UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration Number: 333-108272
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED SEPTEMBER 8,
2003
United Parcel Service, Inc.
$500,000,000
UPS Notes
With Maturities of 9 Months or More from Date of Issue
We plan to offer and sell notes with various terms, which may
include the following:
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maturity of 9 months or more from the date of issue, |
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interest at a fixed rate, |
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interest payment dates at monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or
annual intervals, |
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book-entry form (through The Depository Trust Company), |
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redemption and/or repayment provisions, if applicable, whether
mandatory, at our option or the option of the holder, and |
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minimum denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000. |
We will specify the final terms of each note, which may be
different from the terms described in this prospectus
supplement, in the applicable pricing supplement.
You must pay for the notes by delivering the purchase price to
an agent, unless you make other payment arrangements.
Investing in the notes involves a number of risks. See
Risk Factors on page S-5.
We may sell notes to the agents as principal for resale at
varying or fixed offering prices or through the agents as agent
using their reasonable best efforts on our behalf. If we sell
all of the notes, we expect to receive aggregate proceeds of
between $475,000,000 and $497,000,000, after paying the
agents discounts and commissions of between $3,000,000 and
$25,000,000. The agents discounts and commissions may
exceed these amounts with respect to sales of notes with stated
maturities in excess of 30 years. Under certain
circumstances, we may also sell notes directly on our own behalf
without the assistance of the agents.
As of November 17, 2006, we had sold an aggregate principal
amount of $126,340,000 of notes, and received aggregate proceeds
of $124,496,196 after paying discounts and commissions of
$1,843,804. Accordingly, we may offer and sell up to an
additional aggregate principal amount of $373,660,000 of notes
under this program.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
LaSalle Financial Services, Inc.
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Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. |
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Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. |
November 17, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
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Page |
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S-3 |
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S-5 |
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S-5 |
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S-6 |
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S-6 |
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S-6 |
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S-7 |
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S-9 |
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S-9 |
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S-9 |
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S-12 |
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S-15 |
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S-16 |
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S-21 |
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S-22 |
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S-23 |
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S-25 |
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A-1 |
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Prospectus |
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About this Prospectus
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1 |
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Where You Can Find More Information
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1 |
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Forward-Looking Statements
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3 |
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The Company
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4 |
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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4 |
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Use of Proceeds
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5 |
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Description of Debt Securities
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5 |
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Plan of Distribution
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16 |
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Legal Matters
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18 |
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Experts
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18 |
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S-2
SUMMARY OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
You should read the more detailed information appearing
elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and the applicable pricing supplement. Unless the
context requires otherwise, references in the prospectus
supplement to UPS, we, us
and our refer to United Parcel Service, Inc. and its
subsidiaries.
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Issuer |
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United Parcel Service, Inc. |
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Purchasing Agent |
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LaSalle Financial Services, Inc. |
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Title |
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UPS Notes, which we refer to as the notes. |
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Amount |
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The total program is for up to $500,000,000 aggregate principal
amount. As of November 17, 2006, we had sold an aggregate
principal amount of $126,340,000 of notes. Accordingly, we may
offer and sell up to an additional $373,660,000 aggregate
principal amount of notes under this program. |
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Denomination |
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We will issue and sell notes in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple of $1,000. |
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Ranking |
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The notes will be senior notes, ranking equally with all of our
other unsecured, unsubordinated debt. The notes will not be
secured by any collateral. |
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Maturities |
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The notes will mature nine months or more from the date of
issue, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. |
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Interest |
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Each note will bear interest from the issue date at
a fixed rate, which will be zero in the case of a zero-coupon
note. |
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We will pay interest on each note, other than a
zero-coupon note, on either monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or
annual interest payment dates and at maturity. |
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, interest on the notes will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. |
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Principal |
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The principal amount of the notes will be payable on the
maturity date of such notes at the corporate trust office of the
trustee. |
S-3
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Redemption and Repayment |
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Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement: |
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the notes may not be redeemed by us or repaid at the
option of the holder prior to maturity; and |
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the notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. |
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The pricing supplement relating to any note will indicate
whether the holder of such note will have the right to require
us to repay a note prior to maturity upon the death of the owner
of such note. |
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Form of Notes |
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The notes will be represented by global securities deposited
with or on behalf of the depositary, The Depository Trust
Company, and registered in the name of the depositarys
nominee. Global notes will be exchangeable for definitive notes
only in limited circumstances. See Description of
Notes Book-Entry System. |
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Trustee |
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Citibank, N.A., Citibank Agency and Trust, 388 Greenwich Street,
14th Floor, New York, New York 10013, under an indenture
dated as of August 26, 2003, which we refer to as the
indenture. |
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Agents |
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LaSalle Financial Services, Inc., Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.,
Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc., UBS Securities LLC and
Wachovia Securities LLC, as agents of UPS in connection with the
offering of the notes. |
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Selling Group Members |
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Broker-dealers and other securities firms that have executed
dealer agreements with the purchasing agent and have agreed to
market and sell the notes in accordance with the terms of these
agreements and all other applicable laws and regulations. |
S-4
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT AND PRICING
SUPPLEMENTS
This prospectus supplement sets forth certain terms of the notes
that we may offer and supplements the prospectus that is
attached to the back of this prospectus supplement. This
prospectus supplement supersedes the accompanying prospectus to
the extent it contains information that is different from the
information in the prospectus.
Each time we offer notes, we will attach a pricing supplement to
this prospectus supplement. The pricing supplement will contain
the specific description of the notes we are offering and the
terms of the offering. The pricing supplement will supersede
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to the
extent it contains information that is different from the
information contained in this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus.
It is important for you to read and consider all information
contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus and pricing supplement in making your investment
decision. You should also read and consider the information
contained in the documents identified in Where You Can
Find More Information in the accompanying prospectus.
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the notes will involve a number of risks. You
should consider carefully the following risks and the risks
described under Risk Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 (which description is
incorporated by reference herein) before you decide that an
investment in the notes is suitable for you. You should consult
your own financial and legal advisors regarding the risks and
suitability of an investment in the notes.
We may choose to redeem your notes when prevailing interest
rates are relatively low.
If your notes are redeemable, we may choose to redeem your notes
from time to time. In the event that prevailing interest rates
are relatively low when we elect to redeem notes, you may not be
able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable
security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest
rate on the notes being redeemed.
We cannot assure you that a trading market for your notes
will ever develop or be maintained.
We cannot assure you that a trading market for your notes will
ever develop or be maintained. Many factors independent of our
creditworthiness affect the trading market and market value of
your notes. These factors include, among others:
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the method of calculating the principal and interest for the
notes; |
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the time remaining to the maturity of the notes; |
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the outstanding amount of the notes; |
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the redemption features of the notes; and |
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the level, direction and volatility of interest rates generally. |
There may be a limited number of buyers when you decide to sell
your notes, which may
S-5
affect the price you receive for your notes or your ability to
sell your notes at all.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED
CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for our company, including our subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis.
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Nine Months |
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Ended |
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Year Ended December 31, |
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September 30, |
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2001 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006 |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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9.1 |
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12.7 |
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12.7 |
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13.1 |
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14.4 |
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14.3 |
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12.5 |
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For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings are defined as income before income taxes and
fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed charges
include interest (whether capitalized or expensed), amortization
of debt expense and any discount or premium relating to any
indebtedness (whether capitalized or expensed) and the portion
of rent expense considered to represent interest.
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
The notes we are offering by this prospectus supplement
constitute a series of debt securities for purposes of the
indenture. The notes will rank equally in all respects with all
debt securities issued under the indenture. For a description of
the indenture and the rights of the holders of debt securities
under the indenture, including the notes, see Description
of Debt Securities in the accompanying prospectus.
The following description of the terms and conditions of the
notes supplements, and to the extent inconsistent with replaces,
the description of the general terms of the debt securities
described in the accompanying prospectus. The terms and
conditions described in this section will apply to each note
unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise.
General
The notes will be senior notes, ranking equally with all of our
other unsecured, unsubordinated debt. We will issue the notes
only in the form of one or more global securities registered in
the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, as
depositary, except as specified in Book-Entry
System. For more information on certificated and global
securities, see Book-Entry System.
We may offer from time to time up to $500,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of notes on terms determined at the time of
sale. The notes will mature nine months or more from the date of
issue, as determined by the initial purchaser and agreed to by
us. As of November 17, 2006, we had sold an aggregate
principal amount of $126,340,000 of notes. Accordingly, we may
offer and sell up to an additional aggregate principal amount of
$373,660,000 of notes under this program.
The notes may be issued as original issue discount notes. An
original issue discount note is a note, including any
zero-coupon note, that is issued at more than a de minimis
discount from the principal amount payable at maturity. Upon
redemption, repayment or acceleration of the maturity of an
original issue discount note, normally an amount less than its
principal amount will be payable. For additional information
regarding payments upon acceleration of the maturity of an
original issue discount note
S-6
and regarding the United States federal income tax consequences
of original issue discount notes, see Payment
of Principal and Interest and Certain United States
Federal Income Tax Consequences United States
Holders Original Issue Discount. Original
issue discount notes will be treated as original issue discount
securities for purposes of the indenture.
The notes may be registered for transfer or exchange at the
principal office of the Corporate Trust Department of
Citibank, N.A., the trustee under the indenture, in The City of
New York. The transfer or exchange of global securities will be
effected as specified in Book-Entry
System.
The indenture does not limit our ability to incur debt. In
addition, the indenture does not contain any provision that
would protect holders of the notes in the event of a highly
leveraged or other transaction that may adversely affect our
creditworthiness.
As used in this prospectus supplement, business day means, with
respect to any note, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday,
that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial
banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive
order to close in The City of New York.
Payment of Principal and Interest
Payments of principal and interest, if any, at maturity will be
made in immediately available funds, provided that the note is
presented to the trustee in time for the trustee to make the
payments in immediately available funds in accordance with its
normal procedures. Payments of interest, other than interest
payable at maturity, with respect to global securities will be
paid in immediately available funds to the depositary or its
nominee. See Book-Entry System. Payments
of interest, if any, with respect to any certificated note,
other than amounts payable at maturity, will be paid by check
mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payments as
it appears in the security register.
