As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 29, 2021
Registration Statement No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
McDONALD’S CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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36-2361282
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(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
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110 North Carpenter Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(630) 623-3000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Desiree Ralls-Morrison
Corporate Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
McDonald’s Corporation
110 North Carpenter Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(630) 623-3000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
From time to time after the effective date of
this Registration Statement
(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale
to the public)
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being
offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to
be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered
only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering: ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General
Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under
the Securities Act, check the following box: x
If this Form is
a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities
or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth
company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x
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Accelerated filer ¨
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Non-accelerated filer ¨
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Smaller reporting company ¨
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Emerging growth company ¨
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant
to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act: ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each class of
securities to be registered
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Amount to be registered
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Proposed maximum
offering price per unit
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Proposed maximum aggregate offering price
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Amount of
registration fee
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Debt Securities
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(1)
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(1)
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(1)
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(2)
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(1)
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An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or amount of debt securities is being registered as may from time to time be
sold at indeterminate prices.
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(2)
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In accordance with Rules 456(b), 457(r) and 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant is deferring
payment of all of the related registration fees, which will be paid from time to time in connection with one or more offerings to be made
hereunder.
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Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus, dated July 29, 2021)
McDONALD’S
CORPORATION
110 North Carpenter Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
United States of America
+1.630.623.3000
Medium-Term Notes
Due from One Year to 60 Years from Date of Issue
The following terms will generally apply to the
medium-term notes that we may sell, from time to time, using this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We will include
information on the specific terms for each note in a pricing supplement to this prospectus supplement.
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Each note will mature in one year to 60 years and may be subject to redemption,
at our option, or repayment, at the option of the holder.
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Each note will be denominated in U.S. dollars, unless we specify otherwise.
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Interest on the notes may be based on a fixed or floating rate.
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The notes may be issued as indexed notes.
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The notes may be issued in certificated or book-entry form.
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Interest on fixed rate notes will be paid on February 15 and
August 15 of each year, unless we specify otherwise.
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Interest on floating rate notes will be paid on dates determined at the
time of issuance.
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Minimum denominations for each note will be $1,000, increased in multiples
of $1,000 or other specified denominations if denominated in foreign currencies, or if we specify otherwise.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable pricing
supplement, the notes will be offered at a public offering price of 100%. For notes having maturities of 30 years or less, the agents’
discounts or commissions will equal between 0.150% and 0.750%, and proceeds, before expenses, to us will equal
between 99.850% and 99.250%.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on
page S-1 for a discussion of certain risks that should be considered in connection with an investment in the notes.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any pricing supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes are being offered on a continuous
basis by us through the agents listed below, who have agreed to act as agents for us in soliciting offers to purchase the notes. We
may also sell notes to an agent, as principal, for resale to investors or other purchasers, and we reserve the right to sell notes
to or through others and directly to investors on our own behalf. We reserve the right to cancel or modify the offer made by this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus without notice. There is no termination date for the offering. Any offer to
purchase notes solicited by us or by an agent may be rejected by us or the agent in whole or in part. We do not expect that any of
the notes will be listed on an exchange, and a market for any particular series of notes may not develop.
Citigroup
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ANZ Securities
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Barclays
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BMO Capital Markets
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BNP PARIBAS
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BofA Securities
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Citizens Capital Markets
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COMMERZBANK
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Credit Agricole CIB
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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
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HSBC
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ING
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J.P. Morgan
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MUFG
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Mizuho Securities
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Morgan Stanley
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PNC Capital Markets LLC
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Rabo Securities
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RBC Capital Markets
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SMBC Nikko
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SOCIETE
GENERALE
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Standard Chartered Bank
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TD Securities
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Truist Securities
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UniCredit Capital Markets
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US Bancorp
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Wells Fargo Securities
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Westpac Capital Markets
LLC
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The date of this prospectus supplement is July
29, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus
You should rely only on the information contained
or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement. We have not, and the
agents have indicated that they have not, authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the offering that
is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement,
the related registration statement or in any of the materials that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement,
the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this type, you should not rely
on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct
these types of activities, then the offer presented in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement
does not extend to you. The information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement
speaks only as of the date of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement unless the information
specifically indicates that another date applies. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed
since the respective dates of those documents.
