Unassociated Document
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2009
Registration
No. 333-
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
S-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
LOEWS
CORPORATION
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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13-2646102
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
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667
Madison Avenue
New
York, New York 10065-8087
(212)
521-2000
(Address,
Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of
Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Gary
W. Garson, Esq.
Senior
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
667
Madison Avenue
New
York, New York 10065-8087
(212)
521-2000
(Name,
Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including
Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy
to:
Gregory
A. Fernicola, Esq.
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four
Times Square
New
York, New York 10036-6522
(212)
735-3000
Approximate
date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered
on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, please check the following box. £
If any of the securities being
registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities
offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check
the following box. T
If this Form is filed to register
additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. £
If this Form is a post-effective
amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £
__________
If this Form is a registration
statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment
thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. T
If this Form is a post-effective
amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D.
filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities
pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. £
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large
accelerated filer T
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer £ (Do not
check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller
reporting company o
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CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title
of Each Class of Securities
to
be Registered
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Amount
to be
Registered(1)(2)
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Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per
Unit(1)(2)
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Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(1)(2)
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Amount
of
Registration
Fee
(3)
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Debt
Securities
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Preferred
Stock, par value $0.10 per share
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Warrants
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Subscription
Rights
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Stock
Purchase Contracts
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Stock
Purchase Units
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—
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—
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—
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—
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Total
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—
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—
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—
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(1)
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Not
applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction
II(E).
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(2)
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Securities
registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with
other securities registered hereunder. An indeterminate aggregate offering
price and number or amount of debt securities, preferred stock, common
stock, warrants, subscription rights, stock purchase contracts and stock
purchase units of Loews Corporation is being registered as may from time
to time be issued at currently indeterminable prices and as may be
issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange, exercise or
settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any
applicable anti-dilution provisions. Separate consideration may or may not
be received for securities that are issuable on conversion, exchange,
exercise or settlement of other
securities.
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(3)
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In
accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration
fee.
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PROSPECTUS
LOEWS
CORPORATION
Debt
Securities
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Warrants
Subscription
Rights
Stock
Purchase Contracts
Stock
Purchase Units
Loews
Corporation may offer from time to time (i) unsecured senior or subordinated
debt securities, (ii) preferred stock, (iii) common stock, (iv) warrants to
purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities, (v)
subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock
or other securities, (vi) stock purchase contracts obligating holders to
purchase from or sell to us common stock or preferred stock at a future date or
dates, and (vii) stock purchase units, each consisting of a stock purchase
contract and any combination of debt securities or debt obligations of third
parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, which would secure the holder’s
obligation to purchase from or to sell to us, as the case may be, preferred
stock or common stock under the stock purchase contract.
We will
provide the terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You
should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully
before you invest in our securities.
Our
common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol “L”. If we decide to seek a listing of any debt securities,
preferred stock or warrants offered by this prospectus, the applicable
prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which such
securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for
listing, if any.
Our
principal office is located at 667 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10065-8087.
Our telephone number is (212) 521-2000.
Investing
in these securities involves risks. Please see the section entitled “Risk
Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008,
which is incorporated by reference herein, and the risk factors included in our
other periodic reports and in prospectus supplements relating to specific
offerings of securities that we file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or
any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date
of this prospectus is March 27, 2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
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FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
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LOEWS
CORPORATION
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1
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WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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2
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USE
OF PROCEEDS
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3
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RATIO
OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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3
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DESCRIPTON
OF DEBT SECURITIES
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4
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DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
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12
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DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
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17
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DESCRIPTION
OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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DESCRIPTION
OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
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PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
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LEGAL
MATTERS
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EXPERTS
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ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under
this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in
this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a
general description of the securities we may offer. We will provide the terms of
these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement
may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. We
urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together
with additional information described in the section entitled “Where You Can
Find More Information.”
In this
prospectus, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Loews” refer to Loews Corporation,
and “our board of directors” refers to the board of directors of Loews
Corporation.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the information
incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities
Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”). These forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs
and assumptions and on information currently available to our management.
Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or
assumed future results of operations and statements preceded by, followed by or
that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,”
“estimates” or similar expressions.
Forward-looking
statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may
differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed elsewhere in this
prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should not put undue reliance
on any forward-looking statements. We do not have any intention or obligation to
update forward-looking statements after we distribute this
prospectus.
LOEWS
CORPORATION
We are a
holding company. Our subsidiaries are engaged in the following lines of
business:
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commercial
property and casualty insurance (CNA Financial Corporation (“CNA”), a 90%
owned subsidiary);
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operation
of offshore oil and gas drilling rigs (Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
(“Diamond Offshore”), a 50.4% owned
subsidiary);
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exploration,
production and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (HighMount
Exploration & Production LLC (“HighMount”), a wholly-owned
subsidiary);
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operation
of interstate natural gas transmission pipeline systems (Boardwalk
Pipeline Partners, LP (“Boardwalk Pipeline”), a 74% owned subsidiary);
and
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operation
of hotels (Loews Hotels Holding Corporation (“Loews Hotels”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary).
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CNA. CNA is an
insurance holding company whose primary subsidiaries consist of commercial
property and casualty insurance companies. CNA’s property and casualty insurance
operations are conducted by Continental Casualty Company and The Continental
Insurance Company and their respective affiliates. CNA accounted for 58.9%,
69.1% and 75.0% of our consolidated total revenue for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Diamond
Offshore. Diamond Offshore is engaged, through its
subsidiaries, in the business of owning and operating drilling rigs that are
used in the drilling of offshore oil and gas wells on a contract basis for
companies engaged in exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Diamond
Offshore owns 45 offshore rigs. Diamond Offshore accounted for 26.3%, 18.3% and
15.2% of our consolidated total revenue for the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
HighMount. On July
31, 2007, HighMount acquired certain exploration and production assets and
assumed certain related obligations from subsidiaries of Dominion Resources,
Inc. HighMount is engaged in the exploration, production and
marketing of natural gas, natural gas liquids (predominantly ethane and propane)
and, to a small extent, oil, primarily in the Permian Basin in Texas, the Antrim
Shale in Michigan and the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama. HighMount
accounted for 5.8% and 2.1% of our consolidated total revenue for the years
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Boardwalk
Pipeline. Boardwalk Pipeline is engaged in the interstate
transportation and storage of natural gas. Boardwalk Pipeline
owns and operates, through its subsidiaries, three interstate natural gas
pipeline systems having approximately 14,000 miles of pipeline, directly serving
customers in 12 states and indirectly serving customers throughout the
northeastern and southeastern United States through numerous interconnections
with unaffiliated pipelines. Boardwalk Pipeline accounted for 6.4%, 4.7% and
4.5% of our consolidated total revenue for the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Loews Hotels. Loews
Hotels currently operates 18 hotels, 16 of which are in the United States and
two of which are in Canada. Loews Hotels accounted for 2.9%, 2.7% and 2.7% of
our consolidated total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006, respectively.
