Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

File No: 333-157597

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED MARCH 11, 2009

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus Dated February 27, 2009)

$          

Eaton Corporation

                % Notes due 2014

 

 

 

 

The     % Notes due 2014 (the “Notes”) will bear interest from          , 2009. Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on           and          of each year, beginning on          , 2009. The Notes will mature on          , 2014. We may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time at the make-whole premium redemption price described under “Description of Notes — Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement. If a Change of Control Triggering Event as described herein occurs, unless we have exercised our option to redeem the Notes by notifying the noteholders to that effect, we will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at the price described in this prospectus supplement.

 

The Notes will be unsecured obligations of our company and will rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

 

Investing in our Notes involves risks. See the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission 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.

 

 

 

 

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes to investors in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg (“Clearstream Luxembourg”) and/or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”), on or about March  , 2009.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

 

March   , 2009

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any permitted free writing prospectus prepared by us. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on its public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange, and information about us is also available there.

 

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents that we identify as part of this prospectus supplement. Our subsequent filings of similar documents with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below 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 these securities.

 

 

You may obtain a copy of these filings at no cost by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

 

Eaton Corporation

Eaton Center

1111 Superior Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584

(216) 523-5000

 

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. This prospectus supplement is an offer to sell or buy only the securities described in this document, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus supplement is current only as of the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

Some of the statements included or incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus or this prospectus supplement constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”, “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates” and variations of these and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements refer to, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in those documents are set forth in those documents, and include those described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified by those cautionary statements. We will not update these forward-looking statements even though our situation will change in the future.

 

SUMMARY

Issuer		Eaton Corporation
Notes offered		$           aggregate principal amount of     % Notes due 2014.
Maturity		The Notes will mature on          , 2014.
Interest Rate		The Notes will bear interest at      % per annum, payable semi-annually.
Interest Payment Dates		and           of each year, commencing on          , 2009.
Optional Redemption		We may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time, at the applicable make-whole premium redemption price described under “Description of Notes — Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.
Ranking		The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The Notes will be effectively subordinated to any existing or future debt or other liabilities of any of our subsidiaries.
Change of Control		If a Change of Control Triggering Event as described herein occurs, unless we have exercised our option to redeem the Notes by notifying the holders to that effect, we will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at the price described in this prospectus supplement.
Authorized Denominations		Minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.
Use of proceeds		We expect the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes offered hereby to be approximately $      million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commission and offering expenses. We will use these proceeds to repay commercial paper having an average maturity of 16 days and bearing an average annual interest of 0.75% as of February 27, 2009.
Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent		The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
Governing Law		New York

 

We expect the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes offered hereby to be approximately $      million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commission and offering expenses. We will use these proceeds to repay commercial paper having an average maturity of 16 days and bearing an average interest rate of 0.75% as of February 27, 2009.

 

The following table sets forth the capitalization of Eaton and its consolidated subsidiaries at December 31, 2008. The “As Adjusted” capitalization set forth below gives effect to the issuance of the Notes offered hereby.

 

Eaton’s authorized capital as of December 31, 2008 consisted of common shares, par value $0.50 per share (500 million shares authorized and 165.0 million shares outstanding).

 

General

 

The following description of the particular terms of the Notes offered hereby supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of debt securities under the heading “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus. Capitalized terms used in this section of this prospectus supplement that are otherwise not defined have the meanings given to them in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The Notes will be senior unsecured debt issued under the Indenture dated as of April 1, 1994, as supplemented from time to time (the “Senior Indenture”), between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as Senior Trustee. The Notes will rank equally with all our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The Notes will constitute a separate series of securities under the Senior Indenture.

 

We will issue the Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $      million. The Notes will mature on          , 2014. We will issue the Notes only in book-entry form, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund and will not be convertible into or exchangeable for any of our equity interests.

 

We may, without the consent of the holders of the Notes, issue additional debt securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes. Any such additional debt securities and the Notes will constitute a single series under the Senior Indenture. None of these additional Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes.

 

Principal and Interest

 

The Notes will mature on          , 2014, bear interest at the annual rate shown on the cover of this prospectus supplement and accrue interest from March   , 2009 or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for. Interest will be payable semi-annually, on           and          , beginning on          , 2009, to each person in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on the           and           (whether or not that date is a business day as that term is defined in the Senior Indenture), as the case may be, immediately preceding the interest payment date. We will compute interest on the Notes on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. If any interest payment date or maturity or redemption date falls on a day that is not a business day, then the payment will be made on the next business day without additional interest and with the same effect as if it were made on the originally scheduled date.

 

Optional Redemption

 

All or a portion of the Notes may be redeemed at our option at any time or from time to time. The redemption price for the Notes to be redeemed on any redemption date will be equal to the greater of the following amounts:

 

 

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to the redemption date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Senior Indenture.

We will mail notice of any redemption to each registered holder of the Notes at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date. Once notice of redemption is mailed, the Notes will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date. The Treasury Rate will be determined on the third business day prior to the redemption date.

 

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

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of those Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all those Quotations, or (C) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, that Quotation.

 

“Quotation Agent” means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by us for the purpose of performing the functions of the Quotation Agent with respect to the Notes.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (A) (i) Banc of America Securities LLC, (ii) Goldman, Sachs & Co. or (iii) UBS Securities LLC (or their respective affiliates which are Primary Treasury Dealers) and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of them ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute for them another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) we select.

 

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

 

On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion of the Notes called for redemption (unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with a paying agent (or the trustee) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed on that date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by lot by DTC, in the case of Notes represented by a global security, or by the trustee by a method the trustee deems to be fair and appropriate, in the case of Notes that are not represented by a global security.

 

Change of Control Offer

 

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless we have exercised our option to redeem the Notes by notifying the noteholders to that effect as described above, we will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in the Notes. In a Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice will be mailed to holders of the Notes, describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than

30 days and no later than 60 days from the date that notice is mailed (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice will, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the applicable Change of Control Payment Date.

 

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

 

 

We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and the third party repurchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an event of default under the Senior Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

 

We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, we will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes by virtue of any such conflict.

 

For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, the following terms will be applicable:

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than our company or one of our subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of our outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which our Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of our outstanding Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of our Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of our Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (i) we become a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of our Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company. The

term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of our Board of Directors who (1) was a member of our Board of Directors on the date the Notes were issued or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to our Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of our Board of Directors at the time of the nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which that member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to the nomination).

 

“Fitch” means Fitch Inc., and its successors.

 

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s, BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P and BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

 

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch; and (2) if any of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons beyond our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, or all of them, as the case may be.

 

“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or our intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

 

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

 

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of that person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of that person.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

In some circumstances, we may elect to discharge our obligations on the Notes through defeasance or covenant defeasance. See “Description of Debt Securities — Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus for more information about how we may do this.

 

Book-Entry System

 

We will issue the Notes in the form of one or more fully registered global securities, as described in “Description of Debt Securities — Book-Entry Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus. We will deposit these global securities with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”), and register these securities in the name of DTC’s nominee.

 

Investors may elect to hold interests in the Notes in global form through either DTC in the United States or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V, as operator of the Euroclear System (the “Euroclear System”), in Europe if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in

Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and the Euroclear System’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold those interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Citibank, N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and JP Morgan Chase Bank will act as depositary for the Euroclear System (in those capacities, the “U.S. Depositaries”).

 

DTC advises that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants (the “DTC Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTC’s system is also available to others, including securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear transactions through or maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

 

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

 

Distributions with respect to interests in the Notes held beneficially through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg.

 

The Euroclear System advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. The Euroclear System includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. The Euroclear System is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V (the “Euroclear Operator”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear System cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to the Euroclear System is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern

transfers of securities and cash within the Euroclear System, withdrawals of securities and cash from the Euroclear System, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in the Euroclear System. All securities in the Euroclear System are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no records of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

 

Distributions with respect to the Notes held beneficially through the Euroclear System will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for the Euroclear System.

 

We will issue the Notes in definitive certificated form if DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days. In addition, beneficial interests in a global security certificate may be exchanged for definitive Note certificates upon request by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with customary procedures following the request of a beneficial owner seeking to exercise or enforce its rights under those Notes. If we determine at any time that the Notes shall no longer be represented by global security certificates, we will inform DTC of our determination, and DTC will, in turn, notify participants of their right to withdraw their beneficial interests from the global security certificates. If those participants elect to withdraw their beneficial interests, we will issue certificates in definitive form in exchange for the beneficial interests in the global security certificates. Any global security certificate, or portion thereof, that is exchangeable pursuant to this paragraph will be exchangeable for Note certificates, as the case may be, registered in the names directed by DTC. We expect that these instructions will be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security certificates.

 

As long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global security certificates, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security certificates and all Notes represented by these certificates for all purposes under the Notes and the Senior Indenture governing the Notes. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in global security certificates:

 

 

All payments on the Notes represented by the global security certificates and all transfers and deliveries of related Notes will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the holder of the securities.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security certificates will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in global security certificates will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by the participant on their behalf. Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global security certificates may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by DTC from time to time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in global security certificates, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any participant’s records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

 

Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global security certificates among participants, DTC is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform

these procedures, and these procedures may be discontinued at any time. We will not have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its direct participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing DTC.

 

The information in this section concerning DTC, its book-entry system, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not attempted to verify the accuracy of this information.

 

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

 

Initial settlement for the Notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading among Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System, as applicable.

 

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in that system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.

 

Because of time-zone differences, credits of Notes received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. The credits or any transactions in the Notes settled during the processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant on that business day. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System as a result of sales of the Notes by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

Although DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of Notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures and those procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time.

 

Prospective investors should consult their professional advisors on the possible tax consequences of buying, holding or selling any Notes under the laws of their country of citizenship, residence or domicile. If you are a foreign person, please see the discussion in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “United States Federal Taxation — Non-United States Holders” for a description of certain United States federal tax requirements and considerations for persons outside of the United States that invest in the Notes.

 

Banc of America Securities LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and UBS Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering of the Notes and are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.

 

 

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 and some of the Notes to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed     % of the principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed     % of the principal amount of the Notes. If all the Notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the Notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

 

In connection with the offering, the representatives, on behalf of 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 principal amount of Notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the 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 the 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 the representatives, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase 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.

 

We estimate that our total expenses for this offering will be approximately $350,000.

The underwriters have performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The underwriters may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business. In addition, certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates are dealers in our commercial paper program and are lenders under one or more of our credit facilities.

 

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.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “relevant member state”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the “relevant implementation date”), an offer of the Notes described in this prospectus supplement may not be made to the public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Notes that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the relevant implementation date, an offer of securities may be offered to the public in that relevant member state at any time:

 

 

Each purchaser of Notes described in this prospectus supplement who is located within a relevant member state will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state.

 

The sellers of the Notes have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of the Notes through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the Notes as contemplated in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, no purchaser of the Notes, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the Notes on behalf of the sellers or the underwriters.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

 

Each representative represents and warrants that:

 

(a) (i) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) it has not offered or sold

and will not offer or sell any Notes other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Notes would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the FSMA by the issuer;

 

(b) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the issuer;

 

(c) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to, and are only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (“Qualified Investors”) that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and their contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

UK Stabilisation

 

In connection with this offering, the representatives (or any person or persons acting on their behalves), may over-allot or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail for a limited period after the issue date. However, there may be no obligation on the representatives to do this. Such stabilising, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time, and must be brought to an end after a limited period.

 

The validity of the Notes will be passed upon for our company by Mark Hennessey, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary and for the underwriters by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York. Mr. Hennessey is paid a salary by our company and participates in various employee benefit plans offered to certain employees of our company generally.

 

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 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 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Eaton Corporation

 

Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
Preferred Shares
Common Shares
Warrants
Units

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, senior or subordinated debt securities, preferred shares, common shares and warrants, as well as units that include any of these securities or securities of other entities. The debt securities, preferred shares and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred shares or other securities of the Company or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

 

The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be described in a prospectus supplement or term sheet. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet carefully before you invest in our securities.

 

The common shares of the Company are listed on the NYSE and the Chicago Stock Exchange and trade under the ticker symbol “ETN”.

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is February 27, 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. You should rely only on the information provided in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or other offering materials. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, other offering materials or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document in which such information is contained or such other date referred to in such document, regardless of the time of any sale or issuance of a security.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus contains a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell or issue securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement or term sheet that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the manner in which they may be offered. The prospectus supplement or term sheet may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If so, the prospectus supplement or term sheet should be read as superseding this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or term sheet, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”, before making an investment decision. As used in this prospectus, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Eaton Corporation.

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on its public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange and information about us also is available there.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents separately filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, unless and until that information is updated and superseded by the information contained in this prospectus or any information incorporated later. We incorporate by reference the document listed below 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 our offering of securities has been completed.

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our internet website is located at http://www.eaton.com. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may also obtain a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

 

Eaton Corporation
Eaton Center
1111 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584
Attn: Shareholder Relations
(216) 523-5000

 

We are a diversified power management company with 2008 sales of $15.4 billion. We are a global technology leader in: electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. We have approximately 75,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries.

