As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 31, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
Registration Statement
Under
the Securities Act of 1933
Under
the Securities Act of 1933
GXO Logistics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
86-2098312
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Two American Lane
Greenwich, CT 06831
(203) 489-1287
Greenwich, CT 06831
(203) 489-1287
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Baris Oran
Chief Financial Officer
GXO Logistics, Inc.
Two American Lane
Greenwich, CT 06831
(203) 489-1287
Chief Financial Officer
GXO Logistics, Inc.
Two American Lane
Greenwich, CT 06831
(203) 489-1287
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Adam O. Emmerich, Esq.
Viktor Sapezhnikov, Esq.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 403-1000
Adam O. Emmerich, Esq.
Viktor Sapezhnikov, Esq.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 403-1000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicated by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one).
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Emerging growth company
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of
Securities to Be Registered |
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Amount to Be
Registered(1),(2) |
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Proposed
Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1),(2) |
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Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1),(2) |
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Amount of
Registration Fee(3) |
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Common Stock
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Preferred Stock
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Debt Securities
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Warrants
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(1)
Not specified pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3.
(2)
An indeterminate amount or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent that the terms of any such securities provide for such conversion, exchange or exercise. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities.
(3)
In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
(4)
Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
PROSPECTUS
![[MISSING IMAGE: lg_gxo-4clr.jpg]](https://cdn.kscope.io/3b4a1d05a23c80c45670b1a2deb8f3e1-lg_gxo-4clr.jpg){kind=small}
GXO Logistics, Inc.
Two American Lane
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
We may offer and sell to the public from time to time, in one or more series or issuances:
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Common Stock;
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Preferred Stock;
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Debt Securities;
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Warrants; and
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Units.
The Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and Warrants may be convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities. The Debt Securities may consist of debentures, notes or other types of debt and may be guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries.
When we offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide specific terms of the offering, the manner in which the securities will be offered and material tax considerations pertaining to an investment in the securities in supplements to this prospectus. The securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement may be offered directly to investors or to or through underwriters, dealers or other agents on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should read this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated herein by reference on page 4, and in any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type or series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under the prospectus supplement.
The shares of Common Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the trading symbol “GXO.” Other than for shares of Common Stock, there is no market for the other securities we may offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is August 31, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement (the “registration statement”) that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under this shelf registration process, the Company may sell, from time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about the Company and the securities. The registration statement can be read at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or at the offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described in this prospectus under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires or unless the applicable prospectus supplement otherwise indicates, all references to: (i) the “Company,” “GXO,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean GXO Logistics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and/or its subsidiaries; (ii) “securities” means, collectively, shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units; (iii) “Common Stock” means shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share; (iv) “Preferred Stock” means shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share; (v) “Debt Securities” means the debt securities of the Company that may be offered and sold pursuant to the registration statement to which this prospectus relates; (vi) “Warrants” means warrants to purchase securities of the Company that may be offered and sold pursuant to the registration statement to which this prospectus relates and (vii) “Units” means units consisting of one or more of our Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Warrants of the Company that may be offered and sold pursuant to the registration statement to which this prospectus relates.
We prepare our financial statements in U.S. dollars and prepare our financial statements, including all of the financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or “U.S. GAAP.” Our fiscal year ends on December 31. In this prospectus, except where otherwise indicated, references to “$” or “dollars” are to the lawful currency of the United States.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein. Please refer to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or that is contained in any free writing prospectus issued by us. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The distribution of this prospectus and sale of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons in possession of this prospectus are required to inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. We are only offering the securities in states where offers are permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the documents we incorporate herein by reference, contains, and the Company may from time to time make, written or oral “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target,” “trajectory” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terms. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors (including risks, uncertainties and assumptions) that might cause or contribute to a material difference include, but are not limited to:
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the severity, magnitude, duration and aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic and government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic;
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public health crises (including COVID-19);
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economic conditions generally;
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competition and pricing pressures;
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our ability to align our investments in capital assets, including equipment, service centers and warehouses, to our customers’ demands;
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our ability to successfully integrate and realize anticipated synergies, cost savings and profit improvement opportunities with respect to acquired companies;
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our ability to develop and implement suitable information technology systems and prevent failures in or breaches of such systems;
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our ability to raise debt and equity capital;
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litigation;
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labor matters, including our ability to manage our subcontractors, and risks associated with labor disputes at our customers and efforts by labor organizations to organize our employees;
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risks associated with defined benefit plans for our current and former employees;
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fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
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fluctuations in fixed and floating interest rates;
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issues related to our intellectual property rights;
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governmental regulation, including trade compliance laws, as well as changes in international trade policies and tax regimes;
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governmental or political actions, including the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union;
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natural disasters, terrorist attacks or similar incidents;
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political, economic, and regulatory risks relating to GXO’s global operations, including compliance with U.S. and foreign trade and tax laws, sanctions, embargoes and other regulations;
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a material disruption of GXO’s operations;
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the inability to achieve the level of revenue growth, cash generation, cost savings, improvement in profitability and margins, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated or targeted;
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the impact of potential cyber-attacks and information technology or data security breaches;
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the inability to implement technology initiatives successfully;
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the expected benefits of the Separation;
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a determination by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities that the Distribution or certain related transactions should be treated as taxable transactions;
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risks associated with indebtedness incurred as a result of financing transactions undertaken in connection with the Separation;
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the risk that dis-synergy costs, costs of restructuring transactions and other costs incurred in connection with the separation will exceed our estimates; and
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the impact of the separation on our businesses, our operations, our relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business counterparties, and the risk that the businesses will not be separated successfully or that such separation may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, which could result in additional demands on our resources, systems, procedures and controls, disruption of our ongoing business, and diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns.
The above list of factors is not exhaustive or necessarily in order of importance. For additional information on identifying factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, see the discussions under “Risk Factors.” In addition, we discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our filings with the SEC, including our Registration Statement on Form 10, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and GXO assumes no obligation to update or revise such statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The Company
GXO is the largest pure-play contract logistics provider in the world. Our total potential addressable market across North America and Europe is approximately $430 billion, including the $130 billion of logistics spend that is currently outsourced and the opportunity for another $300 billion of spend that is currently insourced.