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, if we:
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redeem any original issue discount note as described under
Redemption and Repurchase, |
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repay any original issue discount note at the option of the
holder as described under Repayment at Option of
Holder and Repayment Upon Death, or |
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if the principal of any original issue discount note is declared
to be due and payable immediately as described in the
accompanying prospectus under Description of Debt
Securities Events of Default, |
the amount of principal due and payable with respect to the
original issue discount note shall be limited to the sum of:
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the aggregate principal amount of such note multiplied by the
issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate
principal amount, plus |
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the original issue discount accrued from the date of issue to
the date of redemption, repayment or declaration, as applicable. |
This accrual will be calculated using the interest
method, computed in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in
S-7
effect on the date of redemption, repayment or declaration, as
applicable.
Each note, other than a zero-coupon note, will bear interest
from and including the date of issue, or in the case of notes
issued upon registration of transfer or exchange from and
including the most recent interest payment date to which
interest on such note has been paid or duly provided for.
Interest will be payable at the fixed rate per year stated in
such note and in the applicable pricing supplement until the
principal of such note is paid or made available for payment.
Interest will be payable on each interest payment date and at
maturity. Interest will be payable to the person in whose name a
note is registered at the close of business on the regular
record date next preceding each interest payment date; provided,
however, that interest payable at maturity or upon redemption,
repayment or declaration will be payable to the person to whom
principal is payable. The first payment of interest on any note
originally issued between a regular record date and an interest
payment date will be made on the interest payment date following
the next succeeding regular record date to the registered owner
of such note on such next succeeding regular record date. If the
interest payment date or the maturity for any note falls on a
day that is not a business day, the payment of principal and
interest may be made on the next succeeding business day, and no
interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from such
interest payment date or maturity, as the case may be. Unless
the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, interest on
the notes will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve
30-day months.
The interest payment dates for a note, other than a zero-coupon
note, will be as follows:
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Interest Payments |
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Interest Payment Dates |
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Monthly
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Fifteenth day of each calendar month, commencing in the first
succeeding calendar month following the month in which the note
is issued. |
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Quarterly
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Fifteenth day of every third month, commencing in the third
succeeding calendar month following the month in which the note
is issued. |
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Semi-annual
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Fifteenth day of every sixth month, commencing in the sixth
succeeding calendar month following the month in which the note
is issued. |
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Annual
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Fifteenth day of every twelfth month, commencing in the twelfth
succeeding calendar month following the month in which the note
is issued. |
The regular record date with respect to any interest payment
date will be the date 15 calendar days prior to such interest
payment date, whether or not such date is a business day.
The interest rates on the notes may differ depending upon, among
other things, prevailing market conditions at the time of
issuance as well as the aggregate principal amount of notes
issued in any single transaction. Although we may change the
interest rates and other variable terms of the notes from time
to time, no change will affect any note already issued or as to
which we have accepted an offer to purchase.
S-8
Redemption and Repurchase
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, we
may not redeem the notes prior to maturity. The notes will not
be subject to any sinking fund. If, however, the applicable
pricing supplement provides that we may redeem the notes prior
to maturity, it will also specify the redemption dates and
prices. If applicable, notes may be redeemed in whole or in part
from time to time only upon not less than 30 nor more than
60 days notice.
We may at any time purchase notes at any price in the open
market or otherwise. Notes we purchase in this manner may, at
our discretion, be held, resold or surrendered to the trustee
for cancellation.
Repayment at Option of Holder
Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, notes
will not be repayable at the option of the holder. If the
applicable pricing supplement provides that the notes will be
repayable at the option of the holder, it will also specify the
repayment dates and prices.
In order for a note to be repaid, the trustee must receive, at
the principal office of the Corporate Trust Department of
the trustee in The City of New York, at least 30 but not more
than 45 days notice of the holders exercise of
its repayment option. Once this notice is delivered, the holder
may not revoke its exercise of the repayment option. A holder
may exercise the repayment option for less than the entire
principal amount of the note provided that the principal amount
of the note remaining outstanding after repayment is an
authorized denomination.
The depositary or its nominee will be the holder of global
securities and therefore will be the only entity that can
exercise a right to repayment, if any. In order to ensure that
the depositary or its nominee will timely exercise such right to
repayment, the beneficial owner of the note must instruct the
broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it
holds an interest in such global security to notify the
depositary of its desire to exercise the right to repayment.
Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting
instructions from their customers. Accordingly, each beneficial
owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect
participant through which it holds an interest in a global
security in order to ascertain the cut-off time by which such an
instruction must be given in order for timely notice to be
delivered to the depositary.
Repayment Upon Death
If the pricing supplement relating to a note so states, the
holder of the note will have the right to require us to repay a
note prior to its maturity date upon the death of the beneficial
owner of the note as described below. We call this right the
survivors option.
Upon exercise of the survivors option, we will, at our
option, either repay or purchase any note properly delivered for
repayment by or on behalf of the person that has authority to
act on behalf of the deceased beneficial owner of the note at a
price equal to the sum of:
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100% of the principal amount of such note (or, for zero-coupon
notes, the amortized face amount for zero-coupon notes on the
date of such repayment), and |
S-9
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accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of such
repayment, subject to the following limitations. |
The survivors option may not be exercised until at least
12 months following the date of original issue of the
applicable notes. In addition, we may limit the aggregate
principal amount of notes as to which the survivors option
may be exercised as follows:
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In any calendar year, we may limit the aggregate principal
amount to the greater of 1% of the outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the notes as of December 31 of the most
recently completed year or $1,000,000. We call this limitation
the annual put limitation. |
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For any individual deceased beneficial owner of notes, we may
limit the aggregate principal amount to $200,000 for any
calendar year. We call this limitation the individual put
limitation. |
We will not make principal repayments pursuant to the exercise
of the survivors option in amounts that are less than
$1,000. If the limitations described above would result in the
partial repayment of any note, the principal amount of the note
remaining outstanding after repayment must be at least $1,000.
Each note delivered pursuant to a valid exercise of the
survivors option will be accepted promptly in the order
all such notes are delivered, unless the acceptance of that note
would contravene the annual put limitation or the individual put
limitation. If, as of the end of any calendar year, the
aggregate principal amount of notes that have been accepted
pursuant to exercise of the survivors option during that
year has not exceeded the annual put limitation for that year,
any notes not accepted during that calendar year because of the
individual put limitation will be accepted in the order all such
notes were delivered, to the extent that any such acceptance
would not trigger the annual put limitation for such calendar
year.
Any note accepted for repayment pursuant to exercise of the
survivors option will be repaid no later than the first
January 15 or June 15 to occur at least 20 calendar days after
the date of acceptance. If that date is not a business day,
payment will be made on the next succeeding business day. For
example, if the acceptance date for notes delivered pursuant to
the survivors option was April 1, 2007, we would be
obligated to repay those notes by June 15, 2007. Each note
delivered for repayment that is not accepted in any calendar
year due to the application of the annual put limitation will be
deemed to be delivered in the following calendar year in the
order in which all such notes were originally delivered, unless
any such note is withdrawn by the representative for the
deceased beneficial owner prior to its repayment. Other than as
described in the immediately preceding sentence, notes delivered
upon exercise of the survivors option may not be withdrawn.
In the event that a note delivered for repayment pursuant to
valid exercise of the survivors option is not accepted,
the trustee will deliver a notice by first-class mail to the
registered holder that states the reason that the note has not
been accepted for repayment. Following receipt of such notice
from the trustee, the representative for the deceased beneficial
owner may withdraw any such note and the exercise of the
survivors option.
S-10
Subject to the foregoing, in order to validly exercise a
survivors option, the trustee must receive from the
representative of the deceased beneficial owner:
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a written request for repayment signed by the representative,
with the signature guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange or of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) or a commercial bank
or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States; |
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delivery of the note to be repaid; |
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appropriate evidence satisfactory to the trustee that the
representative has authority to act on behalf of the deceased
beneficial owner, the death of such beneficial owner has
occurred and the deceased was the beneficial owner of the note
at the time of death; |
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if applicable, a properly executed assignment or
endorsement; and |
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if the beneficial interest in the note is held by a nominee of
the deceased beneficial owner, a certificate satisfactory to the
trustee from such nominee attesting to the deceaseds
ownership of a beneficial interest in the note. |
Subject to the annual put limitation and the individual put
limitation, all questions as to the eligibility or validity of
any exercise of the survivors option will be determined by
the trustee in its sole discretion. The trustees
determination will be final and binding on all parties.
The death of a person owning a note in joint tenancy or tenancy
by the entirety will be deemed the death of the beneficial owner
of the note, and the entire principal amount of the note so held
will be subject to the survivors option. The death of a
person owning a note by tenancy in common will be deemed the
death of the beneficial owner of a note only with respect to the
deceased holders interest in the note so held by tenancy
in common. However, if a note is held by husband and wife as
tenants in common, the death of either will be deemed the death
of the beneficial owner of the note, and the entire principal
amount of the note so held will be subject to the
survivors option. The death of a person who, during his or
her lifetime, was entitled to substantially all of the
beneficial interests of ownership of a note will be deemed the
death of the beneficial owner for purposes of the
survivors option, regardless of the registered holder, if
such beneficial interest can be established to the satisfaction
of the trustee. Such beneficial interest will be deemed to exist
in typical cases of nominee ownership, ownership under the
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, community property or other joint
ownership arrangements between a husband and wife and trust
arrangements where one person has substantially all of the
beneficial ownership interest in the note during his or her
lifetime.
In the case of repayment pursuant to the exercise of the
survivors option, for notes represented by a global
security, the depositary or its nominee will be the holder of
such note and therefore will be the only entity that can
exercise the survivors option for such note. To obtain
repayment pursuant to exercise of the survivors option
with respect to a note represented by a global security, the
representative
S-11
must provide to the broker or other entity through which the
beneficial interest in the note is held by the deceased owner:
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a written request for repayment signed by the representative,
with the signature guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange or of the NASD or a commercial bank
or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States; |
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appropriate evidence satisfactory to the trustee that the
representative has authority to act on behalf of the deceased
beneficial owner, the death of the beneficial owner has occurred
and the deceased was the owner of a beneficial interest in the
note at the time of death; and |
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instructions to the broker or other entity to notify the
depositary of its desire to obtain repayment pursuant to
exercise of the survivors option. |
The broker or other entity will provide to the trustee:
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a written request for repayment signed by the representative,
with the signature guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange or of the NASD or a commercial bank
or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States; |
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appropriate evidence satisfactory to the trustee that the
representative has authority to act on behalf of the deceased
beneficial owner, the death of the beneficial owner has occurred
and the deceased was the owner of a beneficial interest in the
note at the time of death; and |
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a certificate satisfactory to the trustee from the broker or
other entity stating that it represents the deceased beneficial
owner. |
The broker or other entity will be responsible for disbursing
any payments it receives pursuant to exercise of the
survivors option to the appropriate representative. See
Book-Entry System.
