The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED JANUARY 13, 2023
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Offers to Exchange the Registered Notes Set Forth Below that
Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”) for Any and All Outstanding
Restricted Notes set Forth Opposite the Corresponding
Registered Notes
| | |
Registered Notes | | Restricted Notes |
$1,250,000,000 2.450% Senior Notes due 2027 | | $1,250,000,000 2.450% Senior Notes due 2027 |
$1,250,000,000 2.700% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 | | $1,250,000,000 2.700% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 |
$1,500,000,000 2.900% Senior Notes due 2032 | | $1,500,000,000 2.900% Senior Notes due 2032 |
$1,000,000,000 3.700% Senior Notes due 2052 | | $1,000,000,000 3.700% Senior Notes due 2052 |
$500,000,000 3.900% Senior Notes due 2062 | | $500,000,000 3.900% Senior Notes due 2062 |
We are offering to exchange up to $1,250,000,000 of our new registered 2.450% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “new 2027 notes”) for up to $1,250,000,000 of our existing unregistered 2.450% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “old 2027 notes” and, together with the new 2027 notes, the “2027 notes”), up to $1,250,000,000 of our new registered 2.700% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 (the “new sustainability-linked notes”) for up to $1,250,000,000 of our existing unregistered 2.700% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 (the “old sustainability-linked notes” and, together with the new sustainability-linked notes, the “sustainability-linked notes”), up to $1,500,000,000 of our new registered 2.900% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “new 2032 notes”) for up to $1,500,000,000 of our existing unregistered 2.900% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “old 2032 notes” and, together with the new 2032 notes, the “2032 notes”), up to $1,000,000,000 of our new registered 3.700% Senior Notes due 2052 (the “new 2052 notes”) for up to $1,000,000,000 of our existing unregistered 3.700% Senior Notes due 2052 (the “old 2052 notes” and, together with the new 2052 notes, the “2052 notes”) and up to $500,000,000 of our new registered 3.900% Senior Notes due 2062 (the “new 2062 notes”) for up to $500,000,000 of our existing unregistered 3.900% Senior Notes due 2062 (the “old 2062 notes” and, together with the new 2062 notes, the “2062 notes”). We refer to the new 2027 notes, the new sustainability-linked notes, the new 2032 notes, the new 2052 notes and the new 2062 notes collectively as the “new notes,” and to the old 2027 notes, the old sustainability-linked notes, the old 2032 notes, the old 2052 notes and to the old 2062 notes collectively as the “old notes.” Tenders of old notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date. All old notes that are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date will be exchanged. We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.
The new notes and the old notes are collectively referred to as the “notes.” The terms of the new notes are identical in all material respects to the terms of the old notes for which they are being offered in exchange, except that the new notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the old notes do not apply to the new notes. The old notes are, and the new notes will be, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (the “subsidiary guarantor”), subject to customary release provisions in respect of the subsidiary guarantees as set forth in the indenture and supplemental indentures thereto governing the notes (collectively, the “indenture”). The new notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. A public market for the new notes may not develop, which could make selling the new notes difficult.
To exchange your old notes for new notes:
| • | | You are required to make the representations described on page 34 to us. |
| • | | You must contact a Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participant to complete the book-entry transfer procedures described herein to exchange your old notes for new notes, or otherwise complete and send the letter of transmittal that accompanies this prospectus to the exchange agent, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on , 2023. |
| • | | You should read the section captioned “The Exchange Offer” for further information on how to exchange your old notes for new notes. |
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on , 2023, unless it is extended.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 for a discussion of risk factors that should be considered by you prior to tendering your old notes in the exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued in the exchange offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that for a period of 180 days after the expiration date, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”
, 2023