We derive
substantially all of our cash flow from our subsidiaries. We rely
upon our invested cash balances and distributions from our subsidiaries to
generate the funds necessary to meet our obligations and to declare and pay any
dividends to our shareholders. The ability of our subsidiaries to make such
payments is subject to, among other things, the availability of sufficient funds
in such subsidiaries and applicable state laws (including, in the case of the
insurance subsidiaries of CNA, laws and rules governing the payment of dividends
by regulated insurance companies). Claims of creditors of our
subsidiaries will generally have priority as to the assets of such subsidiaries
over our claims and those of our creditors and shareholders.
Our
principal executive offices are located at 667 Madison Avenue, New York, New
York 10065-8087. Our telephone number is (212) 521-2000.
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 reports or other information that we
file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C. 20549. You may also receive copies of these documents upon
payment of a duplicating fee by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room.
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public
Reference Room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial
documents retrieval services, at our website (www.loews.com) and at the
SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Information on
our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other SEC filings
and is not a part of this prospectus or those filings.
The SEC
allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with them
into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to
you by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC, including
our annual, quarterly and current reports. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any
information that is modified or superseded by information contained in this
prospectus or any other subsequently filed document. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and any
accompanying prospectus supplement. All documents filed (but not those that are
furnished) by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act after the initial filing of the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part and, with respect to any offering of securities
pursuant hereto prior to the termination of such offering, will be incorporated
by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede
the information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and
any previously filed document.
The
following documents have been filed by us with the SEC (File No. 1-6541) and are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
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Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008;
and
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The
description of the common stock contained in a registration statement
filed under the Exchange Act.
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We will
provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom
this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all
of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits
unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such
documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to Loews Corporation,
667 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10065-8087, Attention: Corporate Secretary
(telephone: (212) 521-2000).
No person
is authorized to give any information or represent anything not contained in
this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable free
writing prospectus. We are only offering the securities in places where sales of
those securities are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus,
any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing
prospectus, as well as information incorporated by reference herein, is current
only as of the date of that information. Our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects may have changed since that
date.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
Unless
otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of securities, the
net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus will be
used for general corporate purposes.
RATIO
OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The table
below sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five
years in the period ended December 31, 2008, which was computed by dividing
pretax income from continuing operations available for fixed charges (pretax
income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in
consolidated subsidiaries and income or loss from equity investees, plus fixed
charges, amortization of capitalized interest, and distributed income of equity
investees, less capitalized interest) by fixed charges. Fixed charges include
(a) interest expense, (b) capitalized interest, (c) amortization of debt
issuance costs, (d) interest credited to policyholder account balances, and (e)
one-third of rent expense, which we believe represents the interest factor
attributable to rent. Since no shares of preferred stock was outstanding during
the periods presented, the ratio of income from continuing operations to fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends would be the same as the ratios presented
here.
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Ratio
of earnings to fixed charges
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2.9 |
x |
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8.4 |
x |
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9.1 |
x |
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2.4 |
x |
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2.7 |
x |
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Ratio
of earnings, excluding interest credited to
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policyholders,
to fixed charges, excluding interest
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credited
to policyholders (a)
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2.9 |
x |
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8.6 |
x |
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9.5 |
x |
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2.5 |
x |
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3.1 |
x |
(a)
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This
second ratio is disclosed for the convenience of fixed income investors
and the rating agencies that serve them. Management believes it is more
comparable to the ratios disclosed by all issuers of fixed income
securities. Interest credited to policyholders was $6 million, $9
million, $17 million, $47 million and $64 million for the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
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DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
This
prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt
securities. The debt securities will constitute either unsecured senior debt or
unsecured subordinated debt. We will issue debt securities that will be senior
debt under an indenture dated as of March 1, 1986 between us and The Bank of New
York Mellon (as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, National Association), as
trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture on March 30, 1993 and
a second supplemental indenture on February 18, 1997 (as supplemented, the
“senior indenture”). We will issue debt securities that will be subordinated
debt under an indenture dated as of December 1, 1985 between us and The Bank of
New York Mellon (as successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as the
trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture on February 18, 1997,
a second supplemental indenture on February 18, 1997 and a third supplemental
indenture on September 16, 1997 (as supplemented, the “subordinated indenture”).
This prospectus refers to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture
individually as the “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” The term
“trustee” refers to the trustee under each indenture, as
appropriate.
The
indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The
indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to
subordination, which are included only in the subordinated indenture. The
following summary of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt
securities is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures, each of which has been
filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part. We urge you to read the indenture that is applicable to you because it,
and not the summary below, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities.
You can obtain copies of the indentures by following the directions described in
the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
In the
summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the indentures
so that you can easily locate those provisions. Unless otherwise noted, the
referenced section numbers are the same in each indenture. Capitalized terms
used in the summary below have the meanings specified in the indentures. The
referenced sections of the indentures and the definitions of capitalized terms
are incorporated by reference in the following summary.
General
The
senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in
right of payment to our “Senior Indebtedness.” For additional information, see
“Subordination” below. As of December 31, 2008, approximately $0.9 billion
aggregate principal amount of Loews’s existing debt would have ranked senior to
the subordinated debt securities and equally with the senior debt securities. As
of December 31, 2008, none of Loews’s existing debt would have been
subordinated to the senior debt securities and have ranked equally with the
subordinated debt securities. The indentures do not limit the amount of debt,
either secured or unsecured, which may be issued by us under the indentures or
otherwise. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series with the same
or various maturities and may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue
discount. Debt securities sold at an original issue discount may bear no
interest or interest at a rate which is below market rates.
Since
Loews is a holding company, the right of Loews, and hence the rights of the
creditors and shareholders of Loews, to participate in any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is
accordingly subject to prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to
the extent that claims of Loews itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be
recognized. As of December 31, 2008, Loews’s subsidiaries had approximately $7.4
billion aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding. The indentures do not
prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring debt or agreeing to limitations
on their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to
us.
