Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-183023

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. 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 November 6, 2013

P R O S P E C T U S    S U P P L E M E N T

(To prospectus dated August 2, 2012)

$350,000,000

R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY

    % Notes due 2023

 

 

RR Donnelley is offering $350 million aggregate principal amount of its     % notes due 2023. Interest on the notes will be paid semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on May 15, 2014. The notes will mature on November 15, 2023. We may redeem the notes at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price as described in this prospectus supplement in the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.”

The notes will be general unsecured senior obligations of RR Donnelley and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding and senior in right of payment to all our indebtedness from time to time outstanding that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes. Our credit facility is secured by certain of our assets and guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries. The notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries, which will not guarantee the notes.

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and page S-16 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

		Per Note				Total
Public offering price(1)				%		$
Underwriting discounts and commissions				%		$
Proceeds to RR Donnelley, before expenses(1)				%		$

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest, if any, from November     , 2013, if settlement occurs after that date.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on or about November     , 2013.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BofA Merrill Lynch		J.P. Morgan		Mitsubishi UFJ Securities		Wells Fargo Securities

Co-Managers

 

US Bancorp		Citigroup		Fifth Third Securities, Inc.		ING		PNC Capital Markets LLC		TD Securities

Loop Capital Markets				Comerica Securities		Evercore		Morgan Stanley		Wedbush Securities Inc.

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is November     , 2013.

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We are responsible only for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, we take no responsibility for any such information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front of this prospectus supplement only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “RR Donnelley,” “we,” “us,” “Company” and “our” refer to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and its subsidiaries.

Our name, logo and other trademarks mentioned in this prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
Where You Can Find More Information			S-3
Forward-Looking Statements			S-5
Summary			S-7
The Offering			S-9
Risk Factors			S-16
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			S-18
Use of Proceeds			S-19
Capitalization			S-20
Description of the Notes			S-21
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form			S-33
United States Federal Income Taxation			S-36
Underwriting			S-42
Validity of the Notes			S-45
Experts			S-45
Prospectus
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference			1
The Company			2
Use of Proceeds			2
Validity of the Securities			2
Experts			2

 

S-2

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

RR Donnelley is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and in accordance therewith files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on a regular basis. You may read and copy this information or obtain copies of this information by mail from the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like RR Donnelley, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. RR Donnelley’s SEC filings are also available from our web site at http://www.rrdonnelley.com. Information on our web site is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the notes covered by this prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, please be aware that the reference is only a summary and that you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s web site.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

We have “incorporated by reference” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus certain documents that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. This information incorporated by reference is a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, unless we provide you with different information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or the information is modified or superseded by a subsequently filed document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from the date we file that document.

Any reports filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the completion of the offering of the notes will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and will automatically update, where applicable, and supersede any information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus incorporate the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules). They contain important information about us, our business and our financial condition.

 

RR Donnelley SEC Filings		Period or Date Filed
Annual Report on Form 10-K (our “Annual Report on Form 10-K”)		Year ended December 31, 2012
Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A		Filed on April 15, 2013
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q		Quarters ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013
Current Reports on Form 8-K		Filed on March 14, 2013, May 24, 2013, May 30, 2013, August 26, 2013 and October 28, 2013

 

S-3

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You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from us or from the SEC through the SEC’s web site at the address described above. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless we specifically incorporated by reference the exhibit in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You can obtain these documents from us by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address or number:

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

111 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Telephone: (866) 425-8272

 

S-4

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and portions of the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions. Generally, forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future actions, events, or results of operations of the Company. These statements may include, or be preceded or followed by, the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “might,” “could,” “would,” “potential,” “possible,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “hope,” or similar expressions. We claim the protections of the Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The following important factors, without limitation, affect our future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements:

 

•

the volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economy;

 

•

successful execution and integration of acquisitions;

 

•

successful negotiation of future acquisitions; and our ability to integrate operations successfully and achieve enhanced earnings or effect cost savings;

 

•

the ability to implement comprehensive plans for the integration of sales forces, cost containment, asset rationalization, systems integration and other key strategies;

 

•

the ability to divest non-core businesses;

 

•

future growth rates in our core businesses;

 

•

competitive pressures in all markets in which we operate;

 

•

our ability to access debt and the capital markets and the ability of our counterparties to perform their contractual obligations under our lending and insurance agreements;

 

•

changes in technology, including electronic substitution and migration of paper based documents to digital data formats;

 

•

factors that affect customer demand, including changes in postal rates, postal regulations and service levels, changes in the capital markets, changes in advertising markets, customers’ budgetary constraints and changes in customers’ short-range and long-range plans;

 

•

the ability to gain customer acceptance of our new products and technologies;

 

•

the ability to secure and defend intellectual property rights and, when appropriate, license required technology;

 

•

customer expectations and financial strength;

 

•

performance issues with key suppliers;

 

•

changes in the availability or costs of key materials (such as ink, paper and fuel) or in prices received for the sale of by-products;

 

•

changes in ratings of our debt securities;

 

•

the ability to comply with covenants under our credit agreement and indentures governing our debt securities;

 

•

the ability to generate cash flow or obtain financing to fund growth;

 

•

the effect of inflation, changes in currency exchange rates and changes in interest rates;

 

S-5

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•

the effect of changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting standards, trade, tax, environmental compliance (including the emission of greenhouse gases and other air pollution controls), health and welfare benefits (including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as modified by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, and further healthcare reform initiatives), price controls and other regulatory matters and the cost, which could be substantial, of complying with these laws and regulations;

 

•

contingencies related to actual or alleged environmental contamination;

 

•

the retention of existing, and continued attraction of additional customers and key employees;

 

•

the effect of a material breach of security of any of our systems;

 

•

the failure to properly use and protect customer information and data;

 

•

the effect of labor disruptions or labor shortages;

 

•

the effect of economic and political conditions on a regional, national or international basis;

 

•

the effect of economic weakness and constrained advertising;

 

•

uncertainty about future economic conditions;

 

•

the possibility of future terrorist activities or the possibility of a future escalation of hostilities in the Middle East or elsewhere;

 

•

the possibility of a regional or global health pandemic outbreak;

 

•

disruptions to our operations resulting from possible natural disasters, interruptions in utilities and similar events;

 

•

adverse outcomes of pending and threatened litigation; and

 

•

other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements, which speak only as of the date of this document or the date of any document that may be incorporated by reference into this document. Consequently, you should consider these forward-looking statements only as our current plans, estimates and beliefs. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference to reflect any new events or any change in conditions or circumstances. Even if these plans, estimates or beliefs change because of future events or circumstances after the date of these statements, or because anticipated or unanticipated events occur, we decline and cannot be required to accept an obligation to publicly release the results of revisions to these forward-looking statements.

