in “Description of the Notes — Change of Control Offer.”

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

See “Risk Factors” on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and the “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein, to read about certain risks you should consider before investing in the notes.

 

     Price to
    Public (1)    
         Underwriting    
Discount
         Proceeds To    
Issuer
 

Per note

     %        %        %  

Total

   $                    $                    $                

 

(1)

Plus accrued interest, if any, from                , 2021.

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

We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange.

Delivery of the notes offered hereby in book-entry form only, will be made on or about                , 2021 through The Depository Trust Company and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BNP PARIBAS   PNC Capital Markets LLC

The date of this prospectus supplement is                , 2021.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

     S-1  

DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     S-1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     S-2  

SUMMARY

     S-4  

RISK FACTORS

     S-8  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     S-11  

CAPITALIZATION

     S-12  

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

     S-13  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     S-21  

UNDERWRITING

     S-26  

VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

     S-33  

EXPERTS

     S-33  

Prospectus

 

     Page  

SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     2  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     3  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     3  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     12  

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

     13  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     16  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     16  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     17  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     18  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     18  

LEGAL MATTERS

     20  

EXPERTS

     20  

You should read carefully this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you before you invest in the notes. These documents contain or incorporate by reference important information you should consider before making your investment decision. This prospectus supplement contains specific information about the notes being offered and the accompanying prospectus contains a general description of the notes. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information in the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the underwriters take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus, in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein, and in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

We provide information to you about this offering in two separate documents. The accompanying prospectus provides general information about us and securities we may offer from time to time, some of which may not be relevant to this offering. This prospectus supplement describes the specific details regarding this offering. Generally, when we refer to the “prospectus,” we are referring to both documents combined. Additional information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement.

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these notes in any jurisdiction where the offer and sale are not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus supplement to “PPG,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to PPG Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 reflecting our current view with respect to future events or objectives and financial or operational performance or results. These matters involve risks and uncertainties as discussed in our periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, and our current reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC. Accordingly, many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements.

Among these factors are the expected effects on our business of the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic conditions, increasing price and product competition by our competitors, fluctuations in cost and availability of raw materials, the ability to achieve selling price increases, the ability to recover margins, customer inventory levels, our ability to maintain favorable supplier relationships and arrangements, the timing of and the realization of anticipated cost savings from restructuring and other initiatives, the ability to identify additional cost savings opportunities, difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and achieving expected synergies therefrom, economic and political conditions in the markets we serve, the ability to penetrate existing, developing and emerging foreign and domestic markets, foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in such rates, fluctuations in tax rates, the impact of future legislation, the impact of environmental regulations, unexpected business disruptions, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, the results of governmental investigations and the unpredictability of existing and possible future litigation. However, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors.

Consequently, while the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.

Consequences of material differences in the results compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, lower sales or income, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties, other factors set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available information

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The SEC’s website is located at http://www.sec.gov. Our website is located at http://www.ppg.com. The information on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. Any information we incorporate in this manner is considered part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus except to the extent updated and superseded by information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Some information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC and any filings that we make with the SEC in the future under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement, including between the date of this prospectus supplement and the date on which the offering of the securities under this prospectus supplement is terminated, except as noted in the paragraph below:

 

Our SEC Filings    Period for or Date of Filing
Annual Report on Form 10-K    Year Ended December 31, 2020
Current Reports on Form 8-K    February  18, 2021 (filed under Item 5.02) and
February 23, 2021 (filed under Items 1.01 and 2.03)
The information in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A that is responsive to Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our year ended December 31, 2019    March 5, 2020

Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act or into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

Statements contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus do not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to the particular provisions of that contract, agreement or other document, those references are qualified in all respects by reference to all of the provisions contained in that contract, agreement or other document. For a more complete understanding and description of each such contract, agreement or other document, we urge you to read the exhibits to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part.

We will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and a copy of any or

 

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all other contracts, agreements or documents which are referred to in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Requests should be directed to: PPG Industries, Inc., One PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15272, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number: (412) 434-3131. You also may review a copy of the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part and its exhibits through the SEC’s website, located at www.sec.gov.

 

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SUMMARY

The following summary information is qualified in its entirety by the information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents we have incorporated by reference, and in the indenture as described under “Description of the Notes.” References to “PPG,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” and similar terms mean PPG Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

THE COMPANY

We manufacture and distribute a broad range of paints, coatings and specialty materials. We are comprised of two reportable business segments: Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings.

We supply coatings and specialty materials to customers in a wide array of end-uses, including industrial equipment and components; packaging material; aircraft and marine equipment; automotive original equipment; automotive refinish; pavement marking products; as well as coatings for other industrial and consumer products. We also serve commercial and residential new build and maintenance customers by supplying coatings to painting and maintenance contractors and directly to consumers for decoration and maintenance. The coatings industry is highly competitive and consists of several large firms with global presence and many firms supplying local or regional markets. We compete in our primary markets with the world’s largest coatings companies, most of which have global operations, and many regional coatings companies. The primary specialty coatings and materials products produced by us are amorphous precipitated silicas for tire, battery separator and other end-use markets; TESLIN® substrate used in such applications as labels, e-passports, drivers’ licenses, breathable membranes, loyalty cards and identification cards; Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) materials for use in displays and lighting; and optical lens materials and photochromic dyes for optical lenses and color-change products.

***

We are a Pennsylvania corporation with our principal executive offices located at One PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15272, telephone number (412) 434-3131.

Our website is located at http://www.ppg.com. The information on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.



 

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The Offering

The following is a brief summary of certain terms of this offering. For a more complete description of the terms of the notes, see “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Issuer

PPG Industries, Inc.

 

Securities Offered

$                aggregate principal amount of                % Notes due 20    .

 

Maturity

The notes will mature on                 , 20    .

 

Interest Payment Dates

                and                of each year, commencing on                 , 2021.

 

Interest Rate

The notes will bear interest at    % per year.

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at the redemption prices described herein under the caption “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.”

 

Change of Control Offer

If we experience a change of control triggering event, we may be required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. See “Description of the Notes — Change of Control Offer.”

 

Certain Covenants

The indenture governing the notes contains certain restrictions, including a limitation that restricts our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to create or incur secured indebtedness. Certain sale and leaseback transactions are similarly limited. See “Description of the Notes — Certain Covenants.”

 

Ranking

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all our other senior unsecured indebtedness, including all other unsubordinated debt securities issued under the indenture, from time to time outstanding. The indenture governing the notes provides for the issuance from time to time of senior unsecured indebtedness by us in an unlimited amount. See “Description of the Notes — Ranking.”

 

Form and Denomination

The notes will be issued in fully registered form in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 thereof.

 

DTC Eligibility

The notes will be represented by global certificates deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee. See “Description of the Notes — Book-Entry Procedures.”

 

Same Day Settlement

The notes will trade in the same-day funds settlement system of DTC until maturity or until we issue the notes in definitive form. DTC will therefore require secondary market trading activity in the notes to



 

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settle in immediately available funds. We can give no assurance as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the notes.

 

Use of Proceeds

We expect to receive net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts but before deducting other offering expenses, of approximately $                from this offering. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include (i) working capital, (ii) capital expenditures, (iii) investments in or loans to our subsidiaries or joint ventures, (iv) repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, (v) redemption or repurchase of our outstanding securities, (vi) funding of possible acquisitions, and (vii) satisfaction of other obligations of ours. Pending any use of the net proceeds of this offering, the net proceeds may be invested in short-term instruments.

 

  See “Use Of Proceeds.”

 

No Listing of the Notes

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

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

You should consult your tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning the notes in light of your own particular situation, as well as the consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Governing Law

The notes will be, and the indenture is, governed by the laws of the State of New York, United States of America.

 

Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.


 

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Summary Consolidated Historical Financial Data

The following table sets forth summary historical consolidated financial and other data as of and for the periods presented. The summary historical consolidated financial and other data as of and for the three years ended December 31, 2020 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of results that you can expect for any future period.

