Prospectus • Jun 17, 2025
Prospectus
Open in ViewerOpens in native device viewer

(incorporated with limited liability in England and Wales under registered number 4083914)
Compass Group PLC (the "Issuer") has established a Euro Medium Term Note Programme (the "Programme") described in this Base Prospectus under which notes ("Notes") may be issued.
This Base Prospectus has been approved by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), as competent authority under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom ("UK") by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("EUWA") (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"). The FCA only approves this Base Prospectus as meeting the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency imposed by the UK Prospectus Regulation. Such approval should not be considered as an endorsement of the Issuer or as an endorsement of the quality of any Notes that are the subject of this Base Prospectus. Investors should make their own assessment as to the suitability of investing in such Notes.
Application has been made for the Notes (other than the Exempt Notes (as defined below)) to be admitted during the period of 12 months after the date hereof to listing on the Official List of the FCA and to trading within the period of 12 months from the date of this Base Prospectus on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange plc (the "Main Market"). This Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time) is valid for a period of 12 months from the date of approval.
The requirement to publish a prospectus under the UK Prospectus Regulation only applies to Notes which are to be admitted to trading on a regulated market in the United Kingdom and/or offered to the public in the United Kingdom other than in circumstances where an exemption is available under Article 1(4) and/or 3(2) of the UK Prospectus Regulation. References in this Base Prospectus to "Exempt Notes" are to Notes issued under the Programme for which no prospectus is required to be published under the UK Prospectus Regulation or under the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended. The FCA has neither approved nor reviewed information contained in this Base Prospectus in connection with Exempt Notes. The applicable pricing supplement (the "Pricing Supplement") in respect of the issue of any Exempt Notes will specify whether or not such Exempt Notes will be admitted to listing or trading on any stock exchanges and/or markets, if applicable.
The Notes have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and Notes in bearer form are subject to U.S. tax law requirements. The Notes may not be offered, sold or (in the case of Notes in bearer form) delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S")) except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
The Issuer has been assigned a rating of A by S&P Global Ratings UK Limited ("Standard and Poor's") and a rating of A2 by Moody's Investors Service Ltd. ("Moody's"). Each of Standard and Poor's and Moody's is a credit rating agency established and operating in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation"). Each of Standard and Poor's and Moody's appears on the latest update of the list of registered credit rating agencies (as of 12 June 2025) on the UK FCA's Financial Services Register. The ratings each of Standard and Poor's and Moody's have given to the Issuer are endorsed by S&P Global Ratings Europe Limited and Moody's Deutschland GmbH respectively, both of which are established in the European Economic Area ("EEA") and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation"). Tranches of Notes issued under the Programme may be rated or unrated. Where a Tranche of Notes is rated, such rating(s) will not necessarily be the same as the ratings described above or the rating(s) assigned to Notes already issued. The rating(s) assigned to a particular Tranche of Notes issued under the Programme will be disclosed in the Final Terms. A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold Notes and may be subject to suspension, change or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.
Arranger and Permanent Dealer CITIGROUP 13 June 2025
| IMPORTANT NOTICES1 | |
|---|---|
| FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS5 | |
| GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME6 | |
| RISK FACTORS10 | |
| INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 19 | |
| FINAL TERMS, PRICING SUPPLEMENT AND DRAWDOWN PROSPECTUSES 21 | |
| FORMS OF THE NOTES22 | |
| TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES 28 | |
| FORM OF FINAL TERMS62 | |
| FORM OF PRICING SUPPLEMENT74 | |
| USE OF PROCEEDS87 | |
| DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUER88 | |
| TAXATION 94 | |
| SUBSCRIPTION AND SALE97 | |
| TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS 101 | |
| GENERAL INFORMATION 102 |
This Base Prospectus (together with any supplementary prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference, the "Base Prospectus") contains summary information provided by the Issuer in connection with the Programme under which the Issuer may issue and have outstanding at any time Notes up to a maximum aggregate amount (together with Notes historically issued by Compass Group Finance Netherlands B.V. under the Programme) of £6,000,000,000 or its equivalent in alternative currencies. Under the Programme, the Issuer may issue Notes outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S. The Issuer has, pursuant to an amended and restated dealer agreement dated 13 June 2025 (the "Dealer Agreement"), appointed Citigroup Global Markets Limited as a dealer for the Notes (together with any dealers for the day, the "Dealers"), and authorised and requested the Dealers to circulate the Base Prospectus in connection with the Programme on their behalf to purchasers or potential purchasers of the Notes.
The Issuer accepts responsibility for the information contained in this Base Prospectus and the Final Terms (as defined below) for each Tranche (as defined herein) of Notes issued under the Programme and declares that, to the best of its knowledge the information contained in this Base Prospectus and any Final Terms is, in accordance with the facts and the Base Prospectus makes no omission likely to affect its import.
Each Tranche (as defined herein) of Notes will be issued on the terms set out herein under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes" (the "Conditions") as completed by a document specific to such Tranche called final terms (the "Final Terms") or (in the case of Exempt Notes) a Pricing Supplement or in a separate prospectus specific to such Tranche (the "Drawdown Prospectus") as described under "Final Terms, Pricing Supplements and Drawdown Prospectuses" below. In the case of a Tranche of Notes which is the subject of a Pricing Supplement or a Drawdown Prospectus, each reference in this Base Prospectus to information being specified or identified in the relevant Final Terms shall be read and construed as a reference to such information being specified or identified in the relevant Pricing Supplement (in the case of Exempt Notes) or Drawdown Prospectus unless the context requires otherwise. This Base Prospectus must be read and construed together with any amendments or supplements hereto and with any information incorporated by reference herein and, in relation to any Tranche of Notes which is the subject of Final Terms, must be read and construed together with the relevant Final Terms.
The Issuer has confirmed to the Dealers named under "Subscription and Sale" below that this Base Prospectus contains all information which is (in the context of the Programme, the issue, offering and sale of the Notes) material; that such information is true and accurate in all material respects and is not misleading in any material respect; that any opinions, predictions or intentions expressed herein are honestly held or made and are not misleading in any material respect; that this Base Prospectus does not omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information, opinions, predictions or intentions (in the context of the Programme, the issue, offering and sale of the Notes) not misleading in any material respect; and that all proper enquiries have been made to verify the foregoing.
The Issuer confirms that any information in this Base Prospectus from third-party sources has been accurately reproduced and that, so far as it is aware and is able to ascertain from information published by such third-party source, no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading.
No person has been authorised to give any information or to make any representation not contained in or not consistent with this Base Prospectus or any other document entered into in relation to the Programme or any information supplied by the Issuer, or such other information as is in the public domain and, if given or made, such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorised by any of the Issuer, the Trustee or any Dealer.
None of the Trustee, the Dealers nor any of their respective affiliates have authorised the whole or any part of this Base Prospectus and none of them makes any representation or warranty or accepts any responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Base Prospectus. Neither the delivery of this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms nor the offering, sale or delivery of any Note shall, in any circumstances, create any implication that the information contained in this Base Prospectus is true subsequent to the date hereof or the date upon which this Base Prospectus has been most recently amended or supplemented or that there has been no adverse change, or any event reasonably likely to involve any adverse change, in the prospects or financial performance or financial position of the Issuer since the date thereof or, if later, the date upon which this Base Prospectus has been most recently amended or supplemented or that any other information supplied in connection with the Programme is correct at any time subsequent to the date on which it is supplied or, if different, the date indicated in the document containing the same.
The distribution of this Base Prospectus and any Final Terms and the offering, sale and delivery of the Notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms comes are required by the Issuer and the Dealers to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. For a description of certain restrictions on offers, sales and deliveries of Notes and on the distribution of this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms and other offering material relating to the Notes, see "Subscription and Sale" and "Transfer Restrictions".
In particular, the Notes have not been, nor will they be, registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and Notes in bearer form are subject to U.S. tax law requirements. The Notes may not be offered, sold or (in the case of Notes in bearer form) delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S) except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
The Notes may be offered and sold in bearer form or registered form outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S. For a description of these and certain further restrictions on offers, sales and transfers of Notes, see "Subscription and Sale" and "Transfer Restrictions".
NEITHER THE PROGRAMME NOR THE NOTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE "SEC"), ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER U.S. REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAS ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF ANY OFFERING OF NOTES OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS BASE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IMPORTANT – EEA RETAIL INVESTORS - If the Final Terms (as defined below) in respect of any Notes includes a legend entitled "Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors", the Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. 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, "EU MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended or superseded, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No. 1286/2014 (as amended, the "EU 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 EU PRIIPs Regulation.
IMPORTANT – UK RETAIL INVESTORS - If the Final Terms (as defined below) in respect of any Notes includes a legend entitled "Prohibition of Sales to UK Retail Investors", the Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the 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 in the UK by virtue of the EUWA; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("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 in the UK by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No. 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK 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.
EU MiFID II PRODUCT GOVERNANCE / TARGET MARKET – The Final Terms (as defined below) in respect of any Notes may include a legend entitled "EU MiFID II Product Governance" which will outline the target market assessment in respect of the Notes and which channels for distribution of the Notes are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to EU MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.
A determination will be made in relation to each issue of Notes about whether, for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the "EU MiFID Product Governance Rules"), any Dealer subscribing for any Notes is a manufacturer in respect of such Notes, but otherwise neither the Arranger nor the Dealers nor any of their respective affiliates will be a manufacturer for the purpose of the EU MiFID Product Governance Rules.
UK MiFIR PRODUCT GOVERNANCE / TARGET MARKET – The Final Terms (as defined below) in respect of any Notes may include a legend entitled "UK MiFIR Product Governance" which will outline the target market assessment in respect of the Notes and which channels for distribution of the Notes are appropriate. Any distributor should take into consideration the target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to UK MiFIR is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.
A determination will be made in relation to each issue about whether, for the purpose of the UK MiFIR product governance rules set out in the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules"), any Dealer subscribing for any Notes is a manufacturer in respect of such Notes, but otherwise neither the Arranger nor the Dealers nor any of their respective affiliates will be a manufacturer for the purpose of the UK MIFIR Product Governance Rules.
UK BENCHMARKS REGULATION – Interest and/or other amounts payable under the Notes may be calculated by reference to certain reference rates. Any such reference rates may constitute a benchmark for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK Benchmarks Regulation"). If any such reference rate does constitute such a benchmark, the Final Terms will indicate whether or not the benchmark is provided by an administrator included in the register of administrators and benchmarks established and maintained by FCA pursuant to Article 36 of the UK Benchmarks Regulation. The registration status of any administrator under the UK Benchmarks Regulation is a matter of public record and, save where required by applicable law, the Issuer does not intend to update the Final Terms to reflect any change in the registration status of the administrator. Neither this Base Prospectus nor any Final Terms constitutes an offer or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase any Notes and should not be considered as a recommendation by the Issuer, the Trustee, the Dealers or any of them that any recipient of this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms should subscribe for or purchase any Notes. Each recipient of this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms shall be taken to have made its own investigation and appraisal of the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Issuer.
The Final Terms in respect of any Notes may include a legend entitled "Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification" which will state the product classification of the Notes pursuant to section 309B(1) of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the "SFA"). If applicable, the Issuer will make a determination in relation to each issue about the classification of the Notes being offered for the purposes of section 309B(1)(a). Any such legend included on the relevant Final Terms will constitute notice to "relevant persons" for the purposes of section 309B(1)(c) of the SFA.
The maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any one time under the Programme will not exceed £6,000,000,000 (and for this purpose, any Notes denominated in another currency shall be translated into Sterling at the date of the agreement to issue such Notes (calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Dealer Agreement). The maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be outstanding at any one time under the Programme may be increased from time to time, subject to compliance with the relevant provisions of the Dealer Agreement as defined under "Subscription and Sale".
In this Base Prospectus, unless otherwise specified, references to a "Member State" are references to a Member State of the European Economic Area, references to "U.S.\$", "U.S. dollars" or "dollars" are to United States dollars, references to "Euro", "euro", "EUR" or "€" are to the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of European economic and monetary union, and as defined in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the Euro as amended, and references to "Sterling", or "£" are to pounds sterling.
Certain figures included in this Base Prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments; accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures which precede them.
This Base Prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in the United Kingdom will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of Notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in the UK of Notes which are the subject of an offering contemplated in this Base Prospectus as completed by Final Terms, a Pricing Supplement (in the case of Exempt Notes) or a Drawdown Prospectus in relation to the offer of those Notes may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation, in each case, in relation to such offer. Neither the Issuer nor any Dealer have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.
The Notes may not be a suitable investment for all investors. Each potential investor in the Notes must make its own assessment as to the suitability of that investment in light of its own circumstances. In particular, each potential investor should:
Some Notes are complex financial instruments. Sophisticated institutional investors generally do not purchase complex financial instruments as stand-alone investments. They purchase complex financial instruments as a way to reduce risk or enhance yield with an understood, measured, appropriate addition of risk to their overall portfolios. A potential investor should not invest in Notes which are complex financial instruments unless it has the expertise (either alone or with a financial adviser) to evaluate how the Notes will perform under changing conditions, the resulting effects on the value of the Notes and the impact this investment will have on the potential investor's overall investment portfolio.
In connection with the issue of any Tranche of Notes, the Dealer or Dealers (if any) named as the Stabilisation Manager(s) (or persons acting on behalf of any Stabilisation Manager(s)) may over allot Notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur. Any stabilisation action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the relevant Tranche of Notes is made and, if begun, may cease at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue date of the relevant Tranche of Notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the relevant Tranche of Notes. Any stabilisation action or overallotment must be conducted by the Stabilisation Manager(s) (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilisation Manager(s)) in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.
This Base Prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "targets", "aims", "estimate", "project", "will", "would", "may", "could", "continue" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Base Prospectus, including, without limitation, those regarding the financial position, business strategy, management plans and objectives for future operations of the Issuer are forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the Issuer's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Issuer's present and future business strategies and the environment in which it expects to operate in the future.
Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Issuer speak only as at the date they are made. The Issuer does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
This overview must be read as an introduction to this Base Prospectus and any decision to invest in the Notes should be based on a consideration of the Base Prospectus as a whole, including any information incorporated by reference.
Words and expressions defined in the "Terms and Conditions of the Notes" below or elsewhere in this Base Prospectus have the same meanings in this summary.
| Issuer: | Compass Group PLC |
|---|---|
| Risk Factors: | Investing in Notes issued under the Programme involves certain risks. The principal risk factors that may affect the ability of the Issuer to fulfil its obligations under the Notes are discussed under "Risk Factors" below. |
| Arranger: | Citigroup Global Markets Limited |
| Dealers: | Citigroup Global Markets Limited and any other Dealer appointed from time to time by the Issuer either generally in respect of the Programme or in relation to a particular Tranche of Notes. |
| Trustee: | Citicorp Trustee Company Limited |
| Principal Paying Agent: | The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch |
| Paying Agent and Registrar: | The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Luxembourg |
| Final Terms, Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus: |
Notes issued under the Programme may be issued either (1) pursuant to this Base Prospectus and associated Final Terms or (in the case of Exempt Notes) Pricing Supplement or (2) pursuant to a Drawdown Prospectus. The terms and conditions applicable to any particular Tranche of Notes will be the Conditions as completed in the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be supplemented, amended and/or replaced to the extent described in the relevant Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus. |
| Listing and Trading: | Applications have been made for Notes (other than Exempt Notes) to be admitted during the period of twelve months after the date hereof to listing on the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Exempt Notes may be unlisted and/or may be admitted to trading on a market or stock exchange (in circumstances where the |
| provisions of the UK Prospectus Regulation do not apply). | |
| Clearing Systems: | Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or, in relation to any Tranche of Notes, any other clearing system as may be specified in the relevant Final Terms. |
| Initial Programme Amount: | Up to £6,000,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any one time. The Programme amount may be increased at any time, subject to compliance with the relevant provisions of the Dealer Agreement as defined under "Subscription and Sale". |
| Issuance in Series: | Notes will be issued in Series. Each Series may comprise one or more Tranches issued on different issue dates. The Notes of each Series will all be subject to identical terms, except that the issue date, the issue price and the amount of the first payment of |
interest may be different in respect of different Tranches. The Notes of each Tranche will all be subject to identical terms in all respects save that a Tranche may comprise Notes of different denominations.
Forms of Notes: Notes may be issued in bearer form or in registered form. Bearer Notes (as defined below) will not be exchangeable for Registered Notes (as defined below) and Registered Notes will not be exchangeable for Bearer Notes. No single Series or Tranche may comprise both Bearer Notes and Registered Notes.
Each Tranche of Bearer Notes will initially be in the form of either a Temporary Global Note (as defined below) or a Permanent Global Note (as defined below), in each case as specified in the relevant Final Terms. Each Global Note will be deposited on or around the relevant issue date with a common depositary or common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system. Each Temporary Global Note will be exchangeable for a Permanent Global Note or, if so specified in the relevant Final Terms, for Definitive Notes (as defined below). If the TEFRA D Rules are specified in the relevant Final Terms as applicable, certification as to non-U.S. beneficial ownership will be a condition precedent to any exchange of an interest in a Temporary Global Note or receipt of any payment of interest in respect of a Temporary Global Note. Each Permanent Global Note will be exchangeable for Definitive Notes in accordance with its terms. Definitive Notes will, if interest-bearing, have Coupons attached and, if appropriate, a Talon for further Coupons.
Each Tranche of Registered Notes will be represented by either:
in each case as specified in the relevant Final Terms.
Each Note represented by Global Note Certificate will be registered in the name of a common depositary (or its nominee) for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system and the relevant Global Note Certificate will be deposited on or about the issue date with the common depositary.
Currencies: Notes may be denominated in sterling, euro, U.S. dollars or in any other currency or currencies, subject to compliance with all applicable legal and/or regulatory and/or central bank requirements. Payments in respect of Notes may, subject to such compliance, be made in and/or linked to, any currency or currencies other than the currency in which such Notes are denominated.
Status of the Notes: Notes will be issued on an unsubordinated basis. Issue Price: Notes will be issued at any price on a fully paid basis. The price and amount of Notes to be issued under the Programme will be set out in the relevant final terms.
| Maturities: | Any maturity, subject, in relation to specific currencies, to compliance with all applicable legal and/or regulatory and/or central bank requirements. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Any Notes having a maturity of less than one year must (a) have a minimum redemption value of £100,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and be issued only to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses; or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or (b) be issued in other circumstances which do not constitute a contravention of section 19 of the FSMA. |
||
| Exempt Notes: | The Issuer may agree with any Dealer that Exempt Notes may be issued in a form not contemplated by the Conditions, in which event the relevant provisions will be included in the applicable Pricing Supplement. |
|
| Redemption: | Notes may be redeemable at par or at such other Redemption Amount as may be specified in the relevant Final Terms. Notes may also be redeemable in two or more instalments on such dates and in such manner as may be specified in the relevant Final Terms. |
|
| Optional Redemption: | Notes may be redeemed before their stated maturity at the option of the Issuer (either in whole or in part) and/or the Noteholders to the extent (if at all) specified in the relevant Final Terms. |
|
| Optional Redemption (Restructuring Put Event or a Cross Put Event): |
Notes may be redeemed before their stated maturity at the option of the Noteholders on the occurrence of a Restructuring Put Event or a Cross Put Event as described in Condition 9(e)(ii) (Redemption (Restructuring Put Event or a Cross Put Event)). |
|
| Tax Redemption: | Except as described in "Optional Redemption" above, early redemption will only be permitted for tax reasons as described in Condition 9(b) (Redemption and Purchase - Redemption for tax reasons). |
|
| Interest: | Notes may be interest-bearing or non-interest bearing. Interest (if any) may accrue at a fixed rate or at a floating rate calculated |
|
| by reference to EURIBOR, SONIA or the SONIA (i) Compounded Index; or |
||
| in the case of Exempt Notes, on such other basis as may (ii) be agreed by the Issuer and the relevant Dealer, |
||
| and the method of calculating interest may vary between the issue date and the maturity date of the relevant Series. |
||
| Denominations: | Notes will be issued in such denominations as may be specified in the relevant Final Terms, subject to compliance with all applicable legal and/or regulatory and/or central bank requirements and/or the regulations of the applicable securities system in which the Notes are issued, provided that Notes which are admitted to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange or offered to the public in the UK will only be issued in minimum denominations of at least EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency). Notes may be issued under the |
| Programme in minimum Specified Denominations and integral multiples in excess thereof of another smaller amount. |
|
|---|---|
| Negative Pledge: | The Notes will have the benefit of a negative pledge as described in Condition 5 (Negative Pledge). |
| Cross Default: | The Notes will have the benefit of a cross default as described in Condition 13 (Events of Default). |
| Taxation: | All payments in respect of Notes will be made free and clear of withholding taxes of the United Kingdom unless the withholding is required by law. In that event, the Issuer will (subject as provided in Condition 12 (Taxation)) pay such additional amounts as will result in the Noteholders receiving such amounts as they would have received in respect of such Notes had no such withholding been required. |
| Governing Law: | The Notes and the Trust Deed and all non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with the Notes and the Trust Deed are governed by English law. |
| Ratings: | Notes issued under the Programme may be rated or unrated. A rating is not a recommendation to buy, hold or sell securities and may be subject to suspension or withdrawal at any time. |
| Selling Restrictions: | For a description of certain restrictions on offers, sales and deliveries of Notes and on the distribution of offering material in the United States of America, the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Japan and Singapore see "Subscription and Sale" below. |
The Issuer believes that the following factors may affect its ability to fulfil its obligations under Notes issued under the Programme which may in turn result in investors losing the value of their investment.