References in this prospectus supplement to “McDonald’s,”
“the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to McDonald’s
Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The information set forth in this prospectus supplement
is directed to prospective purchasers of notes who are United States (“U.S.”) residents, except to the extent expressly
set forth under “U.S. Tax Considerations.” We disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers who are residents
of countries other than the United States regarding any matters that may affect the purchase or holding of, or receipt of payment of principal,
any premium, or interest on, the notes. Such persons should consult their financial and legal advisors with regard to those matters.
None of this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined
below). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement have been prepared on the basis
that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) will only be made to a
legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below) (“Qualified
Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant State of notes that are the
subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement
may only do so with respect to Qualified Investors. Neither we nor the agents have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the
making of any offer of notes other than to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means
Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA RETAIL
INVESTORS — The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available, and should not be offered, sold or
otherwise made available, to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or
more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID
II”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended (the “Insurance Distribution
Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of
MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation. Consequently no key information document
required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”), for offering or selling the notes
or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or
otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.
None of this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation (as
defined below). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement have been prepared on the
basis that any offer of notes in the United Kingdom will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the UK
Prospectus Regulation (“UK Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending
to make an offer in the United Kingdom of notes that are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement may only do so with respect to UK Qualified Investors. Neither we nor the
agents have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to UK Qualified Investors. The
expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the
United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended (the “EUWA”).
PROHIBITION OF SALES TO UK RETAIL INVESTORS
— The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available, and should not be offered, sold or otherwise
made available, to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more)
of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the
United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the United Kingdom’s Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”), and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement
the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article
2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified
investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the
EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United
Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them
available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available
to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.
MiFID
II/ UK MiFIR product governance / target market — The pricing supplement in respect of any notes may include a
legend entitled “MiFID II Product Governance” and/or “UK MiFIR Product Governance” which will outline the
target market assessment in respect of the notes and which channels for distribution of the notes are appropriate. Any person
subsequently offering, selling or recommending the notes (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the
target market assessment. However, a distributor subject to MiFID II and/or FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance
Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”), as applicable, is responsible
for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the notes (by either adopting or refining the target market
assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. A determination will be made in relation to each issue about whether,
for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593, as amended (the “MiFID Product
Governance Rules”), and/or the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, as applicable, any agent subscribing for any notes is a
manufacturer in respect of such notes, but otherwise neither the agents nor any of their respective affiliates will be a
manufacturer for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance Rules and/or the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, as applicable. We
make no representation or warranty as to any manufacturer’s or distributor’s compliance with the MiFID Product
Governance Rules and/or the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, as applicable.
The communication of this prospectus supplement,
the accompanying prospectus, any related pricing supplement and any other document or materials relating to the notes
is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section
21 of the FSMA. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed, and must not be passed on, to the general public
in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons
in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment
professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended
(the “Financial Promotion Order”)), who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order or
who are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together, “relevant
persons”). In the United Kingdom, the notes are only available to, and any investment or investment activity
to which this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related pricing supplement relates will be engaged in only with,
relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement,
the accompanying prospectus or any related pricing supplement or any of their contents.
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the notes involves certain risks.
In consultation with your own financial and legal advisors, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the following discussion
of risks before deciding whether an investment in the notes is suitable for you. Notes are not an appropriate investment for you if you
are unsophisticated with respect to their significant components.
You should consult with your own financial and
legal advisers as to the risks involved in an investment in the notes and to determine whether the notes are a suitable investment for
you. The notes may not be a suitable investment for you if you are unsophisticated with respect to the significant elements of the notes
or financial matters. Notes denominated or payable in a foreign currency are not an appropriate investment for investors who are unsophisticated
with respect to foreign currency transactions. Indexed notes are not an appropriate investment for investors who are unsophisticated with
respect to the type of index or formula used to determine the amount payable. Floating rate notes are not an appropriate investment for
investors who are unsophisticated with respect to the specific procedures used to determine the interest rate of such notes. The pricing
supplement for a particular issuance of notes may describe additional information and risks applicable to those notes.