The
applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be,
relating to a series of debt securities will describe the terms of such debt
securities being offered, including (to the extent such terms are applicable to
such debt securities):
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designation,
aggregate principal amount, denomination and currency or currency
unit;
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currency
or currency units for which such debt securities may be purchased and in
which principal of, premium, if any, and any interest will or may be
payable;
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interest
rate or rates (or the manner of calculation thereof), if
any;
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the
times at which any such interest will be
payable;
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the
place or places where the principal and interest, if any, will be
payable;
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any
redemption provisions, including, if applicable, the terms of any optional
make-whole redemption provisions;
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any
sinking fund provisions;
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whether
and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts on such debt
securities held by a person who is not a “U.S. person” in respect of any
tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so,
whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than
pay such additional amounts;
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whether
and under what circumstances we may from time to time, without the consent
of holders of debt securities, issue additional debt securities, having
the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as
the debt securities being offered, except for the issue price and issue
date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date, whereby such
additional securities will, together with the then outstanding debt
securities, constitute a single class of debt securities under the
indentures, and will vote together on matters under the senior
indenture;
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federal
income tax consequences;
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whether
and under what circumstances we will issue the debt securities in whole or
in part as Global Securities as described below under “—Global
Securities;”
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applicable
conversion or exchange privileges;
and
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any
other specific terms of the offered debt securities, including any terms
which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or
regulations.
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For
purposes of this prospectus, “U.S. person” means a citizen, national or resident
of the United States of America, its territories, possessions and all areas
subject to its jurisdiction (the “United States”), a corporation, partnership or
other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or
any political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust, the income of which is
subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its
source.
Debt
securities may be presented for exchange, and registered debt securities may be
presented for transfer, in the manner, at the places and subject to the
restrictions set forth in the debt securities and as summarized in the
applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Such services will
be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection with such exchange or transfer, but subject to the
limitations provided in the applicable indenture.
Optional
Make-Whole Redemption of Debt Securities
Unless
otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of debt
securities, we may redeem any such debt securities in whole at any time or in
part from time to time, at our option, at a make-whole redemption price equal to
the greater of:
(1) 100%
of the principal amount of the debt securities being redeemed; and
(2) the
sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of the principal
and interest (other than interest accruing to the date of redemption) on the
debt securities being redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
at the Treasury Rate plus a spread as indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement or free writing prospectus, as calculated by a Reference Treasury
Dealer.
In each
case, we will pay accrued interest on the principal amount of the debt
securities being redeemed to the redemption date.
“Comparable
Treasury Issue” means, with respect to the particular series of debt securities,
the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker
as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“Remaining Life”) of the
debt securities being redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection
and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of
corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such
debt securities.
“Comparable
Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average
of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after
excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or
(2) if the trustee obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
“Independent
Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that we appoint
to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.
“Reference
Treasury Dealer” means any entity that is a primary U.S. Government securities
dealer in New York City and that is selected by us.
“Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, for each Reference Treasury Dealer and any
redemption date, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked
prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage
of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the trustee by the Reference
Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the third business day
preceding the redemption date for the debt securities being
redeemed.
“Treasury
Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to:
(1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the
immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical
release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published
weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which
establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted
to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the
maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; provided, however,
that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life
of the debt securities to be redeemed, yields for the two published maturities
most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined
and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on
a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or (2) if such
release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding
the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to
the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a
percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for
such redemption date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third
business day preceding the redemption date.
If we
elect to redeem less than all of a series of debt securities, then the trustee
will select the particular debt securities of that series to be redeemed in a
manner it deems appropriate and fair.
Notice of
any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before
the date of redemption to each holder of the series of debt securities to be
redeemed. The notice of redemption for a series of debt securities will state,
among other things, the amount of debt securities to be redeemed, the redemption
date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made
upon presentation and surrender of the debt securities to be redeemed. Unless we
default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption,
interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities of that series or the
portions called for redemption.
Subordination
The
indebtedness represented by the subordinated debt securities is subordinated in
right of payment to existing and future “Senior Indebtedness,” as described in
the subordinated indenture and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free
writing prospectus (Section 1301 of the subordinated indenture). The term
“Senior Indebtedness” means:
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all
indebtedness for money borrowed incurred by us, unless the terms of the
instrument or instruments by which such indebtedness is incurred or
created expressly provide that such indebtedness is subordinate to the
subordinated
debt securities or that such indebtedness is not superior in right of
payment to the subordinated debt
securities;
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any
other indebtedness, obligation or liability incurred by us (including any
guaranty, endorsement or other contingent obligation of ours in respect
of, or to purchase, or otherwise acquire, any obligation of another),
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or matured or unmatured, which
is specifically designated by us as Senior Indebtedness in the instruments
evidencing such indebtedness, obligation or liability at the time of its
issuance or incurrence; or
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any
deferral, renewal or extension of any of the foregoing (Section 101 of the
subordinated indenture).
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By reason
of such subordination, in the event of dissolution, insolvency, bankruptcy or
other similar proceedings, upon any distribution of assets, (i) the holders
of subordinated debt securities will be required to pay over their share of such
distribution in respect of the subordinated debt securities to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness until such Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and
(ii) creditors of ours who are not holders of Senior Indebtedness may
recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and may recover
more, ratably, than holders of subordinated debt securities (Section 1301 of the
subordinated indenture).
Conversion
and Exchange
The
terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series will be convertible into
or exchangeable for our common stock, our preferred stock, another series of our
debt securities, other securities, property or cash, or a combination of any of
the foregoing, will be summarized in the applicable prospectus supplement or
free writing prospectus, as the case may be, relating to such series of debt
securities. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either
on a mandatory basis, at the option of the holder, or at our option, in which
the number of shares or amount of our common stock, our preferred stock, another
series of our debt securities, other securities, property or cash to be received
by the holders of the debt securities would be calculated according to the
factors and at such time as summarized in the related prospectus supplement or
free writing prospectus.
Global
Securities
Debt
securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or
more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a
depository (the “Depository”) identified in applicable prospectus supplement or
free writing prospectus, as the case may be, relating to such series. Unless
otherwise specified by us, the Depository will be The Depository Trust Company,
New York, New York. Global Securities may be issued only in fully registered
form and may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until
it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities that it
represents, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depository for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository or by a
nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such
Depository or by the Depository or any nominee of such Depository to a successor
Depository or any nominee of such successor.
The
specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of debt
securities will be summarized in the applicable prospectus supplement or free
writing prospectus, as the case may be, relating to such series. We anticipate
that the following provisions will generally apply to depository
arrangements.
Upon the
issuance of a Global Security, the Depository for such Global Security or its
nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the
respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by
such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the
Depository (“Participants”). Such accounts shall be designated by the
underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such debt securities or by us if
such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to Participants or
persons that may hold interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that
ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable
Depository or its nominee (with respect to interests of Participants) and
records of Participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold through
Participants).
So long
as the Depository for a Global Security or its nominee is the registered owner
of such Global Security, the Depository or such nominee, as the case may be,
will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented
by such Global Security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except
as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of
the individual debt securities of the series represented by such Global Security
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of any such debt securities of such series in definitive form and will
not be considered the owners or holders of such debt securities under the
applicable indenture.
Payments
of principal of and any premium and any interest on individual debt securities
represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a Depository or its
nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as
the registered owner of the Global Security representing such debt securities.
