S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2015

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware  

15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

(281) 504-4700

  20-0411521

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of

registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

James L. Simmons

General Counsel

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Telephone: (281) 504-4700

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Timothy S. Taylor

Carina L. Antweil

Baker Botts L.L.P.

910 Louisiana Street

One Shell Plaza

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 229-1234

 

Exact Name of Additional Registrants*

  Jurisdiction of
Incorporation/Organization
     I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number
 

Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC

    Delaware         76-0607595   

Elastomers Holdings LLC

    Delaware         76-0656328   

Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation

    Delaware         52-2270870   

Kraton Polymers LLC

    Delaware         26-3739386   

 

* Each additional registrant is a wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. The address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of each of the additional Registrants’ principal executive offices is c/o Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., 15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77032, telephone (281) 504-4700. The primary standard industrial classification code number of each of the additional Registrants is 2821. The name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of the agent for service for each of the additional Registrants is 15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77032, telephone (281) 504-4700.


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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box:  x.

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box:  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount to be

Registered/Proposed

Maximum Offering

Price Per

Unit/Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price (1)(2)

Debt Securities

  —  

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  —  

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  —  

Warrants

  —  

Units

  —  

Guarantees of Debt Securities (3)

  —  

Total

  —  

 

 

(1) An indeterminate number or amount of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants, units and guarantees of debt securities as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable antidilution provisions.
(2) In reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. hereby defers payment of the registration fee required in connection with this Registration Statement. Accordingly, no filing fee is paid herewith and all registration fees will be paid on a “pay as you go” basis.
(3) Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and Kraton Polymers LLC may fully and unconditionally guarantee any series of debt securities of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., and Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC and Elastomers Holdings LLC, may fully and unconditionally guarantee any series of debt securities of Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and Kraton Polymers LLC. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) no separate fee is payable with respect to the guarantees of the debt securities being registered.

 

 

 


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Prospectus

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Warrants

Units

Guarantees of Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer and sell from time to time securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and the securities to be offered in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

We may offer the securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers, agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KRA.” On August 24, 2015, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $19.57 per share.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Please carefully review the information under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 2. In addition, risks associated with any investment in our securities may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described in “Risk Factors” on page 2.

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

The date of this prospectus is August 25, 2015.


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About This Prospectus

     ii   

About Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

     1   

The Guarantors

     2   

Risk Factors

     2   

Cautionary Statements About Forward-Looking Statements

     3   

Use Of Proceeds

     4   

Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges

     4   

Description Of Debt Securities

     5   

Description Of Capital Stock

     15   

Description Of Warrants

     17   

Description Of Units

     18   

Plan Of Distribution

     19   

Legal Opinions

     22   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     22   

Where You Can Find More Information

     22   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a “shelf registration statement” that we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). By using a shelf registration statement, we may offer the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. For further information about the securities and us, you should refer to our registration statement and its exhibits. The registration statement can be obtained from the SEC as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement that will describe the specific terms of the offering. A prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement may include or incorporate by reference a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities or to us. The prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement may also add to, update or change the information contained in this prospectus and, accordingly, to the extent inconsistent, the information in this prospectus will be superseded by the information in the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement, in addition to the information contained in the documents we refer to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement. We have not authorized any person, including any salesman or broker, to provide you with additional or different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement is accurate only as of the date on its cover page and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference.

 

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ABOUT KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.

We are a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers (“SBCs”) and other engineered polymers. SBCs are highly-engineered synthetic elastomers, which we invented and commercialized 50 years ago that enhance the performance of numerous products by imparting greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability.

Our polymers are typically formulated or compounded with other products to achieve improved, customer-specific performance characteristics in a variety of applications. We seek to maximize the value of our product portfolio by emphasizing complex or specialized polymers and innovations that yield higher margins than more commoditized products. We refer to these complex or specialized polymers or innovations as being more “differentiated.”

Our products are found in many everyday applications, including personal care products, such as disposable diapers and the rubberized grips of toothbrushes, razor blades and power tools. Our products are also used to impart tack and shear properties in a wide variety of adhesive products and to impart characteristics such as flexibility and durability in sealants and corrosion resistance in coatings. Our paving and roofing applications provide durability, extending road and roof life.

We also produce CariflexTM isoprene rubber and isoprene rubber latex. Our Cariflex products are based on synthetic polyisoprene polymer and do not contain natural rubber latex or other natural rubber products making them an ideal substitute for natural rubber latex, particularly in applications with high purity requirements such as medical, healthcare, personal care and food contact. We believe the versatility of Cariflex provides opportunities for new, high margin applications.