In addition, factors which are material for the purpose of assessing the market risks associated with Notes issued under the Programme are also described below.
The Issuer believes that the factors described below represent the principal risks inherent in investing in Notes issued under the Programme, but the inability of the Issuer to pay interest, principal or other amounts on or in connection with any Notes may occur for other reasons and the Issuer does not represent that the statements below regarding the risks of holding any Notes are exhaustive. Prospective investors should also read the detailed information set out elsewhere in this Base Prospectus (including any documents incorporated by reference herein) and reach their own views prior to making any investment decision.
Words and expressions defined in the "Terms and Conditions of the Notes" below or elsewhere in this Base Prospectus have the same meanings in this section.
The impact of climate change on the environment may lead to issues around food sourcing and security, and supply chain continuity in some of the Group's markets. Issues in these areas could affect the availability of some food products, and potentially may lead to food cost inflation. Failure to address the impact of climate change or prepare for the operational impact of climate change related events could have an adverse effect on the Group's business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations.
The Group's businesses feed millions of consumers every day. For that reason, setting the highest standards for food hygiene and safety is paramount. Safety breaches could cause serious business interruption and could result in criminal and/or civil prosecution, increased costs and potential damage to the Group's reputation and adversely affect the Group's business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations.
The Group's businesses employ hundreds of thousands of people globally. Ensuring the safety of its employees, consumers, and suppliers is the Group's top priority. Failure to comply with workplace safety standards can result in injuries to employees, clients and consumers, or other third parties, potentially causing operational disruptions and adverse financial, legal, and reputational consequences to the Group.
The Group's operations were significantly disrupted due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and associated containment measures. The Group recovered well and learned from the pandemic, and this risk is now diminished. However, outbreaks of another pandemic, could cause further business risk and may adversely affect the Group's business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations.
Attracting, retaining and motivating the best people with the right skills, at all levels of the organisation, is key to the long-term success of the Group. Changes to economic conditions may increase the risk of attrition at all levels of the organisation. The Group's business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations may be adversely affected if the Group's businesses are not able to attract, retain and motivate suitable personnel with the right skills, at all levels of the organisation.
The Group's growth ambitions rely on sustainably driving positive net new business through securing and retaining a diverse range of clients. The Group's businesses contract with a large number of clients. Failure to comply with the terms of these contracts, including proper delivery of services, could lead to the loss of business and/or claims. The potential loss of material client contracts and the inability to secure additional new contracts in a competitive market is a risk to the Group's businesses. The emergence of new industry participants and traditional competition using disruptive technology could adversely affect the Group's businesses. A failure to manage any one of these risks may adversely affect the Group's business, financial condition and operational results.
The conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have increased geopolitical risks, heightened national security threats in those regions, and disrupted the global energy market. These factors contribute to risks such as economic volatility including cost inflation and cybersecurity threats. A deterioration in any of these areas may have an adverse impact on the Group's business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations.
Certain sectors of the Group's businesses could be susceptible to negative shifts in the economy and employment rates. Whilst the Group has strategically exited a number of countries with high economic volatility, the recent global market instability has increased the potential risks of economic volatility in the Group's primary markets. Failure to manage economic volatility could adversely impact the Group's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Ineffective compliance management systems, lack of an embedded business integrity culture or serious violation of the Group's policies, relevant laws, or regulations (including but not limited to anti-bribery and corruption, anti-competitive behaviour, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, trade and economic sanctions, human rights and modern slavery, and data protection), could result in civil and/or criminal proceedings leading to significant fines, sanctions, financial loss and reputational harm to the Group.
Regulatory expectations and new laws in these areas are being introduced in certain countries and regions, with a heightened focus on corporate enforcement, accountability and supply chain resilience. A failure to manage any of these risks could adversely impact the Group's business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations.
The digital world creates increasing risk for global businesses including, but not limited to, technology failures, loss of confidential data, data privacy breaches and damage to brand reputation through, for example, the increased threat of cyber-attacks, and use and instantaneous nature of social media. Disruption caused by the failure of key software applications, security controls, or underlying infrastructure, or disruption caused by cyber-attacks could impact day-to-day operations and management decision-making or result in a regulatory fine or other sanction and/or third-party claims. The incidence of sophisticated phishing and malware attacks (including ransomware) on businesses is rising with an increase in the number of companies suffering operational disruption, unauthorised access to and/or loss of data, including confidential, commercial, and personal identifiable data.
A combination of geopolitical instability and accessibility of sophisticated AI enabled tools and techniques have contributed to an increase in the risk of phishing and malware attacks including ransomware across all industries. The democratisation of generative AI has given widespread access to powerful online AI services for content creation. This opportunity presents several risks including to data privacy and confidentiality.
The occurrence of any such events may have an adverse effect on the Group's reputation, business, financial condition, operations and the results of operations.
At any one point in time the Group will hold a significant level of trade receivables and is therefore exposed to the risk that it may not be able to collect the full value of its trade receivables if the creditworthiness of its individual clients was to deteriorate. The Group's overall credit risk is limited as a result of the diverse and unrelated nature of its client base. However, an economic downturn could affect the solvency of clients and adversely affect the Group's business, financial condition and the results of operations.
The Group's subsidiaries and associated companies operate in a number of countries and will generally buy and sell goods and services in their local currencies. However, on consolidation the local currency results and closing balance sheets will be translated into US dollars, which, from 1 October 2023, is the Issuer's reporting currency. Prior to this date the Issuer's reporting currency was Sterling. The Issuer is only partially protected from the impact of exchange rate fluctuations through the matching of cash flows to currency borrowings. The Issuer's consolidated financial statements will therefore be affected (either positively or negatively) by fluctuations in the currencies of its underlying businesses.
While the Issuer implements currency hedging policies, the US dollar value of both its net debt and operating profits may fluctuate as exchange rates vary.
The Group raises finance in both the public markets and the US private placement market and therefore depends on access to investors in these capital markets. The Group also uses committed and uncommitted bank loans, other lines of credit and commercial paper to cover its liquidity needs. Global events have, from time to time, resulted in the closure of the debt capital markets and a reduced capacity within the bank and private placement market to provide credit lines or loans. Whilst the Group has successfully raised funds in the equity markets in the past and would expect to be able to do so again, there can be no assurance that it will be able to continue to do so.
Reduced appetite for the Group's debt instruments in such markets could limit the ability of the Group to fund operations and therefore adversely affect the Group's business and financial condition.
The Group's debt service costs are subject to variations in the underlying interest rates. Central banks including the Federal Reserve in the US, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank continue to take steps to manage interest rates and inflation. In order to mitigate the impact of interest rate fluctuation, the Issuer's policy is to fix the interest rates on its principal debt currencies so that, in the short term, it is not materially exposed to changes in interest rates. Sustained long-term increases in interest rates could adversely affect the financial condition and operating results of the Issuer.
The Issuer is a non-trading investment holding company and is the parent company of the Group. As a result, the assets of the Issuer consist principally of its shareholdings in and loans to other companies in the Group. The ability of the Issuer to satisfy payment obligations under the Notes is dependent upon its receipt of dividend and interest payments from other members of the Group. In circumstances where one or more of the risks referred to herein arises and adversely affects the business, financial condition, operations or operational results of any member of the Group there may in turn be an adverse effect on the ability of that member of the Group to make dividend and/or interest payments to the Issuer, so as to enable the Issuer to satisfy its payment obligations under the Notes.
The Group may acquire businesses and it makes capital investments. Difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, or realising the expected synergies or benefits of capital investment, may have an adverse effect on the Group's business, financial condition, operations and results of operations.
An optional redemption feature of Notes is likely to limit their market value. During any period when the Issuer may elect to redeem Notes, the market value of those Notes generally will not rise substantially above the price at which they can be redeemed. This also may be true prior to any redemption period.
The Issuer may be expected to redeem Notes when its cost of borrowing is lower than the interest rate on the Notes. At those times, an investor generally would not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the Notes being redeemed and may only be able to do so at a significantly lower rate. Potential investors should consider reinvestment risk in light of other investments available at that time.
The market values of securities issued at a substantial discount or premium from their principal amount tend to fluctuate more in relation to general changes in interest rates than do prices for conventional interestbearing securities. Generally, the longer the remaining terms of the securities, the greater the price volatility as compared to conventional interest-bearing securities with comparable maturities.
The Conditions contain provisions for calling meetings (including by way of conference call using an audio or video conference platform) of Noteholders to consider matters affecting their interests generally. These provisions permit defined majorities to bind all Noteholders including Noteholders who did not attend and vote at the relevant meeting and Noteholders who voted in a manner contrary to the majority.
The Conditions and the Trust Deed also provide that the Trustee may, without the consent of Noteholders, agree to (i) any modification of, or to the waiver or authorisation of any breach or proposed breach of, any of the provisions of Notes or (ii) determine without the consent of the Noteholders that any Event of Default or potential Event of Default shall not be treated as such or (iii) the substitution of another company as principal debtor under any Notes in place of the Issuer, in the circumstances described in Condition 17 (Meeting of Noteholders; Modification and Waiver; Substitution) of the Conditions.
The conditions of the Notes are based on English law in effect as at the date of this Base Prospectus. No assurance can be given as to the impact of any possible judicial decision or change of law or administrative practice after the date of this Base Prospectus.
In relation to any issue of Notes which have denominations consisting of a minimum Specified Denomination plus one or more higher integral multiples of another smaller amount, it is possible that such Notes may be traded in amounts that are not integral multiples of such minimum Specified Denomination. In such a case a holder who, as a result of trading such amounts, holds an amount which is less than the minimum Specified Denomination in his account with the relevant clearing system at the relevant time may not receive a definitive Note in respect of such holding (should definitive Notes be printed) and would need to purchase a principal amount of Notes such that its holding amounts to a Specified Denomination.
If definitive Notes are issued, holders should be aware that definitive Notes which have a denomination that is not an integral multiple of the minimum Specified Denomination may be illiquid and difficult to trade.
The Euro Interbank Offered Rate ("EURIBOR") and other interest rates or other types of rates and indices which are deemed to be benchmarks have been subject to significant regulatory scrutiny and legislative intervention in recent years. This relates not only to creation and administration of benchmarks, but, also, to the use of a benchmark rate. In the EU, for example, Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1011 (as amended, the "EU Benchmarks Regulation") applies to the provision of, contribution of input data to, and the use of, a benchmark within the EU, subject to certain transitional provisions. Similarly, the UK Benchmarks Regulation applies to the provision of, contribution of input data to, and the use of, a benchmark within the UK, subject to certain transitional provisions.
Legislation such as the EU Benchmarks Regulation or the UK Benchmarks Regulation, if applicable, could have a material impact on any Notes linked to EURIBOR or another benchmark rate or index – for example, if the methodology or other terms of the benchmark are changed in the future in order to comply with the terms of the EU Benchmarks Regulation or UK Benchmarks Regulation or other similar legislation, or if a critical benchmark is discontinued or is determined to by a regulator to be "no longer representative". Such factors could (amongst other things) have the effect of reducing or increasing the rate or level or may affect the volatility of the published rate or level of the benchmark. They may also have the effect of discouraging market participants from continuing to administer or contribute to certain "benchmarks", trigger changes in the rules or methodologies used in certain "benchmarks", or lead to the discontinuance or unavailability of quotes of certain "benchmarks".
Although EURIBOR has been reformed in order to comply with the terms of the EU Benchmarks Regulation, it remains uncertain as to how long it will continue in its current form, or whether it will be further reformed or replaced with the Euro Short Term Rate ("€STR") or an alternative benchmark.
The elimination of EURIBOR or any other benchmark, or changes in the manner of administration of any benchmark, could require or result in an adjustment to the interest calculation provisions of the Conditions (as further described in Condition 7(l) (Benchmark Discontinuation)), or result in adverse consequences to holders of any Notes linked to such benchmark (including Floating Rate Notes whose interest rates are linked to EURIBOR or any other such benchmark that is subject to reform). Furthermore, even prior to the implementation of any changes, uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes to such benchmark may adversely affect such benchmark during the term of the relevant Notes, the return on the relevant Notes and the trading market for securities (including the Notes) based on the same benchmark.
The Conditions provide for certain fallback arrangements in the event that a published benchmark, such as EURIBOR, (including any page on which such benchmark may be published (or any other successor service)) becomes unavailable or a Benchmark Event (as defined in the Conditions) otherwise occurs. Such an event may be deemed to have occurred prior to the issue date for a Series of Notes. Such fallback arrangements include the possibility that the rate of interest could be set by reference to a successor rate or an alternative rate and that such successor rate or alternative reference rate may be adjusted (if required) in accordance with the recommendation of a relevant governmental body or in order to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances, any economic prejudice or benefit (as applicable) to investors arising out of the replacement of the relevant benchmark, although the application of such adjustments to the Notes may not achieve this objective. Any such changes may result in the Notes performing differently (which may include payment of a lower interest rate) than if the original benchmark continued to apply. In certain circumstances the ultimate fallback of interest for a particular Interest Period may result in the rate of interest for the last preceding Interest Period being used.
This may result in the effective application of a fixed rate for Floating Rate Notes based on the rate which was last observed on the Relevant Screen Page. In addition, due to the uncertainty concerning the availability of successor rates and alternative reference rates and the involvement of an Independent Adviser (as defined in the Conditions) in certain circumstances, the relevant fallback provisions may not operate as intended at the relevant time.
Any such consequences could have a material adverse effect on the trading market for, liquidity of, value of and return on any such Notes. Moreover, any of the above matters or any other significant change to the setting or existence of any relevant reference rate could result in no benchmarks being published or available which could affect the ability of the Issuer to meet its obligations under the Floating Rate Notes.
Investors should consult their own independent advisers and make their own assessment about the potential risks arising from the possible cessation or reform of certain reference rates in making any investment decision with respect to any Notes linked to or referencing a benchmark.
"Risk-free" rates, such as the Sterling Overnight Index Average ("SONIA"), as reference rates for Eurobonds have become more commonly used as benchmark rates for bonds in recent years. Most of the rates are backwards-looking, but the methodologies to calculate the risk-free rates are not uniform. Such different methodologies may result in slightly different interest amounts being determined in respect of otherwise similar securities.
The Issuer may in the future also issue Notes referencing SONIA or the SONIA Compounded Index that differ materially in terms of interest determination when compared with any previous Notes issued by it under this Programme. Such variations could result in reduced liquidity or increased volatility or might otherwise affect the market price of any Notes that reference a risk-free rate issued under this Programme from time to time.
In addition, investors should consider how any mismatch between applicable conventions for the use of reference rates in the bond, loan and derivatives markets may impact any hedging or other financial arrangements which they may put in place in connection with any acquisition, holding or disposal of Notes referencing such risk-free rates.
Investors should consider these matters when making their investment decision with respect to any Notes which reference SONIA.
SONIA differs from interbank offered rates in a number of material respects, including that SONIA is a backward-looking, risk-free overnight rate, whereas interbank offered rates are expressed on the basis of a forward-looking term and include a risk-element based on inter-bank lending. As such, investors should be aware that SONIA may behave materially differently to interbank offered rates as interest reference rates for the Notes.
The future performance of SONIA may be difficult to predict based on the limited historical performance. The level of SONIA during the term of the Notes may bear little or no relation to the historical level of SONIA. Prior observed patterns, if any, in the behaviour of market variables and their relation to SONIA such as correlations, may change in the future. Investors should not rely on historical performance data as an indicator of the future performance of SONIA nor should they rely on any hypothetical data.
Furthermore, the Rate of Interest (as defined in the Conditions) is only capable of being determined immediately prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date. It may be difficult for Noteholders to estimate reliably the amount of interest which will be payable on the Notes, and some investors may be unable or unwilling to trade such Notes without changes to their IT systems, both of which factors could adversely impact the liquidity of the Notes. Further, if the Notes become due and payable, or are otherwise redeemed early on a date which is not an Interest Payment Date, the final Rate of Interest payable in respect of the Notes shall be determined by reference to a shortened period ending immediately prior to the date on which the Notes become due and payable.
Newer reference rates or any related indices and rates that fall outside the scope of the EU Benchmarks Regulation and UK Benchmarks Regulation may also be subject to changes or discontinuation. For example, the Bank of England (or their successors) as administrators of SONIA (and the SONIA Compounded Index) may make methodological or other changes that could change the value of these riskfree rates and/or indices, including changes related to the method by which such risk-free rate is calculated, eligibility criteria applicable to the transactions used to calculate SONIA or timing related to the publication of SONIA. In addition, the administrator may alter, discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of SONIA (in which case a fallback method of determining the interest rate on the Notes will apply). The administrator has no obligation to consider the interests of Noteholders when calculating, adjusting, converting, revising or discontinuing any such risk-free rate.
The Issuer will pay principal and interest on the Notes in the Specified Currency. This presents certain risks relating to currency conversions if an investor's financial activities are denominated principally in a currency or currency unit (the "Investor's Currency") other than the Specified Currency. These include the risk that exchange rates may significantly change (including changes due to devaluation of the Specified Currency or revaluation of the Investor's Currency) and the risk that authorities with jurisdiction over the Investor's Currency may impose or modify exchange controls. An appreciation in the value of the Investor's Currency relative to the Specified Currency would decrease (1) the Investor's Currency-equivalent yield on the Notes, (2) the Investor's Currency equivalent value of the principal payable on the Notes and (3) the Investor's Currency equivalent market value of the Notes.
Government and monetary authorities may impose (as some have done in the past) exchange controls that could adversely affect an applicable exchange rate. As a result, investors may receive less interest or principal than expected, or no interest or principal.
Investment in Fixed Rate Notes involves the risk that subsequent changes in market interest rates may adversely affect the value of the Fixed Rate Notes.
One or more independent credit rating agencies may assign credit ratings to the Notes. The ratings may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to structure, market, additional factors discussed above, and other factors that may affect the value of the Notes. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised or withdrawn by the rating agency at any time.
The Final Terms relating to any specific Tranche of Notes may provide that it will be the Issuer's intention to apply an amount equal to the net proceeds from an offer of those Notes specifically for projects and activities that promote green and/or social and/or sustainable purposes (either in those words or otherwise) ("Sustainable Projects") (such Notes, referred to herein as Sustainable Bonds (as defined in "Use of Proceeds")). Prospective investors should have regard to the information in the relevant Final Terms regarding such use of proceeds and must determine for themselves the relevance of such information for the purpose of any investment in such Notes together with any other investigation such investor deems necessary. In particular no assurance is given by the Issuer, the Dealers or any other person that the use of such proceeds for any Sustainable Projects will satisfy, whether in whole or in part, any present or future investor expectations or requirements as regards any investment criteria or guidelines with which such investor or its investments are required to comply, whether by any present or future applicable law or regulations or by its own by-laws or other governing rules or investment portfolio mandates (in particular with regard to any direct or indirect environmental, sustainability or social impact of any projects or uses, the subject of or related to, the relevant Sustainable Project).
No assurance is or can be given to investors by the Issuer, the Dealers or any other person that any projects or uses the subject of, or related to, any Sustainable Projects will meet any or all investor expectations regarding such "green", "social", "sustainable" or other equivalently labelled performance objectives specified or recommended by legislation or any market standards or guidance, or any requirements of such labels or market standards as they may evolve from time to time or that any adverse environmental, social and/or other impacts will not occur during the implementation of any projects or uses the subject of, or related to, any Sustainable Projects.
It is not clear if the establishment under the Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 (the "EU Green Bond Regulation") of the EuGB label and the optional disclosure templates for bonds marketed as "environmentally sustainable" could have an impact on investor demand for, pricing and liquidity of, green/social/sustainable use of proceeds bonds that do not comply with the EU Green Bond Regulation such as the Notes issued under this Programme.
No assurance or representation is given by the Issuer, the Dealers or any other person as to the suitability or reliability for any purpose whatsoever of any opinion, review, certification or report of any third-party (including any pre- or post-issuance reports prepared by an external reviewer) (whether or not solicited by the Issuer) which may be made available in connection with the issue of any Notes and in particular also with any Sustainable Projects to fulfil any green, environmental, sustainability, social and/or other criteria. For the avoidance of doubt, any such opinion, review, certification or report (including the Second Party Opinion (as defined in "Use of Proceeds" below)) is not, nor shall be deemed to be, incorporated in and/or form part of this Base Prospectus. Any such opinion, review, certification or report is not, nor should be deemed to be, a recommendation by the Issuer, the Dealers or any other person to buy, sell or hold any such Notes. Any such opinion, review, certification or report is only current as of the date that such opinion, review, certification or report was initially issued. The criteria and/or considerations that formed the basis of such opinion, review, certification or report may change at any time and such opinions, reviews certifications or reports may be amended, updated, supplemented, replaced and/or withdrawn.
Whilst the EU Green Bond Regulation will introduce a supervisory regime of external reviewers of European Green Bonds this is not due to take full effect until 21 June 2026 and would not apply to external reviewers in respect of an issue of Notes under this Programme. Prospective investors must determine for themselves the relevance of any opinion, review, certification or report and/or the information contained therein and/or the provider of such opinion, review, certification or report for the purpose of any investment in such Notes. Currently, the providers of opinion, review, certification or report are not subject to any specific regulatory or other regime or oversight.