None of Loews, the trustee, any paying agent or the security registrar for such
debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Global Security for such debt securities or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
We expect
that the Depository for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt
of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of a permanent
Global Security representing any of such debt securities, immediately will
credit Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Security
for such debt securities as shown on the records of such Depository or its
nominee. We also expect that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Security held through such Participants will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.”
Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.
If a
Depository for a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or
ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed
by us within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities of such series in
exchange for the Global Security representing such series of debt securities. In
addition, we may, at any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any
limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing
prospectus, as the case may be, relating to such series of debt securities,
determine not to have any debt securities of such series represented by one or
more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue individual debt securities
of such series in exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing
such series of debt securities. Individual debt securities of such series so
issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by us, of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
Defeasance
At our
option, either (a) we will be Discharged (as defined below) from any and
all obligations in respect of any series of debt securities or (b) we will
cease to be under any obligation to comply with the restriction on our ability
to merge, consolidate or sell assets set forth in the applicable indenture, in
either case if we deposit irrevocably with the trustee, in trust, specifically
for the benefit of the holders of such series, money or U.S. Government
Obligations (as defined below) which through the payment of interest thereon and
principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount
sufficient (in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent accountants in the case of U.S. Government Obligations or a
combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations) to pay all the principal
of (including any sinking fund payments or analogous obligations), and interest
on, the debt securities of such series on the dates such payments are due in
accordance with the terms of such series of debt securities. To exercise such
option, we are required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of nationally
recognized tax counsel to the effect that holders of the debt securities of such
series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes
as a result of such deposit and discharge and will be subject to federal income
tax in the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would
have been the case if such deposit and discharge had not occurred.
The term
“Discharged” is defined to mean that we are deemed to have paid and discharged
the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the debt
securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under the
indenture relating to the debt securities of such series, except
for:
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the
rights of holders of the debt securities of such series to receive, from
the trust fund described above, payment of the principal of and the
interest on the debt securities of such series when such payments are
due,
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our
obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series with
respect to registration, transfer, exchange, replacement of mutilated,
destroyed, lost and stolen certificates, maintenance of a paying office
and holding money in trust, and
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the
rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee under the
applicable indenture.
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The term
“U.S. Government Obligations” is defined to mean securities that are
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of
which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person
controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the
United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a
full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in
either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable
at the option of the issuer thereof, and also includes a depositary receipt
issued by a bank or trust company, as custodian with respect to any such U.S.
Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a
depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is
not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of
the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or
principal of the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository
receipt (Section 1402 of the senior indenture; Section 1502 of the subordinated
indenture).
Modification
of the Indentures
Modifications
and amendments of either indenture may be made by us and the trustee with the
consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all
outstanding debt securities affected by such modification or amendment;
provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected
thereby:
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change
the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal
of or interest on, any debt
security;
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reduce
the principal amount of or interest on, or any premium payable upon
redemption of, any debt security;
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change
certain other terms related to waiver of defaults or covenants;
or
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reduce
the percentage of the principal amount of the outstanding debt security of
any series, the consent of whose holders is required to modify or amend
the applicable indenture or waive compliance with, or consent to certain
defaults under, the provisions of such indenture (Section
902).
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Our board
of directors does not have the power to waive any of the covenants of either
indenture, including those relating to consolidation, merger or sale of
assets.
Events
of Default, Notice and Waiver
The
following will be “Events of Default” with respect to any particular series of
the debt securities:
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default
in any payment of interest on such series when due, continued for 30
days;
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default
in any payment of principal and premium, if any, of, or sinking fund
installment on, such series when
due;
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default
in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of ours
applicable to such series continued for 60 days after written notice to us
by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such
series;
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default
resulting in the acceleration of any indebtedness of ours for money
borrowed in excess of $100,000,000 under the terms of the instrument under
which such indebtedness is or may be outstanding, if
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such
acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within 10 days after notice to
us by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
such series; and |
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certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization (Section
501).
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No Event
of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities necessarily
constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt
securities (Section 501).
The
trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of any default with respect to
any series of the debt securities, give to the holders thereof notice of such
default known to the trustee, unless such default has been cured or waived (the
term default for this purpose means any event which is, or after notice or lapse
of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default); provided that, except in
the case of a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest on any of such series of debt securities or in the payment of any
sinking fund installments, the trustee will be protected in withholding such
notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of that
series (Section 602).
We will
be required to furnish to the trustee each year a statement as to the
fulfillment by us of our obligations under the applicable indenture (Section
1004).
The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
any series may, in respect of such series, waive certain defaults and may direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee,
provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with the applicable indenture (Sections 512, 513). The trustee has the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the trustee in good faith determines
that the proceeding so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders of
debt securities of such series not joining in any such direction or would
involve the trustee in personal liability. Each indenture provides that in case
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of the
debt securities, the trustee will be required to exercise any of its rights and
powers under such indenture with the degree of care and skill such as a prudent
man would exercise in the conduct of his own affairs (Section 601). Subject to
such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the direction of any of the
holders of such debt securities unless such holders have offered to the trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred by the trustee in complying with such direction (Section
603).
If an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of
any series, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
such series may declare such series due and payable (Section 502).
Each
indenture provides that no holder of debt securities of any series may institute
any action against us under such indenture (except actions for payment of
overdue principal or interest or premium, if any) unless the holders of at least
25% in principal amount of such series have requested the trustee to institute
such action and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity, and the trustee
has not instituted such action within 60 days of such request (Section
507).
Consolidation,
Merger or Sale of Assets
We may
not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell our assets
substantially as an entirety, unless:
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the
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or
the corporation which acquires our assets is organized in the United
States and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the debt securities, if any,
issued under the applicable indenture and the performance of every
covenant of such indenture to be performed by us,
and
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immediately
after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event
which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of
Default, has happened and is
continuing.
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Upon any
such consolidation, merger or sale, the successor corporation formed by such
consolidation, or into which we are merged or to which such sale is made, will
succeed to, and be substituted for, us under such indenture (Sections 801,
802).
Other
than the covenants described above, or as set forth in any accompanying
prospectus supplement or applicable free writing prospectus, as the case may be,
the indentures and the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other
provisions designed to afford holders of the debt securities protection in the
event of a takeover, recapitalization or a highly leveraged transaction
involving us.
Concerning
the Trustee
We and
the trustee may from time to time engage in normal and customary banking
transactions.
DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
The
following description of certain terms of our capital stock does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of
incorporation, our by-laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law. Our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws have been
filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part. For more information on how you can obtain our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws, please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find
More Information.” We urge you to read our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws in their entirety. The
following description of our common stock updates any description thereof
contained in any document incorporated by reference herein.