Risks Related to the Company
We are subject to various operating and other risks
as a result of the nature of our operations and the marketplace in which we operate. Many of these risks are beyond our control and pose
challenges to our business, operations, revenues, net income and cash flows. For a discussion of some of these risks, see “Risk
Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any subsequent
periodic or current report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that includes “Risk
Factors” or that discusses such risks. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial
may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to the Notes
The limited covenants applicable to the notes may not provide
protection against some events or developments that may affect our ability to repay the notes or the trading prices for the notes.
The indenture governing the notes, among other
things, does not:
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require us to maintain any financial ratios or specific levels of net worth,
revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity and, accordingly, does not protect holders of the notes in the event that we experience significant
adverse changes in our financial condition or results of operations;
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limit our ability to incur indebtedness, including secured indebtedness (subject
to compliance with the lien covenant), that is senior to or equal in right of payment to the notes;
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limit our subsidiaries’ ability to incur secured (subject to compliance
with the lien covenant) or unsecured indebtedness, which would be structurally senior to the notes;
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restrict our ability to repurchase or prepay our securities; or
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restrict our ability to make investments or to repurchase or pay dividends
or make other payments in respect of our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the notes.
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For these reasons, you should not consider the
lien or merger and consolidation covenants in the indenture as significant factors in evaluating whether to invest in the notes.
An active trading market may not develop for the notes.
There currently is no established trading
market in which the notes can be resold. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement, we do not intend to apply
to list the notes on any securities exchange or include the notes in any automated quotation system. From time to time, certain of
the agents may make a market in the notes as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. However, the agents are not obligated to
make a market in the notes and may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. If a liquid market for the
notes is developed, it may not be maintained and, if such market is maintained, it may not be sufficiently liquid to allow you to
resell your notes if or when you want to or at a price that you consider acceptable. Even if you are able to sell your notes, there
are many factors that may affect the trading market or market value of the notes. Some of these factors, which are mentioned below,
are interrelated. As a result, the effect of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. These
factors include:
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the complexity and volatility of any index or formula applicable to the notes;
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the method of calculating the principal, premium 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 or repayment features, if any, of the notes;
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interest rates prevailing in the markets;
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the amount of other debt securities linked to any index or formula applicable
to the notes;
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the market for similar securities;
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the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally and
other conditions in the credit markets, including the degree of liquidity in the credit markets generally;
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fluctuations in exchange rates between your currency and the specified currency
in which the notes are denominated;
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the credit rating(s) we are assigned; and
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our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects,
as well as general economic conditions.
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In addition, because some notes may be designed for specific investment
objectives or strategies, such notes may have a more limited trading market and/or experience more price volatility than conventional
debt securities.
The risks relating to a lack of an established
trading market and/or a limited secondary market are heightened for notes that use any new market rate or method for determining an interest
rate (such as an interest rate based upon the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or Compounded SOFR (as defined
below)) because market terms for such notes, such as the applicable “spread” or “spread multiplier,” may evolve
over time and, as a result, trading prices of such notes may be lower than those of later-issued notes that are linked to such market
rate. Similarly, if such new market rate or method for determining an interest rate does not prove to be widely used in similar debt securities,
the trading price of such notes may be lower than that of debt securities that are linked to rates that are more widely used. Investors
in notes that use any new market rate or method for determining an interest rate may not be able to sell their notes at all or at prices that will provide them with a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary
market. Further, investors wishing to sell such notes in the secondary market will have to make assumptions as to the future performance
of such market rate during the applicable period in which they intend the sale to take place. As a result, investors may suffer from increased
pricing volatility and market risk.
If your investment activities are subject to legal
investment laws and regulations, you may not be able to invest in certain types of notes or your investment in them may be limited. You
should review and consider any applicable restrictions before investing in the notes.
You should not invest in the notes unless you
understand and know you can bear the foregoing investment risks. In evaluating the notes, you should assume that you will be holding
the notes until their maturity.