We have a portfolio of innovations at various stages of development and commercialization, including

 

    polyvinyl chloride alternatives for wire and cable, and medical applications;

 

    polymers and compounds for soft skin and coated fabric applications for transportation and consumer markets;

 

    highly-modified asphalt (“HiMA”) for high-performance paving applications;

 

    high melt flow polymers for compounding and adhesives formulations;

 

    NEXARTM family of membrane polymers for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and breathable fabrics; and

 

    synthetic cement formulations and polymers used for viscosity modification in oilfield applications.

We manufacture our polymers at five manufacturing facilities globally, including our flagship facility in Belpre, Ohio, as well as facilities in Germany, France, Brazil, and Japan. The facility in Japan is operated by an unconsolidated manufacturing joint venture.

In this prospectus, we refer to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries and its ownership interests in equity affiliates as “Kraton,” “we” or “us,” unless we specifically state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.

We are a Delaware corporation. The address of our principal executive offices and our telephone number at that location is:

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

(281) 504-4700

Our internet website address is www.kraton.com. Information contained on or accessible from our website or any other website is not incorporated into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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THE GUARANTORS

Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and Kraton Polymers LLC may fully and unconditionally guarantee any series of debt securities issued by us offered by this prospectus, as set forth in a related prospectus supplement. These subsidiaries are sometimes referred to in this prospectus as the Subsidiary Guarantors. The applicable prospectus supplement will name the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, for that series of debt securities and will describe the terms of the guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC and Elastomers Holdings LLC may fully and unconditionally guarantee any series of debt securities issued by Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and Kraton Polymers LLC offered by this prospectus, as set forth in a related prospectus supplement.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and other information that may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement as provided under “Where You Can Find More Information,” including the risks described under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please read “Cautionary Statements About Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described elsewhere in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock or preferred stock or value of our warrants or debt securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on us. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the information we incorporate by reference, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking information is based on projections and estimates, not historical information. You can identify our forward looking statements by the use of words like “may,” “may not,” “believes,” “do not believe,” “plans,” “estimates,” “intends,” “expects,” “do not expect,” “anticipates,” “do not anticipate,” “should,” “likely,” and other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes.

When considering these forward looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference.

Forward-looking information involves risk and uncertainties and reflects our best judgment based on current information. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we caution you not to rely unduly on them. We have based many of these forward-looking statements on expectations and assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, other known and unknown risks and factors may affect the accuracy of our forward-looking information. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or as of the date they are made, and, except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any of our forward-looking statements regardless of whether factors change as a result of new information, future events or for any other reason.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes, which may include:

 

    capital expenditures;

 

    acquisitions;

 

    working capital; and

 

    repayment, refinancing, redemption or repurchases of indebtedness or other securities.

Pending any specific application, we may initially invest funds in short-term marketable securities or apply them to the reduction of short-term indebtedness or outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

We have presented in the table below our historical consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods shown.

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2015      2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     (0.12)x         1.11x         0.80x         1.02x         3.54x         5.07x   

Our earnings were insufficient to cover our fixed charges by approximately $16.7 million and $8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2013.

We have computed the ratios of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, “earnings” consist of earnings before income taxes plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and any equity distributions less income from equity investees and interest capitalized. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expensed, interest capitalized, amortization of debt issuance costs, amortization of debt premium and the estimate of interest within our rental expense.

No shares of our preferred stock are currently issued or outstanding, therefore no dividends accrued on any shares of our preferred stock for any period presented. Accordingly, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our general unsecured obligations. We will issue senior debt securities under an indenture to be entered into among us, the possible Subsidiary Guarantors, and a trustee we will name in the prospectus supplement relating to the senior debt securities. Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation will issue senior debt securities under an indenture to be entered into among them as co-issuers, us as guarantor, the possible Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, and a trustee we will name in the prospectus supplement relating to the senior debt securities. We refer to these indentures as the senior indentures. The senior indentures will be substantially identical, except for the issuers of the debt securities under each such indenture. We will issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture to be entered into among us, the possible Subsidiary Guarantors, and a trustee we will name in the prospectus supplement relating to subordinated debt securities. We refer to the senior indentures and the subordinated indenture collectively as the indentures. The senior indenture for the debt securities issued by us and the subordinated indenture will be substantially identical, except for provisions relating to subordination.

We have summarized material provisions of the indentures, the debt securities and the guarantees below. This summary is not complete. We have filed the forms of the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement, and you should read the indentures for provisions that may be important to you. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information.”

In this summary description of the debt securities, unless we state otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise, all references to “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. only and not to any of its subsidiaries.