On
June 10, 2008, we redeemed all 108,478,429 outstanding shares of Carolina Group
Stock, a class of our common stock, in exchange for an equal number of shares of
common stock of Lorillard, Inc., which had been our wholly owned subsidiary
prior to such date. As shares of Carolina Group Stock are no longer outstanding,
our board of directors has resolved to approve the amendment and restatement of
our certificate of incorporation to remove all provisions related to Carolina
Group Stock. Our shareholders will be asked to approve such amendment
and restatement at our annual meeting to be held on May 12, 2009. The
following description of certain terms of our capital stock is based upon our
certificate of incorporation as so amended and restated, which we intend to file
with the SEC once it has been approved by our shareholders and filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware.
General
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that we are authorized to issue
1,900,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share, and 1,800,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of February 13, 2009, we had
outstanding 435,136,670 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred
stock.
Although
our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it
could issue common stock, warrants or a series of preferred stock that could,
depending on the terms of such securities, impede the completion of a merger,
tender offer or other takeover attempt. Our board of directors will make any
determination to issue such shares based on its judgment as to the best
interests of us and our shareholders. Our board of directors, in so acting,
could issue securities having terms that could discourage an acquisition attempt
through which an acquirer may be able to change the composition of our board of
directors, including a tender offer or other transaction that some, or a
majority, of our shareholders might believe to be in their best interests or in
which our shareholders might receive a premium for their stock over the
then-current market price of the stock.
Preferred
Stock
The
following description of certain terms of the preferred stock does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate
of incorporation, the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation
Law and the certificate of designations that relates to the particular series of
preferred stock, which will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of the
sale of the related preferred stock. Certain terms of any series of preferred
stock offered by any prospectus supplement will be set forth in the certificate
of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to such
series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, the
terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below. If there are
differences between the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series
and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. For more
information on how you can obtain our certificate of incorporation and any
applicable certificate of designations, please see the section entitled “Where
You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read our certificate of
incorporation and any applicable certificate of designations in their
entirety.
General. The board of
directors is authorized to establish and designate series of preferred stock and
to fix the number of shares and the relative rights, preferences and limitations
of the respective series of preferred stock. The terms of a particular series of
preferred stock may differ, among other things, in:
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the
designation and number of shares comprising such
series;
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the
dividends, if any, which shall be payable on the shares of such series and
any preferences and other terms and conditions applicable
thereto;
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any
rights and preferences of the holders of the shares of such series upon
the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our affairs, or upon any
distribution of our assets;
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the
full, limited or special voting rights, if any, of the shares of such
series, in addition to voting rights provided by law, and the terms and
conditions applicable thereto;
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any
provision with respect to the conversion of the shares of such series
into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or
classes, or of any other series of any class, of our capital stock and/or
any other property or cash, and the terms and conditions applicable to any
such conversion or exchange;
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any
provision with respect to the redemption, purchase, or retirement of such
shares and the terms and conditions applicable
thereto;
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any
provision with respect to the issuance of additional shares of such series
or of any other class or series on a parity with or superior to the shares
of such series; and
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any
other relative, participating, optional or special powers, preferences, or
rights of, and any other qualifications, limitations, or restrictions with
respect to, the shares of such series as the board of directors may deem
advisable.
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Unless
otherwise specifically set forth in the certificate of designations, and
summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock,
all shares of preferred stock will be of equal rank, preference and priority as
to dividends; when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares of all
series of the preferred stock will share ratably in any payment thereof; and
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if assets are insufficient to pay
in full all preferred stock, then such assets shall be distributed among the
holders ratably.
Since we
are a holding company, our right, and hence the right of our creditors and
shareholders, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary
upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to
the prior claims of creditors of such subsidiary, except to the extent that our
claims as a creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized.
Dividend Rights. Except as
may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the
prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, the holders of
preferred stock will be entitled to receive, but only when and as declared by
our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, cash
dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the certificate of
designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a
particular series of preferred stock, and no more, payable quarterly. Such rate
may be fixed or variable. Each such dividend will be payable to the holders of
record as they appear on our stock books on such record dates as will be fixed
by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Dividends
payable on the preferred stock for any period less than a full quarter will be
computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360 day year
and for a period of a full calendar quarter, will be computed on the basis of a
360 day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Except as may be set forth in
the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, such
dividends will be payable from, and will be cumulative from, the date of
original issue of each share, so that, if in any quarterly dividend period
(being the period between such dividend payment dates), dividends at the rate or
rates as set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the
prospectus supplement, relating to such series of preferred stock have not been
declared and paid or set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of
preferred stock for such quarterly dividend period and all preceding quarterly
dividend periods from and after the first day from which dividends are
cumulative, then the aggregate deficiency will be declared and fully paid or set
apart for payment, but without interest, before any dividends are declared or
paid or set apart for payment on our common stock by us. After payment in full
of all dividend arrearages on the preferred stock, dividends on our common stock
may be declared and paid out of funds legally available for that purpose as our
board of directors may determine.
Redemption. We will have such
rights, if any, to redeem shares of preferred stock, and the holders of
preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to cause us to redeem shares of
preferred stock, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and
summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred
stock.
Conversion or Exchange. The
holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to convert such shares
into or to exchange such shares for, shares of any other class or classes, or of
any other series of any class, of our
capital stock and/or any other
property or cash, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and
summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred
stock.
Voting Rights. The holders of
preferred stock will have such voting rights as required by applicable law and
as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the
prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.
Liquidation Rights. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, whether voluntary or
involuntary, holders of preferred stock will have such preferences and
priorities, if any, with respect to distribution of our assets or the proceeds
thereof as may be set forth in the certificate of designations and summarized in
the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.
Miscellaneous. The transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar for the preferred stock issued in
connection with this prospectus will be as set forth in the certificate of
designations and summarized in the prospectus supplement. The holders of
preferred stock, including any preferred stock issued in connection with this
prospectus, will not have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any
shares of any class or other securities of any type of ours. When issued, the
preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The certificate of
designations setting forth the provisions of each series of preferred stock will
become effective after the date of the applicable prospectus supplement but on
or before issuance of the related series of preferred stock.
Common
Stock
The
following description of certain rights of our common stock does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of
incorporation, our by-laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
Voting Rights. Holders of our
common stock are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock they hold
on all matters voted on by shareholders, including elections of directors, and,
except as otherwise required by law or provided in any resolution adopted by our
board of directors with respect to any series of our preferred stock or any
other class of our common stock hereafter created, the holders of our common
stock possess all voting power of our capital stock.
