e424b5
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424b5
File No. 333-150298
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated April 17, 2008)
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES R (SENIOR)
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES S (SUBORDINATED)
Due Nine Months or More From Date of Issue
U.S. Bancorp may at any time offer senior medium-term
notes, Series R, and subordinated medium-term notes,
Series S. The specific terms of each note offered will be
included in a pricing supplement. The notes offered will specify
whether they are senior or subordinated notes and, unless the
applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise, they will
have the following general terms:
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The notes will mature nine (9) months or more from the date
of issue.
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The notes will bear interest at either a fixed or floating rate
or will be zero coupon notes. Floating rate interest will be
based on one or more of the following base rates, adjusted by a
spread or a spread multiplier, or both:
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commercial paper rate
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prime rate
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federal funds rate
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CD rate
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LIBOR
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treasury rate
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EURIBOR
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CMT rate
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any other rate specified in the applicable
pricing supplement
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The notes will be denominated in U.S. dollars and have
minimum denominations of $1,000, or will be in any foreign
currency we specify.
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We may redeem the notes if specified in the applicable pricing
supplement.
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Zero coupon notes will not pay interest.
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Each note will be represented either by a registered global note
held by or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company or by
a certificate issued in definitive form.
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The notes may be issued at a discount from the principal amount
payable at maturity and will constitute original issue discount
notes.
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U.S. Bancorp will pay an agent a commission in respect of
any notes sold to or through such agent as agreed upon between
U.S. Bancorp and such agent at the time of sale. Actual
commissions payable in respect of any sale of notes will be
specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
The notes are not deposits or other obligations of a bank and
are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
any other governmental agency. The notes are not secured.
Potential purchasers of the notes should consider the
information set forth in the Risk Factors section
beginning on
page S-2
of this prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined that this prospectus supplement or the
attached prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Offers to purchase the notes are being solicited from time to
time by the agents listed below. We may sell notes to the agents
as principal for resale at varying or fixed offering prices or
through the agents using their reasonable efforts on our behalf.
We also reserve the right to offer and sell notes directly to
investors on our own behalf and to appoint other agents. There
is no established trading market for the notes and there is no
assurance that the notes will be sold and that a secondary
market for the notes will develop.
Lehman Brothers
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Banc of America Securities LLC
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Barclays Capital
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BNP PARIBAS
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BNY Capital Markets, Inc.
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Citi
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Credit Suisse
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Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
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Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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HSBC
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JPMorgan
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Merrill Lynch & Co.
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Morgan Stanley
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RBC Capital Markets
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RBS Greenwich Capital
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UBS Investment Bank
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Wachovia Securities
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April 25, 2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-1
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S-2
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S-3
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S-3
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S-4
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S-4
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S-4
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S-26
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S-27
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S-32
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S-33
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i
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the
attached prospectus and any pricing supplement. We have not
authorized anyone else to provide you with different or
additional information. We are offering to sell these securities
and seeking offers to buy these securities only in jurisdictions
where offers and sales are permitted. You should not assume that
the information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement or the attached prospectus is accurate as
of any date other than their respective dates.
In this prospectus supplement, the words USB,
we, us and our refer to
U.S. Bancorp and its subsidiaries. If we have not defined
certain terms in this prospectus supplement, we have defined
them in the indentures described below.
ii
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement sets forth certain terms of the notes
that we may offer, and it supplements the general information
contained in the attached prospectus. This prospectus supplement
supersedes the attached prospectus to the extent that it
contains information which differs from the information in the
attached prospectus.
Each time we issue notes, we will provide a pricing supplement
to this prospectus supplement. The pricing supplement will
contain the specific description of the notes that we are
offering and the terms of the offering. The pricing supplement
will supersede this prospectus supplement or the attached
prospectus to the extent that it contains information which
differs from the information contained in this prospectus
supplement or the attached prospectus.
In making your investment decision, it is important for you to
read and consider all information contained in this prospectus
supplement and in the attached prospectus and the applicable
pricing supplement. You should also read and consider the
information contained in the documents identified under the
heading Where You Can Find More Information on
page 1 of the attached prospectus.
S-1
RISK
FACTORS
Your investment in the notes will involve certain risks. This
prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus do not
describe all of those risks. In addition to the risk factors and
other information concerning our business included in our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, which is incorporated
by reference in the attached prospectus, you should, in
consultation with your own financial and legal advisors,
carefully consider the following discussion of risks and the
section entitled Foreign Currency Risks in this
prospectus supplement before deciding whether an investment in
the notes is suitable for you. The notes will not be an
appropriate investment for you if you are not knowledgeable
about significant features of the notes or financial matters in
general. You should not purchase the notes unless you
understand, and know that you can bear, these investment risks.
The notes
are structurally subordinated to debt of our
subsidiaries.
Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of
our creditors, including the holders of the notes, to
participate in the assets of any subsidiary during its
liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior
claims of the subsidiarys creditors, unless we are
ourselves a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary. Any capital loans that we make to any of our banking
subsidiaries would be subordinate in right of payment to
deposits and to other indebtedness of these banking
subsidiaries. Claims from creditors (other than us), against the
subsidiaries, may include long-term and medium-term debt and
substantial obligations related to deposit liabilities, federal
funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements,
and other short-term borrowings. The notes are not obligations
of, nor guaranteed by, our subsidiaries, and our subsidiaries
have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes. The
indentures relating to the notes do not limit our ability or the
ability of our subsidiaries to issue or incur additional debt or
preferred stock.
The notes are our obligations but our assets consist primarily
of equity in our subsidiaries and, as a result, our ability to
make payments on the notes depends on our receipt of dividends,
loan payments and other funds from our subsidiaries. The payment
of dividends by a bank subsidiary is subject to federal law
restrictions as well as to the laws of the subsidiarys
state of incorporation. Our bank subsidiaries hold a significant
portion of their mortgage loan and investment portfolios
indirectly through their ownership interests in direct and
indirect subsidiaries.
Subordinated
notes have limited acceleration rights.
The holders of senior notes may declare those notes in default
and accelerate the due date of those notes if an event of
default shall occur and be continuing. Acceleration of the
senior notes may adversely impact our ability to pay obligations
on subordinated notes. Holders of subordinated notes do not have
the right to declare those notes in default and may accelerate
payment of indebtedness only upon our bankruptcy or
reorganization.
You may
not be able to sell your notes if an active trading market for
the notes does not develop.
There is currently no secondary market for the notes. The agents
currently intend, but are not obligated, to make a market in the
notes. Even if a secondary market does develop, it may not be
liquid and may not continue for the term of the notes. If the
secondary market for the notes is limited, there may be few
buyers should you choose to sell your notes prior to maturity
and this may reduce the price you receive.
We may
choose to redeem the notes when prevailing interest rates are
relatively low.
If your notes are redeemable at our option, we may choose to
redeem your notes from time to time, especially when prevailing
interest rates are lower than the rate borne by the notes. If
prevailing rates are lower at the time of redemption, you would
not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable
security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest
rate on the notes being redeemed. Our redemption right also may
adversely impact your ability to sell your notes as the optional
redemption date or period approaches.
S-2
The
trading value of the notes may be less than the principal amount
of the notes.
The trading market for, and trading value of, the notes may be
affected by a number of factors. These factors include:
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the time remaining to maturity of the notes;
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the aggregate amount outstanding of the relevant notes;
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any redemption features of the notes; and
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the level, direction, and volatility of market interest rates
generally.
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Often, the only way to liquidate your investment in the notes
prior to maturity will be to sell the notes. At that time, there
may be a very illiquid market for the notes or no market at all.
Changes
in our credit ratings may affect the value of the
notes.
Our credit ratings are an assessment of our ability to pay our
obligations as they become due. Consequently, real or
anticipated changes in our credit ratings may affect the trading
value of the notes. However, because your return on the notes
depends upon factors in addition to our ability to pay our
obligations, an improvement in our credit ratings will not
reduce the other investment risks related to the notes.
The
amount of interest we may pay on the notes may be limited by
state law.
New York law governs the notes. New York usury laws limit the
amount of interest that can be charged and paid on loans,
including debt securities like the notes. Under present New York
law, the maximum permissible rate of interest is 25% per year on
a simple interest basis. This limit may not apply to notes in
which $2,500,000 or more has been invested. Floating rate notes
may not have a stated rate of interest and may exceed this
limit. While we believe that a state or federal court sitting
outside of New York may give effect to New York law, many other
states also have laws that regulate the amount of interest that
may be charged to and paid by a borrower. We do not intend to
claim the benefits of any laws concerning usurious rates of
interest.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical or current
facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. These statements often include the
words may, could, would,
should, believes, expects,
anticipates, estimates,
intends, plans, targets,
potentially, probably,
projects, outlook or similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements cover, among other
things, our anticipated future revenue and expenses and our
future plans and prospects. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated, including changes in general business and economic
conditions, changes in interest rates, legal and regulatory
developments, increased competition from both banks and
non-banks, changes in customer behavior and preferences, effects
of mergers and acquisitions and related integration, and effects
of critical accounting policies and judgments. For discussion of
these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ
from expectations, please refer to the Risk Factors
section, above, and to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2007 Annual Report
attached as Exhibit 13 thereto on file with the SEC,
including the sections entitled Risk Factors and
Corporate Risk Profile. Forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no
obligation to update them in light of new information or future
events.
U.S.
BANCORP
We are a multi-state financial holding company, headquartered in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. We were incorporated in Delaware in 1929
and operate as a financial holding company and a bank holding
company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. We provide a
full range of financial services through our subsidiaries,
including lending and depository services, cash management,
foreign exchange and trust and investment
S-3
management services. Our subsidiaries also engage in credit card
services, merchant and automated teller machine processing,
mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services. We
are the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association
and U.S. Bank National Association ND.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the ticker symbol USB. Our principal executive
offices are located at 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55402, and the contact telephone number is
(866) 775-9668.
We refer you to the documents incorporated by reference in the
attached prospectus, as described in the section Where You
Can Find More Information, for more information about us
and our businesses.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of
the notes offered by this prospectus supplement for general
corporate purposes, including working capital, capital
expenditures, investments in or advances to existing or future
subsidiaries, repayment of maturing obligations and refinancing
of outstanding indebtedness. Pending such use, we may
temporarily invest the proceeds or use them to reduce short-term
indebtedness.
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods
indicated is as follows:
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Year Ended December 31,
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
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Excluding interest on deposits
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2.65
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3.14
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4.27
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5.98
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6.40
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Including interest on deposits
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1.95
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2.23
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2.84
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3.88
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3.64
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For the purpose of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings consist of consolidated income from continuing
operations before provision for income taxes, minority interest
and fixed charges, and fixed charges consist of interest
expense, amortization of debt issuance costs and the portion of
rental expense deemed to represent interest.
DESCRIPTION
OF NOTES
The following is a description of certain terms of the notes
offered hereby which does not purport to be complete in all
respects. This description is subject to, and qualified in its
entirety by reference to, the indentures referred to below. The
particular terms of the notes sold under any pricing supplement
will be described in that pricing supplement. The terms and
conditions stated in this section will apply to each note unless
the applicable pricing supplement indicates otherwise.
References to interest payments and interest-related information
do not apply to the zero coupon notes defined below.
General
At our option, we may issue the notes as medium-term notes,
Series R, which will represent the senior notes, or as
medium-term notes, Series S, which will represent the
subordinated notes. We will issue the senior notes under a
senior indenture, dated October 1, 1991, as amended or
supplemented from time to time, between us and Citibank, N.A.,
as senior trustee. We will issue the subordinated notes under a
subordinated indenture dated October 1, 1991, as amended by
a first supplemental indenture dated April 1, 1993, between
us and Citibank, N.A., as subordinated trustee. The indentures
are qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In
this prospectus supplement, the senior indenture and the
subordinated indenture are referred to collectively as the
indentures, and the senior trustee and subordinated trustee are
referred to collectively as the trustees. The indentures are
exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus
supplement and the attached prospectus are a part.
