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This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, but the information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
File Nos. 333-180905 and 333-180905-01

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 24, 2012

(to Prospectus dated April 24, 2012)

 

Anixter Inc.

$350,000,000

    % Senior Notes due 2019

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by

Anixter International Inc.

 

 

Anixter Inc. (“Anixter”) is offering $350,000,000 of its     % Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”). Anixter will pay interest on the Notes on                      and                      of each year, beginning                     , 2012. The Notes will mature on                     , 2019. Anixter may at any time redeem some or all of the Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus a “make-whole” premium. If Anixter experiences certain kinds of changes of control, it must offer to repurchase all of the Notes outstanding at 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Payments on the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Anixter International Inc., the direct parent company of Anixter (“Anixter International”). The Notes will be unsecured obligations of Anixter and will rank equally with Anixter’s existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. The guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of Anixter International and will rank equally with Anixter International’s existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness.

 

 

Investing in the Notes involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement.

 

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

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest, if any, from                     , 2012.

The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the Notes.

We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made to investors through the book-entry delivery system of The Depository Trust Company for the account of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and the Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., on or about                     , 2012.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Joint Book-running Managers

 

Wells Fargo Securities
		BofA Merrill Lynch
				J.P. Morgan
						RBS

 

 

Co-manager

UBS Investment Bank

The date of this prospectus supplement is April     , 2012

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

		Page
About this Prospectus Supplement			S-ii
Incorporation by Reference			S-iii
Forward-Looking Statements			S-iv
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-10
Use of Proceeds			S-14
Capitalization			S-15
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges			S-16
Supplemental Description of the Notes			S-17
Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)			S-28
Legal Matters			S-30
Experts			S-30
PROSPECTUS
About this Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			2
Forward-Looking Statements			3
Anixter International Inc.			4
Anixter Inc.			4
Use of Proceeds			5
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges			5
Description of Debt Securities			5
Plan of Distribution			18
Legal Matters			19
Experts			19

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

It is important for you to read and consider all of the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in “Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 2 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that Anixter International has filed separately with the SEC that contains that information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Information that Anixter International files with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement will automatically modify and supersede the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent that the subsequently filed information modifies or supersedes the existing information. We incorporate by reference:

 

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2011;

 

•

our current report on Form 8-K filed on February 24, 2012;

 

•

our current report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2012; and

 

•

any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we sell all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

You may request a copy of any of these filings at no cost by writing to or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number: Anixter International Inc., 2301 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, Illinois 60026, attention Treasurer, telephone: (224) 521-8000.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement may contain various “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, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions, including the negative thereof, or other variations thereon or comparable terminology indicating our expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Such statements are subject to a number of factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from what is indicated in this prospectus supplement. These factors include general economic conditions; changes in supplier relationships; risks associated with the sale of nonconforming products and services; political, economic and currency risks of non-U.S. operations; inventory and accounts receivable risk; copper price fluctuations; risks associated with the integration of acquired companies; capital project volumes; and other factors identified herein under the heading “Risk Factors”, and in our reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, including under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2011.

We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of any events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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RISK FACTORS

In deciding whether to invest in the Notes, you should consider carefully the following factors that could materially adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. Each of the risks described below could result in a decrease in the value of the Notes and your investment therein. Although we have tried to discuss key factors, please be aware that other risks may prove to be important in the future. New risks may emerge at any time, and we cannot predict those risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. You should also consider the information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2011. The information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and we refer you to “Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Risks Related to Our Business

A change in sales strategy or financial viability of our suppliers could adversely affect our sales or earnings.

Most of our agreements with suppliers are terminable by either party on short notice for any reason. We currently source products from over 6,500 suppliers. However, approximately 30% of our dollar volume purchases in 2011 were from our five largest suppliers. If any of these suppliers changed its sales strategy to reduce its reliance on distribution channels, or decided to terminate its business relationship with us, our sales and earnings could be adversely affected until we were able to establish relationships with suppliers of comparable products. Although we believe our relationships with these key suppliers are good, they could change their strategies as a result of a change in control, expansion of their direct sales force, changes in the marketplace or other factors beyond our control, including a key supplier becoming financially distressed.

We have risks associated with the sale of nonconforming products and services.

Historically, we have experienced a small number of cases in which our vendors supplied us with products that did not conform to the agreed upon specifications without our knowledge. Additionally, we may inadvertently sell a product not suitable for a customer’s application. We address this risk through our quality control processes, by seeking to limit liability and our warranty in our customer contracts, by obtaining indemnification rights from vendors and by maintaining insurance responsive to these risks. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to include protective provisions in all of our contracts, that vendors will have the financial capability to fulfill their indemnification obligations to us, or that insurance can be obtained with sufficiently broad coverage or in amounts sufficient to fully protect us.

Our foreign operations are subject to political, economic and currency risks.

We derive over 40% of our revenues from sales outside of the United States. Economic and political conditions in some of these markets may adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition in these markets. Our results of operations and the value of our foreign assets are affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and different legal, tax, accounting and regulatory requirements.