In the event that any such Notes are listed or admitted to trading on any dedicated "green", "social", "sustainable" or other equivalently-labelled segment of any stock exchange or securities market (whether or not regulated), no representation or assurance is given by the Issuer, the Dealers or any other person that such listing or admission satisfies, whether in whole or in part, any present or future investor expectations or requirements as regards any investment criteria or guidelines with which such investor or its investments are required to comply, whether by any present or future applicable law or regulations or by its own bylaws or other governing rules or investment portfolio mandates, in particular with regard to any direct or indirect green, environmental, sustainability or social impact of any projects or uses, the subject of or related to, any Sustainable Projects. Furthermore, it should be noted that the criteria for any such listings or admission to trading may vary from one stock exchange or securities market to another. Nor is any representation or assurance given or made by the Issuer, the Dealers or any other person that any such listing or admission to trading will be obtained in respect of any such Notes or, if obtained, that any such listing or admission to trading will be maintained during the life of the Notes.
While it is the intention of the Issuer to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds of any Notes issued as Sustainable Bonds to Sustainable Projects in, or substantially in, the manner described in the relevant Final Terms, there is no contractual obligation to do so. There can be no assurance that the relevant intended project(s) or use(s) the subject of, or related to, any Sustainable Projects will be capable of being implemented in, or substantially in, such manner and/or in accordance with any timing schedule and that accordingly an amount equal to the net proceeds of the issue of such Sustainable Bonds will be totally disbursed for the specified Sustainable Projects. Nor can there be any assurance that such Sustainable Projects will be completed within any specified period or at all or with the results or outcome (whether or not related to the environment) as originally expected or anticipated by the Issuer.
None of a failure by the Issuer to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds of any Notes issued as Sustainable Bonds or a failure of a third party to issue (or to withdraw) an opinion, review, certification or report in connection with an issue of Sustainable Bonds or the failure of the Notes issued as Sustainable Bonds to meet investors' expectations requirements regarding any "green", "sustainable", "social" or similar labels will constitute an Event of Default or breach of contract with respect to any of the Notes issued as Sustainable Bonds.
Any such event or failure to apply an amount equal to the net proceeds of any issue of Notes for any Sustainable Projects as aforesaid and/or withdrawal of any such opinion, review, certification or report or any such opinion, review, certification or report attesting that the Issuer is not complying in whole or in part with any matters for which such opinion, review, certification or report is commenting on and/or any such Notes no longer being listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange or securities market as aforesaid may have a material adverse effect on the value of such Notes and also potentially the value of any other Notes which are intended to finance Sustainable Projects and/or result in adverse consequences for certain investors with portfolio mandates to invest in securities to be used for a particular purpose.
Investors should carefully consider these matters when making their investment decision with respect to any such Notes.
The following information shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and to form part of, this Base Prospectus:
Copies of the documents specified above as containing information incorporated by reference in this Base Prospectus may be inspected, free of charge, at:
Any documents themselves incorporated by reference in the documents incorporated by reference in this Base Prospectus shall not form part of this Base Prospectus. Any information contained in any of the documents specified above which is not incorporated by reference in this Base Prospectus is either not relevant to investors or is covered elsewhere in this Base Prospectus and, for the avoidance of doubt, unless specifically incorporated by reference into this Base Prospectus, information contained on the website does not form part of this Base Prospectus.
Following the publication of this Base Prospectus a supplement may be prepared by the Issuer and approved by the FCA in accordance with Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. Statements contained in any such supplement (or contained in any document incorporated by reference therein) shall, to the extent applicable (whether expressly, by implication or otherwise), be deemed to supersede statements contained in this Base Prospectus (or any earlier supplement) or in a document which is incorporated by reference in this Base Prospectus.
The Issuer will, in the event of any significant new factor, material mistake or material inaccuracy relating to information included in this Base Prospectus which may affect the assessment of any Notes, prepare a supplement to this Base Prospectus or publish a new Base Prospectus for use in connection with any subsequent issue of Notes.
In this section the expression "necessary information" means, in relation to any Tranche of Notes, the necessary information which is material to an investor for making an informed assessment of the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and losses and prospects of the Issuer and of the rights attaching to the Notes and the reasons for the issuance and its impact on the Issuer. In relation to the different types of Notes which may be issued under the Programme, the Issuer has endeavoured to include in this Base Prospectus all of the necessary information except for information relating to the Notes which is not known at the date of this Base Prospectus and which can only be determined at the time of an individual issue of a Tranche of Notes.
Any information relating to the Notes which is not included in this Base Prospectus, and which is required in order to complete the necessary information in relation to a Tranche of Notes will be contained either in the relevant Final Terms, Pricing Supplement or in a Drawdown Prospectus. Such information will be contained in the relevant Final Terms or Pricing Supplement unless any of such information constitutes a significant new factor relating to the information contained in this Base Prospectus in which case such information, together with all of the other necessary information in relation to the relevant series of Notes (other than Exempt Notes), may be contained in a Drawdown Prospectus.
For a Tranche of Notes which is the subject of Final Terms or a Pricing Supplement, those Final Terms or that Pricing Supplement will, for the purposes of that Tranche only, complete this Base Prospectus and must be read in conjunction with this Base Prospectus. The terms and conditions applicable to any particular Tranche of Notes which is the subject of Final Terms are the Conditions of the Notes as completed to the extent described in the relevant Final Terms and the terms and conditions applicable to any particular tranche of Notes which is the subject of a Pricing Supplement are the Conditions of the Notes as completed, modified or superseded by the relevant Pricing Supplement.
The terms and conditions applicable to any particular Tranche of Notes which is the subject of a Drawdown Prospectus will be the Conditions as supplemented, amended and/or replaced to the extent described in the relevant Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus. In the case of a Tranche of Notes which is the subject of a Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus, each reference in this Base Prospectus to information being specified or identified in the relevant Final Terms shall be read and construed as a reference to such information being specified or identified in the relevant Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus unless the context requires otherwise.
Each Drawdown Prospectus will be constituted either (1) by a single document containing the necessary information relating to the Issuer and the relevant Notes or (2) by a registration document (the "Registration Document") containing the necessary information relating to the Issuer, a securities note (the "Securities Note") containing the necessary information relating to the relevant Notes and, if necessary, a summary note. In addition, if the Drawdown Prospectus is constituted by a Registration Document and a Securities Note, any significant new factor, material mistake or material inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Registration Document which arises or is noted between the date of the Registration Document and the date of the Securities Note which is capable of affecting the assessment of the relevant Notes will be included in the Securities Note.
Each Tranche of Notes in bearer form ("Bearer Notes") will initially be in the form of either a temporary global note in bearer form (the "Temporary Global Note"), without interest coupons, or a permanent global note in bearer form (the "Permanent Global Note"), without interest coupons, in each case as specified in the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement. Each Temporary Global Note or, as the case may be, Permanent Global Note (each a "Global Note") which is not intended to be issued in new global note ("NGN") form, as specified in the relevant Final Terms, will be deposited on or around the issue date of the relevant Tranche of the Notes with a common depositary or common safekeeper for Euroclear Bank SA/NV ("Euroclear") and/or Clearstream Banking S.A. ("Clearstream, Luxembourg") and/or any other relevant clearing system and each Global Note which is intended to be issued in NGN form, as specified in the relevant Final Terms, will be deposited on or around the issue date of the relevant Tranche of the Notes with a common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg.
On 13 June 2006 the European Central Bank (the "ECB") announced that Notes in NGN form are in compliance with the "Standards for the use of EU securities settlement systems in ESCB credit operations" of the central banking system for the euro (the "Eurosystem"), provided that certain other criteria are fulfilled. At the same time the ECB also announced that arrangements for Notes in NGN form will be offered by Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as of 30 June 2006 and that debt securities in global bearer form issued through Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg after 31 December 2006 will only be eligible as collateral for Eurosystem operations if the NGN form is used.
The relevant Final Terms will indicate whether such Bearer Notes are intended to be held in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility. Any indication that the Bearer Notes are to be so held does not necessarily mean that the Bearer Notes of the relevant Tranche will be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra-day credit operations by the Eurosystem either upon issue or at any times during their life as such recognition depends upon satisfaction of the Eurosystem eligibility criteria.
In the case of each Tranche of Bearer Notes, the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement will also specify whether United States Treasury Regulation §1.163 -5(c)(2)(i)(C) (the "TEFRA C Rules") or United States Treasury Regulation §1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D) (the "TEFRA D Rules") are applicable in relation to the Notes or that neither the TEFRA C Rules nor the TEFRA D Rules are applicable.
If the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement specifies the form of Notes as being "Temporary Global Note exchangeable for a Permanent Global Note", then the Notes will initially be in the form of a Temporary Global Note which will be exchangeable, in whole or in part, for interests in a Permanent Global Note, without interest coupons, not earlier than 40 days after the issue date of the relevant Tranche of the Notes upon certification as to non-U.S. beneficial ownership. No payments will be made under the Temporary Global Note unless exchange for interests in the Permanent Global Note is improperly withheld or refused. In addition, interest payments in respect of the Notes cannot be collected without such certification of non-U.S. beneficial ownership.
Whenever any interest in the Temporary Global Note is to be exchanged for an interest in a Permanent Global Note, the Issuer shall procure (in the case of first exchange) the prompt delivery (free of charge to the bearer) of such Permanent Global Note, duly authenticated and, in the case of an NGN, effectuated, to the bearer of the Temporary Global Note or (in the case of any subsequent exchange) an increase in the principal amount of the Permanent Global Note in accordance with its terms against:
within 7 days of the bearer requesting such exchange.
If the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement specifies the form of Notes as being "Temporary Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes" and also specifies that the TEFRA C Rules are applicable or that neither the TEFRA C Rules nor the TEFRA D Rules are applicable, then the Notes will initially be in the form of a Temporary Global Note which will be exchangeable, in whole but not in part, for Bearer Notes in definitive form ("Definitive Notes") not earlier than 40 days after the issue date of the relevant Tranche of the Notes.
If the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement specifies the form of Notes as being "Temporary Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes" and also specifies that the TEFRA D Rules are applicable, then the Notes will initially be in the form of a Temporary Global Note which will be exchangeable, in whole or in part, for Definitive Notes not earlier than 40 days after the issue date of the relevant Tranche of the Notes upon certification as to non-U.S. beneficial ownership. Interest payments in respect of the Notes cannot be collected without such certification of non-U.S. beneficial ownership.
Whenever the Temporary Global Note is to be exchanged for Definitive Notes, the Issuer shall procure the prompt delivery (free of charge to the bearer) of such Definitive Notes, duly authenticated and with Coupons and Talons attached (if so specified in the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement), in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Temporary Global Note to the bearer of the Temporary Global Note against the surrender of the Temporary Global Note to or to the order of the Principal Paying Agent within 30 days of the bearer requesting such exchange.
If the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement specifies the form of Notes as being "Permanent Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes", then the Notes will initially be in the form of a Permanent Global Note which will only be exchangeable in whole, but not in part, for Definitive Notes:
Whenever the Permanent Global Note is to be exchanged for Definitive Notes, the Issuer shall procure the prompt delivery (free of charge to the bearer) of such Definitive Notes, duly authenticated and with Coupons and Talons attached (if so specified in the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement), in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Permanent Global Note to or to the order of the bearer of the Permanent Global Note against the surrender of the Permanent Global Note to or to the order of the Principal Paying Agent within 45 days of the bearer requesting such exchange.
The terms and conditions applicable to any Definitive Note will be endorsed on that Note and will consist of the terms and conditions set out under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes" below and the provisions of the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement which supplement, amend and/or replace those terms and conditions.
The terms and conditions applicable to any Note in global form will differ from those terms and conditions which would apply to the Note were it in definitive form to the extent described under "Summary of Provisions Relating to the Notes while in Global Form" below.
In the case of any Tranche of Notes considered to be in bearer form for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Notes in global form, the Notes in definitive form and any Coupons and Talons appertaining thereto will bear a legend to the following effect:
"Any United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of the United States) who holds this obligation, directly or indirectly, will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax laws, including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code."
Each Tranche of Notes in registered form ("Registered Notes") will be represented by either:
in each case as specified in the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement.
If the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement specifies the form of Notes as being "Individual Note Certificates", then the Notes will at all times be represented by Individual Note Certificates issued to each Noteholder in respect of their respective holdings. Each Global Note Certificate will be deposited on or around the issue date of the relevant Tranche of the Notes with a common depositary or common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system and registered in the name of the common depositary (or its nominee) for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system.
If the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement specifies the form of Notes as being "Global Note Certificate exchangeable for Individual Note Certificates", then the Notes will initially be represented by one or more Global Note Certificates each of which will be exchangeable in whole, but not in part, for Individual Note Certificates:
Whenever a Global Note Certificate is to be exchanged for Individual Note Certificates, each person having an interest in a Global Note Certificate must provide the Registrar (through the relevant clearing system) with such information as the Issuer and the Registrar may require to complete and deliver Individual Note Certificates (including the name and address of each person in which the Notes represented by the Individual Note Certificates are to be registered and the principal amount of each such person's holding).
Whenever a Global Note Certificate is to be exchanged for Individual Note Certificates, the Issuer shall procure that Individual Note Certificates will be issued in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note Certificate within five business days of the delivery, by or on behalf of the registered holder of the Global Note Certificate to the Registrar of such information as is required to complete and deliver such Individual Note Certificates against the surrender of the Global Note Certificate at the specified office of the Registrar.
Such exchange will be effected in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Deed and the Agency Agreement and the regulations concerning the transfer and registration of Notes scheduled to the Agency Agreement and, in particular, shall be effected without charge to any holder, but against such indemnity as the Registrar may require in respect of any tax or other duty of whatsoever nature which may be levied or imposed in connection with such exchange.
The terms and conditions applicable to any Individual Note Certificate will be endorsed on that Individual Note Certificate and will consist of the terms and conditions set out under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes" below and the provisions of the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, the relevant Pricing Supplement which supplement, amend and/or replace those terms and conditions.
The terms and conditions applicable to any Global Note or Global Note Certificate will differ from those terms and conditions which would apply to the Note were it in definitive form to the extent described under "Summary of Provisions Relating to the Notes while in Global Form" below.
In relation to any Tranche of Notes represented by a Global Note, references in the Conditions to "Noteholder" are references to the bearer of the relevant Global Note which, for so long as the Global Note is held by a common depositary or common safekeeper or, in the case of an NGN, a common safekeeper, for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system, will be that common depositary or common safekeeper.
In relation to any Tranche of Notes represented by one or more Global Note Certificates, references in the Conditions to "Noteholder" are references to the person in whose name the relevant Global Note Certificate is for the time being registered in the Register which is held by or on behalf of a common depositary or common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system, will be that common depositary or common safekeeper or a nominee for that common depositary or common safekeeper.
Each of the persons shown in the records of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system as being entitled to an interest in a Global Note or a Global Note Certificate (each an "Accountholder") must look solely to Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or such other relevant clearing system (as the case may be) for such Accountholder's share of each payment made by the Issuer to the holder of such Global Note or Global Note Certificate and in relation to all other rights arising under such Global Note or Global Note Certificate. The extent to which, and the manner in which, Accountholders may exercise any rights arising under a Global Note or Global Note Certificate will be determined by the respective rules and procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and any other relevant clearing system from time to time. For so long as the relevant Notes are represented by a Global Note or Global Note Certificate, Accountholders shall have no claim directly against the Issuer in respect of payments due under the Notes and such obligations of the Issuer will be discharged by payment to the holder of such Global Note or Global Note Certificate.
Transfers of interests in Global Notes and Global Note Certificates within Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system will be in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures. None of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Dealers or the Agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system or any of their respective participants relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Note or Global Note Certificate or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system or the records of their respective participants relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
The laws of some states of the United States require that certain persons receive individual certificates in respect of their holdings of Notes. Consequently, the ability to transfer interests in a Global Note Certificate to such persons will be limited. Because clearing systems only act on behalf of participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of a person having an interest in a Global Note Certificate to pledge such interest to persons or entities which do not participate in the relevant clearing systems, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of an Individual Note Certificate representing such interest.
Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Registered Notes described under "Transfer Restrictions", transfers Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg accountholders will be effected by the relevant clearing systems in accordance with their respective rules and through action taken by the Registrar and the Principal Paying Agent.
For a further description of restrictions on the transfer of Notes, see "Subscription and Sale" and "Transfer Restrictions".
While a Global Note Certificate is lodged with Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or any relevant clearing system, Individual Note Certificates for the relevant Series of Notes will not be eligible for clearing and settlement through such clearing systems.
Each Global Note and Global Note Certificate will contain provisions which modify the Conditions as they apply to the Global Note or Global Note Certificate. The following is a summary of certain of those provisions:
Payments: All payments in respect of the Global Note or Global Note Certificate which, according to the Conditions, require presentation and/or surrender of a Note, Note Certificate or Coupon will be made against presentation and (in the case of payment of principal in full with all interest accrued thereon) surrender of the Global Note or Global Note Certificate to or to the order of any Paying Agent and will be effective to satisfy and discharge the corresponding liabilities of the Issuer in respect of the Notes. On each occasion on which a payment of principal or interest is made in respect of the Global Note, the Issuer shall procure that payment is noted in a schedule thereto or, in respect of an NGN, the payment is entered pro rata in the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg.
Exercise of put option: In order to exercise the option contained in Condition 9(e) (Redemption at the option of Noteholders) the bearer of a Permanent Global Note or the holder of a Global Note Certificate must, within the period specified in the Conditions for the deposit of the relevant Note and put notice, give written notice of such exercise to the Principal Paying Agent specifying the principal amount of Notes in respect of which such option is being exercised. Any such notice will be irrevocable and may not be withdrawn.
Partial exercise of call option: In connection with an exercise of the option contained in Condition 9(c) (Redemption at the option of the Issuer) in relation to some only of the Notes, the Permanent Global Note or Global Note Certificate may be redeemed in part in the principal amount specified by the Issuer in accordance with the Conditions and the Notes to be redeemed will not be selected as provided in the Conditions but in accordance with the rules and procedures of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg (to be reflected in the records of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg as either a pool factor or a reduction in principal amount, at their discretion).
Notices: Notwithstanding Condition 20 (Notices), while all the Notes are represented by a Permanent Global Note (or by a Permanent Global Note and/or a Temporary Global Note) or a Global Note Certificate and the Permanent Global Note is (or the Permanent Global Note and/or the Temporary Global Note are), or the Global Note Certificate is deposited with a common depositary or common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system, notices to Noteholders may be given by delivery of the relevant notice to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system and, in any case, such notices shall be deemed to have been given to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 20 (Notices) on the date of delivery to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system.
Record Date: Each payment in respect of a Global Note Certificate will be made to the person shown as the Holder in the Register at the close of business (in the relevant clearing system) on the Clearing System Business Day before the due date for such payment (the "Record Date") where "Clearing System Business Day" means a day on which each clearing system for which the Global Note Certificate is being held is open for business.
Payment Business Day: Notwithstanding the definition of "Payment Business Day" in Condition 2(a) (Definitions), while all the Notes are represented by a Permanent Global Note (or by a Permanent Global Note and/or a Temporary Global Note) or a Global Note Certificate and the Permanent Global Note is (or the Permanent Global Note and/or the Temporary Global Note are), or the Global Note Certificate is deposited with a common depositary or common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or any other relevant clearing system, "Payment Business Day" means:
Where the Global Notes or the Global Certificates issued in respect of any Tranche are in NGN form, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will be notified as to whether or not such Global Notes or Global Certificates are intended to be held in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility. Any indication that the Global Notes or Global Certificates are to be so held does not necessarily mean that the Notes of the relevant Tranche will be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra-day credit operations by the Eurosystem either upon issue or at any times during their life as such recognition depends upon satisfaction of the Eurosystem eligibility criteria. The Common Safekeeper for NGNs will either be Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or another entity approved by Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, as indicated in the applicable Final Terms.
The following is the text of the terms and conditions which, as completed by the relevant Final Terms or, as the case may be, completed, amended and/or replaced by the relevant Pricing Supplement, will be endorsed on each Note in definitive form issued under the Programme. The terms and conditions applicable to any Note in global form will differ from those terms and conditions which would apply to the Note were it in definitive form to the extent described under "Summary of Provisions Relating to the Notes while in Global Form" elsewhere in the Base Prospectus. Part A of the relevant Pricing Supplement in relation to any Tranche of Exempt Notes may specify other terms and conditions which shall, to the extent so specified or to the extent inconsistent with the following Terms and Conditions, replace or modify the following Terms and Conditions for the purpose of such Notes. Any italicised text included below does not form part of the Terms and Conditions and is included for disclosure purposes only.
under the UK Prospectus Regulation (including Exempt Notes), the relevant Final Terms will only be available to a Noteholder holding one or more such Notes upon such Noteholder producing evidence as to identity satisfactory to the Principal Paying Agent.
(f) Summaries: Certain provisions of these Conditions are summaries of the Trust Deed and the Agency Agreement and are subject to their detailed provisions. Noteholders and the holders of the related interest coupons, if any, (the "Couponholders" and the "Coupons", respectively) are bound by, and are deemed to have notice of, all the provisions of the Trust Deed and the Agency Agreement applicable to them. Copies of the Trust Deed and the Agency Agreement are available for inspection by Noteholders during normal business hours at the Specified Offices of each of the Agents, the initial Specified Offices of which are set out below.