The Series R notes issued under the senior indenture will
constitute a single series of senior securities under the senior
indenture. The Series S notes issued under the subordinated
indenture will constitute a single series of
S-4
subordinated securities under the subordinated indenture. The
notes will mature on a date that is nine (9) months or more
from the date of issue, as stated in the applicable pricing
supplement. The Series R notes will represent unsecured,
unsubordinated debt of USB and will rank equally with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated debt of USB. The Series S
notes will represent unsecured, subordinated debt of USB and
will rank junior to, and be subordinated to, all senior
indebtedness of USB.
Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of
our creditors, including the holders of the notes, to
participate in the assets of any subsidiary during its
liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior
claims of the subsidiarys creditors, unless we are
ourselves a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary. Any capital loans that we make to any of our banking
subsidiaries would be subordinate in right of payment to
deposits and to other indebtedness of these banking
subsidiaries. Claims from creditors (other than us), against the
subsidiaries, may include long-term and medium-term debt and
substantial obligations related to deposit liabilities, federal
funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements,
and other short-term borrowings.
The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of
debt securities that we may issue under them, nor the amount of
other debt that we may issue.
We may from time to time, without your consent, reopen an
outstanding tranche of notes and issue additional notes having
the same terms and conditions as such outstanding notes (or the
same terms and conditions except for the offering price, issue
date and amount of the first interest payment).
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise:
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the notes will mature on a business day that is nine
(9) months or more from the date of issue, but a note
payable at the commercial paper rate will mature after at least
nine months and one day from its date of issue;
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we will pay interest on fixed rate notes semi-annually;
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the Series S notes will mature after at least five years
from their date of issue;
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if the maturity date of any note or the interest payment date of
any note (other than a floating rate note) specified in the
applicable pricing supplement for such note is a day that is not
a business day, interest, principal and premium, if any, will be
paid on the next day that is a business day with the same force
and effect as if made on the maturity date or the interest
payment date, as the case may be, and no interest on that
payment will accrue for the period from and after that maturity
date or the interest payment date, as the case may be;
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we will issue the notes at 100% of their principal amount;
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holders will not be able to elect to have their notes repaid
before the maturity date;
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we will issue the notes, other than the foreign currency notes,
in U.S. dollars;
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we will issue the notes, other than the foreign currency notes,
in fully registered form and in authorized denominations of
$1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000;
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the principal, premium, and interest, if any, payable at
maturity or at redemption on each note will be paid in
immediately available funds when the note is presented at the
corporate trust office of the paying agent; and
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we will issue the notes as global securities registered in the
name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, as
depositary. We will refer to these notes as global notes in this
prospectus supplement. We can also issue the notes in definitive
registered form, without coupons, otherwise known as a
certificated note, as described in the applicable pricing
supplement.
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The notes can be presented for payment of principal and
interest, the transfer of the notes can be registered and the
notes can be exchanged at the offices that we maintain for this
purpose as described under the heading
Interest and Principal Payments below.
However, global notes can be exchanged only in the manner and to
the extent described under the heading
Book-Entry Notes below.
The term business day means, and unless the applicable pricing
supplement specifies otherwise, any day that is not a Saturday
or Sunday and that is not a day that banking institutions in New
York City are generally authorized or
S-5
obligated by law or executive order to close. For LIBOR notes
issued in U.S. dollars, a business day, with respect to any
payment, is any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that is
not a day that banking institutions in New York City are
generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close, and is also a London business day, and with respect to an
interest determination date, is a London business day. For notes
denominated in a specified currency other than euro, the term
business day means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and
that is not a day that banking institutions in New York City are
generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close, and is also a day on which commercial banks and foreign
exchange markets settle payments in the principal financial
center of the country of the relevant specified currency (if
other than New York City). For notes denominated in euro, the
term business day means any day that is not a Saturday or
Sunday, and is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated
Real Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System is operating,
which we will refer to as a TARGET business day.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
the principal financial center of any country for the purpose of
the foregoing definition is as provided in the 2000 ISDA
Definitions, as amended and updated from time to time, published
by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.
(which we will refer to as the ISDA definitions).
London business day means any day on which dealings
in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank
market.
The applicable pricing supplement relating to each note will
describe the following:
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whether the note is a senior note or a subordinated note;
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whether the note is being issued at a price other than 100% of
its principal amount;
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the principal amount of the note;
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the date on which the note will be issued;
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the date on which the note will mature;
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whether the note is a fixed rate note, a floating rate note, or
a zero coupon note;
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any additional terms applicable to any foreign currency notes
with respect to the payment of principal and any premium or
interest for that note;
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the annual rate at which the note will bear interest and the
interest payment date and regular record date, if different from
those described below;
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whether the note is an original issue discount note, and if so,
any additional provisions relating to this feature of the note;
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whether the note may be redeemed at our option, and any
provisions relating to redemption of the note;
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whether the note will be represented by a certificated note and
any provisions relating to this feature of the note;
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the authorized denominations of foreign currency notes; and
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any other terms of the note consistent with the provisions of
the applicable indenture.
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Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
neither indenture contains provisions specifically designed to
protect holders in the event of a highly leveraged transaction
involving us. Payment of the Series S notes may be
accelerated only in the event of our bankruptcy or
reorganization. Unless the applicable pricing supplement
indicates otherwise, the subordinated note indenture does not
provide for any right of acceleration of the payment of
principal of the Series S notes if there is a default in
the payment of principal or interest or in the performance of
any covenant or agreement in the Series S notes or in the
subordinated note indenture.
S-6
Interest
and Principal Payments
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise, we
will make payments of principal, interest owed, and premium, if
any, with respect to any note, in U.S. dollars. If the
specified currency for a note is other than U.S. dollars,
we will (unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement) arrange to convert all payments in respect of that
note into U.S. dollars in the manner described in the
following paragraph. The holder of a note having a specified
currency other than U.S. dollars may (if the applicable
pricing supplement and that note so indicate) elect to receive
all payments in respect of that note in the specified currency
by delivery of a written notice to the paying agent for that
note not later than fifteen calendar days prior to the
applicable payment date. That election will remain in effect
until revoked by written notice to the paying agent received not
later than fifteen calendar days prior to the applicable payment
date.
In the case of a note having a specified currency other than
U.S. dollars, the amount of any U.S. dollar payment in
respect of that note will be based on the bid quoted by the
exchange rate agent as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the
second day preceding the payment date on which banks are open
for business in London and New York City, for the purchase of
U.S. dollars with the specified currency for settlement on
the payment date of the aggregate amount of the specified
currency payable to all holders of notes denominated other than
in U.S. dollars and who are scheduled to receive
U.S. dollar payments. If this bid quotation is not
available, the exchange rate agent will obtain a bid quotation
from a leading foreign exchange bank in London or New York City
selected by the exchange rate agent for this purchase. If the
bids are not available, payment of the aggregate amount due to
all holders of notes on the payment date will be made in the
specified currency. All currency exchange costs will be borne by
the holder of the note by deductions from these payments.
Except as provided under the heading
Book-Entry Notes below, we will pay
interest to the person in whose name a note, or any predecessor
note, is registered at the close of business on the regular
record date next preceding each interest payment date. Interest
payable at maturity or upon redemption will be payable to the
person to whom the principal will be payable.
The agent for payment, transfer and exchange of the notes, who
will be referred to in this prospectus supplement as the paying
agent, is U.S. Bank Trust National Association, one of
our affiliates, acting through its corporate trust office in New
York City, New York. Unless the applicable pricing supplement
specifies otherwise, we will pay the principal, interest, and
premium, if any, at maturity or redemption in immediately
available funds to The Depository Trust Company, as
depositary, or its nominee as the registered owner of the global
notes representing the book-entry notes. But we may at our
option, pay interest on any certificated note, other than
interest at maturity or upon redemption, by mailing a check to
the address of the person or entity entitled to the payment
shown on our security register at the close of business on the
regular record date related to the interest payment date.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
holders of U.S. $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal
amount of certificated notes will receive payments of interest,
other than interest at maturity or upon redemption, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, if they have given
appropriate wire transfer instructions to the paying agent in
writing not later than the regular record date.
Except as provided under the heading
Book-Entry Notes below, if the original
issue date of a note is between a regular record date and an
interest payment date, the initial interest payment will be made
on the interest payment date following the next succeeding
regular record date. We will make the interest payment to the
registered holder on that next succeeding regular record date.
We can change interest rates and base rates, as defined below,
from time to time but this change will not affect any note
issued or note that we agreed to issue. Unless the applicable
pricing supplement specifies otherwise, the interest payment
dates and the regular record dates for fixed rate notes will be
as described below under the heading Fixed
Rate Notes and the interest payment dates and the regular
record dates for floating rate notes will be as described below
under the heading Floating Rate Notes.
S-7
Interest
Rates
General.
The interest rate on the notes will be determined by either:
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in the case of fixed rate notes, a fixed rate; or
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in the case of floating rate notes, a floating rate determined
by one or more base rates, which may be adjusted by a spread or
a spread multiplier, or both.
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A floating rate note may also have either or both of the
following:
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a maximum interest rate limitation, or ceiling, on the rate at
which interest will accrue during any interest period; and
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a minimum interest rate limitation, or floor, on the rate at
which interest will accrue during any interest period.
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Each note that bears interest will bear interest from and
including its date of issue or from and including the most
recent interest payment date on which interest has been paid or
duly provided for:
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at the fixed rate per annum applicable to the related interest
period; or
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at the rate per annum determined by reference to the base rate
applicable to the related interest period or interest periods,
in each case as specified in the note and in the applicable
pricing supplement, until the principal is paid or made
available for payment.
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Interest will be payable on each interest payment date and at
maturity or upon redemption.
The interest rate on a note for any interest period will in no
event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law
as this law may be modified by United States law of general
application. Under present New York law, the maximum rate of
interest is 25% per year on a simple interest basis. This limit
may not apply to notes in which $2,500,000 or more has been
invested.
The applicable pricing supplement will specify the following
with respect to each note that bears interest:
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the issue price and interest payment dates;
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for any fixed rate note, the interest rate;
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for any floating rate note:
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the initial interest rate, as defined below;
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the method, which may vary from interest period to interest
period, of calculating the interest rate applicable to each
interest period including, if applicable, the fixed rate per
annum applicable to one or more interest periods;
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the index maturity, which means the period to maturity of any
instrument on which the base rate for any interest period is
predicated;
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any spread or spread multiplier, as defined below;
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the interest determination dates, as defined below;
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the interest reset dates, as defined below;
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any minimum or maximum interest rate limitations;
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whether the note is an original issue discount note; and
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any other terms related to interest on the notes.
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S-8
Fixed
Rate Notes
How
Interest Accrues
Each fixed rate note will bear interest from the date of issue
at the annual rate stated on its face and in the applicable
pricing supplement. Unless the applicable pricing supplement
specifies otherwise, interest payments for fixed rate notes will
be the amount of interest accrued to, but excluding, the
relevant interest payment date.
When
Interest Is Paid
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, the
interest payment dates for fixed rate notes will be February 1
and August 1 of each year and at maturity or, if applicable,
upon redemption. The regular record dates for fixed rate notes
will be the day, whether or not a business day, fifteen calendar
days preceding each interest payment date.
How
Interest Is Calculated
Interest on fixed rate notes will be computed and paid on the
basis of a
360-day year
of twelve
30-day
months.
If a
Payment Date Is Not a Business Day
If any interest payment date on a fixed rate note is not a
business day, the interest payment will be made on the next day
that is a business day, and no interest will accrue for the
period from and after the scheduled interest payment date.
Floating
Rate Notes
General
Each floating rate note will bear interest at a floating rate
determined by reference to an interest rate basis or formula,
which we refer to as the base rate.
The applicable pricing supplement may designate one or more of
the following base rates as applicable to each floating rate
note:
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the commercial paper rate;
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the federal funds rate;
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LIBOR;
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EURIBOR;
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the prime rate;
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the CD rate;
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the CMT rate;
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the treasury rate; or
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one or more other base rates specified in the applicable pricing
supplement.
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The interest rate on each floating rate note for each interest
period will be determined by reference to the applicable base
rate specified in the applicable pricing supplement for that
interest period, plus or minus the applicable spread, if any,
and/or
multiplied by the applicable spread multiplier, if any.