The following data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes and the other financial and statistical information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and with “Capitalization” included in this prospectus supplement.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
    

    2020    

         2019              2018      
     (In millions)  

Statement of Operations Data:

        

Net sales

   $ 13,834      $  15,146      $  15,374  

Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

     7,777        8,653        9,001  

Selling, general and administrative

     3,389        3,604        3,573  

Depreciation

     371        375        354  

Amortization

     138        136        143  

Research and development, net

     379        432        441  

Interest expense

     138        132        118  

Interest income

     (23      (32      (23

Impairment charges

     93                

Business restructuring

     174        176        66  

Other charges, net

     36        9        8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 1,362      $ 1,661      $ 1,693  

Income tax expense

     291        392        353  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1,071      $ 1,269      $ 1,340  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     3               18  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests

   $ 1,074      $ 1,269      $ 1,358  

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     15        26        17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (attributable to PPG)

   $ 1,059      $ 1,243      $ 1,341  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):

        

Total assets

   $ 19,556      $ 17,708      $ 16,015  

Working capital

     1,967        1,795        1,588  

Total long-term debt less current portion

     5,171        4,539        4,365  

Other long-term obligations

     3,739        3,391        2,545  

Total PPG shareholders’ equity

     5,689        5,284        4,630  

Cash Flow Data:

        

Cash from operating activities - continuing operations

   $ 2,129      $ 2,084      $ 1,487  

Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations

     1        (4      (20
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash from operating activities

   $ 2,130      $ 2,080      $ 1,467  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash used for investing activities

   $ (1,447    $ (1,009    $ (764

Cash used for financing activities

   $ (59    $ (758    $ (1,205


 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the notes may involve various risks. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, and in consultation with your own financial and legal advisors, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the following risk factors, as well as those incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other filings we may make from time to time with the SEC. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also materially and adversely affect our business operations, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

The effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted and are continuing to adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

The effects of the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have interfered with the ability of PPG, our suppliers, customers, and others to conduct business and have negatively affected consumer confidence and the global economy. Public health officials have recommended or mandated certain precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including prohibitions on congregating in groups, shelter-in-place orders or similar measures. Preventative and protective actions that public health officials, governments or PPG have taken with respect to COVID-19 have and will continue to adversely impact our business, suppliers, distribution channels, and customers, including business shutdowns or disruptions for an indefinite period of time, reduced operations, reduced ability to supply products, or reduced demand for our products. Our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations have been and will continue to be adversely impacted by these preventative actions and the disruption to our business and that of our suppliers and customers. As we cannot predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative financial impact to our results cannot be reasonably estimated, but could be material.

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

The notes are our unsecured general obligations, ranking equally with our other senior unsecured indebtedness but below any secured indebtedness and effectively below the debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. The indenture governing the notes permits us and our subsidiaries to incur secured debt under specified circumstances. If we incur any secured debt, our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries 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 these creditors, all or a portion of the notes then outstanding would remain unpaid.

The trading market for the notes may be limited.

The notes are a new issue of securities for which no established trading market exists. If an active trading market does not develop for the notes, investors may not be able to resell them. 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 a trading market for the notes will ever develop or will be maintained. The underwriters for this offering have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes after completion of the offering.

 

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However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice, in their sole discretion. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or trading market for, the notes. The lack of a trading market could adversely affect investors’ ability to sell the notes and the price at which investors may be able to sell the notes. The liquidity of the trading market, if any, and future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, among other things, the number of holders of the notes, our operating results, financial performance and prospects, prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and the overall securities market, and may be adversely affected by unfavorable changes in these factors.

Our ability to generate the significant amount of cash needed to pay interest and principal on the notes and service our other debt and financial obligations and our ability to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness or obtain additional financing depends on many factors beyond our control.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, depends on our ability to generate cash in the future. We are subject to general economic, industry, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. In particular, economic conditions could cause the prices of the products we sell to fall or our margins or revenue to decline and could hamper our ability to repay our indebtedness, including the notes. As a result, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the notes, on or before maturity. Our ability to refinance debt or obtain additional financing will depend on, among other things:

 

   

our financial condition at the time;

 

   

restrictions in the indenture governing the notes and any other indebtedness of ours; and

 

   

other factors, including financial market or industry conditions.

We may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, including the notes, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. If our operations do not generate sufficient cash flow, and additional borrowings or refinancings are not available to us, we may not have sufficient cash to enable us to meet all of our obligations, including payments on the notes.

The terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness contain significant restrictions that limit our operating and financial flexibility.

The indenture governing the notes and the agreements governing our and our subsidiaries’ other indebtedness contain various covenants and other restrictions that limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to engage in specified types of transactions. These covenants and other restrictions limit our and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

pay dividends on, repurchase or make distributions in respect of capital stock or make restricted payments;

 

   

borrow the full amount under our credit facilities;

 

   

make investments;

 

   

create liens;

 

   

issue and sell capital stock of subsidiaries;

 

   

sell or transfer assets;

 

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enter into sale and leasebacks; and

 

   

consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets.

These restrictions on operations and financings, as well as those that may be contained in future debt agreements, may limit our ability to execute preferred business strategies. Moreover, if our operating results fall below current levels, we may be unable to comply with these covenants. If that occurs, our lenders, including holders of notes, could accelerate the payment obligations with respect to that debt. If the payment obligations with respect to that debt are accelerated, we may not be able to repay all of that debt, in which case the indebtedness represented by the notes may not be fully repaid, if it is repaid at all.

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.

Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s notes (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. The terms of our existing credit facilities and other financing arrangements may require repayment of amounts outstanding in the event of a change of control and limit our ability to fund the repurchase of the notes in certain circumstances. If we experience a change of control triggering event, there can be no assurance that we would have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy our obligations to repurchase the notes. Our failure to repurchase the notes as required under the supplemental indenture governing the notes would result in a default under the supplemental indenture, which could have material adverse consequences for us and the holders of the notes. See “Description of the Notes — Change of Control Offer.”

Despite our current levels of debt, we may be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our existing debt.

We may be able to incur additional debt in the future, including debt that is senior to the notes. The terms of our other indebtedness and the indenture governing the notes allow us to incur substantial amounts of additional debt, subject to certain limitations. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks we could face would be magnified.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to receive net proceeds, after deducting the underwriting discount but before deducting other offering expenses, of approximately $                 from this offering. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include (i) working capital, (ii) capital expenditures, (iii) investments in or loans to our subsidiaries or joint ventures, (iv) repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, (v) redemption or repurchase of our outstanding securities, (vi) funding of possible acquisitions, and (vii) satisfaction of other obligations of ours.

Pending any use of the net proceeds of this offering, the net proceeds may be invested in short-term instruments.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth:

 

   

our consolidated capitalization as of December 31, 2020; and

 

   

our consolidated capitalization as of December 31, 2020, as adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the notes.

You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, the related notes and other financial information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

    As of December 31, 2020  
        Actual                As Adjusted  
    (In millions)  

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 1,826        $    
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt

  $ 578        $ 578  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Long-term debt:

      

Notes offered hereby

  $        $    

Other long-term debt(1)

    5,171          5,171  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total long-term debt(2)

    5,171       

Shareholders’ equity:

      

Common stock

    969          969  

Additional paid-in capital

    1,008          1,008  

Retained earnings

    19,469          19,469  

Treasury stock, at cost

    (13,158        (13,158

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (2,599        (2,599
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total PPG shareholders’ equity

    5,689          5,689  

Noncontrolling interests

    126          126  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

    5,815          5,815  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total capitalization

  $ 10,986        $    
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes $250 million of commercial paper.

 

(2)

On February 19, 2021, we entered into a $2 billion Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). We may borrow under the Credit Agreement on an unsecured basis to finance the cash consideration for our pending acquisition of up to all of the equity interests of Tikkurila Oyj, a public limited liability company organized under the laws of Finland, pursuant to a cash tender offer and to pay related fees, costs and expenses. Following the completion of that acquisition and from time to time prior to December 31, 2021, we may make additional borrowings under the Credit Agreement, which may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have not borrowed any amount under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement terminates and all amounts outstanding thereunder are payable on the third anniversary of the date on which initial term loans are borrowed in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements, and to the extent inconsistent, replaces, the description in the accompanying prospectus of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which description reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the accompanying prospectus and not defined herein are used herein as therein defined.

General

The aggregate principal amount of the notes is $                . The notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on                  , 20    . The notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per annum from                 , 2021.

Interest on the notes will be payable semiannually in arrears on                  and                  of each year, beginning on                 , 2021 to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the                  and                  preceding the respective interest payment dates. If any payment date is not a business day, then payment will be made on the next business day, but without any additional interest or other amount. Interest will be computed on the notes on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The notes will be our direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally and ratably with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all of our current and future secured debt.

The notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.

The notes will be represented by one or more registered notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by notes in definitive form. See “— Book-Entry Procedures” in this prospectus supplement. The notes will be issued in U.S. dollars and only in minimum denominations of $2,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

The notes will constitute a series of debt securities to be issued under a supplemental indenture, dated as of

, 2021, between PPG and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, which supplements a base indenture dated as of March 18, 2008 (the “indenture”).

We will file annual statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with our obligations under the indenture governing the notes.

Further Issues

We may from time to time, without notice to or consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally and ratably with the notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional notes or except, in some cases, for the first payment of interest following the issue date of such additional notes). The additional notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the previously outstanding notes (regardless of whether such additional notes are issued as part of a “qualified reopening” for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes; provided that such additional notes will be fungible with the previously outstanding notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes or will be issued under a different CUSIP number.

 

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Same-Day Settlement and Payment

The notes will trade in the same-day funds settlement system of DTC until maturity or until we issue the notes in definitive form. DTC will therefore require secondary market trading activity in the notes to settle in immediately available funds. We can give no assurance as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the notes.

Ranking

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all our other senior unsecured indebtedness, including any other debt securities issued under the indenture governing the notes, from time to time outstanding.

Optional Redemption

Prior to                  , 20     (the date that is                months prior to the scheduled maturity date of the notes) (the “par call date”), the notes will be redeemable in whole or in part, at our option, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon, assuming for such purpose that the notes matured on the par call date, discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus                basis points, plus accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

On or after                 , 20     (the date that is                months prior to the par call date), we may redeem some or all of the notes, in whole or in part, at our option, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming 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).