 

S-6

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S-7

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S-8

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S-9

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S-10

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S-11

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S-12

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S-13

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S-14

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S-15

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the notes is subject to numerous risks, including those listed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and the additional risks described below. You should carefully consider the following risks, along with the information provided elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. These risks could materially affect our ability to meet obligations under the notes. You could lose all or part of your investment in and expected return on the notes.

Risks Related to the Offering

We have a significant amount of debt. We and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness in the future or may pursue corporate strategies that could adversely affect the value of the notes.

As of September 30, 2013, we had approximately $3.1 billion of net debt outstanding. We and our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional secured or unsecured indebtedness in the future or may take actions and pursue corporate strategies that could have an adverse impact on your investment in the notes. The terms of the indenture and the notes do not limit our ability to incur indebtedness, do not restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to incur indebtedness, do not restrict our ability to repurchase or prepay any other of our securities or other indebtedness and do not restrict our ability to make investments or pay dividends or make other payments in respect of securities ranking junior to the notes. Although the terms of our credit facility contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional debt, including secured debt, these restrictions are subject to a number of important exceptions, and debt incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. We also would have had approximately $819.4 million of availability under the revolving credit facility without giving effect to approximately $43.9 million of outstanding letters of credit. If new indebtedness is added to our current indebtedness levels and/or if we elect to invest our cash to pursue corporate opportunities rather than to reduce indebtedness, it may be more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes and/or may lead to a loss in the market value of your notes and/or may increase the risk that the credit rating of the notes is lowered or withdrawn.

There is no established trading market for the notes and one may not develop.

There is currently no established trading market for the notes and an active market may not develop. If an active market does develop such market may cease at any time. As a result, you may not be able to resell your notes for an extended period of time, if at all. Consequently, your lenders may be reluctant to accept the notes as collateral for loans. In addition, in response to prevailing interest rates and market conditions generally or other factors referred to in the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements,” the notes could trade at a price lower than their initial offering price and you may not be able to liquidate your investment.

Because the notes are effectively subordinated to all of our secured debt and the liabilities of our subsidiaries, we may not have sufficient assets to pay amounts owed on the notes if a default occurs.

Because our credit facility is a secured obligation, failure to comply with its terms or our inability to pay our lenders at maturity would entitle those lenders to foreclose on our assets which serve as collateral. In the event of any foreclosure on our assets, our secured lenders would be entitled to be repaid in full from the proceeds of the liquidation of those assets before those assets would be available for distribution to other creditors, including the holders of notes. Certain of our subsidiaries have guaranteed the credit facility.

The claims of holders of the notes will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries because our subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes which may limit your recovery as a creditor.

The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, none of our subsidiaries is obligated to pay any amounts due pursuant to the notes, or to make any funds available for payments on the notes. However, certain of our subsidiaries have guaranteed our credit facility and are thus obligated to pay amounts due under our credit facility. Consequently, claims of holders of the notes will be structurally subordinated to the liabilities of these subsidiaries, including liabilities under their guarantees of the credit facility, liabilities to trade creditors and, in some cases, pension plan liabilities. As a result, in the event of a

 

S-16

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bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our subsidiaries, those subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and other liabilities before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us, which may limit your recovery as a creditor.

We may be unable to repurchase the notes upon a change in control or a disposition of all or substantially all of our assets or properties.

Upon the occurrence of (i) certain events that constitute a “Change of Control” and (ii) a “Below Investment Grade Rating Event,” we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of the repurchase.

A change of control under the notes is likely to constitute an event of default under our credit facility. If this occurs, then the lenders under our credit facility may declare their debt immediately due and payable. Since our credit facility is secured, the lenders thereunder could foreclose on our assets securing our credit facility and be entitled to be repaid in full from the proceeds of any liquidation of those assets before any holder of the notes. We cannot assure you that we will have the financial resources necessary to repurchase the notes and satisfy our other payment obligations that could be triggered upon a change of control. If we fail to make or complete a repurchase of the notes in that circumstance, we will be in default under the indenture governing the notes. If we are required to repurchase a significant portion of the notes, we may require third-party financing. We cannot be sure that we would be able to obtain third-party financing on favorable terms, or at all.

One of the circumstances under which a change of control may occur is upon the sale or disposition of all of our properties or assets. However, the phrase “all or substantially all” will likely be interpreted under applicable state law and will be dependent upon particular facts or circumstances. As a result, there may be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining whether a sale or disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties or assets has occurred, in which case, the ability of a holder of the notes to obtain the benefit of the offer for repurchase of all or a portion of the notes held by such holder may be impacted.

We expect that the trading price of the notes will be significantly affected by changes in the interest rate environment and our credit quality, each of which could change substantially at any time.

We expect that the trading price of the notes will depend on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the interest rate environment and our credit quality. Each of these factors may be volatile, and may or may not be within our control.

If interest rates, or expected future interest rates, rise during the term of the notes, the trading price of the notes will likely decrease. Because interest rates and interest rate expectations are influenced by a wide variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that changes in interest rates or interest rate expectations will not adversely affect the trading price of the notes.

Furthermore, the trading price of the notes will likely be significantly affected by any change in our credit quality and any ratings assigned to us or our debt. Because our credit quality is influenced by a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that we will maintain or improve our credit quality during the term of the notes. Our ratings have been downgraded to a level below investment grade ratings. Each of Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services reaffirmed its negative outlook for the Company in February 2013 and November 2012, respectively. This offering and the expected use of proceeds may also impact our credit quality and ratings. In addition, because we may choose to take actions that adversely affect our credit quality, such as incurring additional debt or repurchasing shares of our common stock, there can be no guarantee that our credit quality will not decline during the term of the notes, which would likely negatively impact the trading price of the notes.