We have attached as Annex A to this prospectus supplement
the forms to be used by a representative to exercise the
survivors option on behalf of a deceased beneficial owner
of a note. In addition, a representative may obtain these forms
from Citibank, N.A., the trustee, at Citibank Agency and
Trust Customer Services, 111 Wall Street, 15th Floor,
New York, New York 10005, or call
1-800-422-2066, during
normal business hours.
Book-Entry System
Upon issuance, all notes having the same original issuance date,
interest rate and stated maturity and other terms, if any, will
be represented by a single global security. Each global security
will be deposited with or on behalf of the depositary, The
Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and registered in
the name of the depositarys nominee. Except as described
below, global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in
part, only by the depositary to a nominee of the depositary or
by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another
nominee of the depositary. So long as the depositary or its
nominee is the registered owner of any global security, the
depositary or its nominee will be
S-12
considered the sole owner or holder of the note for all purposes
under the indenture.
The depositary has advised the agents and us as follows: the
depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under
the New York Banking Law, a banking organization
within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation
within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and
a clearing agency registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. The depositary holds securities that its participants
deposit with the depositary. The depositary also facilitates the
settlement among participants of securities transactions, such
as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through
electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants
accounts, eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. Direct participants include
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. The depositary is
owned by a number of its direct participants and by the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
NASD. Access to the depositarys system is also available
to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and
trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a direct participant, either directly or
indirectly, which we refer to as indirect
participants.
Purchases of interests in the global securities under the
depositarys system must be made by or through direct
participants, which will receive a credit for such interests on
the depositarys records. The ownership interest of each
beneficial owner is in turn to be recorded on the direct and
indirect participants records. Beneficial owners will not
receive written confirmation from the depositary of their
purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written
confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as
periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or
indirect participant through which the beneficial owner entered
into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the
global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the
books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing
their ownership interests in the global securities, except as
described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities
deposited by participants with the depositary are registered in
the name of the depositarys partnership nominee,
Cede & Co. The deposit of global securities with the
depositary and their registration in the name of Cede &
Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. The depositary has
no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the interests in
the global securities; the depositarys records reflect
only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts
interests in the global securities are credited, which may or
may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of
their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the depositary
to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect
participants, and by direct participants and indirect
participants to beneficial owners will be governed by
arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
S-13
Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. If less
than all of the interests in a global security are being
redeemed, the depositarys practice is to determine by lot
the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such
global security to be redeemed.
Neither the depositary nor Cede & Co. will consent or
vote with respect to the global securities. Under its usual
procedures, the depositary mails an omnibus proxy to the issuer
as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy
assigns Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights
to those direct participants to whose accounts interests in the
global securities are credited on the record date (identified in
a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Principal and interest payments on the global securities will be
made to the depositary. The depositary will then credit direct
participants accounts on the payment date in accordance
with their respective holdings shown on the depositarys
records unless the depositary has reason to believe that it will
not receive payment on the payment date. Payments by
participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or
registered in street name, and will be the
responsibility of such participant and not of the depositary,
the trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of
principal and interest to the depositary is the responsibility
of us or the trustee. Disbursement of such payments to direct
participants is the responsibility of the depositary.
Disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners is the
responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
The notes represented by one or more global securities are
exchangeable for certificated notes of like tenor as such notes
if:
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the depositary for the global securities notifies us that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global
securities or if at any time the depositary ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, |
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we in our discretion at any time determine not to have all of
the notes of the series represented by one or more global
security or notes and notify the trustee of this
determination, or |
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an event of default, as described in the accompanying
prospectus, has occurred and is continuing with respect to the
notes of a series. |
Any note that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence
is exchangeable for certificated notes issuable in authorized
denominations and registered in the names as the depositary
holding such global securities directs. The authorized
denominations of the notes will be $1,000 or any greater amount
that is an integral multiple of $1,000. Subject to the
foregoing, a global security is not exchangeable, except for a
global security or global securities of the same aggregate
denominations to be registered in the name of the depositary or
its nominee.
The information in this section concerning the depositary and
the depositarys book-entry system has been obtained from
sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no
responsibility for its accuracy.
S-14
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Set forth below is a summary of certain United States federal
income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of the notes. This summary is based upon laws,
regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which
are subject to change or differing interpretations. It deals
only with notes held as capital assets and does not purport to
deal with persons in special tax situations, such as financial
institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment
companies, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in
securities who elect to use a
mark-to-market method
of accounting for their securities holdings, persons holding
notes as a hedge against currency risks or as a position in a
straddle for tax purposes, or persons whose
functional currency is not the United States dollar. It also
does not deal with holders other than original purchasers
(except where otherwise specifically noted). Persons considering
the purchase of the notes should consult their own tax advisors
concerning the application of United States federal income tax
laws to their particular situations as well as any consequences
of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes arising
under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
The tax consequences to a partner in a partnership (or other
entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) that owns notes depend in part on the status of the
partner and the activities of the partnership. Such persons
should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences
of any purchase, ownership or disposition of notes by the
partnership in which they are partners.
Because the exact pricing and other terms of the notes will
vary, no assurance can be given that the considerations
described below will apply to a particular issuance of the
notes.
As used herein, the term U.S. Holder means a
beneficial owner of a note that is for United States federal
income tax purposes:
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a citizen or resident of the United States, |
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a corporation, including an entity treated as a corporation for
United State federal income tax purposes, created or organized
in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia, |
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an estate, the income of which is subject to United States
federal income tax regardless of its source, or |
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a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise
primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one
or more United States persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust. |
Notwithstanding the last bullet above, to the extent provided in
regulations, certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996
and treated as United States persons prior to such date that
elect to continue to be so treated also shall be considered
U.S. Holders.
As used herein, the term
non-U.S. Holder
means a beneficial owner of a note that is not a
U.S. Holder and not a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes.
S-15
United States Holders
Payments of Interest
Payments of interest on a note, other than interest on an
Original Issue Discount note that is not
qualified stated interest, each as defined below,
generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary
interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are
received, in accordance with the U.S. Holders regular
method of tax accounting.
Original Issue Discount
The following summary is a general discussion of the United
States federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of
the purchase, ownership and disposition of notes issued with
original issue discount (Original Issue Discount
notes). The following summary is based upon final Treasury
regulations (the OID Regulations) released by the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the original
issue discount provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the Code).
For United States federal income tax purposes, original issue
discount is the excess of the stated redemption price at
maturity of a note over its issue price, if such excess equals
or exceeds a de minimis amount. This amount is generally
1/4
of 1% of the notes stated redemption price at maturity
multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity from
its issue date or, in the case of a note providing for the
payment of any amount other than qualified stated
interest, as defined below, prior to maturity, multiplied
by the weighted average maturity of such note. The issue price
of each note in an issue of notes equals the first price at
which a substantial amount of such notes has been sold, ignoring
sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or
organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement
agents or wholesalers. The stated redemption price at maturity
of a note is the sum of all payments provided by the note other
than qualified stated interest payments. The term
qualified stated interest generally means stated
interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property,
other than debt instruments of the issuer, at least annually at
a single fixed rate or in certain cases, one or more floating
rates that appropriately take into account the length of the
interval between stated interest payments. In addition, under
the OID Regulations, if a note bears interest for one or more
accrual periods at a rate below the rate applicable for the
remaining term of such note (e.g., notes with teaser
rates or interest holidays), and if the greater of either the
resulting foregone interest on such note or any true
discount on such note (i.e., the excess of the
notes stated principal amount over its issue price) equals
or exceeds a specified de minimis amount, then the note
would be treated as having original issue discount, and the
stated interest would not be treated as qualified stated
interest.
Payments of qualified stated interest on a note are taxable to a
U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such
payments are accrued or are received, in accordance with the
U.S. Holders regular method of tax accounting. A
U.S. Holder of an Original Issue Discount note having a
maturity of more than one year from its date of issue must
include original issue discount in income as ordinary interest
income for United States federal income tax purposes as it
accrues under a constant yield method in advance of receipt of
the cash payments attributable to such income,
S-16
regardless of such U.S. Holders regular method of tax
accounting. In general, the amount of original issue discount
included in income by the initial U.S. Holder of an
Original Issue Discount note is the sum of the daily portions of
original issue discount with respect to such Original Issue
Discount note for each day during the taxable year (or portion
of the taxable year) on which such U.S. Holder held such
Original Issue Discount note. The daily portion of
original issue discount on any Original Issue Discount note is
determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period a
ratable portion of the original issue discount allocable to that
accrual period. An accrual period may be of any
length and the accrual periods may vary in length over the term
of the Original Issue Discount note, provided that each accrual
period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of
principal or interest occurs either on the final day of an
accrual period or on the first day of an accrual period. The OID
Regulations contain certain rules that generally allow any
reasonable method to be used in determining the amount of
original issue discount allocable to a short initial accrual
period (if all other accrual periods are of equal length) and
require that the amount of original issue discount allocable to
the final accrual period equal the excess of the amount payable
at the maturity of the Original Issue Discount note (other than
any payment of qualified stated interest) over the Original
Issue Discount notes adjusted issue price as of the
beginning of such final accrual period. The amount of original
issue discount allocable to each accrual period is generally
equal to the difference between:
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the product of the Original Issue Discount notes adjusted
issue price at the beginning of such accrual period and its
yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the
close of each accrual period and appropriately adjusted to take
into account the length of the particular accrual
period) and |
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the amount of any qualified stated interest payments allocable
to such accrual period. |
The adjusted issue price of an Original Issue
Discount note at the beginning of any accrual period is the sum
of the issue price of the Original Issue Discount note plus the
amount of original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual
periods minus the amount of any prior payments on the Original
Issue Discount note that were not qualified stated interest
payments. Under these rules, U.S. Holders generally will
have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of
original issue discount in successive accrual periods.