We have risks associated with inventory.

We must identify the right product mix and maintain sufficient inventory on hand to meet customer orders. Failure to do so could adversely affect our sales and earnings. However, if circumstances change (for example, an unexpected shift in market demand, pricing or customer defaults) there could be a material impact on the net realizable value of our inventory. To guard against inventory obsolescence, we have negotiated various return rights and price protection agreements with certain key suppliers. We also maintain an inventory valuation reserve account against diminution in the value or salability of our inventory. However, there is no guaranty that these arrangements will be sufficient to avoid write-offs in excess of our reserves in all circumstances.

 

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Our operating results are affected by copper prices.

Our operating results have been affected by changes in prices of copper, which is a major component in the electrical wire and cable products sold by us. As our purchase costs with suppliers change to reflect the changing copper prices, our mark-up to customers remains relatively constant, resulting in higher or lower sales revenue and gross profit, depending on whether copper prices are increasing or decreasing.

The degree to which price changes in the copper commodity spot market correlate to product price changes is a factor of market demand levels for products. When demand is strong, there is a high degree of correlation but when demand is weak, there can be significant time lags between spot price changes and market price changes.

We have risks associated with the integration of acquired businesses.

In connection with recent and future acquisitions, it is necessary for us to continue to create a cohesive business from the various acquired properties. This requires the establishment of a common management team to guide the acquired businesses, the conversion of numerous information systems to a common operating system, the establishment of a brand identity for the acquired businesses, the streamlining of the operating structure to optimize efficiency and customer service and a reassessment of the inventory and supplier base to ensure the availability of products at competitive prices. No assurance can be given that these various actions can continue to be completed without disruption to the business, that the various actions can be completed in a short period of time or that anticipated improvements in operating performance can be achieved.

Our debt agreements could impose restrictions on our business.

Our debt agreements contain certain financial and operating covenants that limit our discretion with respect to certain business matters. These covenants restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness. As a result of these restrictions, we are limited in how we may conduct our business and may be unable to compete effectively or take advantage of new business opportunities.

We have risks associated with accounts receivable.

Although no single customer accounts for more than 3% of our sales, a payment default by one of our larger customers could have a short-term impact on earnings. Given the current economic environment, the risk that constrained access to capital and general market contractions may heighten exposure of customer defaults.

We have near term funding needs.

We believe that expected future earnings, cash flow generated from operations and available, committed, unused credit lines will be sufficient to fund operations and debt maturities, including the repayment of $300 million aggregate principal amount of convertible notes as a result of maturity or conversion. In the event these sources are not sufficient to support our funding needs, we may need to access the capital markets and there can be no assurance that, when we access the capital markets, funding will be available or will be available on favorable terms. This could result in a material increase in interest expense, decrease in profitability or more restrictive covenants.

A decline in project volume could adversely affect our sales and earnings.

While most of our sales and earnings are generated by comparatively smaller and more frequent orders, the fulfillment of large orders for capital projects generates significant sales and earnings. Slow macro-economic growth rates, difficult credit market conditions for our customers, weak demand for our customers’ products or other customer spending constraints can result in project delays or cancellations, potentially having a material adverse effect on our financial results.

 

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Risks Related to the Notes

Our level of indebtedness and our ability to incur additional debt may restrict our future operations and impair our ability to meet our obligations under the Notes.

As of December 30, 2011, we had approximately $809.8 million of outstanding indebtedness. After giving pro forma effect to, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the Notes, our total consolidated indebtedness as of December 30, 2011 would have been $896.9 million.

The indenture governing the Notes permits us to incur additional indebtedness. In addition, in certain circumstances, we may incur secured indebtedness. We therefore may incur additional debt, including secured indebtedness that would be effectively senior to the Notes to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, or indebtedness at the subsidiary level to which the Notes would be structurally subordinated.

The amount of our debt may have important consequences to you. For instance, it could:

 

•

make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations, including those relating to the Notes;

 

•

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of interest and principal due under our debt, including the Notes, which will reduce funds available for other business purposes;

 

•

increase the risk of a ratings downgrade, increasing our cost of financing and limiting our access to capital markets;

 

•

increase the risk of a default of certain loan covenants, restricting our use of cash and financing alternatives;

 

•

increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

•

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate;

 

•

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared with some of our competitors that have less debt; and

 

•

limit our ability to obtain additional financing required to fund working capital and capital expenditures, mergers and acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes.

From time to time we have paid special dividends and repurchased shares of our common stock, and we are paying a special dividend of $4.50 per share on May 31, 2012. To the extent we use cash to pay dividends or acquire shares of common stock, we will have less cash to satisfy our obligation under the Notes.

Our ability to satisfy our obligations depends on our future operating performance and on economic, financial, competitive and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow, and future financings may not be available to provide sufficient net proceeds, to meet these obligations or to successfully execute our business strategy.