(a) Definitions: In these Conditions the following expressions have the following meanings:
"Accrual Yield" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Additional Business Centre(s)" means the city or cities specified as such in the relevant Final Terms;
"Additional Financial Centre(s)" means the city or cities specified as such in the relevant Final Terms;
"Business Day" means:
"Business Day Convention", in relation to any particular date, has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms and, if so specified in the relevant Final Terms, may have different meanings in relation to different dates and, in this context, the following expressions shall have the following meanings:
falls in the next calendar month, in which case it will be the first preceding day which is a Business Day; and
"Calculation Agent" means the Principal Paying Agent or such other Person specified in the relevant Final Terms as the party responsible for calculating the Rate(s) of Interest and Interest Amount(s) and/or such other amount(s) as may be specified in the relevant Final Terms;
"Calculation Amount" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Consolidated Net Worth" means at any time the amount as then disclosed in the latest audited consolidated accounts of the Issuer as paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of the Issuer, plus the consolidated capital reserves (including any asset revaluation reserves) of the Issuer and its Subsidiary Undertakings plus the consolidated retained earnings of the Issuer and its Subsidiary Undertakings (or, if appropriate, less the amount standing to the debt of the consolidated profit and loss account of the Issuer and its Subsidiary Undertakings) plus the amount, if any, by which in the reasonable opinion of the Directors of the Issuer (and as shall have been stated in the report of the Directors accompanying those audited consolidated accounts or a certificate signed by an authorised signatory and dated not more than three months prior to the occurrence of the event or the existence of the circumstance which without the inclusion of such amount would constitute a Restructuring Event), based upon the results of the valuation of all or a representative sample of the relevant property or category of property undertaken by a chartered surveyor in accordance with the applicable guidelines for the time being of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the open market value of the real property or any category of real property of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiary Undertakings exceeds the amount shown in those audited consolidated accounts as the net book value thereof, less any amount included in the above which is attributable to minority interests and intangible assets (other than goodwill calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the UK consistently applied);
"Coupon Sheet" means, in respect of a Note, a coupon sheet relating to the Note;
"Day Count Fraction" means, in respect of the calculation of an amount for any period of time (the "Calculation Period"), such day count fraction as may be specified in these Conditions or the relevant Final Terms and:
$$\text{Day Count fraction} = \frac{[360 \times (Y2 - Y1) + (M2 - M1)] + (D2 - D1)}{360}$$
where:
provided, however, that in each such case the number of days in the Calculation Period is calculated from and including the first day of the Calculation Period to but excluding the last day of the Calculation Period;
"Early Redemption Amount (Tax)" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the relevant Final Terms;
"Early Termination Amount" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, these Conditions or the relevant Final Terms;
"EURIBOR" means, in respect of any specified currency and any specified period, the interest rate benchmark known as the Euro zone interbank offered rate which is calculated and published by a designated distributor (currently Thomson Reuters) in accordance with the requirements from time to time of the European Banking Federation based on estimated interbank borrowing rates for a number of designated currencies and maturities which are provided, in respect of each such currency, by a panel of contributor banks (details of historic EURIBOR rates can be obtained from the designated distributor);
"EUWA" means European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended;
"Extraordinary Resolution" has the meaning given in the Trust Deed;
"Existing Holder" means a holder of the Issuer's issue of £250,000,000 3.85 per cent. Notes due 2026 issued 27 June 2014;
"Final Redemption Amount" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the relevant Final Terms;
"First Interest Payment Date" means the date specified in the relevant Final Terms;
"Fixed Coupon Amount" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Group" means the Issuer and its Subsidiaries from time to time;
"Holder", in the case of Bearer Notes, has the meaning given in Condition 3(b) (Form, Denomination, Title and Transfer - Title to Bearer Notes) and, in the case of Registered Notes, has the meaning given in Condition 3(d) (Form, Denomination, Title and Transfer - Title to Registered Notes);
"Interest Amount" means, in relation to a Note and an Interest Period, the amount of interest payable in respect of that Note for that Interest Period;
"Interest Commencement Date" means the Issue Date of the Notes or such other date as may be specified as the Interest Commencement Date in the relevant Final Terms;
"Interest Determination Date" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Interest Payment Date" means the First Interest Payment Date and any date or dates specified as such in, or determined in accordance with the provisions of, the relevant Final Terms and, if a Business Day Convention is specified in the relevant Final Terms:
"Interest Period" means each period beginning on (and including) the Interest Commencement Date or any Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) the next Interest Payment Date;
"ISDA Definitions" means, in relation to any Series of Notes:
"Issue Date" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Liabilities" means any loss, damage, cost, charge, claim, demand, expense, judgment, action, proceeding or other liability whatsoever (including, without limitation, in respect of taxes, duties, levies, imposts and other charges) and including any value added tax or similar tax charged or chargeable in respect thereof and legal fees and expenses on a full indemnity basis;
"London Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open for general business in London;
"Margin" has the meaning given to it in the relevant Final Terms;
"Material Subsidiary" means at any time (A) any Subsidiary of the Issuer whose turnover or whose Gross Assets represent 10 per cent. or more of the consolidated turnover or, as the case may be, consolidated Gross Assets of the Group determined by reference to the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Issuer and the accounts of such Subsidiary (consolidated in the case of a Subsidiary which itself has Subsidiaries) upon which the latest audited accounts have been based and (B) in the case of such a transfer as is referred to in paragraphs (d) and (e) of Condition 13 (Events of Default), each transferee which is a Subsidiary of the Issuer, as from the effective date of such transfer (provided that the Subsidiary which so transfers its business, undertaking or assets shall (unless it would still qualify as a Material Subsidiary under (A) above) cease to be a Material Subsidiary from such effective date) but not (unless such transferee Subsidiary would otherwise be a Material Subsidiary by virtue of (A) above) beyond the date of the publication by the Issuer of the audited accounts in respect of the financial year beginning after that in which the effective date of such transfer occurs, all as more particularly defined in the Trust Deed. For the purposes of this definition, "Gross Assets" shall mean net property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill, and current and non-current assets excluding intra-group items and investments. A report by an authorised signatory of the Issuer that, in his or her opinion, a Subsidiary is or is not a Material Subsidiary shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties;
"Maturity Date" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Maximum Redemption Amount" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Minimum Redemption Amount" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Noteholder", in the case of Bearer Notes, has the meaning given in Condition 3(b) (Form, Denomination, Title and Transfer - Title to Bearer Notes) and, in the case of Registered Notes, has the meaning given in Condition 3(d) (Form, Denomination, Title and Transfer - Title to Registered Notes);
"Optional Redemption Amount (Call)" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the relevant Final Terms;
"Optional Redemption Amount (Put)" means, in respect of any Note, its principal amount or such other amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the relevant Final Terms;
"Optional Redemption Date (Call)" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Optional Redemption Date (Put)" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Participating Member State" means a Member State of the European Communities which adopts the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with the Treaty;
"Payment Business Day" means:
"Permitted Disposal" means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal by the Issuer, or any Material Subsidiary, by one or more transactions or a series of transactions (whether related or not), of the whole or any part of the business, undertaking or assets of the Issuer, or such Material Subsidiary, or any interest therein or the entry into by the Issuer or any Material Subsidiary of any contract so to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose, subject to such sale, lease, transfer or other disposal or series of transactions (whether related or not):
"Person" means any individual, company, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, organisation, state or agency of a state or other entity, whether or not having separate legal personality;
"Principal Financial Centre" means, in relation to any currency, the principal financial centre for that currency provided, however, that:
"Put Option Notice" means a notice which must be delivered to a Paying Agent by any Noteholder wanting to exercise a right to redeem a Note at the option of the Noteholder;
"Put Option Receipt" means a receipt issued by a Paying Agent to a depositing Noteholder upon deposit of a Note with such Paying Agent by any Noteholder wanting to exercise a right to redeem a Note at the option of the Noteholder;
"Rate of Interest" means the rate or rates (expressed as a percentage per annum) of interest payable in respect of the Notes specified in the relevant Final Terms or calculated or determined in accordance with the provisions of these Conditions and/or the relevant Final Terms;
"Rated Securities" means (a) the Notes, or (b) such other comparable long-term unsubordinated unsecured debt of the Issuer selected by the Issuer from time to time for the purposes of this definition which possesses an investment grade rating by any Rating Agency;
"Rating Agency" means S&P Global Ratings UK Limited and its successors or Moody's Investors Service Ltd. and its successors or any rating agency of equivalent international standing substituted for either of them by the Issuer from time to time;
"Rating Downgrade" shall be deemed to have occurred in respect of a Restructuring Event if within a period ending 90 days after a public announcement of the Restructuring Event having occurred (or such longer period in which the Rated Securities are under consideration (announced publicly within the first-mentioned period) for rating review by a Rating Agency the rating assigned to the Rated Securities by any Rating Agency immediately prior to the Restructuring Event is withdrawn or reduced from an investment grade rating (Baa3/BBB– (or their respective equivalents for the time being) or better) to a non-investment grade rating (Ba1/BB+ (or their respective equivalents for the time being) or worse) provided that a Rating Downgrade otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Restructuring Event if the Rating Agency making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or confirm that the reduction was the result, in whole or part, of any event or circumstance comprised in or arising as a result of the applicable Restructuring Event;
"Redemption Amount" means, as appropriate, the Final Redemption Amount, the Early Redemption Amount (Tax), the Optional Redemption Amount (Call), the Optional Redemption Amount (Put), the Early Termination Amount or such other amount in the nature of a redemption amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with the provisions of, the relevant Final Terms;
"Reference Banks" means four major banks selected by the Issuer and provided to the Calculation Agent in the market that the Issuer considers is most closely connected with the Reference Rate;
"Reference Price" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Reference Rate" means EURIBOR or SONIA as specified in the relevant Final Terms in respect of the currency and period specified in the relevant Final Terms or, in the case of Exempt Notes, such other rate specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement;
"Regular Period" means:
"Relevant Date" means, in relation to any payment, whichever is the later of (a) the date on which the payment in question first becomes due and (b) if the full amount payable has not been received by the Principal Paying Agent or the Trustee on or prior to such due date, the date on which (the full amount having been so received) notice to that effect has been given to the Noteholders;
"Relevant Financial Centre" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Relevant Indebtedness" means any indebtedness which (i) is in the form of or represented by bonds, notes, loan stock, depositary receipts or other securities issued otherwise than to constitute or represent advances made by banks and/or other lending institutions; and (ii) at its date of issue is, or is intended by the Issuer thereof to become, quoted, listed, traded or dealt in on any stock exchange, over-the-counter market or other securities market;
"Relevant Screen Page" means the page, section or other part of a particular information service (including, without limitation, Reuters) specified as the Relevant Screen Page in the relevant Final Terms, or such other page, section or other part as may replace it on that information service or such other information service, in each case, as may be nominated by the Person providing or sponsoring the information appearing there for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to the Reference Rate;
"Relevant Time" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Reserved Matter" means any proposal to change any date fixed for payment of principal or interest in respect of the Notes, to reduce the amount of principal or interest payable on any date in respect of the Notes, to alter the method of calculating the amount of any payment in respect of the Notes or the date for any such payment, to change the currency of any payment under the Notes or to change the quorum requirements relating to meetings or the majority required to pass an Extraordinary Resolution;
"Restructuring Event" shall be deemed to have occurred at each time (whether or not approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) that:
"Security Interest" means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest including, without limitation, anything analogous to any of the foregoing under the laws of any jurisdiction;
"Specified Currency" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Specified Denomination(s)" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Specified Office" has the meaning given in the Agency Agreement;
"Specified Period" has the meaning given in the relevant Final Terms;
"Subsidiary" means a subsidiary within the meaning of Section 1159 of the UK Companies Act 2006;
"Subsidiary Undertaking" means, in relation to a company, a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006 for the time being of that company whose affairs are required to be consolidated in the audited consolidated accounts of that company;
"Sustainable Projects" means projects and activities that promote climate friendly and/or other environmental and/or social purposes (either in those words or otherwise);
"Talon" means a talon for further Coupons;
"T2" means the real time gross settlement system operated by the Eurosystem or any successor system;
"TARGET Settlement Day" means any day on which T2 is open for the settlement of payments in euro;
"Treaty" means the Treaty establishing the European Union, as amended;
"UK" means the United Kingdom;
"UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA, as amended or superseded; and
"Zero Coupon Note" means a Note specified as such in the relevant Final Terms.
(j) Regulations concerning transfers and registration: All transfers of Registered Notes and entries on the Register are subject to the detailed regulations concerning the transfer of Registered Notes scheduled to the Agency Agreement. The regulations may be changed by the Issuer with the prior written approval of the Registrar. A copy of the current regulations will be mailed (free of charge) by the Registrar to any Noteholder who requests in writing a copy of such regulations.
(a) Status: The Notes constitute direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the provisions of Condition 5 (Negative Pledge)) unsecured obligations of the Issuer and will rank pari passu among themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law) equally with all other unsecured (subject as aforesaid) obligations (other than subordinated obligations, if any) of the Issuer, from time to time outstanding.
So long as any of the Notes remains outstanding (as defined in the Trust Deed), the Issuer shall not, and shall procure that no Material Subsidiary shall, create or permit to subsist any mortgage, charge, pledge, encumbrance or lien (other than a lien arising by operation of law) upon the whole or any part of its property, assets or revenues, present or future, to secure (i) payment of any Relevant Indebtedness or (ii) any payment under any guarantee or indemnity granted by the Issuer, or any Material Subsidiary in respect of any Relevant Indebtedness without in any such case at the same time according to the Notes, the Coupons and all amounts payable under the Trust Deed (unless they have already been so accorded) to the satisfaction of the Trustee the same security as is created or subsisting to secure any such Relevant Indebtedness, guarantee or indemnity or such other security as the Trustee shall in its absolute discretion deem not materially less beneficial to the Noteholders or as shall be approved by an Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the Trust Deed) of the Noteholders.
and the Rate of Interest for such Interest Period shall be the sum of the Margin and the rate or (as the case may be) the arithmetic mean so determined; provided, however, that if the Calculation Agent is unable to determine a rate or (as the case may be) an arithmetic mean in accordance with the above provisions in relation to any Interest Period, the Rate of Interest applicable to the Notes during such Interest Period will be the sum of the Margin and the rate or (as the case may be) the arithmetic mean last determined in relation to the Notes in respect of a preceding Interest Period.
(d) ISDA Determination: If ISDA Determination is specified in the relevant Final Terms as the manner in which the Rate(s) of Interest is/are to be determined, the Rate of Interest applicable to the Notes for each Interest Period will be the sum of the Margin and the relevant ISDA Rate where "ISDA Rate" in relation to any Interest Period means a rate equal to the Floating Rate (as defined in the ISDA Definitions) that would be determined by the Calculation Agent under an interest rate swap transaction if the Calculation Agent were acting as Calculation Agent for that interest rate swap transaction under the terms of an agreement incorporating the ISDA Definitions and under which:
"Compounded Daily SONIA", with respect to an Interest Period, will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on each Interest Determination Date in accordance with the following formula, and the resulting percentage will be rounded, if necessary, to the fourth decimal place, with 0.00005 being rounded upwards:
$$\left[\prod_{\ell=1}^{d_o} \left(1 + \frac{SOMA_\ell \ge n_\ell}{\mathbb{D}}\right) - 1\right] \ge \frac{\mathbb{D}}{d}$$
"d" means the number of calendar days in:
"D" is the number specified in the relevant Final Terms (or, if no such number is specified, 365);
"do" means the number of London Banking Days in:
"i" means a series of whole numbers from one to do, each representing the relevant London Banking Day in chronological order from, and including, the first London Banking Day in:
to, and including, the last London Banking Day in such period;
"Interest Determination Date" means, in respect of any Interest Period, the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling p London Banking Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes are due and payable).
"London Banking Day" or "LBD" means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London;
"ni" for any London Banking Day "i", in the relevant Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable) is the number of calendar days from, and including, such London Banking Day "i" up to, but excluding, the following London Banking Day;
"Observation Period" means, in respect of an Interest Period, the period from, and including, the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period (and the first Interest Period shall begin on and include the Interest Commencement Date) and ending on, but excluding, the date which is "p" London Banking Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (or the date falling "p" London Banking Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes become due and payable);
"p" for any Interest Period or Observation Period (as applicable), means the number of London Banking Days specified as the "Lag Period" or the "Observation Shift Period" (as applicable) in the relevant Final Terms or if no such period is specified, five London Banking Days;
"SONIA Reference Rate" means, in respect of any London Banking Day, a reference rate equal to the daily Sterling Overnight Index Average ("SONIA") rate for such London Banking Day as provided by the administrator of SONIA to authorised distributors and as then published on the Relevant Screen Page (or if the Relevant Screen Page is unavailable, as otherwise is published by such authorised distributors) on the London Banking Day immediately following such London Banking Day; and
"SONIAi" means the SONIA Reference Rate for:
For the avoidance of doubt, the formula for the calculation of Compounded Daily SONIA only compounds the SONIA Reference Rate in respect of any London Banking Day. The SONIA Reference Rate applied to a day that is a non-London Banking Day will be taken by applying the SONIA Reference Rate for the previous London Banking Day but without compounding.
This Condition 7(f) is applicable to the Notes only if the Floating Rate Note Provisions are specified in the relevant Final Terms as being applicable, Screen Rate Determination is specified in the relevant Final Terms as the manner in which the Rate(s) of Interest is/are to be determined, the "Reference Rate" is specified in the relevant Final Terms as being "SONIA" and the Calculation Method specified in the relevant Final Terms is "Index Determination".
Where this Condition 7(f) applies, the Rate of Interest for each Interest Period will be the compounded daily reference rate for the relevant Interest Period, calculated in accordance with the following formula:
| (𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 𝐸𝑛𝑑 | 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 |
|---|---|
| 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 − 1) 𝑋 | 𝑑 |
and rounded to the Relevant Decimal Place, plus or minus the Margin (if any), all as determined and calculated by the Calculation Agent, where:
"d" is the number of calendar days from (and including) the day on which the SONIA Compounded Index Start is determined to (but excluding) the day on which the SONIA Compounded Index End is determined;
"End" means the SONIA Compounded Index value on the day falling the Relevant Number of Index Days prior to the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period, or such other date on which the relevant payment of interest falls due (but which by its definition or the operation of the relevant provisions is excluded from such Interest Period);
"Index Days" means, in the case of the SONIA Compounded Index, London Banking Days;
"Numerator" means, in the case of the SONIA Compounded Index, 365;
"Relevant Decimal Place" shall, unless otherwise specified in the Final Terms, be the fifth decimal place, rounded up or down, if necessary (with 0.000005 being rounded upwards); and
"Relevant Number" is as specified in the applicable Final Terms, but, unless otherwise specified shall be five.
"SONIA Compounded Index" means the Compounded Daily SONIA rate as published at 10:00 (London time) by the Bank of England (or a successor administrator of SONIA) on the Bank of England's Interactive Statistical Database, or any successor source;
"Start" means the SONIA Compounded Index value on the day falling the Relevant Number of Index Days prior to the first day of the relevant Interest Period.
Provided that a Benchmark Event has not occurred in respect of the SONIA Compounded Index, if, with respect to any Interest Period, the relevant rate is not published for the SONIA Compounded Index either on the relevant Start or End date, then the Calculation Agent shall calculate the rate of interest for that Interest Period as if Index Determination was not specified in the applicable Final Terms and as if Compounded SONIA (as defined in Condition 7(e)) had been specified instead in the Final Terms, and in each case "Observation Shift" had been specified as the Observation Method in the relevant Final Terms, and where the Observation Period for the purposes of that definition in Condition 7(e) shall be deemed to be the same as the Relevant Number specified in the Final Terms and where, in the case of Compounded Daily SONIA, the Relevant Screen Page will be determined by the Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Benchmark Event has occurred in respect of the SONIA Compounded Index, the provisions of Condition 7(l) (Benchmark Discontinuation (Independent Adviser)) shall apply.
time or times at which any such amount is to be determined, calculate the relevant amount. The relevant amount will be calculated by the Calculation Agent in the manner specified in the relevant Final Terms.
In the absence of bad faith or fraud, the Independent Adviser shall have no liability whatsoever to the Issuer, the Principal Paying Agent, Trustee or the Noteholders for any determination made by it pursuant to this Condition 7(i).
If (i) the Issuer is unable to appoint an Independent Adviser or (ii) the Independent Adviser appointed by it fails to determine a Successor Rate or, failing which, an Alternative Rate in accordance with this Condition 7(i) prior to the relevant Interest Determination Date, the Reference Rate applicable to the immediate following Interest Period shall be the Reference Rate applicable as at the last preceding Interest Determination Date. If there has not been a first Interest Payment Date, the Reference Rate shall be the Reference Rate applicable to the first Floating Rate Interest Period. For the avoidance of doubt, any adjustment pursuant to this final paragraph of Condition 7(i) shall apply to the immediately following Interest Period only. Any subsequent Interest Period may be subject to the subsequent operation of this Condition 7(i).
subsequently be used in place of the Reference Rate to determine the rate of Interest for the relevant Interest Period and all following Interest Periods, subject to the subsequent operation of this Condition 7(i).
The Trustee and the Agents shall be entitled to rely on such certificate (without inquiry and without liability to any person) as sufficient evidence thereof. The Successor Rate or Alternative Rate and the Adjustment Spread (if any) and the Benchmark Amendments (if any) specified in such certificate will (in the absence of manifest error in the determination of such Successor Rate or Alternative Rate and such Adjustment Spread (if any) and such Benchmark Amendments (if any) and without prejudice to the Trustee's ability to rely on such certificate as aforesaid) be binding on the Issuer, the Principal Paying Agent, the Trustee, the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agents and the Noteholders as of their effective date.