 

Our operations are categorized into the following five business segments: Electrical, Hydraulics, Aerospace, Truck and Automotive. Prior to January 1, 2008, we reported our businesses in four segments, with the current Hydraulics and Aerospace segments being part of one segment called “Fluid Power.”

 

Electrical

 

The Electrical segment is a global leader in electrical control, power distribution, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and industrial automation products and services. Products include circuit breakers, switchgear, UPS systems, power distribution units, panelboards, loadcenters, motor controls, meters, sensors and relays. The principal markets for the Electrical segment are industrial, institutional, government, utility, commercial, residential, IT, mission critical and original equipment manufacturer customers. These products are used wherever there is a demand for electrical power in commercial buildings, data centers, residences, apartment and office buildings, hospitals and factories. These customers are generally concentrated in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific; however, sales are made globally. Sales in the Electrical segment are made directly and indirectly through distributors, resellers, and manufacturers representatives to these customers.

 

Hydraulics

 

The Hydraulics segment is a worldwide leader in reliable, high-efficiency hydraulic components and systems for use in mobile and industrial markets. We offer a wide range of power products including pumps, motors, hydraulic power units; a broad range of controls and sensing products, including valves, cylinders and electronic controls; a full range of fluid conveyance products, including industrial and hydraulic hose, fittings, and assemblies, thermoplastic hose and tubing, couplings, connectors, and assembly equipment; filtration systems solutions; heavy-duty drum and disc brakes; and golf grips. The principal market segments for Hydraulics include oil and gas, renewable energy, marine, agriculture, construction, mining , forestry, utility, material handling, truck and bus, machine tool, molding, primary metals, power generation, and entertainment. Key manufacturers in these markets and other customers are located globally, and these products are sold and serviced through a variety of channels.

 

Aerospace

 

The Aerospace segment is a leading global supplier to the commercial and military aviation and aerospace industries. Products include hydraulic power generation systems for aerospace applications, including, pumps, motors, hydraulic power units, hose and fittings, electro-hydraulic pumps and power and load management systems; controls and sensing products, including valves, cylinders, electronic controls, electromechanical actuators, sensors, displays and panels, aircraft flap and slat systems and nose wheel steering systems; fluid conveyance products, including hose, thermoplastic tubing, fittings, adapters, couplings, sealing and ducting; and fuel systems, including fuel pumps, sensors, valves, adapters and regulators. The principal markets for the Aerospace segment are manufacturers of commercial and military aircraft and related after-market customers. These manufacturers and other customers operate globally, and these products are sold and serviced through a variety of channels.

 

Truck

 

The Truck segment is a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a complete line of powertrain systems and components for commercial vehicles. Products include transmissions, clutches and hybrid electric power systems. The principal markets for the Truck segment are original equipment manufacturers and after-

market customers of heavy-, medium- and light-duty trucks and passenger cars. These manufacturers and other customers are located globally, and most sales of these products are made directly to these customers.

 

Automotive

 

The Automotive segment is a leading supplier of critical components that reduce emissions and fuel consumption and improve stability and performance of cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Products include superchargers, engine valves and valve actuation systems, cylinder heads, locking and limited slip differentials, transmission controls, engine controls, fuel vapor components, compressor control clutches for mobile refrigeration, fluid connectors and hoses for air conditioning and power steering, decorative spoilers, underhood plastic components, fluid conveyance products including, hose, thermoplastic tubing, fittings, adapters, couplings and sealing products to the global automotive industry. The principal markets for the Automotive segment are original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers of light-duty trucks and passenger cars. These manufacturers and other customers are located globally, and most sales of these products are made directly to these customers.

 

Our principal executive office is located at Eaton Center, 1111 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584, and our telephone number is (216) 523-5000.

 

Except as may be described otherwise in a prospectus supplement or term sheet, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include additions to working capital, acquisitions, or the retirement of existing indebtedness via repayment, redemption or exchange.

 

The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2008.

 

 

For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of consolidated pretax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and income (loss) of equity investees, plus (1) amortization of capitalized interest, (2) distributed income of equity investees and (3) fixed charges described below, excluding interest capitalized. “Fixed charges” consist of (1) interest expensed, (2) capitalized interest, (3) amortization of debt issue costs and (4) that portion of rent expense estimated to represent interest. Because we have not had any preferred shares outstanding during the last five years and have, therefore, not paid any dividends on preferred shares, our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends has been the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the above periods.

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more distinct series. This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series. Most of the financial terms and other specific material terms of any series of debt securities that we offer will be described in a prospectus supplement or term sheet. Furthermore, since the terms of specific debt securities may differ from the general information we have provided below, you should rely on information in the prospectus supplement or term sheet that is inconsistent with the information below. As used in this section, “we”, “us”, “our” and “our company” refer to Eaton Corporation and not to its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

The debt securities are governed by a document called an “indenture”. An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as Trustee on your behalf. The Trustee has two main roles. First, the Trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the Trustee acts on your behalf. Second, the Trustee performs certain administrative duties for us.

 

Senior securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of April 1, 1994, as supplemented from time to time (the “Senior Indenture”), which we entered into with Chemical Bank, as trustee (the “Senior Trustee”), and subordinated securities will be issued under a separate indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture”), which we will enter into with a trustee (the “Subordinated Trustee”) if we decide to issue any subordinated securities. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as Chemical Bank), is acting as Senior Trustee. The term “Trustee” refers to either the Senior Trustee or the Subordinated Trustee, as appropriate. We will refer to the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, as executed, together as the “Indentures” and each, as an “Indenture”. The Indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

 

The Indentures and associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The Senior Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement to which this prospectus is a part. The Subordinated Indenture will be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the registration statement at a later time if we decide to issue any subordinated securities.

 

Because this section is a summary of the material terms of the Indentures, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Indentures, including definitions of certain terms used in the Indentures. For example, in this section, we use capitalized words to signify terms that are specifically defined in the Indentures. Some of the definitions are repeated in this prospectus, but for the rest you will need to read the Indentures. We also include references in parentheses to certain sections of the Indentures or the Trust Indenture Act. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the Indentures, those sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement or term sheet. Unless otherwise noted, the section numbers refer to the applicable section for both Indentures.

 

Provisions Applicable to Both the Senior and Subordinated Indentures

 

General

 

The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations.  The senior securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our Senior Indebtedness as described below under “—Subordinated Indenture Provisions-Subordination”.

 

Under the Indentures, we may issue any debt securities offered under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet (“offered debt securities”) and any debt securities issuable upon the exercise of debt warrants or upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (“underlying debt securities”), as well as other unsecured debt securities.

 

With respect to the offered debt securities and any underlying debt securities, you should read the prospectus supplement or term sheet for the following terms and other material terms, which will be

established by authority of our Board of Directors or pursuant to an officers’ certificate or a supplement to an Indenture before the issuance of the debt securities:

 

 

 

For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of (or premium, if any), or interest on, or interest on debt securities will include Additional Amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.

 

The Indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that we are authorized to issue from time to time. (Section 301) When a single Trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under an Indenture, those Securities are called the “Indenture Securities.” Each Indenture also provides that there may be more than one Trustee thereunder, each for a series of Indenture Securities. See “Resignation of Trustee” of this prospectus. At a time when two or more Trustees are acting under either Indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term “Indenture Securities” means the series of debt securities for which each respective Trustee is acting. If there is more than one Trustee under either Indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each Trustee will apply only to the Indenture Securities for which it is Trustee. If two or more Trustees are acting under either Indenture, then the Indenture Securities for which each Trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.

 

The Indentures do not contain any provisions that give you protection in the event we issue a large amount of debt or we are acquired by another entity.

 

We may issue Indenture Securities with terms different from those of Indenture Securities already issued. Without the consent of the holders thereof, we may reopen a previous issue of a series of Indenture Securities and issue additional Indenture Securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.

 

There is no requirement that we issue debt securities in the future under the Indentures, and we may use other indentures or documentation containing different provisions in connection with future issues of such other debt securities.

We may issue the debt securities as “original issue discount securities”, which are debt securities, including any zero-coupon debt securities, that are issued and sold at a discount from their stated principal amount. Original issue discount securities provide that, upon acceleration of their maturity, an amount less than their principal amount will become due and payable. We will describe United States federal income tax consequences and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities in any prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to them.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, the debt securities will be denominated in U.S. dollars and all payments on the debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars. If any series of debt securities is sold for, payable in or denominated in one or more foreign Currencies, we will specify applicable restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet. For further information regarding foreign currency debt securities, see “—Foreign Currency Risk-Fluctuations and Controls” below.

 

Payment of the purchase price of the debt securities must be made in immediately available funds.

 

As used in this prospectus, “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided, however, that, with respect to foreign currency debt securities, the day is also not a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center (as defined below) of the country issuing the specified currency (or, if the specified currency is the euro, the day is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System is open); and provided further that, with respect to debt securities as to which LIBOR is an applicable interest rate basis, the day is also a London Business Day.

 

“London Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in the designated LIBOR Currency) in London.

 

“Principal Financial Center” means (i) the capital city of the country issuing the specified currency or (ii) the capital city of the country to which the designated LIBOR Currency relates, as applicable, except that the term “Principal Financial Center” means the following cities in the case of the following currencies:

 

 

and in the event the LIBOR Currency is euro, the “Principal Financial Center” is London.

 

“LIBOR Currency” means the currency specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet as to which LIBOR shall be calculated or, if no such currency is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, U.S. dollars.

 

The authorized denominations of debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be integral multiples of $1,000. The authorized denominations of foreign currency debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

Optional Redemption, Repayment and Repurchase

 

The prospectus supplement or term sheet for a debt security will indicate whether we will have the option to redeem the debt security before the stated maturity and the price and date or dates on which redemption may occur. If we are allowed to redeem a debt security, we may exercise the option by notifying the Trustee and the paying agent at least 45 days prior to the redemption date. In the case we elect to redeem less than all

of a series of debt securities, we may exercise the option by notifying the Trustee and the paying agent at least 60 days prior to the redemption date. At least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date, the Trustee will mail notice or cause the paying agent to mail notice of redemption to the holders. If a debt security is only redeemed in part, we will issue a new debt security or debt securities for the unredeemed portion.

 

The prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to a debt security will also indicate whether you will have the option to elect repayment by us prior to the stated maturity and the price and the date or dates on which repayment may occur.

 

For a debt security to be repaid at your election, the paying agent must receive, at least 30 but not more than 45 days prior to an optional repayment date, if, in certificated form, such debt security with the form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the debt security duly completed. You may also send the paying agent a facsimile or letter from a member of a national securities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States describing the particulars of the repayment, including a guarantee that the debt security and the form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” will be received by the paying agent no later than five Business Days after such facsimile or letter. If you present a debt security for repayment, such act will be irrevocable. You may exercise the repayment option for less than the entire principal of the debt security, provided the remaining principal outstanding is an authorized denomination. If you elect partial repayment, your debt security will be cancelled, and we will issue a new debt security or debt securities for the remaining amount.

 

The Depository Trust Company or its nominee will be the holder of each Global Security and will be the only party that can exercise a right of repayment. If you are a beneficial owner of a Global Security and you want to exercise your right of repayment, you must instruct your broker or indirect participant through which you hold your interest to notify The Depository Trust Company. You should consult your broker or such indirect participant to discuss the appropriate cut-off times and any other requirements for giving this instruction. The giving of any such instruction will be irrevocable.

 

Regardless of anything in this prospectus, if a debt security is an OID Note (as defined below) (other than an Indexed Note), the amount payable in the event of redemption or repayment prior to its stated maturity will be the amortized face amount on the redemption or repayment date, as the case may be. The amortized face amount of an OID Note will be equal to (i) the issue price specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet plus (ii) that portion of the difference between the issue price and the principal amount of the debt security that has accrued at the yield to maturity described in the prospectus supplement or term sheet (computed in accordance with generally accepted U.S. bond yield computation principles) by the redemption or repayment date. However, in no case will the amortized face amount of an OID Note exceed its principal amount.

 

Regardless of anything in this prospectus, if a debt security is an OID Note (as defined below) (other than an Indexed Note), the amount payable in the event of acceleration shall be the portion of principal amount specified in the terms of that series of notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

We may at any time purchase debt securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. We may hold, resell or surrender for cancellation any debt securities that we purchase.

 

Conversion and Exchange

 

If you may convert or exchange debt securities for other Securities, the prospectus supplement or term sheet will explain the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including:

 

 

 

The terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other Securities to be received by the holders of such debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of such other Securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

Interest and Interest Rates

 

General

 

Each debt security will begin to accrue interest from the date it is originally issued. The related prospectus supplement or term sheet will specify each debt security as a Fixed Rate Note, a Floating Rate Note, an Amortizing Note or an Indexed Note and describe the method of determining the interest rate, including any spread and/or spread multiplier. For an Indexed Note, the related prospectus supplement or term sheet also will describe the method for the calculation and payment of principal and interest. The prospectus supplement or term sheet for a Floating Rate Note or Indexed Note may also specify a maximum and a minimum interest rate.