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed 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 term of such notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, as determined by us, for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if we obtain fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that we appoint.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by PNC Capital Markets LLC, and their respective successors, and two other nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by the Company that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

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“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 Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with DTC procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the applicable redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with applicable depositary procedures.

Change of Control Offer

If a change of control triggering event occurs, unless we have exercised our option to redeem the notes as described above, we will be required to make an offer (a “change of control offer”) to each holder of the notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s notes on the terms set forth in the notes. In a change of control offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “change of control payment”). Within 30 days following any change of control triggering event or, at our option, prior to any change of control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control, a notice will be mailed (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with DTC procedures) to holders of the notes describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control triggering event and offering to repurchase such notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (a “change of control payment date”). The notice will, if mailed (or otherwise transmitted as above) prior to the date of consummation of the change of control, state that the change of control offer is conditioned on the change of control triggering event occurring on or prior to the applicable change of control payment date.

On each change of control payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

 

   

accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the applicable change of control offer;

 

   

deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the change of control payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

   

deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being repurchased.

We will not be required to make a change of control offer upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and the third party repurchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the change of control payment date an event of default under the indenture, other than a default in the payment of the change of control payment upon a change of control triggering event.

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 as a result of a change of control triggering event. To the extent that the provisions of any

 

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such securities laws or regulations conflict with the change of control offer provisions 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 notes by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the change of control offer provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:

“Change of control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than our Company or one of our subsidiaries; (ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of our outstanding 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; (iii) we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of our outstanding voting stock or the voting stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of our voting stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the voting stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of our Board of Directors are not continuing directors; or (v) the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Change of control triggering event” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event.

“Continuing directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of our Board of Directors who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the notes were issued or (ii) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Investment grade rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

“Rating agencies” means (i) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (ii) if either 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” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors delivered to the Trustee) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

“Rating event” means the rating on the notes is lowered by each of the rating agencies and the notes are rated below an investment grade rating by each of the rating agencies on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by each of the rating agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a change of control or our intention to effect a change of control and ending 60 days following consummation of such change of control.

 

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

“Voting stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, 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.

Certain Covenants

We have agreed to three principal limitations on our activities. The restrictive covenants summarized below will apply to the notes as long as any of the notes are outstanding, unless waived or amended in accordance with the indenture. See “Modification and Waiver” in the accompanying prospectus.

Limitations on Liens

Some of our property may be subject to mortgages, pledges, liens or security interests (“Mortgages”) that give some of our lenders preferential rights in that property over other general creditors, including the holders of notes, if we fail to pay them back. We have agreed under the indenture, with certain exceptions described below, that we will not, and will not permit any of our Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined below) to, issue, assume, guarantee or incur any indebtedness that is secured by Mortgages on any of our or our Restricted Subsidiaries’ present or future property, unless we or any of our Restricted Subsidiaries grant an equal or higher-ranking Mortgage on the same property to the holders of the notes (or their designee) and, if we so determine, to the holders of any of our other indebtedness or of such Restricted Subsidiary that ranks equally with the notes.

The term “Restricted Subsidiary” means any of our subsidiaries other than foreign subsidiaries, subsidiaries in the territories or possessions of the United States, or leasing, real estate investment or financing subsidiaries, unless our Board of Directors designates one of these types of subsidiaries as a Restricted Subsidiary.

We do not need to comply with these limitations if the amount of all of our Mortgages and the aggregate value of sale and leaseback transactions involving our property, is not more than 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below).

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom (i) all goodwill, tradenames, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles and (ii) all current liabilities (excluding any current liabilities for money borrowed having a maturity of less than 12 months but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower), all as reflected in the Company’s latest audited consolidated balance sheet contained in the Company’s most recent annual report to its stockholders prior to the time as of which “Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” shall be determined.

When we calculate the limits imposed by this restriction, we can disregard the following types of Mortgages:

 

   

Mortgages on the property of any of our subsidiaries, if those Mortgages existed at the time the corporation becomes a subsidiary;

 

   

Mortgages on property that existed at the time we acquired the property, including property we may acquire through a merger or similar transaction, or that we grant in order to purchase the property;

 

   

Mortgages on property to finance the cost of exploration, development or improvement of that property;

 

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Intercompany Mortgages in our or our wholly owned subsidiaries’ favor;

 

   

Mortgages in favor of federal or state governmental bodies or any other country or political subdivision of another country that we may grant in order to assure payments to such bodies that we owe by law or because of a contract we entered into; and

 

   

Mortgages that extend, renew or replace any of the Mortgages described above.

We are permitted to have as much unsecured debt as we may choose.

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

We agree that we will not and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving our real property or the real property of our Restricted Subsidiaries, unless we comply with this restrictive covenant. A “sale and leaseback transaction” generally is an arrangement between an operating company and a bank, insurance company or other lender or investor where the operating company leases real property which was or will be sold by the operating company to that lender or investor, other than a lease for a period of three years or less by the end of which it is intended that the use of such real property by the operating company will be discontinued.

We can comply with this restrictive covenant in one of two ways:

 

   

if, at the time of the transaction, we could create a Mortgage on the real property to be leased in an amount equal to the value of the sale and leaseback transaction without being required to grant an equal or higher-ranking Mortgage to the holders of the notes as described under “Limitations on Liens” above; or

 

   

if we apply an amount, subject to certain adjustments described in the indenture, equal to the greater of:

 

  (i)

the net proceeds of the sale of the real property leased pursuant to such sale and leaseback transaction, and

 

  (ii)

the fair value of the real property so leased, to retire any other debt that has a maturity of more than one year.

Limitations on Asset Transfers

Neither we nor our Restricted Subsidiaries may transfer any assets constituting a major manufacturing or research property, plant or facility to any of our subsidiaries that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The notes will be subject to the satisfaction and discharge provisions and the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions set forth under “Description of Debt Securities — Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

Concerning the Trustee

The Trustee has provided various services to us in the past and may do so in the future as a part of its regular business.

 

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Book-Entry Procedures

DTC. DTC will act as securities depositary for the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., which is DTC’s nominee. One or more fully registered global notes will be issued with respect to the notes. See “Description of Debt Securities — Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of DTC’s procedures with respect to global notes. DTC advises that it 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 holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTC’s system is also available to others, including securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear transactions through or maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a direct participant either directly, or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If fewer than all of the notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date, which are identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

We may, at any time, decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). In that event, certificates representing the notes will be printed and delivered.

Beneficial interests in the global notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global notes through DTC either directly if they are participants in DTC or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC.

Clearstream. Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and establishment of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the Underwriters.

Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures to the extent received by DTC for Clearstream.

 

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Euroclear. Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euro-clear Clearance System S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes a policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the Underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear Operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking Commission.

Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the notes sold outside of the United States and cross-market transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.

Clearstream and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of their participants in much the same way as DTC, and DTC will record the total ownership of each of the U.S. agents of Clearstream and Euroclear, as participants in DTC. When notes are to be transferred from the account of a DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive notes against payment. After settlement, Clearstream or Euroclear will credit its participant’s account. Credit for the notes will appear on the next day (European time).

Because settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending notes to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream or Euroclear participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

When a Clearstream or Euroclear participant wishes to transfer notes to a DTC participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases, Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these notes against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream or Euroclear participant the following day, with the proceeds back valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York, if settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, if the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream or Euroclear participant’s account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on the days when clearing systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as the United States.

The information in this section concerning DTC, its book-entry system, Clearstream and Euroclear and their respective systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not attempted to verify the accuracy of this information.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

This section is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of the notes. This summary does not provide a complete analysis of all potential tax considerations. The information provided below is based on existing U.S. federal income tax authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein or that a court would not sustain such challenge. We have not obtained, and do not intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning or disposing of the notes. This summary generally applies only to beneficial owners of the notes that purchase the notes in this offering for an amount equal to the “issue price” of the notes, which is the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold for money to the public (not including sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, initial purchasers, placement agents or wholesalers), and that hold the notes as “capital assets” (generally, for investment). This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular beneficial owner in light of the beneficial owner’s circumstances (for example, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar). Also, it is not intended to be wholly applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules (such as dealers in securities, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting, accrual-method taxpayers subject to section 451(b) of the Code, banks, thrifts, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, tax-deferred or other retirement accounts, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, persons holding the notes as part of a conversion or integrated transaction or straddle, or persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code). Finally, this summary does not address the potential application of the Medicare contribution tax, the effects of the U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws or the effects of any applicable non-U.S., state or local laws and tax treaties.

INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF THE NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS, NON-U.S., STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, AND TAX TREATIES.

As used herein, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of the notes that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (1) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (2) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (4) a trust if it (x) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one of more U.S. persons, or (y) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

A “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of the notes (other than a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. holder.

If a partnership (or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A beneficial owner of the notes that is a partnership, and partners in such a partnership, should consult their own tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the notes.