The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the debt and liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The Notes will not be guaranteed by our subsidiaries. Payments on the Notes are required to be made only by Anixter and Anixter International. We will not have direct access to the assets of our subsidiaries unless those assets are transferred by dividend or otherwise to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer assets to us is subject to various restrictions, including restrictions under other agreements and under applicable law. Certain of our domestic subsidiaries provide and may in the future provide guarantees of our revolving credit facility. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including

 

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trade creditors and lenders under our revolving credit facility in the case of subsidiaries that guarantee our revolving credit facility, generally will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries over our claims or those of our creditors, including holders of the Notes. As a result, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future debt and liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries.

We sell, on an ongoing basis without recourse, substantially all our accounts receivable originating in the United States to a wholly owned bankruptcy remote subsidiary of ours. The accounts receivable are not our assets or assets of our subsidiaries and are not available to us or our subsidiaries to repay debt.

The Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness.

The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets. As a result, the indebtedness represented by the Notes will be effectively subordinated to any existing and future secured indebtedness we may incur to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The terms of the indenture will permit us to incur secured debt subject to some limitations. In the event of any distribution or payment of our assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, or other bankruptcy proceeding, any secured creditors would have a claim to their collateral superior to that of the Notes.

The indenture governing the Notes will not limit our ability to incur future indebtedness, pay dividends, repurchase securities, engage in transactions with affiliates or engage in other activities, which could adversely affect our ability to pay our obligations under the Notes.

The indenture governing the Notes will not contain any financial maintenance covenants and will contain only limited restrictive covenants. The indenture will not limit our or our subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, issue or repurchase securities, pay dividends or engage in transactions with affiliates. We, therefore, may pay dividends and incur additional debt, including secured indebtedness in certain circumstances or indebtedness by, or other obligations of, our subsidiaries to which the Notes would be structurally subordinated. Our ability to incur additional indebtedness and use our funds for numerous purposes may limit the funds available to pay our obligations under the Notes.

We may be prohibited from repurchasing, and may be unable to repurchase, the Notes upon a change of control, which would cause defaults under the indenture for the Notes and possibly our other debt or financing agreements that may be in effect at the time of the change of control.

If we experience a change of control, as defined under “Supplemental Description of the Notes —Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control” in this supplemental prospectus, we will be required to make an offer to repurchase all of the Notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient funds or be able to arrange for additional financing to repurchase the Notes following such a change of control. In addition, we cannot assure you that a repurchase of the Notes following such a change in control would be permitted pursuant to our other debt or financing agreements that may be in effect at the time of such change in control, which could cause our other indebtedness to be accelerated. If such indebtedness were to be accelerated, we may not have sufficient funds to repurchase the Notes and repay such indebtedness.

An active trading market for the Notes may not develop.

We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop or be maintained for the Notes. If an active trading market does develop for the Notes, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and our performance and other factors.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and estimated expenses, to Anixter from the sale of the Notes offered hereby are expected to be approximately $         million. We estimate that we will use approximately $         million of the net proceeds to repay amounts outstanding under our accounts receivable securitization program and $         million to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility, and use the balance to provide additional liquidity for maturing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. Amounts outstanding under our accounts receivable securitization program had an annual interest rate of 1.3% as of April 24, 2012, and the liquidity termination date of the program is May 2013. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility had a weighted average annual interest rate of 2.9% as of April 24, 2012 and mature in April 2016. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates provide funding under our accounts receivable securitization program and/or are lenders under our revolving credit facility and will receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering which will be used to reduce amounts outstanding under such facilities. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 30, 2011 (i) on an actual basis and (ii) on an as adjusted basis, after giving effect to this offering and the use of the net proceeds thereof. This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2011.

 

		As of December 30, 2011
		Actual				As Adjusted
		(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	106.1			$	186.2
Total debt:
Short-term debt			3.0				3.0
5.95% senior notes due 2015			200.0				200.0
10% senior notes due 2014			31.1				31.1
Notes offered hereby			—				350.0
Accounts receivable securitization facility			175.0				—
Bank revolving lines of credit			120.4				32.5
1.00% convertible senior notes due 2013			280.3				280.3
Total debt			809.8				896.9
Total stockholders’ equity			1,001.2				1,001.2
Total capitalization		$	1,811.0			$	1,898.1

 

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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following are ratios of our earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated:

 

		Fiscal Year Ended
		December 28, 2007				January 2, 2009				January 1, 2010				December 31, 2010				December 30, 2011
Actual			5.53				4.13				0.98				3.46				5.28
Pro Forma(1)																			4.27

 

(1)	The pro forma ratio gives effect to the issuance of the Notes offered hereby and the use of proceeds as described under the “Use of Proceeds” section of the prospectus supplement as if they occurred on January 1, 2011 (the beginning of Anixter’s 2011 fiscal year).