 

A debt security may be issued as a Fixed Rate Note or a Floating Rate Note or as a debt security that combines fixed and floating rate terms.

 

Interest rates offered with respect to debt securities may differ depending upon, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of debt securities purchased in any single transaction. Debt securities with similar variable terms but different interest rates, as well as debt securities with different variable terms, may be offered concurrently to different investors. Interest rates or formulas and other terms of debt securities are subject to change from time to time, but no such change will affect any debt security already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted.

 

Interest on the debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be paid by check mailed on an Interest Payment Date other than a Maturity Date (as defined below) to the persons entitled thereto to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register or, at our option, by wire transfer to a bank account maintained by the holder. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars, together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon, due on the Maturity Date will be paid in immediately available funds upon surrender of such debt securities at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in The City of New York, or, at our option, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account with a bank designated at least 15 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date by the applicable registered holder, provided the particular bank has appropriate facilities to receive these payments and the particular debt security is presented and surrendered at the office or agency maintained by us for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in time for the Trustee to make these payments in accordance with its normal procedures.

 

Fixed Rate Notes

 

The prospectus supplement or term sheet for debt securities with a fixed interest rate (“Fixed Rate Notes”) will describe a fixed interest rate payable semiannually in arrears on dates specified in such prospectus supplement or term sheet (each, with respect to Fixed Rate Notes, an “Interest Payment Date”). Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or term sheet, interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If the stated maturity date, any redemption date or any repayment date (together referred to as the “Maturity Date”) or an Interest Payment Date for any Fixed Rate Note is not a Business Day, principal of, premium, if any, and interest on that debt security will be paid on the next Business Day, and no interest will accrue from and after the Maturity Date or Interest Payment Date. Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be paid to holders of record as of each Regular Record Date as determined in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

Each interest payment on a Fixed Rate Note will include interest accrued from, and including, the issue date or the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be.

Original Issue Discount Notes

 

We may issue original issue discount debt securities (including zero coupon debt securities) (“OID Notes”), which are debt securities issued at a discount from the principal amount payable on the Maturity Date. There may not be any periodic interest payments on OID Notes. For OID Notes, interest normally accrues during the life of the debt security and is paid on the Maturity Date. Upon a redemption, repayment or acceleration of the maturity of an OID Note, the amount payable will be determined as set forth under “—Optional Redemption, Repayment and Repurchase”. This amount normally is less than the amount payable on the stated maturity date.

 

Amortizing Notes

 

We may issue amortizing debt securities, which are Fixed Rate Notes for which combined principal and interest payments are made in installments over the life of each debt security (“Amortizing Notes”). Payments on Amortizing Notes are applied first to interest due and then to the reduction of the unpaid principal amount. The related prospectus supplement or term sheet for an Amortizing Note will include a table setting forth repayment information.

 

Floating Rate Notes

 

Each debt security with a floating interest rate (a “Floating Rate Note”) will have an interest rate basis or formula. That basis or formula may be based on:

 

 

The prospectus supplement or term sheet will also indicate any spread and/or spread multiplier, which would be applied to the interest rate formula to determine the interest rate. Any Floating Rate Note may have a maximum or minimum interest rate limitation. In addition to any maximum interest rate limitation, the interest rate on the Floating Rate Notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law for general application.

 

We will appoint a calculation agent to calculate interest rates on the Floating Rate Notes. Unless we identify a different party in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, the paying agent will be the calculation agent for each debt security.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or term sheet, the “Calculation Date”, if applicable, relating to an Interest Determination Date will be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, or (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be.

 

Upon the request of the beneficial holder of any Floating Rate Note, the calculation agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if different, when available, the interest rate that will become effective on the next Interest Reset Date for the Floating Rate Note.

Change of Interest Rate.  The interest rate on each Floating Rate Note may be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually, annually or on some other specified basis (each, an “Interest Reset Date”). Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or term sheet, the Interest Reset Date will be:

 

 

The related prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the initial interest rate or interest rate formula on each debt security. That rate is effective until the following Interest Reset Date. Thereafter, the interest rate will be the rate determined on each Interest Determination Date. Each time a new interest rate is determined, it becomes effective on the following Interest Reset Date. If any Interest Reset Date is not a Business Day, then the Interest Reset Date is postponed to the next Business Day, except, in the case of a LIBOR Note, if the next Business Day is in the next calendar month, the Interest Reset Date is the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

Date Interest Rate Is Determined.  The Interest Determination Date for all CD and CMT Rate Notes is the second Business Day before the Interest Reset Date and for all LIBOR Notes will be the second London Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date (unless the LIBOR Currency is Sterling, in which case the Interest Determination Date will be the Interest Reset Date).

 

The Interest Determination Date for Treasury Rate Notes will be the day of the week in which the Interest Reset Date falls on which Treasury bills of the Index Maturity are normally auctioned. Treasury bills are usually sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is usually held on Tuesday. Sometimes, the auction is held on the preceding Friday. If an auction is held on the preceding Friday, that day will be the Interest Determination Date relating to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next week.

 

The Interest Determination Date for all Commercial Paper, Federal Funds and Prime Rate Notes will be the first Business Day preceding the Interest Reset Date.

 

The Interest Determination Date for an Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Note is the last Business Day of the month immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date in which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco published the applicable rate.

 

The Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note with an interest rate that is determined by reference to two or more interest rate bases will be the most recent Business Day which is at least two Business Days before the applicable Interest Reset Date for each interest rate for the applicable Floating Rate Note on which each interest rate basis is determinable.

 

Payment of Interest.  Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or term sheet, interest is paid as follows:

 

 

 

Each interest payment on a Floating Rate Note will include interest accrued from, and including, the issue date or the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be.

 

Interest on a Floating Rate Note will be payable beginning on the first Interest Payment Date after its issue date to holders of record at the close of business on each Regular Record Date, as determined in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, unless the issue date falls after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, in which case payment will be made to holders of record at the close of business on the Regular Record Date next preceding the second Interest Payment Date following the issue date. If an Interest Payment Date (but not the Maturity Date) is not a Business Day then the Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next Business Day. However, in the case of LIBOR Notes, if the next Business Day is in the next calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of any Floating Rate Note is not a Business Day, principal of, premium, if any, and interest on that debt security will be paid on the next Business Day, and no interest will accrue from and after the Maturity Date.

 

Accrued interest on a Floating Rate Note is calculated by multiplying the principal amount of a debt security by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest factor is the sum of the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate in effect on that day by (1) the actual number of days in the year, in the case of Treasury Rate Notes or CMT Rate Notes, or (2) 360, in the case of other Floating Rate Notes. The interest factor for Floating Rate Notes for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more interest rate bases will be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only one of the applicable interest rate bases applied. All percentages resulting from any calculation are rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward. For example, 9.876545% (or .09876545) will be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655). Dollar amounts used in the calculation are rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).

 

CD Rate Notes.  The “CD Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is the rate on that date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity described in the related prospectus supplement or term sheet, as published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, for that Interest

 

Determination Date under the heading “CDs (secondary market)”. The “Index Maturity” is the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation with respect to which the related interest rate basis or formula will be calculated.

 

The following procedures will be followed if the CD Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

 

“H.15(519)” means the weekly statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication, published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

“H.15 Daily Update” means the daily update of H.15(519), available through the web site of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/update, or any successor site or publication.

 

Commercial Paper Rate Notes.  The “Commercial Paper Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is the Money Market Yield of the rate on that date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity described in the related prospectus supplement or term sheet, as published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date for that Interest Determination Date under the heading “Commercial Paper — Nonfinancial”.

 

The following procedures will be followed if the Commercial Paper Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

“Money Market Yield” means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the reset period for which interest is being calculated.

 

LIBOR Notes.  On each Interest Determination Date, the calculation agent will determine LIBOR as follows:

 

 

On any Interest Determination Date on which fewer than two offered rates appear or no rate appears on the applicable Designated LIBOR Page, the calculation agent will determine LIBOR as follows:

 

 

“Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Reuters (or any successor service) on page LIBOR01 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the LIBOR Currency.

 

Federal Funds Rate Notes.  The “Federal Funds Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is the rate as of that date for U.S. dollar federal funds, as published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date for that Interest Determination Date under the heading “Federal Funds (Effective)”, as such rate is displayed on Reuters (or any successor service) on page FEDFUNDS1 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) (“Reuters Page FEDFUNDS1”).

 

The following procedures will be followed if the Federal Funds Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

Federal Funds, as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption “Federal Funds (Effective)”.

 

 

Prime Rate Notes.  The “Prime Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is the rate on that date, as published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date for that Interest Determination Date under the heading “Bank Prime Loan” or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Interest Determination Date as published in the H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption “Bank Prime Loan”.

 

The following procedures will be followed if the Prime Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

“Reuters Page US PRIME 1” means the display designated as page “US PRIME 1” on Reuters (or any successor service or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks.

 

Treasury Rate Notes.  The “Treasury Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is the rate set at the auction of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury bills”) having the Index Maturity described in the related prospectus supplement or term sheet under the caption “INVESTMENT RATE” on the display on Reuters (or any successor service) on page USAUCTION10 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) (“Reuters Page USAUCTION10”) or on page USAUCTION11 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) (“Reuters Page USAUCTION11”) by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date for that Interest Determination Date.

 

The following procedures will be followed if the Treasury Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

 

“Bond equivalent yield” means a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula and expressed as a percentage:

 

 

where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, “N” refers to the number of days in the year, either 365 or 366, as the case may be, and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the interest reset period for which interest is being calculated.

 

CMT Rate Notes.  The “CMT Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is any of the following rates displayed on the Designated CMT Reuters Page, as defined below, under the caption “... Treasury Constant Maturities ... Federal Reserve Board Release H.15... Mondays Approximately 3:45 p.m.,” under the column for the Designated CMT Maturity Index, as defined below, for:

 

 

The following procedures will be followed if the CMT Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

 

“Designated CMT Reuters Page” means the display on Reuters (or any successor service) on the page designated in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying Treasury Constant Maturities as reported in H.15(519). If not Reuters page is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, the Designated CMT Reuters Page will be FEDCMT, for the most recent week.

 

“Designated CMT Maturity Index” means the original period to maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities, which is either 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 or 30 years, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, for which the CMT rate will be calculated. If no maturity is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, the Designated CMT Maturity Index will be two years.

 

Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes.  The “Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate” for any Interest Determination Date is the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of funds for the calendar month preceding the Interest Determination Date as displayed on Telerate Page 7058 (or any other page as

may replace that specified page on that service) as of 11:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on the Calculation Date for that Interest Determination Date under the caption “11th District”.

 

The following procedures will be used if the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

 

Indexed Notes

 

We may issue debt securities for which the amount of interest or principal that you will receive will not be known on your date of purchase. Interest or principal payments for these types of debt securities, which we call “Indexed Notes”, are determined by reference to securities, financial or non-financial indices, currencies, commodities, interest rates, or a composite or baskets of any or all of the above. Examples of indexed items that may be used include a published stock index, the common stock price of a publicly traded company, the value of the U.S. dollar versus the Japanese yen, or the price of a barrel of West Texas intermediate crude oil.

 

If you purchase an Indexed Note, you may receive a principal amount at maturity that is greater than or less than the Note’s face amount, and an interest rate that is greater than or less than the interest rate that you would have earned if you had instead purchased a conventional debt security issued by us at the same time with the same maturity. The amount of interest and principal that you will receive will depend on the structure of the Indexed Note and the level of the specified indexed item throughout the term of the Indexed Note and at maturity. Specific information pertaining to the method of determining the interest payments and the principal amount will be described in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, as well as additional risk factors unique to the Indexed Note, certain historical information for the specified indexed item and certain additional United States federal tax considerations.

 

Renewable Notes

 

We may issue Renewable Notes (“Renewable Notes”) which are debt securities that will automatically renew at their stated maturity date unless the holder of a Renewable Note elects to terminate the automatic extension feature by giving notice in the manner described in the related prospectus supplement or term sheet. In addition, we may issue debt securities whose stated Maturity Date may be extended at the option of the holder for one or more periods, as more fully described in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities.

 

The holder of a Renewable Note must give notice of termination at least 15 but not more than 30 days prior to a Renewal Date.

 

The holder of a Renewable Note may terminate the automatic extension for less than all of its Renewable Notes only if the terms of the Renewable Note specifically permit partial termination. An election to terminate the automatic extension of any portion of the Renewable Note is not revocable and will be binding on the holder of the Renewable Note. If the holder elects to terminate the automatic extension of the maturity of the Note, the holder will become entitled to the principal and interest accrued up to the Renewal Date. The related prospectus supplement or term sheet will identify a stated maturity date beyond which the Maturity Date cannot be renewed.