U.S. Holders

The following discussion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a U.S. holder (as defined above).

 

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Certain Additional Payments

There are circumstances in which we might be required to make payments on the notes that would increase the yield of the notes, as described under “Description of the Notes — Change of Control Offer.” We believe that there is only a remote possibility that we would be required to make such payments, and therefore we do not intend to treat the notes as subject to the special rules governing “contingent payment debt instruments.” Our position is not binding on the IRS. If the IRS takes a contrary position, a U.S. holder may be required to accrue interest income based upon a “comparable yield” (as defined in the Treasury Regulations) determined at the time of issuance of the notes (which is not expected to differ significantly from the actual yield on the notes), with adjustments to such accruals when any contingent payments are made that differ from the payments based on the comparable yield. In addition, any income on the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes would be treated as interest income rather than as capital gain. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if the notes were treated as contingent payment debt instruments. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not treated as contingent payment debt instruments.

Interest

A U.S. holder will be required to recognize as ordinary income any stated interest paid or accrued on the notes in accordance with its regular method of tax accounting.

In general, if the stated principal amount of a debt instrument exceeds its issue price by at least a statutorily defined de minimis amount, a U.S. holder will be required to include such excess in income as “original issue discount” over the term of the instrument in accordance with a constant-yield method, irrespective of the holder’s regular method of tax accounting. Generally, original issue discount is considered to be de minimis if it is less than 0.25% of the instrument’s stated principal amount multiplied by the number of complete years from the issue date to maturity. We anticipate, and therefore this discussion assumes, that the notes will not be issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes

A U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss if he, she or it disposes of the notes in a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition. The U.S. holder’s gain or loss generally will equal the difference between the amount realized by such holder (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxed as described above under “—Interest”) and its adjusted tax basis in the notes. The U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes generally will equal the amount it paid for the notes. The portion of any amount realized that is attributable to accrued interest will not be taken into account in computing the U.S. holder’s capital gain or loss. Instead, that portion will be recognized as ordinary interest income to the extent that the U.S. holder has not previously included the accrued interest in income. The gain or loss recognized by the U.S. holder on the disposition of the notes will be long-term capital gain or loss if such holder has held the notes for more than one year, or short-term capital gain or loss if such holder has held the notes for one year or less, at the time of the disposition. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers currently are taxed at preferential rates. Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Non-U.S. Holders

The following discussion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a non-U.S. holder (as defined above).

 

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Interest

Subject to the discussions below regarding the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) and under “— Income or Gains Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business,” payments of interest on the notes to non-U.S. holders will generally qualify as “portfolio interest,” and thus will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including withholding of such tax, if the non-U.S. holder certifies its non-U.S. status as described below.

The portfolio interest exemption will not apply to payments of interest to a non-U.S. holder that:

 

   

owns, actually or constructively, shares of our stock representing at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote; or

 

   

is a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related, directly or indirectly, to us through sufficient actual or constructive stock ownership.

The portfolio interest exemption applies only if the non-U.S. holder certifies its non-U.S. status. A non-U.S. holder can meet this certification requirement by providing a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or appropriate substitute form prior to the payment. If the non-U.S. holder holds the note through a financial institution or other agent acting on its behalf, it will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the agent. Special certification rules apply to non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities.

If the portfolio interest exemption does not apply to payments of interest to a non-U.S. holder, and subject to the discussion below under “— Income or Gains Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business,” these payments will be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate if the non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence and provides appropriate certification of eligibility to the applicable withholding agent).

Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes

Subject to the discussions below regarding backup withholding and FATCA, non-U.S. holders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the notes (other than with respect to payments attributable to accrued interest, which will be taxed as described above under “—Interest”) unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a U.S. trade or business (and, generally, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder), in which case the gain would be subject to tax as described below under “— Income or Gains Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”; or

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the year of disposition and certain other conditions apply, in which case, except as otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty, the gain, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses, would be subject to a flat 30% tax, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States.

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

If any interest on the notes or gain realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the notes is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. holder, then the income or gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net-income basis at the same rates and generally in the same manner applicable to U.S. holders. If the non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty between the United

 

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States and such holder’s country of residence, any “effectively connected” income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net-income basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States. Payments of interest that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder (and, if an applicable tax treaty requires, attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base), and therefore included in the gross income of a non-U.S. holder, will not be subject to the 30% withholding tax discussed above under “—Interest,” provided that the non-U.S. holder claims exemption from withholding by timely filing with the applicable withholding agent a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI, or any appropriate substitute or successor form as the IRS designates, as applicable, prior to payment. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that portion of its earnings and profits that is effectively connected with its U.S. trade or business generally also will be subject to a “branch profits tax.” The branch profits tax rate is generally 30%, although an applicable income tax treaty might provide for a lower rate.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

The Code and Treasury Regulations generally require persons who make specified payments to report the payments to the IRS. Among the specified payments are interest, dividends, and proceeds paid by brokers to their customers. This reporting regime is reinforced by “backup withholding” rules, which generally require the payor to withhold from specified payments subject to information reporting if the recipient has failed to provide a taxpayer identification number to the payor, furnished an incorrect identification number, failed to comply with applicable certification requirements or has been repeatedly notified by the IRS that it has failed to report interest or dividends on its U.S. federal income tax returns. The backup withholding rate is currently 24%.

Payments of interest to U.S. holders of the notes and payments made to U.S. holders by a broker upon a sale of the notes generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the U.S. holder (1) is an exempt recipient, or (2) in the case of backup withholding, provides the payor with a correct taxpayer identification number and complies with applicable certification requirements. If a sale is made through a foreign office of a foreign broker, however, the sale will generally not be subject to either information reporting or backup withholding. This exception may not apply if the foreign broker is owned or controlled by U.S. persons or is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.

The applicable withholding agent must report annually to the IRS the interest paid to each non-U.S. holder and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect to such interest, including any tax withheld pursuant to the rules described under “— Non-U.S. Holders —Interest” above and “— FATCA” below. Copies of these reports may be made available to tax authorities in the country where the non-U.S. holder resides. Payments made to non-U.S. holders by a broker upon a sale of the notes will not be subject to information reporting (except to the extent such payments are subject to withholding under FATCA, discussed below) or backup withholding as long as the non-U.S. holder certifies its non-U.S. status or otherwise establishes an exemption.

Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. holder or non-U.S. holder with respect to the notes under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or can be credited against any U.S. federal income tax liability of the holder, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

FATCA

Provisions of the Code known as FATCA and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder generally impose a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S.-source payments, including interest (including original issue discount), dividends and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S.-source interest or dividends (“Withholdable Payments”), if paid to a foreign financial institution (whether as a beneficial owner or intermediary), unless such institution (i) enters into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to collect and provide to the U.S. Department of the Treasury substantial information regarding its U.S. account

 

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holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, (ii) satisfies the requirements of an intergovernmental agreement entered into by such institution’s country of residence and the United States, or (iii) qualifies for an exemption. These withholding requirements generally currently apply to payments of interest on the notes. Under proposed Treasury Regulations, this withholding tax will not apply to the gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the notes. The preamble to these proposed Treasury Regulations indicates that taxpayers may rely on them pending their finalization. FATCA also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity, or unless an exemption applies. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements.

If FATCA withholding is imposed, a beneficial owner (other than certain foreign financial institutions) generally will be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return and, in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, providing the IRS with certain information regarding its substantial U.S. owners (unless an exception applies). Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their ownership and disposition of the notes.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an underwriting agreement, dated as of the date of this prospectus supplement between us and the underwriters named below, for whom BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as representatives, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of notes that appears opposite its name in the table below:

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount
of notes
 

BNP Paribas Securities Corp

   $                    

PNC Capital Markets LLC

                   

The underwriters are offering the notes subject to their acceptance of the notes from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement are subject to certain conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement if any such notes are taken.

The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

The underwriters initially propose to offer the notes to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters initially propose to offer the notes to certain dealers at prices that represent a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the notes. Any underwriter may allow, and any such dealer may re-allow, a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the notes to certain other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes, the underwriters may from time to time vary the offering prices and other selling terms. The underwriters may offer and sell notes through certain of their affiliates.

The following table shows the underwriting discount that we will pay to the underwriters in connection with the offering of the notes:

 

         Paid by us      

Per note

     %  

Total

   $                    

Expenses associated with this offering to be paid by us, other than the underwriting discount, are estimated to be approximately $                 .

We have also agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments which the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any such liabilities.

The notes are a new issue of securities for which there is no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the notes to be listed 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 the notes after completion of the offering, but they are not obligated to do so. The underwriters may discontinue any market making in the notes at any time at their sole discretion. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the notes, that you will be able to sell your notes at a particular time or that the prices you receive when you sell will be favorable.

 

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In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the prices of the notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering of the notes, creating syndicate short positions. In addition, the underwriters may bid for and purchase notes in the open market to cover syndicate short positions or to stabilize the prices of the notes. 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. Finally, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed for distributing the notes in the offering of the notes, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed notes in syndicate covering transactions, stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market prices of the notes above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities, and may end any of them at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, corporate trust, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. From time to time in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in and may in the future engage in commercial banking, derivatives and/or financial advisory, investment banking and other commercial transactions and services with us and our affiliates for which they have received or will receive customary fees and commissions. Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are dealers with respect to our commercial paper program. In addition, affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders and/or agents under our credit facilities, for which these affiliates have been and will be paid customary fees.