"Adjustment Spread" means either a spread (which may be positive or negative), or the formula or methodology for calculating a spread, in either case, which the Independent Adviser determines is required to be applied to the relevant Successor Rate or the relevant Alternative Rate (as the case may be) to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances, any economic prejudice or benefit (as the case may be) to Noteholders as a result of the replacement of the Reference Rate with the Successor Rate or the Alternative Rate (as the case may be) and is the spread, formula or methodology which:
"Alternative Rate" means an alternative benchmark or screen rate which the Independent Adviser determines in accordance with Condition 7(i)(ii) is customary in market usage in the international debt capital markets for the purposes of determining floating rates of interest (or the relevant component part thereof) in the Specified Currency.
"Authorised Signatories" has the meaning given in the Trust Deed.
"Benchmark Amendments" has the meaning given to it in Condition 7(i)(iv).
"Benchmark Event" means:
"Independent Adviser" means an independent financial institution of international repute or other independent financial adviser experienced in the international capital markets, in each case appointed by the Issuer at its own expense under Condition 7(i)(i).
"Relevant Nominating Body" means, in respect of a benchmark or screen rate (as applicable):
"Successor Rate" means a successor to or replacement of the Reference Rate which is formally published, endorsed, approved, recommended or recognised by any Relevant Nominating Body.
(a) Scheduled redemption: Unless previously redeemed, or purchased and cancelled, the Notes will be redeemed at their Final Redemption Amount on the Maturity Date, subject as provided in Condition 10 (Payments - Bearer Notes) and Condition 11 (Payments - Registered Notes).
on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice (or such other period as shall be specified in the relevant Final Terms) to the Trustee and the Agent and, in accordance with Condition 21 (Notices), to the Noteholders (which notice shall be irrevocable), at their Early Redemption Amount (Tax), together with interest accrued (if any) to the date fixed for redemption, if, immediately before giving such notice, the Issuer satisfies the Trustee that:
provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than:
Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuer shall deliver or procure that there is delivered to the Trustee (A) a certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Issuer stating that the Issuer is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer so to redeem have occurred and (B) an opinion of independent legal advisers of recognised standing to the effect that the Issuer has or will become obliged to pay such additional amounts as a result of such change or amendment.
The Trustee shall be entitled to accept such certificate and opinion as sufficient evidence of the satisfaction of the circumstances set out above, in which event they shall be conclusive and binding on the Noteholders.
Upon the expiry of any such notice as is referred to in this Condition 9(b), the Issuer shall be bound to redeem the Notes in accordance with this Condition 9(b).
(c) Redemption at the option of the Issuer: If the Call Option is specified in the relevant Final Terms as being applicable, the Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer in whole or, if so specified in the relevant Final Terms, in part on any Optional Redemption Date (Call) at the relevant Optional Redemption Amount (Call) on the Issuer giving not less than 15 nor more than 30 days' notice (or such other period as shall be specified in the relevant Final Terms) to the Noteholders and not less than 15 days before the giving of the notice to the Noteholders notice to the Trustee and the Agent (which notices shall be irrevocable and shall oblige the Issuer to redeem the Notes or, as the case may be, the Notes specified in such notice on the relevant Optional Redemption Date (Call) at the Optional Redemption Amount (Call) plus accrued interest (if any) to such date). If any Maximum Redemption Amount or Minimum Redemption Amount is specified in the relevant Final Terms, then the Optional Redemption Amount (Call) shall in no event be greater than the maximum or be less than the minimum so specified. The Optional Redemption Amount (Call) will be either, as specified in the applicable Final Terms, (i) if Make-Whole Redemption Amount is specified as being applicable in the applicable Final Terms, the relevant Make-Whole Redemption Amount or (ii) the specified percentage of the nominal amount of the Notes stated in the applicable Final Terms.
The Make-Whole Redemption Amount will be an amount equal to the higher of:
all as determined by the Determination Agent, provided however that, if the Optional Redemption Date occurs on or after the Par Redemption Date (if specified in the relevant Final Terms), the Make-Whole Redemption Amount will be the principal amount of the Notes. "Optional Redemption Date" and "Par Redemption Date" will be specified in the relevant Final Terms.
In the case of a partial redemption of Notes, the Notes to be redeemed ("Redeemed Notes") will be selected:
not more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption (such date of selection being hereinafter called the Selection Date).
In the case of Redeemed Notes represented by definitive Notes, a list of the serial numbers of such Redeemed Notes will be published in accordance with Condition 20 not less than 15 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. No exchange of the relevant Global Note will be permitted during the period from (and including) the Selection Date to (and including) the date fixed for redemption pursuant to this Condition 9(c) and notice to that effect shall be given by the Issuer to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 20 at least five days prior to the Selection Date.
In this Condition 9(c):
"DA Selected Bond" means a government security or securities selected by the Determination Agent as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable with the remaining term of the Notes, that would be utilised, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities denominated in the Specified Currency and of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes;
"Determination Agent" means an investment bank or financial institution of international standing selected by the Issuer;
"Gross Redemption Yield" means, with respect to a security, the gross redemption yield on such security, expressed as a percentage and calculated by the Determination Agent on the basis set out by the UK Debt Management Office in the paper "Formulae for Calculating Gilt Prices from Yields", page 4, Section One: Price/Yield Formulae "Conventional Gilts"; "Double dated and Undated Gilts with Assumed (or Actual) Redemption on a Quasi-Coupon Date" (published 8 June 1998, as amended or updated from time to time) on a semi-annual compounding basis (converted to an annualised yield and rounded up (if necessary) to four decimal places) or on such other basis as the Issuer may approve;
"Quotation Time" shall be as set out in the applicable Final Terms;
"Redemption Margin" shall be as set out in the applicable Final Terms;
"Reference Bond" shall be as set out in the applicable Final Terms or the DA Selected Bond;
"Reference Bond Price" means, with respect to any date of redemption, (a) the arithmetic average of the Reference Government Bond Dealer Quotations for such date of redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Government Bond Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Determination Agent obtains fewer than four such Reference Government Bond Dealer Quotations, the arithmetic average of all such quotations;
"Reference Bond Rate" means, with respect to any date of redemption, the rate per annum equal to the annual or semi-annual yield (as the case may be) to maturity or interpolated yield to maturity (on the relevant day count basis) of the Reference Bond, assuming a price for the Reference Bond (expressed as a percentage of its nominal amount) equal to the Reference Bond Price for such date of redemption;
"Reference Date" will be set out in the relevant notice of redemption;
"Reference Government Bond Dealer" means each of the two banks selected by the Issuer, or their affiliates, which are (A) primary government securities dealers, and their respective successors, or (B) market makers in pricing corporate bond issues;
"Reference Government Bond Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Government Bond Dealer and any date of redemption, the arithmetic average, as determined by the Determination Agent, of the bid and offered prices for the Reference Bond (expressed in each case as a percentage of its nominal amount) at the Quotation Time on the Reference Date quoted in writing to the Determination Agent by such Reference Government Bond Dealer; and
"Remaining Term Interest" means, with respect to any Note, the aggregate amount of scheduled payment(s) of interest on such Note for the remaining term of such Note determined on the basis of the rate of interest applicable to such Note from and including the date on which such Note is to be redeemed by the Issuer to the Maturity Date or, if applicable, any earlier Par Redemption Date (in which case the last remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest shall be treated as falling due on such Par Redemption Date).
(d) Partial redemption: If the Notes are to be redeemed in part only on any date in accordance with Condition 9(c) (Redemption at the option of the Issuer), the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the drawing of lots in such place as the Principal Paying Agent approves, the application of a pool factor or in such manner as the Principal Paying Agent considers appropriate, subject to compliance with applicable law, the rules of each competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system (if any) by which the Notes have then been admitted to listing, trading and/or quotation and the notice to Noteholders referred to in Condition 9(c) (Redemption at the option of the Issuer) shall specify the serial numbers of the Notes so to be redeemed. If any Maximum Redemption Amount or Minimum Redemption Amount is specified in the relevant Final Terms, then the Optional Redemption Amount (Call) shall in no event be greater than the maximum or be less than the minimum so specified.
If the Put Option is specified in the relevant Final Terms as being applicable, the Issuer shall, at the option of the Holder of any Note redeem such Note on the Optional Redemption Date (Put) specified in the relevant Put Option Notice at the relevant Optional Redemption Amount (Put) together with interest (if any) accrued to such date. In order to exercise the option contained in this Condition 9(e), the Holder of a Note must, not less than 15 nor more than 30 days before (or such other period as shall be specified in the relevant Final Terms) the relevant Optional Redemption Date (Put), deposit with any Paying Agent such Note together with all unmatured Coupons relating thereto and a duly completed Put Option Notice in the form obtainable from any Paying Agent. The Paying Agent with which a Note is so deposited shall deliver a duly completed Put Option Receipt to the depositing Noteholder. No Note, once deposited with a duly completed Put Option Notice in accordance with this Condition 9(e), may be withdrawn; provided, however, that if, prior to the relevant Optional Redemption Date (Put), any such Note becomes immediately due and payable or, upon due presentation of any such Note on the relevant Optional Redemption Date (Put), payment of the redemption moneys is improperly withheld or refused, the relevant Paying Agent shall mail notification thereof to the depositing Noteholder at such address as may have been given by such Noteholder in the relevant Put Option Notice and shall hold such Note at its Specified Office for collection by the depositing Noteholder against surrender of the relevant Put Option Receipt. For so long as any outstanding Note is held by a Paying Agent in accordance with this Condition 9(e), the depositor of such Note and not such Paying Agent shall be deemed to be the Holder of such Note for all purposes.
(ii) Redemption (Restructuring Put Event or a Cross Put Event):
If either:
then the holder of each Note will have the option (unless, prior to the giving of the Put Option Notice, the Issuer gives notice under Condition 9(b) or 9(c)) to require the Issuer to redeem that Note on the Put Date at its Principal Amount together with interest accrued up to but excluding the Put Date.
A "Cross Put Event" shall be deemed to have occurred at any time that an Existing Holder is entitled to require the Issuer to redeem its notes, due to the occurrence of a "Put Event" as defined in the Existing Holder's relevant notes.
A "Restructuring Put Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if a Restructuring Event and (if at any time that a Restructuring Event occurs there are Rated Securities) a Rating Downgrade in respect of the Restructuring Event occur together.
Promptly upon the Issuer becoming aware that a Restructuring Put Event or a Cross Put Event has occurred, the Issuer shall give notice to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 20 specifying the nature of the Restructuring Put Event or the Cross Put Event and the procedure for the exercising the option contained in this Condition 9(e).
To exercise the option to require redemption of a Note upon the occurrence of a Restructuring Put Event or a Cross Put Event a Noteholder must deliver such Note, on any business day, in the city of the specified office of the relevant Paying Agent falling within the period (the "Put Period") of 45 days after a Put Option Notice is deposited at the specified office of any Paying Agent, duly signed and completed. The Note should be delivered together with all Coupons appertaining thereto (if applicable) maturing after the date (the "Put Date") which is the seventh day after the last day of the Put Period failing which an amount will be deducted from the payment to be made by the Issuer on redemption of the Notes in accordance with the provisions of Condition 10 (in the case of Bearer Notes) or Condition 11 (in the case of Registered Notes). A Put Option Notice once given shall be irrevocable. The Paying Agent to which such Note and Put Option Notice are delivered will issue to the Noteholder concerned a Put Option Receipt in respect of such Note delivered. The Issuer shall redeem the Notes in respect of which Put Option Receipts have been issued on the Put Date.
Payment in respect of any Note so delivered will be made, if the holder duly specifies a bank account in the Put Option Notice to which payment is to be made, on the Put Date by transfer to that bank account and in every other case on or after the Put Date against presentation and surrender or (as the case may be) endorsement of such Put Option Receipt at the specified office of any Paying Agent in accordance with the provisions of Condition 10 (in the case of Bearer Notes) or Condition 11 (in the case of Registered Notes).
Where such calculation is to be made for a period which is not a whole number of years, the calculation in respect of the period of less than a full year shall be made on the basis of such Day Count Fraction as may be specified in the Final Terms for the purposes of this Condition 9(h) or, if none is so specified, a Day Count Fraction of 30E/360.
This Condition 10 is only applicable to Bearer Notes.
sum deducted will be that proportion of the aggregate amount of the Relevant Coupons (or, as the case may be, the amount of principal due for payment) which the gross amount actually available for payment bears to the amount of principal due for payment.
Each sum of principal so deducted shall be paid in the manner provided in paragraph (a) above against presentation and (provided that payment is made in full) surrender of the relevant missing Coupons.
This Condition 11 is only applicable to Registered Notes.
surrender (or, in the case of part payment only, endorsement) of the relevant Note Certificates at the Specified Office of any Paying Agent.
Gross up: All payments of principal and interest in respect of the Notes and the Coupons by or on behalf of the Issuer shall be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed, unless the withholding or deduction of such taxes, duties, assessments, or governmental charges is required by law. In the event that any withholding or deduction is required by law for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the UK or any political subdivision therein or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax, the Issuer shall pay such additional amounts as will result in receipt by the Noteholders and the Couponholders after such withholding or deduction of such amounts as would have been received by them had no such withholding or deduction been required, except that no such additional amounts shall be payable in respect of any Note or Coupon:
surrendering such Note or Coupon or Note Certificate for payment on the last day of such period of 30 days;
(c) in respect of any withholding or deduction imposed pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (or any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof) or any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any law implementing such an intergovernmental agreement).
The Trustee at its absolute discretion may, and if so requested in writing by the Noteholders of not less than one-fifth in nominal amount of the Notes then outstanding or if so directed by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Noteholders shall (subject in each case to being indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction), give written notice to the Issuer that the Notes are, and they shall accordingly forthwith become, immediately due and repayable at their Early Termination Amount together with accrued interest (as provided in the Trust Deed) (if applicable) if any of the following events (each an "Event of Default") shall occur:
provided, however that in the case of any Event of Default other than those described in paragraphs (a) and (in the case of a winding up or dissolution of the Issuer) (d) above, the Trustee shall have certified that the Event of Default is, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to the interests of the Noteholders.
Claims for principal in respect of Bearer Notes shall become void unless the relevant Bearer Notes are presented for payment within ten years of the appropriate Relevant Date. Claims for interest in respect of Bearer Notes shall become void unless the relevant Coupons are presented for payment within five years of the appropriate Relevant Date. Claims for principal and interest on redemption in respect of Registered Notes shall become void unless the relevant Note Certificates are surrendered for payment within ten years of the appropriate Relevant Date.
If any Note, Note Certificate or Coupon is lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed, it may be replaced at the Specified Office of the Principal Paying Agent, in the case of Bearer Notes, or the Registrar, in the case of Registered Notes (and, if the Notes are then admitted to listing, trading and/or quotation by any competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system which requires the appointment of a Paying Agent or Transfer Agent in any particular place, the Paying Agent or Transfer Agent having its Specified Office in the place required by such competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system), subject to all applicable laws and competent authority, stock exchange and/or quotation system requirements, upon payment by the claimant of the expenses incurred in connection with such replacement and on such terms as to evidence, security, indemnity and otherwise as the Issuer may reasonably require. Mutilated or defaced Notes, Note Certificates or Coupons must be surrendered before replacements will be issued.
Under the Trust Deed, the Trustee is entitled to be indemnified and relieved from responsibility in certain circumstances and to be paid its costs and expenses in priority to the claims of the Noteholders. In addition, the Trustee is entitled to enter into business transactions with the Issuer and any entity relating to the Issuer without accounting for any profit.
In the exercise of its powers and discretions under these Conditions and the Trust Deed, the Trustee will have regard to the interests of the Noteholders as a class and will not be responsible for any consequence for individual Holders of Notes as a result of such Holders being connected in any way with a particular territory or taxing jurisdiction.
In acting under the Agency Agreement and in connection with the Notes and the Coupons, the Agents act solely as agents of the Issuer and (to the extent provided therein) the Trustee and do not assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the Noteholders or Couponholders.
The initial Agents and their initial Specified Offices are listed below. The initial Calculation Agent (if any) is specified in the relevant Final Terms. The Issuer reserves the right (with the prior approval of the Trustee) at any time to vary or terminate the appointment of any Agent and to appoint a successor paying agent or registrar or Calculation Agent and additional or successor paying agents; provided, however, that:
Notice of any change in any of the Agents or in their Specified Offices shall promptly be given to the Noteholders.
(a) Meetings of Noteholders: The Trust Deed contains provisions for convening meetings (including by way of conference call using an audio or video conference platform) of Noteholders to consider matters relating to the Notes, including the modification of any provision of these Conditions. Any such modification may be made if sanctioned by an Extraordinary Resolution. Such a meeting may be convened by the Issuer or by the Trustee and shall be convened by the Trustee upon the request in writing of Noteholders holding not less than five per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes. The quorum at any meeting convened to vote on an Extraordinary Resolution will be one or more Persons holding or representing not less than a clear majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes or, at any adjourned meeting, one or more Persons being or representing Noteholders whatever the principal amount of the Notes held or represented; provided, however, that Reserved Matters may only be sanctioned by an Extraordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Noteholders at which one or more Persons holding or representing not less than two-thirds or, at any adjourned meeting, one-third of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes form a quorum. Any Extraordinary Resolution duly passed at any such meeting shall be binding on all the Noteholders and Couponholders, whether present or not.
Any such meeting of the Noteholders may be convened at a physical location, or such other method (which may include, without limitation, a conference call or video conference) as the Trustee may determine in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Deed.
In addition, a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of all Noteholders who for the time being are entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Noteholders under the Trust Deed will take effect as if it were an Extraordinary Resolution. Such a resolution in writing may be contained in one document or several documents in the same form, each signed by or on behalf of one or more Noteholders.
(b) Modification and waiver: The Trustee may, without the consent of the Noteholders, agree to any modification of these Conditions or the Trust Deed (other than in respect of a Reserved Matter) which is, in the opinion of the Trustee, proper to make if, in the opinion of the Trustee, such modification will not be materially prejudicial to the interests of Noteholders and to any modification of the Notes or the Trust Deed which is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is to correct a manifest error.
In addition, the Trustee may, without the consent of the Noteholders, authorise or waive any proposed breach or breach of the Notes or the Trust Deed (other than a proposed breach or breach relating to the subject of a Reserved Matter) if, in the opinion of the Trustee, the interests of the Noteholders will not be materially prejudiced thereby.
Unless the Trustee agrees otherwise, any such authorisation, waiver or modification shall be notified to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 20 (Notices) as soon as practicable thereafter.
(c) Substitution: The Trustee may, without the consent of the Noteholders, agree with the Issuer, to the substitution in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute under this Condition 17 (Meeting of Noteholders; Modification and Waiver; Substitution)) as the principal debtor under the Notes, the Coupons and the Trust Deed of a Subsidiary of the Issuer, subject to (a) the Notes being unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Issuer, (b) the Trustee being satisfied that the interests of the Noteholders will not be materially prejudiced by the substitution and (c) certain other conditions set out in the Trust Deed being complied with.
The Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without notice, institute such proceedings as it thinks fit to enforce its rights under the Trust Deed in respect of the Notes, but it shall not be bound to do so unless:
No Noteholder may proceed directly against the Issuer unless the Trustee, having become bound to do so, fails to do so within a reasonable time and such failure is continuing.
The Issuer may from time to time, without the consent of the Noteholders and in accordance with the Trust Deed, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single series with the Notes. The Issuer may from time to time, with the consent of the Trustee, create and issue other series of notes having the benefit of the Trust Deed.
The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee, the Agents, every Appointee, the Noteholders and the Couponholders and keep them indemnified against:
For the purposes of any calculations referred to in these Conditions (unless otherwise specified in these Conditions or the relevant Final Terms), (a) all percentages resulting from such calculations will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (with 0.000005 per cent. being rounded up to 0.00001 per cent.), (b) all United States dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one half cent being rounded up), (c) all Japanese Yen amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded downwards to the next lower whole Japanese Yen amount, and (d) all amounts denominated in any other currency used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest two decimal places in such currency, with 0.005 being rounded upwards.
Set out below is the form of Final Terms which will be completed for each Tranche of Notes which are not Exempt Notes issued under the Programme.
[PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA 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, "EU MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "EU 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 EU PRIIPs Regulation.]
[PROHIBITION OF SALES TO UK RETAIL INVESTORS – The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the 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 in the UK by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (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 in the UK by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK 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.]
[EU MiFID II product governance/Professional investors and ECPs only target market – Solely for the purposes of [the/each] manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in [Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "EU MiFID II")/[EU MiFID II]; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to EU MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.]
[UK MIFIR product governance/Professional investors and ECPs only target market – Solely for the purposes of [the/each] manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is only eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"), and professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA ("UK MiFIR"); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor")]/[distributor] should take into consideration the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules") is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.]
[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 Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the "SFA"), the Issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the Notes are ["prescribed capital markets products "]/["capital markets products other than prescribed capital markets products"] (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018).]1
Final Terms dated [•]
The Prospectus referred to below (as completed by these Final Terms) has been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the Notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in the UK of the Notes may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation, in each case, in relation to such offer. Neither the Issuer nor any Dealer have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.
[Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the Conditions (the "Conditions") set forth in the Base Prospectus dated 13 June 2025 [and the supplement(s) to it dated [•] which [together] constitute[s] a base prospectus (the "Base Prospectus") for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"). This document constitutes the Final Terms of the Notes described herein for the purposes of Article 8.1 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. These Final Terms contain the final terms of the Notes and must be read in conjunction with such Base Prospectus.
The Base Prospectus is available for viewing at [•].]
[Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the Conditions (the "Conditions") set forth in the base prospectus dated [•] and which are incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus dated 13 June 2025. This document constitutes the Final Terms of the Notes described herein for the purposes of Article 8.1 of the UK Prospectus Regulation and must be read in conjunction with the Base Prospectus dated 13 June 2025 [and the Base Prospectus supplement dated [•]] which [together] constitute[s] a base prospectus (the "Base Prospectus") for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129), as amended or superseded (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"), including the Conditions incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus.]
The Base Prospectus [and the supplemental Base Prospectus(es)] are available for viewing at [•] [and] during normal business hours at [•] [and copies may be obtained from [•]].
| 1. | Issuer: | Compass Group PLC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | [(i)] | Series Number: | [•] |
| [(ii)] | Tranche: | [•] | |
| [(iii)] | Date on which Notes become fungible: |
[Not Applicable/The Notes shall be consolidated, form a single series and be interchangeable for trading purposes with the [•] on [•/the Issue Date/exchange of the Temporary Global Note for interests in the Permanent Global Note, as referred to in paragraph 22 |
1 To be included where sales are made to investors other than "institutional investors" or "accredited investors" each as defined in Section 4(A) of the SFA.
| below [which is expected to occur on or about [•]]].] |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | Specified Currency or Currencies: | [•] | |
| 4. | Aggregate Nominal Amount: | [•] | |
| [(i)] | Series: | [•] | |
| [(ii)] | Tranche: | [•] | |
| 5. | Issue Price: | [•] per cent. of the Aggregate Nominal Amount [plus an amount equal to accrued interest from [•]] |
|
| 6. | (i) | Specified Denominations: | [•] |
| (ii) | Calculation Amount: | [•] | |
| 7. | (i) | Trade Date: | [•] |
| (ii) (iii) |
Issue Date: Interest Commencement Date: |
[•] [[•]/Issue Date/Not Applicable] |
|
| 8. | Maturity Date: | [•] | |
| 9. | Interest Basis: | [[•] per cent. Fixed Rate] | |
| [[•] +/– [•] per cent. Floating Rate] | |||
| [Zero Coupon] | |||
| 10. | Redemption/Payment Basis: | [Redemption at par] | |
| [Subject to any purchase and cancellation or early redemption, the Notes will be redeemed on the Maturity Date at 100 per cent. of their nominal amount.] |
|||
| [Instalment Redemption] | |||
| 11. | Change of Interest: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
| 12. | Put/Call Options: | [Investor Put] | |
| [Issuer Call] | |||
| [Clean-up Call Option] | |||
| 13. | [Date [Board] approval for issuance of Notes] obtained: |
[•] [and [•], respectively] | |
| PROVISIONS RELATING TO INTEREST (IF ANY) PAYABLE | |||
| 14. | Fixed Rate Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (i) | Rate[(s)] of Interest: | [•] per cent. per annum [payable in arrear on each Interest Payment Date] |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Interest Payment Date(s): | [•] in each year | |
| (iii) | Fixed Coupon Amount[(s)]: | [•] per Calculation Amount |
| (iv) | Broken Amount(s): | [•] per Calculation Amount, payable on the Interest Payment Date falling [in/on] [•] |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| (v) Day Count Fraction: |
[30/360 / Actual/Actual (ICMA) (or specify any other option from the Conditions)] |
||
| 15. | Floating Rate Note Provisions i. Specified Period: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
| [[•] in each year, subject to adjustment in accordance with the Business Day Convention set out in (iv) below] |
|||
| ii. | Specified Interest Payment Dates: |
[[•] in each year, subject to adjustment in accordance with the Business Day Convention set out in (iv) below] |
|
| iii. | [First Interest Payment Date]: | [•] | |
| iv. Business Day Convention: |
[FRN Convention / Eurodollar Convention / Floating Rate Convention / Following Business Day Convention / Modified Following Business Day Convention / Modified Business Day Convention / Preceding Business Day Convention / No Adjustment] |
||
| v. | Additional Business Centre(s): | [Not Applicable / [•]] | |
| vi. | Manner in which the Rate(s) of Interest is/are to be determined: |
[Screen Rate Determination/ISDA Determination] |
|
| vii. | Party responsible for calculating the Rate(s) of Interest and/or Interest Amount(s): |
[Principal Paying Agent] / [Other Named Calculation Agent] |
|
| viii. Party responsible for calculating the Rate(s) of Interest and/or Interest Amount(s) in respect of Condition 7(c)(iii) and (iv) only: |
[Calculation Agent] | ||
| ix. | Provisions relating to Screen Rate Determination: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
| • Reference Rate: |
[EURIBOR] / [SONIA] | ||
| • Calculation Method: • Observation Method: • Lag Period: |
[Compounded Daily / Index Determination] [Lag / Observation Shift] [5 / [•] TARGET Settlement Days/London Banking Days/Not Applicable] |
||
| • Observation Shift Period: |
[5 / [•] TARGET Settlement Days/London Banking Days /Not Applicable] (A minimum of 5 should be specified for the Lag Period or Observation Shift Period, unless otherwise agreed with the Calculation Agent) |
||
| • D: |
[360/365/[•]] / [Not Applicable] | ||
| • Relevant Decimal Place: |
[•] [5] (unless otherwise specified in the Final Terms, be the fifth decimal place) [•] [5] (unless otherwise specified in the Final |
||
| • Relevant Number of Index Days: |
Terms, the Relevant Number shall be 5) |
| • Relevant Financial Centre: |
[•] | |
|---|---|---|
| • Interest Determination Date(s): |
[•] | |
| • Relevant Screen Page: |
[•] | |
| • Relevant Time: |
[•] | |
| • Relevant Financial Centre: |
[•] | |
| x. | ISDA Determination: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| • 2021 ISDA Definitions: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
| • Floating Rate Option: |
[•] | |
| • Designated Maturity: |
[•] | |
| • Reset Date: |
[•] | |
| • Compounding: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] (If not applicable delete the remaining sub-paragraph of this paragraph) |
|
| - Compounding Method: |
[Compounding with Lookback Lookback: [•] Applicable Business Days] [Compounding with Observation Period Shift Observation Period Shift: [•] Observation Period Shift Business Days Observation Period Shift Additional Business Days: [•] / [Not Applicable]] [Compounding with Lockout Lockout: [•] Lockout Period Business Days Lockout Period Business Days: [•]/[Applicable Business Days]] |
|
| • Averaging: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable]] (If not applicable delete the remaining sub-paragraph of this paragraph) |
|
| - Averaging Method: |
[Averaging with Lookback Lookback: [•] Applicable Business Days] [Averaging with Observation Period Shift Observation Period Shift: [•] Observation Period Shift Business days Observation Period Shift Additional Business Days: [•]/[Not Applicable]] [Averaging with Lockout Lockout: [•] Lockout Period Business Days Lockout Period Business Days: [•]/[Applicable Business Days]] |
|
| • Index Provisions: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] (If not applicable delete the remaining sub-paragraph of this |
paragraph)
| - Index Method: |
Compounded Index Method with Observation Period Shift Observation Period Shift: [•] Observation Period Shift Business days Observation Period Shift Additional Business Days: [•] / [Not Applicable] |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| xi. | Margin(s): | [+/-][•] per cent. per annum | |
| xii. | Minimum Rate of Interest: | [[•] per cent. per annum / Not Applicable] | |
| xiii. | Maximum Rate of Interest: | [[•] per cent. per annum / Not Applicable] | |
| xiv. | Day Count Fraction: | [•] | |
| 16. | Zero Coupon Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
| (i) | [Amortisation/Accrual] Yield: | [•] per cent. per annum | |
| (ii) | Reference Price: | [•] | |
| (iii) | Day Count Fraction in relation to Early Redemption Amounts and late payment: |
[30E/360] / [•] |
| 17. | Call Option (i) Optional Redemption Date(s): |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [•] | ||||
| (ii) | Optional Redemption Amount(s) of each Note: |
[[•] per Calculation Amount/Make-Whole Redemption Amount/Spens Amount] |
||
| [(a) | Redemption Margin: | [•]] | ||
| [(b) | Reference Bond: | [•]] | ||
| [(c) | Quotation Time: | [•]] | ||
| [(d) | Par Redemption Date: | [•]] | ||
| (iii) Redeemable in part: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (a) | Minimum Redemption Amount: |
[[•] per Calculation Amount / Not Applicable] | ||
| (b) | Maximum Redemption Amount |
[[•] per Calculation Amount / Not Applicable] | ||
| (iv) | Notice period: | [•] | ||
| 18. | Put Option: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | ||
| (i) | Optional Redemption Date(s): | [•] | ||
| (ii) Optional Redemption Amount(s) of each Note: |
[•] per Calculation Amount | |||
| (iii) | Notice period: | [•] | ||
| 19. | Clean-up Call Option: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (i) | Clean-up Call Threshold: | [•] per cent. |
|---|---|---|
[Not less than [•] nor more than [•] days] / [Not Applicable – in line with Condition 9(f) (Cleanup Call)]
Early Redemption Amount(s) per Calculation Amount payable on redemption for taxation reasons or on event of default or other early:
GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES
[•] per Calculation Amount
[Temporary Global Note exchangeable for a Permanent Global Note which is exchangeable for Definitive Notes on [•] days' notice/in the limited circumstances described in the Permanent Global Note]
[Temporary Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes on [•] days' notice]
[Permanent Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes on [•] days' notice/in the limited circumstances described in the Permanent Global Note]
[In relation to any Notes issued with a denomination of EUR100,000 (or equivalent) and integral multiples of EUR1,000 (or equivalent), the Permanent Global Note representing such Notes shall only be exchangeable for Definitive Notes in the limited circumstances of (i) Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system closing for business for a continuous period of 14 days (other than by reason of holidays, statutory or otherwise) or announcing an intention permanently to cease business or in fact doing so and no alternative clearing system satisfactory to the Trustee is available or (ii) any of the circumstances described in Condition 13 (Events of Default) occurring and continuing.]]
[Registered Notes:
[Global Note Certificate exchangeable for unrestricted Individual Note Certificates on [•] days' notice/in the limited circumstances described in the Global Note Certificate]]
Talons for future Coupons or Receipts to be attached to Definitive Notes (and dates on which such Talons mature):
[No/Yes. As the Notes have more than 27 coupon payments, talons may be required if, on exchange into definitive form, more than 27 coupon payments are left.]
[[•] has been extracted from [•]. The Issuer confirms that such information has been accurately reproduced and that, so far as it is aware, and is able to ascertain from information published by [•], no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading.]
Signed on behalf of Compass Group PLC:
By: ...................................................................... Duly authorised
Listing and Admission to trading: [Application [will be/has been] made by the Issuer (or on its behalf) for the Notes to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market and to the official list of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority with effect from [the Issue Date [•]]. 2. RATINGS Ratings: [[The Notes to be issued [have been/are expected to be] rated]/[The following ratings reflect ratings assigned to Notes of this type issued under the Programme generally]]: [S&P Global Ratings UK Limited ("S&P"): [•]] [Moody's Investors Service Ltd. ("Moody's"): [•]] [[Each of] [S&P] [and] [Moody's] is established in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK CRA Regulation"). [[Each of] [S&P] [and] [Moody's] appears on the latest update of the list of registered credit rating agencies (as of [insert date of most recent list]) on the FCA's Financial Services Register.] [The rating S&P has given to the Notes to be issued under the Programme is endorsed by S&P Global Ratings Europe Limited, which is established in the EEA and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation").] [The rating Moody's has given to the Notes to be issued under the Programme is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, which is established in the EEA and registered under [Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation")][the EU CRA Regulation].] [[•] is established in the EEA and has applied for registration under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation"), although notification of the corresponding registration decision has not yet been provided by the [relevant competent authority] /[European Securities and Markets Authority]. [The rating [•] has given to the Notes is endorsed by [•], which is established in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation").]/[[•] has been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of
domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)".]/[[•] has not been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)" and the rating it has given to the Notes is not endorsed by a credit rating agency established in the UK and registered under the UK CRA Regulation.]
[[•] is established in the EEA and is neither registered nor has it applied for registration under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation").] [The rating [•] has given to the Notes is endorsed by [•], which is established in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation").]/[[•] has been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)".]/[[•] has not been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)" and the rating it has given to the Notes is not endorsed by a credit rating agency established in the UK and registered under the UK CRA Regulation.
[[•] is not established in the EEA or in the UK but the rating it has given to the Notes is endorsed by [•], which is established in the EEA or in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation") [and][ Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation")]
[[•] is not established in the EEA or in the UK but is certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation")][and][ Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation")]
[[•] is not established in the EEA or in the UK and is not certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation") or Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation") and the rating it has given to the Notes is not endorsed by a credit rating agency established
in either the EEA and registered under the EU CRA Regulation or in the UK and registered under the UK CRA Regulation.]
[•][Sustainable Projects]
[Save as discussed in "Subscription and Sale", so far as the Issuer is aware, no person involved in the offer of the Notes has an interest material to the offer.]
[Not Applicable / Indication of yield: [•]]
Details of historic [EURIBOR] rates can be obtained from [Reuters].]
ISIN Code: [•]
Common Code: [•]
Any clearing system(s) other than Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking S.A. and the relevant identification number(s):
Delivery: Delivery [against/free of] payment
[•]
[Not Applicable/[•]]
Names and addresses of additional Paying Agent(s) (if any):
Intended to be held in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility:
[Yes. Note that the designation "yes" simply means that the Notes are intended upon issue to be deposited with one of the ICSDs as common safekeeper [[, and registered in the name of a nominee of one of the ICSDs acting as common safekeeper,] [include this text for registered notes]] and does not necessarily mean that the Notes will be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra day credit operations by the Eurosystem either upon issue or at any or all times during their life. Such recognition will depend upon the ECB being satisfied that Eurosystem eligibility criteria have been met.]
[No. Whilst the designation is specified as "no" at the date of these Final Terms, should the Eurosystem eligibility criteria be amended in the future such that the Notes are capable of meeting them the Notes may then be deposited with one of the ICSDs as common safekeeper [[, and registered in the name of a nominee of one of the ICSDs acting as common safekeeper,][include this text for registered notes]]. Note that this does not necessarily mean that the Notes will then be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra day credit operations by the Eurosystem at any time during their life. Such recognition will depend upon the ECB being satisfied that Eurosystem eligibility criteria have been met.]
Relevant Benchmark[s]: [[specify benchmark] is provided by [administrator legal name]][repeat as necessary]. As at the date hereof, [[administrator legal name][appears]/[does not appear]][repeat as necessary] in the register of administrators and benchmarks established and maintained by the FCA pursuant to Article 36 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA]/[As far as the Issuer is aware, as at the date hereof, [specify benchmark] does not fall within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA by virtue of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA] OR [the transitional provisions in Article 51 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA apply], such that [administrator legal name] is not currently required to obtain authorisation or registration (or if, if located outside the UK, recognition, endorsement or equivalence)/[Not Applicable]
| (i) | US Selling Restrictions: | [Reg. S Compliance Category; TEFRA C/ TEFRA D/TEFRA not applicable] |
|---|---|---|
| (ii) | If syndicated, names and addresses of Managers and underwriting commitments: |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (iii) | Stabilising Manager(s) (if any): |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (iv) | If non-syndicated, name and address of relevant Dealer: |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (v) | Additional selling restrictions: | [Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (vi) | Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (vii) | Prohibition of Sales to UK Retail Investors: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (viii) | Prohibition of Sales to Belgian Consumers: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] |
Set out below is the form of Pricing Supplement which will be completed for each Tranche of Exempt Notes issued under the Programme.
[PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA 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, "EU MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "EU 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 EU PRIIPs Regulation.]
[PROHIBITION OF SALES TO UK RETAIL INVESTORS – The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the 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 in the UK by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (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 in the UK by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK 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.]
[EU MiFID II product governance/Professional investors and ECPs only target market – Solely for the purposes of [the/each] manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in [Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "EU MiFID II")/[EU MiFID II]; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to EU MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.]
[UK MIFIR product governance/Professional investors and ECPs only target market – Solely for the purposes of [the/each] manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is only eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"), and professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA ("UK MiFIR"); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor")]/[distributor] should take into consideration the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules") is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer['s/s'] target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.]
[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 Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the "SFA"), the Issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the Notes are ["prescribed capital markets products "]/["capital markets products other than prescribed capital markets products"] (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018).] 2
No prospectus is required in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK Prospectus Regulation") as amended for this issue of Notes. The Financial Conduct Authority, in its capacity as competent authority under the UK Prospectus Regulation, has neither approved nor reviewed the information contained in this Pricing Supplement.
The Prospectus referred to below (as completed by these Final Terms) has been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the Notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in the UK of the Notes may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation, in each case, in relation to such offer. Neither the Issuer nor any Dealer have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Issuer or any Dealer to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.
This document constitutes the Pricing Supplement of the Notes described herein. This document must be read in conjunction with the Base Prospectus dated 13 June 2025 [and the supplement(s) to it dated [•]] (the "Base Prospectus"). This Pricing Supplement contains the final terms of the Notes and must be read in conjunction with such Base Prospectus.
Copies of the Base Prospectus [and the supplemental Base Prospectus(es)] may be obtained during normal business hours from the registered office of the Issuer and from the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent in London.
(The following alternative language applies if the first tranche of an issue which is being increased was issued under a base prospectus with an earlier date and either (1) the Notes which are the subject of the Final Terms are not being (a) offered to the public in the UK (other than pursuant to one or more of the exemptions set out in Article 1.4 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) or (b) admitted to trading on a regulated market in the UK or (c) admitted to listing or (2) the Conditions (as defined in the next paragraph) do not contain, by comparison with the Base Prospectus, any "significant new factor" within the meaning of Article 23.1 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. If neither (1) nor (2) applies the Issuer will need to consider effecting the issue by means of a supplement to the Base Prospectus or a standalone prospectus rather than by Final Terms.)
Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the Conditions (the "Conditions") set forth in the Base Prospectus [dated [original date] which are incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus].
(The following alternative language applies if the first tranche of an issue which is being increased was issued under a base prospectus with an earlier date and the relevant terms and conditions from that base prospectus with an earlier date were incorporated by reference in this Base Prospectus.)