In 2020, we generated $6.2 billion of revenue. As of March 31, 2021, we operated with approximately 93,000 team members (comprised of approximately 66,000 full-time and part-time employees and 27,000 temporary workers engaged through third-party agencies) and had 885 facilities worldwide, with 210 million square feet (20 million square meters) of logistics warehouse space. Approximately 104 million square feet (10 million square meters) was located in Europe; 99 million square feet (9 million square meters) was located in North America; and 7 million square feet (1 million square meters) was located in Asia. We operate these sites primarily on behalf of large corporations, who have outsourced their warehousing, distribution and other related activities to us.
On December 2, 2020, XPO Logistics, Inc. (“XPO”) announced its intention to spin-off its logistics reportable segment into a separate publicly traded company (the “Separation”). GXO was incorporated on February 16, 2021, as a wholly owned subsidiary of XPO to hold the assets and liabilities associated with XPO’s logistics operating segment. On August 2, 2021, XPO completed the spin-off of GXO through a pro-rata distribution of one share of GXO common stock for every one share of XPO common stock held at the close of business on the record date of July 23, 2021 (the “Distribution”). GXO began to trade as a separate publicly company (New York Stock Exchange: GXO) on August 2, 2021.
Our principal executive offices are located at Two American Lane, Greenwich, Connecticut 06831. Our telephone number is (203) 489-1287.
The Offering
Under this prospectus, the Company may offer and sell to the public in one or more series or issuances Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our registration statement on Form 10, as amended, which was originally publicly filed on June 9, 2021 and subsequently amended, and under the caption “Risk Factors” in any of our subsequent annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Additional risk factors may be included in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series or offering of securities.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we state differently in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by us pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes.
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SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The following is a description of the material terms of the Common Stock, as well as other material terms of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Company Certificate”), and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”). This description is only a summary. You should read it together with the Company Certificate and Bylaws, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part and incorporated by reference herein.
General
We currently have 300,000,000 authorized shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 114,634,224 shares were issued and outstanding as of August 30, 2021.
Other than as described in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, no stockholder has any preemptive right or other similar right to purchase or subscribe for any additional securities issued by the Company, and no stockholder has any right to convert Common Stock into other securities. No shares of Common Stock are subject to redemption or any sinking fund provisions. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors from funds legally available therefor and, upon liquidation, to a pro rata share in any distribution to stockholders.
Pursuant to Delaware law and the Company Certificate, our Board of Directors by resolution may establish one or more series of Preferred Stock and fix the number of shares constituting such series, the designation of such series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of such series and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, such rights and preferences being senior to the rights of holders of Common Stock. No shares of Preferred Stock are currently outstanding.
Voting and Other Rights
Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all matters upon which stockholders are permitted to vote. Except as otherwise required by law, whenever any corporate action other than the election of directors is to be taken, it shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon.
The election of directors in an uncontested election will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (the number of shares voted “for” a director’s election exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the number of votes cast with respect to that director’s election) by holders of shares of our common stock at the meeting at which a quorum is present. If any incumbent director standing for re-election receives a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” such election, our Bylaws will require that such person promptly tender his or her resignation to our board of directors. Once an election is determined to be a contested election, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting at which a quorum is present.
Provisions of Delaware Law, the Company Certificate, Bylaws and Other Relevant Documents
Provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Company Certificate, the Bylaws and other relevant documents described below could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. We have elected to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a
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“business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own) 15 percent or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the Board of Directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of Common Stock.
Classified Board. Our board of directors is initially divided into three classes, with Class I composed of two directors, Class II composed of three directors and Class III composed of three directors. The directors designated as Class I directors have terms expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Distribution, which we expect to hold in 2022. The directors designated as Class II directors have terms expiring at the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which we expect to hold in 2023, and the directors designated as Class III directors have terms expiring at the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which we expect to hold in 2024. At the first annual meetings of stockholders following the Distribution, the successors of Class I directors will be elected to serve for a term of three years each. Commencing with the second annual meeting of stockholders following the separation, directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter each director will serve for a term of one year and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Consequently, by 2025, all of our directors will stand for election each year for one year terms, and our board will therefore no longer be divided into three classes. Before our board of directors is declassified, it would take at least two elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of our board of directors. Accordingly, while the classified board is in effect, these provisions could discourage a third-party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of our company.
No Cumulative Voting. The DGCL provides that stockholders are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. The Company Certificate prohibits cumulative voting.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors. The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties as directors. The Company Certificate and Bylaws include provisions that indemnify, to the fullest extent allowable under the DGCL, the personal liability of directors or officers for monetary damages for actions taken as a director or officer of the Company, or for serving at our request as a director or officer or in another position at another corporation or enterprise, as the case may be. The Company Certificate and Bylaws also provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers, subject to our receipt of an undertaking from the indemnitee as may be required under the DGCL. We are also expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance to protect the Company and our directors, officers, employees and agents from certain liabilities.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Company Certificate and the Bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. We may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Except as set forth in the Company’s periodic reports as incorporated herein by reference, there is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, employees or agents for which indemnification is sought.
Authorized but Unissued Shares of Common Stock. Our authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock will be available for future issuance without approval by the holders of Common Stock. We may use additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional
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capital, employee benefit plans and as consideration for or to finance future acquisitions, investments or other purposes. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our Company Certificate and Bylaws authorize 10,000,000 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock. As a result, our Board of Directors may, without the approval of holders of Common Stock, issue shares of Preferred Stock with super voting, special approval, dividend or other rights or preferences on a discriminatory basis that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control or management of the Company.
Exclusive Forum. The Company Certificate provides that unless our board of directors otherwise determines, the state courts within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of GXO, any action asserting a claim for or based on a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director or officer of GXO to GXO or to GXO stockholders, including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of fiduciary duty, any action asserting a claim against GXO or any current or former director or officer of GXO arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our Company Certificate or Bylaws, any action asserting a claim relating to or involving GXO governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the DGCL.
Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our Company Certificate further provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty of liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and as a result, the exclusive forum provision does not apply to actions arising under the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. While the Delaware Supreme Court ruled in March 2020 that federal forum selection provisions purporting to require claims under the Securities Act be brought in federal court are “facially valid” under Delaware law, there is uncertainty as to whether other courts will enforce our federal forum provision described above. Our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Amendments to Organizational Documents. The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Listing
Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “GXO.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., whose principal executive office is located at 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The following description of the terms of the Preferred Stock we may issue sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any series of Preferred Stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the Preferred Stock offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions will apply to any series of Preferred Stock so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable Preferred Stock. The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth in this description are inapplicable to such series of Preferred Stock. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Delaware law and the provisions of the Company Certificate relating to Preferred Stock.