If (1) a portion of the initial purchase price of a note is
attributable to interest that accrued prior to the notes
issue date (pre- issuance accrued interest),
(2) the first stated interest payment on the note is to be
made within one year of the notes issue date and
(3) such payment will equal or exceed the amount of
pre-issuance accrued interest, then the U.S. Holder may
elect to decrease the issue price of the note by the amount of
pre-issuance accrued interest, in which case a portion of the
first stated interest payment will be treated as a return of the
excluded pre-issuance accrued interest and not as an amount
payable on the note.
S-17
Acquisition Premium
A U.S. Holder who purchases an Original Issue Discount note
for an amount that is greater than its adjusted issue price as
of the purchase date and less than or equal to the sum of all
amounts payable on the Original Issue Discount note after the
purchase date, other than payments of qualified stated interest,
will be considered to have purchased the Original Issue Discount
note at an acquisition premium. Under the
acquisition premium rules, the amount of original issue discount
which such U.S. Holder must include in its gross income
with respect to such Original Issue Discount note for any
taxable year or portion thereof in which the U.S. Holder
holds the Original Issue Discount note will be reduced, but not
below zero, by the portion of the acquisition premium properly
allocable to the period.
Optional Redemption
In the case of certain notes, we may have a call
option to redeem the notes prior to their stated maturity,
or the holders of the notes may have a put option to
receive repayment prior to maturity. Notes containing such
features may be subject to rules that differ from the general
rules discussed above. For purposes of accruing original issue
discount, a call option exercisable by us or a put option
exercisable by a holder will be presumed to be exercised if, by
utilizing any date on which the note may be redeemed or repaid
as its maturity date and the amount payable on that date in
accordance with the terms of the note (the redemption
price) as its stated redemption price at maturity, the
yield on the note is:
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in the case of a call option exercisable by us, lower than its
yield to maturity, or |
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in the case of a put option exercisable by a holder, greater
than its yield to maturity. |
If such an option is not in fact exercised when presumed to be,
the note will be treated, solely for purposes of accruing
original issue discount, as if it were redeemed, and a new note
issued, on the presumed exercise date for an amount equal to its
adjusted issue price on that date. Investors intending to
purchase notes with such features should consult their own tax
advisors, since the original issue discount consequences will
depend, in part, on the particular terms and features of the
purchased notes.
Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount
U.S. Holders may generally, upon election, include in
income all interest, including stated interest, acquisition
discount, original issue discount, de minimis original
issue discount, market discount, de minimis market
discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable
bond premium (discussed below) or acquisition premium, that
accrues on a debt instrument by using the constant yield method
applicable to original issue discount, subject to certain
limitations and exceptions. This election applies only to the
note for which it is made and cannot be revoked without the
consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder considering such an
election should consult a tax advisor.
S-18
Short-Term Notes
Notes that have a fixed maturity of one year or less
(Short-Term notes) will be treated as having been
issued with original issue discount. In general, an individual
or other cash method U.S. Holder is not required to accrue
such original issue discount unless the U.S. Holder elects
to do so. If such an election is made, it will apply to all
short-term obligations acquired by the U.S. Holder on or
after the first day of the first taxable year in which the
election is made, and such election may be revoked only with the
consent of the IRS. If such an election is not made, any gain
recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or
maturity of the Short-Term note will be ordinary income to the
extent of the original issue discount accrued on a straight-line
basis, or upon election, under the constant yield method based
on daily compounding, through the date of sale or maturity, and
a portion of the deductions otherwise allowable to the
U.S. Holder for interest on borrowings allocable to the
Short-Term note will be deferred until a corresponding amount of
income is realized. U.S. Holders who report income for
United States federal income tax purposes under the accrual
method, and certain other holders including banks and dealers in
securities, are required to accrue original issue discount on a
Short-Term note on a straight-line basis unless an election is
made to accrue the original issue discount under a constant
yield method, based on daily compounding.
Market Discount
If a U.S. Holder purchases a note, other than an Original
Issue Discount note, at original issue for an amount that is
less than its issue price or, in the case of a subsequent
purchaser, its stated redemption price at maturity or, in the
case of an Original Issue Discount note, for an amount that is
less than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date, such
U.S. Holder will be treated as having purchased such note
at a market discount, unless such market discount is
less than a specified de minimis amount.
Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder will be
required to treat any partial principal payment or, in the case
of an Original Issue Discount note, any payment that does not
constitute qualified stated interest on, or any gain realized on
the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a note
as ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of:
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the amount of such payment or realized gain or |
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the market discount which has not previously been included in
income and which is treated as having accrued on such note at
the time of such payment or disposition. |
Market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the
period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the
note, unless the U.S. Holder elects (as described below) to
accrue market discount on the basis of semiannual compounding.
A U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction of all
or a portion of the interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness
incurred or maintained to purchase or carry a note with market
discount until the maturity of the note or certain earlier
dispositions, because a current deduction is only allowed to the
extent the interest expense exceeds an allocable portion of
market discount. A U.S. Holder may elect to
S-19
include market discount in income currently as it accrues on
either a ratable or constant yield basis, in which case the
rules described above regarding the treatment as ordinary income
of gain realized upon the disposition of the note and upon the
receipt of certain cash payments and regarding the deferral of
interest deductions will not apply. Generally, such currently
included market discount is treated as ordinary interest for
United States federal income tax purposes. Such an election will
apply to all debt instruments acquired by the U.S. Holder
on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which
such election applies and may be revoked only with the consent
of the IRS.
Premium
If a U.S. Holder purchases a note for an amount that is
greater than the sum of all amounts payable on the note after
the purchase date, other than payments of qualified stated
interest, such U.S. Holder will be considered to have
purchased the note with amortizable bond premium
equal in amount to such excess. In the case of a note that may
be optionally redeemed prior to maturity, however, the amount of
amortizable bond premium is determined by substituting the first
date on which the debt instrument may be redeemed (the
redemption date) for the maturity date and the
applicable redemption price on the redemption date for the
amount payable at maturity if the result would increase the
holders yield to maturity (i.e., result in a
smaller amount of amortizable bond premium properly allocable to
the period before the redemption date). If the issuer does not
in fact exercise its right to redeem the note on the applicable
redemption date, the note will be treated (for purposes of the
amortizable bond premium rules) as having matured and then as
having been reissued for the holders adjusted
acquisition price, which is an amount equal to the
holders basis in the debt instrument (as determined under
Treasury regulations governing amortizable bond premium), less
the sum of:
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any amortizable bond premium allocable to prior accrual
periods and |
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any payments previously made on the note other than payments of
qualified stated interest. |
The note deemed to have been reissued will again be subject to
the amortizable bond premium rules with respect to the remaining
dates on which it is redeemable.
A U.S. Holder must make an election to amortize bond
premium on a debt instrument. Once made, the election applies to
all taxable debt instruments then owned and thereafter acquired
by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the taxable
year to which such election applies, and may be revoked only
with the consent of the IRS. In general, a holder amortizes bond
premium by offsetting the qualified stated interest allocable to
an accrual period with the bond premium allocable to the accrual
period, which is determined under a constant yield method. If
the bond premium allocable to an accrual period exceeds the
qualified stated interest allocable to such period, the excess
is treated by the holder as a bond premium deduction. The bond
premium deduction for each accrual period is limited to the
amount by which the holders total interest inclusions on
the debt instrument in prior accrual periods exceed the total
amount treated by such holder as a bond premium deduction on the
debt instrument in prior accrual periods.
S-20
Any amounts not deductible in an accrual period may be carried
forward to the next accrual period and treated as bond premium
allocable to that period.
Disposition of a Note
Except as discussed above, upon the sale, exchange or retirement
of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable
gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized
on the sale, exchange or retirement, other than amounts
representing accrued and unpaid interest, and such
U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the note. A
U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in a note generally
will equal such U.S. Holders initial investment in
the note increased by any original issue discount included in
income and accrued market discount, if any, if the
U.S. Holder has included such market discount in income and
decreased by the amount of any payments, other than qualified
stated interest payments, received and amortizable bond premium
taken with respect to such note. Such gain or loss generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the note is held for
more than one year. Non-corporate taxpayers are subject to
reduced maximum rates on long-term capital gains and are
generally subject to tax at ordinary income rates on short-term
capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
certain limitations. Prospective investors should consult their
own tax advisors concerning these tax law provisions.
Integration of Notes with Hedges
The OID Regulations generally provide that, if a holder of a
note hedges the note with a financial instrument and the
combined cash flows under the note and the financial instrument
are substantially equivalent to the cash flows on a fixed or
variable rate debt instrument, the note and the financial
instrument may be taxed as an integrated transaction by treating
the positions as a synthetic debt instrument. Such treatment
applies if the taxpayer identifies the positions as part of an
integrated transaction on its books and records and certain
other requirements are satisfied. In addition, the IRS can
require the positions to be taxed as an integrated transaction
under certain circumstances. U.S. Holders should consult
their tax advisors regarding the possible application of these
rules to the notes.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In the case of U.S. Holders, information reporting on IRS
Form 1099 generally will apply to payments of principal,
premium, if any, and interest (including original issue
discount, if any) on the notes and the proceeds received upon
the sale or other disposition of notes. In addition,
U.S. Holders may be subject to backup withholding with
respect to these payments. Certain holders (including, among
others, corporations and certain tax-exempt organizations) are
not subject to these information reporting and backup
withholding requirements. In general, unless an exemption
applies, backup withholding will apply to a U.S. Holder who
fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that the
U.S. Holder has provided a correct taxpayer identification
number and that the IRS has not notified the U.S. Holder
that he or she is subject to backup withholding.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a
payment to a beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a
credit against such beneficial owners United
S-21
States federal income tax liability, provided the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
A non-U.S. Holder
generally will not be subject to United States federal income
taxes on payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest,
including original issue discount, if any, on a note, unless
such
non-U.S. Holder
actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to
vote, is a controlled foreign corporation related to us through
stock ownership or is a bank receiving interest described in
section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code. To qualify for the
exemption from taxation, the
non-U.S. Holder
must provide a statement that:
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is signed by the beneficial owner of the note under penalties of
perjury, |
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certifies that such owner is not a U.S. Holder, and |
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provides the name and address of the beneficial owner. |
The statement may be made on an IRS
Form W-8BEN or a
substantially similar form, and the beneficial owner must inform
the withholding agent of any change in the information on the
statement within 30 days of such change. If a note is held
through a securities clearing organization or certain other
financial institutions, the organization or institution may
provide a signed statement to the withholding agent. However, in
such case, the signed statement must be accompanied by a copy of
the IRS
Form W-8BEN or the
substitute form provided by the beneficial owner to the
organization or institution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
non-U.S. Holder
generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Holder
with respect to interest income that is effectively connected
with a U.S. trade or business of the
non-U.S. Holder,
except to the extent that an applicable tax treaty provides
otherwise. Under certain circumstances, effectively connected
interest income of a corporate
non-U.S. Holder
may be subject to an additional branch profits tax
at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate). Even
though effectively connected interest income is subject to
U.S. federal income tax, and may be subject to the branch
profits tax, it is not subject to withholding tax if the
non-U.S. Holder
properly delivers IRS
Form W-8ECI to the
payor.