Earnings represent income from continuing operations before taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of (i) interest on all indebtedness (including capital leases) and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing fees, (ii) interest attributable to rentals and (iii) interest on liabilities associated with Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2010 was impacted by a goodwill impairment charge of $100.0 million related to our European operations.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

Please read the following information concerning the Notes in conjunction with the statements under “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus, which the following information supplements and, if there are any inconsistencies, supersedes. The following description is not complete. The Notes will be issued under an Indenture among Anixter, Anixter International, as Guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”). The Indenture is described in the accompanying prospectus and is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement under which the Notes are being offered and sold. The terms of the Notes will be set forth in a First Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, in this Supplemental Description of the Notes, references to “Anixter” are to Anixter Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

General

Anixter will offer $350,000,000 of     % Senior Notes due 2019 as a series of Notes under the Indenture. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Anixter International. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. See “Guarantee of Anixter International” in the accompanying prospectus.

The Notes will constitute part of the senior debt of Anixter and are equal in right of payment to any other existing or future senior unsecured obligations of Anixter. The guarantee by Anixter International will constitute part of the senior debt of Anixter International and is equal in right of payment to any other existing or future senior unsecured obligations of Anixter International. The Notes will not be subject to any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments.

Interest Payments

The entire principal amount of the Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, on                     , 2019. Each Note will bear interest at the annual rate set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement beginning                     , 2012. Interest will be paid semi-annually in arrears on                      and                     , commencing                     , 2012. Interest will be paid to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding                     and                     . We will compute the amount of interest payable on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Optional Redemption

The Notes are not redeemable at our option prior to maturity except as described below.

Anixter may at any time redeem all or part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

As used herein:

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Note on any date of redemption, the greater of (1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (2) the excess of (a) the present value at such time of the principal amount that, but for the redemption, would have been payable on the maturity date of the Note, plus all remaining scheduled payments of interest on such Note that, but for the redemption, would have been payable on the Note (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus              basis points, over (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Note.

 

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“Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two business days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to the maturity date; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to the maturity date is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to the maturity date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, and the Notes to be redeemed are global Notes, the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by DTC in accordance with applicable DTC procedures. If the Notes to be redeemed are not global Notes, the trustee will select the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed using a method the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

Anixter will redeem Notes in increments of $1,000, provided that Notes of $2,000 or less may not be redeemed in part. Anixter will send a notice of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice will state:

 

•

the redemption date;

 

•

how the redemption price will be calculated;

 

•

that on the redemption date, the redemption price will become due and payable and any applicable interest will cease to accrue on and after that date; and

 

•

the place or places of payment.

In addition, if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Anixter will issue a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note (or through book entry transaction if global Notes). Notes called for redemption will become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption, and holders of redeemed Notes will have no rights with respect to such Notes except the right to receive the redemption price and any unpaid interest to the redemption date.

We may, at any time and from time to time, purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws.

Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control

Anixter must commence, within 30 days of the occurrence of a Change of Control, and consummate an Offer to Purchase for all Notes, at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, to the Payment Date.

 

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However, Anixter shall not be required to make an Offer to Purchase upon a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Offer to Purchase in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture, and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Offer to Purchase upon a Change of Control, or (ii) a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to the Notes as described above under the caption “Optional Redemption” to redeem all outstanding Notes otherwise subject to the Offer to Purchase, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price. An Offer to Purchase upon the occurrence of a Change of Control may be made by either Anixter or a third party in advance of a Change of Control if a definitive agreement to effect the Change of Control is in place at the time such Offer to Purchase is made and the Offer to Purchase is effected upon the consummation of the Change of Control, and such Offer to Purchase may be conditional on the Change of Control.

There can be no assurance that Anixter will have sufficient funds available at the time of any Change of Control to make any repurchases of Notes required by the foregoing paragraph, as well as any other repayments pursuant to covenants that may be contained in other indebtedness of Anixter that might be outstanding at the time.

As used herein:

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of Anixter International.

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) in equity of such Person, whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or issued thereafter, including, without limitation, all common stock and preferred stock.

“Change of Control” means such time as:

(1)    the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Anixter International and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than Anixter International or a Subsidiary;

(2)    a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) becomes the ultimate “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Anixter International on a fully diluted basis;

(3)    the failure of Anixter International to own 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock of Anixter, provided that up to 3% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Anixter may be issued or transferred to employees of Anixter International and its subsidiaries without such issuance or transfer constituting a Change of Control;

(4)    the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Anixter or Anixter International;

(5)    individuals who on the date of the Indenture constitute the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election by the Board of Directors or whose nomination by the Board of Directors for election by stockholders of Anixter International was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office who either were members of the Board of Directors on the date of the Indenture or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office; or

(6)    Anixter or Anixter International consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into Anixter or Anixter International, in any

 

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such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of Anixter or Anixter International, as applicable, or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (a) the Voting Stock of Anixter or Anixter International, as applicable, outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes or is converted into or exchanged for a majority of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the surviving Person or any direct or indirect parent company of the Surviving Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) and (b) immediately after such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person.