If a Renewable Note is represented by a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company or its nominee will be the holder of the Note and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to terminate the automatic extension of a Note. In order to ensure that The Depository Trust Company or its nominee will exercise a right to terminate the automatic extension provisions of a particular Renewable Note, the beneficial owner of the Note must instruct the broker or other Depository Trust Company participant through which it holds an interest in the Note to notify The Depository Trust Company of its desire to terminate the automatic extension of the Note. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial owner should consult the broker or other participant through whom it holds an interest in a Note to ascertain the cut-off time by which an instruction must be given for delivery of timely notice to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee.

 

Extendible Notes

 

We may issue debt securities whose stated Maturity Date may be extended at our option (an “Extendible Note”) for one or more whole-year periods (each, an “Extension Period”), up to but not beyond a stated maturity date described in the related prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

We may exercise our option to extend the Extendible Note by notifying the applicable Trustee (or any duly appointed paying agent) at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to the then effective Maturity Date. If we elect to extend the Extendible Note, the Trustee (or paying agent) will mail (at least 40 days prior to the Maturity Date) to the registered holder of the Extendible Note a notice (an “Extension Notice”) informing the holder of our election, the new Maturity Date and any updated terms. Upon the mailing of the Extension Notice, the maturity of that Extendible Note will be extended automatically as set forth in the Extension Notice.

 

However, we may, not later than 20 days prior to the Maturity Date of an Extendible Note (or, if that date is not a Business Day, prior to the next Business Day), at our option, establish a higher interest rate, in the case of a Fixed Rate Note, or a higher spread and/or spread multiplier, in the case of a Floating Rate Note, for the Extension Period by mailing or causing the applicable Trustee (or paying agent) to mail notice of such higher interest rate or higher spread and/or spread multiplier to the holder of the Note. The notice will be irrevocable.

 

If we elect to extend the maturity of an Extendible Note, the holder of the Note will have the option to instead elect repayment of the Note by us on the then effective Maturity Date. In order for an Extendible Note to be so repaid on the Maturity Date, we must receive, at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the Maturity Date:

 

(1) the Extendible Note with the form “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the Note duly completed; or

 

(2) a facsimile transmission, telex or letter from a member of a national securities exchange or FINRA or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth the name of the holder of the Extendible Note, the principal amount of the Note, the principal amount of the Note to be repaid, the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of the Note, a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby and a guarantee that the Note be repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the Note, will be received by the applicable Trustee (or paying agent) not later than the fifth Business Day after the date of the facsimile transmission, telex or letter; provided, however, that the facsimile transmission, telex or letter will only be effective if the Note and form duly completed are received by the applicable Trustee (or paying agent) by that fifth Business Day. The option may be exercised by the holder of an Extendible Note for less than the aggregate principal amount of the Note then outstanding if the principal amount of the Note remaining outstanding after repayment is an authorized denomination.

 

If an Extendible Note is represented by a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company or its nominee will be the holder of that Note and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to repayment. To ensure that The Depository Trust Company or its nominee timely exercises a right to repayment with respect

to a particular Extendible Note, the beneficial owner of that Note must instruct the broker or other participant through which it holds an interest in the Note to notify The Depository Trust Company of its desire to exercise a right of repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial owner should consult the broker or other participant through which it holds an interest in an Extendible Note to determine the cut-off time by which an instruction must be given for timely notice to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee.

 

Additional Mechanics

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We may issue debt securities as follows:

 

 

You may have your Registered Securities separated into smaller denominations or combined into larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. (Section 305) This is called an “exchange.” If provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, you may exchange your Bearer Securities with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons which are in default for Registered Securities of the same series as long as the total principal amount is not changed. Bearer Securities surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities between a Regular Record Date or a Special Record Date and the relevant interest payment dates will be surrendered without the coupon relating to such interest payment dates. Interest will not be payable in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for that Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, we will not issue Bearer Securities in exchange for Registered Securities. (Section 305)

 

You may transfer Registered Securities of a series and you may exchange debt securities of a series at the office of the Trustee. The Trustee will act as our agent for registering Registered Securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may designate someone else to perform this function. Whoever maintains the list of registered holders is called the “Security Registrar.” The Security Registrar also will perform transfers. (Section 305)

 

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will be made only if the Security Registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership. (Section 305)

 

If we designate additional transfer agents, we will name them in the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

 

If we redeem less than all of the Securities of a redeemable series, we may block the transfer or exchange of Securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption or publish the notice (in the case of Bearer Securities) and ending on the day of that mailing or publication, as the case may be, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also decline to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed. (Section 305)

If the offered debt securities are redeemable, we will describe the procedures for redemption in the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

In this “Additional Mechanics” section of this prospectus, “you” means direct holders and not indirect holders of debt securities.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

We will pay interest to you, if you are listed in the Trustee’s records as the owner of your debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest on your debt security. Interest will be paid to you if you are listed as the owner even if you no longer own the debt security on the interest due date. That particular day is called the “Regular Record Date” and is defined in the prospectus supplement or term sheet. Persons who are listed in the Trustee’s records as the owners of debt securities at the close of business on a particular day are referred to as “holders.” (Section 307) Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price since we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the Regular Record Date. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period.

 

We will deposit interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities with the Paying Agent that we name in the prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

If you plan to have a bank or brokerage firm hold your securities, you should ask them for information on how you will receive payments. (Section 305)

 

If we issue Bearer Securities, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, we will maintain an office or agency outside the United States for the payment of all amounts due on the Bearer Securities. If we list the debt securities on any stock exchange located outside the United States, we will maintain an office or agency for those debt securities in any city located outside the United States required by that stock exchange.

 

(Section 1002) We will specify the initial locations of such offices and agencies in the prospectus supplement or term sheet. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, we will make payment of interest on any Bearer Securities on or before Maturity only against surrender of coupons for such interest installments as they mature. (Section 1001) Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, we will not make payment with respect to any Bearer Security at any of our offices or agencies in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will make payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Bearer Securities payable in U.S. dollars at the office of our Paying Agent in The City of New York if (but only if) payment of the full amount in U.S. dollars at all offices or agencies outside the United States is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions. (Section 1002)

 

We may from time to time designate additional offices or agencies, approve a change in the location of any office or agency and, except as provided above, rescind the designation of any office or agency. (Section 1002)

 

Events of Default

 

You will have special rights if an Event of Default occurs as to the debt securities of your series which is not cured, as described later in this subsection. (Section 501) Please refer to the prospectus supplement or term sheet for information about any changes to the Events of Default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

 

What Is an Event of Default? The term “Event of Default” as to the debt securities of your series means any of the following:

 

 

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under an Indenture.

 

The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of a particular series of any default if it considers its withholding of notice to be in the interest of the holders of that series, except that the Trustee may not withhold notice if the default is in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any), or interest on, the debt securities. (Section 601)

 

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.  If an Event of Default has occurred and we have not cured it, the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable by notifying us (or the Trustee, if the holders give notice) in writing. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series by notifying us (or the Trustee, if the holders give notice) in writing. (Section 502)

 

Except in cases of default, where the Trustee has some special duties, the Trustee is not required to take any action under the Indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (called an “indemnity”). (Section 602 and Trust Indenture Act Section 315). If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the Trustee. The Trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances. (Section 512) No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default. (Section 511)

 

Before you are allowed to bypass the Trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interest relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

 

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt securities on or after the due date. (Section 508)

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may waive any past defaults other than the following:

 

 

If your securities are held for you by a bank or brokerage firm, you should consult them for information on how to give notice or direction to the Trustee or make a request of the Trustee and how to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.

 

Each year, we will furnish the Trustee with a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that, to their knowledge, we are in compliance with the Indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default. (Section 1004)

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

 

Under the terms of the Indentures, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another firm. We are also permitted to sell or transfer our assets substantially as an entirety to another firm. (Section 801) However, we may not take any of these actions unless all of the following conditions are met:

 

 

Modification or Waiver

 

There are three types of changes that we can make to the Indentures and the debt securities.

 

Changes Requiring Your Approval.  First, there are changes that cannot be made to your debt securities without your specific approval. (Section 902) Following is a list of those types of changes:

 

 

 

Changes Requiring a Majority Vote.  The second type of change to the Indenture and the outstanding debt securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor by holders of Outstanding debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the Outstanding debt securities in any material respect. The same vote would be required for us to obtain a waiver of all or part of certain covenants in the applicable Indenture (Section 1011 of the Senior Indenture and Section 1008 of the Subordinated Indenture) or a waiver of a past default. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the Indentures or the Outstanding debt securities listed in the first category described above under “—Changes Requiring Your Approval” unless we obtain your individual consent to the waiver. (Section 902)

 

Changes Not Requiring Approval.  The third type of change does not require any vote by you as holders of Outstanding debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the Outstanding debt securities in any material respect. (Section 901)

 

Further Details Concerning Voting.  When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a debt security:

 

 

 

Debt securities will not be considered Outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.” (Section 101)

 

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the applicable Indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of debt securities of that series on the record date. (Section 104)

 

If your securities are held by a bank or brokerage firm, you should consult them for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the applicable Indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

 

Each Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities issued as Bearer Securities. (Section 1501 of the Senior Indenture and Section 1701 of the Subordinated Indenture) A meeting may be called at any time by the applicable Trustee, and also, upon request, by us or by the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series, upon notice given as provided in the applicable Indenture. (Section 1502 of the Senior Indenture and Section 1702 of the Subordinated Indenture)

 

Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected thereby, as described above, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series may adopt any resolution presented at a meeting at which a quorum is present. However, any resolution with respect to any action which the Indenture expressly provides may be taken by a specified percentage less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting at which a quorum is present by vote of that specified percentage. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of a series in accordance with the applicable Indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series and any related coupons. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series, except that if any action is to be taken at such meeting which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a quorum. (Section 1504 of the Senior Indenture and Section 1704 of the Subordinated Indenture)

 

Notwithstanding the above, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of holders of debt securities of a series that the applicable Indenture expressly provides may be taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding debt securities affected thereby or of the holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

The following discussion of defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to your series of debt securities, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet. (Section 1401)

Defeasance.  If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities (called “defeasance”) if we put in place the following other arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

 

If we ever accomplish defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever become bankrupt or insolvent. You would also be released from the subordination provisions on the subordinated debt securities described later under “Subordination” in this prospectus. If we accomplish a defeasance, we would retain only the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold monies for payment in trust.

 

Covenant Defeasance.  Under current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the same type of deposit described above and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the Indentures. These covenants relate to “Limitation on Liens” and “Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” described in Sections 1009 and 1010, respectively, of the Senior Indenture and are summarized in this prospectus. We can also be released from certain other covenants in the Indentures which may be specified in the prospectus supplement or term sheet if we make the same type of deposit described above. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, you would lose the protection of those covenants but would gain the protection of having money and debt securities set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. You also would be released from the subordination provisions on the subordinated securities described under “Subordination” in this prospectus. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

 

 

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the Trustee were prevented from making payment. In fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred, such as our bankruptcy, and the debt securities become immediately due and payable, there may be such a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

 

Book-Entry Debt Securities

 

We may issue debt securities of a series in whole or in part in global form that we will deposit with, or on behalf of, a depositary that we identify in a prospectus supplement or term sheet. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form (each, a “Global

Security”). Global Securities will be registered in the name of a financial institution we select, and the debt securities included in the Global Securities may not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the Global Security is called the “Depositary.” Any person wishing to own a debt security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that, in turn, has an account with the Depositary.

 

Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities.  Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the Trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the Trustee, run only to Persons who are registered as holders of debt securities. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you but does not do so. As an indirect holder, your rights relating to a Global Security will be governed by the account rules of your financial institution and of the Depositary, as well as general laws relating to debt securities transfers.

 

You should be aware that when we issue debt securities in the form of Global Securities:

 

 

Special Situations When Global Security Will Be Terminated.  In a few special situations described below, a Global Security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or indirectly through an account at your bank or brokerage firm will be up to you. You must consult your own bank or broker to find out how to have interests in debt securities transferred to your own name, so that you will hold them directly.

 

The special situations for termination of a Global Security are:

 

 

The prospectus supplement or term sheet may list situations for terminating a Global Security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement or term sheet. When a Global Security terminates, the Depositary (and neither we nor the Trustee) is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders. (Section 302) Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, debt securities that are represented by a Global Security will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

Resignation of Trustee

 

Each Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of Indenture Securities, and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series. (Section 608) In the event that two or more persons are acting as Trustee with respect to different series of Indenture Securities under one of the Indentures, each such Trustee will be a Trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other such Trustee (Section 609), and any action described herein to be taken by the “Trustee” may then be taken by each such Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of Indenture Securities for which it is Trustee.

 

Senior Indenture Provisions

 

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

 

Under the terms of the Senior Indenture, we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined) to, sell or transfer any manufacturing plant owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary with the intention of taking back a lease on such property unless:

 

 

 

 

These provisions are intended to preserve our assets and to limit our ability to incur leases which effectively constitute indebtedness.