The credit ratings assigned to us and the notes may not reflect
all risks of an investment in the notes.
The credit ratings assigned to us represent the
rating agencies’ assessments regarding our credit quality and are not a guarantee of quality. Credit ratings are not recommendations
to buy, sell or hold securities and are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating agency
may have different criteria for evaluating credit risk and, therefore, ratings should be evaluated independently for each rating agency.
The credit ratings assigned to the notes will
reflect the rating agencies’ assessments of our ability to make payments on the notes when due. Consequently, real or
anticipated changes in these credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the notes. These credit ratings, however, may
not reflect the potential impact of all structural, market or other risks (including the risk factors contained and
incorporated by reference herein) or other factors related to the value of the notes, including the possibility that payments on
indexed notes and floating rate notes may be less than anticipated because of changes in the specified
index or base rate, respectively. Therefore, the ratings assigned to us and the notes may not fully reflect the risks of an
investment in the notes.
The notes will be structurally subordinated to all obligations
of our existing and future subsidiaries.
The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our
subsidiaries and our subsidiaries will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay amounts due under the notes or to make any
funds available to pay those amounts, whether by dividend, distribution, loan or other payment. Thus, the notes will be structurally subordinated
to all indebtedness and other obligations of any subsidiary, including any guarantees issued by such subsidiaries, such that in the event
of bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of any such subsidiary, all of that subsidiary’s
creditors (including secured creditors and trade creditors) would be entitled to payment in full out of that subsidiary’s assets
before we would be entitled to any payment. The indenture does not contain any limitations on the ability of our subsidiaries to incur
or guarantee additional unsecured indebtedness or the amount of other unsecured liabilities, such as trade payables, that may be incurred
or guaranteed by our subsidiaries.
If you purchase redeemable notes, redemption may adversely affect
your return on the notes, and you will have reinvestment risks.
If your notes are redeemable at our option, we
may choose to redeem your notes, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, at the redemption price described in the applicable
pricing supplement. Consequently, we may choose to redeem your notes at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest
rate paid on your notes. As a result, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable debt instrument at an effective
interest rate or yield as high as the interest rate or yield on your notes being redeemed. This may also be the case for any mandatory
redemption of your notes. For this reason, an optional or mandatory redemption feature can affect the market value of your notes. Our
redemption right also may adversely impact your ability to sell your notes as the redemption date approaches.
An increase in interest rates could result in a decrease in the
relative value of the notes.
In general, as market interest rates rise, notes
bearing interest at a fixed rate generally decline in value because the premium, if any, over market interest rates will decline. Consequently,
if you purchase the notes and market interest rates increase, the market value of your notes may decline. We cannot predict the future
level of market interest rates.
An investment in notes indexed to interest rate, currency, or
other indices or formulas entails special risks.
An investment in notes where the principal,
premium or interest is determined by reference to interest rate, currency, or other indices or formulas entails significant risks
not associated with an investment in conventional fixed or floating rate notes. Examples of this type of note are notes where any or
all of the principal, premium and interest is indexed to one or more:
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currencies, including exchange rates and swap indices between currencies;
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commodities or stocks; or
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other indices or formulas specified in a particular pricing supplement.
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The risks from this type of investment
include the possibility that the index or indices may fluctuate significantly and therefore (1) you will receive a lower amount of,
or no, principal, premium or interest and at different times than you expected and (2) the secondary market for indexed notes will
be negatively affected by a number of factors, independent of our creditworthiness. Such factors include the volatility of the index
selected, the time remaining to the maturity of the notes, the amount outstanding of the notes and market interest rates. We have no
control over a number of factors affecting this type of note, including economic, financial and political events that are important
in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks and their results. In addition, if an index or formula used to
determine the amount of principal, premium or interest payable in respect of a note contains a multiple or leverage factor, the
effect of any change in the index or formula will be magnified. In recent years, particular interest rates and indices have been
highly volatile and this volatility may be expected to continue in the future. However, past experience is not necessarily
indicative of what may happen in the future and the historical experience of an index should not be taken as an indication of its
future performance. Accordingly, you should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risk entailed by an investment
in indexed notes.