Any further downgrade of our ratings by either of Moody’s Investor Services or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services would increase the interest rate on our 11.25% senior notes due February 1, 2019 by 0.25% for each notch the applicable rating is downgraded (subject to the applicable maximum rates). The interest rate on these notes is currently 12.50%. In addition, the applicable margin used in the calculation of interest on borrowings under our credit agreement and rate for the related facility commitment fees will fluctuate depending on the credit agreement’s credit ratings.

 

S-17

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

		For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013				For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31,
						2012				2011				2010				2009				2008
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)			1.66x				(1.01x	)			0.24x				2.12x				1.29x				0.09x

 

(a)	In 2012, 2011 and 2008, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $638.7 million, $237.2 million and $273.1 million, respectively, due to certain charges in each year.

The ratio has been computed by dividing earnings available for fixed charges by fixed charges. For purposes of computing the ratio:

 

•

earnings available for fixed charges consist of (i) earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests, excluding (a) equity income (loss) of minority-owned companies, (b) fixed charges before capitalized interest, and (c) amortization of capitalized interest, (ii) less income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests; and

 

•

fixed charges consist of (i) interest on indebtedness, whether expensed or capitalized, including amortization of discounts related to indebtedness and (ii) that portion of rental expense we believe is representative of interest.

 

S-18

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect the net proceeds from this offering of notes to be approximately $344 million after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated expenses relating to the offering. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Amounts repaid under our revolving credit facility may be reborrowed to finance the cash portion of amounts payable by us in connection with our acquisition of Consolidated Graphics and for general corporate purposes. As of November 5, 2013, there were $150.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility, which expires October 15, 2017, and the weighted average interest rate on such borrowings was 1.831%.

 

S-19

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2013 on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the sale of the notes offered hereby and the application of those net proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds.” You should read this table in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

		As of September 30, 2013
		Actual				As Adjusted
		($ amounts in million)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	462.8			$	806.8	(1)
Total debt (including current portion):
Revolving credit facility(2)			—				—
Existing notes and debentures			3,497.0				3,497.0
Notes offered hereby			—				350.0
Other existing indebtedness(3)			19.0				19.0
Total debt (including current portion)			3,516.0				3,866.0
Total RR Donnelley shareholders’ equity			18.9				18.9
Noncontrolling interests			17.5				17.5
Total capitalization		$	3,552.4			$	3,902.4

 

(1)	May be used to repay amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. As of November 5, 2013, there were $150.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our $1.15 billion 5-year secured revolving credit facility (the “revolving credit facility”).

(2)

The revolving credit facility can be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and letters of credit. This facility is subject to a number of restrictive covenants, including financial covenants. The financial covenants require a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio, both to be computed on a pro forma basis as defined in the revolving credit facility. Based on our results of operations for the twelve months ended September 30, 2013 and existing debt, we could utilize approximately an additional $819.4 million of the $1.15 billion of the revolving credit facility and not be in violation of those financial covenants. As of November 5, 2013, there were $150.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2013, we had $43.9 million in outstanding letters of credit under the revolving credit facility. Additionally, as of September 30, 2013, we had $197.2 million of credit facilities outside of the United States, most of which were uncommitted.

(3)	At September 30, 2013, other existing indebtedness included miscellaneous debt obligations, capital leases and fair value adjustments to our 4.950% senior notes due April 1, 2014 and 8.250% senior notes due March 15, 2019 related to our fair value hedges.

 

S-20

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under “—Certain Definitions.” Defined terms used in this description but not defined below under “—Certain Definitions” or elsewhere in this description have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture. In this description, the “Company,” “us,” “we” and “our” refer only to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and not to any of its subsidiaries.

We will issue our     % notes due 2023 (the “notes”) under a supplemental indenture, to be dated as of November     , 2013, to the indenture, dated as of January 3, 2007, between R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture, as supplemented by the supplemental indenture referred to above, which we refer to as the “indenture.” It does not restate that agreement in its entirety. We urge you to read the indenture because it contains additional information that may be of importance to you. A form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part and can be obtained as indicated under “Where You Can Find More Information.” The indenture contains provisions that define your rights under the notes. In addition, the indenture governs the obligations of the Company under the notes. The terms of the notes include those stated in the indenture and, upon effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to the notes, those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

The notes will be issued in one series in an aggregate principal amount of $350 million.

We may issue additional notes in an unlimited aggregate principal amount at any time and from time to time under the same indenture. For example, we may, from time to time, without notice to or consent of the holders of notes, create additional notes under the indenture. These additional notes will have substantially the same terms as the notes offered hereby in all respects (or in all respects except in some cases for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional notes or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of the additional notes) so that the additional notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the notes offered hereby.

The notes will be unsecured obligations of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company only and will rank equally with all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company.

We will issue the notes only in fully registered form without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for the notes. The notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the registrar, which initially will be the Trustee’s corporate trust office. We may change any paying agent and registrar without notice to holders of the notes and we may act as paying agent or registrar. We will pay principal (and premium, if any) on the notes at the Trustee’s corporate trust office in Chicago, Illinois. At our option, interest may be paid at the Trustee’s corporate trust office or by check mailed to the registered address of the holders.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

The notes will mature on November 15, 2023. Interest on the notes will accrue at a rate of     % per year and will be payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15, commencing May 15, 2014. We will pay interest to those persons who were holders of record on the May 1 and November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding each interest payment date.

Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

S-21

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When we use the term “business day,” we mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in New York City or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by law to close.

If an interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date for the notes falls on a date that is not a business day (as defined above), then interest will be paid on the next day that is a business day, and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date. If a redemption date or the maturity date for any note falls on a date that is not a business day, the related payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest may be made on the next succeeding business day, and no additional interest will accumulate on the amount payable for the period from and after the redemption date or maturity date.

Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes

If a holder has given us wire transfer instructions, we will pay, or cause to be paid by the paying agent, all principal, premium, if any, and interest on that holder’s notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or agency of the paying agent and registrar unless we elect to make interest payments by check mailed to the holders at their address set forth in the register of holders.