This Pricing Supplement does not constitute, and may not be used for the purposes of, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not
2 To be included where sales are made to investors other than "institutional investors" or "accredited investors" each as defined in Section 4(A) of the SFA.
authorised, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation, and no action is being taken to permit an offering of the Notes or the distribution of this Pricing Supplement in any jurisdiction where such action is required.
| 1. | Issuer: | Compass Group PLC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | [(i)] | Series Number: | [•] |
| [(ii)] | Tranche: | [•] | |
| [(iii)] | Date on which Notes become fungible: |
[Not Applicable/The Notes shall be consolidated, form a single series and be interchangeable for trading purposes with the [•] on [•/the Issue Date/exchange of the Temporary Global Note for interests in the Permanent Global Note, as referred to in paragraph 22 below [which is expected to occur on or about [•]]].] |
|
| 3. | Specified Currency or Currencies: | [•] | |
| 4. | Aggregate Nominal Amount: | [•] | |
| [(i)] | Series: | [•] | |
| [(ii)] | Tranche: | [•]] | |
| 5. | Issue Price: | [•] per cent. of the Aggregate Nominal Amount [plus an amount equal to accrued interest from [•] (in the case of fungible issues only, if applicable)] |
|
| 6. | (i) | Specified Denominations: | [•] |
| (No Notes may be issued which have a minimum denomination of less than EUR 100,000 (or equivalent in another currency)) |
|||
| (In relation to any issue of Notes which have a Denomination consisting of the minimum Specified Denomination plus a higher integral multiple of a smaller amount, the following language should be used: |
|||
| [[EUR][100,000] and integral multiples of [EUR][1,000] in excess thereof up to and including [EUR][199,000]. No Notes in Definitive form will be issued with a denomination above [EUR][199,000].]) |
|||
| (ii) | Calculation Amount: | [•] | |
| 7. | (i) | Trade Date: | [•] |
| (ii) | Issue Date: | [•] | |
| (iii) | Interest Commencement Date: | [[•]/Issue Date/Not Applicable] | |
| 8. | Maturity Date: | [•] (Specify date or (for Floating Rate Notes) Interest Payment Date falling in or nearest to |
the relevant month and year)
| (If the Maturity Date is less than one year from the Issue Date, the Notes must have a minimum redemption value of £100,000 (or its equivalent in Other currencies) and be sold only to "professional investors" (or another applicable exemption from section 19 of the FSMA must be available).) |
||
|---|---|---|
| 9. | Interest Basis: | [[•] per cent. Fixed Rate] |
| [[•] +/– [•] per cent. Floating Rate] | ||
| [Zero Coupon] | ||
| [other] | ||
| 10. | Redemption/Payment Basis: | [Redemption at par] |
| [Subject to any purchase and cancellation or early redemption, the Notes will be redeemed on the Maturity Date at 100 per cent. of their nominal amount.] |
||
| [Instalment Redemption] | ||
| [other] | ||
| 11. | Change of Interest: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| 12. | Put/Call Options: | [Investor Put] |
| [Issuer Call] | ||
| [Clean-up Call Option] | ||
| [other] | ||
| 13. | [Date [Board] approval for issuance of Notes] obtained: |
[•] [and [•], respectively] |
| (Only relevant where Board (or similar) authorisation is required for the particular tranche of Notes) |
||
| 14. | Fixed Rate Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (If not applicable, delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
|||
| (i) | Rate[(s)] of Interest: | [•] per cent. per annum [payable in arrear on each Interest Payment Date] |
|
| (ii) | Interest Payment Date(s): | [•] in each year | |
| (iii) | Fixed Coupon Amount[(s)]: | [•] per Calculation Amount | |
| (iv) | Broken Amount(s): | [•] per Calculation Amount, payable on the Interest Payment Date falling [in/on] [•] |
|
| (v) | Day Count Fraction: | [30/360 / Actual/Actual (ICMA) (or specify any other option from the Conditions)] |
| 15. | Floating Rate Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (If not applicable, delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
|||
| i. | Specified Period: | [[•] in each year, subject to adjustment in accordance with the Business Day Convention set out in (iv) below] |
|
| ii. | Specified Interest Payment Dates: | [[•] in each year, subject to adjustment in accordance with the Business Day Convention set out in (iv) below] |
|
| iii. | [First Interest Payment Date]: | [•] | |
| iv. | Business Day Convention: | [FRN Convention / Eurodollar Convention / Floating Rate Convention / Following Business Day Convention / Modified Following Business Day Convention / Modified Business Day Convention / Preceding Business Day Convention / No Adjustment] |
|
| v. | Additional Business Centre(s): | [Not Applicable/[•]] | |
| vi. | Manner in which the Rate(s) of Interest is/are to be determined: |
[Screen Rate Determination/ISDA Determination] |
|
| vii. | Party responsible for calculating the Rate(s) of Interest and/or Interest Amount(s): |
[Principal Paying Agent] / [Other Named Calculation Agent] |
|
| viii. | Party responsible for calculating the Rate(s) of Interest and/or Interest Amount(s) in respect of Condition 7(c)(iii) and (iv) only: |
[Calculation Agent] | |
| ix. | Provisions relating to Screen Rate | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |
| Determination: | (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
||
| a. Reference Rate: |
[EURIBOR] / [SONIA] | ||
| b. Calculation Method: c. Observation Method: |
[Compounded Daily / Index Determination] [Lag / Observation Shift] |
||
| d. Lag Period |
[ 5 / [•] TARGET Settlement Days /London Banking Days/Not Applicable] |
||
| e. Observation Shift Period: |
[5 / [•] TARGET Settlement Days/London Banking Days /Not Applicable] (A minimum of 5 should be specified for the Lag Period or Observation Shift Period, unless otherwise agreed with the Calculation Agent) |
||
| f. D: |
[360/365/[•]] / [Not Applicable] | ||
| g. Relevant Decimal Place: |
[•] [5] (unless otherwise specified in the Final Terms, be the fifth decimal place) |
| h. Relevant Number of Index Days: |
[ •] [5] (unless otherwise specified in the Final Terms, the Relevant Number shall be 5) |
|
|---|---|---|
| i. Relevant Financial Centre: |
[•] | |
| j. Interest Determination Date(s): |
[•] | |
| k. Relevant Screen Page: |
[•] (For example, Reuters EURIBOR 01) | |
| l. Relevant Time: |
[•] (For example, 11.00 a.m. London time/Brussels time) |
|
| m. Relevant Financial Centre: |
[•] (For example, London/Euro-zone (where Euro-zone means the region comprised of the countries whose lawful currency is the euro)) |
|
| x. | ISDA Determination: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
||
| xi. | 2021 ISDA Definitions: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| xii. | Floating Rate Option: | [•] |
| xiii. | Designated Maturity: | [•] |
| xiv. | Reset Date: | [•] |
| xv. | Compounding: a. -Compounding Method: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraph of this paragraph) [Compounding with Lookback Lookback: [•] Applicable Business Days] [Compounding with Observation Period Shift Observation Period Shift: [•] Observation Period Shift Business Days Observation Period Shift Additional Business Days: [•] / [Not Applicable]] [Compounding with Lockout Lockout: [•] Lockout Period Business Days Lockout Period Business Days: [•]/[Applicable Business Days]] |
| xvi. | Averaging | [Applicable/Not Applicable]] (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraph of this paragraph) |
| a. -Averaging Method: |
[Averaging with Lookback Lookback: [•] Applicable Business Days] [Averaging with Observation Period Shift Observation Period Shift: [•] Observation Period Shift Business days Observation Period Shift Additional Business Days: [•]/[Not Applicable]] [Averaging with Lockout Lockout: [•] Lockout Period Business Days Lockout Period Business Days: [•]/[Applicable Business Days]] |
| xvii. Index Provisions: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraph of this paragraph) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. | -Index Method: | Compounded Index Method with Observation Period Shift Observation Period Shift: [•] Observation Period Shift Business days Observation Period Shift Additional Business Days: [•] / [Not Applicable] |
|||
| xviii. | Margin(s): | [+/-][•] per cent. per annum | |||
| xix. | Minimum Rate of Interest: | [[•] per cent. per annum / Not Applicable] | |||
| xx. | Maximum Rate of Interest: | [[•] per cent. per annum / Not Applicable] | |||
| xxi. | Day Count Fraction: | [•] | |||
| 16. | Zero Coupon Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
|||||
| (i) | [Amortisation/Accrual] Yield: | [•] per cent. per annum | |||
| (ii) | Reference Price: | [•] | |||
| (iii) Day Count Fraction in relation to Early Redemption Amounts and late payment: |
[30E/360] / [•] | ||||
| PROVISIONS RELATING TO REDEMPTION | |||||
| 17. | Call Option | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (If not applicable, delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
|||||
| (i) Optional Redemption Date(s): (ii) Optional Redemption Amount(s) of each Note: |
[•] | ||||
| [[•] per Calculation Amount/Make-Whole Redemption Amount/Spens Amount] |
|||||
| [(a) | Redemption Margin: | [•]] | |||
| [(b) | Reference Bond: | [•]] | |||
| [(c) | Quotation Time: | [•]] | |||
| [(d) | Par Redemption Date: | [•]] | |||
| (iii) | Redeemable in part: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (a) | Minimum Amount: |
Redemption | [[•] per Calculation Amount / Not Applicable] | ||
| (b) | Maximum Amount: |
Redemption | [[•] per Calculation Amount / Not Applicable] | ||
| (iv) Notice period: |
[•] |
| 18. | Put Option: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (If not applicable, delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
||||||
| (i) | Optional Redemption Date(s): | [•] | ||||
| (ii) Optional Redemption Amount(s) of each Note: |
[•] per Calculation Amount | |||||
| (iii) | Notice period: | [•] | ||||
| 19. | Clean-up Call Option: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | ||||
| (If not applicable delete the remaining sub paragraphs of this paragraph) |
||||||
| (i) | Clean-up Call Threshold: | [•] per cent. | ||||
| (ii) | Optional Redemption Amount (Clean-up Call): |
[•]] | ||||
| (iii) | Notice period (if different from the Conditions) |
[Not less than [•] nor more than [•] days] / [Not Applicable – in line with Condition 9(f) (Clean-up Call)] |
||||
| 20. | Final Redemption Amount of each Note: | [•] per Calculation Amount | ||||
| 21. | Early Redemption Amount | |||||
| Early Redemption Amount(s) per Calculation | [•] per Calculation Amount | |||||
| Amount payable on redemption for taxation reasons or on event of default or other early: |
(If both the Early Redemption Amount (Tax) and the Early Termination Amount are the principal amount of the Notes/specify the Early Redemption Amount (Tax) and/or the Early Termination Amount if different from |
| 22. | Form of Notes: | [Bearer Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| [Temporary Global Note exchangeable for a Permanent Global Note which is exchangeable for Definitive Notes on [•] days' notice/in the limited circumstances described in the Permanent Global Note] |
||
| [Temporary Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes on [•] days' notice] |
||
| [Permanent Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes on [•] days' notice/in the limited circumstances described in the Permanent Global Note] |
||
| [In relation to any Notes issued with a denomination of EUR100,000 (or equivalent) and integral multiples of EUR1,000 (or equivalent), the Permanent Global Note representing such Notes shall only be |
the principal amount of the Notes)
exchangeable for Definitive Notes in the limited circumstances of (i) Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other relevant clearing system closing for business for a continuous period of 14 days (other than by reason of holidays, statutory or otherwise) or announcing an intention permanently to cease business or in fact doing so and no alternative clearing system satisfactory to the Trustee is available or (ii) any of the circumstances described in Condition 13 (Events of Default) occurring and continuing.]]
[Registered Notes:
27 coupon payments are left.]
[Global Note Certificate exchangeable for unrestricted Individual Note Certificates on [•] days' notice/in the limited circumstances described in the Global Note Certificate]]
| 23. | New Global Note: | [Yes]/[No] |
|---|---|---|
| 24. | Additional Financial Centre(s): | [Not Applicable/[•]] |
| 25. | Talons for future Coupons or Receipts to be attached to Definitive Notes (and dates on which such Talons mature): |
[No/Yes. As the Notes have more than 27 coupon payments, talons may be required if, on exchange into definitive form, more than |
THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION
[[•] has been extracted from [•]. The Issuer confirms that such information has been accurately reproduced and that, so far as it is aware, and is able to ascertain from information published by [•], no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading.]
Signed on behalf of Compass Group PLC:
By: ...................................................................... Duly authorised
Listing and Admission to trading: [Application [will be/has been] made by the Issuer (or on its behalf) for the Notes to be admitted to trading on [•] (which is not a regulated market for the purposes of Directive 2014/65/EU) with effect from [the Issue Date/[•]]. [Not Applicable]
(Where documenting a fungible issue need to indicate that original Notes are already admitted to trading.)
Ratings: [[The Notes to be issued [have been/are expected to be] rated]/[The following ratings reflect ratings assigned to Notes of this type issued under the Programme generally]]:
[S&P Global Ratings UK Limited ("S&P"): [•]]
[Moody's Investors Service Ltd. ("Moody's"): [•]]
[[Each of] [S&P] [and] [Moody's] is established in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ( the "UK CRA Regulation"). [[Each of] [S&P] [and] [Moody's] appears on the latest update of the list of registered credit rating agencies (as of [insert date of most recent list]) on the FCA's Financial Services Register.]
[The rating S&P has given to the Notes to be issued under the Programme is endorsed by S&P Global Ratings Europe Limited, which is established in the EEA and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation").]
[The rating Moody's has given to the Notes to be issued under the Programme is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, which is established in the EEA and registered under [Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation")][the EU CRA Regulation].]
[[•] is established in the EEA and has applied for registration under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation"), although notification of the corresponding registration decision has not yet been provided by the [relevant competent authority] /[European Securities and Markets Authority]. [The rating [•] has given to the Notes is endorsed by [•], which is established in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation").]/[[•] has been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)".]/[[•] has not been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)" and the rating it has given to the Notes is not endorsed by a credit rating agency established in the UK and registered under the UK CRA Regulation.]
[[•] is established in the EEA and is neither registered nor has it applied for registration under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation").] [The rating [•] has given to the Notes is endorsed by [•], which is established in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation").]/[[•] has been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)".]/[[•] has not been certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the [European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018/EUWA] (the "UK CRA Regulation)" and the rating it has given to the Notes is not endorsed by a credit rating agency established in the UK and registered under the UK CRA Regulation.
[[•] is not established in the EEA or in the UK but the rating it has given to the Notes is endorsed by [•], which is established in the EEA or in the UK and registered under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation") [and][ Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation")]
[[•] is not established in the EEA or in the UK but is certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation")][and][ Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation")]
[[•] is not established in the EEA or in the UK and is not certified under Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009, as amended (the "EU CRA Regulation") or Regulation (EU) No 1060/2009 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK CRA Regulation") and the rating it has given to the Notes is not endorsed by a credit rating agency established in either the EEA and registered under the EU CRA Regulation or in the UK and registered under the UK CRA Regulation.]
(The above disclosure should reflect the rating allocated to Notes of the type being issued under the Programme generally or, where the issue has been specifically rated, that rating.)
ISIN Code: [•]
Common Code: [•]
Any clearing system(s) other than Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking S.A. and the relevant identification number(s):
Names and addresses of additional Paying Agent(s) (if any): [•]
Intended to be held in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility:
[Not Applicable/[•]]
Delivery: Delivery [against/free of] payment
[Yes. Note that the designation "yes" simply means that the Notes are intended upon issue to be deposited with one of the ICSDs as common safekeeper [[, and registered in the name of a nominee of one of the ICSDs acting as common safekeeper,] [include this text for registered notes]] and does not necessarily mean that the Notes will be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra day credit operations by the Eurosystem either upon issue or at any or all times during their life. Such recognition will depend upon the ECB being satisfied that Eurosystem eligibility criteria have been met.]
[No. Whilst the designation is specified as "no" at the date of this Pricing Supplement, should the Eurosystem eligibility criteria be amended in the future such that the Notes are capable of meeting them the Notes may then be deposited with one of the ICSDs as common safekeeper [[, and registered in the name of a nominee of one of the ICSDs acting as common safekeeper,][include this text for registered notes]]. Note that this does not necessarily mean that the Notes will then be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra day credit operations by the Eurosystem at any time during their life. Such recognition will depend upon the ECB being satisfied that Eurosystem eligibility criteria have been met.]
Relevant Benchmark[s]: [[specify benchmark] is provided by [administrator legal name]][repeat as necessary]. As at the date hereof, [[administrator legal name][appears]/[does not appear]][repeat as necessary] in the register of administrators and benchmarks established and maintained by the FCA pursuant to Article 36 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA]/[As far as the Issuer is aware, as at the date hereof, [specify benchmark] does not fall within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA by virtue of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA] OR [the transitional provisions in Article 51 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA apply], such that [administrator legal name] is not currently required to obtain authorisation or registration (or if, if located outside the UK, recognition, endorsement or equivalence)/[Not Applicable]
| (i) | US Selling Restrictions: | [Reg. S Compliance Category; TEFRA C/ TEFRA D/TEFRA not applicable] |
|---|---|---|
| (ii) | If syndicated, names and addresses of Managers and underwriting commitments: |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (iii) | Stabilising Manager(s) (if any): |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (iv) | If non-syndicated, name and address of relevant Dealer: |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (v) | Additional selling restrictions: |
[Not Applicable/[•]] |
| (vi) | Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (vii) | Prohibition of Sales to UK Retail Investors: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (viii) | Prohibition of Sales to Belgian Consumers: |
[Applicable/Not Applicable] |
The Issuer will use the net proceeds from Notes issued by it for its general corporate purposes, or as may otherwise be disclosed in the applicable Final Terms. In particular, if so specified in the applicable Final Terms, the Issuer will apply the net proceeds from an offer of Notes specifically for Sustainable Projects. Such Notes may also be referred to as "Sustainable Bonds".
On 8 July 2022, the Issuer published its sustainable financing framework (the "Sustainable Financing Framework"). The Sustainable Financing Framework is available at https://www.compassgroup.com/en/investors/debt-investors/sustainable-financing.html.
The Issuer appointed Carbon Trust Assurance Limited to assess the sustainability of the Sustainable Financing Framework by providing the opinion dated 7 July 2022 (the "Second Party Opinion"). Carbon Trust Assurance Limited has reviewed the content of the Sustainable Financing Framework and its alignment with the International Capital Market Association's ("ICMA") ICMA Sustainability Bond Guidelines (June 2021), with reference to the ICMA 'Green Bond Principles, Voluntary Process Guidelines for Issuing Green Bonds' (June 2021) and ICMA 'Social Bond Principles, Voluntary Process Guidelines for Issuing Social Bonds' (June 2021), APLMA/LMA/LSTA Green Loan Principles (February 2021) and APLMA/LMA/LSTA Social Loan Principles (April 2021). The Second Party Opinion is available at https://www.compass-group.com/en/investors/debt-investors/sustainable-financing.html.
Any information on, or accessible through, the Issuer's website and the information in such opinions or reports (including allocation, impact and/or verification reports) or any past, current, future or amended Sustainable Financing Framework or Second Party Opinion does not form part of the Base Prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to any Notes to be issued under the Programme. In addition, no assurance or representation is given by the Issuer, the Arranger, the Dealers, the Trustee and/or the Second Party Opinion provider or any other person as to the suitability or reliability for any purpose whatsoever of the Second Party Opinion or any opinion, report or certification of any third-party in connection with the Sustainable Bonds or the offering of any such bonds under the Programme whether now or in the future.
The Second Party Opinion provides an opinion on certain environmental and related considerations and is a statement of opinion, not a statement of fact. The Second Party Opinion and any other such opinion or certification is not intended to address any credit, market or other aspects of any investment in any Notes, including without limitation market price, marketability, investor preference or suitability of any security or any other factors that may affect the value of the Notes. The Second Party Opinion or any other opinion or certification is not a recommendation by the Issuer, the Arranger, the Dealers or any other person to buy, sell or hold any such Notes and is current only as of the date it was issued.
Prospective investors must determine for themselves the relevance of any such opinion or certification and/or the information contained therein. Any such opinion, report or certification and any other document related thereto is not, nor shall it be deemed to be, incorporated in and/or form part of this Base Prospectus.
None of the Dealers have reviewed the Second Party Opinion, the Sustainable Financing Framework or any other green, social or sustainability framework prepared by the Group. Both the Second Party Opinion and the Sustainable Financing Framework may also be subject to review and change and may be amended, updated, supplemented, replaced and/or withdrawn from time to time and any subsequent version(s) may differ from any description given in this Base Prospectus. Additionally, none of the Dealers or the Arranger are responsible for the use or allocation of the proceeds for any Notes issued as Sustainable Bonds, nor the impact, verification or monitoring of such use of proceeds.
The Issuer is the holding company of the Group (being the Issuer and its subsidiaries from time to time), a global leader in food services operating in around 30 countries in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, with annual underlying revenue of U.S.\$42.2 billion (in the financial year ended 30 September 2024).
The Issuer was incorporated on 29 September 2000 in the United Kingdom and operates under English law. It was initially registered under the name of Compass Demerger Limited prior to changing its name to Compass Group PLC and re-registering as a public limited company (with the registered number 04083914) under the Companies Act 1985 on 30 November 2000. The Issuer was listed on the London Stock Exchange on 2 February 2001.
The registered office of the Issuer is Compass House, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BQ. The telephone number of the Issuer's registered office is +44 (0)1932 573 000.
The Group's core focus is the provision of outsourced food services and targeted support services to five key market sectors. The Group aims to create bespoke, innovative and cost effective solutions through its unique sectorised approach to the market. By understanding what is important to its clients, the Group seeks to address their unique needs and create long-lasting partnerships. The Group operates on a decentralised basis, enabling an entrepreneurial approach by local country management teams.
Management believes that the Group has a strong financial foundation with a low level of leverage which means the Group can invest in growth, enabling its businesses to innovate their offer, and evolve their operating model. Management consider that the Group's financial strength also attracts new clients seeking stability and long-term outsourcing solutions and that the Group's scale enables its businesses to pass on purchasing benefits to clients and consumers by offering quality products at more attractive prices. Management also consider that purchasing from local and diverse suppliers and social enterprises enables greater reinvestment into local communities. The Group has targeted climate net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 alongside validated science-based targets to reduce emissions by 2030 (from a 2019 base year) in line with the Paris Agreement and has made reducing food waste a Group priority.
The Group prioritises investment in capital expenditure to support organic growth in both new business wins and retention of existing contracts, and bolt-on M&A opportunities that strengthen its capabilities and broaden its exposure.
The Group endeavours to manage its business with a disciplined focus on People, Performance and Purpose as its main strategic priorities. The People pillar is focused on ensuring the Group creates opportunities for its employees and positively impacts and represents the communities in which it operates. The Performance pillar is focused on delivering long-term valued relationships. The Group drives operational efficiency via the Management and Performance ("MAP") framework (see further below), while continuing to focus on delivering innovative, healthy and exciting food service solutions for clients and consumers. The Purpose pillar addresses the Group's social and environmental responsibilities. The Group continually aims to seek ways to be more socially and environmentally responsible.
The Group segments its markets into the following five sectors: Business & Industry; Education; Healthcare & Senior Living; Sports & Leisure; and Defence, Offshore & Remote. The Group considers that its sector and sub-sector portfolio enables the operating businesses to focus on the different requirements of and to create bespoke solutions for its clients:
In this sector the Group works with a diverse range of clients including in the financial, legal, technology and manufacturing sectors. The Group's scale, flexible operating models and digital capabilities help it to tailor its dining solutions to each client.
In addition, the Group can deliver a range of hospitality-led services.
Sector brands include: Eurest, Restaurant Associates, Bon Appétit, Flik, Canteen and ESFM.
In this sector the Group works directly with healthcare providers and aims to prepare food that improves patient and senior living experiences – from restaurant-style cafés to in-room patient dining and specialist feeding. The Group also provides a range of bespoke support services such as patient transportation and laundry and linen services.
Sector brands include: Medirest, Crothall, Morrison and Unidine.
Within the Education sector the Group provides healthy, balanced meals right through the learning journey, from nurseries to universities. The Group's catering solutions come in multiple formats, from traditional onsite dining to vending and delivery or takeaway options.
The Group can also provide tailored support service packages along with the dining solutions such as cleaning and waste management.
Sector brands include: Chartwells, Bon Appétit, SSC and Flik.