In the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their 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 such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the Company. 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 instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Extended Settlement

We expect to deliver the notes against payment for the notes on or about the date specified in the last paragraph of the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the                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 any such trade expressly agree otherwise.

Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on the date of pricing or the next succeeding business day will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+    , to specify an alternate settlement arrangement to prevent a failed settlement.

Settlement Restrictions

The notes are offered for sale in the United States and certain jurisdictions outside the United States in which such offer and sale is permitted.

 

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Prohibition of Sales to European Economic Area 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 European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, 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 (as amended, the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), 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 Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”). 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 has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom (“UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In addition, in the UK, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is being distributed only to, and is directed only at qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are, (i) persons 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) 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, which persons together we refer to in this prospectus supplement as “relevant persons.” Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the UK. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must not be acted on or relied on in the UK by persons who are not relevant persons. In the UK, any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement and the Rider accompanying prospectus relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons only.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The notes have not been and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“Hong Kong”) by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the “CO”), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules

 

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made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the CO, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Notes has been or will be issued or in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case 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 in 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” within the meaning of the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offering. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended (the “FIEA”)). The notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus 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 (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)), (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, 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, in each case subject to the conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is 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, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (a) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (b) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (c) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (d) where the transfer is by operation of law, (e) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).

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

(a) a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor) 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

 

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(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an Accredited Investor, then securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (i) to an Institutional Investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a Relevant Person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) (in the case of that trust), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (ii) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (iii) by operation of law.

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 Company 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).

Notice to Prospective Investors in Taiwan

The notes have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China (“Taiwan”), pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be offered or sold in Taiwan through a public offering or in any manner which would constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or would otherwise require registration with or the approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering or sale of the notes in Taiwan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in 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.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus (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 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This prospectus supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA,

 

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and neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 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 or the accompanying prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein or therein and has no responsibility for this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The securities to which this document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

In relation to its use in the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”), this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Arab Emirates

The notes have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus shall constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and the offering of the notes is not intended to be a public offer. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus has been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Notice to Prospective Investors in 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. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus constitutes 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.

 

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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 prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus 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.

 

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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

K&L Gates LLP, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will pass upon the validity of our notes. Certain matters of Pennsylvania law will be passed upon for us by Anne M. Foulkes, our Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Certain legal matters relating to the offering of the notes will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report, which contains an explanatory paragraph on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting due to the exclusion of Ennis-Flint because it was acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2020, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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Prospectus

 

LOGO

$2,400,000,000

PPG Industries, Inc.

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Depositary Shares

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

We may offer to sell from time to time, in one or more classes or series, debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts or units, or any combination of these securities. The debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and preferred stock may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the ticker symbol “PPG.” If we decide to seek a listing of any securities offered by this prospectus, we will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any, in one or more supplements to this prospectus.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered and the specific manner in which they may be offered will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that contains a description of those securities.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to other purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. If any offering involves underwriters, dealers or agents, arrangements with them will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to that offering.

You should consider carefully the “Risk Factors” described on page 2 and in any applicable prospectus supplement before investing in any of our securities offered by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

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

 

 

The date of this prospectus is February 24, 2020.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     2  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     3  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     3  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     12  

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

     13  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     16  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     16  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     17  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     18  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     18  

LEGAL MATTERS

     20  

EXPERTS

     20  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which we refer to in this prospectus as the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell from time to time 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. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may change after that date. Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain or incorporate by reference specific information about the terms of that offering. Each prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than as contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us or any underwriter, agent, dealer or remarketing firm. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under this prospectus shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is an unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read such reports, proxy statements and other information that we file with the SEC on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information that we file with the SEC are also available on our website, http://www.ppg.com. Information appearing on our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. Any information we incorporate in this manner is considered part of this prospectus except to the extent updated and superseded by information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. Some information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC and any filings that we make with the SEC in the future under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus, including between the date of this prospectus and the date on which the offering of the securities under this prospectus is terminated, except as noted in the paragraph below:

 

Our SEC Filings (File No. 1-01687)

  

Period for or Date of Filing

Annual Report on Form 10-K    Year Ended December 31, 2019

Current Reports on Form 8-K

   None

Form 10

   June 29, 1935

Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and we are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act into this prospectus.

Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to in this prospectus do not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to the particular provisions of that contract, agreement or other document, those references are qualified in all respects by reference to all of the provisions contained in that contract, agreement or other document. For a more complete understanding and description of each such contract, agreement or other document, we urge you to read the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and a copy of any or all other contracts, agreements or documents which are referred to in this prospectus. Requests should be directed to: PPG Industries, Inc., One PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15272, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number: (412) 434-3131. You also may review a copy of the registration statement and its exhibits on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary is a brief discussion of material information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, as further described above under “Where You Can Find More Information.” This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in any securities being offered by this prospectus. We urge you to carefully read this entire prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the securities that you propose to buy, especially any description of investment risks that we may include in the prospectus supplement or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. References to “PPG,” the “registrant,” “we,” “our,” “us” and similar terms mean PPG Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

PPG Industries, Inc.

PPG Industries, Inc. manufactures and distributes a broad range of coatings and specialty materials. We are a comprised of two reportable segments: Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings. PPG’s vision is to be the world’s leading coatings company by consistently delivering high-quality, innovative and sustainable solutions that customers trust to protect and beautify their products and surroundings. Founded in 1883, PPG operates in approximately 70 countries around the world.

We are a Pennsylvania corporation with our principal executive offices located at One PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15272. Our telephone number is (412) 434-3131.

PPG is a major, global supplier of coatings. The Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings reportable business segments supply coatings and specialty materials to customers in a wide array of end-uses, including industrial equipment and components; packaging material; aircraft and marine equipment; automotive original equipment; automotive refinish; as well as for other industrial and consumer products. PPG also serves commercial and residential new build and maintenance customers by supplying coatings to painting and maintenance contractors and directly to consumers for decoration and maintenance. The coatings industry is highly competitive and consists of several large firms with global presence and many firms serving local or regional markets. PPG competes in its primary markets with the world’s largest coatings companies, most of which have global operations, and many regional coatings companies. The primary specialty coatings and materials products produced by PPG are amorphous precipitated silicas for tire, battery separator and other end-uses; TESLIN® substrate used in such applications as e-passports, drivers’ licenses and identification cards; Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) materials for use in displays and lighting; optical lens materials and photochromic dyes for optical lenses and color-change products.

About This Prospectus

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may offer from time to time any of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that contains the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We also may provide important information in one or more reports filed by us with the SEC from time to time pursuant to the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read the documents we have referred to you in “Where You Can Find More Information” for additional information about us, including our financial statements.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding whether to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risks involved in an investment in our securities, as set forth in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the other risks described in any prospectus supplement or in any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In this prospectus, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on our management’s expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

You can identify these forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “would,” “should,” “will,” “will likely result,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “projects” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports to the SEC.

Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s forward-looking statements. Such factors include global economic conditions, increasing price and product competition by foreign and domestic competitors, fluctuations in cost and availability of raw materials, the ability to achieve selling price increases, the ability to recover margins, customer inventory levels, our ability to maintain favorable supplier relationships and arrangements, the timing of and the realization of anticipated cost savings from restructuring initiatives, the ability to identify additional cost savings opportunities, difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and achieving expected synergies therefrom, economic and political conditions in the markets we serve, the ability to penetrate existing, developing and emerging foreign and domestic markets, foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in such rates, fluctuations in tax rates, the impact of future legislation, the impact of environmental regulations, unexpected business disruptions, the effects of significant public health issues, the results of governmental actions relating to pending investigations, the results of derivative actions relating to the restatement of our financial statements and the unpredictability of existing and possible future litigation. However, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, while the list of factors presented here, in any prospectus supplement and in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 as updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, are considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.

Consequences of material differences in the results compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, lower sales or income, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties, other factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of any prospectus supplement, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific issuance of securities. Our general corporate purposes include, but are not limited to, (i) working capital, (ii) capital expenditures, (iii) investments in or loans to our subsidiaries or joint ventures, (iv) the repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, (v) the redemption or repurchase of our outstanding securities, (vi) funding of possible acquisitions, and (vii) satisfaction of other obligations of ours. Pending any such use, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities may be invested in short-term instruments. We will include a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of securities under this prospectus.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following is a general description of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time under this prospectus. The financial terms and other specific terms of the debt securities being offered will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the issuance of those securities. Those terms may vary from the terms described here. Although the debt securities that we may offer include debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars, we also may choose to offer debt securities in any other currency, including the euro.

The debt securities are governed by documents called “indentures.” The indentures are contracts between us and a financial institution acting as the trustee. 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 may act on your behalf, as described below under “—Events of Default—Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of the debt securities and the relevant indenture described in the related prospectus supplement, including definitions used in the relevant indenture. The particular terms of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, the relevant indenture and any relevant supplemental indenture may vary from the terms described below.