The spread is the number of basis points, each one-hundredth of
a percentage point, specified in the applicable pricing
supplement to be added or subtracted from the base rate for that
floating rate note. For example, if a note bears interest at
LIBOR plus one basis point, or .01%, and the calculation agent
determines that LIBOR is 5.00% per annum, the note will bear
interest at 5.01% per annum until the next interest reset date.
The spread multiplier is the percentage specified in the
applicable pricing supplement to be applied to the base rate for
a floating rate note. For
S-9
example, if a note bears interest at 90% of LIBOR, and the
calculation agent determines that LIBOR is 5.00% per annum, the
note will bear interest at 4.50% per annum until the next
interest reset date.
When
Interest on Floating Rate Notes Is Paid
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise and
except as provided below, we will pay interest on floating rate
notes on the following interest payment dates:
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in the case of floating rate notes with a daily, weekly or
monthly interest reset date, on the third Wednesday of each
month of each year;
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in the case of floating rate notes with a quarterly interest
reset date, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and
December of each year;
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in the case of floating rate notes with a semi-annual interest
reset date, on the third Wednesday of the two months of each
year specified in the applicable pricing supplement; and
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in the case of floating rate notes with an annual interest reset
date, on the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified
in the applicable pricing supplement.
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We will also pay interest, in the case of all floating rate
notes, at maturity or upon redemption.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
the regular record dates for the floating rate notes will be the
day, whether or not a business day, fifteen calendar days
preceding each interest payment date.
If a
Payment Date Is Not a Business Day
If any interest payment date for a floating rate note is a day
that is not a business day, the interest payment date for the
floating rate note will be postponed to the next day that is a
business day, provided that, for LIBOR and EURIBOR notes, if
that business day is in the next calendar month, the interest
payment date will be the immediately preceding business day.
How
Floating Interest Rates Are Reset
The rate of interest on each floating rate note will be reset
daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually, as
specified in the applicable pricing supplement. The date on
which the floating rate note is reset is called the interest
reset date.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
the interest reset date will be as follows:
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in the case of floating rate notes which are reset daily, each
business day;
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in the case of floating rate notes, other than treasury rate
notes, which are reset weekly, the Wednesday of each week;
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in the case of floating rate notes that are treasury rate notes
which are reset weekly, the Tuesday of each week, except if the
auction date falls on a Tuesday, then the next business day, as
provided below;
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in the case of floating rate notes which are reset monthly, the
third Wednesday of each month;
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in the case of floating rate notes which are reset quarterly,
the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of
each year;
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in the case of floating rate notes which are reset
semi-annually, the third Wednesday of the two months of each
year specified in the applicable pricing supplement; and
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in the case of floating rate notes which are reset annually, the
third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the
applicable pricing supplement.
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The applicable pricing supplement will indicate the interest
rate in effect from the date of issue to the first interest
reset date with respect to a floating rate note, which we will
refer to as the initial interest rate. If any interest reset
date for a floating rate note is a day that is not a business
day, the interest reset date will be postponed to the
S-10
next day that is a business day, provided that, for LIBOR and
EURIBOR notes, if the next business day is in the succeeding
calendar month, the interest reset date will be the immediately
preceding business day.
Date
Interest Rate Is Determined
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
the interest rate determined for any interest determination date
will become effective on the next succeeding interest reset
date. The interest determination date is the date that the
calculation agent will refer to when determining the new
interest rate at which a floating rate will reset.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, the
interest determination date for any interest reset date will be:
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for commercial paper rate notes, CD rate notes and CMT rate
notes, the second business day before such interest reset date;
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for federal funds rate notes and prime rate notes, the business
day immediately preceding such interest reset date;
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for LIBOR notes, the second London business day before such
interest reset date;
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for EURIBOR notes, the second TARGET business day before such
interest reset date; and
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for treasury rate notes, the business day (other than the
interest reset date) on which treasury bills would normally be
auctioned in the week in which such interest reset date falls.
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Treasury bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each
week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the
auction is normally held on the following Tuesday, but the
auction may be held on the preceding Friday. If, as the result
of a legal holiday, an auction is held on the preceding Friday,
that Friday will be the interest determination date for the
interest reset date for treasury rate notes occurring in the
next week. If an auction falls on a day that is an interest
reset date for a treasury rate note, the interest reset date
will be the following business day.
The interest determination date for a floating rate note, which
interest rate is determined by two or more base rates, will be
the latest business day that is at least two business days prior
to the interest reset date for the floating rate note on which
each such base rate can be determined.
How
Interest on Floating Rate Notes Is Calculated
Interest on floating rate notes will accrue from and including
the most recent interest payment date on which interest is paid
or duly provided for, or, if no interest is paid or duly
provided for, the date will be from and including the issue date
or any other date specified in the pricing supplement on which
interest begins to accrue. Interest will accrue to, but
excluding, the next interest payment date, or if earlier, the
date on which the principal is paid or duly made available for
payment. Accrued interest for a floating rate note will be
calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the floating
rate note by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest
factor will be the sum of the interest factors calculated for
each day in the period for which the interest is being paid.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, the
interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the annual
interest rate, expressed as a decimal, applicable to that day:
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by 360, for commercial paper rate notes, federal funds rate
notes, EURIBOR notes, LIBOR notes, prime rate notes, and CD rate
notes; or
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by the actual number of days in the year, in the case of
treasury rate notes and CMT rate notes.
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Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, all
percentages resulting from any calculation for the floating rate
notes will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one-hundred
thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a
percentage point rounded upwards. For example, 9.876545% or
.09876545 will be rounded to 9.87655% or .0987655, and 9.876544%
or .09876544 will be rounded to 9.87654% or .0987654. All
calculations of the accrued interest factor for any day on
floating rate notes will be rounded, if necessary, to the
nearest one hundred-millionth, with five one-billionths rounded
upward. For example, .098765455 will be rounded
S-11
to .09876546 and .098765454 will be rounded to .09876545. All
dollar amounts used in or resulting from any of these
calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half
cent being rounded upwards.
The interest rate in effect on each day will be:
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if the day is an interest reset date, the interest rate for the
interest determination date related to the interest reset
date; or
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if the day is not an interest reset date, the interest rate for
the interest determination date related to the next preceding
interest reset date, subject in either case to any maximum or
minimum interest rate referred to in the applicable pricing
supplement.
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Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, one of our
affiliates, will be the calculation agent for any issue of
floating rate notes. On or before each calculation date, the
calculation agent will determine the interest rate as described
below and notify the paying agent. The paying agent will
determine the accrued interest factor applicable to the floating
rate note. The paying agent will, at the request of the holder
of a floating rate note, provide the interest rate then in
effect and the interest rate that will become effective as a
result of a determination made on the most recent interest
determination date for the floating rate note. The
determinations of interest rates made by the calculation agent
are conclusive and binding, and neither the trustee nor the
paying agent have the duty to verify them.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
the calculation date, if applicable, related to any interest
determination date on a floating rate note will be the earlier
of:
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the tenth calendar day after the interest determination date,
or, if that day is not a business day, the following business
day; and
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the business day before the applicable interest payment date,
maturity date or redemption date, as the case may be.
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Base
Rates
Commercial Paper Rate. Commercial paper rate
notes will bear interest at the interest rates, calculated with
reference to the commercial paper rate and the spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified in the commercial paper
rate notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. Commercial
paper rate notes will also be subject to the minimum and the
maximum interest rates, if any.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise,
commercial paper rate means, with respect to any
interest determination date relating to a floating rate note for
which the interest rate is determined with reference to the
commercial paper rate (a commercial paper rate interest
determination date), the money market yield, calculated as
described below, of the rate on that date for commercial paper
having the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement as published in Statistical Release H.15(519),
Selected Interest Rates or any successor publication of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which we
will refer to as H.15(519), under the heading Commercial
Paper Nonfinancial.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, the
following procedures will be followed if the commercial paper
rate cannot be determined as described above:
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If the rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the calculation date relating to the commercial paper
rate interest determination date, then the commercial paper rate
will be the money market yield of the rate on the commercial
paper rate interest determination date for commercial paper rate
having the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement as set forth in the daily update of H.15(519),
available through the worldwide website of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System at
http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/
h15/update, or any successor site or publication, which we will
refer to as the H.15 Daily Update, under the heading
Commercial Paper Nonfinancial.
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If by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation
date, the rate is not published in either H.15(519) or the H.15
Daily Update, then the calculation agent shall determine the
commercial paper rate to be the money market yield of the
arithmetic mean of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the
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commercial paper rate interest determination date of three
leading dealers of commercial paper in New York City, selected
by the calculation agent, after consultation with us, for
commercial paper having the index maturity specified in the
applicable pricing supplement placed for an industrial issuer
whose bond rating is AA or the equivalent, from a
nationally recognized statistical rating agency.
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If the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting
as described in the previous bullet point, the commercial paper
rate in effect immediately before the commercial paper interest
determination date will not change and will remain the
commercial paper rate in effect on the commercial paper interest
determination date.
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Money market yield is a yield calculated under the following
formula:
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Money Market Yield =
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D x 360
360
(D x M)
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x 100
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where D refers to the applicable annual 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 interest period for which the interest is being
calculated.
Federal Funds Rate. Federal funds rate notes
will bear interest at the interest rates, calculated with
reference to the federal funds rate and the spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified in the federal funds rate
notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. Federal funds
rate notes will be subject to the minimum and the maximum
interest rate, if any. The Federal funds rate will be calculated
by reference to either the federal funds (effective) rate, the
federal funds open rate or the federal funds target rate, as
specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
federal funds rate means the rate determined by the
calculation agent, with respect to any interest determination
date relating to a floating rate note for which the interest
rate is determined with reference to the federal funds rate (a
federal funds rate interest determination date), in
accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If federal funds (effective) rate is the
specified federal funds rate in the applicable pricing
supplement, the federal funds rate as of the applicable federal
funds rate interest determination date shall be the rate with
respect to such date for United States dollar federal funds as
published in H.15(519) opposite the caption Federal funds
(effective), as such rate is displayed on Reuters on
page FEDFUNDS1 (or any other page as may replace such page
on such service) (Reuters Page FEDFUNDS1) under
the heading EFFECT, or, if such rate is not so
published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
calculation date, the rate with respect to such federal funds
rate interest determination date for United States dollar
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). If such rate does not appear on Reuters
Page FEDFUNDS1 or is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15
Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation
date, then the federal funds rate with respect to such federal
funds rate interest determination date shall be calculated by
the calculation agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the
rates for the last transaction in overnight United States dollar
federal funds arranged by three leading brokers of
U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in New York City
(which may include the agents or their affiliates) selected by
the calculation agent, prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the business day following such federal funds rate
interest determination date; provided, however, that if
the brokers so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting
as mentioned in this sentence, the federal funds rate determined
as of such federal funds rate interest determination date will
be the federal funds rate in effect on such federal funds rate
interest determination date.
(ii) If federal funds open rate is the
specified federal funds rate in the applicable pricing
supplement, the federal funds rate as of the applicable federal
funds rate interest determination date shall be the rate on such
date under the heading Federal Funds for the
relevant index maturity and opposite the caption
Open as such rate is displayed on Reuters on
page 5 (or any other page as may replace such page on such
service) (Reuters Page 5), or, if such rate
does not appear on Reuters Page 5 by 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the calculation date, the federal funds rate
for the federal funds rate interest determination date will be
the rate for that day displayed on FFPREBON Index page on
Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg), which is the Fed Funds
S-13
Opening Rate as reported by Prebon Yamane (or a successor) on
Bloomberg. If such rate does not appear on Reuters Page 5
or is not displayed on FFPREBON Index page on Bloomberg or
another recognized electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the related calculation date, then the federal
funds rate on such federal funds rate interest determination
date shall be calculated by the calculation agent and will be
the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in
overnight United States dollar federal funds arranged by three
leading brokers of United States dollar federal funds
transactions in New York City (which may include the agents or
their affiliates) selected by the calculation agent prior to
9:00 a.m., New York City time, on such federal funds rate
interest determination date; provided, however, that if
the brokers so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting
as mentioned in this sentence, the federal funds rate determined
as of such federal funds rate interest determination date will
be the federal funds rate in effect on such federal funds rate
interest determination date.