 

Limitation on Liens

 

Under the terms of the Senior Indenture, with certain exceptions, we will not, directly or indirectly, and we will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or assume any mortgage, pledge or other lien of or upon any of our or their assets unless all of the outstanding Indenture Securities of each series are secured by such mortgage, pledge or lien equally and ratably with any and all other obligations and indebtedness thereby secured for so long as any such other obligations and indebtedness will be so secured. Among the exceptions are:

 

 

 

In addition, we or any Restricted Subsidiary may create or assume any mortgage, pledge or other lien not otherwise permitted by the Senior Indenture for the purpose of securing indebtedness or other obligations so long as the aggregate of all such indebtedness and other obligations then outstanding, together with the value of all outstanding Sale and Leaseback Transactions not otherwise permitted, will not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (Section 1009 of the Senior Indenture)

 

Definitions

 

The Senior Indenture defines the term “Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” as our total assets and those of our consolidated subsidiaries, including the investment in (at equity) and the net amount of advances to and accounts receivable from corporations which are not consolidated subsidiaries, less the following:

 

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is to be determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and as provided in the Senior Indenture. (Section 101 of the Senior Indenture)

 

The Senior Indenture defines the term “Restricted Subsidiary” as any of our subsidiaries except:

 

 

The Senior Indenture defines the term “Funded Debt” as indebtedness for borrowed money owed or guaranteed by us or any of our consolidated subsidiaries, and any other indebtedness which under generally accepted accounting principles would appear as debt on the balance sheet of such corporation, which matures by its terms more than twelve months from the date as of which Funded Debt is to be determined or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than twelve months from the date as of which Funded Debt is to be determined. (Section 101 of the Senior Indenture)

For purposes of Limitation on Liens and Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions, the Senior Indenture defines the term “value” with respect to a manufacturing plant as the amount equal to the greater of:

 

 

This amount is divided first by the number of full years of the term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term remaining at the time of determination, without regard to renewal or extension options contained in such lease. (Section 1010 of the Senior Indenture)

 

Subordinated Indenture Provisions

 

Subordination

 

Article 16 of the Subordinated Indenture provides that the payment of principal of (and premium, if any), and interest on, subordinated securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness. We may make no payment with respect to subordinated securities while a default exists with respect to our Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Subordinated Indenture defines “Senior Indebtedness” as:

 

 

Any indebtedness that becomes indebtedness of our company by operation of merger, consolidation or other acquisition will constitute Senior Indebtedness if that indebtedness would have been Senior Indebtedness had it been issued by us. By reason of this subordination, in the event that we become insolvent, holders of our Senior Indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of Subordinated Indebtedness may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. The Subordinated Indenture does not limit our ability to issue Senior Indebtedness.

 

If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated debt, the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet or the information incorporated by reference will set forth the approximate amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.

 

The Trustees Under the Indentures

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as Chemical Bank), is the Trustee under the Senior Indenture. We may appoint The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A. as trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A. is among the banks with which we maintain ordinary banking relationships.

In the event that a default occurs under either Indenture, unless the default is cured or waived within 90 days, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act require that, if The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A. is Subordinated Trustee, it must resign as Trustee under either the Subordinated Indenture or the Senior Indenture. In such circumstance, we expect that The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A. would resign as Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture.

 

Foreign Currency Risks—Fluctuations and Controls

 

Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. For example, the value of the currencies, in comparison to U.S. dollars, may decline, or foreign governments may impose or modify controls regarding the payment of foreign currency obligations. These events may cause the value of debt securities denominated or payable in those foreign currencies to fall substantially. These risks will vary depending upon the foreign currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

General

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, debt securities will be denominated in U.S. dollars, payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars and payment of the purchase price of debt securities must be made in immediately available funds. If any debt securities (“Foreign Currency Notes”) are to be denominated or payable in a currency (a “specified currency”) other than U.S. dollars, the following provisions will apply in addition to, and to the extent inconsistent therewith will replace, the description of general terms and provisions of debt securities set forth in this prospectus and elsewhere in the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

A prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to any Foreign Currency Note (which may include information with respect to applicable current foreign exchange controls) is a part of this prospectus. Any information concerning exchange rates is furnished as a matter of information only and should not be regarded as indicative of the range of or trends in fluctuations in currency exchange rates that may occur in the future.

 

Currencies

 

We may offer Foreign Currency Notes denominated and/or payable in a specified currency or specified currencies. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, purchasers are required to pay for Foreign Currency Notes in the specified currency. At the present time, there are limited facilities in the United States for conversion of U.S. dollars into specified currencies and vice versa, and banks may elect not to offer non-U.S. dollar checking or savings account facilities in the United States. However, if requested on or prior to the fifth Business Day preceding the date of delivery of the Foreign Currency Notes, or by such other day as determined by the agent who presents such offer to purchase Foreign Currency Notes to us, such agent may be prepared to arrange for the conversion of U.S. dollars into the specified currency set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet to enable the purchasers to pay for the Foreign Currency Notes. Each such conversion will be made by the agents on such terms and subject to such conditions, limitations and charges as the agents may from time to time establish in accordance with their regular foreign exchange practices. All costs of exchange will be borne by the purchasers of the Foreign Currency Notes.

 

Information about the specified currency in which a particular Foreign Currency Note is denominated and/or payable, including historical exchange rates and a description of the currency and any exchange controls, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

Payment of Principal and Interest

 

The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Foreign Currency Notes is payable by us in the specified currency. Currently, banks do not generally offer non-U.S. dollar-denominated account facilities in their offices in the United States, although they are permitted to do so. Accordingly, a holder of Foreign Currency Notes will be paid in U.S. dollars converted from the specified currency unless the holder is entitled to elect, and does elect, to be paid in the specified currency, or as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

Any U.S. dollar amount to be received by a holder of a Foreign Currency Note will be based on the highest bid quotation in The City of New York received by an agent for us specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet (the “Exchange Rate Agent”) at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date from three recognized foreign exchange dealers (one of whom may be the Exchange Rate Agent) selected by the Exchange Rate Agent and approved by us for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the specified currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on the payment date in the aggregate amount of the specified currency payable to all holders of Foreign Currency Notes scheduled to receive U.S. dollar payments and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If three bid quotations are not available, payments will be made in the specified currency. All currency exchange costs will be borne by the holder of the Foreign Currency Note by deductions from such payments.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, a holder of Foreign Currency Notes may elect to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Foreign Currency Notes in the specified currency by transmitting a written request for such payment to the corporate trust office of the Trustee in The City of New York on or prior to the regular record date or at least 15 calendar days prior to Maturity Date, as the case may be. This request may be in writing (mailed or hand delivered) or sent by cable, telex or other form of facsimile transmission. A holder of a Foreign Currency Note may elect to receive payment in the specified currency for all principal, premium, if any, and interest payments and need not file a separate election for each payment. This election will remain in effect until revoked by written notice to the Trustee, but written notice of any revocation must be received by the Trustee on or prior to the regular record date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Holders of Foreign Currency Notes whose Notes are to be held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact their brokers or nominees to determine whether and how an election to receive payments in the specified currency may be made.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, if the specified currency is other than U.S. dollars, a beneficial owner of the related global security who elects to receive payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in the specified currency must notify its participant through which it owns its beneficial interest on or prior to the applicable record date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be, of such beneficial owner’s election. The participant must notify the depositary of such election on or prior to the third Business Day after such record date or at least 12 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be, and the depositary will notify the Trustee of such election on or prior to the fifth Business Day after such record date or at least ten calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If complete instructions are received by the participant from the beneficial owner and forwarded by the participant to the depositary, and by the depositary to the Trustee, on or prior to such dates, then the beneficial owner will receive payments in the specified currency.

 

Principal and interest on Foreign Currency Notes paid in U.S. dollars will be paid in the manner specified in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars. See “Description of Debt Securities — General”. Interest on Foreign Currency Notes paid in the specified currency will be paid by check mailed on an Interest Payment Date other than a Maturity Date to the persons entitled thereto to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register or, at our option, by wire transfer to a bank account maintained by the holder in the country of the specified currency. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Foreign Currency Notes, together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon, due on the Maturity Date will be paid, in the specified currency in

immediately available funds upon surrender of such Notes at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in The City of New York, or, at our option, by wire transfer to such bank account of immediately available funds to an account with a bank designated at least 15 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date by the applicable registered holder, provided the particular bank has appropriate facilities to make these payments and the particular Foreign Currency Note is presented and surrendered at the office or agency maintained by us for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in time for the Trustee to make these payments in accordance with its normal procedures.

 

Payment Currency

 

If a specified currency is not available for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to a Foreign Currency Note due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, we will be entitled to satisfy our obligations to holders of Foreign Currency Notes by making such payment in U.S. dollars on the basis of the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of the specified currency as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Market Exchange Rate”) as computed by the Exchange Rate Agent on the second Business Day prior to such payment or, if not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Market Exchange Rate or as otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet. Any payment made under these circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in a specified currency will not constitute a default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities.

 

All determinations referred to above made by the Exchange Rate Agent will be at its sole discretion and will, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the holders of the Foreign Currency Notes.

 

AS INDICATED ABOVE, AN INVESTMENT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES OR CURRENCY INDEXED NOTES INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISKS, AND THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF SUCH RISKS CHANGE CONTINUOUSLY. AS WITH ANY INVESTMENT IN A SECURITY, PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS AS TO THE RISKS ENTAILED IN AN INVESTMENT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES OR CURRENCY INDEXED NOTES. SUCH NOTES ARE NOT AN APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT FOR PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS WHO ARE UNSOPHISTICATED WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN CURRENCY MATTERS.

 

The following is a general description of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time. This description is subject to the detailed provisions of a warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent we select at the time of issue and the description in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable series of warrants.

 

We may issue (either separately or together with other offered securities) warrants to purchase underlying debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination thereof issued by us (“offered warrants”). Such warrants may be issued independently or together with any such securities and may be attached or separate from the securities. We may issue the warrants under separate warrant agreements (each a “warrant agreement”) to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the “warrant agent”), identified in the prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders of beneficial owners of warrants.

 

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the warrants and any of the warrant agreements. We urge you to read any applicable warrant agreement because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of our warrants. We will file any executed warrant agreement with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy of the warrant agreement.

 

General

 

You should read the prospectus supplement for the material terms of the offered warrants, including the following:

 

 

The prospectus supplement will also contain a discussion of the United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the offering.

Warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new warrant certificates of different denominations. No service charge will be imposed for any permitted transfer or exchange of warrant certificates, but we may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Warrants may be exercised and exchanged and warrants in registered form may be presented for registration of transfer at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each offered warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase the amount of underlying debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination thereof at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the offered warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will be void.

 

Warrants may be exercised by payment to the warrant agent of the applicable exercise price and by delivery to the warrant agent of the related warrant certificate, properly completed. Warrants will be deemed to have been exercised upon receipt of the exercise price and the warrant certificate or certificates. Upon receipt of this payment and the properly completed warrant certificates, we will, as soon as practicable, deliver the amount of underlying debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination thereof purchased upon exercise.

 

If fewer than all of the warrants represented by any warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the unexercised warrants. The holder of a warrant will be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer involved in the issuance of underlying debt securities preferred shares, common shares or other combination thereof purchased upon exercise.

 

Amendments and Supplements to Warrant Agreement

 

We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

 

No Rights as Holders of Underlying Debt Securities, Preferred Shares or Common Shares

 

Before the warrants are exercised, holders of the warrants are not entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the related underlying debt securities and dividends on the preferred shares, common shares or any combination thereof, as applicable, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as holders of the underlying debt securities, preferred shares or common shares.

 

The following description sets forth the general terms and provisions of the preferred shares. If we offer preferred shares, we will describe the specific designation and rights in a prospectus supplement or term sheet, and we will file a description with the SEC.

 

General

 

Our Board of Directors is authorized without further shareholder action to issue one or more series of up to 14,106,394 preferred shares. The Board of Directors can also determine the number of shares, dividend rates, dividend payment dates and dates from which dividends will be cumulative, redemption rights or prices, sinking fund provisions, liquidation prices, conversion rights and restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series. As of the date of this prospectus, no preferred shares are issued or outstanding.

The preferred shares will have the dividend, liquidation, redemption, voting rights and conversion rights set forth below unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to a particular series of offered preferred shares.

 

We will set forth the following terms of the offered preferred shares in the prospectus supplement or term sheet:

 

 

The preferred shares will be fully paid and nonassessable, and for each share issued, a sum equal to the stated value will be credited to our preferred stock account.

 

We are subject to certain provisions of Ohio law, each of which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company. See “Description of Common Shares-Certain Ohio Statutes.”