General

The debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We may issue senior debt securities under one or more senior indentures between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, including an existing Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2008, which we refer to in this prospectus as the existing indenture. In this prospectus, we refer to any indenture pursuant to which senior debt securities offered under this prospectus may be issued, including the existing indenture, as any such indenture may be supplemented in connection with an offering of senior debt securities under this prospectus, as a senior indenture. We may issue subordinated debt securities under one or more subordinated indentures between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. In this prospectus, we refer to any indenture pursuant to which subordinated debt securities offered under this prospectus may be issued, as any such indenture may be supplemented in connection with an offering of subordinated debt securities under this prospectus, as a subordinated indenture. Senior indentures and subordinated indentures are sometimes referred to collectively in this prospectus as indentures.

The existing indenture is, and each other indenture will be, governed by New York law. Copies of the existing indenture and forms of a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture pursuant to which we may issue debt securities that are offered under this prospectus have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these indentures.

 

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We may offer the debt securities from time to time in as many distinct series as we may choose. All debt securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of ours. Any senior debt securities that we offer under this prospectus will have the same rank as all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any subordinated debt securities that we offer under this prospectus will be subordinate in right of payment to our senior indebtedness. The existing indenture does not, and any other indenture will not, limit either the amount of debt that we may issue thereunder or the amount of other unsecured debt or other securities that we or our subsidiaries may issue.

Our primary sources of payment for our payment obligations under the debt securities will be revenues from our operations and investments and cash distributions from our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation whatsoever to pay any amounts due on debt securities issued by us or to make funds available to us. Our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us will depend upon their operating results and will be subject to applicable laws and contractual restrictions. The existing indenture does not, and any other indenture will not, restrict our subsidiaries from entering into agreements that prohibit or limit their ability to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us.

To the extent that we must rely on cash from our subsidiaries to pay amounts due on the debt securities, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all our subsidiaries’ liabilities, including their trade payables. This means that our subsidiaries may be required to pay all of their creditors in full before their assets are available to us. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of our subsidiaries, our claims would be effectively subordinated to any security interests in their assets and also could be subordinated to some or all other claims on their assets and earnings.

Other than the restrictions described below or any restrictions described in an applicable prospectus supplement, the existing indenture does not, and any other indenture and the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus will not, contain any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders of the debt securities if we participate in a highly leveraged transaction. In addition, the existing indenture does not, and any other indenture and the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus will not, contain provisions that give holders of debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their debt securities if our credit ratings decline due to a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or otherwise.

You should look in the applicable prospectus supplement for the following terms of the debt securities being offered:

 

   

the title of the debt securities;

 

   

if other than U.S. currency, the currency in which the debt securities may be purchased and the currency in which principal, premium, if any, and interest will be paid;

 

   

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the price at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

   

the date or dates on which the debt securities will mature and the right, if any, to extend the maturity date or dates;

 

   

the annual rate or rates, if any, at which the debt securities will bear interest, including the method of calculating interest if a floating rate is used;

 

   

the date or dates from which the interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which the interest will be payable or the manner of determination of the interest payment dates and the record dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable;

 

   

the place or places where principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable;

 

   

any redemption, repayment or sinking fund provision;

 

   

the application, if any, of defeasance provisions to the debt securities;

 

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if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the debt securities that would be payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities;

 

   

any obligation we may have to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities at the option of a holder upon the happening of any event and the terms and conditions of redemption, repurchase or repayment;

 

   

the form of debt securities, including whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of holders;

 

   

if the amount of payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities may be determined by reference to an index, the manner in which that amount will be determined;

 

   

any additional covenants applicable to the debt securities;

 

   

any additional events of default applicable to the debt securities;

 

   

the terms of subordination, if applicable;

 

   

the terms of conversion, if applicable;

 

   

any material provisions described in this prospectus that do not apply to the debt securities; and

 

   

any other material terms of the debt securities, including any additions, deletions or other changes to the terms described in this prospectus, and any terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that is below the prevailing market rate may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. Special federal income tax and other special considerations applicable to any discounted debt securities, or to debt securities issued at face value which are treated as having been issued at a discount for federal income tax purposes, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In addition to the debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we may issue other debt securities in public or private offerings from time to time. These other debt securities may be issued under documentation that is not described in this prospectus, and those debt securities may contain provisions materially different from the provisions applicable to one or more issues of debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

Restrictive Covenants

The existing indenture contains, and any other indenture will contain, certain covenants for the benefit only of holders of the debt securities governed by the applicable indenture. The covenants summarized below will apply to each series of debt securities issued pursuant to any of the indentures as long as any of those debt securities are outstanding, unless waived, amended or the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise.

Payment. We will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities at the place and time described in the debt securities. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will pay interest on any debt security to the person in whose name that security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for that interest payment.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the trustee or any paying agent for the payment of principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on any debt security that remains unclaimed for two years after that amount has become due and payable will be paid to us at our request. After this occurs, the holder of that debt security must look only to us for payment of that amount and not to the trustee or paying agent.

 

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Merger and Consolidation. We will not merge or consolidate with any other entity or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person, firm, corporation or other entity, except that we may merge or consolidate with, or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, any other entity if:

 

   

we are the continuing entity or the successor entity (if other than us) is organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, a State thereof or the District of Columbia and the successor entity expressly assumes payment of the principal of and interest on all the debt securities, and the performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the applicable indenture to be performed by us; and

 

   

there is no default under the applicable indenture.

Upon such a succession, we will be relieved from any further obligations under the applicable indenture. For purposes of this subsection, “substantially all of our assets” means, at any date, a portion of the non-current assets reflected in our consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the most recent quarterly period that represents at least 66 2/3% of the total reported value of such assets.

Waiver of Certain Covenants. Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, we may, with respect to the debt securities of any series, omit to comply with any covenant provided in the terms of those debt securities if, before the time for such compliance, holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series waive such compliance in that instance or generally.

Events of Default

You will have special rights if an Event of Default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. Unless described otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, the term “Event of Default” means any of the following with respect to an issue of debt securities offered under this prospectus:

 

   

we do not pay interest on an issue of debt securities within 30 days of the due date;

 

   

we do not pay the principal of or premium, if any, on an issue of debt securities on the applicable due date;

 

   

we do not pay any sinking fund installment on an issue of debt securities within 30 days of the due date;

 

   

we remain in breach of any other covenant or warranty in the debt securities of such series or in the applicable indenture for 90 days after we receive a notice of default stating that we are in breach, as provided in the applicable indenture;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; or

 

   

any other Event of Default described in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs.

Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. Unless provided otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, if an Event of Default has occurred and continues with respect to an issue of debt securities, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all of the debt securities of the affected series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a “declaration of acceleration of maturity.” Under some circumstances, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series.

The trustee under the existing indenture generally is not, and the trustee under any other indenture generally will not be, required to take any action under that indenture at the request of any holders unless one or more of the holders has provided to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.

 

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If reasonable protection from expenses and liabilities is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee and to waive certain past defaults regarding the relevant series. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in some circumstances.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing regarding a series of debt securities, the applicable trustee may use any sums that it holds under the relevant indenture for its own reasonable compensation and expenses incurred prior to paying the holders of debt securities of that series.

Before any holder of any series of debt securities may institute an action for any remedy, except payment on such holder’s debt security when due, the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding must request the trustee to take action. Holders must also offer and give the trustee satisfactory security and indemnity against liabilities incurred by the trustee for taking such action.

“Street Name” and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the applicable trustee and to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.

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

No Event of Default regarding one series of debt securities issued under an indenture is necessarily an Event of Default regarding any other series of debt securities issued under that indenture or otherwise.

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The following discussion of satisfaction and discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to a 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 applicable prospectus supplement.

Satisfaction and Discharge. Each indenture will be satisfied and discharged if:

 

   

we deliver to the trustee all debt securities then outstanding under that indenture for cancellation; or

 

   

all debt securities under that indenture not delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, are to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year and we deposit an amount sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of maturity, redemption or deposit (in the case of debt securities that have become due and payable), as the case may be, provided that in any case we have paid all other sums payable under that indenture.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The existing indenture provides, and any other indenture will provide, if such provision is made applicable to the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture, that:

 

   

we may elect either:

 

   

to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to any debt security of such series (except for the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt security, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) (“defeasance”); or

 

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to be released from our obligations with respect to the restrictions described above under “—Restrictive Covenants,” together with additional covenants that may be included for a particular series; and

 

   

the Events of Default described in the third, fourth and sixth bullets under “- Events of Default,” shall not be Events of Default under that indenture with respect to such series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the trustee (or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money or certain U.S. government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt security, on the scheduled due dates.

In the case of defeasance, the holders of such debt securities are entitled to receive payments in respect of such debt securities solely from such trust. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the applicable indenture) to the effect that the holders of the debt securities affected thereby will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance described above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable indenture.