We currently have 10,000,000 authorized shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share. No shares of our Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding as of August 30, 2021. Preferred Stock may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to or separate from the other securities.
Pursuant to Delaware law and the Company Certificate, our Board of Directors by resolution may establish one or more series of Preferred Stock and fix the number of shares constituting such series, the designation of such series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of such series and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. Such rights, preferences, powers and limitations as may be established could have the effect of discouraging an attempt to obtain control of the Company. The Preferred Stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities.
The Board, in approving the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock and the applicable prospectus supplement, will set forth with respect to such series, the following:
•
the number of shares constituting such series;
•
the designation of such series;
•
the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series; and
•
the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series.
The terms of each series of Preferred Stock will be described in the prospectus supplement related to such series of Preferred Stock and will contain a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to such series of Preferred Stock.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of Debt Securities, we will describe the specific terms of the Debt Securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities will be issued under one or more base indentures, together with related authorizing resolutions, supplemental indentures or officer’s certificates, between us and Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as trustee, or another trustee named in the prospectus supplement (the “Trustee”), including under the Indenture dated as of July 2, 2021, between GXO Logistics, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (together with any related authorizing resolutions, supplemental indentures or officer’s certificates, the “Existing Indenture”). We refer herein to each of the Existing Indenture and any other indenture under which Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to this prospectus as the “indenture”. The terms of the indenture and any Debt Securities issued thereunder will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
We have summarized some terms of the Existing Indenture below. We expect that the terms of the indenture, if other than the Existing Indenture, will be substantially similar to the Existing Indenture; however, we will describe the specific terms of the Debt Securities to be issued under such indenture in a supplement to this prospectus. The below summary of the Existing Indenture is not complete. The Existing Indenture is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the Existing Indenture for a complete statement of the provisions summarized in this prospectus and for provisions that may be important to you. We sometimes refer below to specific sections of the Existing Indenture. When we do refer to specific sections contained in the Existing Indenture or terms defined in the Existing Indenture, including important terms, which we capitalize here, we use them in this prospectus in the same way we use them in the Existing Indenture, and you should refer to the Existing Indenture itself for detailed, specific, legal descriptions. In this section, “Description of Debt Securities,” when we refer to “GXO,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we refer to GXO Logistics, Inc., not including its subsidiaries. Upon or prior to the issuance of any Debt Securities, the Existing Indenture will be made subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Summary of the Existing Indenture
Ranking
The Debt Securities will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Debt Securities will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries and will be effectively junior to all of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.
Because a significant part of our operations are conducted through subsidiaries, a significant portion of our cash flow, and consequently, our ability to service debt, including the Debt Securities, is dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the transfer of funds by those subsidiaries to us in the form of dividends or other transfers.
In addition, because the Debt Securities will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries, claims in respect of the Debt Securities will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors against our subsidiaries, including policy holders, trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred shareholders, except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of our subsidiary. Any claims of GXO as the creditor of its subsidiary would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to that held by us.
Terms of the Debt Securities to be Described in the Prospectus Supplement
The Existing Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities that we may issue under them. We may issue Debt Securities under the Existing Indenture up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time.
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The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any series of Debt Securities being offered, including:
•
the title of the Debt Securities of such series;
•
the aggregate principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate principal amount) of any such series of Debt Securities and, if any Debt Securities of such series are to be issued at a discount from their face amount, or with a premium, the method of computing the accretion of such discount or computing such premium for such series;
•
the interest rate or method of calculation of the interest rate for such series;
•
the date from which interest will accrue for such series;
•
the record dates for interest payable on Debt Securities of such series;
•
the dates when, places where and manner in which principal and interest are payable for such series;
•
if there is more than one Trustee or a Trustee other than Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the identity of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each registrar, paying agent or authenticating agent with respect to such Debt Securities;
•
the terms of any mandatory (including any sinking fund requirements) or optional redemption by the Company for such series;
•
the terms of any redemption at the option of holders of such series of Debt Securities;
•
the permissible denominations in which Debt Securities of such series are issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;
•
whether Debt Securities of such series will be issued in registered or bearer form and the terms of any such forms of Debt Securities;
•
whether the Debt Securities of such series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive securities; the depositary for such global security or securities; and the form of any legend or legends, if any, to be borne by any such global security or securities;
•
the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal or interest or both may be paid and the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing any composite currency for such series;
•
if payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which Debt Securities of such series are denominated, the manner for determining such payments, including the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which such Debt Securities are denominated and the currency in which such Debt Securities or any of them may be paid;
•
whether the amount of payments of principal of or any interest on such series of Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula, financial or economic measure or other method or methods (which index, formula, measure or method or methods may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices) and if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or be payable;
•
provisions for electronic issuance of Debt Securities or issuance of Debt Securities of such series in uncertificated form;
•
any events of default, covenants, defined terms and/or other terms;
•
whether and upon what terms Debt Securities of such series may be defeased or discharged;
•
the form of the Debt Securities of such series;
•
any terms that may be required by or advisable under applicable law;
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•
the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series which is payable if the maturity of the Debt Securities of such series is accelerated in the case of Debt Securities issued at a discount from their face amount;
•
whether Debt Securities of such series will or will not have the benefit of guarantees and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;
•
whether the Debt Securities of such series are unsubordinated or subordinated Debt Securities, and if subordinated Debt Securities, the terms of such subordination;
•
whether the Debt Securities of such series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Debt Securities, capital stock or other securities of any kind of the Company or another person or persons, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Debt Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto; and
•
any other terms, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series.
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of any series of Debt Securities, create and issue further Debt Securities of any such series ranking equally with, and having the same terms and conditions as, the Debt Securities of such series in all respects (or in all respects other than the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further Debt Securities); provided that if such additional Debt Securities are not fungible with the initial Debt Securities of such series for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Debt Securities will have a separate CUSIP number.
Certain Covenants
Except as set forth below or unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are restricted by the Existing Indenture from:
•
incurring any indebtedness or other obligation;
•
paying dividends or making distributions on our capital stock or the capital stock of our subsidiaries; or
•
purchasing or redeeming our capital stock or the capital stock of our subsidiaries.