 

Dividends

 

As a holder of offered preferred shares, you will be entitled to receive cash dividends, when and as declared by the Board of Directors out of our assets legally available for payment, at such rate and on such quarterly dates as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet. Each dividend will be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock books on the record dates fixed by the Board of Directors. Dividends will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

If we have not paid or declared and set apart for payment full cumulative dividends on any preferred shares for any dividend period or we are in default with respect to the redemption of preferred shares or any sinking fund for any preferred shares, we may not do the following:

 

 

 

If dividends on preferred shares are in arrears, and there will be outstanding shares of any other series of preferred shares ranking on a parity as to dividends with the preferred shares, we, in making any dividend payment on account of such arrears, are required to make payments ratably upon all outstanding preferred shares and such other series of preferred shares in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends in arrears on such preferred shares and shares of such other series.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the holders of the offered preferred shares will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions in the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet plus all accrued and unpaid dividends. This distribution will be made out of our assets available for distribution to shareholders and will be made before any distribution is made to holders of our common shares. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the amounts payable with respect to the preferred shares and any of our other shares ranking on a parity with the preferred shares are not paid in full, the holders of those shares will share ratably in any such distribution of our assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of preferred shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets. A consolidation or merger of our company with or into any other corporation or corporations or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets will not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company.

 

Redemption

 

The offered preferred shares will be redeemable in whole or in part at our option, at the times and at the redemption prices that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.

 

We may not redeem less than all the outstanding shares of any series of preferred shares unless full cumulative dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment upon all outstanding shares of such series of preferred shares for all past dividend periods. In addition, all of our matured obligations with respect to all sinking funds, retirement funds or purchase funds for all series of preferred shares then outstanding must have been met.

 

Voting Rights

 

The holders of the offered preferred shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters presented to our shareholders.

 

If the equivalent of six quarterly dividends payable on any series of preferred shares are in default, whether or not declared or consecutive, the holders of all outstanding series of preferred shares, voting as a single class without regard to series, will be entitled to elect two directors until all dividends in default have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. The holders of preferred shares will not have or exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of the shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding preferred shares of all series are present in person or by proxy.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding preferred shares, voting as a single class without regard to series, will be required for any amendment of our Amended Articles of Incorporation or Amended Regulations that will adversely affect the preferences, rights or voting powers of the preferred shares. If not all series of preferred shares would be affected as to their preferences, rights or voting powers, only the consent of holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of each series that would be affected, voting separately as a class, will be required. A two-thirds vote is also required to issue any class of

stock that will have preference as to dividends or distribution of assets over any outstanding series of preferred shares.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares will be necessary to increase the authorized number of preferred shares or to authorize any shares ranking on a parity with the preferred shares. The Regulations may be amended to increase the number of directors, without the vote of the holders of outstanding preferred shares.

 

Conversion Rights

 

We will state in the prospectus supplement or term sheet for any series of offered preferred shares whether shares in that series are convertible into common shares. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, if a series of preferred shares is convertible into common shares, holders of convertible preferred shares of that series will have the right, at their option and at any time, to convert any of those convertible preferred shares in accordance with their terms. However, if that series of convertible preferred shares is called for redemption, the conversion rights pertaining to such series will terminate at the close of business on the date before the redemption date.

 

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, the conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain events, including the following:

 

 

No adjustments in the conversion rate will be made as a result of regular quarterly or other periodic or recurrent cash dividends or distributions or for cash dividends or distributions to the extent paid from retained earnings. No adjustment in the conversion price will be required unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion price then in effect or a period of three years will have elapsed from the date of occurrence of any event requiring any such adjustment; provided that any adjustment that would otherwise be required to be made will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. We reserve the right to make such increases in the conversion rate in addition to those required in the foregoing provisions as we, in our discretion, determine to be advisable in order that certain stock-related distributions or subdivisions of the common shares hereafter made by us to our shareholders will not be taxable. Except as stated above, the conversion rate will not be adjusted for the issuance of common shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for common shares, or securities carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

In the case of:

 

 

as a result of which holders of common shares will be entitled to receive stock, securities, or other property or assets, including cash, with respect to or in exchange for such common shares, the holders of the convertible preferred shares then outstanding will be entitled thereafter to convert those convertible preferred shares into

the kind and amount of shares and other securities or property which they would have received upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance had those convertible preferred shares been converted into common shares immediately prior to the reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance.

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions concerning the common shares contained in our Amended Articles of Incorporation (“Articles”) and our Amended Regulations (“Regulations”), as affected by debt agreements. Reference is made to such Articles and Regulations, which we have filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus for information on how to obtain a copy of the Articles and Regulations. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange.

 

Authorized Number

 

The Articles authorize the issuance of up to 500,000,000 common shares. Common shares issued and outstanding totaled 165.2 million as of January 31, 2009. The outstanding common shares are fully paid and non-assessable, and shareholders are not subject to any liability for calls and assessments. The Articles also authorize the issuance of up to 14,106,394 preferred shares. Currently, there are no preferred shares issued and outstanding.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of common shares may receive dividends that our Board of Directors declares.

 

Voting Rights

 

Each common share entitles the holder to one vote. Directors are elected by cumulative voting, which means that each common share entitles the holder to the number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected. All votes in respect of such common share may be cast for one or more of the directors to be elected. Cumulative voting may have the effect of increasing minority shareholders’ representation on the Board of Directors.

 

The Articles provide that action may be taken by the vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Company, except in each case as is otherwise provided in the Articles or Regulations. The Articles and Regulations provide for a voting proportion, which is different from that provided by statutory law, in order for shareholders to take action in certain circumstances, including the following:

 

(1) two-thirds vote required to fix or change the number of directors;

 

(2) two-thirds vote required for removal of directors;

 

(3) fifty percent of the outstanding shares required to call a special meeting of shareholders;

 

(4) two-thirds vote required to amend the Regulations without a meeting;

 

(5) two-thirds vote required to amend the provisions described in items (1) and (4) above and this provision, unless such action is recommended by two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors;

 

(6) two-thirds vote required to approve certain transactions, such as the sale, exchange, lease, transfer or other disposition by the Company of all, or substantially all, of its assets or business, or the consolidation of the Company or its merger into another corporation, or certain other mergers and majority share acquisitions; and

 

(7) two-thirds vote required to amend the provisions described in item (6) above, or this provision.

The requirement of a two-thirds vote in certain circumstances may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, after the payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities and the preferential amounts to which holders of our preferred shares are entitled, if any such preferred shares are then outstanding, the holders of the common shares are entitled to share pro rata in our assets remaining for distribution to shareholders.

 

Miscellaneous Rights, Listing and Transfer Agents

 

Our common shares have no preemptive or conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable thereto.

 

Our outstanding common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation is the transfer agent and registrar for our common shares.

 

Classification of Board of Directors

 

Our Board of Directors is divided into three approximately equal classes, having staggered terms of office of three years each. The effect of a classified board of directors, where cumulative voting is in effect, is to require the votes of more shares to elect one or more members of the Board of Directors than would be required if the Board of Directors were not classified. Additionally, the effect of a classified board of directors may be to make it more difficult to acquire control of our company.

 

Certain Ohio Statutes

 

Various laws may affect the legal or practical ability of shareholders to dispose of shares of our company. Such laws include the Ohio statutory provisions described below.

 

Chapter 1704 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits an interested shareholder (defined as a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent (10%) or more of the voting power of any issuing public Ohio corporation) or any affiliate or associate of an interested shareholder (as defined in Section 1704.01 of the Ohio Revised Code) from engaging in certain transactions with the corporation during the three-year period after the interested shareholder’s share acquisition date.

 

The prohibited transactions include mergers, consolidations, majority share acquisitions, certain asset sales, loans, certain sales of shares, dissolution, and certain reclassifications, recapitalizations, or other transactions that would increase the proportion of shares held by the interested shareholder.

 

After expiration of the three-year period, the corporation may participate in such a transaction with an interested shareholder only if, among other things:

 

 

The prohibitions do not apply if, before the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors of the corporation approves either the interested shareholder’s acquisition of shares or the otherwise prohibited transaction. The restrictions also do not apply if a person inadvertently becomes an interested shareholder or was an interested shareholder prior to the adoption of the statute on April 11, 1990, unless, subject to certain exceptions, the interested shareholder increases his, her or its proportionate share interest on or after April 11, 1990.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 1707.043, a public corporation formed in Ohio may recover profits that a shareholder makes from the sale of the corporation’s securities within eighteen (18) months after making a proposal to acquire control or publicly disclosing the possibility of a proposal to acquire control. The corporation may not, however, recover from a person who proves in a court of competent jurisdiction either of the following:

 

 

Also, before the corporation may obtain any recovery, the aggregate amount of the profit realized by such person must exceed $250,000. Any shareholder may bring an action on behalf of the corporation if a corporation fails or refuses to bring an action to recover these profits within sixty (60) days of a written request. The party bringing such an action may recover attorneys’ fees if the court having jurisdiction over such action orders recovery of any profits.

 

Control Share Acquisition Act

 

We are also subject to Ohio’s Control Share Acquisition Act (Ohio Revised Code 1701.831). The Control Share Acquisition Act provides that, with certain exceptions, a person may acquire beneficial ownership of shares in certain ranges (one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third or more but less than a majority, or a majority or more) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of an Ohio corporation meeting certain criteria, which our company meets, only if such person has submitted an “acquiring person statement” and the proposed acquisition has been approved by the vote of a majority of the shares of the corporation represented at a special meeting called for such purpose and by a majority of such shares of the corporation excluding “interested shares,” as defined in Section 1701.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.

 

The following summary describes, subject to the limitations set forth below, the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of debt securities and equity securities described in this prospectus. Except where noted, this discussion addresses only debt securities and equity securities purchased by investors at original issue for their issue price and held as capital assets and does not address certain types of securities described in this prospectus as further explained below. The applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet will contain a discussion of any special U.S. federal income tax considerations in respect of those types of securities.

 

This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations (including proposed Regulations and temporary Regulations) promulgated thereunder, the IRS rulings, official pronouncements and judicial decisions, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or to different interpretations. The discussion below does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to a holder of a security nor does this discussion describe certain tax consequences that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as individual retirement and other tax-deferred accounts, dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, partnerships, life insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, persons holding a debt security as a hedge or hedged against currency risk, as a position in a straddle for tax purposes, as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated investment comprised of a debt security or equity security and one or more other investments, United States persons (as defined below) whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar, or to certain U.S. expatriates. This discussion applies only to debt securities issued in registered form, and except where noted, this discussion does not describe tax consequences to subsequent purchases of debt securities or equity securities.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, holding or disposing of a particular security will depend, in part, on the particular terms of such security as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, holding or disposing of certain Floating Rate Notes, Foreign Currency Notes (other than Single Foreign Currency Notes, as defined below), Amortizing Notes, Bearer Securities, Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes, Indexed Notes, Renewable Notes, Extendible Notes, Notes (as defined below) paired with warrants, common shares, preferred shares, warrants, units and convertible securities referred to in this prospectus will be set out in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet. Persons considering the purchase of one or more securities should consult their independent tax advisors concerning the application of U.S. federal income tax law to their particular situations, as well as any tax consequences arising under the law of any state, local or foreign tax jurisdiction, and about any potential tax law changes and the effects applicable to them.

 

For purposes of the following discussion, “United States person” means an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, an estate subject to U.S. federal income taxation without regard to the source of its income, a corporation or other business entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or a trust if a valid election to be treated as a United States person, as defined in the Code, is in effect with respect to such trust or both:

 

 

If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the security, the treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. A holder of security that is a partnership and partners in such partnership should consult their independent tax advisors.

 

United States Holders

 

The following discussion pertains only to a holder that is a beneficial owner of a debt security (a “Note”) or an equity security described in this prospectus and that is a United States person (a “U.S. holder”).

 

Payments of Interest on Notes

 

Except as discussed below under “OID Notes” and “Short-Term Notes,” payment of interest on a Note will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time it is accrued or received in accordance with the holder’s method of tax accounting. Special rules relating to OID Notes, Notes with floating interest rates, Notes denominated in a foreign currency or containing certain other provisions are described below.

 

OID Notes

 

The following summary is a general description of U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders of Notes issued with original issue discount (“OID Notes”) and is based on the provisions of the Code and on certain Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder relating to original issue discount (the “OID Regulations”).

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, “original issue discount” is the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of an OID Note over its issue price, if such excess is greater than or equal to a de minimis amount (generally 1/4 of 1% of the OID Note’s stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity from its issue date). The issue price of OID Notes that are issued for cash will be equal to the first price at which a substantial amount of such Notes is sold for money. For this purpose, sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers are ignored. The stated redemption price at maturity of an OID Note is the sum of all payments provided by the OID Note, other than payments of qualified stated interest. Under the OID Regulations, “qualified stated interest” includes stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or

property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually at a single fixed rate (with certain exceptions for lower rates paid during some periods) or certain variable rates as described below. Interest is payable at a single fixed rate only if the rate appropriately takes into account the length of the interval between payments. Except as described below with respect to Short-Term Notes, a holder of an OID Note will be required to include original issue discount in ordinary income as it accrues before the receipt of any cash attributable to such income, regardless of such holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Special rules for certain floating rate Notes are described below under “Variable Rate Notes.” A holder of an OID Note with de minimis original issue discount will include any de minimis original issue discount in income, as capital gain, on a pro rata basis as principal payments are made on such Note.