Tax consequences of holding the notes may vary.
The tax consequences to you of owning and disposing
of the notes may vary depending on the terms of the notes and your particular status and circumstances. You should consult with your own
tax adviser about the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to you of owning and disposing of the notes.
The agents and their affiliates may publish research reports,
express opinions or provide recommendations that could affect the market value of any notes we may issue.
The agents and their affiliates may publish
research reports from time to time on financial markets and other matters that may influence the value of the notes or express
opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with investing in or holding the notes. The agents and their affiliates
may have published or may publish research reports or other opinions with respect to movements in interest rates generally, or with
respect to the transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to alternative reference rates or SOFR
specifically. Any research reports, opinions or recommendations expressed by the agents and/or any of their affiliates may not be
consistent with each other, may be modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations
that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the notes. Any of these activities may affect the market value of the notes. In
particular, given the uncertainty around LIBOR, and SOFR being a relatively new reference rate, the market value of any LIBOR Notes
or Compounded SOFR Notes (each as defined herein) we may issue may be particularly susceptible to changes in investor sentiment
based in part upon such reports, opinions or recommendations. Investors should make their own independent investigation of the
merits of investing in the notes and the interest rate to which the notes may be linked.
Risks Related to Floating Rate Notes
Floating rate notes have risks that conventional fixed rate notes
do not.
Because the interest rate of floating rate
notes may be based upon LIBOR, Compounded SOFR, the Federal Funds Rate, the Prime Rate, the Treasury Rate (each as defined herein)
or other such interest rate basis or formula or combination of rates as specified in the applicable pricing supplement, there will
be significant risks not associated with conventional fixed rate notes. These risks include fluctuation of the interest rates and
the possibility that you will receive a lower amount of interest in the future as a result of such fluctuations. We have no control
over various matters that are important in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks, including economic,
financial and political events.
The discontinuance of LIBOR may adversely affect the return on
your notes and the price at which you can sell your notes in the secondary market, if one exists.
LIBOR and other interest rates or other types of
rates and indices which are deemed “benchmarks” are the subject of national, international and other regulatory guidance and
proposals for reform. Some of these reforms are already effective while others may still yet be implemented. These reforms may cause such
benchmarks to perform differently than in the past, to disappear entirely or have other consequences which cannot be predicted. Any such
consequence could have an adverse effect on any notes linked to such a benchmark.
Any of the international, national or other proposals
for reform, or the general increased regulatory scrutiny of benchmarks, could increase the costs and risks of administering or otherwise
participating in the setting of a benchmark and complying with any such regulations or requirements. Such factors may have the effect
of discouraging market participants from continuing to administer or contribute to certain benchmarks, trigger changes in the rules or
methodologies used in certain benchmarks, or lead to the disappearance of certain benchmarks. Uncertainty about the future of benchmarks
generally, any of the above changes or any other consequential changes as a result of international, national or other proposals for reform
or other initiatives or investigations, could have an adverse effect on the value of, and return on, any notes linked to a benchmark and
the trading market for such notes.
On March 5, 2021, ICE Benchmark
Administration Limited (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, published a statement confirming its intention to
cease publication of all LIBOR settings, together with the dates on which this will occur, subject to the United Kingdom’s
Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) exercising its powers to require IBA to continue publishing such LIBOR
settings (the “IBA Announcement”). Concurrently, the FCA published a statement on the future cessation and loss
of representativeness of all LIBOR currencies and tenors, following the dates on which IBA has indicated it will cease publication
(the “FCA Announcement”). Permanent cessation will occur immediately after December 31, 2021 for all euro and
Swiss francs LIBOR tenors and certain sterling, Japanese yen and U.S. dollar LIBOR settings and immediately after June 30, 2023 for
certain other U.S. dollar LIBOR settings. In relation to the remaining LIBOR settings (1-month, 3-month, and 6-month sterling, U.S.
dollar and Japanese yen LIBOR settings), the FCA is consulting on or, in the case of U.S. dollar settings, considering the case for
using its powers to require IBA to continue its publication under a changed methodology for a further period after December 31, 2021
(June 30, 2023 in the case of U.S. dollar LIBOR). The FCA Announcement states that consequently, any continuing LIBOR settings will
no longer be representative of the underlying market that such settings are intended to measure immediately after December 31, 2021,
in the case of the sterling and Japanese yen LIBOR settings and immediately after June 30, 2023, in the case of the U.S. dollar
LIBOR settings. Any continued publication of the Japanese yen LIBOR settings will also cease permanently at the end of 2022.