Generally, a
non-U.S. Holder
will not be subject to United States federal income taxes on any
amount which constitutes capital gain upon retirement or
disposition of a note, provided (i) the gain is not
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in
the United States by the
non-U.S. Holder
and (ii) the
non-U.S. Holder is
not an individual who is present in the United States for
183 days or more in the taxable year of such retirement or
disposition, and certain other conditions are met. Certain other
exceptions may be applicable, and a
non-U.S. Holder
should consult its tax advisor in this regard.
The notes will not be includable in the estate of a
non-U.S. Holder
unless at the time of death such individual actually or
constructively owned 10% or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, or payments
in respect of the notes would have been effectively connected
with the conduct by such individual of a trade or business in
the United States.
S-22
In the case of
non-U.S. Holders,
backup withholding will not apply to payments of principal,
premium, if any, and interest (including original issue
discount, if any) if the statement described above (i.e.,
IRS Form W-8BEN or
a substantially similar form) is provided to the withholding
agent or an exemption from withholding is otherwise established.
Information reporting on IRS
Form 1042-S,
however, generally will apply to the interest (including
original issue discount, if any) paid to each
non-U.S. Holder.
If a
non-U.S. Holder
sells notes at an office of a broker outside the United States,
the proceeds of that sale will not be subject to backup
withholding absent the brokers actual knowledge or reason
to know that the seller is a U.S. person. Information
reporting (but not backup withholding) will apply, however, to a
sale of notes effected at an office of a broker outside the
United States if that broker is a U.S. person or has
certain other connections to the United States, unless the
broker has in its records documentary evidence that the seller
is a
non-U.S. Holder
and other conditions are met or the seller otherwise establishes
an exemption.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a
payment to a beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a
credit against such beneficial owners United States
federal income tax provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
Under the terms of the Selling Agent Agreement, dated as of
November 17, 2006, the notes are offered from time to time
by us through LaSalle Financial Services, Inc., Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Samuel A.
Ramirez & Co., Inc., Muriel Siebert & Co.,
Inc., UBS Securities LLC and Wachovia Securities LLC, as agents
under the Selling Agent Agreement. The agents have agreed to use
their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases of the notes.
We may appoint additional agents to solicit offers to purchase
notes on terms substantially identical to those contained in the
Selling Agent Agreement. In addition, under certain
circumstances we may sell notes directly on our own behalf to
investors without the assistance of agents. The agents will not
be entitled to any discounts or commissions for sales we make
directly to investors without their assistance.
We will pay the agents, through LaSalle Financial Services,
Inc., the purchasing agent, a commission to be divided among the
agents as they shall agree for notes sold through the agents on
an agency basis. The commission will range from .60% to 5.00% of
the principal amount for each note sold, depending upon the
maturity. Commissions with respect to notes with maturities in
excess of 30 years will be negotiated between us and the
purchasing agent at the time of sale. We will have the sole
right to accept offers to purchase notes and may reject any
proposed purchase of notes in whole or in part. Each agent will
have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to
reject any proposed purchase of notes in whole or in part
received by it on an agency basis. We reserve the right to
withdraw, cancel or modify the offer without notice.
Following the solicitation of orders, the agents, severally and
not jointly, may purchase
S-23
notes from us through the purchasing agent as principal for
their own accounts. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable
pricing supplement, any note sold to an agent as principal will
be purchased by the purchasing agent from us at a discount to
the principal amount not to exceed the concession applicable to
an agency sale of a note of identical maturity. Unless otherwise
set forth in the applicable pricing supplement, such notes will
be resold to one or more investors and other purchasers at a
fixed public offering price.
In addition, the purchasing agent may, and with our consent the
other agents may, offer the notes they have purchased as
principal to other dealers that are part of the selling group.
The purchasing agent may sell notes to other dealers at a
discount not in excess of the discount it receives when
purchasing such notes from us. And, if with our consent the
other agents sell notes to dealers, unless otherwise specified
in the applicable pricing supplement, the discount allowed to
any dealer will not, during the distribution of the notes,
exceed the discount received by such agent from the purchasing
agent. After the initial public offering of notes to be resold
by an agent to investors, the public offering price (in the case
of notes to be resold at a fixed public offering price),
concession and discount may be changed.
Each agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. We have agreed to
indemnify the agents against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
No note will have an established trading market when issued. We
do not intend to apply for the listing of the notes on any
securities exchange, but we have been advised by the agents that
the agents intend to make a market in the notes as permitted by
applicable laws and regulations. The agents are not obligated to
do so, however, and the agents may discontinue making a market
at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of any trading market for any notes. All secondary
trading in the notes will settle in immediately available funds.
See Description of Notes Book-Entry
System in this prospectus supplement.
In connection with an offering of the notes, the rules of the
SEC permit the purchasing agent to engage in certain
transactions that stabilize the price of the notes. Such
transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of
pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the notes. If the
purchasing agent creates a short position in the notes in
connection with an offering of the notes (i.e., if it
sells a larger principal amount of the notes than is set forth
on the cover page of the applicable pricing supplement), the
purchasing agent may reduce that short position by purchasing
notes in the open market. In general, purchases of a security
for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a syndicate short
position could cause the price of the security to be higher than
it might otherwise be in the absence of such purchases. The
purchasing agent makes no representation or prediction as to the
direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions
described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition,
the purchasing agent makes no representation that, once
commenced, such transactions will not be discontinued without
notice.
S-24
Other selling group members include broker-dealers and other
securities firms that have executed dealer agreements with the
purchasing agent. In the dealer agreements, the selling group
members have agreed to market and sell notes in accordance with
the terms of those agreements and all applicable laws and
regulations.
The agents and their affiliates may engage in various general
financing and banking transactions with us and our affiliates in
the ordinary course of business.
VALIDITY OF NOTES
The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by
King & Spalding LLP, Atlanta, Georgia, and for the
agents by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New
York.
S-25
ANNEX A
REPAYMENT ELECTION FORM
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC.
UPS NOTES
CUSIP
NUMBER
To: United Parcel Service, Inc.
The undersigned financial institution (the Financial
Institution) represents the following:
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The Financial Institution has received a request for repayment
from the executor or other authorized representative (the
Authorized Representative) of the deceased
beneficial owner listed below (the Deceased Beneficial
Owner) of
UPS Notes (CUSIP No.
)
(the Notes). |
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At the time of his or her death, the Deceased Beneficial Owner
owned Notes in the principal amount listed below, and the
Financial Institution currently holds such Notes as a direct or
indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company (the
Depositary). |
The Financial Institution agrees to the following terms:
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The Financial Institution shall follow the instructions (the
Instructions) accompanying this Repayment
Election Form (the Form). |
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The Financial Institution shall make all records specified in
the Instructions supporting the above representations available
to United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) for
inspection and review within five Business Days of UPSs
request. |
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If the Financial Institution or UPS, in eithers reasonable
discretion, deems any of the records specified in the
Instructions supporting the above representations unsatisfactory
to substantiate a claim for repayment, the Financial Institution
shall not be obligated to submit this Form, and UPS may deny
repayment. If the Financial Institution cannot substantiate a
claim for repayment, it shall notify UPS immediately. |
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Other than as described in the Prospectus Supplement in the
limited situation involving tenders of notes that are not
accepted during one calendar year as a result of the
annual put limitation, repayment elections may not
be withdrawn. |
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The Financial Institution agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
UPS against and from any and all claims, liabilities, costs,
losses, expenses, suits and damages resulting from the Financial
Institutions above representations and request for
repayment on behalf of the Authorized Representative. |
A-1
REPAYMENT ELECTION FORM
(1)
Name of Deceased Beneficial Owner
(2)
Date of Death
(3)
Name of Authorized Representative Requesting Repayment
(4)
Name of Financial Institution Requesting Repayment
(5)
Signature of Representative of Financial Institution Requesting
Repayment
(6)
Principal Amount of Requested Repayment
(7)
Date of Election
(8)
Date Requested for Repayment
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(9)
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Financial Institution Representative: |
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(10) |
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Wire instructions for payment: |
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Name: |
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Bank Name: |
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Phone Number: |
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ABA Number: |
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Fax Number: |
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Account Name: |
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Mailing Address (no P.O. Boxes): |
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Account Number: |
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Reference (optional): |
TO BE COMPLETED BY UPS:
(A) Election Number*:
(B) Delivery and Payment Date:
(C) Principal Amount:
(D) Accrued Interest:
(E) Date of Receipt of Form by UPS:
(F) Date of Acknowledgment by UPS:
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* |
To be assigned by UPS upon receipt of this Form. An
acknowledgement, in the form of a copy of this document with the
assigned Election Number, will be returned to the party and
location designated on line (9) above. |
A-2
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING REPAYMENT ELECTION FORM
AND EXERCISING REPAYMENT OPTION
Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings
defined in the accompanying Repayment Election Form.