Modification and Waiver

The existing indenture contains, and any other indenture will contain, provisions permitting us and the trustee to modify that indenture or enter into or modify any supplemental indenture without the consent of the holders of the debt securities in regard to matters as will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities, including, without limitation, the following:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another corporation to us;

 

   

to add to our covenants further covenants for the benefit or protection of the holders of any or all series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by that indenture;

 

   

to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities issued under that indenture;

 

   

to add to or change any of the provisions of that indenture to facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form with or without coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form;

 

   

to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of that indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities thereunder, under certain conditions designed to protect the rights of any existing holder of those debt securities;

 

   

to secure all or any series of debt securities issued under that indenture;

 

   

to establish the forms or terms of the debt securities of any series issued under that indenture;

 

   

to evidence the appointment of a successor trustee and to add to or change provisions of that indenture necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under that indenture by more than one trustee; or

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of that indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with another provision of that indenture or to make other amendments that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect.

We and the trustee under each indenture may otherwise modify that indenture or any supplemental indenture relating to that indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount

 

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of each series of debt securities affected thereby at the time outstanding, except that no such modifications shall, without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby:

 

   

change the fixed maturity of any debt securities or any installment of interest or principal on any debt securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or reduce the rate of interest or premium payable upon redemption, or reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount debt security or any other debt security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or change the currency in which the debt securities are payable or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment after the stated maturity thereof or the redemption date, if applicable, or adversely affect any right of the holder of any debt security to require us to repurchase that security;

 

   

reduce the percentage of debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any waiver or supplemental indenture;

 

   

modify the provisions of that indenture relating to the waiver of past defaults or the waiver of certain covenants or the provisions described in this section, except to increase any percentage set forth in those provisions or to provide that other provisions of that indenture may not be modified without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby;

 

   

change any obligation of ours to maintain an office or agency;

 

   

change any obligation of ours to pay additional amounts;

 

   

adversely affect the right of repayment or repurchase at the option of the holder; or

 

   

reduce or postpone any sinking fund or similar provision.

With respect to any vote of holders of a series of debt securities, we will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the applicable indenture.

“Street Name” and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or debt securities or request a waiver.

Subordinated Debt Securities

Although the existing senior indenture and the forms of senior indenture and subordinated indenture filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part are generally similar and many of the provisions discussed above pertain to both senior and subordinated debt securities, there are many substantive differences between the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This section discusses some of those differences.

Subordination. Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment to all senior indebtedness. “Senior indebtedness” is defined to mean, with respect to us, the principal, premium, if any, and interest, fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and other amounts owing with respect to all of our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whether outstanding on the date of the applicable subordinated indenture or the date debt securities of any series are issued under that indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless in any case in the instrument creating or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities or it is provided that such obligation is subordinated to senior indebtedness to substantially the same extent as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to senior indebtedness.

Terms of Subordinated Debt Securities May Contain Conversion or Exchange Provisions. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific terms

 

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discussed above that apply to the subordinated debt securities being offered thereby as well as any applicable conversion or exchange provisions.

Modification of an Indenture Relating to Subordinated Debt Securities. Each subordinated indenture may be modified by us and the trustee without the consent of the holders of the subordinated debt securities for one or more of the purposes discussed above under “—Modification and Waiver.” We and the trustee may also modify each subordinated indenture to make provision with respect to any conversion or exchange rights for a given issue of subordinated debt securities.

“Street Name” and Other Indirect Holders

Investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers generally will 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 that the bank or broker uses to hold its 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 payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle voting, if applicable;

 

   

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

 

   

if applicable, how it would pursue rights under your 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 each trustee under the indentures and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee under any of the indentures, run or will run, as the case may be, only to persons who are registered as holders of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture. As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold 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 debt security as described above under “—‘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 hold the debt securities in “Street Name.” We would do this by requiring that 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 issued in the form of a global 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 applicable prospectus supplement will indicate whether a series of debt securities will be issued only in the form of global securities and, if so, will describe the specific terms of the arrangement with the depositary.

 

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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.

An investor should be aware that if a series of debt securities is issued only in the form of global securities:

 

   

the investor cannot have debt securities of that series registered in his or her own name;

 

   

the investor cannot receive physical certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities of that series;

 

   

the investor will be a “Street Name” holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities of that series and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities of that series, as described under “—‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders”;

 

   

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

 

   

the depositary’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in the global security. Neither we nor the applicable trustee have or will have any responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. Also, neither we nor the applicable trustee do or will supervise the depositary in any way.

Special Situations When the Global Security Will be Terminated. In limited special situations, a 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 the investor. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have their interests in debt securities transferred to their own name so that they will be direct holders. The rights of “Street Name” investors and direct holders in debt securities have been previously described in 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 we do not appoint a successor depositary;

 

   

when an Event of Default on the applicable series of debt securities has occurred and has not been cured; and

 

   

at any time if we decide to terminate a global security.

The applicable 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, only the depositary is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer

Unless we inform you otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in registered form, without interest coupons, and only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We will not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We may, however, require the payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable for that registration.

 

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Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, in the same total principal amount and on the same terms but in different authorized denominations, in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent we designate. The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange when it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.

We will appoint the trustee under the applicable indenture as security registrar for the debt securities issued under that indenture. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents initially designated by us, we may at any time rescind that designation or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. We will be required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment with respect to debt securities we may offer under any of the indentures. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.

In the case of any redemption of debt securities offered under this prospectus, neither the security registrar nor the transfer agent will be required to register the transfer or exchange of any debt security during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

   

payments on a series of debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars by check mailed to the holder’s registered address or, with respect to global securities, through the depositary.

 

   

we will make interest payments to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment; and

 

   

the trustee under the applicable indenture will be designated as our paying agent for payments on debt securities issued under that indenture. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt securities under the applicable indenture that remain unclaimed for two years after the date when the payment was due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

We may issue, either separately or together with other securities, including as a part of units, shares of our common stock. Shares of common stock issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. Under our Restated Articles of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 1,200,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $1.66 2/3 per share. As of December 31, 2019, we had 235,680,470 shares of common stock issued and had reserved 6,714,907 additional shares of common stock for issuance under our stock compensation plans.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable for, or exercisable into, common stock, or the settlement of which may result in the issuance of common stock, will describe the relevant terms, including the number of shares offered, any initial offering price and market price and dividend information, as well as, if applicable, information on other related securities.

 

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The following summary is not complete and is not intended to give full effect to provisions of statutory or common law. You should refer to the applicable provisions of the following:

 

   

the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, as it may be amended from time to time;

 

   

our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as they may be amended or restated from time to time (“Restated Articles of Incorporation”); and

 

   

our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as they may be amended or restated from time to time (“Bylaws”).

Dividends. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for their payment subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock.

Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. There are no cumulative voting rights associated with our common stock.

Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to share equally in any of our assets available for distribution after the payment in full of all debts and distributions and after the holders of all series of our outstanding preferred stock have received their liquidation preferences in full.

Miscellaneous. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive or redemption rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. Shares of common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock. Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for the common stock.

Stock Exchange Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “PPG.”

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

We may elect to issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any offering of preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus. We may issue shares of preferred stock separately or as a part of units, and any such shares issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. Shares of our preferred stock may have dividend, redemption, voting and liquidation rights taking priority over our common stock, and shares of our preferred stock may be convertible into our common stock.

Our Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series of preferred stock and to fix the designation, powers (including but not limited to voting powers, if any), preferences and rights of the shares of each series of preferred stock and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each series of preferred stock. The number of authorized shares of preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common stock, without a vote of the holders of the preferred stock, or of any series of preferred stock, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock.

Our Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize our Board of Directors, without further shareholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of preferred stock have been issued.

 

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The particular terms of any series of preferred stock being offered by us under this prospectus will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:

 

   

the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

 

   

the purchase price of the preferred stock;

 

   

the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends will be paid and the date from which dividends will begin to accumulate;

 

   

any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred stock;

 

   

any conversion provisions of the preferred stock;

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; and

 

   

any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.

If the terms of any series of preferred stock being offered differ materially from the terms set forth in this prospectus, the definitive terms will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The summary in this prospectus is not complete. You should refer to the applicable Certificate of Amendment to our Restated Articles of Incorporation or certificate of designations, as the case may be, establishing a particular series of preferred stock, in either case which will be filed with the Secretary of State of Pennsylvania and the SEC in connection with an offering of preferred stock.

The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.

Dividend Rights. The preferred stock will be preferred over our common stock as to payment of dividends. Before any dividends or distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in common stock) on our common stock will be declared and set apart for payment or paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors. We will pay those dividends either in cash, shares of common stock or preferred stock or otherwise, at the rate and on the date or dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. With respect to each series of preferred stock, the dividends on each share of the series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share unless another date is set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series. Accruals of dividends will not bear interest.

Rights Upon Liquidation. The preferred stock will be preferred over our common stock as to assets so that the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to be paid, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up and before any distribution is made to the holders of common stock, the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, in this case the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any other or further payment. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock in amounts proportional to the full amounts to which the holders of each series are entitled.