In addition, we are not be required to maintain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity.
The Existing Indenture contains the following principal covenants.
Limitation on Liens
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, if we or our domestic subsidiaries incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness and that indebtedness is secured by a Lien on any of our or our domestic subsidiaries’ principal properties, we will secure the Debt Securities of each series equally and ratably with, or prior to, such secured indebtedness, so long as such secured indebtedness shall be so secured.
The foregoing restriction does not apply, with respect to any series of Debt Securities, to:
(1)
Liens on property of a person existing at the time such person is merged into or consolidated with us or any of our subsidiaries, at the time such person becomes our subsidiary, or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a person to us or any of our subsidiaries; provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of the merger, consolidation, sale, lease, or other disposition;
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(2)
Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition by us or any of our subsidiaries of such property (which may include property previously leased by us or any of our subsidiaries and leasehold interests on such property, provided that the lease terminates prior to or upon the acquisition);
(3)
Liens on property to secure the payment of all or any part of the cost of acquisition, construction, development or improvement of such property, or to secure indebtedness incurred to provide funds for any such purpose, provided that the commitment of the creditor to extend the credit secured by any such Lien shall have been obtained not later than 18 months after the later of (a) the completion of the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of such property or (b) the placing in operation of such property;
(4)
Liens in favor of us or any of our subsidiaries;
(5)
Liens existing on the initial issue date of the Debt Securities of such series (other than any additional Debt Securities of such series);
(6)
Liens created to secure the Debt Securities of such series;
(7)
Liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings;
(8)
Liens on property in favor of the United States of America or any state thereof, or in favor of any other country, or any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof (including, without limitation, security interests to secure indebtedness of the pollution control or industrial revenue type) in order to permit us or any of our subsidiaries to perform a contract or to secure indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price for the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such security interests or which is required by law or regulation as a condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any privilege, franchise or license;
(9)
any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (1) through (8) and (10), inclusive, provided that (i) such extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to all or a part of the same property that secured the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property, and plus any property relating to a specific project, the completion of which is funded pursuant to clause (ii)(b) below), and (ii) the indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased (other than (a) by an amount equal to any related financing costs (including, but not limited to, the accrued interest and premium, if any, on the indebtedness being refinanced) and (b) where an additional principal amount of indebtedness is incurred to provide funds for the completion of a specific project or property that is subject to a Lien securing the indebtedness being extended, refinanced or renewed, by an amount equal to such additional principal amount); or
(10)
Liens created in substitution of any Liens permitted by clauses (1) through (9), inclusive, provided that, (i) based on a good faith determination of a senior officer of the Company, the principal property encumbered by such substitute or replacement Lien is substantially similar in nature to the principal property encumbered by the otherwise permitted Lien that is being replaced, and (ii) the indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased (other than (a) by an amount equal to any related financing costs (including, but not limited to, the accrued interest and premium, if any, on the indebtedness being refinanced) and (b) where an additional principal amount of indebtedness is incurred to provide funds for the completion of a specific project or property that is subject to a Lien securing the indebtedness being extended, refinanced or renewed, by an amount equal to such additional principal amount).
Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in the preceding paragraph, we and our domestic subsidiaries are permitted to incur secured indebtedness which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions without equally and ratably securing the Debt Securities of any series, provided that, after giving effect to such secured indebtedness, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all such secured indebtedness (not including Liens permitted under clauses (1) through (10) above with respect to such series) does not exceed
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the greater of (a) 15% of Consolidated Total Assets calculated as of the date of the creation or incurrence of the Lien and (b) 15% of Consolidated Total Assets calculated as of the initial issue date of the Debt Securities of such series. We or our Domestic Subsidiaries may also, without equally and ratably securing the Debt Securities of any series, create or incur Liens that renew, substitute or replace (including successive renewals, substitutions or replacements), in whole or in part, any Lien permitted pursuant to the preceding sentence with respect to such series.
Merger, Consolidation or Sales of Assets
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, we may consolidate with or merge into another person or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our property to any other person, provided that:
(1)
(A) we are the continuing person, or (B) the successor formed from the consolidation or merger or the person that received the transfer of or leases the property (the “continuing entity”) is a person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes, by a supplemental indenture, all of our obligations under the Debt Securities and the Existing Indenture;
(2)
immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Existing Indenture; and
(3)
we or the continuing entity deliver to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel stating that the transaction and (if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction) the supplemental indenture complies with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the Existing Indenture relating to the transaction have been satisfied.
Upon satisfaction of the foregoing conditions, if we are not the continuing person, then the continuing entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Company under the Existing Indenture and we will be released from all obligations and covenants under the Existing Indenture and the Debt Securities; provided that, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our property, we will not be released from any of the obligations or covenants under the Existing Indenture and the Debt Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of property between or among us and our subsidiaries will not be prohibited under the Existing Indenture.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, each of the following is an “event of default” under the Existing Indenture for a series of Debt Securities:
(1)
a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Security of such series, when due at its stated maturity date, upon any optional or mandatory redemption or otherwise;
(2)
a failure to pay interest on any Debt Security of such series, for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable, if the time of payment has not been extended or deferred;
(3)
a failure by us to comply with any covenant relating to the Debt Securities of such series, and the failure to comply continues for a period of 90 days after written notice to us by the Trustee or to us and the Trustee by the holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series; and
(4)
the occurrence of various events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us as provided in the Existing Indenture.
If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting from various events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company) with respect to the Debt Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series, may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by
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the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Debt Securities of such series. In the case of an event of default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series resulting from various events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company, the principal of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, all outstanding Debt Securities of such series will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of Debt Securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debt Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series may rescind and annul the acceleration, by written notice to the Trustee, if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, have been cured or waived as provided in the Existing Indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series also have the right to waive past defaults, by written notice to the Trustee, other than the nonpayment of principal or interest, if any, on any outstanding Debt Securities of such series, or in respect of a covenant or a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all holders of the applicable Debt Securities.
The Existing Indenture provides that the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Existing Indenture at the request of any holder of Debt Securities, unless the Trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain rights of the Trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of a series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such Debt Securities.