General

None of the indentures limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued under that indenture, and none of the indentures limit the amount of other unsecured debt or securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities under the indentures from time to time in one or more series, each in an amount authorized prior to issuance.

We are not obligated to issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for the issuance of additional debt securities of that series. Additional debt securities of a particular series will have the same terms and conditions as outstanding debt securities of such series, except for the date of original issuance and the offering price and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date and initial interest accrual date, and will be consolidated with, and form a single series with, such outstanding debt securities.

The senior debt securities will constitute our senior unsecured indebtedness and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt and senior in right of payment to all of our subordinated indebtedness. The senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated to, and thus have a junior position to, our secured indebtedness with respect to the assets securing that indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities will rank junior to all of our senior indebtedness and may rank equally with or senior to other subordinated indebtedness we may issue from time to time.

We conduct our business through our wholly owned subsidiary, Kraton Polymers LLC, and its consolidated subsidiaries. As a result, our operating income and cash flow are generated by our subsidiaries. Cash we obtain from Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries is the principal source of funds necessary to meet our debt service obligations. Contractual provisions or laws, as well as our subsidiaries’ financial condition and operating requirements, may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries that we require to pay our debt service obligations, including payments on the debt securities. In addition, holders of the debt securities will have a junior position to the claims of creditors, including trade creditors and tort claimants, of our subsidiaries to the extent that such subsidiaries do not guarantee such debt securities.

 

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Neither indenture contains any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders of the debt securities in the event we participate in a highly leveraged transaction or upon a change of control. The indentures also do not contain provisions that give holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their securities in the event of a decline in our credit rating for any reason, including as a result of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or otherwise.

Ranking

On March 27, 2013, we entered into an asset-based revolving credit facility consisting of a $150.0 million U.S. senior secured revolving credit facility (the “U.S. Facility”) and a $100.0 million Dutch senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Dutch Facility,” and together with the U.S. Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC and Kraton Polymers Nederland B.V. are the borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, and Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., Kraton Polymers LLC, Elastomers Holdings LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation are the guarantors for both the U.S. Facility and the Dutch Facility. In addition, K.P. Global Holdings C.V. and Kraton Polymers Holdings B.V. are guarantors for the Dutch Facility. All secured obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are secured by specified assets of Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, Elastomers Holdings LLC and the other U.S. borrowers and guarantors, and the Dutch Facility secured obligations are further secured, subject to certain exceptions, by specified assets of Kraton Polymers Nederland B.V., including (a) accounts, (b) inventory, (c) chattel paper, instruments, letters of credit, general intangibles (other than intellectual property), as each of the aforementioned relates to accounts or inventory, (d) commodities accounts, deposit accounts and securities accounts, to the extent any proceeds of the collateral described in (a) through (c) above are deposited therein, (e) monies, cash and deposits, including cash collateral to the extent related to the foregoing, and (f) all accessions to, substitutions for, replacements and proceeds of the foregoing.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities. As of June 30, 2015, we had no outstanding indebtedness under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities. In the event of any distribution or payment of our assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other bankruptcy proceeding, holders of secured indebtedness will have prior claim to our assets that constitute their collateral. Holders of the senior debt securities will participate ratably with all holders of our senior unsecured indebtedness, and potentially with all of our other general creditors, based upon the respective amounts owed to each holder or creditor, in our remaining assets.

The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and the unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors. Kraton Polymers LLC and its wholly-owned financing subsidiary, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes that mature on March 1, 2019 pursuant to an indenture, dated February 11, 2011 (with respect to $250.0 million senior notes) and supplemental indenture thereto dated March 20, 2012 (with respect to $100.0 million senior notes). The indenture provides that the notes are general unsecured, senior obligations and will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will rank equally with such notes.

Under the subordinated indenture, payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt.

Terms

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

    whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities;

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

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    the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the price at which we will issue the debt securities;

 

    whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of holders;

 

    the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will be payable;

 

    any interest rate, the date from which interest will accrue, interest payment dates and record dates for interest payments;

 

    whether and under what circumstances we will pay any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities;

 

    whether debt securities are entitled to any guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantors and the identity of any such Subsidiary Guarantors for that series and the terms of such guarantee if different than those set forth in the applicable indenture;

 

    the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable;

 

    any provisions for optional redemption or early repayment;

 

    any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

 

    whether payments on the debt securities will be payable in foreign currency or currency unit or another form and whether payments will be payable by reference to any index or formula;

 

    the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount;

 

    any additional means of defeasance of the debt securities, any additional conditions or limitations to defeasance of the debt securities or any changes to those conditions or limitations;

 

    any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants described in this prospectus;

 

    any restrictions or other provisions relating to the transfer or exchange of the debt securities;

 

    any terms for the conversion or exchange of the debt securities for other securities;

 

    with respect to the subordinated indenture, any changes to the subordination provisions for the subordinated debt securities; and

 

    any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the applicable indenture.