1. Collect and retain for a period of at least three years
(1) satisfactory evidence of the authority of the Authorized
Representative, (2) satisfactory evidence of death of the
Deceased Beneficial Owner, (3) satisfactory evidence that the
Deceased Beneficial Owner beneficially owned, at the time of his
or her death, the Notes being submitted for repayment, and
(4) any necessary tax waivers. For purposes of determining
whether UPS will deem Notes beneficially owned by an individual
at the time of death, the following rules shall apply:
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Notes beneficially owned by tenants by the entirety or joint
tenants will be regarded as beneficially owned by a single
owner. The death of a tenant by the entirety or joint tenant
will be deemed the death of the beneficial owner, and the Notes
beneficially owned will become eligible for repayment. The death
of a person beneficially owning a Note by tenancy in common will
be deemed the death of a holder of a Note only with respect to
the deceased holders interest in the Note so held by
tenancy in common, unless a husband and wife are the tenants in
common, in which case the death of either will be deemed the
death of the holder of the Note, and the entire principal amount
of the Note so held will be eligible for repayment. |
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Notes beneficially owned by a trust will be regarded as
beneficially owned by each beneficiary of the trust to the
extent of that beneficiarys interest in the trust
(however, a trusts beneficiaries collectively cannot be
beneficial owners of more Notes than are owned by the trust).
The death of a beneficiary of a trust will be deemed the death
of the beneficial owner of the Notes beneficially owned by the
trust to the extent of that beneficiarys interest in the
trust. The death of an individual who was a tenant by the
entirety or joint tenant in a tenancy which is the beneficiary
of a trust will be deemed the death of the beneficiary of the
trust. The death of an individual who was a tenant in common in
a tenancy which is the beneficiary of a trust will be deemed the
death of the beneficiary of the trust only with respect to the
deceased holders beneficial interest in the Note, unless a
husband and wife are the tenants in common, in which case the
death of either will be deemed the death of the beneficiary of
the trust. |
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The death of a person who, during his or her lifetime, was
entitled to substantially all of the beneficial interest in a
Note will be deemed the death of the beneficial owner of that
Note, regardless of the registration of ownership, if such
beneficial interest can be established to the satisfaction of
the Trustee. Such beneficial interest will exist in many cases
of street name or nominee ownership, ownership by a trustee,
ownership under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act and community
property or other joint ownership arrangements between spouses.
Beneficial interest will be evidenced by such factors as the
power to sell or otherwise dispose of a Note, |
A-3
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the right to receive the proceeds of sale or disposition and the
right to receive interest and principal payments on a Note. |
2. Indicate the name of the
Deceased Beneficial Owner on line (1).
3. Indicate the date of death of
the Deceased Beneficial Owner on line (2).
4. Indicate the name of the
Authorized Representative requesting repayment on line (3).
5. Indicate the name of the
Financial Institution requesting repayment on line (4).
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6. |
Affix the authorized signature of the Financial
Institutions representative on line (5). THE SIGNATURE
MUST BE MEDALLION SIGNATURE GUARANTEED. |
7. Indicate the principal amount of
Notes to be repaid on line (6).
8. Indicate the date this Form was
completed on line (7).
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9. |
Indicate the date of requested repayment on line (8). The date
of requested repayment may not be earlier than the first January
15 or June 15 to occur at least 20 calendar days after the date
of UPSs acceptance of the Notes for repayment, unless such
date is not a business day, in which case the date of requested
payment may be no earlier than the next succeeding business day.
For example, if the acceptance date for Notes tendered were
April 1, 2006, the earliest repayment date you could elect
would be June 15, 2006. |
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10. |
Indicate the name, mailing address (no P.O. boxes, please),
telephone number and facsimile-transmission number of the party
to whom the acknowledgment of this election may be sent on line
(9). |
11. Indicate the wire instruction for payment on line (10).
12. Leave lines (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and
(F) blank.
13. Mail or otherwise deliver an original copy of the
completed Form to:
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Citibank, N.A. |
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Citibank Agency and Trust Customer Services |
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111 Wall Street, 15th Floor |
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New York, New York 10005 |
A-4
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS OF THE REPAYMENT ELECTION FORM
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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14. |
If the acknowledgement of UPSs receipt of this Form,
including the assigned Election Number, is not received within
10 days of the date such information is sent to the
Trustee, contact UPS Investor Relations at (404) 828-6059. |
For assistance with the Form or any questions relating thereto,
please contact UPS Investor Relations at (404) 828-6059.
A-5
PROSPECTUS
United Parcel Service, Inc.
$2,000,000,000
Debt Securities
We may offer from time to time up to $2,000,000,000 of debt
securities, which will be our senior unsecured debt obligations.
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in
supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you
invest.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these debt
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus is September 8, 2003.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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About This Prospectus
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Where You Can Find More Information
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Forward-Looking Statements
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The Company
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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Use of Proceeds
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Description of Debt Securities
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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 a part of a registration statement that we
filed with the SEC using a shelf registration
process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell debt
securities in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount
of $2,000,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general
description of the debt securities we may sell. Each time we
sell debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement
that will contain specific information about the terms of that
offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or
change information contained in this prospectus. You should read
this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement
together with the additional information described under the
heading Where You Can Find More Information. We may
only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied
by a prospectus supplement.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to
UPS, we, us, and
our mean United Parcel Service, Inc. and its
subsidiaries.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are
available to the public over the Internet at the SECs web
site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any
document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can
also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by
writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC
at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of
the public reference facilities. Our SEC filings are also
available at
1
the office of the New York Stock Exchange. For further
information on obtaining copies of our public filings from the
New York Stock Exchange, you should call (212) 656-5060.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into
this prospectus the information we file with them, which means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring
to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is
an important part of this prospectus and information that we
subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede information in this prospectus and in our other
filings with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents
listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any
future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until
we sell all the debt securities offered by this prospectus:
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002; |
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2003; |
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2003; |
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Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on
February 21, 2003; |
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Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 24, 2003; and |
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Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 29, 2003. |
You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit
to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by
reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing or calling us
at the following address:
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United Parcel Service, Inc.
55 Glenlake Parkway, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (404) 828-6000 |
We have also filed a registration statement with the SEC
relating to the debt securities. This prospectus is part of the
registration statement. You may obtain from the SEC a copy of
the registration statement and exhibits that we filed with the
SEC when we registered the debt securities. The registration
statement may contain additional information that may be
important to you.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to
provide you with additional or different information. We may
only use this prospectus to sell debt securities if it is
accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering
these debt securities in states where the offer is permitted.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or
the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date
other than the dates on the front of those documents.
2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the federal securities laws. We may also make
forward-looking statements in reports filed with the SEC that we
incorporate by reference in this prospectus. Statements that are
not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that
include the words may, would,
could, should, believe,
expect, anticipate, plan,
estimate or similar expressions. These statements
include, among others, statements regarding our anticipated
operating results, our business strategy, expected capital
expenditures, working capital needs and sources of liquidity.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.
These statements are based on beliefs and assumptions of our
management, which in turn are based on currently available
information. Important assumptions include the expected timing
and cost of planned capital expenditures, the cost of complying
with applicable regulatory requirements, expected outcomes of
pending litigation, expected fuel and labor costs, pricing
levels and expected demand for our services. One or more of our
assumptions could prove inaccurate. Forward looking statements
are also subject to a number of risks that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement. Many of these factors are beyond our
ability to control or predict. Such factors include, but are not
limited to, the following:
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Changes in general economic and other conditions in the markets
in which we operate around the world could have an adverse
impact on our business and results of operations. Our results of
operations in international markets also are affected by
currency exchange and inflation risks. |
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Strikes, work stoppages and slowdowns by our employees could
adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. Such
actions may affect our ability to meet our customers
needs, and customers may do more business with our competitors
if they believe that such actions may adversely affect our
ability to provide service. We may lose customers if we are
unable to provide uninterrupted service. The terms of future
collective bargaining agreements also may affect our competitive
position and results of operations. |
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We must comply with complex and stringent aviation,
transportation, environmental, labor, employment and other
governmental laws and regulations. In addition, we must respond
to new laws and regulations resulting from, among other things,
increased security concerns following the events of
September 11, 2001 or future terrorist events or other
geopolitical conditions. Our failure to comply with applicable
laws or regulations could result in substantial fines or
possible revocation of our authority to conduct our operations
in affected markets. |
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We face competition on a local, regional, national and
international basis. Our competitors include the postal services
of the U.S. and other nations, various motor carriers, express |
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companies, freight forwarders, air couriers and others. Our
industry is undergoing rapid consolidation, and the combining
entities are competing aggressively for business at low rates. |
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We require significant quantities of gasoline, diesel fuel and
jet fuel and are exposed to the commodity price risk associated
with variations in the market price for petroleum products. A
disruption in the supply, or an increase in the price, of
gasoline, diesel fuel and/or jet fuel for our aircraft and
delivery vehicles as a result of a war or any other factor could
have an adverse effect on our results of operations. |
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Cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in the demand for our
services could adversely affect our results of operations during
such periods. |
We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable;
however, you should not unduly rely on any forward-looking
statements, which are based on current expectations. Further,
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are
made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of
them in light of new information or future events.
THE COMPANY
We are the worlds largest package delivery company and a
global leader in supply chain services. We were founded in 1907
as a private messenger and delivery service in the Seattle,
Washington area. Over the past 96 years, we have expanded
from a small regional parcel delivery service into a global
company. We deliver packages each business day for approximately
1.8 million shipping customers to six million consignees.
In 2002, we delivered an average of more than 13 million
pieces per day worldwide. Total revenue in 2002 was over
$31 billion. We offer an extensive range of options for
synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds.
Our primary business is the time-definite delivery of packages
and documents throughout the United States and in over 200 other
countries and territories. We have established a global
transportation infrastructure and developed a comprehensive
portfolio of guaranteed delivery services, and we support these
services with advanced technology. We provide integrated supply
chain solutions for major companies worldwide. We are the
industry leader in the delivery of goods purchased over the
Internet.