In the event that a published LIBOR rate is unavailable,
the interest rate on any LIBOR Notes (as defined below) will be determined as set forth under “Description of Notes—Floating
Rate Notes—LIBOR Notes.” If a published LIBOR rate is unavailable and banks are unwilling to provide quotations for the calculation
of LIBOR as set forth in this prospectus supplement, unless a “Benchmark Transition Event” and the related “Benchmark
Replacement Date” with respect to LIBOR has occurred, the rate of interest on any LIBOR Notes will be equal to the interest rate
in effect during the most recent Interest Reset Period (as defined below) for which LIBOR was determinable as described in this prospectus
supplement for the applicable LIBOR Notes, in each case as set forth under “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes—LIBOR
Notes.”
SOFR (including Compounded SOFR) is a relatively new reference
rate and its composition and characteristics are not the same as LIBOR.
On June 22, 2017, the Alternative Reference Rates
Committee (the “ARRC”) convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York identified the SOFR as the rate that, in the consensus view of the ARRC, represented best practice for use in certain new
U.S. dollar derivatives and other financial contracts. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized
by U.S. Treasury securities, and has been published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York since April 2018. The Federal Reserve Bank
of New York has also begun publishing historical indicative Secured Overnight Financing Rates from 2014. Investors should not rely on
any historical changes or trends in SOFR as an indicator of future changes in SOFR.
The composition and characteristics of SOFR are
not the same as those of LIBOR, and SOFR is fundamentally different from LIBOR for two key reasons. First, SOFR is a secured rate, while
LIBOR is an unsecured rate. Second, SOFR is an overnight rate, while LIBOR is a forward-looking rate that represents interbank funding
over different maturities (e.g., three months). As a result, there can be no assurance that SOFR (including Compounded SOFR) will
perform in the same way as LIBOR would have at any time, including, without limitation, as a result of changes in interest and yield rates
in the market, market volatility or global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other events. Changes in
the levels of SOFR will affect the interest rate basis and, therefore, the return on any notes linked to SOFR (including Compounded SOFR)
and the trading price of such notes, but it is impossible to predict whether such levels will rise or fall. There can be no assurance
that the interest rate basis or SOFR will be positive.
SOFR may be more volatile than other benchmark or market rates.
Since the initial publication of SOFR, daily changes
in SOFR have, on occasion, been more volatile than daily changes in other benchmark or market rates, such as U.S. dollar LIBOR. Although
changes in Compounded SOFR generally are not expected to be as volatile as changes in daily levels of SOFR, the return on and value of
any floating rate notes for which the interest rate is based on SOFR may fluctuate more than floating rate debt securities that are linked
to less volatile rates. In addition, the volatility of SOFR has reflected the underlying volatility of the overnight U.S. Treasury repo
market. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has at times conducted operations in the overnight U.S. Treasury repo market in order to
help maintain the federal funds rate within a target range. There can be no assurance that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will continue
to conduct such operations in the future, and the duration and extent of any such operations is inherently uncertain. The effect of any
such operations, or of the cessation of such operations to the extent they are commenced, is uncertain and could be materially adverse
to investors in any floating rate notes for which the interest rate is based on SOFR.
Any failure of SOFR to gain market acceptance could adversely
affect floating rate notes for which the interest rate is based on SOFR.