Elections
of directors are decided by a majority of the votes cast by holders of capital
stock entitled to vote thereon in person or by proxy at a meeting, so long as
quorum is present, except that (i) contested elections of directors are decided
by a plurality of votes cast by holders of shares of capital stock entitled to
vote thereon, and (ii) newly created directorships resulting from an increase in
the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the board of directors for
any reason may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office,
although less than a quorum, at any meeting of the board of directors, or may be
elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of capital
stock entitled to vote in the election at a special meeting of the shareholders
called for that purpose. Except as provided by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, all other matters to be voted upon by shareholders are decided by a
majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of our capital stock entitled to
vote thereon in person or by proxy at a meeting, so long as a quorum is
present.
Dividends and Liquidation
Rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding series of
preferred stock created by our board of directors hereafter, the holders of
common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared from time to time
by our board of directors from funds available therefor, and, upon liquidation,
holders of our common stock will share ratably in the funds remaining for
distribution to our common shareholders.
Miscellaneous. The
outstanding shares of common stock are, and any shares of common stock offered
hereby upon issuance and payment therefor will be, fully paid and nonassessable.
The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and there are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable thereto.
The
common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol “L”.
The
transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner
Services, 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310 (telephone: (800)
358-9151).
Anti-Takeover
Considerations
The
Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation and our
by-laws contain provisions which could serve to discourage or to make more
difficult a change in control of us without the support of our board of
directors or without meeting various other conditions.
Extraordinary
Corporate Transactions
Delaware
law provides that the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote must
approve any fundamental corporate transactions such as mergers, sales of all or
substantially all of a corporation’s assets, dissolutions, etc.
State
Takeover Legislation
Section 203
of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in general, prohibits a business
combination between a corporation and an interested shareholder within three
years of the time such shareholder became an interested shareholder, unless (a)
prior to such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either
the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder
becoming an interested shareholder, (b) upon consummation of the transaction
that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the
interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, exclusive of shares owned by
directors who are also officers and by certain employee stock plans or (c) at or
subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of
directors and authorized by the affirmative vote at a shareholders’ meeting of
at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the
interested shareholder. The restrictions of Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law do not apply to corporations that have elected, in the manner
provided therein, not to be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law or, with certain exceptions, which do not have a class of voting
stock that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more
than 2,000 shareholders. We have elected not to be governed by Section 203 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Rights
of Dissenting Shareholders
Delaware
law does not afford appraisal rights in a merger transaction to holders of
shares that are either listed on a national securities exchange or held of
record by more than 2,000 shareholders, provided that such shares will be
converted into stock of the surviving corporation or another corporation, which
corporation in either case must also be listed on a national securities exchange
or held of record by more than 2,000 shareholders. In addition, Delaware law
denies appraisal rights to shareholders of the surviving corporation in a merger
if the surviving corporation’s shareholders weren’t required to approve the
merger.
Shareholder
Action
Delaware
law provides that, unless otherwise stated in the certificate of incorporation,
any action which may be taken at an annual meeting or special meeting of
shareholders may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing is signed
by the holders of the outstanding stock having the minimum number of votes
necessary to authorize the action at a meeting of shareholders. Our certificate
of incorporation does not provide otherwise and thus permits action by written
consent.
Meetings
of Shareholders
Our
by-laws provide that special meetings of the shareholders may be called at any
time by the board of directors or by the chairman of the board, the president or
by the secretary or upon the written request of holders of a majority of the
shares of our capital stock entitled to vote in an election of
directors.
Cumulative
Voting
Delaware
law permits shareholders to cumulate their votes and either cast them for one
candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates in the election of
directors only if expressly authorized in a corporation’s certificate of
incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative
voting.
Removal
of Directors
Delaware
law provides that, except in the case of a classified board of directors or
where cumulative voting applies, a director, or the entire board of directors,
of a corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote at an election
of directors.
Our
by-laws provide that any or all of the directors may be removed, with or without
cause, by vote of the shareholders.
Vacancies
Delaware
law provides that vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from a
resignation or any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all
of the shareholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by
a majority of the directors then in office, unless the governing documents of a
corporation provide otherwise.
Our
by-laws provide that newly created directorships resulting from an increase in
the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the board of directors for
any reason, may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office,
although less than a quorum, at any meeting of the board of directors or may be
elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of capital
stock entitled to vote in the election at a special meeting of the shareholders
called for that purpose.
No
Preemptive Rights
Holders
of common stock do not have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any
additional shares of capital stock or other obligations convertible into or
exercisable for shares of capital stock that Loews may issue in the
future.
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
We may
issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or
other securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other
securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate
from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant
agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus
supplement.
The
prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we offer will include specific
terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the
following:
|
·
|
the
title of the warrants;
|
|
·
|
the
aggregate number of warrants
offered;
|
|
·
|
the
designation, number and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock,
common stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants
and procedures by which those numbers may be
adjusted;
|
|
·
|
the
exercise price of the warrants;
|
|
·
|
the
dates or periods during which the warrants are
exercisable;
|
|
·
|
the
designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are
issued;
|
|
·
|
if
the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date on and
after which the warrants and the other security will be separately
transferable;
|
|
·
|
if
the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency,
currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is
denominated;
|
|
·
|
any
minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one
time;
|
|
·
|
any
terms relating to the modification of the
warrants;
|
|
·
|
any
terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability,
exchange or exercise of the warrants;
and
|
|
·
|
any
other specific terms of the
warrants.
|
The
description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and
will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant
agreement, which will be filed with the SEC.
DESCRIPTION
OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may
issue subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common
stock or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently
or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be
transferable by the shareholder receiving the subscription rights in such
offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter
into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers
pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to
purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such
offering.
The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any
offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered,
including the following:
|
·
|
the
price, if any, for the subscription
rights;
|
|
·
|
the
exercise price payable for each share of debt securities, preferred stock,
common stock or other securities upon the exercise of the subscription
rights;
|
|
·
|
the
number of subscription rights issued to each
shareholder;
|
|
·
|
the
number and terms of the shares of debt securities, preferred stock, common
stock or other securities which may be purchased per each subscription
right;
|
|
·
|
the
extent to which the subscription rights are
transferable;
|
|
·
|
any
other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures
and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription
rights;
|
|
·
|
the
date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall
commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall
expire;
|
|
·
|
the
extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription
privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;
and
|
|
·
|
if
applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase
arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of
subscription rights.
|
The
description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights
we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety
by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be
filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. For more information on how
you can obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate if we offer
subscription rights, please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More
Information.” We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights
certificate and any applicable prospectus supplement in their
entirety.
DESCRIPTION
OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may
issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to
purchase from or sell to us, and us to sell to or purchase from the holders, a
specified number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock at a
future date or dates. The consideration per share of common stock or preferred
stock and the number of shares of each may be fixed at the time the stock
purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific
formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts
may be issued separately or as part of units, often known as stock purchase
units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and any combination
of:
|
·
|
debt
obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury
securities,
|
which may
secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock or preferred stock
under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us
to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice
versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock
purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those
contracts in a specified manner.