The address and telephone number of our principal executive
offices are 55 Glenlake Parkway, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30328,
(404) 828-6000.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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Six Months | |
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Year Ended | |
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Ended | |
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December 31, | |
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June 30, | |
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1998 | |
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1999 | |
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2000 | |
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2001 | |
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2002 | |
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2002 | |
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2003 | |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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8.9 |
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6.7 |
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15.3 |
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11.2 |
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16.1 |
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12.2 |
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14.3 |
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4
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings include income before income taxes and fixed
charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges include
interest, whether capitalized or expensed, amortization of debt
expense and any discount or premium relating to any
indebtedness, whether capitalized or expensed, and the portion
of rent expense considered to represent interest.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we
will use the net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities
offered under this prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplement for general corporate purposes, which may include,
among others, the following:
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repaying debt, |
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making capital investments, |
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funding working capital requirements, and |
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funding possible acquisitions and investments in joint ventures. |
Pending any of these uses, we may temporarily invest the net
proceeds in investment grade securities.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We will issue the debt securities under an indenture between us
and Citibank, N.A., which acts as trustee. The indenture and the
debt securities are governed by New York law.
We have summarized the material provisions of the indenture
below. The indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement and you should read the indenture for
provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below,
we have included references to section numbers of the indenture
so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized
terms used in the summary have the meaning specified in the
indenture. You can obtain copies of the indenture by following
the directions described under the caption Where You Can
Find More Information.
General
The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of
debt securities that we may issue and provides that we may issue
debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each
case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a
discount. We may issue additional debt securities of a
particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt
securities of such series outstanding at the time of the
issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all
other outstanding debt securities of that series, will
constitute a single series of debt securities under the
indenture. The indenture also generally does not limit our
ability to incur additional debt and does
5
not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants. The debt
securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of
our other senior debt and senior to our subordinated debt, if
any.
Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the
indenture will not contain any debt covenants or other
provisions that would protect holders of the debt securities in
the event we participate in a highly leveraged or other
transaction that may adversely affect our creditworthiness.
A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities
being offered will include specific terms relating to the
offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:
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the title of the debt securities; |
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities; |
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the person or entity to whom any interest on the debt securities
will be payable; |
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the date or dates on which the principal, premium, if any, or
other form or type of consideration to be paid upon maturity on
the debt securities will be payable; |
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the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear
interest, if any, or any method by which the rate or rates will
be determined, the date or dates from which any interest will
accrue, the interest payment dates on which any interest will be
payable and the record date for any interest payable on any
interest payment date; |
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the place or places where the principal, premium, if any,
interest or other form or type of consideration to be paid upon
maturity on the debt securities will be payable; |
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any redemption dates, prices, rights, obligations and
restrictions on the debt securities; |
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any mandatory or optional sinking fund, purchase fund or similar
provisions; |
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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable
if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000; |
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whether payments of principal of or any premium or interest will
be determined by an index, formula or other method and the
manner in which these amounts will be determined; |
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the currency or currency unit in which principal and interest
will be paid if other than U.S. dollars; |
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the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities
payable upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt
securities if other than the principal amount; |
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if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of the
debt securities will not be determinable as of any one or more
dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount that will be
deemed to be the principal amount of the debt securities as of
any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount of
the debt securities that will be due and payable upon any |
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maturity other than the stated maturity or that will be deemed
to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity; |
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whether the debt securities will be defeasible, in whole or any
specified part, and whether some of our covenants will be
defeasible and, if other than by a resolution of our Board of
Directors or Executive Committee, the manner in which any
election by us to defease the debt securities or covenants will
be evidenced; |
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whether the debt securities will be issued in permanent global
form and the circumstances under which the permanent global debt
security may be exchanged; |
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whether, and the terms and conditions relating to when, we may
satisfy some of our obligations with respect to the debt
securities with regard to payment upon maturity, or any
redemption or required repurchase or in connection with any
exchange provisions by delivering to the holders principal,
premium, if any, interest or other form or type of consideration
to be paid upon maturity on the debt securities; |
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any addition to or change in the Events of Default and any
change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of
the debt securities to declare the principal amount due and
payable; |
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any addition to or change in the covenants that apply to the
debt securities; |
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terms with respect to book-entry procedures; and |
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any other material terms of the debt securities not specified in
this prospectus. (Section 3.01) |
We may sell the debt securities, including original issue
discount securities, at a substantial discount below their
principal amount. We may describe special United States federal
income tax considerations, if any, applicable to the debt
securities sold at an original issue discount in the applicable
prospectus supplement. In addition, we may describe special
United States federal income tax or other considerations, if
any, applicable to the debt securities that are denominated in a
currency or currency unit other than United States dollars in
the applicable prospectus supplement.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations
applicable to global securities, debt securities may be
presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of
transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed
thereon duly executed) at the office of the security registrar
or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for such
purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of
transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Registration of transfer or exchange will be effected by the
security registrar or the transfer agent, as the case may be,
when the security registrar or transfer agent is satisfied with
the documents of title and identity of the person making the
request. We have appointed the trustee as security registrar.
(Section 3.05) We may at any time designate additional
transfer agents or rescind the designation of
7
any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through
which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required
to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the
debt securities of each series. (Section 10.02)
If debt securities of any series are to be redeemed in part, we
will not be required to:
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issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security of
that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case
may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption
of any debt security that may be selected for redemption and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or |
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register the transfer of or exchange any debt security so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.
(Section 3.05) |
Global Securities
Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, each
series of debt securities will be issued in the form of one or
more fully registered global securities. We will deposit each
global security with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust
Company, New York, New York, which we refer to as DTC, and
register the global security in the name of Cede & Co. or
another nominee of DTC. No holder of a debt security initially
issued as a global security will be entitled to receive a debt
security in certificated form, except as set forth below.
Except as set forth below, a global security may be transferred,
in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a
successor of DTC or its nominee.
DTC has advised us as follows:
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a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York; |
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a banking organization within the meaning of the New
York banking law; |
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a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
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a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
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a clearing agency registered pursuant to
Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
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(2) DTC participants include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
others, some of whom own DTC. |
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(3) Access to DTCs book-entry system is also
available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a |
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participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not
participants may beneficially own securities held by DTC only
through participants or indirect participants. |
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(4) Upon issuance of a global security, DTC will credit the
accounts of participants designated by any dealers, underwriters
or agents participating in the distribution of the debt
securities with the respective principal amounts of debt
securities beneficially owned by such participants. |
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(5) Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect
to participants), by the participants (with respect to indirect
participants and certain beneficial owners) and by the indirect
participants (with respect to all other beneficial owners). |
The laws of some states require that certain persons take
physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they
own. These laws may limit your ability to own, transfer or
pledge beneficial interests in a global security.
As long as DTCs nominee is the registered owner of a
global security, such nominee for all purposes will be
considered the sole owner or holder of such debt securities
under the indenture. Except as provided below, you will not:
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be entitled to have any debt securities registered in your name; |
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receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any debt
securities in definitive form; and |
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be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under
the indenture. |
We will make payment of principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on debt securities represented by a global security to
DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner
and holder of the global security representing those debt
securities. DTC has advised us that upon receipt of any payment
of principal of, or premium or interest on, a global security,
DTC will immediately credit accounts of participants with
payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial
interests in the principal amount of such global security, as
shown in DTCs records. Standing instructions and customary
practices will govern payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in a global security held through those
participants, as is now the case with securities held for the
accounts of customers registered in street name.
Those payments will be the sole responsibility of those
participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements that may be in effect from time to time.
Neither we, the trustee nor any of our respective agents will be
responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to,
or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests
in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records related to such beneficial ownership
interests.
Notwithstanding any provision of the indenture or any debt
security described in this prospectus, no global security may be
exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered,
and no transfer
9
of a global security in whole or in part may be registered, in
the name of any person other than DTC or any nominee of DTC
unless:
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DTC has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as depositary for a global security or has ceased to be
qualified to act as depositary as required by the indenture; |
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there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default
with respect to the debt securities represented by a global
security; or |
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there shall exist circumstances, if any, in addition to or in
lieu of those described above as may be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement. |
All securities issued in exchange for a global security or any
portion of a global security will be registered in the names as
DTC may direct. (Sections 2.04 and 3.05)
Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of
beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled
to have such global security or any debt securities represented
thereby registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated debt
securities in exchange therefor and will not be considered to be
the owners or holders of such global security or any debt
securities represented thereby for any purpose under the debt
securities or the indenture. All payments and deliveries of
principal of and any premium, maturity consideration and
interest on a global security will be made to DTC or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the holder thereof.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any
Interest Payment Date will be made to the person in whose name
the security, or one or more predecessor securities, is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for payment of interest. (Section 3.07)
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, principal of and any premium, maturity consideration
and interest on the debt securities of a particular series
(other than a global security) will be payable or deliverable at
the office of the paying agent or paying agents as we may
designate for that purpose from time to time, except that at our
option payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to
the address of the person entitled to the payment as that
address appears in the security register. Unless otherwise
indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate
trust office of the trustee in The City of New York will be
designated as our sole paying agent for payments and deliveries
with respect to debt securities of each series. Any other paying
agents initially designated for the debt securities of a
particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus
supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying
agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve
a change in the office through which any paying agent acts,
except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in
each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular
series. (Section 10.02)
10
All consideration paid or delivered to a paying agent for the
payment or delivery of the principal of or any premium, maturity
consideration or interest on any debt security that remains
unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium,
maturity consideration or interest has become due and payable or
deliverable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt
security thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, may look
only to us for payment or delivery thereof. (Section 10.03)
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other
Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of
our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
Person unless:
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(1) either we are the continuing corporation or the Person
formed by any consolidation or into which we are merged or the
Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer, or lease all or
substantially all of our properties and assets shall be: |
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organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
States of America, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia; and |
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shall expressly assume all of our obligations under the debt
securities and the indenture; |
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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of
time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have
occurred and be continuing; and |
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(3) we or such Person has delivered to the trustee an
officers certificate and an opinion of counsel stating
that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease
complies with the applicable provisions of the indenture. |
Upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or
lease of all or substantially all of our properties and assets,
the successor Person formed by a consolidation, or into which we
are merged or the successor Person to which any conveyance,
transfer or lease is made, shall succeed to, and be substituted
for, and may exercise every right and power of ours under the
debt securities and the indenture with the same effect as if
that successor had been named as us therein; and thereafter,
except in the case of a lease, we shall be discharged from all
obligations and covenants under the debt securities and
indenture. (Sections 8.01 and 8.02)
Events of Default
The indenture defines an Event of Default with respect to any
series of debt securities as any one of the following events:
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(1) failure to pay any interest on the debt securities of
that series when due, continued for 30 days; |
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(2) failure to pay any principal of or premium on the debt
securities of that series when due whether at the stated
maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption
or otherwise; |
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(3) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due on
the debt securities of that series; |
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(4) failure to perform or the breach of any other covenant
in the indenture applicable to the debt securities of that
series, continued for 60 days after written notice as
provided in the indenture; or |
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(5) certain events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization. (Section 5.01) |
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to
the debt securities of any series, other than an Event of
Default referred to in clause (5) above, either the trustee
or the holders of 25% in principal amount, or if the debt
securities are not payable at maturity for a fixed principal
amount, 25% of the aggregate issue price, of the outstanding
debt securities of that series, each series acting as a separate
class, may declare the principal of the debt securities of that
series, or an other amount or property, as may be provided for
in the debt securities of that series, to be due and payable. If
an Event of Default described in clause (5) above with
respect to the debt securities of any series at the time
outstanding shall occur, the principal amount of all the debt
securities of that series, or such other amount or property, as
may be provided for in the debt securities of that series, (or,
in the case of any original issue discount security, such
specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by
the trustee or any holder, become immediately due and payable.