Redemption. All shares of any series of preferred stock will be redeemable to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. All shares of any series of preferred stock will be convertible into shares of our common stock or into shares of any other series of our preferred stock to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series.

Voting Rights. Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series, the holders of preferred stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of preferred stock held by them on all matters properly presented to shareholders. The holders of common stock and the holders of all series of preferred stock will vote together as one class, except as indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Additional Series of Preferred Stock. In the event of a proposed merger or tender offer, proxy contest or other attempt to gain control of us and not approved by our Board of Directors, it would be possible for our Board of Directors to authorize the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock with voting rights or other rights and preferences which would impede the success of the proposed merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other attempt to gain control of us. This authority may be limited by applicable law, our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as they may amended or restated from time to time, and the applicable rules of the stock exchange upon which our common stock is listed. The consent of our shareholders would not be required for any such issuance of preferred stock.

Special Charter Provisions. Our Restated Articles of Incorporation contain various provisions that may discourage or delay attempts to gain control of PPG. Our Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that:

 

   

our Board of Directors is classified into three classes, with one class elected each year to serve a three-year term;

 

   

in addition to the requirements of law and the other provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of our common stock is required for the adoption or authorization of any of the following events:

 

   

certain mergers or consolidations of PPG or any subsidiary with or into other entities;

 

   

certain sales, leases, exchanges, mortgages, pledges, transfers or other dispositions (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any assets of PPG or any subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $10,000,000 or more;

 

   

certain issuances or sales by PPG or any subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of PPG or any subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $10,000,000 or more;

 

   

the adoption of certain plans or proposals for the liquidation or dissolution of PPG;

 

   

certain reclassifications of securities (including any reverse stock splits) or recapitalizations of PPG or certain transactions which have the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities of PPG or any subsidiary which are directly or indirectly owned by affiliates of PPG;

 

   

the removal of our directors from office with or without cause;

 

   

the amendment or repeal by shareholders of certain provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation;

 

   

except as otherwise provided by law, our Restated Articles of Incorporation or our Bylaws, our Bylaws may be amended or repealed only by action of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, subject to the power of the shareholders to change such action;

 

   

special meetings of the shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of our Board of Directors or by the Chairman of our Board of Directors and may not be called by any other person or persons or in any other manner; and

 

   

shareholders must provide advance notice if they wish to submit a proposal or nominate candidates for director at our annual meeting of shareholders.

In addition, Chapter 25 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law contains provisions that limit our ability to enter into certain business combination transactions with a shareholder owning 20% or more of our common stock.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, purchase contracts, units or depositary shares issued by us, in each case as described in this prospectus, or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants separately or as a part of units, and any such warrants issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. These warrants also may underlie any purchase contracts that may be offered under this prospectus. We may issue warrants in as many distinct series as we elect. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as otherwise described in an applicable prospectus supplement, any warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the applicable warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of such warrants.

A prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus will include specific terms relating to the offering of such warrants. We will file any warrant agreement and the form of any warrant offered under this prospectus with the SEC, and you should read the applicable warrant agreement and form of warrant for more information that may be important to you. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe some or all of the following terms which may apply to the warrants being offered:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the aggregate number of the warrants offered;

 

   

the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, purchase contracts, units or depositary shares, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, and procedures by which the number of securities purchasable may be adjusted;

 

   

the exercise price of the warrants;

 

   

the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

 

   

the designation and terms of any of our securities with which the warrants are issued;

 

   

if the warrants are issued as a unit with another one or more other securities described in this prospectus, the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the other securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

 

   

any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; and

 

   

any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants.

The preceding description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the applicable warrant agreement and form of warrant.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares, which represent an interest in fractional shares of our preferred stock, rather than full shares of our preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of our preferred stock. These depositary shares also may underlie any warrants or purchase contracts that may be offered under this prospectus.

 

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The shares of any series of our preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited with a depositary to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of our preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. Those rights include any applicable dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

We may issue depositary shares in as many distinct series as we elect. Each series of depositary shares will be issued under a separate deposit agreement to be entered into between us and the applicable depositary. Except as otherwise described in an applicable prospectus supplement, any depositary will act solely as our agent in connection with the applicable depositary shares and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of such depositary shares.

The prospectus supplement relating to any depositary shares that we may offer under this prospectus will include specific terms relating to the offering. We will file any deposit agreement and form of depositary receipt with the SEC, and you should read the deposit agreement and form of depositary receipt for more information that may be important to you.

The preceding description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of any depositary shares that we may offer under this prospectus contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable deposit agreement and form of depositary receipt.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more other securities described in this prospectus and issued by us, in each case as described in this prospectus, for the purchase or sale of our debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants, units or depositary shares. We may issue purchase contracts separately or as a part of units, and any such purchase contracts issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. These purchase contracts also may underlie any warrants that may be offered under this prospectus. The price of our debt securities, warrants, units or depositary shares, or the price per share of our common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, underlying the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts in as many distinct series as we elect. We may issue purchase contracts in as many distinct series as we elect. Each series of purchase contracts will be issued under a separate purchase contract agreement to be entered into between us and a purchase contract agent to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as otherwise described in an applicable prospectus supplement, any purchase contract agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the applicable purchase contracts and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of such purchase contracts.

A prospectus supplement relating to any purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus will include specific terms relating to the offering of such purchase contracts. We will file any purchase contract agreement and the form of any purchase contract offered under this prospectus with the SEC, and you should read the applicable purchase contract agreement and form of purchase contract for more information that may be important to you. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe some or all of the following terms which may apply to the purchase contracts being offered:

 

   

whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both, debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants, units or depositary shares, as applicable, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or method of determining those amounts;

 

   

whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

 

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whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of our debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants, units or depositary shares, as the case may be;

 

   

any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; and

 

   

whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered global form.

The preceding description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of any purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the applicable purchase contract agreement and form of purchase contract.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units comprised of two or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. These units also may underlie any warrants or purchase contracts that may be offered under this prospectus. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. We may issue units in as many distinct series as we elect. Each series of units will be issued under a separate unit agreement to be entered into between us and a unit agent to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as otherwise described in an applicable prospectus supplement, any unit agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the applicable units and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of such units.

A prospectus supplement relating to any units that we may offer under this prospectus will include specific terms relating to the offering of such units. We will file any unit agreement and the form of any unit certificate offered under this prospectus with the SEC, and you should read the applicable unit agreement and form of unit certificate for more information that may be important to you. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe some or all of the following terms which may apply to the units being offered:

 

   

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

   

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;

 

   

the terms of the unit agreement governing the units; and

 

   

whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

The preceding description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of any units that we may offer under this prospectus contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable unit agreement and form of unit certificate.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may offer the offered securities in one or more of the following ways, or any other way set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement from time to time:

 

   

to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters;

 

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through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public;

 

   

through dealers or agents; or

 

   

to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions.

The prospectus supplement for each series of securities we sell will describe the offering, including:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters;

 

   

the purchase price and the proceeds to us from that sale;

 

   

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

   

any commissions paid to agents;

 

   

the initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

Underwriters

If underwriters are used in a sale, we will execute an underwriting agreement with them regarding those securities. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase these securities will be subject to conditions, and the underwriters must purchase all of these securities if any are purchased.

The securities subject to the underwriting agreement may be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold by them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from the purchasers of these securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell these securities to or through dealers. These dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any initial offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may authorize underwriters to solicit offers by institutions to purchase the securities subject to the underwriting agreement from us, at the public offering price stated in the applicable prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. If we sell securities under these delayed delivery contracts, the applicable prospectus supplement will state that this is the case and will describe the conditions to which these delayed delivery contracts will be subject and the commissions payable for that solicitation.

In connection with underwritten offerings of the securities, the underwriters may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, as follows:

 

   

Over-allotment transactions involve sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position for the underwriters.

 

   

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

   

Covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions.

 

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Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a broker/dealer when the securities originally sold by that broker/dealer are repurchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it otherwise would be in the absence of these transactions. If these transactions occur, they may be discontinued at any time.

Agents

We also may sell any of the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of these securities and will list commissions payable by us to these agents in the applicable prospectus supplement. These agents will be acting on a best efforts basis to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment, unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Direct Sales

We may sell any of the securities directly to purchasers. In this case, we will not engage underwriters or agents in the offer and sale of these securities.

In addition, debt securities described in this prospectus may be issued upon the exercise of warrants or the settlement of purchase contracts or units.

Indemnification

We may indemnify underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may agree to contribute to payments that these underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

No Assurance of Liquidity

The securities we offer may be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters that purchase securities from us may make a market in these securities. The underwriters will not be obligated, however, to make a market and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice to holders of the securities. We cannot assure you that there will be liquidity in the trading market for any securities of any series.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of the offered securities will be passed upon for us by K&L Gates LLP, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management Report on Establishing and Maintaining Adequate Internal Control Over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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LOGO

PPG Industries, Inc.

$                         % Notes due 20    

Joint Book-Running Managers

BNP PARIBAS

PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

 

                         , 2021