We will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on the notes in global form registered in the name of DTC or its nominee in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global notes.

Ranking

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes will:

 

•

rank equally in right of payment with all other indebtedness of the Company that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated to other indebtedness of the Company;

 

•

rank senior in right of payment to all indebtedness of the Company that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated to the senior indebtedness of the Company; and

 

•

be effectively subordinated to the secured indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and to the indebtedness and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Optional Redemption

We may, at our option, redeem the notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) as determined by the Quotation Agent (as defined below), the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest in respect of the notes to be redeemed (not including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 50 basis points, plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of those notes.

 

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“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations so received.

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) any one other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by that Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding that Redemption Date.

We will mail notice of any redemption at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, before the Redemption Date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price on the Redemption Date, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Any notice to holders of notes of a redemption hereunder needs to include the appropriate calculation of the redemption price, but does not need to include the redemption price itself. The actual redemption price, calculated as described above, must be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of ours delivered to the Trustee no later than two business days prior to the Redemption Date.

Mandatory Redemption

We are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.

Selection and Notice of Redemption

If we redeem less than all the notes at any time and the notes are Global Notes held by DTC, DTC will select the notes to be redeemed in accordance with its Operational Arrangements. If the notes are not Global Notes held by DTC, the Trustee will select notes on a pro rata basis, or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable.

We will redeem notes of $2,000 or less in whole and not in part. We will cause notices of redemption to be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address. We may provide in the notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of our obligations with respect to the redemption or purchase may be performed by another person. Any notice may, at our discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent.

If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. We will issue a new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note in the name of the holder upon cancellation of the original note.

Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after such date, unless we default in payment of the redemption price on such date, interest ceases to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for such redemption.

 

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Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes as described above, holders of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) on the terms set forth in the notes. In the Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, we will be required to mail a notice to holders of notes with a copy to the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by the notes and described in such notice. We must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the notes, we will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, we will be required, to the extent lawful, to:

 

•

accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

•

deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

•

deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased.

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of RR Donnelley and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require RR Donnelley to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of RR Donnelley and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

For purposes of the foregoing discussion of a repurchase at the option of holders, the following definitions are applicable:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on the 60^th day following the occurrence of a Change of Control (which date shall be extended if the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies on such 60^th day, such extension to last until the date on which the Rating Agency considering such possible downgrade either (x) rates the notes below an Investment Grade Rating or (y) publicly announces that it is no longer considering the notes for possible downgrade; provided, that no such extension shall occur if any of the Rating Agencies rates the notes with an Investment Grade Rating that is not subject to review for possible downgrade on such 60^th day).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of RR Donnelley and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than RR Donnelley or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or

 

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consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of RR Donnelley’s voting stock; or (3) the first day on which a majority of the members of RR Donnelley’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of RR Donnelley who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the notes; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of RR Donnelley’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Certain Covenants

Restrictions on Secured Debt

The indenture provides that neither R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary will create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien (which we refer to herein, collectively, as a “mortgage”) on or upon any Principal Property or any shares of capital stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned at the date of the indenture or acquired after the date of the indenture, without ensuring that the notes (together with, if we decide, any other indebtedness created, issued, assumed or guaranteed by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company or any Restricted Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created) will be secured by such mortgage equally and proportionately with (or, at our option, prior to) such indebtedness. This restriction will not apply to indebtedness secured by any of the following:

 

•

mortgages on any property acquired, constructed or improved by, or on any shares of capital stock or indebtedness acquired by, us or any Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the indenture to secure indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the purchase price of such property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness or of the cost of any construction or improvements on such properties, in each case, to the extent that the indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after the applicable acquisition, completion of construction or beginning of commercial operation of such property, as the case may be;

 

•

mortgages on any property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness existing at the time we or any Restricted Subsidiary acquire any of the same;

 

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•

mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time we or any Restricted Subsidiary merge or consolidate with such corporation or at the time we or any Restricted Subsidiary acquire all or substantially all of the properties of such corporation;

 

•

mortgages on any property of, or shares of capital stock or indebtedness of, a corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

•

mortgages to secure indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary to us or another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

•

mortgages in favor of certain governmental bodies to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure indebtedness incurred or guaranteed to finance or refinance all or any part of the purchase price of the property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness subject to such mortgages, or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such mortgage; and

 

•

extensions, renewals or replacements of any mortgage existing on the date of the indenture or any mortgage referred to above; however, the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby may not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and such extension, renewal or replacement will be limited to all or a part of the property (plus improvements and construction on such property), shares of capital stock or indebtedness which was subject to the mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced.

Notwithstanding the restriction outlined above, we or any Restricted Subsidiary may, without having to equally and proportionately secure the notes, issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness secured by a mortgage not excepted from the restriction if the total amount of the following does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets:

 

•

such indebtedness; plus

 

•

all other indebtedness that we and our Restricted Subsidiaries have incurred or have guaranteed existing at such time and secured by mortgages not so excepted; plus

 

•

the Attributable Debt existing in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions existing at such time.

Attributable Debt with respect to the following types of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions will not be included for the purposes of calculating Attributable Debt in the preceding sentence:

 

•

Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in respect of which an amount (equaling at least the greater of the net proceeds of the sale of property or the fair market value of the property) is used within 180 days after the effective date of the arrangement to make non-mandatory prepayments on long-term indebtedness, retire long-term indebtedness or acquire, construct or improve a manufacturing plant or facility which is, or upon completion will be, a Principal Property; and

 

•

Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in which the property involved would have been permitted to be mortgaged under the first bullet point of the preceding paragraph.

Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

The indenture provides that neither we nor any Restricted Subsidiary will enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property unless:

 

•

we or such Restricted Subsidiary are entitled under the provisions described in the first or sixth bullet point in the first paragraph under “—Restrictions on Secured Debt” to create, issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased without having to equally and proportionately secure the notes;

 

•

we or such Restricted Subsidiary are entitled under the provisions described in the last paragraph under “—Restrictions on Secured Debt” to create, issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness secured by a mortgage on such property in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt in respect of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction without having to equally and proportionately secure the notes; or

 

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•

we apply an amount (equaling at least the greater of the net proceeds of the sale of property or the fair market value of the property) within 180 days after the effective date of the arrangement to make non-mandatory prepayments on long-term indebtedness, retire long-term indebtedness or acquire, construct or improve a manufacturing plant or facility which is, or upon completion will be, a Principal Property.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The indenture provides that we may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, or lease, sell or transfer all or substantially all of our property and assets if:

 

•

the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged, or the party which acquires by lease, sale or transfer all or substantially all of our property and assets is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state in the United States or the District of Columbia;

 

•

the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged, or the party which acquires by lease, sale or transfer all or substantially all of our property and assets, agrees to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the notes and performs and observes all covenants and conditions of the indenture by executing and delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture; and

 

•

immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating indebtedness for borrowed money which becomes our obligation or an obligation of a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by us or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has happened and is continuing.

If, upon any such consolidation or merger, or upon any such lease, sale or transfer of any of our Principal Property or any shares of capital stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, owned immediately prior to the transaction, we would thereupon become subject to any mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien securing any indebtedness for borrowed money of, or guaranteed by, such other corporation or party (other than any mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien permitted as described under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Secured Debt” above), we, prior to such consolidation, merger, lease, sale or transfer, will, by executing and delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, secure the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the notes (together with, if we decide, any other indebtedness of, or guaranteed by, us or any Restricted Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created) equally and proportionately with (or, at our option, prior to) the indebtedness secured by such mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien.

Reports

We will file with the Trustee, within 15 days after we have filed the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies thereof as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which we may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if we are not required to file information, documents or reports under those Sections, then we will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in those rules and regulations.

Events of Default

With respect to the notes, an “Event of Default” is defined in the indenture as being:

 

•

a failure to pay interest upon the notes that continues for a period of 30 days after payment is due;

 

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a failure to pay the principal or premium, if any, on the notes when due upon maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise;

 

•

a failure to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the indenture applicable to the notes for a period of 90 days after written notice to us of such failure from the Trustee (or to us and the Trustee from the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the notes); and

 

•

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us.

The indenture provides that if there is a continuing Event of Default with respect to the notes, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the notes may declare the principal amount of all of the notes to be due and payable immediately. However, at any time after the Trustee or the holders, as the case may be, declare an acceleration with respect to notes, but before the applicable person has obtained a judgment or decree based on such acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may, under certain conditions, cancel such acceleration if we have cured all Events of Default (other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal) with respect to such notes or all such Events of Default have been waived as provided in the indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “—Modification and Waiver.”

The indenture provides that, subject to the duties of the Trustee to act with the required standard of care, if there is a continuing Event of Default, the Trustee need not exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of notes, unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to such provisions for security or indemnification of the Trustee and certain other conditions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes 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 the Trustee holds with respect to the notes of that series.

No holder of any note will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture unless:

 

•

the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding for 60 days after the holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to notes;

 

•

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes have made a written request, and offered satisfactory security or indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as Trustee; and

 

•

the Trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes a direction inconsistent with such request.

However, the holder of any note will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and any premium or interest on, such note on or after the date or dates they are to be paid as expressed in such note and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

We are required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to the absence of certain defaults under the indenture. The indenture provides that the Trustee need not provide holders of notes notice of any default (other than the nonpayment of principal or any premium or interest) if it considers it in the interest of the holders of notes not to provide such notice.

Modification and Waiver

We and the Trustee may modify or amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding notes of each series affected by the modification or amendment. However, no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holders of all then outstanding notes of the affected series:

 

•

change the due date of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, the notes of that series;

 

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•

reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest rate on, the notes of that series;

 

•

change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, the notes of that series;

 

•

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the notes of that series after the due date thereof; or

 

•

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the notes of that series then outstanding, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the indenture, for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.

The holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series may waive, insofar as that series is concerned, future compliance by us with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series, except a failure by us to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any notes of that series or a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of all outstanding notes of the affected series.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee or stockholder of ours will have any liability for any of our obligations under the notes or the indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes.

Defeasance

Defeasance and Discharge

The indenture provides that we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the notes (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of notes, to replace stolen, destroyed, lost or mutilated notes, to maintain paying agencies, to compensate and indemnify the Trustee or to furnish the Trustee (if the Trustee is not the registrar) with the names and addresses of holders of notes). We will be so discharged if we irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, money and/or securities of the United States government in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay each installment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the notes on the applicable due dates for those payments in accordance with the terms of the notes.

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel confirming that the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the discharge had not occurred. That opinion must state that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in any case, in support of that opinion.

Defeasance of Certain Covenants and Certain Events of Default

The indenture provides that, upon compliance with certain conditions:

 

•

we may omit to comply with the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Secured Debt” and “—Certain Covenants—Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” (all other obligations under the notes will remain in full force and effect); and

 

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•

any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes (“covenant defeasance”).

The conditions include:

 

•

depositing with the Trustee money and/or securities of the United States government in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay each installment of principal of, any premium and interest on the notes on the due dates for those payments in accordance with the terms of the notes; and

 

•

delivering to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.

Covenant Defeasance and Certain Other Events of Default

If we exercise our option to effect a covenant defeasance with respect to the notes as described above and the notes are thereafter declared due and payable because of an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default caused by failing to comply with the covenants that are defeased), the amount of money and securities we have deposited with the Trustee would be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes on their respective due dates but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes at the time of acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, we would remain liable for such payments.

Governing Law

The indenture and the notes are governed by the laws of the State of New York.

The Trustee

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the Trustee under the indenture. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is also the trustee for our 4.950% Notes due 2014, our 5.500% Notes due 2015, our 8.600% Notes due 2016, our 6.125% Notes due 2017, our 7.250% Notes due 2018, our 8.250% Notes due 2019, our 11.250% Notes due 2019, our 7.625% Notes due 2020, our 7.875% Notes due 2021 and our 7.000% Notes due 2022. The Trustee and its affiliates have engaged, currently are engaged, and may in the future engage in financial or other transactions with R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and continues that is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the indenture for the full definition of all such terms as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided. Unless the context otherwise requires, an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Attributable Debt” is defined in the indenture to mean, in the context of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, what we believe in good faith to be the present value, discounted at the interest rate implicit in the

 

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lease involved in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of the lessee’s obligation under the lease for rental payments during the remaining term of such lease, as it may be extended. For purposes of this definition, any amounts lessee must pay, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges or any amounts lessee must pay under the lease contingent upon the amount of sales, maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges are not included in the determination of lessee’s obligations under the lease.