The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase
contracts and stock purchase units, including, if applicable, collateral
arrangements relating thereto.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We may
sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more
transactions, including without limitation:
|
·
|
directly
to purchasers;
|
|
·
|
to
or through underwriters or dealers;
or
|
|
·
|
through
a combination of these methods.
|
A
distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected
through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation,
warrants, exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of
options.
In
addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered
by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:
|
·
|
a
block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but
may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to
facilitate the transaction;
|
|
·
|
purchases
by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
|
|
·
|
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits
purchasers; or
|
|
·
|
privately
negotiated transactions.
|
We may
also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may:
|
·
|
enter
into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection
with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of
the common stock pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such
broker-dealer or affiliate may use shares of common stock received from
us to close out its short
positions;
|
|
·
|
sell
securities short and redeliver such shares to close out our short
positions;
|
|
·
|
enter
into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver
common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then
resell or transfer the common stock under this prospectus;
or
|
|
·
|
loan
or pledge the common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who
may sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a
pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this
prospectus.
|
In
addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third
parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in
privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the
third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and
an applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may
be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to
settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any
related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this
prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may
sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge,
sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may
be.
A
prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the
terms of the offering of the securities, including:
|
·
|
the
terms of the offering;
|
|
·
|
the
method of distribution, including the name or names of any underwriters,
dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased
by each of them, if any;
|
|
·
|
the
public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net
proceeds to be received by us from the
sale;
|
|
·
|
any
delayed delivery arrangements;
|
|
·
|
any
initial public offering price;
|
|
·
|
any
underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting
underwriters’ or agents’
compensation;
|
|
·
|
any
discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
and
|
|
·
|
any
securities exchange on which the securities may be
listed.
|
The offer
and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters
or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or
more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions,
either:
|
·
|
at
a fixed price or prices, which may be
changed;
|
|
·
|
at
market prices prevailing at the time of sale, including in “at the market
offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities
Act;
|
|
·
|
at
prices related to the prevailing market prices;
or
|
General
Any
public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items
constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers,
agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters,
dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of
the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act.
Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive
on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters,
agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the
applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may
be.
Underwriters
and Agents
If
underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for
their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or
more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be made at
a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
price or at negotiated prices. We may offer the securities to the public through
an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in
any particular offering will be mentioned in the applicable prospectus
supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be.
Unless
otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities,
the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be
subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we
will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series
offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in
connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial public
offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to
dealers may be changed from time to time.
We may
designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in
connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to
use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.
We may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting
as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These firms will
remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a
redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A
prospectus supplement
or free writing prospectus, as the case may be, will identify any
remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us
and its compensation.
In
connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into
agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our
outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the
public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or
agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their
positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions.
If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under
these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of
securities.
Dealers
We may
sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We may negotiate and pay
dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. Dealers may
then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be
determined by the dealers or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the
time of resale. Dealers engaged by us may allow other dealers to participate in
resales.
Direct
Sales
We may
choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or
agents would be involved.
Institutional
Purchasers
We may
authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional
investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to
delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified
future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as
the case may be, will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the
offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.
We will
enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we
approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable
institutions.
Indemnification;
Other Relationships
We may
have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to
indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and
their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us
in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and
investment banking transactions.
Market
Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
There is
currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than our common
stock, which is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. If the
offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a
discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest
rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible
that an underwriter could inform us that it intended to make a market in the
offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any
such market making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore,
no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop
for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the debt
securities, preferred stock or warrants on any securities exchange; any such
listing with respect to any particular debt securities, preferred stock or
warrants will be described in an applicable prospectus supplement or free
writing prospectus.
In
connection with any offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of
common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales,
syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales
involve syndicate sales of common stock in excess of the number of shares to be
purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short
position. “Covered” short sales are sales of shares made in an amount up to the
number of shares represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In
determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short
position, the underwriters will consider, among other things,
the price
of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at
which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions
to close out the covered syndicate short involve either purchases of the common
stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the
exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked”
short sales of shares in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters
must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares of common stock in
the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the
underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of
the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect
investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids
for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress
for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the
securities.
In
connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids.
Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a
syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are
purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short
positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty
bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the
absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these
transactions, discontinue them at any time.
Fees
and Commissions
In
compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority,
Inc. (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or
other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA
member or independent broker-dealer shall be fair and reasonable and shall be
expressed as a percentage of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any
applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the
case may be.
If more
than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this
prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or
affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be
conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(h).
LEGAL
MATTERS
Unless
otherwise specified in connection with the particular offering of any
securities, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be
passed upon for us by Gary W. Garson, Esq., our Senior Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel. As of March 24, 2009, Mr. Garson owned options and stock
appreciation rights with respect to an aggregate of 227,496 shares of our common
stock. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are
passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms,
if any, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
EXPERTS
The
consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules,
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from Loews’s Annual Report on Form
10-K, and the effectiveness of Loews’s internal control over financial reporting
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are herein incorporated by
reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement
schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm
given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The report of HighMount Exploration
& Production LLC’s staff engineers with regard to its estimated proved
reserves of gas and oil at December 31, 2008 incorporated in this prospectus and
any accompanying prospectus supplement by reference from Loews’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 have been audited by Ryder
Scott Company, L.P. in accordance with the Standards Pertaining to the
Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the
Society of Petroleum Engineers.
PART
II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item
14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The
following table sets forth the estimated expenses (all of which will be borne by
the registrant) incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions
(if any). All of the amounts shown are estimates, except the SEC registration
fee.
SEC
registration fee
|
|
$ |
# |
|
Rating
agency fees
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
Trustee
fees and expenses
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
Printing
and distributing
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
Legal
fees and expenses
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
Accounting
fees and expenses
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
460,000 |
|
#
|
Deferred
in reliance on Rule 456(b) and
457(r).
|
Item 15. Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
The
registrant is a Delaware corporation. Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an
action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the
person is or was a director, officer, agent, or employee of the corporation, or
is or was serving at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, agent or
employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies
(i) if such person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding or (ii) if such person acting in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interest, or not opposed to the
best interest, of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of the
corporation as well but only to the extent of defense expenses, including
attorneys’ fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement, actually and
reasonably incurred and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the
claim itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no
indemnification shall be made in the event of any adjudication of liability to
the corporation, unless the court believes that in light of all the
circumstances indemnification should apply.
