Northrop Grumman Corporation Announces Results of Early Participation in Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations

Rhea-AI Summary

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) has announced results from early participation in its Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations, aimed at exchanging existing notes totaling up to $1.17 billion for new notes and cash. The offers, active until August 31, 2021, received requisite consents for amendments related to some existing debentures. The planned settlement date for these transactions is September 2, 2021. Documents regarding the offers were distributed to eligible noteholders as specified in the offering memorandum dated August 2, 2021.

Positive

• Valid consents received for 6.650% Debentures due 2028 and 7.750% Debentures due 2029.
• Up to $1.17 billion in existing notes being exchanged, optimizing debt structure.

Negative

• None.

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) (“Northrop Grumman”) announced today the results of early participation in connection with its previously announced (A) offers to exchange (the “Exchange Offers”) any and all outstanding notes of Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (“NGSC”), as set forth in the table below (the “Existing Notes”), for (1) up to $1,171,189,000 aggregate principal amount of new notes issued by Northrop Grumman (the “New Notes”) and (2) cash, and (B) related consent solicitations being made by Northrop Grumman and NGSC (the “Consent Solicitations”) to (1) adopt certain amendments to each of the indentures governing the Existing Notes (the “Indenture Amendments”) and (2) except with respect to NGSC’s 7.750% Debentures due 2031, amend and terminate each of the corresponding guarantees currently provided by Northrop Grumman of NGSC’s obligations in respect of the applicable series of Existing Notes (the “Guarantee Amendments”). Withdrawal rights for the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations expired as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 17, 2021.

As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 20, 2021 (the “Early Tender Date”), the following principal amounts of each series of Existing Notes have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (and consents thereby validly given and not validly revoked):

						Notes Tendered as of the Early Tender Date
Title of Series/ CUSIP Number of Existing Notes		Maturity Date		Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding		Principal Amount		Percentage
7.875% Debentures due 2026 / 666807AQ5		March 1, 2026		$269,850,000		$76,490,000		28.35%
7.750% Debentures due 2026 / 538021AC0		March 15, 2026		$256,689,000		$47,828,000		18.63%
6.650% Debentures due 2028 / 872649AQ1		January 15, 2028		$41,205,000		$38,859,000		94.31%
7.750% Debentures due 2029 / 872649BH0		June 1, 2029		$89,940,000		$79,323,000		88.20%
7.750% Debentures due 2031 / 666807AW2		February 15, 2031		$466,490,000		$166,617,000		35.72%
6.980% Debentures due 2036 / 538021AH9		March 15, 2036		$47,015,000		$12,300,000		26.16%

Northrop Grumman and NGSC have received the requisite consents for the Indenture Amendments and the Guarantee Amendments related to the 6.650% Debentures due 2028 and the 7.750% Debentures due 2029. In connection therewith, as well as following receipt of any other applicable requisite consents with respect to the Existing Notes, Northrop Grumman and NGSC intend to enter into the applicable supplemental indentures and/or amendments to guarantees with the trustee for each series of Existing Notes for which the applicable consents are received to effect the applicable Indenture Amendments and/or Guarantee Amendments, but these amendments will become operative only upon settlement of the applicable Exchange Offer.

The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations are being made pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offering memorandum and consent solicitation statement dated August 2, 2021, and the related letter of transmittal, as supplemented on August 16, 2021 (the “Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement”), copies of which were previously distributed to eligible holders of the Existing Notes.

The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on August 31, 2021, unless such date is extended (the “Expiration Date”). Northrop Grumman currently expects settlement of the Exchange Offers to occur on September 2, 2021, unless the Expiration Date is extended.

Documents relating to the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations will be distributed only to eligible holders of Existing Notes who certify that they are either (a) a “Qualified Institutional Buyer” as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), or (b) a person that is outside the “United States” and that (i) is not a “U.S. person,” as those terms are defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, (ii) is not an “EEA Retail Investor” or “UK Retail Investor” (as defined in the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement), and (iii) in the case of persons located in the United Kingdom, is a “Relevant Person” (as defined in the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement). Eligible holders of Existing Notes resident in Canada will also be required to certify that they are (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), in the case of a person resident in Ontario, or National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, in the case of a person resident in any other jurisdiction in Canada, that either would acquire the New Notes for its own account or would be deemed to be acquiring the New Notes as principal pursuant to applicable law and (ii) a “permitted client” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 – Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations are described in the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement, a copy of which may be obtained by contacting D.F. King & Co., Inc., the exchange agent and information agent in connection with the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations, at (877) 783-5524 (U.S. toll-free) or (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers) or noc@dfking.com. The eligibility form is available electronically at: https://www.dfking.com/noc.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders or consents with respect to, any security. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations are being made solely pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law.

The New Notes have not been and, except as described in the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement, will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the New Notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred within the United States or to or for the account of any U.S. person absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

About Northrop Grumman Corporation
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release contain or may contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “trends,” “goals” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the timing or consummation of the exchange offers and consent solicitations. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, expectations, plans and projections that we believe to be reasonable when made, but which may change over time. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Specific risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: those identified and discussed more fully in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are urged to consider the limitations on, and risks associated with, forward-looking statements and not unduly rely on the accuracy of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Contact:	Vic Beck (Media) 703-280-4456 (office) vic.beck@ngc.com
	Todd Ernst (Investors) 703-280-4535 (office) todd.ernst@ngc.com

FAQ

What is Northrop Grumman's recent announcement regarding its notes?

Northrop Grumman announced early results for its Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations, aiming to exchange existing notes for new notes and cash.

What is the total amount of existing notes Northrop Grumman is exchanging?

Northrop Grumman is exchanging up to $1.17 billion of existing notes.

When does the Exchange Offer expire for Northrop Grumman?

The Exchange Offer expires on August 31, 2021.

What are the expected settlement dates for the Exchange Offers?

Settlement for the Exchange Offers is expected to occur on September 2, 2021.

What amendments have been consented to in Northrop Grumman's offer?

Consents were received for amendments related to the 6.650% Debentures due 2028 and the 7.750% Debentures due 2029.