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” is defined in the indenture to mean the total amount of assets minus:

 

•

all applicable reserves;

 

•

all current liabilities (excluding any liabilities which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed and excluding current maturities of long-term indebtedness); and

 

•

all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangible assets,

all as shown in our audited consolidated balance sheet contained in our then most recent annual report to stockholders, except that assets will include an amount equal to the Attributable Debt in respect of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction not capitalized on such balance sheet.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth under “—Events of Default.”

“Issue Date” means the date on which the notes are initially issued.

“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the specified Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, company (including any limited liability company), association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“Principal Property” is defined in the indenture to mean any manufacturing plant or manufacturing facility owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary which is located within the United States and has a gross book value in excess of 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of determination, except for any such plant or facility or any portion of such plant or facility which our board of directors does not deem material to the total business conducted by us and our Restricted Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

“Restricted Subsidiary” is defined in the indenture to mean any Subsidiary that has substantially all of its property located in or that conducts substantially all of its business within the United States (other than its territories or possessions and other than Puerto Rico) and that owns a Principal Property; however, any Subsidiary which is principally engaged in financing operations outside the United States or which is principally engaged in leasing or in financing installment receivables will not be considered a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” is defined in the indenture to mean the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property, whether owned at the date of the indenture or acquired after the date of the

 

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indenture (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal term, of up to three years and except for leases between us and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Restricted Subsidiary to any party with the intention of taking back a lease of such property.

“Subsidiary” is defined in the indenture to mean any corporation in which we and/or one or more other Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, own more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock.

 

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BOOK-ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM

The notes initially will be represented by one or more permanent global certificates in definitive, fully registered form (the “Global Notes”). The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”) and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC in the form of a global certificate.

The Global Notes

DTC has advised us that pursuant to procedures established by it (i) upon the issuance of the Global Notes, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount at maturity of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Notes to the respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and (ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC (“participants”) or persons who hold interests through participants. Holders may hold their interests in the Global Notes directly through DTC if they are participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such system.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of the notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by such Global Notes for all purposes under the indenture governing the notes. No beneficial owner of an interest in the Global Notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s procedures, in addition to those provided for under the indenture with respect to the notes.

Payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest) on, the Global Notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Notes. None of RR Donnelley, the trustee or any paying agent under the indenture governing the notes will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.

DTC has advised us that its present practice is, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest) on the Global Notes, to credit immediately participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the Global Notes as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way through DTC’s same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same-day funds. If a holder requires physical delivery of a certificated note for any reason, including to sell notes to persons in states which require physical delivery of the notes, or to pledge such notes, such holder must transfer its interest in a Global Note, in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set forth in the indenture governing the notes.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes, including the presentation of notes for exchange as described below, only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an event of default under the indenture governing the notes, DTC will exchange the Global Notes for certificated notes, which it will distribute to its participants.

 

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DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a “Clearing Agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (“indirect participants”).

Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Note among participants of DTC, it is under no obligation to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Clearstream. Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and establishment of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures to the extent received by DTC for Clearstream.

Euroclear. Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euro-clear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear Operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking Commission.

Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the notes sold outside of the United States and cross-market transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading.

 

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Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.

Clearstream and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of their participants in much the same way as DTC, and DTC will record the total ownership of each of the U.S. agents of Clearstream and Euroclear, as participants in DTC. When notes are to be transferred from the account of a DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive notes against payment. After settlement, Clearstream or Euroclear will credit its participant’s account. Credit for the notes will appear on the next day (European time).

Because settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending notes to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream or Euroclear participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

When a Clearstream or Euroclear participant wishes to transfer notes to a DTC participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases, Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these notes against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream or Euroclear participant the following day, with the proceeds back valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York, if settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream or Euroclear participant’s account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on the days when those clearing systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States.

Certificated Notes

Certificated notes will be issued in exchange for beneficial interests in the Global Notes (i) if requested by a holder of such interests and in accordance with the rules and procedures of DTC or (ii) if DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days.

 

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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

This section describes the material United States federal income tax consequences (and, in the case of United States alien holders, United States federal estate tax consequences) of owning the notes we are offering. It applies to you only if you acquire notes in the offering for cash at the initial offering price and you hold your notes as capital assets for tax purposes. If you purchase notes at a price other than the initial offering price, the amortizable bond premium or market discount rules may also apply to you. You should consult your tax advisor regarding this possibility.

This section does not address the tax consequences arising under any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws or the application of any United States federal taxes other than United States federal income and, in the case of United States alien holders, estate taxes (such as the federal gift tax). This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

•

a dealer in securities,

 

•

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings,

 

•

a bank,

 

•

a partnership or other pass-through entity or an investor in a partnership or other pass-through entity,

 

•

a life insurance company,

 

•

a tax-exempt organization,

 

•

non-United States trusts or estates with United States beneficiaries.

 

•

a person that owns notes that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest rate risks,

 

•

a person subject to the alternative minimum tax,

 

•

a person that purchases or sells notes as part of a wash sale for United States federal income tax purposes,

 

•

a person that owns notes as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes, or

 

•

a United States holder (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar.

If any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner in a partnership considering an investment in the notes is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes.

This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Internal Revenue Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

Please consult your own tax advisor concerning the consequences of owning these notes in your particular circumstances under the Internal Revenue Code and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Effect of Certain Contingent Payments

As described under “Description of the Notes—Change of Control,” if a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, holders of notes will in certain circumstances have the right to require us to repurchase all or part of their notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. This obligation may subject the notes to special rules that

 

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apply to contingent payment debt instruments. These rules generally require you to accrue interest income at a rate higher than the stated interest rate on the note and to treat as interest income (rather than capital gain) any gain recognized on a sale or retirement of your note before the resolution of the contingencies. Notwithstanding the possibility of such contingent payments, under applicable United States Treasury regulations, a note will not be treated as a contingent payment debt instrument if, as of the issue date of the notes, any such contingency is remote and/or incidental. We intend to take the position that, as of the issue date, the prospect that such payments will be made is a remote and/or incidental contingency and therefore that the notes are not subject to the rules governing contingent payment debt instruments. It is possible, however, that the IRS may take a contrary position, in which case, if sustained, the tax consequences to a holder could differ materially and adversely from those described below. The remainder of this disclosure assumes that the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments.