We may sell the debt securities at a discount, which may be substantial, below their stated principal amount. These debt securities may bear no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates. If we sell these debt securities, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations.

If we sell any of the debt securities for any foreign currency or currency unit or if payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, we will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information relating to those debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.

 

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Subordination

Under the subordinated indenture, payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may not make any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the subordinated debt securities if:

 

    we fail to pay the principal, interest, premium or any other amounts on any Senior Debt when due; or

 

    we default in performing any other covenant (a “covenant default”) on any Senior Debt that we have designated if the covenant default allows the holders of that Senior Debt to accelerate the maturity of the Senior Debt they hold.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, a covenant default will prevent us from paying the subordinated debt securities only for up to 179 days after holders of the designated Senior Debt give the trustee for the subordinated debt securities notice of the covenant default.

The subordination does not affect our obligation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay, when due, the principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt securities. In addition, the subordination does not prevent the occurrence of any default under the subordinated indenture.

The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Debt that we may incur. As a result of the subordination of the subordinated debt securities, if we become insolvent, holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less on a proportionate basis than other creditors.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, “Senior Debt” will mean all of our indebtedness, including guarantees, unless the indebtedness states that it is not senior to the subordinated debt securities or our other junior debt. Senior Debt with respect to a series of subordinated debt securities could include other series of debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture.

Guarantees

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, with respect to a series of senior debt securities will fully and unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured basis the full and prompt payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of that series when and as the payment becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or otherwise. As used in this prospectus, the term “Subsidiary Guarantors” with respect to a series of debt securities refers to those subsidiaries listed under “The Subsidiary Guarantors” that guarantee that series of debt securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will name the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, for that series of debt securities and will describe the terms of the guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors if they differ from the terms described in this prospectus. The guarantees provide that in the event of a default in the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on a debt security, the holder of that debt security may institute legal proceedings directly against the Subsidiary Guarantors to enforce the guarantees without first proceeding against us. If senior debt securities are so guaranteed, the guarantees will rank equally with all of the Subsidiary Guarantors’ other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding and senior to any subordinated debt of the Subsidiary Guarantors. If subordinated debt securities are so guaranteed, the guarantees will be subordinated to all of the Subsidiary Guarantors’ other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its guarantee of the debt securities will be limited to the maximum amount that will not result in the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under the guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law, after giving effect to:

 

    all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

    any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under its guarantee.

 

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The guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor may be released under certain circumstances. If we exercise our legal or covenant defeasance option with respect to debt securities of a particular series as described below in “—Defeasance and Discharge,” then any Subsidiary Guarantor will be released with respect to that series. Further, if no default has occurred and is continuing under the applicable indenture, and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by the applicable indenture, a Subsidiary Guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from the guarantee:

 

    automatically upon any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any person that is not our affiliate, of all of our equity interests in the Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

    automatically upon the merger of the Subsidiary Guarantor into us or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of the Subsidiary Guarantor; or

 

    following delivery of a written notice by us to the trustee, upon the release of all guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantor of any debt of ours for borrowed money, except for any series of debt securities under the applicable indenture.

Consolidation, Merger and Sales of Assets

The indentures generally permit a consolidation or merger involving us or the Subsidiary Guarantors. They also permit the Subsidiary Guarantors or us to sell, lease, convey, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. We and the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed, however, that we will not consolidate with or merge into any entity or sell, lease, convey, assign, transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any entity unless:

 

  (1) either

 

    we or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, are the continuing entity; or

 

    the resulting entity is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and, in the case of us, expressly assumes by supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities and the performance of our covenants and obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities, or, in the case of such Subsidiary Guarantor, the performance of the guarantee and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s covenants and obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities; and

 

  (2) immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no default or event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing or would result from the transaction(s).

This covenant will not apply to any merger of another entity into us. Upon any transaction of the type described in and effected in accordance with this section, the resulting entity will succeed to and be substituted for us and may exercise all of our rights and powers under the applicable indenture and the debt securities with the same effect as if the resulting entity had been named as us in the applicable indenture. In the case of any asset transfer or disposition other than a lease, when the resulting entity assumes all of our obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and the debt securities, we will be relieved of all such obligations.