(iii) If federal funds target rate is the
specified federal funds rate in the applicable pricing
supplement, the federal funds rate as of the applicable federal
funds rate interest determination date shall be the rate on such
date as displayed on the FDTR Index page on Bloomberg. If such
rate does not appear on the FDTR Index page on Bloomberg by
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, the
federal funds rate for such federal funds rate interest
determination date will be the rate for that day appearing on
Reuters Page USFFTARGET= (or any other page as may replace
such page on such service) (Reuters
Page USFFTARGET=). If such rate does not appear on
the FDTR Index page on Bloomberg or is not displayed on Reuters
Page USFFTARGET= by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the related calculation date, then the federal funds rate on
such federal funds rate interest determination date shall be
calculated by the calculation agent and will be the arithmetic
mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight United
States dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers of
United States dollar federal funds transactions in New York City
(which may include the agents or their affiliates) selected by
the calculation agent prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City
time, on such federal funds rate interest determination date.
LIBOR. LIBOR notes will bear interest at the
interest rates, calculated with reference to the London
interbank offered rate, commonly referred to as LIBOR, and the
spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified on the face of the LIBOR
notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. LIBOR notes will
be subject to the minimum and the maximum interest rate, if any.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
the calculation agent will determine LIBOR for each interest
determination date relating to a LIBOR note as follows:
(i) With respect to any interest determination date
relating to a floating rate note for which the interest rate is
determined with reference to LIBOR (a LIBOR interest
determination date), LIBOR will be the rate for deposits
in the designated LIBOR currency having the index maturity
specified in such pricing supplement as such rate is displayed
on Reuters 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 Designated
LIBOR Currency) (Reuters Page LIBOR01) as of
11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR interest
determination date. If no such rate so appears, LIBOR on such
LIBOR interest determination date will be determined in
accordance with provision described in clause (ii) below.
(ii) With respect to LIBOR interest determination date on
which no rate is displayed on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as
specified in clause (i) above, the calculation agent shall
request the principal London offices of each of four major
reference banks (which may include affiliates of the agents) in
the London interbank market, as selected by the calculation
agent to provide the calculation agent with its offered
quotation for deposits in the designated LIBOR currency for the
period of the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, commencing on the related interest reset date, to
prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR interest
determination date and in a principal amount that is
representative for a single transaction in the designated LIBOR
currency in such market at such time. If at least two such
quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR interest
determination date will be the arithmetic mean calculated by the
calculation agent of such quotations. If fewer than two such
quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR interest
determination date will be the arithmetic mean calculated by the
calculation agent of the rates quoted at approximately
11:00 a.m., in the
S-14
applicable principal financial center (as defined below), on
such LIBOR interest determination date by three major banks
(which may include affiliates of the agents) in such principal
financial center selected by the calculation agent for loans in
the designated LIBOR currency to leading European banks, having
the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for
a single transaction in the designated LIBOR currency in such
market at such time; provided, however, that if
the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting
as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such LIBOR
interest determination date shall be LIBOR in effect on such
LIBOR interest determination date.
As referenced above, designated LIBOR currency means
the currency specified in the applicable pricing supplement as
to which LIBOR shall be calculated or, if no such currency is
specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
U.S. dollars. 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, if applicable, relates, except,
in each case, that with respect to United States dollars,
Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, euro, New Zealand dollars,
South African rand and Swiss francs, the principal
financial center shall be New York City, Sydney, Toronto,
London (solely in the case of the Designated LIBOR Currency),
Wellington, Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively.
EURIBOR. EURIBOR notes will bear interest at
the interest rates, calculated with reference to EURIBOR and the
spread
and/or
multiplier, if any, specified in the EURIBOR notes and in the
applicable pricing supplement. EURIBOR notes will be subject to
the minimum and maximum interest rate, if any.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
EURIBOR means, with respect to any interest determination date
relating to a floating rate note for which the interest rate is
determined with reference to EURIBOR (a EURIBOR interest
determination date), a base rate equal to the interest
rate for deposits in euro designated as EURIBOR and
sponsored jointly by the European Banking Federation and
ACI the Financial Market Association, or any company
established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and
publishing that rate. EURIBOR will be determined in the
following manner:
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EURIBOR will be the offered rate for deposits in euro having the
index maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
beginning on the second euro business day after such EURIBOR
interest determination date, as that rate appears on Reuters
Page EURIBOR 01 as of 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on
such EURIBOR interest determination date.
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If the rate described above does not appear on Reuters
Page EURIBOR 01, EURIBOR will be determined on the basis of
the rates, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on
such EURIBOR interest determination date, at which deposits of
the following kind are offered to prime banks in the euro-zone
interbank market by the principal euro-zone office of each of
four major banks in that market selected by the calculation
agent: euro deposits having such EURIBOR index maturity,
beginning on such EURIBOR interest reset date, and in a
representative amount. The calculation agent will request that
the principal euro-zone office of each of these banks provide a
quotation of its rate. If at least two quotations are provided,
EURIBOR for such EURIBOR interest determination date will be the
arithmetic mean of the quotations.
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If fewer than two quotations are provided as described above,
EURIBOR for such EURIBOR interest determination date will be the
arithmetic mean of the rates for loans of the following kind to
leading euro-zone banks quoted, at approximately
11:00 a.m., Brussels time on that interest determination
date, by three major banks in the euro-zone selected by the
calculation agent: loans of euro having such EURIBOR index
maturity, beginning on such EURIBOR interest reset date, and in
an amount that is representative of a single transaction in euro
in that market at the time.
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If fewer than three banks selected by the calculation agent are
quoting as described above, EURIBOR for the new interest period
will be EURIBOR in effect for the prior interest period. If the
initial base rate has been in effect for the prior interest
period, however, it will remain in effect for the new interest
period.
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Prime Rate. Prime rate notes will bear
interest at the interest rates, calculated with reference to the
prime rate and the spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified in the prime rate notes and
in the applicable pricing supplement. Prime rate notes will be
subject to the minimum and the maximum interest rate, if any.
S-15
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
prime rate means, with respect to any interest
determination date relating to a floating rate note for which
the interest rate is determined with reference to the prime rate
(a prime rate interest determination date), the rate
on such date as such rate is published in H.15(519) under the
caption 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 prime rate interest determination date as
published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized
electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate,
under the caption Bank prime loan. If such rate is
not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update, or another
recognized electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the related calculation date, then the prime rate shall
be the arithmetic mean calculated by the calculation agent of
the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that
appears on Reuters on page USPRIME1 (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) (Reuters Page USPRIME1) as such
banks prime rate or base lending rate as of
11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such prime rate interest
determination date. If fewer than four such rates so appear on
the Reuters Page USPRIME1 for such prime rate interest
determination date by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
related calculation date, then the prime rate shall be the
arithmetic mean calculated by the calculation agent of the prime
rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual
number of days in the year divided by a
360-day year
as of the close of business on such prime rate interest
determination date by three major banks (which may include
affiliates of the dealers) in New York City selected by the
calculation agent; provided, however, that if the banks
so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as
mentioned in this sentence, the prime rate determined as of such
prime rate interest determination date will be the prime rate in
effect on such prime rate interest determination date.
Reuters Page USPRIME1 means the display on the
Reuters 3000 Xtra Service (or any successor service) on the
USPRIME1 Page (or such other page as may replace the
USPRIME1 Page on such service) for the purpose of displaying
prime rates or base lending rates of major U.S. banks.
CD Rate. CD rate notes will bear interest at
the interest rates, calculated with reference to the CD rate and
the spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified in the CD rate notes and in
the applicable pricing supplement. CD rate notes will be subject
to the minimum and maximum interest rates if any. Unless the
applicable pricing supplement specifies otherwise, CD
rate means, with respect to any interest determination
date relating to any floating rate note for which the CD rate is
an applicable base rate (a CD rate interest determination
date), the rate on that date for negotiable
U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the index
maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as
published in H.15(519), under the heading CDs (Secondary
Market). If the CD rate cannot be determined in this
manner, the following procedures will apply:
(i) If the rate described above is not published by
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the relevant calculation
date, then the CD rate will be the rate on that CD rate interest
determination date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates
of deposit having the specified index maturity as published in
H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic sources used
for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the
caption CDs (Secondary Market).
(ii) If by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
applicable calculation date, that rate is not published in
either H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized
electronic source, the CD rate for that CD rate interest
determination date will be calculated by the calculation agent
and will be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered
rates as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on that CD rate
interest determination date, of three leading non-bank dealers
in negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in New
York City, which may include one or more of the agents or their
affiliates, selected by the calculation agent, after
consultation with us, for negotiable U.S. dollar
certificates of deposit of major U.S. money market banks
for negotiable certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity
closest to the index maturity specified in the applicable
pricing supplement in an amount that is representative for a
single transaction in that market at that time.
(iii) If the dealer(s) selected as described above by the
calculation agent are not quoting rates as set forth above, the
CD rate for that CD interest rate determination date will be the
CD rate in effect for the immediately preceding interest reset
period, or if there was no interest reset period, then the rate
of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.
S-16
Treasury Rate. Treasury rate notes will bear
interest at the interest rates, calculated with reference to the
treasury rate and the spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified in the treasury rate notes
and in the applicable pricing supplement. Treasury rate notes
will be subject to the minimum and the maximum interest rate, if
any.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
treasury rate means, with respect to any interest
determination date relating to a floating rate note for which
the interest rate is determined by reference to the treasury
rate (a treasury rate interest determination date),
the rate from the auction held on such treasury rate interest
determination date (the auction) of direct
obligations of the United States (treasury bills)
having the index maturity specified in such pricing supplement
under the caption INVEST RATE on the display on
Reuters page USAUCTION10 (or any other page as may replace
such page on such service) or page USAUCTION11 (or any
other page as may replace such page on such service) or, if not
so published at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
related calculation date, the bond equivalent yield (as defined
below) of the rate for such treasury bills as published in H.15
Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used
for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption
U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction
High. If such rate is not so published in the related H.15
Daily Update or another recognized source by 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the related calculation date, the treasury
rate on such treasury rate interest determination date shall be
the bond equivalent yield of the auction rate of such treasury
bills as announced by the United States Department of the
Treasury. In the event that such auction rate is not so
announced by the United States Department of the Treasury on
such calculation date, or if no such auction is held, then the
treasury rate on such treasury rate interest determination date
shall be the bond equivalent yield of the rate on such treasury
rate interest determination date of treasury bills having the
index maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as
published in H.15(519) under the caption
U.S. government securities/treasury bills/secondary
market or, if not yet published by 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on
such treasury rate interest determination date of such treasury
bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other
recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying
such rate, under the caption U.S. government
securities/treasury bills (secondary market). If such rate
is not yet published in the H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or
another recognized electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the related calculation date, then the treasury
rate on such treasury rate interest determination date shall be
calculated by the calculation agent and shall be the bond
equivalent yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market
bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City
time, on such treasury rate interest determination date, of the
three leading primary United States government securities
dealers (which may include the agents or their affiliates)
selected by the calculation agent, for the issue of treasury
bills with a remaining maturity closest to the index maturity
specified in the applicable pricing supplement; provided,
however, that if the dealers so selected by the calculation
agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the
treasury rate determined as of such treasury rate interest
determination date will be the treasury rate in effect on such
treasury rate interest determination date.
The bond equivalent yield means a yield (expressed
as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following
formula:
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bond equivalent yield =
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D x N
360
(D x M)
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x 100
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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 365 or 366, as the case may
be, and M refers to the actual number of days in the
applicable interest reset period.
Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) Rate. CMT
rate notes will bear interest at the interest rates calculated
with reference to the CMT rate and the spread
and/or
spread multiplier, if any, specified in the CMT rate notes and
in the applicable pricing supplement. CMT rate notes will be
subject to the minimum and the maximum interest rate, if any.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
CMT rate means, with respect to any interest
determination date relating to a floating rate note for which
the interest rate is determined with reference to the CMT rate
(a CMT rate interest determination date):
(i) If Reuters Page FRBCMT is the
specified CMT Reuters Page in the applicable pricing supplement,
the CMT rate on the CMT rate interest determination date shall
be a percentage equal to the yield for United
S-17
States Treasury securities at constant maturity
having the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement as set forth in H.15(519) under the caption
Treasury constant maturities, as such yield is
displayed on Reuters (or any successor service) on
page FRBCMT (or any other page as may replace such page on
such service) (Reuters Page FRBCMT) for such
CMT rate interest determination date. If such rate does not
appear on Reuters Page FRBCMT, the CMT rate on such CMT
rate interest determination date shall be a percentage equal to
the yield for United States Treasury securities at
constant maturity having the index maturity
specified in the applicable pricing supplement and for such CMT
rate interest determination date as set forth in H.15(519) under
the caption Treasury constant maturities. If such
rate does not appear in H.15(519), the CMT rate on such CMT rate
interest determination date shall be the rate for the period of
the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement as may then be published by either the Federal
Reserve Board or the United States Department of the Treasury
that the calculation agent determines to be comparable to the
rate that would otherwise have been published in H.15(519). If
the Federal Reserve Board or the United States Department of the
Treasury does not publish a yield on United States Treasury
securities at constant maturity having the index
maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement for such
CMT rate interest determination date, the CMT rate on such CMT
rate interest determination date shall be calculated by the
calculation agent and shall be a yield-to-maturity based on the
arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices at
approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such CMT
rate interest determination date of three leading primary United
States government securities dealers in New York City (which may
include the agents or their affiliates) (each, a reference
dealer) selected by the calculation agent from five such
reference dealers selected by the calculation agent and
eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality,
one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event
of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury
securities with an original maturity equal to the index maturity
specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a remaining term
to maturity no more than one year shorter than such index
maturity and in a principal amount that is representative for a
single transaction in such securities in such market at such
time. If fewer than three prices are provided as requested, the
CMT rate on such CMT rate interest determination date shall be
calculated by the calculation agent and shall be a
yield-to-maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary
market bid prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York
City time, on such CMT rate interest determination date of three
reference dealers selected by the calculation agent from five
such reference dealers selected by the calculation agent and
eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality,
one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event
of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury
securities with an original maturity greater than the index
maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a
remaining term to maturity closest to such index maturity and in
a principal amount that is representative for a single
transaction in such securities in such market at such time. If
two such United States Treasury securities with an original
maturity greater than the index maturity specified in the
applicable pricing supplement have remaining terms to maturity
equally close to such index maturity, the quotes for the
treasury security with the shorter original term to maturity
will be used. If fewer than five but more than two such prices
are provided as requested, the CMT rate on such CMT rate
interest determination date shall be calculated by the
calculation agent and shall be based on the arithmetic mean of
the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest
of such quotations shall be eliminated; provided,
however, that if fewer than three such prices are
provided as requested, the CMT rate determined as of such CMT
rate interest determination date shall be the CMT rate in effect
on such CMT rate interest determination date.
(ii) If Reuters Page FEDCMT is the
specified CMT Reuters Page in the applicable pricing supplement,
the CMT rate on the CMT rate interest determination date shall
be a percentage equal to the one-week or one-month, as specified
in the applicable pricing supplement, average yield for United
States Treasury securities at constant maturity
having the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement as set forth in H.15(519) opposite the caption
Treasury Constant Maturities, as such yield is
displayed on Reuters on page FEDCMT (or any other page as
may replace such page on such service) (Reuters
Page FEDCMT) for the week or month, as applicable,
ended immediately preceding the week or month, as applicable, in
which such CMT rate interest determination date falls. If such
rate does not appear on Reuters Page FEDCMT, the CMT rate
on such CMT rate interest determination date shall be a
percentage equal to the one-week or one-month, as specified in
the applicable pricing supplement, average yield for United
States Treasury securities at constant maturity
having the index maturity specified in the applicable pricing
supplement for the week or
S-18
month, as applicable, preceding such CMT rate interest
determination date as set forth in H.15(519) opposite the
caption Treasury Constant Maturities. If such rate
does not appear in H.15(519), the CMT rate on such CMT rate
interest determination date shall be the one-week or one-month,
as specified in the applicable pricing supplement, average yield
for United States Treasury securities at constant
maturity having the index maturity specified in the
applicable pricing supplement as otherwise announced by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the week or month, as
applicable, ended immediately preceding the week or month, as
applicable, in which such CMT rate interest determination date
falls. If the Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not publish
a one-week or one-month, as specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, average yield on United States Treasury securities
at constant maturity having the index maturity
specified in the applicable pricing supplement for the
applicable week or month, the CMT rate on such CMT rate interest
determination date shall be calculated by the calculation agent
and shall be a yield-to-maturity based on the arithmetic mean of
the secondary market bid prices at approximately 3:30 p.m.,
New York City time, on such CMT rate interest determination date
of three reference dealers selected by the calculation agent
from five such reference dealers selected by the calculation
agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of
equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in
the event of equality, one of the lowest) for United States
Treasury securities with an original maturity equal to the index
maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a
remaining term to maturity of no more than one year shorter than
such index maturity and in a principal amount that is
representative for a single transaction in such securities in
such market at such time. If fewer than five but more than two
such prices are provided as requested, the CMT rate on such CMT
rate interest determination date shall be the rate on the CMT
rate interest determination date calculated by the calculation
agent based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained
and neither the highest nor the lowest of such quotation shall
be eliminated. If fewer than three prices are provided as
requested, the CMT rate on such CMT rate interest determination
date shall be calculated by the calculation agent and shall be a
yield-to-maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary
market bid prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York
City time, on such CMT rate interest determination date of three
reference dealers selected by the calculation agent from five
such reference dealers selected by the calculation agent and
eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality,
one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event
of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury
securities with an original maturity longer than the index
maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a
remaining term to maturity closest to such index maturity and in
a principal amount that is representative for a single
transaction in such securities in such market at such time. If
two United States Treasury securities with an original maturity
greater than the index maturity specified in the applicable
pricing supplement have remaining terms to maturity equally
close to such index maturity, the quotes for the Treasury
security with the shorter original term to maturity will be
used. If fewer than five but more than two such prices are
provided as requested, the CMT rate on such CMT rate interest
determination date shall be the rate on the CMT rate interest
determination date calculated by the calculation agent based on
the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the
highest nor lowest of such quotations shall be eliminated;
provided, however, that if fewer than three such prices
are provided as requested, the CMT rate determined as of such
CMT rate determination date shall be the CMT rate in effect on
such CMT rate interest determination date.
Original
Issue Discount Notes
We may issue notes as original issue discount notes. An original
issue discount note is a note, including a zero coupon note,
offered at a discount from the principal amount of the note due
at its stated maturity, as specified in the applicable pricing
supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
the amount payable at acceleration of maturity to the holder of
an original issue discount note will be the sum of:
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the amortized face amount of the note, and
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in the case of an interest-bearing note issued as an original
issue discount note, any accrued but unpaid qualified stated
interest payments.
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S-19
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
the amount payable upon redemption to the holder of an original
issue discount note will be the sum of:
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the applicable percentage of the amortized face amount of the
note specified in the applicable pricing supplement, and
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in the case of an interest-bearing note issued as an original
issue discount note, any accrued but unpaid qualified stated
interest payments.
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For purposes of computing the payments described in the
foregoing paragraph, the amortized face amount of an original
issue discount note is equal to the sum of:
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the issue price of the original issue discount note; and
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the portion of the difference between the issue price and the
principal amount of the original issue discount note that has
been amortized at the stated yield of the original issue
discount note, computed in accordance with the rules set forth
in the Internal Revenue Code, or Code, and
applicable Treasury regulations, at the date as of which the
amortized face amount is calculated.
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In no event can the amortized face amount exceed the principal
amount of the note due at its stated maturity date. As used in
this paragraph, issue price means the principal amount of the
original issue discount note due at the stated maturity of the
note, less the original issue discount of the note specified on
its face and in the applicable pricing supplement. The term
stated yield of the original issue discount note means the yield
to maturity specified on the face of the note and in the
applicable pricing supplement for the period from the
notes original issue date to its stated maturity date
based on its issue price and its stated redemption price at
maturity.
Persons considering the purchase of original issue discount
notes should read the discussion set forth below under the
heading Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences U.S. Holders Original
Issue Discount.
Redemption
The applicable pricing supplement will indicate whether the
notes can be redeemed prior to maturity. If the notes are
redeemable, the applicable pricing supplement will indicate the
terms of our option to redeem the notes prior to maturity.
Unless the pricing supplement provides otherwise, in the case of
notes other than zero coupon notes or certain interest bearing
notes issued as original issue discount notes, the redemption
price will be a specified percentage of the principal amount of
the note, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date of
redemption. Unless the pricing supplement provides otherwise, in
the case of zero coupon notes or certain interest bearing notes
issued as original issue discount notes, the redemption price
will be a specified percentage of the amortized face amount of
the note, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date of
redemption. Unless the applicable pricing supplement specifies
otherwise, we may redeem any of the notes which are redeemable
and remain outstanding either in whole or in part, at any time,
with 30 to 60 days notice mailed by us to the
registered holder of the note. Unless the applicable pricing
supplement specifies otherwise, we will not be obligated to
redeem or purchase notes subject to a sinking fund or analogous
provision or at the option of any holder. If less than all of
the notes with similar terms are to be redeemed, the paying
agent and registrar will select the notes to be redeemed by a
method that the paying agent and registrar deem fair and
appropriate. If we redeem less than all of the principal of a
note prior to maturity, we will issue a new note with similar
terms and of an authorized denomination representing the
unredeemed portion of the note to the registered holder.
Foreign
Currency Securities
If we issue notes denominated in a currency other than
U.S. dollars or euro we will not sell those notes in, or to
residents of, the country that issues the currency in which
those notes are denominated unless permitted by that
countrys laws. This prospectus supplement is directed to
prospective purchasers who are U.S. residents. Prospective
purchasers who are residents of countries other than the United
States should consult their own financial and legal advisors
with regard to the purchase of the notes, and should review the
section entitled Foreign Currency Risks.
S-20
Other
Provisions; Addenda
Any provisions relating to the calculation of the interest rate
applicable to a note or any other related matter may be modified
as specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
Subordination
of Series S Notes
The payment of the principal and interest on the Series S
notes, which are subordinated notes, will be subordinate in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our
senior indebtedness, including the Series R notes. In some
cases of insolvency, payment of principal of and interest on the
Series S Notes will also be subordinated in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all general obligations.
A holder of the Series S notes cannot demand or receive
payment on the Series S notes unless all amounts of
principal of, any premium, and interest due on all of our senior
indebtedness have been paid in full or duly provided for and, at
the time of this payment or immediately after this payment:
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no event of default exists permitting the holders of the senior
indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of the senior
indebtedness; or
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no event exists which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would become an event of default.
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If our assets are paid or distributed in connection with a
dissolution,
winding-up,
liquidation or reorganization, the holders of our senior
indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full of
principal, and any premium and interest under the terms of the
senior indebtedness before any payment is made on the
Series S notes. If:
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after giving effect to the subordination provisions in favor of
the holders of the senior indebtedness, and
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after paying or distributing assets to creditors,
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any amount of cash, property or securities remains, and if, at
that time, creditors of general obligations have not received
full payment on all amounts due or to become due on these
general obligations, this excess will first be applied to pay in
full all general obligations, before paying or distributing on
the Series S notes.
The subordinated indenture defines senior indebtedness as the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on:
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all of our indebtedness for money borrowed, whether outstanding
on the date of execution of the subordinated indenture, or
created, assumed or incurred after that date (including any
senior debt securities under the senior indenture). Indebtedness
does not include indebtedness that is expressly stated to rank
junior or equal in right of payment to any subordinated
notes; and
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Any deferrals, renewals or extensions of senior indebtedness.
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The subordinated indenture defines general obligations as all of
our obligations to pay claims of general creditors, other than:
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obligations on senior indebtedness; and
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obligations on subordinated notes and our indebtedness for money
borrowed ranking equally or subordinate to the subordinated
notes. If, however, the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (or other competent regulatory agency or
authority) promulgates any rule or issues any interpretation
that defines general creditor(s) the main purpose of which is to
establish a criteria for determining whether the subordinated
debt of a bank holding company is to be included in its capital,
then the term general obligations will mean obligations to
general creditors as described in that rule or interpretation.