Article
8, Section 8.1 of the registrant’s by-laws provides as follows: “The Corporation
shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact
that he is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation against expenses
(including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding to the fullest extent and in the manner set forth in and permitted by
the Delaware General Corporation Law, and any other applicable law, as from time
to time in effect. Such right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which such director or officer may be entitled apart from
the foregoing provisions. The foregoing provisions of this Section 8.1 shall be
deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director and officer
who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article 8 and the relevant
provisions, of the Delaware General Corporation Law and other applicable law, if
any, are in effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any
rights or obligations then existing, with respect to any state of facts then or
theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore, or
thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such state
of facts.”
The
registrant maintains directors and officers liability insurance for the benefit
of its directors and certain of its officers.
In
connection with an offering of the securities registered hereunder, the
registrant may enter into an underwriting agreement which may provide that the
underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify directors,
officers and controlling persons of the registrant against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
Please
also see the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.
Section
102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a certificate of
incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision
shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of
the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. Article Ten of the registrant’s Restated
Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors to the fullest
extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
Section
174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a
director, who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of
dividends or an unlawful purchase or redemption of stock, may be held liable for
such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were
approved or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her
dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the
meetings of the board of directors at the time such action occurred or
immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful
acts.
Item 16. Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules.
See
the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to
include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933;
(ii) to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the
effective registration statement; and
(iii) to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to
such information in this registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and
(a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs
is
contained
in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a
form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the
registration statement.
(2) That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(3) To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(4) That,
for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, to
any purchaser:
(i) Each
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to
be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was
deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as
part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an
offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the
purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities
Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration
statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used
after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in
the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for
liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an
underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the
registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement
to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that
is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or
deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus
that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time
of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any
statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was
part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately
prior to such effective date.
(5) That,
for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities
Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the
undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of
the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless
of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the
securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the
following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the
purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such
purchaser:
(i) Any
preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to
the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any
free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the
undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned
registrant;
(iii) The
portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing
material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided
by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any
other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned
registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s
annual report, pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has
duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New
York on March 27, 2009.
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By:
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/s/
Gary W. Garson
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Name:
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Gary
W. Garson
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Title:
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Senior
Vice President, Secretary
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and
General Counsel
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POWER
OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL
BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Peter W. Keegan and Gary W. Garson and each of them, his or her
attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or
her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments (including post-effective
amendments), supplements, subsequent registration statements relating to the
offerings to which this Registration Statement relates (including pursuant to
Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act of 1933), or other instruments he deems
necessary or appropriate, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute
may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed below by the following persons in their respective capacities on
March 27, 2009.
/s/
James S. Tisch
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
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James
S. Tisch
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(Principal
Executive Officer)
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/s/
Peter W. Keegan
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Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Peter
W. Keegan
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(Principal
Financial Officer)
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/s/
Mark S. Schwartz
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Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
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Mark
S. Schwartz
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/s/
Ann E. Berman
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Director
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Ann
E. Berman
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/s/
Joseph L. Bower
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Director
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Joseph
L. Bower
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/s/
Charles M. Diker
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Director
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Charles
M. Diker
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/s/
Paul J. Fribourg
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Director
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Paul
J. Fribourg
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/s/
Walter L. Harris
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Director
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Walter
L. Harris
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/s/
Philip A. Laskawy
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Director
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Philip
A. Laskawy
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/s/
Ken Miller
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Director
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Ken
Miller
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/s/
Gloria R. Scott
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Director
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Gloria
R. Scott
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/s/
Andrew H. Tisch
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Director
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Andrew
H. Tisch
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/s/
Jonathan M. Tisch
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Director
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Jonathan
M. Tisch
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
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Description
of Documents
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1.1
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Form
of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on
Form 8-K of the Registrant and incorporated by reference
herein.
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3.1
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Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated April 16, 2002,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarter ended March 31, 2002
(File No. 1-6541).
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3.2
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Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated
August 3, 2006, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to a
Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed with the SEC on August
3, 2006 (File No. 1-6541).
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3.3
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By-Laws
of the Registrant, as amended through October 9, 2007, incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the
Registrant for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 (File No.
1-6541).
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4.1
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Indenture,
dated as of March 1, 1986, between the Registrant and The Bank of New
York Mellon (as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, National
Association), as Trustee (the “Senior Indenture”), incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the
Registrant, dated March 7, 1986 (File No.
33-3829).
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4.2
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Form
of Senior Debt Securities (included in Exhibit 4.1).
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4.3
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First
Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Indenture, dated as of March 30,
1993, between the Registrant and the Trustee, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit B to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed with the SEC on June 3, 1993 (File No.
1-6541).
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4.4
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Second
Supplemental Indenture to the Senior Indenture, dated as of
February 18, 1997, between the Registrant and the Trustee,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of the Registrant, dated February 20, 1997
(File No. 333-22113).
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4.5
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Indenture,
dated as of December 1, 1985, between the Registrant and The Bank of
New York Mellon (as successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as
Trustee (the “Subordinated Indenture”), incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the
Registrant, dated December 9, 1985 (File No.
33-2026).
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4.6
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Form
of Subordinated Debt Securities (included in Exhibit
4.5).
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4.7
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First
Supplemental Indenture to the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
February 18, 1997, between the Registrant and the Trustee,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of the Registrant, dated February 20, 1997
(File No. 333-22113).
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4.8
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Second
Supplemental Indenture to the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
February 18, 1997, between the Registrant and the Trustee,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of the Registrant, dated February 20, 1997
(File No. 333-22113).
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4.9
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Third
Supplemental Indenture to the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
September 16, 1997, between the Registrant and the Trustee,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to a Current Report on
Form 8-K/A of the Registrant filed with the SEC on September 29, 1997
(File No. 1-6541).
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4.10
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Form
of Certificate for Preferred Stock to be filed as an exhibit to a Current
Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant and incorporated by reference
herein.
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4.11
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Form
of Warrant Agreement, including the Form of Warrant Certificate, to be
filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant and
incorporated by reference herein.
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4.12
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Purchase
Contract Agreement, including the Form of Stock Purchase Contract and/or
Stock Purchase Unit, to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form
8-K of the Registrant and incorporated by reference
herein.
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4.13
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Form
of Subscription Rights Agreement, including the Form of Subscription
Rights Certificate, to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form
8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
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5.1
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Opinion
of Gary W. Garson, Esq., Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel of the Registrant. *
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12.1
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Computation
of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
*
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23.1
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Consent
of Deloitte & Touche LLP. *
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23.2
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Consent
of Ryder Scott Company, L.P., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
23.01 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Registrant filed with the
SEC on February 25, 2009 (File No. 1- 6541).
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23.3
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Consent
of Gary W. Garson, Esq., Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel of the Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.1).
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24.1
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Power
of Attorney (included on signature page).
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25.1
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Form
T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon under the Senior Indenture.
*
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25.2
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Form
T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon under the Subordinated
Indenture. *
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