 

The amount of original issue discount includible in income by the initial holder of an OID Note is the sum of the daily portions of original issue discount with respect to such Note for each day during the taxable year on which such holder held such Note (“accrued original issue discount”). Generally, the daily portion of the original issue discount is determined by allocating to each day in any “accrual period” a ratable portion of the original issue discount allocable to such accrual period. Under the OID Regulations, the “accrual periods” for an OID Note may be selected by each holder, may be of any length, and may vary in length over the term of an OID Note, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs either on the first day or final day of an accrual period. The amount of original issue discount allocable to each accrual period is equal to the excess, if any, of:

 

 

The “adjusted issue price” of an OID Note at the beginning of any accrual period generally is the sum of the issue price (including accrued interest, if any) of an OID Note plus the accrued original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual periods, reduced by any prior payment on the OID Note other than a payment of qualified stated interest. As a result of this “constant yield” method of including original issue discount income, a holder of an OID Note generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of original issue discount in successive accrual periods.

 

If a holder’s tax basis in an OID Note immediately after purchase exceeds the adjusted issue price of the OID Note (the amount of such excess is considered “acquisition premium”) but is not greater than the stated redemption price at maturity of such OID Note, the amount includible in income in each taxable year as original issue discount is reduced (but not below zero) by that portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to such year.

 

If a holder purchases an OID Note for an amount in excess of the stated redemption price at maturity, the holder does not include any original issue discount in income and generally may be subject to the “bond premium” rules discussed below. See “Amortizable Bond Premium.” If a holder has a tax basis in an OID Note that is less than the adjusted issue price of such Note, the difference may be subject to the market discount provisions discussed below. See “Market Discount.”

 

Variable Rate Notes

 

In general, under Treasury Regulations, stated interest on certain floating rate Notes that qualify as “Variable Rate Notes” will be taxable to a U.S. holder when accrued or received in accordance with the U.S. holder’s method of tax accounting. For this purpose, a Variable Rate Note is a Note that

 

(1) has an issue price that does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments by more than the lesser of:

 

(a) the product of:

 

 

 

(b) 15 percent of the total noncontingent principal payments; and

 

(2) does not provide for stated interest other than stated interest compounded or paid at least annually at:

 

(a) one or more “qualified floating rates”;

 

(b) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates;

 

(c) a single “objective rate”; or

 

(d) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a “qualified inverse floating rate.”

 

A qualified floating rate or objective rate in effect at any time during the term of the instrument must be set at a “current value” of that rate. A “current value” of a rate is the value of the rate on any day that is no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day.

 

A variable rate is a “qualified floating rate” if

 

(1) variations in the value of the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the Note is denominated; or

 

(2) it is equal to the product of such a rate and either:

 

(a) a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than l.35; or

 

(b) a fixed multiple greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate.

 

If a Note provides for two or more qualified floating rates that:

 

 

the qualified floating rates together constitute a single qualified floating rate. A rate is not a qualified floating rate, however, if the rate is subject to certain restrictions (including caps, floors, governors, or other similar restrictions) unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the Note or are not reasonably expected to significantly affect the yield on the Note.

 

An “objective rate” is a rate, other than a qualified floating rate, that is determined using a single, fixed formula and that is based on objective financial or economic information. A rate will not qualify as an objective rate if it is based on information that is within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as dividends, profits, or the value of the issuer’s stock (although a rate does not fail to be an objective rate merely because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer). A variable rate is not an objective rate if it is reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of the Note’s term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the average value of the rate during the final half of the Note’s term. An objective rate is a “qualified inverse floating rate” if:

 

 

If interest on a Note is stated at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate for a subsequent period, and:

 

 

 

then the fixed rate and the qualified floating rate or the objective rate constitute a single qualified floating rate or objective rate.

 

Under these rules relating to variable rate debt instruments, CD Rate Notes, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes, Federal Funds Rate Notes, Prime Rate Notes, Treasury Rate Notes, CMT Rate Notes and Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes generally will be treated as Variable Rate Notes.

 

In general, if a Variable Rate Note provides for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or objective rate and the interest is unconditionally payable in cash at least annually, all stated interest on the Variable Rate Note is qualified stated interest. The amount of original issue discount, if any, is determined by using, in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or, in the case of any other objective rate, a fixed rate that reflects the yield reasonably expected for the Variable Rate Note. The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest assumed to be paid during the accrual period, as described in the previous sentence.

 

If a Variable Rate Note does not provide for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate, or at a single fixed rate (other than at a single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and original issue discount accruals on the Variable Rate Note are generally determined by:

 

 

If a Variable Rate Note provides for stated interest, either at one or more qualified floating rates or at a qualified inverse floating rate, and in addition provides for stated interest at a single fixed rate (other than at a single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and original issue discount accruals are determined as in the immediately preceding paragraph with the modification that the Variable Rate Note is treated, for purposes of the first three steps of the determination, as if it provided for a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be) rather than the fixed rate. The qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating rate) replacing the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the Variable Rate Note, as of the issue date, would be approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating rate) rather than the fixed rate.

 

Single Foreign Currency Notes

 

The following summary relates to Notes (“Single Foreign Currency Notes”) on which all payments that a holder is entitled to receive are denominated in or determined by reference to the value of a single Foreign Currency. “Foreign Currency” means a currency or currency unit, other than a hyperinflationary currency as defined in the Code, or the U.S. dollar.

 

The amount required to be included in income by a cash basis holder upon receipt of an interest payment (representing a payment of qualified stated interest) denominated in or determined with reference to a single Foreign Currency, will be the U.S. dollar value of the amount paid (determined on the basis of the “spot rate” on the date such payment is received), regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. No exchange gain or loss will be recognized with respect to the receipt of such payment.

Except in the case of a Spot Rate Convention Election (as defined below), a holder of a Single Foreign Currency Note who uses the accrual method of accounting or is otherwise required to accrue interest income prior to receipt will be required to include in income for each taxable year the U.S. dollar value of the interest that has accrued during such year, determined by translating such interest at the average rate of exchange for the period or periods during which such interest has accrued. The average rate of exchange for an interest accrual period (or partial period) is the simple average of the spot exchange rates for each business day of such period (or such other average exchange rate that is reasonably derived and consistently applied by the holder). Upon receipt of an interest payment (including a payment attributable to accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or exchange of a Single Foreign Currency Note), such holder will recognize ordinary gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the Foreign Currency received (determined on the basis of the “spot rate” on the date such payment is received) or, in the case of interest received in U.S. dollars rather than in Foreign Currency, the amount so received and the U.S. dollar value of the interest income that such holder has previously included in income with respect to such payment. Any such gain or loss generally will not be treated as interest income or expense, except to the extent provided by administrative pronouncements of the IRS.

 

A holder may elect (a “Spot Rate Convention Election”) to translate accrued interest into U.S. dollars at the “spot rate” on the last day of an accrual period for the interest, or, in the case of an accrual period that spans two taxable years, at the “spot rate” on the last day of the taxable year. Additionally, if a payment of interest is received within five business days of the last day of the accrual period, an electing holder may instead translate such accrued interest into U.S. dollars at the “spot rate” on the day of receipt. Any such election will apply to all debt instruments held by the United States person at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the United States person and cannot be revoked without the consent of the IRS.

 

For purposes of this discussion, the “spot rate” generally means a rate that reflects a fair market rate of exchange available to the public for currency under a “spot contract” in a free market and involving representative amounts. A “spot contract” is a contract to buy or sell a currency on the nearest conventional settlement date, generally two business days following the date of the execution of the contract. If such a spot rate cannot be demonstrated, the IRS has the authority to determine the spot rate.

 

Original issue discount on a Single Foreign Currency Note that is also an OID Note will be determined for any accrual period in the applicable Foreign Currency and then translated into U.S. dollars in the same manner as interest income accrued by a holder on the accrual basis, including the application of a Spot Rate Convention Election. Likewise, upon receipt of payment attributable to original issue discount (whether in connection with a payment of interest or the sale, exchange or retirement of an OID Note), a holder will recognize exchange gain or loss to the extent of the difference between such holder’s basis in the accrued original issue discount (determined in the same manner as for accrued interest) and the U.S. dollar value of such payment (determined by translating any Foreign Currency received at the spot rate on the date of payment). Generally, any such exchange gain or loss will be ordinary income or loss and will not be treated as interest income or expense, except to the extent provided in administrative pronouncements of the IRS. For this purpose, all payments on a Note will be viewed first as the payment of qualified stated interest (determined under the original issue discount rules), second as the payment of previously accrued original issue discount (to the extent thereof), with payments considered made for the earliest accrual periods first, and thereafter as the payment of principal.

 

Treasury Regulations issued under the Code meant to require the reporting of certain tax shelter transactions could be interpreted to cover transactions generally not regarded as tax shelters, including certain foreign currency transactions. Under the Treasury Regulations, certain transactions are required to be reported to the IRS, including, in certain circumstances, a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a foreign currency debt security to the extent that such sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition results in a tax loss in excess of a threshold amount. If you are considering the purchase of a foreign currency debt security, you should consult with your independent tax advisors to determine the tax return and disclosure obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the debt securities, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).

Short-Term Notes

 

In general, an individual or other cash method holder of a Note that matures one year or less from the date of its original issuance (a “Short-Term Note”) is not required to accrue original issue discount on such Note unless it has elected to do so. For purposes of determining whether a Note is a Short-Term Note, the Note matures on the last possible date it could be outstanding under its terms. Holders who report income for U.S. federal income tax purposes under the accrual method, however, and certain other holders, including banks, dealers in securities and electing holders, are required to accrue original issue discount (unless the holder elects to accrue “acquisition discount” in lieu of original issue discount) and stated interest (if any) on such Note. “Acquisition discount” is the excess of the remaining stated redemption price at maturity of the Short-Term Note over the holder’s tax basis in the Short-Term Note at the time of the acquisition. In the case of a holder who is not required, and does not elect, to accrue original issue discount or acquisition discount on a Short-Term Note, any gain realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of such Short-Term Note will be ordinary income to the extent of the original issue discount accrued through the date of such sale, exchange or retirement. Such a holder will be required to defer, until such Short-Term Note is sold or otherwise disposed of, the deduction of a portion of the interest expense on any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry such Short-Term Note. Original issue discount or acquisition discount on a Short-Term Note accrues on a straight-line basis unless an election is made to use the constant yield method (based on daily compounding).

 

In the case of a Short-Term Note that is also a Single Foreign Currency Note, the amount of original issue discount or acquisition discount subject to current accrual and the amount of any exchange gain or loss on a sale, exchange or retirement are determined under the same rules that apply to accrued interest on a Single Foreign Currency Note held by a holder on the accrual basis. A holder which is not required to, and which does not elect to, accrue original issue discount, or acquisition discount, will determine exchange gain or loss with respect to accrued original issue (or acquisition) discount on a sale, exchange, retirement or on maturity of a Short-Term Note in the same manner that a cash basis holder would account for interest income on a Single Foreign Currency Note.

 

The market discount rules will not apply to a Short-Term Note.

 

Market Discount

 

If a holder purchases a Note (other than an OID Note or a Short-Term Note) for an amount that is less than its stated redemption price at maturity, or purchases an OID Note for less than its “revised issue price” (as defined under the Code) as of the purchase date, the amount of the difference will be treated as “market discount” unless such difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules of the Code, a holder will be required to treat any partial principal payment on (or, in the case of an OID Note, any payment that does not constitute qualified stated interest), or any gain realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of, a Note as ordinary interest income to the extent of the market discount which has not previously been included in income and is treated as having accrued on such Note at the time of such payment or disposition. Further, a disposition of a Note by gift (and in certain other circumstances) could result in the recognition of market discount income, computed as if such Note had been sold at its then fair market value. In addition, a holder who purchases a Note with market discount may be required to defer the deduction of all, or a portion, of the interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry such Note until the maturity of the Note, or its earlier disposition in a taxable transaction.

 

Market discount is considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the stated maturity date of a Note, unless the holder elects to accrue market discount under the rules applicable to original issue discount. A holder may elect to include market discount in income (generally as ordinary income) currently as it accrues, in which case the rules described above regarding the deferral of interest deductions and ordinary income treatment upon disposition or partial principal payment will not apply. Such election will apply to all debt instruments acquired by the holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS.

With respect to a Single Foreign Currency Note, market discount is determined in the applicable Foreign Currency. In the case of a holder who does not elect current inclusion, accrued market discount is translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the date of disposition. No part of such accrued market discount is treated as exchange gain or loss. In the case of a holder who elects current inclusion, the amount currently includible in income for a taxable year is the U.S. dollar value of the market discount that has accrued during such year, determined by translating such market discount at the average rate of exchange for the period or periods during which it accrued. Such an electing holder will recognize exchange gain or loss with respect to accrued market discount under the same rules that apply to accrued interest on a Single Foreign Currency Note received by a holder on the accrual basis.