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The term claim when used in the previous definition has the
meaning stated in section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code.
The term indebtedness for money borrowed means any obligation of
ours or any obligation guaranteed by us to repay money borrowed,
whether or not evidenced by bonds, debt securities, notes or
other written instruments, and any deferred obligation to pay
the purchase price of property or assets.
S-21
Due to the subordination provisions described above, if we
experience bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the holders
of senior indebtedness can receive more, ratably, and holders of
the subordinated notes (including Series S notes) can
receive less, ratably, than our creditors who are not holders of
senior indebtedness or of the subordinated notes. This
subordination will not prevent any event of default on the
subordinated notes from occurring. Unless the applicable
prospectus supplement(s) indicates otherwise, the subordinated
indenture does not provide any right to accelerate the payment
of the principal of the subordinated notes if payment of the
principal or interest, or performance of any agreement in the
subordinated notes or subordinated indenture is in default. See
Events of Default below.
The subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture
described in this prospectus supplement are provided to holders
of senior indebtedness, including the Series R notes, and
are not intended for creditors of general obligations. The
trustee and we can amend the subordinated indenture to reduce or
eliminate the rights of creditors of general obligations without
their consent or the consent of the holders of subordinated
notes. The provisions of the subordinated indenture stating that
the subordinated notes will be subordinated in favor of
creditors of general obligations will be immediately and
automatically terminated if the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (or other competent regulatory agency or
authority) promulgates any rule or regulation, or issues any
interpretation that:
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permits us to include the subordinated notes in our capital if
the debt securities were subordinated in right of payment to
senior indebtedness without regard to any of our other
obligations; or
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eliminates the requirement that subordinated debt of a bank
holding company must be subordinated in right of payment to its
general creditors to be included in capital; or
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causes the subordinated notes to be excluded from capital,
without regard to the subordination provisions described
above; or
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results in us no longer being subject to the capital
requirements of bank regulatory authorities.
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Restrictive
Covenants
Subject to the provisions described under the section
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of
Assets, the senior indenture prohibits:
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the issue, sale or other disposition of shares of or securities
convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe
for or purchase shares of, voting stock of a principal
subsidiary bank;
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the merger or consolidation of a principal subsidiary bank with
or into any other corporation; or
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the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of a principal subsidiary bank,
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if, after giving effect to the transaction and issuing the
maximum number of shares of voting stock that can be issued
after the conversion or exercise of the convertible securities,
options, warrants or rights, we would own, directly or
indirectly, 80% or less of the shares of voting stock of the
principal subsidiary bank or of the successor bank or the bank
which acquires the assets.
In the senior indenture, we also agreed that we will not create,
assume, incur or cause to exist any pledge, encumbrance or lien,
as security for indebtedness for money borrowed on:
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any shares of or securities convertible into voting stock of a
principal subsidiary bank that we own directly or
indirectly; or
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options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares
of, voting stock of a principal subsidiary bank that we own
directly or indirectly,
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without providing that the senior debt securities of all series
will be equally secured if, after treating the pledge,
encumbrance or lien as a transfer to the secured party, and
after giving effect to the issuance of the maximum number of
shares of voting stock issuable after conversion or exercise of
the convertible securities, options, warrants or rights, we
would own, directly or indirectly 80% or less of the shares of
voting stock of the principal subsidiary bank.
S-22
The indentures define the term principal subsidiary bank as
U.S. Bank National Association.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise,
the subordinated indenture does not contain either of the
restrictive covenants stated above, nor does it contain any
other provision which restricts us from:
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incurring or becoming liable on any secured or unsecured senior
indebtedness or general obligations; or
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paying dividends or making other distributions on our capital
stock; or
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purchasing or redeeming our capital stock; or
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creating any liens on our property for any purpose.
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Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise,
neither indenture contains covenants specifically designed to
protect holders from a highly leveraged transaction in which we
are involved.
Events of
Default
Unless otherwise described in the applicable pricing supplement,
the only events that constitute events of default under the
senior indenture with respect to Series R notes are:
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our failure to pay any interest on any Series R notes when
due, which failure continues for 30 days;
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our failure to pay any principal of or premium on any
Series R notes when due;
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our failure to make any sinking fund payment, when due, for any
Series R note;
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our failure to perform any other covenant in the senior
indenture (other than a covenant included in the senior
indenture solely for the benefit of a series of senior debt
securities other than the Series R notes), which failure
continues for 60 days after written notice;
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default in the payment of indebtedness for money borrowed under
any indenture or instrument under which we have or a principal
subsidiary bank has outstanding indebtedness in an amount in
excess of $5,000,000 which has become due and has not been paid,
or whose maturity has been accelerated and the default has not
been cured or acceleration annulled within 60 days after
written notice; and
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some events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization which
involve us or a principal subsidiary bank.
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Unless otherwise described in the applicable pricing supplement,
the only events that constitute events of default under the
subordinated indenture with respect to the Series S notes
are:
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some events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization that
involve us; and
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some events involving the receivership, conservatorship or
liquidation of a principal subsidiary bank.
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If an event of default occurs and is continuing on any
Series R note or any Series S note outstanding under
the applicable indenture, then either the applicable trustee or
the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding notes of that series may declare the principal
amount (or, if any of the notes of that series are original
issue discount notes, the amount payable at acceleration of
maturity of such notes to such holders) of all of the notes of
that series to be due and payable immediately, by notice as
provided in the applicable indenture. At any time after a
declaration of acceleration has been made on the notes of either
series, but before the applicable trustee has obtained a
judgment for payment, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series may,
under some circumstances, rescind and annul this acceleration.
Subject to provisions in each indenture relating to the duties
of the trustee during a default, no trustee will be under any
obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the
applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the
holders of any notes then outstanding under that indenture,
unless the holders offer to the trustee reasonable indemnity.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding notes of either series will have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the trustee for such series, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on such trustee.
S-23
We must furnish to each trustee, annually, a statement regarding
our performance on some of our obligations under the applicable
indenture and any default in our performance.
Modification
and Waiver
Except as otherwise specifically provided in the applicable
indenture, modifications and amendments of an indenture
generally will be permitted only with the consent of the holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding notes of each series affected by the modification or
amendment. However, none of the following modifications are
effective against any holder without the consent of the holders
of each outstanding note affected by the modification or
amendment:
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changing the stated maturity of the principal of or any
installment of principal or interest on any debt security;
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reducing the principal amount of, or premium or interest on any
debt security;
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changing any of our obligations to pay additional amounts;
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reducing the amount of principal of an original issue discount
debt security that would be due and payable at declaration of
acceleration of its maturity;
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changing the place for payment where, or coin or currency in
which, any principal of, or premium or interest on, any debt
security is payable;
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impairing the right to take legal action to enforce any payment
of or related to any debt security;
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Reducing the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt
securities of any series required to modify, amend, or waive
compliance with some provisions of the indenture or to waive
some defaults;
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modifying the subordination provisions of the subordinated
indenture in a manner adverse to the holders; or
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modifying any of the above provisions.
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The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding notes of each series can waive, as far as
that series is concerned, our compliance with some restrictive
provisions of the applicable indenture.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding notes of each series may waive any past
default under the applicable indenture, except:
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A default in the payment of principal of, or premium, or
interest on any senior debt security; or
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a default in a covenant or provision of the applicable indenture
that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected.
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Each indenture provides that, in determining whether holders of
the requisite principal amount of the outstanding notes have
given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver, or whether a quorum is present at a meeting
of holders of notes:
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the principal amount of an original issue discount note
considered to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal
of that original issue discount debt security that would be due
and payable as of the date that the principal is determined at
declaration of acceleration of the maturity of that original
issue discount note; and
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the principal amount of a note denominated in a foreign currency
or currency unit that is deemed to be outstanding will be the
U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original
issuance for that note, of the principal amount (or, in the case
of an original issue discount note, the U.S. dollar
equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance for that
debt security, of the amount determined as provided in the
bullet point above).
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Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets
Without the consent of the holders of any outstanding notes of
each series, we cannot consolidate with or merge into another
corporation, partnership or trust, or convey, transfer or lease
substantially all of our properties and our
S-24
assets, to a corporation, partnership or trust organized or
validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction
unless:
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the successor entity assumes our obligations on the notes and
under the indentures;
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immediately after the transaction, we would not be in default
under the indentures and no event which, after notice or the
lapse of time, would become an event of default under the
indentures, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
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other conditions are met.
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Form of
Notes; Book-Entry Notes
We and the agents will agree on the form of notes to be issued
in respect of any tranche of notes. Notes sold to or through the
agents will be issued in the form of global notes in fully
registered form without coupons. In case of notes sold directly
to investors on our own behalf, we may elect to issue notes in
the form of one or more master global notes. A master global
note will evidence the indebtedness of USB under one or more
senior or subordinated notes issued or to be issued under the
indentures. The terms of each note evidenced by a master global
note shall be identified on the records of USB maintained by the
paying agent. At the request of the registered owner of a master
global note, we shall promptly issue and deliver one or more
separate note certificates evidencing each note evidenced by the
master global note. We refer to each of these notes as a
registered global note.
The Depository Trust Company (DTC) will act as
securities depositary for all of the registered global notes.
These registered global notes will be deposited with the
registrar as custodian and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New
York Banking Law, a banking organization under the meaning of
the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, a clearing corporation under the meaning of the New York
Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered under
the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC
also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities
transactions, like transfers and pledges, in deposited
securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
the participants accounts, eliminating in this manner the
need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct
participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks,
trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations.
DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and by the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc.
and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Others like
securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that
clear through or maintain custodial relationships with direct
participants, either directly or indirectly, also have access to
the DTC system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants
are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of notes within the DTC system must be made by or
through direct participants, who will receive a credit for the
notes on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each
actual purchaser of each note is in turn to be recorded on the
direct and indirect participants records. DTC will not
send written confirmation to beneficial owners of their
purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written
confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as
periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or
indirect participants through which the beneficial owners
purchased notes. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes
are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of
participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial
owners will not receive certificates representing their
ownership interests in notes, unless the book-entry system for
the notes is discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the
notes. DTCs records reflect only the identity of the
direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited,
which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants
will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on
behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants,
and by direct participants and indirect participants to
beneficial owners and the voting rights of direct participants,
indirect participants and beneficial owners, subject to any
statutory or regulatory requirements as is in effect from time
to time, will be governed by arrangements among them.
S-25
We will send redemption notices to Cede & Co. as the
registered holder of the notes. If less than all of the notes
are redeemed, DTCs current practice is to determine by lot
the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be
redeemed.
Although voting on the notes is limited to the holders of record
of the notes, in those instances in which a vote is required,
neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote
on notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus
proxy to the relevant trustee as soon as possible after the
record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede &
Co.s consenting or voting rights to direct participants
for whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date
(identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
The relevant trustee will make distribution payments on the
notes to DTC. DTCs practice is to credit direct
participants accounts on the relevant payment date in
accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTCs
records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not
receive payments on the payment date. Standing instructions and
customary practices will govern payments from participants to
beneficial owners. Subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements, participants, and not DTC, the relevant trustee,
trust or us, will be responsible for the payment. The relevant
trustee is responsible for payment of distributions to DTC.
Direct and indirect participants are responsible for the
disbursement of the payments to the beneficial owners.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary on any of the notes at any time by giving reasonable
notice to the relevant trustee and to us. If a successor
securities depositary is not obtained, final note certificates
must be printed and delivered. We may, at our option, decide to
discontinue the use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary). After an event of
default, the holders of an aggregate principal amount of notes
may discontinue the system of book-entry transfers through DTC.
In this case, final certificates for the notes will be printed
and delivered.
We have obtained the information in this section about DTC and
DTCs book-entry system from sources that we believe to be
accurate, and we assume no responsibility for the accuracy of
the information. We have no responsibility for the performance
by DTC or its participants of their respective obligations as
described in this prospectus or under the rules and procedures
governing their respective operations.
Beneficial owner means the ownership interest of
each actual purchaser of each note.