United States Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States holder. You are a United States holder if you are a beneficial owner of a note and you are for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

•

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States,

 

•

a domestic corporation,

 

•

an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or

 

•

a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or a trust that has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person.

If you are not a United States holder, this subsection does not apply to you and you should refer to “—United States Alien Holders” below.

Payments of Interest

You will be taxed on interest on your note as ordinary income at the time you receive the interest or when it accrues, depending on your method of accounting for tax purposes.

Disposition of the Notes

You will generally recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or retirement of your note equal to the difference, if any, between the amount you realize on the sale or retirement, excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest (which will be taxed as interest income to the extent not previously includable in income), and your tax basis in your note. Your tax basis in your note generally will be its cost. Capital gain of a non-corporate United States holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Medicare Tax

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, a United States person that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on the lesser of (1) the United States person’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year or (2) the excess of the United States person’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals will be between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). Your net investment income will generally include your interest income and your net gains from the disposition of your note, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are a United States person that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in the notes.

 

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United States Alien Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States alien holder. Except as modified for estate tax purposes, you are a United States alien holder if you are the beneficial owner of a note and are, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

•

a nonresident alien individual,

 

•

a foreign corporation, or

 

•

a foreign estate or trust.

If you are a United States holder, this subsection does not apply to you.

Payments of Interest

Under United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, if you are a United States alien holder of a note we and other U.S. payors generally will not be required to deduct United States withholding tax from payments of principal and interest to you if, in the case of payments of interest not effectively connected with your conduct of a United States trade or business:

1. you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of RR Donnelley entitled to vote,

2. you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to RR Donnelley through stock ownership, and

3. the U.S. payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and:

a. you have furnished to the U.S. payor an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United States person,

b. in the case of payments made outside the United States to you at an offshore account (generally, an account maintained by you at a bank or other financial institution at any location outside the United States), you have furnished to the U.S. payor documentation that establishes your identity and your status as a non-United States person,

c. the U.S. payor has received a withholding certificate (furnished on an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or an acceptable substitute form) from a person claiming to be:

i. a withholding foreign partnership (generally a foreign partnership that has entered into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to assume primary withholding responsibility with respect to distributions and guaranteed payments it makes to its partners),

ii. a qualified intermediary (generally a non-United States financial institution or clearing organization or a non-United States branch or office of a United States financial institution or clearing organization that is a party to a withholding agreement with the Internal Revenue Service), or

iii. a U.S. branch of a non-United States bank or of a non-United States insurance company,

and the withholding foreign partnership, qualified intermediary or U.S. branch has received documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations (or, in the case of a qualified intermediary, in accordance with its agreement with the Internal Revenue Service),

d. the U.S. payor receives a statement from a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business,

 

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i. certifying to the U.S. payor under penalties of perjury that an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form has been received from you by it or by a similar financial institution between it and you, and

ii. to which is attached a copy of the Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or acceptable substitute form, or

e. the U.S. payor otherwise possesses documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations.

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to United States federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, unless (i) you provide the U.S. payor with a properly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form claiming an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under an applicable income tax treaty or (ii) the payments of interest are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States and you meet the certification requirements described below (see “—Effectively Connected Income or Gain”).

Disposition of Notes

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, no deduction for any United States federal withholding tax will be made from any gain that you realize on the sale or retirement of your note and such gain generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless (i) that gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, as discussed below or (ii) you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met, in which case you generally will be subject to United States federal income tax at a flat 30% rate on the gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses, unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise.

Effectively Connected Income or Gain

If you are a United States alien holder and interest paid on your note, or any gain realized upon the sale, retirement or other disposition of your note, is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by you, you will generally be taxed on a net income basis, that is, after allowance for applicable deductions, at the graduated rates that are applicable to United States holders in essentially the same manner as if your note were held by a United States holder, as discussed above, unless such interest or gain is exempt or subject to reduced tax pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty and you are entitled to such treaty benefits. If you are a United States alien holder that is a corporation, you may also be subject to the United States federal branch profits tax, which is generally imposed on a foreign corporation upon the deemed repatriation from the United States of effectively connected earnings and profits (subject to adjustments), at a 30% rate, unless the rate is reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty and you are a qualified resident of the treaty country.

United States Federal Estate Tax Considerations

A note owned (or deemed to be owned) by an individual who at death is not a citizen or resident of the United States (as defined specifically for estate tax purposes) will not be includible in the individual’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes if, at the time of such individual’s death:

 

•

the decedent did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of RR Donnelley entitled to vote and

 

•

the income on the note would not have been effectively connected with a United States trade or businesses of the decedent.

 

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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, if you are a non-corporate United States holder, we and other payors are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all payments of interest on your note and any payment of proceeds of the sale or redemption of your note within the United States. Additionally, backup withholding will apply to any such payments to a non-corporate United States holder if you fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or fail to certify that you are exempt from backup withholding.

In general, if you are a United States alien holder, payments of interest made by us and other payors to you will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting, provided that the certification requirements described above under “—United States Alien Holders” are satisfied or you otherwise establish an exemption. However, we and other payors are required to report payments of interest on your notes on Internal Revenue Service Form 1042-S even if the payments are not otherwise subject to information reporting requirements. In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale or redemption of notes effected at a United States office of a broker will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting provided that:

 

•

the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished to the broker:

 

1.

an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person, or

 

2.

other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations, or

 

•

you otherwise establish an exemption.

If you fail to establish an exemption and the broker does not possess adequate documentation of your status as a non-United States person, the payments may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding.

In general, payment of the proceeds from the sale or redemption of notes effected at a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:

 

•

the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the United States,

 

•

the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you at a United States address, or

 

•

the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as provided in U.S. Treasury regulations,

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above (relating to a sale of notes effected at a United States office of a broker) are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.