“Offer to Purchase” means an offer to purchase Notes then outstanding by Anixter from the holders commenced by mailing a notice to the Trustee and each holder stating:

(1)    that all Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment;

(2)    the purchase price and the date of purchase (which shall be a business day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Payment Date”);

(3)    that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest pursuant to its terms;

(4)    that, unless Anixter defaults in the payment of the purchase price, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall cease to accrue interest on and after the Payment Date;

(5)    that holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will be required to surrender the Note, together with the form entitled “Option of the Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse side of the Note completed, to the paying agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the Payment Date (or in accordance with applicable DTC procedures if global Notes);

(6)    that holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third business day immediately preceding the Payment Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased (or in accordance with applicable DTC procedures if global Notes); and

(7)    that holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or through book entry transaction if global Notes); provided that each Note purchased and each new Note issued shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

On the Payment Date, Anixter shall (1) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to an Offer to Purchase; (2) deposit with the paying agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof so accepted; and (3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee all Notes or portions thereof so accepted together with an officers’ certificate specifying the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment by Anixter. The paying agent shall promptly mail to the holders of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to such holders a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered (or through book entry transaction if global Notes); provided that each Note purchased and each new Note issued shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Anixter will publicly announce the results of an Offer to Purchase as soon as practicable after the Payment Date. The Trustee shall act as the paying agent for an Offer to Purchase. Anixter will comply with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable, in the event that Anixter is required to repurchase Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase.

 

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

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, association, partnership or other entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by Anixter International, Anixter or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by Anixter International, Anixter and one or more other Subsidiaries.

“Voting Stock” means with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors, managers or other voting members of the governing body of such Person.

Forms and Denominations

The Notes will be issued as one or more global securities in the name of a nominee of the Depository Trust Company and will be available only in book-entry form. See “Description of Debt Securities — Book-Entry Issuance” in the accompanying prospectus. The Notes are available for purchase in multiples of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Additional Notes

Anixter may, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the Notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally with the Notes offered by this prospectus supplement in all respects, including having the same CUSIP number, so that such additional Notes would be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes offered hereby and would have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes offered hereby. No such additional Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes.

Guarantee of Anixter International

Anixter International will unconditionally guarantee to each holder of Notes and to the indenture trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes. The guarantee applies whether the payment is due at maturity, or as a result of acceleration, redemption or otherwise. The guarantee will remain valid even if the Indenture is found to be invalid.

Anixter International is a holding company with no independent business operations or source of income of its own. It conducts substantially all of its operations through Anixter and, as a result, Anixter International depends on the earnings and cash flow of, and dividends or distributions from, Anixter to provide the funds necessary to meet its debt and contractual obligations. Anixter International’s holding company status also means that its right to participate in any distribution of the assets of any of its subsidiaries upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of the creditors of each of the subsidiaries (except to the extent that the claims of Anixter International itself as a creditor of a subsidiary may be recognized).

Defeasance

The Notes will be subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance, as provided in “Description of Debt Securities — Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

Neither Anixter nor Anixter International shall consolidate with, or sell or convey all or substantially all of their respective assets to, or merge with or into any other person or entity unless:

 

•

either Anixter or Anixter International, as applicable, is the continuing corporation, or the successor is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust organized and existing under the

 

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laws of the United States or a state thereof and the successor person expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture Anixter International’s or Anixter’s obligations, as applicable, under the Notes and under the Indenture;

 

•

Anixter International or Anixter, as applicable, or the successor person, as the case may be, is not immediately after the merger or consolidation, or the sale, lease or conveyance, in default in the performance of any covenant or condition under the Indenture; and

 

•

after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred or be continuing.

Certain Covenants of Anixter and Anixter International

The Indenture contains certain covenants of Anixter, Anixter International and certain subsidiaries related to the incurrence of secured debt and sale and leaseback transactions. These covenants do not, however, focus on the amount of debt incurred in any transaction and do not otherwise afford protection to holders of the Notes in the event of a highly leveraged transaction that is not in violation of the covenants.

Limitations on Secured Debt

The Indenture provides that Anixter and Anixter International will not at any time create, incur, assume or guarantee, and will not cause or permit a Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or guarantee, any Secured Debt, and Anixter and Anixter International will not at any time create, and will not cause or permit a Restricted Subsidiary to create, any Security Interest securing any indebtedness existing on the date of the Indenture which would constitute Secured Debt if it were secured by a Security Interest, without first making effective provision whereby the debt securities then outstanding under the Indenture (including the Notes) and any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by Anixter, Anixter International or such Restricted Subsidiary then entitled thereto, subject to applicable priorities of payment, shall be secured by the Security Interest securing such Secured Debt equally and ratably with any and all other obligations and indebtedness so secured, so long as such other obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, however, that the foregoing prohibition will not apply to:

 

•

Security Interests on property acquired, constructed, developed or improved after the date of the Indenture by Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary and created prior to or contemporaneously with, or within 180 days after the acquisition of property which is a parcel of real property, a building, machinery or equipment;

 

•

Security Interests on property at the time of acquisition which secure obligations assumed by Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary, or on the property or on the outstanding shares or indebtedness of a corporation or firm at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary, or on properties of a corporation or firm acquired by Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary as an entirety or substantially as an entirety;