No holder of any Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Existing Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the Existing Indenture, unless:
•
that holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to such series of Debt Securities;
•
the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series have made written request, and offered indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the Trustee to institute the proceeding as Trustee; and
•
the Trustee has failed to comply with the request for at least 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity, and has not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series a direction inconsistent with that request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any Debt Security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that Debt Security on or after the due dates expressed in that note and to institute suit for the enforcement of such payment.
If a default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of Debt Securities and a responsible officer of the Trustee has received written notice thereof at the corporate trust office of the Trustee and such notice references such series of Debt Securities and the Existing Indenture and states that it is a “Notice of Default,” the Trustee shall give notice of the default to the holders of the Debt Securities within 45 days of having received such notice, unless the default was already cured or waived. Unless there is a default in paying principal, interest or any premium when due, the Trustee can withhold giving notice to the holders if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders of such series of Debt Securities.
We are required to furnish to the Trustee an annual statement as to compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Existing Indenture.
Certain Definitions
The Existing Indenture contains the following defined terms:
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“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of the time of determination, total assets as reflected on our most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared as of the end of a fiscal quarter in accordance with GAAP which we shall have most recently filed with the SEC (or, if we are not required to so file, as reflected on our most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP) prior to the time at which Consolidated Total Assets is being determined. The calculation of Consolidated Total Assets shall give pro forma effect to any acquisition by or disposition of assets of the Company or any of our subsidiaries involving the payment or receipt by us or any of our subsidiaries, as applicable, of consideration (whether in the form of cash or non-cash consideration) in excess of $500,000,000 that has occurred since the end of such fiscal quarter, as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the last day of such fiscal quarter.
“domestic subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company of which, at the time of determination, all of the outstanding capital stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Company directly and/or indirectly and which, at the time of determination, is primarily engaged in contract logistics, other than a subsidiary that (a) neither transacts any substantial portion of its business nor regularly maintains any substantial portion of its fixed assets within the United States, (b) all or substantially all of whose assets consist of the capital stock of one or more subsidiaries which are not domestic subsidiaries, (c) a majority of whose voting stock is owned directly or indirectly by one or more subsidiaries of the Company which are not domestic subsidiaries or (d) does not own a principal property.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.
“indebtedness” means, with respect to any person, debt (other than Non-recourse Obligations) of such person for borrowed money.
“Lien” means any lien, security interest, pledge, mortgage, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other similar encumbrance.
“Non-recourse Obligation” means indebtedness (A) substantially related to (1) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (2) the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of our properties or properties of any of our subsidiaries or (B) renewing, refinancing, replacing or extending any of the types of indebtedness referred to in the preceding clause (A), in each case, as to which the obligee with respect to such indebtedness has no recourse to us or our assets other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof), provided that indebtedness will not fail to qualify as Non-recourse Obligations solely because the Company has indemnified any such obligee against damages resulting from or is otherwise obligated to such obligee in respect of exceptions to non-recourse liability in general usage (as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company, or a committee thereof, or any senior officer of the Company) in the relevant industry at the time such indebtedness is incurred (such as fraud, waste, misapplication of funds, failure to maintain insurance coverage, and environmental liability).
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or political subdivision thereof.
“principal property” means the land, improvements, buildings and fixtures constituting any research and development facility or service and support facility that is real property located within the territorial limits of the United States (excluding its territories and possessions and Puerto Rico) owned or leased by the Company or any of its domestic subsidiaries and having a net book value which, on the date of determination as to whether a property is a principal property is being made, exceeds 2% of our Consolidated Total Assets, other than (a) any such facility as any of our board of directors (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith is not of material importance to the total business conducted, or assets owned, by us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (b) our principal corporate offices.
“property” means any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including shares of capital stock.
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“senior officer” of any specified person means the chief executive officer, any president, any vice president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the secretary or any assistant secretary.
“subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of such corporation or other entity, irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock or other equity securities of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by us or by one or more of our subsidiaries, or by us and one or more of our subsidiaries.
“voting stock” of any specified person as of any date means the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors or managers of such person (or if such person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such person).
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, we and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Existing Indenture or the Debt Securities of a series, without notice to or consent of any holder of such series, to:
•
cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of the Existing Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in the Existing Indenture or the Debt Securities of any series;
•
comply with the provisions of the Existing Indenture regarding the consolidation or merger of the Company or the sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of our property;
•
create a series of Debt Securities and establish its terms;
•
provide for uncertificated Debt Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Debt Securities;
•
add a guarantor or obligor in respect of any series of Debt Securities;
•
secure any series of Debt Securities;
•
add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Debt Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company by the Existing Indenture;
•
add any additional events of default for the benefit of holders of all or any series of Debt Securities;
•
comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Existing Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
•
evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Existing Indenture or any supplemental indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under such Existing Indenture or supplemental indenture by more than one trustee pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Existing Indenture;
•
make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder in any material respect; or
•
conform the provisions of the Existing Indenture to the final offering document in respect of any series of Debt Securities.
With the exceptions discussed below, we and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Existing Indenture or the Debt Securities of a series with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by the amendment or supplement (voting as one class). In addition, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by a waiver (voting as one class) may waive any existing default under, or
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compliance with, any provision of the Debt Securities of each such series or of the Existing Indenture relating to such series, other than any event of default in payment of interest or principal. These consents and waivers may be obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Debt Securities.
Without the consent of each holder of Debt Securities affected, we and the Trustee may not:
•
change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, such Debt Securities or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date);
•
make any change to the provision of the Existing Indenture relating to the waiver of past defaults, except to increase the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver or to provide that certain other provisions of the Existing Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Securities affected thereby;
•
waive a continuing default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Debt Security or a continuing default of event of default in respect of a covenant or a provision in the Exiting Indenture that cannot be modified or amended with the consent of all holders of the applicable Debt Securities; or
•
reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any series the consent of whose holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver.
Any authorizing resolutions, officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Existing Indenture which shall have been included expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights of the holders of Debt Securities of any other series.
The right of any holder of Debt Securities to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the Existing Indenture, and our obligation to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such holder, may be subject to the requirement that such holder shall have been the holder of record of Debt Securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a record date fixed by us in accordance with the Existing Indenture.