Events of Default

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default with respect to a series of debt securities:

 

    our failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days when due;

 

    our failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

 

    our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment relating to any debt security of that series for 30 days when due;

 

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    our failure to comply with any covenant or agreement in that series of debt securities or the applicable indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of other series of debt securities) for 90 days after written notice by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture that are affected by that failure;

 

    specified events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or a Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to that series of debt securities that is a significant subsidiary (as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, as in effect on the date of the applicable indenture) of us;

 

    if applicable, specified events involving the guarantees; and

 

    any other event of default provided for that series of debt securities.

A default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under any other series. If a default or event of default for any series of debt securities occurs, is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee will notify the holders of applicable debt securities within 90 days after it occurs. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any default or event of default, except in any payment on the debt securities, if the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders of those debt securities.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default (or, in some cases, 25% in principal amount of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may declare the principal of and all accrued and unpaid interest on those debt securities to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a significant subsidiary occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the debt securities of that series will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the trustee or any holder. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may in some cases rescind this accelerated payment requirement and its consequences.

A holder of a debt security of any series issued under an indenture may pursue any remedy under that indenture only if:

 

    the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to that series of debt securities;

 

    the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

    the holders offer to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

    the trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and offer of indemnity; and

 

    during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

This provision does not, however, affect the right of a holder of a debt security to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment.

In most cases, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless those holders have offered to the

 

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trustee indemnity satisfactory to it. Subject to this provision for indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series (or of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) generally may direct the time, method and place of:

 

    conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or

 

    exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee relating to or arising as a result of an event of default.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of his own affairs.

The indentures require us to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our performance of certain of our obligations under the indentures and as to any default in performance.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may supplement or amend each indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under that indenture that are affected by the amendment or supplement (voting as one class). Without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected, however, no modification may:

 

    reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

    reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the debt security;

 

    reduce the principal of the debt security or change its stated maturity;

 

    reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the debt security or change the time at which the debt security may or must be redeemed;

 

    change any obligation to pay additional amounts on the debt security;

 

    make payments on the debt security payable in currency other than as originally stated in the debt security;

 

    impair the holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the debt security;

 

    make any change in the percentage of principal amount of debt securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to make any change in the provision related to modification;

 

    with respect to the subordinated indenture, modify the provisions relating to the subordination of any subordinated debt security in a manner adverse to the holder of that security;

 

    waive a continuing default or event of default regarding any payment on the debt securities;

 

    except as specifically provided in the indenture, release any Subsidiary Guarantor or modify the related Guarantee in any manner materially adverse to the holders of debt securities under that indenture; or

 

    if applicable, make any change that materially and adversely affects the right to convert any debt security.

We and the trustee may supplement or amend each indenture or waive any provision of that indenture without the consent of any holders of debt securities issued under that indenture in certain circumstances, including:

 

    to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

    to provide for the assumption of our obligations under the indenture by a successor upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer permitted under the indenture;

 

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    to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities or to provide for bearer debt securities;

 

    to provide any security for, or to add any guarantees of or obligors on, any series of debt securities;

 

    to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of that indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

 

    to add covenants that would benefit the holders of any debt securities or to surrender any rights we have under the indenture;

 

    to add events of default with respect to any series of debt securities;

 

    to make any change that does not adversely affect any outstanding debt securities of any series issued under that indenture in any material respect;

 

    to establish the form or terms of any debt securities and to accept the appointment of a successor trustee, each as permitted under the indenture;

 

    to supplement any of the provisions of that indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities; and

 

    to provide for the appointment of a successor trustee or to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under that indenture by more than one trustee.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may waive any existing or past default or event of default with respect to those debt securities. Those holders may not, however, waive any default or event of default in any payment on any debt security or compliance with a provision that cannot be amended or supplemented without the consent of each holder affected.

Defeasance and Discharge

Defeasance. When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under an indenture. If we deposit with the trustee under an indenture any combination of money or government securities sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture on the dates those payments are due, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:

 

    we and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable, will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series (“legal defeasance”); or

 

    we and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable, will no longer have any obligation to comply with specified restrictive covenants with respect to the debt securities of that series, the covenant described under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sales of Assets” and other specified covenants under the applicable indenture, and the related events of default will no longer apply (“covenant defeasance”).