 

•

Security Interests arising from conditional sales agreements or title retention agreements with respect to property acquired by Anixter, Anixter International or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

•

Security Interests securing indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Anixter, Anixter International or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

•

Any Security Interest arising by reason of deposits with, or the giving of any form of security to, any governmental agency or any body created or approved by law or governmental regulations, which is required by law or governmental regulation as a condition to the transaction of any business, or the exercise of any privilege, franchise or license;

 

•

Security Interests securing indebtedness of Anixter or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the character described in clause (c) of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary that finances accounts receivable;

 

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•

mechanics’ and other statutory liens arising in the ordinary course of business (including construction of facilities) in respect of obligations that are not due or that are being contested in good faith;

 

•

Security Interests for taxes, assessments or governmental charges not yet delinquent or for taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are being contested in good faith;

 

•

Security Interests (including judgment liens) arising in connection with legal proceedings so long as such proceedings are being contested in good faith and, in the case of judgment liens, execution thereon is stayed;

 

•

Landlords’ liens on fixtures on premises leased in the ordinary course of business;

 

•

Security Interests to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments or any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of construction, development, or substantial repair, alteration or improvement of the property subject to such Security Interests if the commitment for the financing is obtained not later than 180 days after the later of the completion of or the placing into operation (exclusive of test and start-up periods) of such property;

 

•

Security Interests arising in connection with contracts and subcontracts with or made at the request of the United States, or any state thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States; or

 

•

Security Interests in favor of the United States or any state, county or local government, or any agency of the United States, or any holder of bonds or other securities thereof issued, in connection with the financing of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving property (including, without limitation, any such property designed primarily for the purpose of pollution control), and any transfers of title to or Security Interest in any such property and any related property, in favor of such government or governmental agency or any such security holders in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement, attachment or removal of such property; provided that such transfer of title or Security Interest does not apply to any Principal Facility.

Additionally, such permitted Secured Debt includes (with certain limitations) any extension, renewal or refunding, in whole or in part, of any Secured Debt permitted at the time of the original incurrence thereof. In addition to the foregoing, Anixter, Anixter International and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Secured Debt, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, if the sum of (a) the amount of Secured Debt entered into after the date of the Indenture, not including the Secured Debt referred to in the above bullets and any permitted extension, renewal and refunding thereof, plus (b) the aggregate value of Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into after the date of the Indenture, not including Sale and Leaseback Transactions referred to in the second bullet under “Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” below, does not exceed ten percent of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

The Indenture provides that Anixter and Anixter International may not, and may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any Sale and Leaseback Transaction unless:

 

•

Anixter, Anixter International or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Secured Debt only by reason of the provision described in the last sentence of “Limitations on Secured Debt” equal in amount to the net proceeds of the property sold or transferred or to be sold or to be transferred pursuant to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction and secured by a Security Interest on the property to be leased without equally and ratably securing the debt securities outstanding under the Indenture as provided under said section; or

 

•

Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary shall apply, within 180 days after the effective date of such sale or transfer, an amount equal to such net proceeds to (i) the acquisition,

 

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construction, development or improvement of properties, facilities or equipment which are, or upon such acquisition, construction, development or improvement will be, a Principal Facility or Facilities or a part thereof or (ii) the redemption of debt securities issued under the Indenture or to the repayment or redemption of Senior Funded Debt of Anixter, Anixter International or of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Senior Funded Debt owed to any Restricted Subsidiary), or in part to such acquisition, construction, development or improvement and in part to such redemption and/or repayment. In lieu of applying an amount equal to such net proceeds to such redemption Anixter or Anixter International may, within 180 days after such sale or transfer, deliver to the appropriate indenture trustee debt securities issued under the Indenture or other debt securities constituting Senior Funded Debt (other than such debt securities made the basis of a reduction in a mandatory sinking fund payment) for cancellation and thereby reduce the amount to be applied to the redemption of such debt securities by an amount equivalent to the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities so delivered.

Certain Definitions

The following terms are defined substantially as follows in the Indenture and are used in this description as so defined:

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, in each case, with respect to Anixter International (a) the total amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom (i) all liabilities and liability items, except for indebtedness payable by its terms more than one year from the date of incurrence thereof (or renewable or extendable at the option of the obligor for a period ending more than one year after such date of incurrence), capitalized rent, capital stock (including redeemable preferred stock) and surplus, surplus reserves and deferred income taxes and credits and other non-current liabilities, and (ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount, unamortized expenses incurred in the issuance of debt, and other like intangibles which, in each case, under generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date of the Indenture would be included on a consolidated balance sheet of Anixter International and its Restricted Subsidiaries, less (b) loans, advances, equity investments and guarantees (other than accounts receivable arising from the sale of merchandise in the ordinary course of business) at the time outstanding that were made or incurred by Anixter International and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, in or for Unrestricted Subsidiaries or to, in or for corporations while they were Restricted Subsidiaries and which at the time of computation are Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