Satisfaction and Discharge
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the Existing Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Debt Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of conversion or transfer or exchange of any Debt Securities of such series expressly provided for in the Existing Indenture or in the form of Debt Security for such series), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging such satisfaction and discharge of the Existing Indenture with respect to such series of Debt Securities, when:
(1)
all Debt Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Debt Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in the Existing Indenture and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in the Existing Indenture) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with the terms of the Existing Indenture, or, if not delivered to the Trustee, such Debt Securities of such series (A) have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at maturity within one year or (C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,
19
and in the case of clauses (1)(A), (B) and (C) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee) as trust funds in trust solely for that purpose an amount of money in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable or government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the case of government obligations or a combination of money and government obligations, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of and interest on the Debt Securities of such series, on the date of such deposit or to the maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; provided that if on the date of the deposit, the interest payable to, but excluding, or any premium payable on, the stated maturity or redemption date cannot be calculated, the amount deposited shall be sufficient to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the interest payable to, but excluding, or the premium payable on, the stated maturity or the redemption date calculated as of the date of the deposit, with any deficit on the stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable (any such amount, the “Applicable Deficit”), only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the stated maturity or redemption date, as applicable; provided, further, any Applicable Deficit shall be set forth in an officer’s certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of the Applicable Deficit that confirms that the Applicable Deficit shall be applied to the interest or other amounts payable at the stated maturity or on the redemption date, as applicable;
(2)
the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under the Existing Indenture by the Company;
(3)
the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee (or such other qualifying trustee), to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Debt Securities of such series at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and
(4)
the Company has delivered to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel (as specified in the Existing Indenture).
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Company may, unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement with respect to any series of Debt Securities, at its option and at any time, elect either “legal defeasance” or “covenant defeasance” be applied to the Debt Securities of any series as described below:
(a)
The Company shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from its obligations with respect to the outstanding Debt Securities of such series on the date the applicable conditions set forth below are satisfied (“legal defeasance”). Legal defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Debt Securities of such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of certain limited sections and matters under the Existing Indenture, and the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and the Existing Indenture insofar as such Debt Securities are concerned, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Existing Indenture.
(b)
The Company shall be released and discharged from the obligations under the covenants described under the sections of the prospectus captioned “Merger, Consolidation or Sales of Assets” and “Limitation on Liens” and Section 4.05 of the Existing Indenture with respect to such series of Debt Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“covenant defeasance”), and the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to such series of Debt Securities.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of any series of Debt Securities:
(1)
The Company shall have irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee (or another qualifying
20
trustee) money in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable or government obligations or a combination thereof in such amounts and at such times as are sufficient (in the case of government obligations or a combination of money and government obligations, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants), to pay the principal of and interest on the outstanding Debt Securities of such series to maturity or redemption;
(2)
No default or event of default (other than a default or event of default resulting from non-compliance with any covenant from which the Company is released upon effectiveness of such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or result therefrom;
(3)
Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound;
(4)
(i) In the case of legal defeasance, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the issue date pertaining to such series of Debt Securities, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case stating that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall state that, or (ii) in the case of covenant defeasance, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States stating that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, holders of the Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and the defeasance contemplated hereby and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(5)
The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an officer’s certificate, stating that the deposit made under clause (1) was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders of the Debt Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others; and
(6)
The Company has delivered to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all such conditions precedent relating to defeasance have been complied with.
Governing Law
The Existing Indenture provides that the Existing Indenture and the Debt Securities of each series shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Jurisdiction
The Existing Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee, and each holder of a Debt Security by its acceptance thereof, (i) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Existing Indenture and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrevocably waive and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
The Trustee
The Trustee is one of a number of banks with which we maintain ordinary banking relationships.
The Existing Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the Trustee need perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Existing Indenture. During the existence of an event of default with respect to Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee must, prior to the receipt of direction from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series, exercise
21
its rights and powers and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue Warrants for the purchase of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of Warrants will be issued under a separate warrant certificate to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the Warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of Warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the Warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant certificate that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such Warrants.
We currently have no Warrants outstanding that are exercisable for shares of our Common Stock, shares of our Preferred Stock or our Debt Securities as of August 30, 2021.
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of Warrants will describe the terms of such Warrants, including the following:
•
the title of such Warrants;
•
the offering price for such Warrants, if any;
•
the aggregate number of such Warrants;
•
the designation and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants;
•
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such Warrants are issued and the number of such Warrants issued with each such security;
•
if applicable, the date from and after which such Warrants and any securities issued therewith will be separately transferable;
•
the principal amount of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant and the price at which such principal amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon exercise (which price may be payable in cash, securities or other property) and the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise;
•
the date on which the right to exercise such Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
•
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such Warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•
whether the Warrants represented by the warrant certificates or Debt Securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;
•
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
•
the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
•
if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;
•
the anti-dilution provisions of such Warrants, if any;
•
the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such Warrants; and
•
any additional terms of such Warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such Warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue Units consisting of one or more of our Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Warrants.
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of Units will describe the terms of such Units, including the following:
•
the terms of the Units and of any of our Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Warrants comprising the Units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the Units may be traded separately;
•
a description of the terms of any Unit agreement governing the Units;
•
a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the Units; and
•
if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements:
•
to or through underwriters or through dealers;
•
in short or long transactions;
•
through agents;
•
directly to purchasers; or
•
through a combination of any such methods of sale.
If underwriters are used to sell securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement or similar agreement with them at the time of the sale to them. In that connection, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Any such underwriter, dealer or agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of securities will set forth:
•
the offering terms, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
•
the purchase price of the securities being offered and the proceeds to us, if any, from such sale;
•
any underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;
•
any initial public offering price;
•
any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers;
•
in the case of the Debt Securities, the interest rate, maturity and redemption provisions;
•
details regarding overallotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us, if any;
•
the securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed, if any; and
•
any other information we think is important.
If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities may be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions in accordance with the rules of the NYSE:
•
at a fixed price or prices that may be changed from time to time;
•
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
•
at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
•
at negotiated prices.
The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.
Any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by the underwriters and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.
25
We may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with us, including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the securities by those broker-dealers. We may enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the securities offered hereby to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer those securities. We may also loan or pledge the securities offered hereby to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the securities offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged securities offered hereby.
Securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus and a prospectus supplement is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain specified institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject to any conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of such contracts. Institutions to which such offers may be made, when authorized, include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and such other institutions as may be approved by the Company. The underwriters and other persons soliciting such contracts will have no responsibility for the validity of such arrangements or the performance of the Company or such institutions thereunder.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to be indemnified by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments which they may be required to make. The terms and conditions of such indemnification will be described in an applicable prospectus supplement and will be subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in the applicable provisions, if any, of Delaware law and the Company Certificate. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business, for which they receive compensation. However, any possible conflicts of interest of any underwriter, dealer or agent will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any securities.