If a series of debt securities is defeased, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable indenture, except for obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities or maintain paying agencies and hold money for payment in trust. In the case of covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities, and if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors’ guarantees of the payments, will also survive.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that the holders would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related defeasance had not occurred. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

 

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Under current U.S. federal income tax law, legal defeasance would likely be treated as a taxable exchange of debt securities to be defeased for interests in the defeasance trust. As a consequence, a United States holder would recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis for the debt securities and the value of the holder’s interest in the defeasance trust, and thereafter would be required to include in income a share of the income, gain or loss of the defeasance trust. Under current U.S. federal income tax law, covenant defeasance would not be treated as a taxable exchange of such debt securities.

Satisfaction and Discharge. In addition, an indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture, subject to exceptions relating to compensation and indemnity of the trustee under that indenture and repayment to us of excess money or government securities, when either:

(a) all outstanding debt securities of that series have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all outstanding debt securities of that series not delivered to the trustee for cancellation (i) either have become due and payable, or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year; (ii) we have deposited with the trustee any combination of money or government securities in trust sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series when due; and (iii) we have paid all other sums payable by us with respect to the debt securities of that series.

Governing Law

New York law will govern the indentures, the debt securities and the guarantees.

The Trustees

We will name the trustee under the applicable indenture in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Each indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, if it or any of its affiliates is then our creditor or, if applicable, a creditor of a Subsidiary Guarantor, to obtain payment of claims or to realize on certain property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates are permitted to engage in other transactions with us, and, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors. If, however, the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict or resign within 90 days after ascertaining that it has a conflicting interest and after the occurrence of a default under the applicable indenture, unless the default has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated within the 90-day period.

Payments and Paying Agents

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payments on the debt securities in U.S. dollars at the office of the trustee and any paying agent. At our option, however, payments may be made by wire transfer for global debt securities or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security register. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the trustee under the applicable indenture will be designated as the paying agent for payments on debt securities issued under that indenture. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.

If the principal of or any premium or interest on debt securities of a series is payable on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the following business day. For these purposes, unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, a “business day” is any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday

 

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or a day on which banking institutions in any of New York, New York, Houston, Texas or a place of payment on the debt securities of that series is authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt securities that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.

Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without interest coupons. Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent designated by us. The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange if its requirements and the requirements of the applicable indenture are met. We will not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities. We may, however, require payment of any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable for that registration.

We will appoint the trustee as security registrar for the debt securities. If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents we initially designate, we may at any time rescind that designation or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. We are required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.

In the case of any redemption of debt securities of a series or any repurchase of debt securities of a series required under the terms of the series, we will not be required to register the transfer or exchange of:

 

    any debt security of that series during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or repurchase and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of such notice; or

 

    any debt security of that series that has been called for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.

Book-Entry Debt Securities

We may issue the debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue global debt securities in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global debt security.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following descriptions are summaries of material terms of our common stock, preferred stock, certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Copies of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws have been incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you are urged to review these documents. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information.”

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of which 31,349,571 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2015, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value, of which no shares were issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.

Common Stock

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Cumulative voting of shares of our common stock is prohibited. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election.

Subject to the prior rights of the holders of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably the assets of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. remaining after payment of all liabilities and payment to holders of our preferred stock if such preferred stock has an involuntary liquidation preference over our common stock. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The outstanding shares of our common stock are, and any shares of our common stock offered and issued by us pursuant to this prospectus will be, when issued and paid for, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized, without any further notice or action of our stockholders, to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series and to determine the relative rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of any such series.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. In addition, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

We entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers on December 16, 2011. The indemnification agreements provide our directors, officers and certain key employees with further indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware Law. The form of indemnification agreement is filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2011.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Our Bylaws and Delaware Law

Some provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring or seeking to acquire

 

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control of us. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. However, these provisions may also delay, deter or prevent a change in control or other takeover of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market price of our common stock and also may limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the future for our common stock. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management.

Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws include anti-takeover provisions that:

 

    authorize our board of directors, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to fix the number of shares constituting that series and establish the rights and other terms of that series;

 

    require that actions to be taken by our stockholders may be taken only at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders and not by written consent;

 

    specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our chief executive officer or our president or any executive vice president (if we do not have a chief executive officer);

 

    establish advance notice procedures for our stockholders to submit nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors and other proposals to be brought before a stockholders meeting;

 

    provide that our bylaws may be amended by our board of directors without stockholder approval;

 

    allow our directors to establish the size of our board of directors by action of the board of directors, subject to a minimum of three members;

 

    provide that vacancies on our board of directors or newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of our directors may be filled only by vote of a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum;

 

    do not give the holders of our common stock cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors; and

 

    provide that Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Laws, which prevents companies from engaging in certain “business combinations” with “interested stockholders” for a specified period except in certain instances, does not apply.