 

Amortizable Bond Premium

 

Generally, if a holder’s tax basis in a Note held as a capital asset exceeds the stated redemption price at maturity of such Note, such excess may constitute amortizable bond premium that the holder may elect to amortize as an offset to interest income on the Note under the constant interest rate method over the period from the holder’s acquisition date to the Note’s stated maturity date. Any such election will apply to all debt instruments held by and acquired by the holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. Under certain circumstances, amortizable bond premium may be determined by reference to an early call date. Special rules apply with respect to Single Foreign Currency Notes. If a holder elects to amortize the premium, the holder will be required to reduce such holder’s tax basis in the Note by the amount of the premium amortized during the holding period. If a holder does not elect to amortize premium, the amount of premium will be included in such holder’s tax basis in the Note. Therefore, if a holder does not elect to amortize premium and holds the Note to maturity, such holder generally will be required to treat the premium as capital loss when the Note matures.

 

Constant Yield Election

 

Under the OID Regulations, a holder of a Note may elect to include in income all interest that accrues on such Note using the constant yield method (a “constant yield election”). For this purpose, interest includes stated interest, acquisition discount, original issue discount, de minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium. Special rules apply to constant yield elections made with respect to Notes issued with amortizable bond premium or market discount, including that a holder would be deemed, by virtue of making such constant yield election, to have made an election to amortize bond premium or accrue market discount, as separately described above. Once made with respect to a Note, the constant yield election cannot be revoked without the consent of the IRS. Holders considering a constant yield election should consult their independent tax advisors.

 

Purchase, Sale, Exchange or Retirement of Notes

 

A holder’s tax basis in a Note generally will be the U.S. dollar cost of the Note to such holder (which, in the case of a Note purchased with Foreign Currency, will be determined by translating the purchase price at the spot rate on the date of purchase or, in the case of a Note that is traded on an established securities market as defined in applicable Treasury Regulations, on the settlement date if the holder is a cash basis taxpayer or an accrual basis taxpayer that so elects), increased by any original issue discount, market discount or acquisition discount previously included in the holder’s gross income (as described below), and reduced by any amortized bond premium, taken into account by the holder and any principal payments and payments of stated interest that are not payments of qualified stated interest received by the holder.

 

Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, a holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement (or the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized in a Foreign Currency at the spot rate on the date of the sale, exchange or retirement or, in the case of a Note that is traded on an established securities market as defined in applicable Treasury Regulations, on the settlement date if the holder is a cash basis taxpayer or an accrual basis taxpayer that so

elects), except to the extent such amount is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, and the holder’s tax basis in the Note. Except with respect to:

 

 

gain or loss so recognized will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss, if, at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement, the Note was held for more than one year. Under current law, long-term capital gains of individuals are, under certain circumstances, taxed at lower rates than items of ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Gain or loss recognized by a holder on the sale, exchange or retirement of a Single Foreign Currency Note that is attributable to changes in exchange rates will be treated as ordinary income or loss and generally will not be treated as interest income or expense except to the extent provided by administrative pronouncements of the IRS. Gain or loss attributable to changes in exchange rates is recognized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a Single Foreign Currency Note only to the extent of the total gain or loss recognized on such sale, exchange or retirement.

 

Exchange of Foreign Currency

 

A U.S. holder’s tax basis in Foreign Currency purchased by the holder generally will be the U.S. dollar value thereof at the spot rate on the date such Foreign Currency is purchased. A holder’s tax basis in Foreign Currency received as interest on, or on the sale, exchange or retirement of, a Single Foreign Currency Note will be the U.S. dollar value thereof at the spot rate at the time such Foreign Currency is received. The amount of gain or loss recognized by a holder on a sale, exchange or other disposition of Foreign Currency will be equal to the difference between:

 

 

Accordingly, a holder that purchases a Note with Foreign Currency will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between such holder’s tax basis in the Foreign Currency and the U.S. dollar value at the spot rate of the Foreign Currency on the date of purchase. Generally, any such gain or loss will be ordinary income or loss and will not be treated as interest income or expense, except to the extent provided by administrative pronouncements of the IRS.

 

Subsequent Interest Periods and Extension of Maturity

 

If so specified in the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to a Note, we may have the option:

 

 

See “Description of Debt Securities — Interest and Interest Rates” and “Description of Debt Securities — Extendible Notes.” The treatment of a holder of Notes with respect to which such an option has been exercised who does not elect to have us repay such Notes will depend on the terms established for such Notes by us pursuant to the exercise of such option (the “revised terms”). Depending on the particular circumstances, such holder may be treated as having surrendered such Notes for new Notes with the revised terms in either a taxable exchange or a recapitalization qualifying for nonrecognition of gain or loss.

Notes Subject to Contingencies Including Optional Redemption

 

In general, the following rules apply if a Note provides for an alternative payment schedule applicable upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies and the timing and amounts of the payments that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue date, and one of such payment schedules is more likely than not to occur or the Note provides us or the holder with an unconditional option or options exercisable on one or more dates during the term of the Note. If based on all the facts and circumstances as of the issue date a single payment schedule for a debt instrument, including the stated payment schedule, is significantly more likely than not to occur, then, in general, the yield and maturity of the Note are computed based on this payment schedule.

 

Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity in the case of Notes subject to contingencies, if we have or the holder has an unconditional option or options that, if exercised, would require payments to be made on the Notes under an alternative payment schedule or schedules, then (i) in the case of an option or options exercisable by us, we will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that minimizes the yield on the Note and (ii) in the case of an option or options of the holder, the holder will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on the Note. For purposes of those calculations, the yield on the Note is determined by using any date on which the Note may be redeemed or repurchased as the stated maturity date and the amount payable on such date in accordance with the terms of the Note as the principal amount at maturity.

 

If a contingency (including the exercise of an option) actually occurs or does not occur contrary to an assumption made according to the above rules (a “change in circumstances”) then, except to the extent that a portion of the Note is repaid as a result of a change in circumstances and solely for purposes of the accrual of original issue discount, the Note is treated as retired and then reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to the Note’s adjusted issue price on that date.

 

In addition, the OID Regulations contain other rules for projecting payments and determining the timing, character and amount of income, gain and loss to holders of debt instruments not described above that provide for contingent payments, including certain Notes (other than Variable Rate Notes) that provide for floating or contingent interest. Potential investors in Notes with contingent payment features should review the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet for a discussion of their U.S. federal income tax treatment.

 

Common Shares

 

In general, if distributions are made on our common shares to a U.S. holder, these distributions will be included in income of that U.S. holder as dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a nontaxable return of capital that reduce a U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares and thereafter as capital gain. Subject to certain limitations and requirements, dividend income received by U.S. holders that are corporations will be eligible for a dividends received deduction and there may be reduced rate provisions in effect for dividends received by U.S. holders that are individuals.

 

A U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of our common shares in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any other property received in exchange for such common shares and (2) the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the common shares. Generally, any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such disposition, the U.S. holder has held the common shares for more than one year. Long-term capital gain recognized by a non-corporate U.S. holder generally is subject to U.S. federal income tax at a reduced rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of our equity securities (other than our common shares) will depend on various factors, including their terms, conversion or exchange features, issue price and redemption provisions. U.S. holders should review the applicable prospectus

supplement or term sheet for a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax treatment to U.S. holders of any such equity securities.

 

Non-United States Holders

 

The following discussion applies only to a holder that is a beneficial owner of a Note or our common shares described in this prospectus and that is not a United States person (a “non-U.S. holder”). Special U.S. federal income tax rules may apply to certain non-U.S. holders, such as controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, certain U.S. expatriates, and foreign persons eligible for benefits under an income tax treaty with the United States.

 

Interest and OID on Notes

 

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, payments of principal and interest (including original issue discount) by us or our agent (in its capacity as such) to any non-U.S. holder not engaged in a trade or business in the United States will generally not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax under the “portfolio interest” exception, provided that, in the case of interest (including original issue discount):

 

(1) such holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

(2) such holder is not a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes that is related to us through stock ownership;

 

(3) such holder is not a bank receiving interest described in Code Section 881(c)(3)(A); and

 

(4) neither we nor our agent has actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, and either:

 

(a) the beneficial owner of the Note certifies to us or our agent, under penalties of perjury, that such owner is not a United States person and provides its name and address (which certification can be made on IRS Form W-8BEN or a suitable substitute); or

 

(b) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a “financial institution”) certifies to us or our agent, under penalties of perjury (which certification can be made on IRS Form W-8IMY or a suitable substitute), that it is a “qualified intermediary” and that the certification described in clause (4)(a) above has been received from the beneficial owner by it or by another financial institution acting for the beneficial owner.

 

In the case of Notes held by a foreign partnership or foreign trust:

 

 

A look-through rule would apply in the case of tiered partnerships.

 

If a non-U.S. holder of a Note fails to satisfy the requirements of the “portfolio interest” exception described above, payments of interest (including original issue discount) made to such holder generally will be subject to a 30% withholding tax (or such lower rate as may be provided by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and a foreign country) unless another exemption applies and such holder complies with IRS certification requirements. In general, the exemption or reduced rate pursuant to an income tax treaty applies only if the non-U.S. holder provides a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or other documentation

as may be prescribed by the IRS claiming benefits under an applicable income tax treaty. Any prospective investor who cannot satisfy the portfolio interest requirements described above should consult its independent tax advisor prior to making an investment in the Notes. In addition, an exemption from U.S. withholding tax is available for interest on a Note held by a non-U.S. holder not engaged in a trade or business in the United States if the Note matures not later than 183 days after the date of its original issue. Moreover, if a change in circumstances makes information set forth on IRS Form W-8 incorrect, then the non-U.S. holder must provide new documentation generally within thirty days.

 

If a non-U.S. holder of a Note is engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest (including original issue discount) on the Note is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, such holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (by reason of the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8ECI or a suitable substitute), will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest (including original issue discount) in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a United States person. In addition, if such holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits, as defined in the Code, for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, unless reduced under an applicable income tax treaty.

 

Dividends

 

In general, dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder in respect of common shares will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder are not subject to withholding tax so long as a properly completed IRS Form W-8ECI is provided by the non-U.S. holder. Rather, dividends so connected will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder was a U.S. person and, if received by a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation, would also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate unless reduced under an applicable income tax treaty.

 

The 30% withholding rate may be reduced if the non-U.S. holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. Generally, to claim the benefits of an income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder of our common shares will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN and satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. A non-U.S. holder of our common shares that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS. A non-U.S. holder should consult its independent tax advisor as to its entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty.

 

Sale or Exchange

 

Subject to the discussion of “backup” withholding below, any capital gain realized upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note or common shares by a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding taxes unless:

 

 

Notes held by a non-U.S. holder who is an individual, who at the time of death is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, will not be subject to U.S. federal estate tax, provided that the income from the Notes was not or would not have been effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of such individual and that such individual qualified for the exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax (without regard to the certification requirements) that is described above. Common shares so held, however, will be included in the gross estate of such non-U.S. holder for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty or exemption provides otherwise.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

In general, information reporting to U.S. tax authorities generally will apply to payments of principal and interest and dividends, and the proceeds of a sale of securities to a U.S. holder unless such U.S. holder is an exempt recipient (such as a corporation). Backup withholding tax will apply to such payments if such U.S. holder fails to provide its taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status or fails to report in full dividend and interest income. A non-U.S. holder in general will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting with respect to interest or dividend payments provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person and such non-U.S. holder has provided the IRS certification statement (on IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form) described above under “Non-United States Holders”. In addition, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting with respect to the proceeds of a sale of securities within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, if the payor receives the IRS certification statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person, as defined under the Code, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, we may be required to report annually to U.S. tax authorities and to non-U.S. holders the amount of, and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to, any interest or dividends paid, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided any required information is furnished timely to the IRS.

 

THE PRECEDING IS A DISCUSSION OF THE MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES BUT MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON YOUR PARTICULAR TAX SITUATION. YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.

 

We may sell the offered securities as follows:

 

 

We will identify any underwriters or agents and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

 

We, directly or through agents, may sell, and the underwriters may resell, the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These transactions may be:

 

 

In connection with the sale of offered securities, the underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the offered securities for whom they may act as agents. The underwriters may sell offered securities to or through dealers, who may also receive compensation from purchasers of the offered securities for whom they may act as agents. Compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may

be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

We will indemnify the underwriters and agents against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their business.

 

If we indicate in the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to a particular series or issue of offered securities, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase such offered securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions that we specify in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, and we will specify in the prospectus supplement or term sheet the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.

 

The validity of the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Mark McGuire, our General Counsel, and for any underwriters, dealers or agents by Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Mr. McGuire is paid a salary by our company and participates in various employee benefit plans offered by us, including equity based plans.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Eaton Corporation appearing in Eaton Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of Eaton Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 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 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

$          

 

Eaton Corporation

 

                % Notes due 2014

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

March   , 2009

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Banc of America Securities LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

UBS Investment Bank