Certain persons participating in any offering of securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities offered in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. In connection with any such offering, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. These activities will be described in more detail in the sections entitled “Plan of Distribution” or “Underwriting” in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each series of offered securities will be a new issue, other than the shares of Common Stock, which are listed on the NYSE. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange, and in the case of the Common Stock, on any additional exchange, but unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains information we have filed electronically with the SEC, which you can access over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by us will be available free of charge by accessing our website at https://investors.gxo.com under the heading Financial Information, or, alternatively, by directing a request by mail or telephone to GXO Logistics at Two American Lane, Greenwich, Connecticut 06831, (203) 489-1287. The web addresses of the SEC and GXO are included as inactive textual references only. Except as specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, information on those web sites is not part of this prospectus.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we have filed with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, exhibits and schedules for more information about us and the securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s public reference room or through its Internet site.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC (other than information furnished and not filed under Item 2.02 or 7.01 in current reports on Form 8-K) will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents into this prospectus:
•
Our registration statement on Form 10 initially publicly filed on June 9, 2021, as amended on July 7, 2021, July 15, 2021, July 19, 2021 and July 20, 2021;
•
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 26, 2021 and August 2, 2021;
•
•
Description of Common Stock contained in the information statement filed as Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 26, 2021.
We also incorporate by reference any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC) until the termination of this offering.
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein may contain summaries of certain agreements that we have filed as exhibits to various SEC filings, as well as certain agreements that we will enter into in connection with the offering of securities covered by any particular accompanying prospectus supplement. The descriptions of these agreements contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein do not purport to be complete and are subject to, or qualified in their entirety by reference to, the definitive agreements. Copies of the definitive agreements will be made available without charge to you by making a written or oral request to us at the following address:
GXO Logistics, Inc.
Two American Lane
Greenwich, CT 06831
Attention: Secretary
Telephone: (203) 489-1287
Two American Lane
Greenwich, CT 06831
Attention: Secretary
Telephone: (203) 489-1287
You should not assume that the information in this document is accurate as of any date other than that on the front cover of this prospectus. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified and superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
27
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in any prospectus supplement, certain matters with respect to the validity of the offered securities will be passed upon by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York, New York. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the related prospectus supplement.
28
EXPERTS
The combined financial statements of GXO Logistics, Inc. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31 2020, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2019 combined financial statements refers to a change in the Company’s method for accounting for leases.
29
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following are the categories of expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. Actual amounts will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
| |
SEC Registration Fee
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Printing, Engraving and Mailing Fees
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Trustees’ Fees and Expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Rating Agency Fees and Expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Miscellaneous Expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Total Expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
*
To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) under the Securities Act and calculated in connection with an offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.
**
Estimated fees and expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of fees and expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate fees and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.
ITEM 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 6.1 of the Bylaws requires the Company to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted from time to time under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) each person who is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution procedure, legislative hearing or inquiry or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company. Such indemnification will cover all expenses, liabilities and losses reasonably incurred by such individuals.
Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Subsection (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by
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or in right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Subsection (d) of Section 145 of the DGCL provides that any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by the majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that to the extent a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith and that such expenses may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL; that any indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; that indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators; and empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.
As authorized by the Bylaws, the Company may purchase and maintain at its expense on behalf of directors and officers insurance, within certain limits, covering liabilities which may be incurred by them in such capacities.
To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Company Certificate provides that a director of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
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ITEM 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
*
To be filed, if necessary, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company in connection with a specific offering, and incorporated herein by reference.
**
To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.
ITEM 17. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
1.
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
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offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (“Rule 424(b)”) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that clauses (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement;
2.
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
3.
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
4.
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B under the Securities Act relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) under the Securities Act for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B under the Securities Act, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date;
5.
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
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(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Greenwich, State of Connecticut, on this thirty-first day of August, 2021.
| | | | | GXO LOGISTICS, INC. | | |||
| | | | | By: | | |
/s/ Baris Oran
Name: Baris Oran
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned directors and officers of GXO Logistics, Inc., do hereby constitute and appoint Malcolm Wilson, Baris Oran and Karlis Kirsis, or any of them, our true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or either of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this registration statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) hereto and we do hereby ratify and confirm that all said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Malcolm Wilson
Name: Malcolm Wilson
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Director and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) |
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Baris Oran
Name: Baris Oran
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) |
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Paul Blanchett
Name: Paul Blanchett
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Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Brad Jacobs
Name: Brad Jacobs
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Chairman of the Board of Directors
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Gena Ashe
Name: Gena Ashe
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Director
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Clare Chatfield
Name: Clare Chatfield
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Director
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Marlene Colucci
Name: Marlene Colucci
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Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Joli Gross
Name: Joli Gross
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Director
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August 31, 2021
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Jason Papastavrou
Name: Jason Papastavrou
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Director
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August 31, 2021
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/s/ Oren Shaffer
Name: Oren Shaffer
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Lead Independent Director
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August 31, 2021
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II-7
Exhibit 5.1
[LETTERHEAD OF WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ]
August 31, 2021
GXO Logistics, Inc.
Two American Lane
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to GXO Logistics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) on the date hereof by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including the rules and regulations thereunder, the “Act”). The Registration Statement relates to, among other things, the offer and sale from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Act, of the following securities of the Company (collectively, the “Securities” and, each, a “Security”):
| (i) | shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), including shares of Common Stock as may from time to time be issued upon conversion or exchange of Debt Securities or Preferred Stock (each as defined below) or the exercise of Warrants or Units (each as defined below); |
| (ii) | shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), in one or more series; |
| (iii) | debt securities (“Debt Securities”), which, unless otherwise provided in any supplement to the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement relating to a particular series of the Debt Securities, will be in the form of senior debt securities to be issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of July 2, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, as supplemented and amended with respect to each series of the Debt Securities by the terms thereof established, as applicable, pursuant to authorizing resolutions, an officer’s certificate or a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture, to be executed on the date the Debt Securities are issued (each, a “Supplemental Indenture” and the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended with respect to each series of Debt Securities by the terms of the applicable Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”); |
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 2
| (iv) | warrants for the purchase of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Warrants”) pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and one or more warrant agents to be named in the applicable Warrant Agreement (each, a “Warrant Agent”); and |
| (v) | units consisting of one or more of the Company’s Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Warrants, or any combination of those securities (“Units”), pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and one or more unit agents to be named in the applicable Unit Agreement (each, a “Unit Agent”). |
The prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement as supplemented in the future by various supplements to the prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”) will provide for the issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities, which may be offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following: (a) the Registration Statement; (b) the Base Indenture (including the form of Debt Securities set forth therein), which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (c) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”); (d) the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof (the “Bylaws”); and (e) a copy of certain written consents of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) relating to the registration of the Securities.