In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale or redemption of notes effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting if the broker is:

 

•

a United States person,

 

•

a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes,

 

•

a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, or

 

•

a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year:

 

1.

one or more of its partners are “U.S. persons,” as defined in U.S. Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or

 

2.

such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business,

 

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unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above (relating to a sale of notes effected at a United States office of a broker) are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against your United States federal income tax liability (if any) and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We are offering the notes described in this prospectus supplement through a number of underwriters. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are the representatives of the underwriters. We have entered into a firm commitment underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, the aggregate principal amount of notes listed next to its name in the following table.

 

Underwriter		Principal Amount of Notes
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                  Incorporated		$
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
ING Financial Markets LLC
PNC Capital Markets LLC
TD Securities (USA) LLC
Loop Capital Markets LLC
Comerica Securities, Inc.
Evercore Group L.L.C.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Wedbush Securities Inc.
Total		$	350,000,000

The underwriting agreement is subject to a number of terms and conditions and provides that the underwriters must buy all of the notes if they buy any of them. The underwriters will sell the notes to the public when and if the underwriters buy the notes from us.

The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the notes to the public for cash at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. After the public offering of the notes, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $750,000.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Associated Investment Services, Inc. (AIS), a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member, a subsidiary of Associated Banc-Corp, is being paid a referral fee by Wedbush Securities Inc.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. The underwriters may make a market in the notes after completion of the offering, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If an active public market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.

 

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In connection with the offering of the notes, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the notes. Specifically, the representatives may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position. In addition, the representatives may bid for, and purchase, the notes in the open market to cover short positions or to stabilize the price of the notes. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes above independent market levels, but no representation is made hereby of the magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the market price of the notes. The representatives will not be required to engage in these activities, and may engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities, at any time without notice.

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant Member State”), including each Relevant Member State that has implemented the 2010 PD Amending Directive with regard to persons to whom an offer of notes is addressed and the denomination per note of the offer of notes (each, an “Early Implementing Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), no offer of notes will be made to the public in that Relevant Member State (other than offers (the “Permitted Public Offers”) where a prospectus will be published in relation to the notes that has been approved by the competent authority in a Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), except that with effect from and including that Relevant Implementation Date, offers of notes may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

(a) to “qualified investors” as defined in the Prospectus Directive; or

(b) to fewer than 100 (or, in the case of Early Implementing Member States, 150) natural or legal persons (other than “qualified investors” as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of notes shall result in a requirement for the publication of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

Each person in a Relevant Member State (other than a Relevant Member State where there is a Permitted Public Offer) who initially acquires any notes or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that (A) it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive, and (B) in the case of any notes acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, the notes acquired by it in the offering have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Relevant Member State other than “qualified investors” as defined in the Prospectus Directive, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the such persons has been given to the offer or resale. In the case of any notes being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the notes acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any notes to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant Member State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

The Company, the representatives and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representation, acknowledgement and agreement.

For the purpose of the above provisions, the expression “an offer to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information

 

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on the terms of the offer of any notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any notes, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in the Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71 EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, in the case of Early Implementing Member States) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order and/or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issuance or sale of the notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.

If any of the underwriters or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and certain of their affiliates have provided from time to time, and may provide in the future, investment and commercial banking (including acting as lenders under our revolving credit facility described above) and financial advisory services to us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In the ordinary course of their business, the underwriters and their affiliates may actively trade or hold the securities or our loans for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold long or short positions in these securities or loans. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments. In addition, from time to time, as a result of market-making activities, the underwriters may own debt securities issued by us or our affiliates. Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit facility and will receive a portion of any net proceeds used to repay amounts outstanding under such facility.

Trustee Conflict of Interest

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, an affiliate of the trustee, is an underwriter for this offering. Therefore, if a default occurs with respect to the notes, the trustee would have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In that event, except in very limited circumstances, the trustee would be required to resign as trustee under the indenture under which the notes are being issued and we would be required to appoint a successor trustee. If the trustee resigns following a default, it may be difficult to identify and appoint a qualified successor trustee. The trustee will remain the trustee under the indenture until a successor is appointed. During the period of time until a successor is appointed, the trustee will have both (a) duties to noteholders under the indenture and (b) a conflicting interest under the indenture for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference from the R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and the effectiveness of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

Debt Securities

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Common Stock

 

 

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company from time to time may offer to sell debt securities, warrants, and purchase contracts, either individually or in units, as well as preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, and common stock. The debt securities may be senior or subordinated to other indebtedness of R.R. Donnelley. The debt securities may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of R.R. Donnelley. Any preferred stock or depositary shares issued may also be convertible into common stock or another series of preferred stock or depositary shares or convertible into or exchangeable for other securities. R.R. Donnelley’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Stock Market and the Chicago Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RRD”.

R.R. Donnelley may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be provided in supplements to this prospectus.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Prospectus dated August 2, 2012.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of the Company, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

 

(1)	Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011;

 

(2)	Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31 and June 30, 2012;

 

(3)	Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 21, March 13 and May 21, 2012; and

 

(4)	All documents filed by the Company under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of this offering.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You can obtain those documents from our website at www.rrdonnelley.com or request them in writing or by telephone at the following address or telephone number:

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

111 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606-4301

Telephone: (866) 425-8272

 

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THE COMPANY

R.R. Donnelley is a global provider of integrated communications. The Company works collaboratively with more than 60,000 customers worldwide to develop custom communications solutions that reduce costs, drive top line growth, enhance return on investment and ensure compliance. Drawing on a range of proprietary and commercially available digital and conventional technologies deployed across four continents, the Company employs a suite of leading Internet-based capabilities and other resources to provide premedia, printing, logistics and business process outsourcing services to clients in virtually every private and public sector.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities may be passed upon for the Company by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports dated February 22, 2012, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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$350,000,000

R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY

    % Notes due 2023

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

November     , 2013

 

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

J.P. Morgan

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities

Wells Fargo Securities

US Bancorp

Citigroup

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

ING

PNC Capital Markets LLC

TD Securities

Loop Capital Markets

Comerica Securities

Evercore

Morgan Stanley

Wedbush Securities Inc.