Direct participants means securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other
organizations who, with the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the
American Stock Exchange Inc., and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., own DTC. Purchases of the notes within
the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants
who will receive a credit for the notes on DTCs records.
Indirect participants means securities brokers and
dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or
maintain custodial relationships with direct participants,
either directly or indirectly, and who also have access to the
DTC system.
Omnibus proxy refers to the omnibus proxy that DTC
would mail under its usual procedures to the relevant trustee as
soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy
assigns Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights
to direct participants for whose accounts the notes are credited
on the record date.
Regarding
Citibank, N.A.
Some of our subsidiaries and us maintain deposits with and
conduct other banking transactions with Citibank, N.A. in the
ordinary course of business.
FOREIGN
CURRENCY RISKS
We can denominate the notes in, and the principal of, and any
interest or premium on, the notes can be payable in, any foreign
currencies that we may designate at the time of offering. The
applicable pricing supplement will describe the material risks
relating to a particular tranche of foreign currency notes.
S-26
Exchange
Rates and Exchange Controls
An investment in foreign currency notes entails significant
risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a
note denominated in U.S. dollars. These risks include,
without limitation:
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the possibility of significant changes in the rate of exchange
between the United States dollar and the currency or currency
unit specified in the applicable pricing supplement; and
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the possibility of the imposition or modification of foreign
exchange controls by either the United States or foreign
governments.
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These risks generally depend on economic and political events
over which we have no control. In recent years, rates of
exchange between the U.S. dollar and some foreign
currencies have been highly volatile and this volatility can be
expected in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange
rate that have occurred in the past do not necessarily indicate
fluctuations in the rate that may occur during the term of any
foreign currency note.
Depreciation of the specified currency applicable to a foreign
currency note against the United States dollar would result in a
decrease in:
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the U.S. dollar-equivalent yield of the security;
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the U.S. dollar-equivalent value of the principal repayable
at maturity of the security; and
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the U.S. dollar-equivalent market value of the security.
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Governments have imposed from time to time exchange controls and
may in the future impose or revise exchange controls at or
before the maturity of a foreign currency note (or the maturity
of the note issuable at the time of exercise of a debt warrant).
Even if there are no exchange controls, it is possible that the
specified currency for any particular foreign currency note will
not be available at the maturity of the note (or the maturity of
the note issuable at the time of exercise of a debt warrant) due
to circumstances beyond our control.
Judgments
If an action based on foreign currency notes was commenced in a
court of the United States, it is likely that the court would
grant judgment relating to those notes only in
U.S. dollars. It is not clear, however, whether, in
granting this judgment, the rate of conversion into
U.S. dollars would be determined with reference to the date
of default, the date the judgment is rendered, or some other
date. Under current New York law, a state court in the State of
New York that gives a judgment on a foreign currency note would
be required to give the judgment in the specified currency in
which the foreign currency note is denominated, and this
judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the
exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment.
Holders of foreign currency notes would bear the risk of
exchange rate fluctuations between the time the amount of the
judgment is calculated and the time that the applicable trustee
converts U.S. dollars to the specified currency for payment
of the judgment.
Limited
Facilities for Conversion
Currently, there are limited facilities in the United States for
conversion of U.S. dollars into foreign currencies, and
vice versa. In addition, banks generally do not offer
non-U.S. dollar
denominated checking or savings account facilities in the United
States. Accordingly, payments on foreign currency notes will,
unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, be made from an account with a bank located in the
country issuing the specified currency or, for foreign currency
notes denominated in euro, Brussels.
CERTAIN
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal U.S. federal
income tax consequences relating to your acquisition, ownership,
and disposition of notes. This summary is based on the tax laws
of the United States, including the Code of 1986, as amended,
its legislative history, existing and proposed Treasury
regulations thereunder, published rulings of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and court
decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are
subject to change at any time possibly with retroactive effect.
This discussion deals only with holders that will hold notes as
capital assets, and does not address the U.S. federal
income tax consequences applicable to all
S-27
categories of investors. In particular, the discussion does not
deal with those of you who may be in special tax situations,
such as dealers in securities, insurance companies, financial
institutions, regulated investment companies, or tax-exempt
entities. It does not include any description of the tax laws of
any state or local governments, or of any foreign government,
that may be applicable to the notes or to you as a holder of the
notes. This summary also may not apply to all forms of notes
that we may issue. If the tax consequences associated with a
particular form of note are different than those described
below, they will be discussed in the pricing supplement relating
to that note.
The U.S. federal income tax discussion that appears
below is included in this prospectus supplement for your general
information. Some or all of the discussion may not apply to you
depending upon your particular situation. You should consult
your tax advisor concerning the tax consequences to you of
owning and disposing of the notes, including the tax
consequences under state, local, foreign, and other tax laws and
the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
As used in this prospectus supplement, the term
U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of a note
that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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an entity which is a corporation or other entity treated as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any
state or the District of Columbia;
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an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income
tax regardless of its source; or
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a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise
primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one
or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust.
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Partners or partnerships should consult their tax advisors
concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes by the
partnership.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, to the extent provided
in Treasury regulations, some trusts in existence on
August 20, 1996, and treated as U.S. persons prior to
that date, that elect to continue to be treated as
U.S. persons also will be U.S. holders.
A
Non-U.S. holder
is a holder that is not a U.S. holder.
U.S.
Holders
Payment
of Interest
Interest on a note generally will be taxable to you as ordinary
income at the time you accrue or receive the interest in
accordance with your accounting method for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. However, special rules apply to a note that
is issued with original issue discount (OID).
Original
Issue Discount
Some of your notes may be issued with OID. For U.S. federal
income tax purposes, OID is the excess of the stated
redemption price at maturity of a debt instrument over its
issue price, unless that excess is de minimis
(defined below). The stated redemption price at
maturity of a note is the sum of all payments required to
be made on the note other than qualified stated
interest payments. The issue price of a note
is generally the first offering price to the public at which a
substantial amount of the debt instrument is sold to persons
other than those acting in the capacity of placement agents,
underwriters, brokers or wholesalers. The term qualified
stated interest generally means stated interest that is
unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt
instruments of the issuer), or that is treated as constructively
received, at least annually at a single fixed rate or, under
certain conditions in connection with the special rules relating
to floating-rate notes, at a variable rate. If a note bears
interest during any accrual period at a rate below the rate
applicable for the remaining term of the note (for example,
notes with teaser rates or interest holidays), then some or all
of the stated interest may not be treated as qualified stated
interest.
S-28
OID is considered to be de minimis (de minimis
OID) if it is less than one-quarter of one percent of
a notes stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by
the number of complete years to its maturity (weighted average
maturity if principal is payable in installments). A
U.S. holder of a note with de minimis OID will
include any de minimis OID in income, as capital gain, on
a pro rata basis as principal payments are made on the note.
You are required to include qualified stated interest payments
in income as interest when you accrue or receive those payments
(in accordance with your accounting method for U.S. federal
income tax purposes). If you hold a note with OID with a
maturity of more than one year, you may be required to include
OID in income before you receive the associated cash payment,
regardless of your accounting method for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. If you are an initial purchaser of an OID
note, the amount of the OID you should include in income is the
sum of the daily accruals of the OID for the note for each day
during the taxable year (or portion of the taxable year) in
which you held the OID note. The daily portion is determined by
allocating the OID for each day of the accrual period. An
accrual period may be of any length and the accrual periods may
even vary in length over the term of the 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 of an accrual period or on the final day of an accrual
period. The amount of OID allocable to an accrual period is
equal to the difference between (1) the product of the
adjusted issue price of the OID note at the
beginning of the accrual period and its yield to maturity
(computed generally on a constant yield method and compounded at
the end of each accrual period, taking into account the length
of the particular accrual period) and (2) the amount of any
qualified stated interest allocable to the accrual period. The
adjusted issue price of an OID note at the beginning
of any accrual period is the sum of the issue price of the OID
note plus the amount of OID allocable to all prior accrual
periods reduced by any payments you received on the note that
were not qualified stated interest. Under these rules, you
generally will have to include in income increasingly greater
amounts of OID in successive accrual periods. Under Treasury
regulations, the yield and maturity of a note that is subject to
one or more calls by the issuer are determined by assuming that
the issuer will exercise any call in such a way as to minimize
the yield on such note.
If you are not an initial purchaser of an OID note and you
purchase an OID note for greater than its adjusted issue price
as of the purchase date and less than or equal to its remaining
stated redemption price at maturity, you will have purchased the
OID note at an acquisition premium. Under the
acquisition premium rules, the amount of OID which you must
include in your gross income for the note for any taxable year
(or any portion of a taxable year in which you hold the note)
will be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion of the
acquisition premium allocated to the period.
Short-Term
Notes
The OID provisions described above do not apply to short-term
notes having a fixed maturity date not more than one year from
the date of issue. Under applicable Treasury regulations, this
type of short-term note will be treated as having been issued
with OID equal to the excess of the total principal and interest
payments on the note over its issue price. An individual or
other holder using the cash receipts and disbursements method of
tax accounting will not be required to include OID on the
short-term note in ordinary income for U.S. federal income
tax purposes on a daily basis unless the holder elects to do so,
but would be required to include stated interest in income as
the income is received. Holders of short-term notes who report
income under the accrual method of tax accounting and certain
other holders (including banks and regulated investment
companies) are required to include OID in income on a daily
basis pursuant to a straight-line method, unless these holders
make an election to accrue OID under the constant yield method
described above by taking into account daily compounding. In the
case of holders of short-term notes not required and not
electing to include OID in income currently, any gain realized
on the sale, exchange, or maturity of the short-term notes will
be ordinary income to the extent of the OID accrued on a
straight-line basis (or, if elected on a constant yield method,
based on daily compounding), reduced by any interest received,
to the date of sale, exchange or maturity. Holders of short-term
notes not required and not electing to include the OID in income
currently will be required to defer deductions for interest on
indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the
short-term notes in an amount not exceeding the deferred income
until the deferred income is realized.
S-29
Premium
If you purchase a note at a cost greater than the notes
remaining stated redemption price at maturity, you will be
considered to have purchased the note at a premium, and you may
elect to amortize the premium as an offset to interest income,
using a constant yield method, over the remaining term of the
note. If you make this election, it generally will apply to all
debt instruments that you hold at the time of the election, as
well as any debt instruments that you subsequently acquire. In
addition, you may not revoke the election without the consent of
the IRS. If you elect to amortize the premium, you will be
required to reduce your tax basis in the note by the amount of
the premium amortized during your holding period. OID notes
purchased at a premium will not be subject to the OID rules
described above. If you do not elect to amortize premium, the
amount of premium will be included in your tax basis in the
note. Therefore, if you do not elect to amortize premium and you
hold the note to maturity, you generally will be required to
treat the premium as capital loss when the note matures.
Market
Discount
If you purchase a note in the secondary market at a price that
is lower than the notes remaining stated redemption price
at maturity (or in the case of an OID note, the notes
adjusted issue price), by 0.25% or more of the remaining
redemption amount (or adjusted issue price), multiplied by the
number of remaining whole years to maturity, the note will be
considered to have market discount in your hands. In
this case, any gain that you realize on the disposition of the
note generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to
the extent of the market discount that accrued on the note
during your holding period. In addition, you may be required to
defer the deduction of a portion of the interest paid on any
indebtedness that you incurred or maintained to purchase or
carry the note. In general, market discount will be treated as
accruing ratably over the term of the note or, at your election,
under a constant yield method.
You may elect to include market discount in gross income
currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or constant yield
basis), in lieu of treating a portion of any gain realized on a
sale of the note as ordinary income. If you elect to include
market discount on a current basis, the interest deduction
deferral rule described above will not apply. If you do make
such an election, it will apply to all market discount debt
instruments that you acquire on or after the first day of the
first taxable year to which the election applies. The election
may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS.
Constant
Yield Election
Instead of reporting under your normal accounting method, you
may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues
on an OID note by using the constant yield method applicable to
OID, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. For purposes
of this election, interest includes stated interest, acquisition
discount, OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de
minimis market discount, and unstated interest as adjusted
by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium.