Authorized and Unissued Shares

Our authorized and unissued shares of common stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of our common stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KRA.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. If we issue warrants under this prospectus, we will issue such warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will include specific terms relating to the offering. We will file the form of any warrant agreement with the SEC, and you should read the warrant agreement for provisions that may be important to you. The applicable prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

    the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, and the procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

 

    the exercise price of the warrants;

 

    the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

 

    the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;

 

    if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

 

    if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

 

    any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; and

 

    any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants.

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled to:

 

    vote, consent or receive dividends;

 

    receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or

 

    exercise any rights as stockholders of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

 

    the title of the series of units;

 

    identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

 

    the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

 

    the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

 

    a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

 

    any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities in and outside the United States (a) through underwriters or dealers, (b) directly to purchasers or (c) through agents. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the following information:

 

    the terms of the offering;

 

    the names of any underwriters or agents;

 

    the purchase price of the securities from us and, if the purchase price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the purchase price is payable;

 

    the net proceeds to us from the sale of securities;

 

    any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

    any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

    the initial public offering price;

 

    any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

    any commissions paid to agents.

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement and except as described below, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

Underwriters may sell shares of our common stock under this prospectus by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, on any other existing trading market for our common stock or to or through a market maker, or in privately negotiated transactions. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the sales agent with respect to any such at-the-market offering will make all sales using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreeable terms between the sales agent and us. We will include in the applicable prospectus supplement the amount of any compensation to be received by the sales agent.

During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.

 

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If we use dealers in the sale of securities, the securities will be sold directly to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The dealers participating in any sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will include in the applicable prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents

We may sell the securities directly. In that event, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable by us or to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Remarketing

We may offer and sell any of the securities in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment by their terms or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. We will identify any remarketing firm, the terms of any remarketing agreement and the compensation to be paid to the remarketing firm in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act.

Derivative Transactions

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock.

We or one of our respective affiliates may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus or otherwise.

The third parties in any of the sale transactions described above will be underwriters and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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General Information

We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

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LEGAL OPINIONS

Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Any underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel, which firm will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,2014, have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, incorporated by reference herein, the independent registered public accounting firm has reported that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate reports included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because these reports are not “reports” or “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the 1933 Act.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1850, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website that contains information we file electronically with the SEC, which you can access over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. You can obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC are available, without charge, on or through our website, www.kraton.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference and is not part of this prospectus.

We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained in this prospectus or by information contained in documents filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. The following documents are incorporated by reference (other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed) into this prospectus:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2015;

 

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    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2015, and the quarter ended June 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on July 30, 2015;

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2015, June 9, 2015, June 16, 2015 (Item 1.01 only) and June 23, 2015; and

 

    the description of our common stock in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on December 15, 2009, and any amendment or report we may file with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the sale of the all the securities hereunder shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents (other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed).

You may request a copy of any and all of the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus (excluding exhibits to such information unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus). Such requests should be sent to: Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., 15710 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77032, telephone (281) 504-4700.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Kraton”), in connection with the offering described in this Registration Statement.

 

Registration fee

   $              † 

Printing expenses

       † 

Accounting fees and expenses

       † 

Legal fees and expenses

       † 

Trustee fees and expenses

       † 

Rating agency fees

       † 

Miscellaneous

       † 
  

 

 

 

Total

   $   † 

 

Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that Kraton anticipates it will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this Registration Statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Delaware Corporations. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent to us. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Our bylaws provide for indemnification by us of our directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our certificate of incorporation provides for such limitation of liability.

We maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to us with respect to payments which may be made by us to such officers and directors pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.

We have entered into customary indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide them, in general, with customary indemnification in connection with their service to us or on our behalf.

Delaware Limited Liability Companies. The Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that a limited liability company has the power to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person

 

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from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. The operating agreement for each Delaware limited liability company that is a registrant provides that, with certain exceptions, no manager or officer will have any personal liability whatsoever to the limited liability company or any member on account of such manager’s or officer’s status as a manager or officer or by reason of such manager’s or officer’s acts or omissions in connection with the conduct of the business of the company. The debts, obligations and liabilities of each limited liability company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, will be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the company, and no manager, member or officer will be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the company solely by reason of being a manager, member or officer.