The Group aims to enhance customer experiences, providing food, beverages and hospitality across large stadiums, conference venues, museums and galleries.
Sector brands include: Levy and Restaurant Associates.
In the remote and offshore sector, the Group provides food and support services to many major oil, gas, mining and construction companies. The Group aims to provide uninterrupted support, however challenging the operating conditions.
In the defence sector, the Group targets operations outside of areas of conflict.
Sector brand: ESS Support Services Worldwide.
The Group maintains and develops its portfolio of consumer-facing brands which have been acquired and scaled over time. To complement the Group's in-house brands in certain markets and countries, the Group leverages its scale to operate major "high-street" consumer brands from its clients' premises. These are normally operated on a franchise basis, which enables the Group to combine its market expertise and service skills with the consumer awareness of such brands.
As noted above, the Group has a diverse sector portfolio, and a wide ranging client base.
Contracts with clients are principally based on a cost-plus, profit and loss or fixed price model. Input cost increases are mitigated wherever possible with some pricing passed on to clients under the various contract structures. The cost-plus model is the easiest to pass through price followed by the profit and loss model which enables the Group to change consumer prices subject to competitive pressure. Cost increases under the fixed price contracts are typically linked to contractual indexation clauses which are reviewed at various intervals as specified in the client terms.
The Group has a geographically and culturally diverse business with operations in around 30 countries in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
The Group's operations are managed on a country-by-country basis. Until 30 September 2024, the Group reported performance through three regions: North America; Europe and Rest of World. Based on the twelve months ended 30 September 2024, North America accounted for 68 per cent. of underlying revenue, Europe accounted for 23 per cent. and Rest of World accounted for 9 per cent.
With effect from 1 October 2024, the Group's internal management reporting structure has been changed to combine Rest of World with Europe to form a new International region.
The Group uses its MAP framework to drive performance across the business. MAP is a simple framework which is embedded in the Group's culture and allows it to ensure all employees are focused on the same set of performance drivers, which are:
Client Sales and Marketing (MAP1): This is about winning new business and retaining the Group's existing clients. The Group invests in sales and retention and is increasingly sectorising and subsectorising its businesses around the world to allow it to get closer to clients.
Consumer Sales and Marketing (MAP 2): Like-for-like revenue consists of both volume and price, the Group is focused on attracting and satisfying its client base with strong consumer propositions.
Cost of Food (MAP 3): Food makes up around one-third of the Group's costs. In addition to the benefits of its scale in food procurement, the Group aims to manage food costs through careful menu planning and by rationalising the number of products it buys.
In-unit Costs (MAP 4): In-unit costs are made up predominantly of labour. By using labour scheduling techniques and improving productivity, the Group aims to deliver the optimum level of service in the most efficient way.
Above-unit Overheads (MAP 5): The Group has a simple organisational model with few layers of management and little bureaucracy, which enables it to keep overheads low whilst it continues to aim to grow revenue.
The MAP framework has been highly successful in delivering and improving financial performance.
Based on Management estimates, the Group believes that the addressable global food services market is worth approximately U.S.\$320 billion, of which the Group has less than a 15 per cent. market share. The Group further believes that this provides a significant runway for growth, with nearly three-quarters of the market still self-operated or in the hands of regional players.
The Board of Directorsismade up of twelve members, comprising the Chair of theBoard, three executive directors, a senior independent director and seven non-executive directors. The Board is responsible for the performance and long-term success of the Issuer, including health and safety, leadership, strategy, values and standards, controls and risk management and may, subject to the Articles of Association and applicable legislation, borrow money, guarantee, indemnify, mortgage or charge the business, property, assets (present and future) and issue debentures and other securities and give security, whether outright or as a collateral security, for any debt, liability or obligation of the Issuer or of any third-party.
As at 12 June 2025, the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer are:
| Name | Function | Principal other activities outside the Issuer |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Meakins | Chair of the Board | Non-executive director and Chair of Unilever PLC. |
| Dominic Blakemore | Group Chief Executive Officer |
Non-executive director of London Stock Exchange Group plc. Vice-chair of the Council of University College London and chair of the board of trustees of FareShare. |
| Petros Parras | Group Chief Financial Officer |
None. |
| Palmer Brown | Group Chief Operating Officer, North America |
None. |
| Anne-Françoise Nesmes |
Senior Independent Director |
Non-executive director of Sanofi. |
| Liat Ben-Zur | Designated Non-Executive Director for Workforce Engagement |
Independent director of Talkspace, Inc. and Splashtop Inc. Also advises start-ups through her own consultancy firm, LBZ Advisory. |
| Stefan Bomhard | Non-executive director | Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Brands PLC. |
| John Bryant | Non-executive director | Non-executive director and chair of Flutter Entertainment plc, and non-executive director of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc, and Ball Corporation. |
| Juliana Chugg | Non-executive director | Non-executive director of V.F. Corporation, Darden Restaurants, Inc. and Masterbrand, Inc. |
| Arlene Isaacs-Lowe | Non-executive director | Non-executive director of Equitable Holdings, Inc. and Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Financial secretary of The Links Foundation, Incorporated, and a member of the advisory board of Howard University School of Business. |
| Sundar Raman | Non-executive director | Global CEO of Procter & Gamble's Fabric and Home Care business. |
| Leanne Wood | Non-executive director | Chief Human Resources Officer of Vodafone Group Plc and lead Vodafone non-executive director for Vodacom Group Limited. |
Alison Yapp is the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary.
The service address of the Directors is c/o Compass Group PLC, Compass House, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BQ.
As at the date of this Base Prospectus, the above-mentioned Directors do not have potential conflicts of interests between any duties to the Issuer and their private interests or other duties.
The Issuer's shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker "CPG". As at 30 September 2024, the Group had a market capitalisation of approximately £40,636 million. The table below highlights the major shareholdings in the Issuer as notified to it in accordance with the regulations of the Financial Conduct Authority as at 30 September 2024. The Issuer has not been notified of changes between 1 October 2024 and 12 June 2025.
| per cent. of the Issuer's voting rights |
|---|
| 9.99 per cent. |
| 4.96 per cent. |
| 4.95 per cent. |
| 4.60 per cent. |
The Issuer is not aware of any arrangement the effect of which would result in a change of control of the Issuer.
The Group is involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the nature of its business and maintains insurance cover to reduce financial risk associated with claims related to these proceedings. Where appropriate, provisions are made to cover any potential uninsured losses.
Although it is not possible to predict the outcome or quantify the financial effect of these proceedings, or any claim against the Group related thereto, in the opinion of the directors of the Issuer, any uninsured losses resulting from the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the financial position of the Group. The timing of the settlement of these proceedings or claims is uncertain.
The international corporate tax environment remains complex and the sustained increase in audit activity from tax authorities means that the potential for tax uncertainties and disputes remains high. The Group is currently subject to audits and reviews in a number of countries that primarily relate to complex corporate tax issues. None of these audits is currently expected to have a material impact on the Group's financial position. The Group continues to engage with tax authorities and other regulatory bodies on payroll and sales tax reviews, and compliance with labour laws and regulations. Further information on the tax audits and reviews is included in Note 6 (Tax) and Note 30 (Contingent liabilities) to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for the financial year ended 30 September 2024 (incorporated by reference herein) as well as Note 4 (Tax) and Note 10 (Contingent Liabilities – Litigation and claims) of the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for the six months ended 31 March 2025 (incorporated by reference herein).
In the ordinary course of business, food safety incidents are identified from time to time and the Group's businesses' operations receive external reviews of their food hygiene and safety practices, both on a periodic basis and in connection with identified incidents. At any point, a number of reviews will be ongoing. Although it is not possible to predict the outcome or quantify the financial effect of the outcome of these reviews, or any claim against Group companies related thereto, in the opinion of the directors of the Issuer, any uninsured losses resulting from the ultimate resolution of these ongoing reviews are not expected to have a material effect on the financial position of the Group. The timing of the outcome of these reviews is generally uncertain.
The Group has not entered into any material contracts in areas outside of its ordinary course of business which could result in any member of the Group being under an obligation or an entitlement that is material to the Issuer's ability to meet its obligations to holders of the Notesissued under the Programme.
The tax laws of the investor's state and of the Issuer's state of incorporation and/or tax residence might have an impact on the income received from the securities. Prospective purchasers of Notes should consult their own tax advisers as to which countries' tax laws could be relevant to acquiring, holding and disposing of Notes and receiving payments of interest, principal and/or other amounts under the Notes and the consequences of such actions under the tax laws of those countries.
The following is a summary of the United Kingdom withholding taxation treatment at the date hereof in relation to payments of principal and interest in respect of the Notes. It is based on the current law and the published practice of His Majesty's Revenue and Customs ("HMRC"), which may be subject to change, sometimes with retrospective effect. The comments do not deal with other United Kingdom tax aspects of acquiring, holding or disposing of Notes. The comments relate only to the position of persons who are absolute beneficial owners of the Notes and Coupons. They assume there will be no substitution of the Issuer and do not consider the tax consequences of any such substitution.
Prospective Noteholders should be aware that the particular terms of issue of any series of Notes as specified in the relevant Final Terms may affect the tax treatment of that and other series of Notes. The following is a general guide for information purposes and should be treated with appropriate caution. It is not intended as tax advice, and it does not purport to describe all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a prospective Noteholder. Noteholders who are in any doubt as to their tax position should consult their professional advisers. Noteholders who may be liable to taxation in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom in respect of their acquisition, holding or disposal of the Notes are particularly advised to consult their professional advisers as to whether they are so liable (and if so under the laws of which jurisdictions), since the following comments relate only to certain United Kingdom taxation aspects of payments in respect of the Notes. In particular, Noteholders should be aware that they may be liable to taxation under the laws of other jurisdictions in relation to payments in respect of the Notes even if such payments may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of taxation under the laws of the United Kingdom.
Any Notes which carry a right to interest which are considered to have a United Kingdom source ("UK Notes") will constitute "quoted Eurobonds" (within the meaning of section 987 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (the "Act")) provided they are and continue to be listed on a recognised stock exchange (within the meaning of section 1005 of the Act as it applies for the purposes of section 987 of the Act) or admitted to trading on a multilateral trading facility operated by a regulated recognised stock exchange (within the meaning of section 987 of the Act). Whilst the UK Notes are and continue to be quoted Eurobonds, payments of interest on the UK Notes may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax.
Securities will be "listed on a recognised stock exchange" for this purpose if they are admitted to trading on an exchange designated as a recognised stock exchange by an order made by the Commissioners for HMRC and either they are included in the United Kingdom official list (within the meaning of Part 6 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) or they are officially listed, in accordance with provisions corresponding to those generally applicable in European Economic Area states, in a country outside the United Kingdom in which there is a recognised stock exchange.
The London Stock Exchange is a recognised stock exchange, and accordingly the UK Notes will constitute quoted Eurobonds provided they are and continue to be included in the United Kingdom official list and admitted to trading on the Main Market of that exchange.
In all cases falling outside the exemption described above, interest on the Notes may fall to be paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax at the basic rate (currently 20 per cent.), subject to such relief or other exemption as may be available. However, this withholding will not apply if the relevant interest is paid on Notes with a maturity date of less than one year from the date of issue and which are not issued under arrangements the effect of which is to render such Notes part of a borrowing with a total term of a year or more.
The above description of the United Kingdom withholding tax position assumes that there will be no substitution of the Issuer pursuant to Condition 17(c) of the Notes or otherwise and does not consider the tax consequences of any such substitution.
Pursuant to certain provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, commonly known as FATCA, a "foreign financial institution" may be required to withhold on certain payments it makes ("foreign passthru payments") to persons that fail to meet certain certification, reporting, or related requirements. A number of jurisdictions (including the United Kingdom) have entered into, or have agreed in substance to, intergovernmental agreements with the United States to implement FATCA ("IGAs"), which modify the way in which FATCA applies in their jurisdictions. Under the provisions of IGAs as currently in effect, a foreign financial institution in an IGA jurisdiction would generally not be required to withhold under FATCA or an IGA from payments that it makes. Certain aspects of the application of the FATCA provisions and IGAs to instruments such as the Notes, including whether withholding would ever be required pursuant to FATCA or an IGA with respect to payments on instruments such as the Notes, are uncertain and may be subject to change. Even if withholding would be required pursuant to FATCA or an IGA with respect to payments on instruments such as the Notes, such withholding would not apply prior to the date that is two years after the date on which final regulations defining foreign passthru payments are published in the U.S. Federal Register and Notes characterised as debt (or which are not otherwise characterised as equity and have a fixed term) for U.S. federal tax purposes that are issued on or prior to the date that is six months after the date on which final regulations defining foreign passthru payments are filed with the U.S. Federal Register would generally be "grandfathered" for purposes of FATCA withholding unless materially modified after such date (including by reason of a substitution of an Issuer). Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding how these rules may apply to their investment in the Notes. In the event any withholding would be required pursuant to FATCA or an IGA with respect to payments on the Notes, no person will be required to pay additional amounts as a result of the withholding.
On 14 February 2013, the European Commission published a proposal (the "Commission's Proposal") for a Directive for a common FTT in Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia (other than Estonia, the "participating Member States"). However, Estonia has since stated that it will not participate.
The Commission's Proposal has very broad scope and could, if introduced, apply to certain dealings in Notes (including secondary market transactions) in certain circumstances. Primary market transactions referred to in Article 5(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1287/2006 are expected to be exempt.
The Commission's Proposal has not yet been implemented. However, the Commission has stated that if no agreement was reached by the participating Member States by the end of 2022, the Commission would make new proposals. The Commission stated that it would endeavour to make any such proposals by June 2024, with a view to introduction on 1 January 2026. However, at the current time the status of the participating Member States' negotiations, and the scope and timing of any new proposals by the Commission, remain unclear.
Prospective holders of Notes are advised to seek their own professional advice in relation to the FTT.
Notes may be sold from time to time by the Issuer to Citigroup Global Markets Limited (as a "Permanent Dealer" and together with any new dealers, the "Dealers"). The arrangements under which Notes may from time to time be agreed to be sold by the Issuer to, and purchased by, Dealers are set out in an amended and restated Dealer Agreement dated 13 June 2025 (as further amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Dealer Agreement") and made between the Issuer and the Dealers. Any such agreement will, inter alia, make provision for the form and terms and conditions of the relevant Notes, the price at which such Notes will be purchased by the Dealers and the commissions or other agreed deductibles (if any) payable or allowable by the Issuer in respect of such purchase. The Dealer Agreement makes provision for the resignation or termination of appointment of existing Dealers and for the appointment of additional or other Dealers either generally in respect of the Programme or in relation to a particular Tranche of Notes.
The relevant Dealers will be entitled in certain circumstances to be released and discharged from their obligations in respect of a proposed issue of Notes under or pursuant to the Dealer Agreement prior to the closing of the issue of such Notes, including in the event that certain conditions precedent are not delivered or met to their satisfaction on or before the issue date of such Notes. In this situation, the issuance of such Notes may not be completed. Investors will have no rights against the Issuer or the relevant Dealers in respect of any expense incurred or loss suffered in these circumstances.
The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S) except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.
The Bearer Notes are subject to U.S. tax law requirements and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person, except in certain transactions permitted by U.S. tax regulations. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereunder.
Each Dealer has agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to agree, that, except as permitted by the Dealer Agreement, it will not offer, sell or deliver Notes (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the completion of the distribution of the Notes comprising the relevant Tranche, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons and such Dealer will have sent to each dealer to which it sells Notes during the distribution compliance period relating thereto (as defined in Regulation S), a confirmation or other notice setting forth the restrictions on offers and sales of the Notes within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons.
In addition, until 40 days after the commencement of the offering of Notes comprising any Tranche, any offer or sale of Notes within the United States by any dealer (whether or not participating in the offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Unless the Final Terms (or Pricing Supplement, as the case may be) in respect of any Notes specifies "Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors" as "Not Applicable", each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent, warrant and agree, that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this Base Prospectus as completed by the Final Terms (or Pricing Supplement, as the case may be) in relation thereto to any retail investor in the European Economic Area.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression "retail investor" means a person who is one (or more) of the following:
(i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of EU MiFID II; or
(ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II.
If the Final Terms (or Pricing Supplement, as the case may be) in respect of any Notes specifies "Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors" as "Not Applicable", each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed in relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent, warrant and agree that it has not made and will not make an offer of Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this Base Prospectus as completed by the Final Terms in relation thereto or, in the case of Exempt Notes, as completed, amended and/or replaced by the Pricing Supplement in relation thereto (or are the subject of the offering contemplated by a Drawdown Prospectus, as the case may be) to the public in that Member State except that it may make an offer of such Notes to the public in that Member State:
provided that no such offer of Notes referred to in (a) to (c) above shall require the Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the EU Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of Notes to the public" in relation to any Notes in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Notes, and the expression "EU Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
Unless the Final Terms (or Pricing Supplement, as the case may be) in respect of any Notes specifies "Prohibition of Sales to UK Retail Investors" as "Not Applicable", each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent, warrant and agree, that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this Base Prospectus as completed by the Final Terms (or Pricing Supplement, as the case may be) in relation thereto to any retail investor in the United Kingdom.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression "retail investor" means a person who is one (or more) of the following:
If the Final Terms (or Pricing Supplement, as the case may be) in respect of any Notes specifies "Prohibition of Sales to UK Retail Investors" as "Not Applicable", each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that it has not made and will not make an offer of Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this Base Prospectus as completed by the Final Terms in relation thereto or, in the case of Exempt Notes, as completed, amended and/or replaced by the Pricing Supplement in relation thereto (or are the subject of the offering contemplated by a Drawdown Prospectus, as the case may be) to the public in the United Kingdom except that it may make an offer of such Notes to the public in the United Kingdom:
provided that no such offer of Notes referred to in (a) to (c) above shall require the Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of Notes to the public" in relation to any Notes means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Notes and the expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA.
Each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent, warrant and agree that:
where the issue of the Notes would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the FSMA by the Issuer;
Other than in respect of Notes for which "Prohibition of Sales to Belgian Consumers" is specified as "Not Applicable" in the Final Terms, each Dealer has represented and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that it has not advertised, offered, sold or delivered and will not advertise, offer, sell or deliver, directly or indirectly, Notes to any Belgian Consumers, and has not distributed or caused to be distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed, any prospectus, memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents in relation to the Notes, directly or indirectly, to any Belgian Consumer. For these purposes, a "Belgian Consumer" has the meaning provided by the Belgian Code of Economic Law, as amended from time to time (Wetboek van 28 februari 2013 van economisch recht/Code du 28 février 2013 de droit économique), being any natural person resident or located in Belgium and acting for purposes which are outside his/her trade, business or profession.
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") and, accordingly, each Dealer has represented and agreed, and each Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Notes in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and other relevant laws and regulations of Japan. As used in this paragraph, "resident of Japan" means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organised under the laws of Japan.
Each Dealer has acknowledged, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to acknowledge, that this Base Prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent, warrant and agree, that it has not offered or sold any Notes or caused any Notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and it will not offer or sell any Notes or cause any Notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and it has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this Base Prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of any Notes, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the "SFA")) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA or (ii) to an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) pursuant to and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA.
Each Dealer has represented, warranted and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent, warrant and agree, that to the best of its knowledge and belief it has complied and will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each country or jurisdiction in or from which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Notes or possesses, distributes or publishes this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms or any related offering material, in all cases at its own expense. Other persons into whose hands this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms comes are required by the Issuer and the Dealers to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each country or jurisdiction in or from which they purchase, offer, sell or deliver Notes or possess, distribute or publish this Base Prospectus or any Final Terms or any related offering material, in all cases at their own expense.
The Dealer Agreement provides that the Dealers shall not be bound by any of the restrictions relating to any specific jurisdiction (set out above) to the extent that such restrictions shall, as a result of change(s) or change(s) in official interpretation, after the date hereof, of applicable laws and regulations, no longer be applicable but without prejudice to the obligations of the Dealers described in the paragraph headed "General" above.
Selling restrictions may be supplemented or modified with the agreement of the Issuer. Any such supplement or modification may be set out in an appendix to the relevant Final Terms (in the case of a supplement or modification relevant only to a particular Tranche of Notes) or in a supplement to this Base Prospectus.
With regard to each Tranche of Exempt Notes or Notes which are the subject of a Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus, the relevant Dealer(s) will be required to comply with such other additional restrictions as the Issuer and the relevant Dealer(s) shall agree and as shall be set out in the relevant Pricing Supplement or Drawdown Prospectus.
Each purchaser of Bearer Notes or Registered Notes outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S and each subsequent purchaser of such Notes in resales prior to the expiration of the distribution compliance period, by accepting delivery of this Base Prospectus and the Notes, will be deemed to have represented, agreed and acknowledged that:
in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States;
(iii) it understands that the Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Dealers and their affiliates, and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgements, representations and agreements.
Compass House Guildford Street Chertsey Surrey KT16 9BQ
Citicorp Trustee Company Limited Citigroup Centre Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5LB
The Bank of New York Mellon, acting through its London Branch 160 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4LA
The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV (Luxembourg) Vertigo Building-Polaris 2-4 Rue Eugène Ruppert L-2453 Luxembourg
To the Issuer as to English law:
Freshfields LLP 100 Bishopsgate
London EC2P 2SR
To the Dealers and the Trustee as to English law:
10 Upper Bank Street London E14 5JJ
15 Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5GL United Kingdom
Have a question? We'll get back to you promptly.