Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-267757
This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be subject to change. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated October 6, 2022)
$
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
$ % Senior Notes due 2027
$ % Senior Notes due 2029
We are offering $ aggregate principal amount of % senior notes due 2027 (the “2027 notes”) and $ aggregate principal amount of % senior notes due 2029 (the “2029 notes” and, together with the 2027 notes, the “notes”). The 2027 notes will mature on , 2027. The 2029 notes will mature on , 2029. Interest on the notes will be paid semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, commencing on , 2025.
We may redeem the notes, at our option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the applicable redemption price in this prospectus supplement under the section entitled “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption,” and, under certain circumstances, we may become obligated to redeem the 2029 notes at the applicable redemption price in this prospectus supplement as described below and under the section entitled “Description of Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.” In addition, if we experience a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined herein), we may be required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of the repurchase. See “Description of Notes—Change of Control.”
We plan to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes (i) to finance the consideration for our pending acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. (the “Acquisition”) and the fees and expenses in connection therewith and (ii) for other general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and the repayment of short-term debt. The sale of the notes is not conditioned upon the consummation of the Acquisition, which, if completed, will occur subsequent to the closing of the sale of the notes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
If (i) the Acquisition is not consummated on or before the later of (x) February 17, 2025 (the “End Date”); and (y) the date that is five business days after any later date to which the End Date may be extended in the Acquisition Agreement (as defined herein) (such later date, the “Special Mandatory Redemption End Date”) or (ii) we notify the trustee under the indenture that we will not pursue the consummation of the Acquisition, then we will be required to redeem the 2029 notes (the “Special Mandatory Redemption”), in whole, at a special mandatory redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2029 notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined herein) (subject to the right of holders of the 2029 notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date falling prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date). The proceeds from the sale of 2029 notes will not be deposited into an escrow account pending completion of the Acquisition or any Special Mandatory Redemption, nor will we be required to grant any security interest or other lien on those proceeds to secure any redemption of the 2029 notes. See “Description of Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.” The 2027 notes will not be subject to Special Mandatory Redemption.
The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated debt, including our revolving credit facility. The notes will rank senior in right of payment to any existing and future subordinated debt. The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. As a result, the notes will be effectively subordinated to any liabilities of our subsidiaries. The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or include the notes in any automated quotation system.
Investing in the notes involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Per 2027 Note | | | Total | | | Per 2029 Note | | | Total | |
Price to Public | | | | % | | $ | | | | | | % | | $ | | |
Underwriting Discounts | | | | % | | $ | | | | | | % | | $ | | |
Proceeds, before expenses, to Darden | | | | % | | $ | | | | | | % | | $ | | |
Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance. Purchasers of the notes must pay the accrued interest if settlement occurs after that date.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
BofA Securities, Inc., Truist Securities, Inc., U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, on behalf of the underwriters, expect to deliver the notes on or about October , 2024. Delivery of the notes will be made in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company and its direct and indirect participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A/N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, against payment therefor in immediately available funds.
Joint Book-Running Managers
| | |
BofA Securities | | Truist Securities |
US Bancorp | | Wells Fargo Securities |
The date of this prospectus supplement is September , 2024.