“Principal Facility” means any land, building, machinery or equipment, or leasehold interests and improvements in respect of the foregoing, owned, on the date of the Indenture or thereafter, by Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary, which has a gross book value (without deduction for any depreciation reserves) at the date as of which the determination is being made of in excess of one percent of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, other than any such land, building, machinery or equipment, or leasehold interests and improvements in respect of the foregoing which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of Anixter International (evidenced by a board resolution), is not of material importance to the business conducted by Anixter International and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (b) any Subsidiary that was an Unrestricted Subsidiary but which, subsequent to the date of the Indenture, is designated by Anixter and Anixter International (evidenced by a resolution of their respective boards of directors) to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that Anixter and Anixter International may not designate any such Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if Anixter International or Anixter would thereby breach any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture (on the assumption that any transaction to which such Subsidiary was a party at the time of such designation and which would have given rise to Secured Debt or Senior Funded Debt or constituted a Sale and Leaseback Transaction at the time it was entered into had such Subsidiary then been a Restricted Subsidiary was entered into at the time of such designation).

 

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“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or transfer made by Anixter, Anixter International or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries (except a sale or transfer made to Anixter, Anixter International or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries) of any Principal Facility that (in the case of a Principal Facility which is a building or equipment) has been in operation, use or commercial production (exclusive of test and start-up periods) by Anixter, Anixter International or any Restricted Subsidiary for more than 180 days prior to such sale or transfer, or that (in the case of a Principal Facility that is a parcel of real property not containing a building) has been owned by Anixter, Anixter International or any Restricted Subsidiary for more than 180 days prior to such sale or transfer, if such sale or transfer is made with the intention of leasing, or as part of an arrangement involving the lease of such Principal Facility to Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary (except a lease for a period not exceeding 36 months made with the intention that the use of the leased Principal Facility by Anixter, Anixter International or such Restricted Subsidiary will be discontinued on or before the expiration of such period). The creation of any Secured Debt permitted under the applicable section of the Indenture will not be deemed to create or be considered a Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

“Secured Debt” means any indebtedness for money borrowed by, or evidenced by a note or other similar instrument of, Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary, and any other indebtedness of Anixter, Anixter International or a Restricted Subsidiary on which, by the terms of such indebtedness, interest is paid or payable, including obligations evidenced or secured by leases, installment sales agreements or other instruments (other than indebtedness owed by a Restricted Subsidiary to Anixter or Anixter International, or by a Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary, or by Anixter or Anixter International to a Restricted Subsidiary), which in any such case is secured by (a) a Security Interest in any property or assets of Anixter, Anixter International or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) a Security Interest in any shares of stock owned directly or indirectly by Anixter or Anixter International in a Restricted Subsidiary or in indebtedness for money borrowed by a Restricted Subsidiary from Anixter, Anixter International or another Restricted Subsidiary. The securing in the foregoing manner of any previously unsecured debt shall be deemed to be the creation of Secured Debt at the time such security is given. The amount of Secured Debt at any time outstanding shall be the aggregate amount then owing thereon by Anixter, Anixter International and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Security Interest” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or other security interest which secures payment or performance of an obligation.

“Senior Funded Debt” means any obligation of Anixter, Anixter International or any Restricted Subsidiary which constituted funded debt as of the date of its creation and that, in the case of such funded debt of Anixter and Anixter International, is not subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment of the debt securities issued under the Indenture. As used herein “funded debt” means all indebtedness for borrowed money having a maturity of more than 12 months from the date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined; it being understood that debt outstanding under a revolving credit or similar agreement which may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed (and reimbursement obligations relating to letters of credit) shall not constitute funded debt.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, association, partnership or other entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by Anixter International, Anixter or by one or more other Subsidiaries.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary acquired or organized after the date of the Indenture, provided, however, that such Subsidiary is not a successor, directly or indirectly, to, and does not directly or indirectly own any equity interest in, any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) any Subsidiary the principal business and assets of which are located outside the United States of America (including its territories and possessions), (c) any Subsidiary the principal business of which consists of financing the acquisition or disposition of machinery, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable and other real, personal and intangible property by persons including Anixter, Anixter International or a Subsidiary, (d) any Subsidiary the principal business of which is owning, leasing, dealing in or developing real property for residential or

 

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office building purposes, and (e) any Subsidiary substantially all the assets of which consist of stock or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the character described in clauses (a) through (d) of this paragraph, unless and until, in each of the cases specified in this paragraph, any such Subsidiary shall have been designated to be a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary”.