If you have not made an election under Section 171(c)(2) of
the Code to amortize bond premium, a constant yield election for
a note with amortizable bond premium will result in a deemed
election under Section 171(c)(2) of the Code for all of
your debt instruments with amortizable bond premium acquired
during the current year and all subsequent years. Similarly, a
constant yield election for a note with market discount by a
U.S. holder that has not made an election under
Section 1278(b) of the Code to include market discount in
income on a current basis will result in a deemed election under
Section 1278(b) of the Code. Such a deemed election will
apply to all debt instruments with market discount acquired by
the U.S. holder during the current year and all subsequent
years. Neither the bond premium election under
Section 171(c)(2) of the Code nor the market discount
election under Section 1278(b) of the Code may be revoked
without the permission of the IRS.
Sale,
Exchange, or Retirement of Notes
Upon the sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of a
note, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount you realize from the disposition and your tax
basis in the note, except that any amount realized that is
attributable to accrued interest will be included in your gross
income as interest income. Your tax basis in a note initially is
your cost for the note. This amount is increased by any
original issue discount
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or market discount previously included by you in
income with respect to the note and is decreased by the amount
of any premium you previously amortized and the
amount of any payment (other than a payment of qualified
stated interest) you have received in respect of the note.
The terms market discount, premium,
original issue discount, and qualified stated
interest are defined above.
Except as discussed above with respect to market discount, gain
or loss realized by you on the sale, exchange, retirement, or
other disposition of a note generally will be capital gain or
loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the note has
been held for more than one year. Net long-term capital gain
recognized by an individual U.S. Holder is currently
subject to tax at a maximum rate of 15%. The ability of
U.S. Holders to offset capital losses against ordinary
income is limited.
Reopenings
The IRS has issued regulations regarding whether additional debt
instruments issued in a reopening will be considered part of the
same issue, with the same issue price and yield to maturity, as
the original debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Except as provided in a pricing supplement, we expect
that additional notes issued by us in any reopening will be
issued such that they will be considered part of the original
issuance to which they relate.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section discusses the principal U.S. federal tax
consequences applicable to
Non-U.S. holders
of purchasing, owning and selling notes.
Principal (and premium, if any) and interest payments, including
any OID, that you receive from us or our agent generally will
not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax. However,
interest, including any OID, may be subject to a 30% withholding
tax (or less under an applicable treaty, if any) if (1) you
actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote,
(2) you are a controlled foreign corporation for
U.S. tax purposes that is related to us (directly or
indirectly) through stock ownership, (3) you are a bank
extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement in the ordinary
course of your trade or business, or (4) either
(A) you do not certify to us or our agent, under penalties
of perjury, that you are a
Non-U.S. person
and provide your name and address (which certification may be
made on an IRS
Form W-8BEN,
or a successor form), or (B) a securities clearing
organization, bank, or other financial institution that holds
customer securities in the ordinary course of its trade or
business (a financial institution) and holds the
note does not certify to us or our agent under penalties of
perjury that either it or another financial institution has
received the required statement from you certifying that you are
a
Non-U.S. person
and furnishes us with a copy of the statement.
If you are in a trade or business in the United States and
interest, including any OID, on the note is effectively
connected with the conduct of your trade or business, you may be
subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest and any
OID in the same manner as if you were a U.S. person. You
should read the material under the heading
U.S. Holders, for a description of
the U.S. tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and
disposing of notes. If you are a foreign corporation, you may
also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% of your
effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year,
subject to certain adjustments. Instead of the certification
described in the preceding paragraph, if you have effectively
connected interest income you must provide the payer with a
properly executed IRS
Form W-8ECI
to claim an exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax.
You will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or
withholding taxes on any capital gain or market discount you
realize upon retirement or disposition of a note if the gain is
not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business
carried on by you and you are not present in the United States
for 183 days or more in the taxable year of retirement or
disposition.
Backup
Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, payments of principal, premium (if any), interest,
and other amounts (including OID, if any) with respect to a note
will be subject to reporting and possibly backup withholding.
Reporting means that the payment is required to be reported to
you and the IRS. Backup withholding means that we (or any paying
agent) are required to
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collect and deposit a portion of the payment with the IRS as a
tax payment on your behalf. If applicable, backup withholding
will be imposed at a rate of 28%. This rate is scheduled to
increase to 31% after 2010.
If you are a U.S. person (other than a corporation or
certain exempt organizations), you may be subject to backup
withholding if you do not supply an accurate taxpayer
identification number and certify that your taxpayer
identification number is correct. You may also be subject to
backup withholding if the United States Secretary of the
Treasury determines that you have not reported all interest and
dividend income required to be shown on your U.S. federal
income tax return or if you do not certify that you have not
underreported your interest and dividend income. If you are not
a U.S. person, backup withholding and information reporting
will not apply to payments made to you if you have provided the
required certification that you are a
Non-U.S. person,
as described under the heading
Non-U.S. Holders,
or you otherwise establish an exemption, provided that the payor
does not have actual knowledge that you are a U.S. person
or that the conditions of any exemption are not satisfied.
In addition, payments of the proceeds from the sale of a note to
or through a foreign office of a broker or the foreign office of
a custodian, nominee, or other dealer acting on your behalf
generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup
withholding (absent actual knowledge that you are a
U.S. person). However, if the broker, custodian, nominee,
or other dealer is a U.S. person or foreign broker,
custodian, nominee, or other dealer with certain relationships
to the United States, information reporting (but not backup
withholding) generally will be required with respect to payments
made to you unless the broker, custodian, nominee, or other
dealer has documentation of your foreign status and the broker,
custodian, nominee, or other dealer has no actual knowledge to
the contrary. Alternatively, you may otherwise establish an
exemption from information reporting.
Payment of the proceeds from a sale of a note to or through the
U.S. office of a broker is subject to information reporting
and backup withholding, unless you certify as to your status as
a
Non-U.S. person
or otherwise establish an exemption from information reporting
and backup withholding.
Any amounts withheld from your payment under the backup
withholding rules would be refundable or allowable as a credit
against your U.S. federal income tax liability provided the
required information is furnished timely to the IRS.
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
We are offering the medium-term notes on a continuing basis
through Lehman Brothers Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC,
Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BNY Capital
Markets, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse
Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman,
Sachs & Co., Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., HSBC
Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, RBC Capital Markets
Corporation, UBS Securities LLC and Wachovia Capital Markets,
LLC, which we refer to individually as an agent and,
together, as the agents, who have agreed to use
reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase these notes. We
will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase these
notes and may reject any offer in whole or in part. Each agent
may reject, in whole or in part, any offer it solicited to
purchase notes. We will pay an agent, in connection with sales
of these notes resulting from a solicitation that an agent made
or an offer to purchase that an agent received, a commission as
agreed between us and an agent at the time of such sale. Actual
commissions payable in respect of any sale of such notes will be
specified in the applicable pricing supplement. We and the agent
will negotiate commissions for notes with a maturity of
30 years or greater at the time of sale.
We may also sell these notes to an agent as principal for its
own account at discounts to be agreed upon at the time of sale.
That agent may resell these notes to investors and other
purchasers at a fixed offering price or at prevailing market
prices, or prices related thereto at the time of resale or
otherwise, as that agent determines and as we will specify in
the applicable pricing supplement. An agent may offer the notes
it has purchased as principal to other dealers. That agent may
sell the notes to any dealer at a discount and, unless otherwise
specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the discount
allowed to any dealer will not be in excess of the discount that
agent will receive from us. After the initial public offering of
notes that an agent is to resell on a fixed public offering
price basis, the agent may change the public offering price,
concession and discount. We have also reserved the right to sell
notes directly on our own behalf, in which case no commission
will be payable to the agents.
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Each of the agents may be deemed to be an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act. We and the agents have agreed to indemnify each other
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribute to payments made in respect of
those liabilities. We have also agreed to reimburse the agents
for specified expenses.
We estimate that we will spend approximately $556,000 for
printing, rating agency, trustees and legal fees and other
expenses allocable to the offering of these notes.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement,
we do not intend to apply for the listing of these notes on a
national notes exchange, but the agents have advised us that
they intend to make a market in these notes, as applicable laws
and regulations permit. The agents are not obligated to do so,
however, and the agents may discontinue making a market at any
time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of any trading market for these notes.
To facilitate the offering of these notes, the agents may engage
in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
price of these notes. Specifically, the agents may overallot in
connection with any offering of these notes, creating a short
position in these notes for their own accounts. In addition, to
cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of these notes,
the agents may bid for, and purchase, these notes in the open
market. Finally, in any offering of these notes through a
syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may
reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a
dealer for distributing these notes in the offering if the
syndicate repurchases previously distributed notes in
transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in
stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities
may stabilize or maintain the market price of these notes above
independent market levels. The agents are not required to engage
in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any
time.
In the course of their respective businesses, our agents and
certain of their affiliates have engaged and may in the future
engage in commercial banking
and/or
investment banking transactions with us and with our affiliates.
Some of the agents and their affiliates may also be customers
of, engage in transactions with and perform services for us,
including our subsidiaries, in the ordinary course of business.
They have received and may continue to receive customary fees
and commissions for these transactions.
Concurrently with the offering of these notes through the
agents, we may issue other debt notes under the indentures
referred to in this prospectus supplement.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the notes has been passed upon for us by Squire
Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., Cincinnati, Ohio.
Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York, will pass
upon certain matters for the agents. Squire Sanders &
Dempsey L.L.P. and certain of its members are indebted to, and
have other banking and trust relationships with, certain of our
banking subsidiaries.
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PROSPECTUS
U.S.
Bancorp
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
(651) 466-3000
U.S.
Bancorp
Senior
Notes
Subordinated Notes
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Debt Warrants
Equity Warrants
Units
The securities of each class may be offered and sold by us
and/or may
be offered and sold, from time to time, by one or more selling
securityholders to be identified in the future. We will provide
the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this
prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the
securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
These securities will be our equity securities or unsecured
obligations and will not be savings accounts, deposits or other
obligations of any bank or nonbank subsidiary of ours and are
not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any
other government agency.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol USB.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless
accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is April 17, 2008.
The words USB, Company, we,
our, ours and us refer to
U.S. Bancorp and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document that we file at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Please call
the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room. In
addition, our SEC filings are available to the public from the
SECs web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
Our SEC filings are also available at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange. For further information on obtaining copies
of our public filings at the New York Stock Exchange, you should
call
(212) 656-5060.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part
of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the
SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference the following documents listed below
and any future filings made with the SEC under
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until we or any underwriters
sell all of the securities:
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed January 15, 2008; January 17, 2008;
February 1, 2008; March 18, 2008; and April 15,
2008.
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed April 17, 2008.
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The description of our common stock set forth in our
registration statement on
Form 8-A
filed under the Exchange Act on October 6, 1994, by First
Bank System, Inc. (now known as U.S. Bancorp), including
any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
description.
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The description of our preferred share purchase rights contained
in the registration statement on
Form 8-A
filed under the Exchange Act on February 28, 2001, as
amended by registration statement on
Form 8-A
filed on December 31, 2002, including any amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
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You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing
or telephoning us at the following address:
U.S. Bancorp
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Attn: Investor Relations Department
(612) 303-0799
or
(866) 775-9668
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the
securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate
purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures,
investments in or advances to existing or future subsidiaries,
repayment of maturing obligations and refinancing of outstanding
indebtedness. Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the
proceeds or use them to reduce short-term indebtedness.
VALIDITY
OF SECURITIES
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, some legal matters will be passed upon for us by our
counsel, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., Cincinnati,
Ohio. Any underwriters will be represented by their own legal
counsel.
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EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial
statements included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness
of our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2007, as set forth in their reports, which are
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in
the registration statement. Our financial statements are
incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLPs reports, given on their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
2
U.S. Bancorp
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES,
SERIES R (SENIOR)
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES,
SERIES S (SUBORDINATED)
Due Nine Months or More From
Date of Issue
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Lehman Brothers
Banc of America Securities
LLC
Barclays Capital
BNP PARIBAS
BNY Capital Markets,
Inc.
Citi
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc.
Goldman, Sachs &
Co.
HSBC
JPMorgan
Merrill Lynch &
Co.
Morgan Stanley
RBC Capital Markets
RBS Greenwich Capital
UBS Investment Bank
Wachovia Securities
April 25, 2008