We have examined the certificates and other documents delivered on the date hereof and such other corporate records, certificates and other documents and have had such conversations as we have deemed necessary or appropriate.
We have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile, conformed, electronic or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to all matters of fact, we have relied with your consent upon certificates or comparable documents, and oral and written statements and representations, of officers and representatives of the Company and of public officials, and, in certain instances, upon the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Transaction Documents. We have not independently verified such information and assumptions.
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 3
In expressing the opinions set forth below, we have assumed with your consent that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any Securities, (i) the Board of Directors and any appropriate committee appointed thereby, shall have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the specific sale and issuance of such Securities (including the terms thereof and including the sale and issuance, and terms of, any related securities for which such Securities may be exchanged, converted or exercised) and shall not have modified or rescinded the duly authorized issuance and sale of such Securities; (ii) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act and continues to be so effective; (iii) the prospectus will describe the Securities offered thereby or an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet will have been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and will describe the Securities offered thereby; (iv) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, including applicable provisions of “blue sky” laws, and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and, if applicable, the prospectus supplement; (v) the Registration Statement, the Securities and any definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to such Securities (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (vi) with respect to shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock offered, there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock authorized under the Company’s organizational documents and not otherwise reserved for issuance; (vii) the organizational documents of the Company, each as amended to the date hereof, will not have been amended from the date hereof in a manner that would affect the validity of the opinion rendered herein and (viii) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise.
We have assumed that the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents will not (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent under, the charters, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of any party to any such Transaction Document or the laws of the jurisdictions of organization or applicable laws with respect to such parties; (ii) violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over it or any of its assets or (iii) constitute a breach or violation of any agreement or instrument that is binding upon such parties, and we have assumed that each party (in the case of parties which are not natural persons) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under its jurisdiction of organization, that each such party has the legal capacity, power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations thereunder and that each of the Transaction Documents constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of all such parties, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.
We have assumed that the Base Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture, each Warrant Agreement and each Unit Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, including the applicable Trustee, Warrant Agent or Unit Agent, as the case may be, and that any Debt Securities, Warrants or Units that may be issued will be manually authenticated, signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of the applicable Trustee, Warrant Agent or Unit Agent, as the case may be.
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 4
We have assumed that New York law will be chosen to govern the Indenture, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreements, the Warrants, the Unit Agreements and the Units, and that such choice in each case is a valid and legal provision. We have also assumed that the choice of currency in which any Offered Debt Securities (as defined below) are denominated does not contravene any exchange control or other laws of the nation issuing such currency. As to any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any shares of Common Stock offered by the Company (the “Offered Common Stock”), when (i) terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Stock have been duly established and are then in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company; (ii) if the Offered Common Stock is to be certificated, certificates in the form required under Delaware corporate law representing the shares of Offered Common Stock have been duly executed and countersigned and (iii) the shares of Common Stock are registered in the Company’s share registry and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Common Stock, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, and the shares of Offered Common Stock, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be fully paid and nonassessable, in each case provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Common Stock.
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 5
2. With respect to the shares of any series of Preferred Stock offered by the Company (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), when (i) a Certificate of Designations for the Offered Preferred Stock in accordance with the applicable provisions of Delaware corporate law (the “Certificate of Designations”) has been filed with, and accepted for record by, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, in the form to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto; (ii) the terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designations relating to the Offered Preferred Stock, and the Bylaws so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company; (iii) if the Offered Preferred Stock is to be certificated, certificates in the form required under Delaware corporate law representing the shares of Offered Preferred Stock have been duly executed and countersigned and (iv) the shares of Offered Preferred Stock are registered in the Company’s share registry and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Preferred Stock, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Preferred Stock.
3. With respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the Indenture and indenture trustee qualify under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”) and a Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on a Form T-1 has been filed with the Commission with respect to each such indenture trustee; (ii) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Base Indenture and the applicable Supplemental Indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Offered Debt Securities, in a form compliant with the Base Indenture and the applicable Supplemental Indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities and filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or to be filed as an exhibit or exhibits to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Base Indenture and the applicable Supplemental Indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities and delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the Base Indenture and the applicable Supplemental Indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 6
4. With respect to any series of Warrants offered by the Company (the “Offered Warrants”), when (i) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Offered Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Offered Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Offered Warrants have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
5. With respect to any Units offered by the Company (the “Offered Units”), when (i) a Unit Agreement relating to the Offered Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Offered Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Unit Agreement of which the Offered Units are a component so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Offered Units have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Unit Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Offered Units, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Unit Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 7
The opinions set forth above are each subject to the effects of: (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, rearrangement, liquidation, conservatorship or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies, (d) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (e) the waivers of any usury defense contained in the Base Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture or the Offered Debt Securities which may be unenforceable, (f) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law and (g) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.
You have informed us that you intend to issue the Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof. We understand that prior to issuing any Securities you will afford us an opportunity to review all operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued (including the applicable prospectus supplement) and will file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate by reason of the terms of such Securities.
We are members of the Bar of the State of New York. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law (including the statutory provisions and all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws), and the federal securities laws of the United States of America, in each case as in effect on the date hereof. We express no opinion as to whether, or the extent to which, the laws of any other jurisdiction apply to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, the enforceability of the governing law provision contained in any Securities and their governing documents.
This opinion letter speaks only as of its date and is delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus contained therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an expert within the meaning of Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. We assume no obligation to advise the Company or any other person, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
GXO Logistics, Inc.
August 31, 2021
Page 8
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use of our report dated March 19, 2021, with respect to the combined financial statements of GXO Logistics, Inc., incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Stamford, Connecticut
August 31, 2021