Events of Default

The Indenture provides, with respect the Notes, that any of the following events constitutes an “Event of Default”:

 

•

default in the payment of any interest upon any Note that becomes due and payable and the default continues for 30 days;

 

•

default in the payment of principal of or any premium on any Note when due at its maturity;

 

•

default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of Anixter or Anixter International in the Indenture with respect to any Notes for 30 days after written notice to Anixter and Anixter International from the indenture trustee, or to Anixter, Anixter International and the indenture trustee from the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding Notes;

 

•

default by Anixter or Anixter International under any mortgage, indenture, bonds, debentures, notes or instrument under which there may be issued, secured or evidenced indebtedness for money borrowed which constitutes a failure to pay more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of such indebtedness when due and payable at its stated maturity or which results in more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable before the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and that acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled, or such indebtedness shall not have been discharged, before written notice of acceleration has been given by the indenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding Notes; and

 

•

certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Anixter and Anixter International.

If an Event of Default occurs as a result of either certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Anixter and Anixter International, then all unpaid principal of, premium (if any) and accrued interest on all Notes at the time outstanding will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the indenture trustee or any holder of Notes. If an Event of Default occurs for any other reason with respect to the Notes, the indenture trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the Notes due and payable immediately.

Subject to certain limitations, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the indenture trustee under the Indenture, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee, with respect to the Notes. The indenture trustee may refuse to follow directions that are in conflict with law or the Indenture or that are unduly prejudicial to other holders or that would involve the indenture trustee in personal liability. The indenture trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with those directions.

Under the Indenture, the indenture trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to the Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the indenture trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the indenture trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

The holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes may waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to the Notes and its consequences, except a default:

 

•

in respect of a payment of principal of, or premium (if any), or interest on any Note; or

 

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•

in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each affected Note.

At any time after the holders of the Notes declare that the Notes are due and immediately payable and before a judgment for the payment of the money due has been obtained, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind and cancel the declaration and its consequences (1) if all Events of Default (other than the non-payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest which has become due solely by the declaration) have been cured or waived, and (2) Anixter or Anixter International has paid or deposited with the indenture trustee an amount sufficient to pay:

 

•

all overdue interest on the Notes;

 

•

the principal of and premium (if any) on any Notes which are due other than by the declaration of acceleration, and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Notes;

 

•

interest on overdue interest (if lawful); and

 

•

sums paid or advanced by and amounts due to the indenture trustee under the Indenture.

 

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement between us, on the one hand, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representative of the underwriters named below, on the other hand, each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to each such underwriter, the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such underwriter’s name below.

 

Underwriters		Principal Amount of Notes
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC		$
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                        Incorporated
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
Total		$	350,000,000

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Notes if they purchase any of the Notes.

The underwriters propose to offer some of the Notes directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. After the initial offering of the Notes to the public, the underwriters may change the public offering price.

The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. We have been advised by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in the Notes, but the underwriters are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We can give no assurance as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, the Notes.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that Anixter is to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering.

 

		Paid by Anixter
Per Note				%
Total		$

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell Notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of Notes in excess of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased by the underwriters in this offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of Notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Notes while this offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when an underwriter, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilization purchases, repurchases Notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Notes. They may also cause the price of the Notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

 

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Anixter estimates that its total expenses for this offering (excluding underwriting expenses) will be approximately $750,000.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

If the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. A typical hedging strategy would include these underwriters or their affiliates hedging such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Notes offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Conflicts of Interest

The underwriters and certain of their affiliates have provided and may in the future provide financial advisory, investment banking and commercial and private banking services in the ordinary course of business to us, one or more of our directors or officers and/or one or more of our affiliates, for which they receive customary fees and expense reimbursement.

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders and agents under our five-year revolving credit agreement. Because we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to reduce amounts outstanding owed by us under our accounts receivable securitization program and revolving credit facility, each of the underwriters whose affiliates will receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering pursuant to the repayment of amounts outstanding under such facilities is considered by FINRA to have a conflict of interest in regards to this offering. As such, this offering is being conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, which requires that a QIU participate in the preparation of this prospectus supplement and perform the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. UBS Securities LLC is assuming the responsibilities of acting as QIU in connection with this offering. We have agreed to indemnify UBS Securities LLC against certain liabilities incurred in connection with it acting as QIU in this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In connection with any such commercial or private banking services provided to directors, officers or other affiliates, the underwriters or their affiliates, as lenders, may receive a pledge of our common stock owned by such director, officer or affiliate that may be foreclosed upon by the lender pursuant to the express terms of the applicable loan documents or, in certain circumstances, the lender’s discretion. Trusts established for the benefit of our Chairman, Samuel Zell, and his family indirectly own shares of our common stock. As of April 23, 2012, 2,315,175 such shares of our common stock have been pledged to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and an affiliate of Merrill Lynch. Our Chairman has disclaimed beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such shares.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Notes will be passed upon for us by Schiff Hardin LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Certain legal matters in connection with the Notes offered hereby will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Anixter International Inc. appearing in Anixter International Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 30, 2011 (including schedules appearing therein), and the effectiveness of Anixter International Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2011, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedules are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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$350,000,000

 

Anixter Inc.

    % Senior Notes due 2019

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by

Anixter International Inc.

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

April     , 2012

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Wells Fargo Securities

BofA Merrill Lynch

J.P. Morgan

RBS

Co-Manager

UBS Investment Bank