Item 16. Exhibits. †

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Exhibit Description

  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
  3.2    Bylaws of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
  3.3    Certificate of Formation of Ripplewood Chemical Acquisition LLC.
  3.4    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of Ripplewood Chemical Acquisition LLC changing name to RK Polymers LLC.
  3.5    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of RK Polymers LLC changing name to Kraton Polymers LLC.
  3.6    Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kraton Polymers LLC.
  3.7    Certificate of Incorporation of RK Polymers Capital Corporation.
  3.8    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of RK Polymers Capital Corporation changing name to Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation.
  3.9    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation.
  3.10    Certificate of Formation of Elastomers Holdings LLC.
  3.11    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Elastomers Holdings LLC.
  3.12    Certificate of Formation of Shell Elastomers LLC.
  3.13    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of Shell Elastomers LLC changing name to Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC.
  3.14    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC.
  4.1    Form of Indenture between Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. and the trustee thereunder (the “Senior Trustee”), relating to senior debt securities.
  4.2    Form of Indenture between Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and the trustee thereunder (the “Senior Co-Issuer Trustee”), relating to senior debt securities.
  4.3    Form of Indenture between Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. and the trustee thereunder (the “Subordinated Trustee”), relating to subordinated debt securities.
  5.1    Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities.
12.1    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
15.1    Awareness Letter of KPMG LLP.
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2    Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Powers of Attorney of certain officers and directors of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

 

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Kraton will file as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K (i) any underwriting, remarketing or agency agreement relating to securities offered hereby, (ii) the instruments setting forth the terms of any debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or units, (iii) any additional required opinions of counsel with respect to legality of the securities offered hereby, (iv) the Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Senior Trustee, Senior Co-Issuer Trustee and Subordinated Trustee on Form T-1 and (v) any required opinion of counsel to Kraton as to certain tax matters relative to securities offered hereby.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to

 

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be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

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  (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act , each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of each of the Senior Trustee and the Subordinated Trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each of the registrants certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, Texas, on the 25th day of August, 2015.

 

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC
Elastomers Holdings LLC
Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation
Kraton Polymers LLC
By:  

        /s/ Kevin M. Fogarty

          Name: Kevin M. Fogarty
          Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 25th day of August, 2015.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Kevin M. Fogarty

Kevin M. Fogarty

  

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Stephen E. Tremblay

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Chris H. Russell

Chris H. Russell

  

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

*/s/ Anna C. Catalano

Anna C. Catalano

  

Director

*/s/ Steven J. Demetriou

Steven J. Demetriou

  

Director

*/s/ Dominique Fournier

Dominique Fournier

  

Director

*/s/ John J. Gallagher III

John J. Gallagher III

  

Director

*/s/ Barry J. Goldstein

Barry J. Goldstein

  

Director

*/s/ Francis S. Kalman

Francis S. Kalman

  

Director

 

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Signature

  

Title

*/s/ Dan F. Smith

Dan F. Smith

  

Director

*/s/ Karen A. Twitchell

Karen A. Twitchell

  

Director

*By: /s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Attorney-in-fact

  

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS†

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Exhibit Description

  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
  3.2    Bylaws of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
  3.3    Certificate of Formation of Ripplewood Chemical Acquisition LLC.
  3.4    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of Ripplewood Chemical Acquisition LLC changing name to RK Polymers LLC.
  3.5    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of RK Polymers LLC changing name to Kraton Polymers LLC.
  3.6    Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kraton Polymers LLC.
  3.7    Certificate of Incorporation of RK Polymers Capital Corporation.
  3.8    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of RK Polymers Capital Corporation changing name to Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation.
  3.9    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation.
  3.10    Certificate of Formation of Elastomers Holdings LLC.
  3.11    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Elastomers Holdings LLC.
  3.12    Certificate of Formation of Shell Elastomers LLC.
  3.13    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of Shell Elastomers LLC changing name to Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC.
  3.14    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC.
  4.1    Form of Indenture between Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. and the trustee thereunder (the “Senior Trustee”), relating to senior debt securities.
  4.2    Form of Indenture between Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and the trustee thereunder (the “Senior Co-Issuer Trustee”), relating to senior debt securities.
  4.3    Form of Indenture between Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. and the trustee thereunder (the “Subordinated Trustee”), relating to subordinated debt securities.
  5.1    Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities.
12.1    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
15.1    Awareness Letter of KPMG LLP.
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2    Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Powers of Attorney of certain officers and directors of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

 

Kraton will file as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K (i) any underwriting, remarketing or agency agreement relating to securities offered hereby, (ii) the instruments setting forth the terms of any debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or units, (iii) any additional required opinions of counsel with respect to legality of the securities offered hereby, (iv) the Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Senior Trustee, Senior Co-Issuer Trustee and Subordinated Trustee on Form T-1 and (v) any required opinion of counsel to Kraton as to certain tax matters relative to securities offered hereby.

 

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