(Section 5.02). The holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series
may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of the series,
waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the
debt securities of the series, except a default in the delivery
or payment of the maturity consideration or interest on any debt
security of the series, and default in respect of a covenant or
provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt
security of the affected series. (Section 5.13)
Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the
duties of the trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur
and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the
request or discretion of any of the holders, unless the holders
shall have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity.
(Section 6.03) Subject to such provisions for the
indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
any series will have the right to 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, with respect to the debt securities of that series.
(Section 5.12)
12
No holder of a debt security of any series will have any right
to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture, or
for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other
remedy under the indenture, unless
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(1) the holder has previously given to the trustee written
notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the debt
securities of that series, |
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(2) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount, or if the debt securities are not payable at maturity
for a fixed principal amount, the aggregate issue price of the
outstanding debt securities of that series, have made written
request to the trustee to institute a proceeding as trustee, |
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(3) the holder or holders have offered to the trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
to be incurred in compliance with such request, and |
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(4) the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding,
and has not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount or, if the debt securities are not payable at
maturity for a fixed principal amount, the aggregate issue price
of the outstanding debt securities of that series, a direction
inconsistent with the request, within 60 days after the
notice, request and offer. (Section 5.07) However, these
limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a
debt security for the enforcement of delivery or payment of the
maturity consideration relating to, or interest on, the debt
security on or after the applicable due date specified in the
debt security. (Section 5.08) |
We will be required to furnish to the trustee annually a
statement by certain of our officers as to whether or not we, to
our knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance
of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the indenture
and, if so, specifying all known defaults. (Section 10.04)
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have the
provisions of Section 13.02 of the indenture, relating to
defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or Section 13.03
of the indenture, relating to defeasance of certain restrictive
covenants in the indenture, applied to the debt securities of
any series, or to any specified part of a series.
(Section 13.01)
The indenture provides that, upon our exercise of our option to
have Section 13.02 of the indenture apply to any debt
securities, we will be deemed to have been discharged from all
obligations with respect to the debt securities (except for
certain obligations to exchange or register the transfer of debt
securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt
securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold money for
payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of
the holders of the debt securities of money or U.S. Government
Obligations, or both, which, through the
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payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in
accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount
sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest
on the debt securities on the respective Stated Maturities in
accordance with the terms of the indenture and the debt
securities. Defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among
other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of
counsel to the effect that, we have received from, or there has
been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a
ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in any case to
the effect that holders of the debt securities will not
recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the
deposit, defeasance and discharge were not to occur.
(Sections 13.02 and 13.04)
Defeasance of
Covenants
The indenture provides that, upon our exercise of our option to
have Section 13.03 of the indenture apply to any debt
securities, we may omit to comply with certain restrictive
covenants, including those that may be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement, and the occurrence of certain
Events of Default, which are described above in clause
(4) (with respect to restrictive covenants) and under
Events of Default and any that may be described in
the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deemed not to be
or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to
the debt securities. In order to exercise this option, we will
be required to deposit, in trust for the benefit of the holders
of the debt securities, money or U.S. Government Obligations, or
both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in
respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide
money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any
premium and interest on the debt securities on the respective
Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the indenture
and the debt securities. We will also be required, among other
things, to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the
effect that holders of the debt securities will not recognize
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of
deposit and defeasance of certain obligations and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the
deposit and defeasance were not to occur. In the event we
exercised this option with respect to any debt securities and
the debt securities were declared due and payable because of the
occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S.
Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient
to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of their
respective Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay
amounts due on the debt securities upon any acceleration
resulting from the Event of Default. In that case, we would
remain liable for the payments. (Sections 13.03 and 13.04)
Modification of the Indenture
The indenture provides that we and the trustee may, without the
consent of any holders of debt securities, enter into
supplemental indentures for the purposes, among other things, of
adding to our covenants, adding additional Events of Default,
establishing the form or terms of debt securities or curing
ambiguities or inconsistencies in the indenture or making other
provisions, provided that any
14
action to cure ambiguities or inconsistencies not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding series of
debt securities in any material respect. (Section 9.01)
Modifications and amendments of the indenture may be made by us
and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount or, if the debt securities are not
payable at maturity for a fixed principal amount, the aggregate
issue price, of the outstanding debt securities of each series
affected thereby, except that no modification or amendment may,
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt
security affected thereby,
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(1) change the stated maturity of the maturity
consideration or any installment of maturity consideration or
interest on, any debt security, |
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(2) reduce the principal amount of or reduce the amount or
change the type of maturity consideration or reduce the rate of
interest on, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, or
the amount of maturity consideration of an original issue
discount security or any other debt security that would be due
and deliverable or payable upon a declaration of acceleration of
the maturity thereof upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
of any debt security, |
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(3) change the place of payment where, or the coin or
currency in which, any maturity consideration or interest on any
debt security are deliverable or payable, |
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(4) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement
of any payment on or with respect to any debt security, |
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(5) reduce the percentage in principal amount or aggregate
issue price, as the case may be, of debt securities of any
series, the consent of whose holders is required for
modification or amendment of the indenture or for waiver of
compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for
waiver of certain defaults, or |
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(6) modify the requirements contained in the indenture for
consent to or approval of certain matters except to increase any
percentage for a consent or approval or to provide that certain
other provisions cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby.
(Section 9.02) |
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant
or other provision of the indenture which has been expressly
included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series
of debt securities, or that modifies the rights of the holders
of debt securities of the series with respect to the covenant or
other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under
the indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other
series. (Section 9.02)
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of a series may, on behalf of the
holders of all the debt securities of the series, waive
compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the
indenture. (Section 10.07)
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Notices
Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to
the addresses of the holders as they may appear in the security
register. (Section 1.07)
Title
We, the trustee and any agent of ours or the trustees may
treat the Person in whose name a debt security is registered as
the absolute owner of a debt security for the purpose of making
payment and for all other purposes. (Section 3.08)
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
(Section 1.12)
Regarding the Trustee
Citibank, N.A. is the trustee under the indenture. We have other
customary banking relationships with Citibank, N.A. in the
ordinary course of business.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the debt securities:
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through underwriters or dealers; |
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through agents; or |
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directly to one or more purchasers. |
The distribution of the debt securities may be effected from
time to time in one or more transactions:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to
time; |
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
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at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
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at negotiated prices. |
For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus
supplement will set forth the terms of the offering including:
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the initial public offering price; |
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the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
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the purchase price of the debt securities; |
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our proceeds from the sale of the debt securities; |
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any underwriting discounts, agency fees, or other compensation
payable to underwriters or agents; |
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or repaid to
dealers; and |
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the securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed,
if any. |
If we use underwriters in the sale, they will buy the debt
securities for their own account. The underwriters may then
resell the debt securities in one or more transactions at a
fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at
or after the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters
to purchase the debt securities will be subject to certain
conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all
the debt securities offered if they purchase any securities. Any
initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions
allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from
time to time. In connection with an offering, underwriters and
selling group members and their affiliates may engage in
transactions to stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
market price of the securities in accordance with applicable law.
If we use dealers in the sale, we will sell debt securities to
those dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the
debt securities to the public at varying prices to be determined
by the dealers at the time of resale. If we use agents in the
sale, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit
purchases for the period of their appointment. If we sell
directly, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We are
not making an offer of debt securities in any state that does
not permit an offer of these securities.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters as
defined in the Securities Act of 1933. Any discounts,
commissions, or profit they receive when they resell the
securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. We may have
agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify
them against certain civil liabilities, including certain
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute
with respect to payments that they may be required to make.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit
offers from certain institutions where the institution
contractually agrees to purchase the debt securities from us on
a future date at a specific price. This type of contract may be
made only with institutions that we specifically approve. These
institutions could include banks, insurance companies, pension
funds, investment companies and educational and charitable
institutions. The underwriters, dealers or agents will not be
responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.
The debt securities will be new issues of securities with no
established trading market and unless specified in the
applicable prospectus supplement will not be listed on any
securities exchange. It has not been established whether the
underwriters, if any, of any series of debt securities may make
a market in the debt securities they underwrite, but the
underwriters will not be obligated to do so and
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may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No
assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or the trading
markets for the debt securities.
Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may
be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform
services for us in the ordinary course of business.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the debt securities will be passed upon for us
by King & Spalding LLP. Certain legal matters in connection
with the debt securities will be passed upon for the
underwriters by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this
prospectus by reference from our annual report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002 have been audited by Deloitte
& Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their
report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and
includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the change in our
method of accounting for both derivative instruments and hedging
activities and goodwill and other intangible assets to conform
with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133,
as amended, and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 142, respectively), which is incorporated herein by
reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the
report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
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©2006,
United Parcel Service of America, Inc.