According to the ARRC, SOFR was developed for use
in certain U.S. dollar derivatives and other financial contracts as an alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR in part because it is considered
a good representation of general funding conditions in the overnight U.S. Treasury repurchase agreement market. However, as a rate based
on transactions secured by U.S. Treasury securities, it does not measure bank-specific credit risk and, as a result, is less likely to
correlate with the unsecured short-term funding costs of banks. This may mean that market participants would not consider SOFR (including
Compounded SOFR) a suitable replacement or successor for all of the purposes for which U.S. dollar LIBOR historically has been used (including,
without limitation, as a representation of the unsecured short-term funding costs of banks), which may, in turn, lessen market acceptance
of SOFR. Any failure of SOFR to gain market acceptance could adversely affect the return on and value of any floating rate notes for which
the interest rate is based on SOFR and the price at which investors can sell such floating rate notes in the secondary market.
In addition, if SOFR does not prove to be widely
used as a benchmark in securities that are similar or comparable to any SOFR-based floating rate notes we issue, the trading price of
any SOFR-based floating rate notes we issue may be lower than those of securities that are linked to rates that are more widely used.
Similarly, market terms for floating rate debt securities linked to SOFR, such as the spread over the base rate reflected in interest
rate provisions or the manner of compounding the base rate, may evolve over time, and trading prices of any SOFR-based floating rate notes
we issue may be lower than those of later-issued SOFR-based debt securities as a result.
We may issue floating rate notes for which the interest rate
is based on a Compounded SOFR rate and the SOFR Index, both of which are relatively new in the marketplace.
We may issue floating rate notes for which the
interest rate is based on Compounded SOFR, which is calculated using the SOFR Index (as defined below) published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York according to the specific formula described under “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes—Compounded
SOFR Notes,” not the SOFR rate published on or in respect of a particular date during the applicable interest period or an arithmetic
average of SOFR rates during such period. For this and other reasons, the interest rate on any such floating rate notes during any applicable
interest period will not necessarily be the same as the interest rate on other SOFR-linked investments that use an alternative basis to
determine the applicable interest rate. Further, if the SOFR rate in respect of a particular date during an interest period is negative,
its contribution to the SOFR Index will be less than one, resulting in a reduction to Compounded SOFR used to calculate the interest payable
on such floating rate notes on the applicable interest payment date for such interest period.
Very limited market precedent exists for securities
that use SOFR as the interest rate and the method for calculating an interest rate based upon SOFR in those precedents varies. In addition,
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York only began publishing the SOFR Index on March 2, 2020. Accordingly, the use of the SOFR Index or
the specific formula for the Compounded SOFR rate described under “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes—Compounded
SOFR Notes,” may not be widely adopted by other market participants, if at all. If the market adopts a different calculation method,
that would likely adversely affect the liquidity and market value of any floating rate notes we issue for which the interest rate is based
on Compounded SOFR and the SOFR Index.
Compounded SOFR with respect to a particular interest period
will only be capable of being determined near the end of the relevant interest period.
As described below under “Description of
Notes—Floating Rate Notes— Compounded SOFR Notes,” if we issue floating rate notes for which the interest rate is based
on Compounded SOFR, the level of Compounded SOFR applicable to a particular interest period and, therefore, the amount of interest payable
with respect to such interest period, will be determined on the applicable interest determination date for such interest period. Because
each such date is near the end of such interest period, you will not know the amount of interest payable with respect to a particular
interest period until shortly prior to the related interest payment date, and it may be difficult for you to reliably estimate the amount
of interest that will be payable on each such interest payment date. In addition, some investors may be unwilling or unable to trade any
such floating rate notes we issue without changes to their information technology systems, both of which could adversely impact the liquidity
and trading price of any floating rate notes we issue for which the interest rate is based on Compounded SOFR.
The SOFR Index may be modified or discontinued, which may adversely
affect the return on your SOFR-based notes and the price at which you can sell your SOFR-based notes in the secondary market, if one exists.
The SOFR Index is published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York based on data received by it from sources other than us, and we have no control over its methods of calculation, publication
schedule, rate revision practices or availability of the SOFR Index at any time. There can be no guarantee, particularly given its relatively
recent introduction, that the SOFR Index will not be discontinued or fundamentally altered in a manner that is materially adverse to the
interests of investors in any SOFR-based floating rate notes that we issue. If the manner in which the SOFR Index is calculated, including
the manner in which SOFR is calculated, is changed, that change may result in a reduction in the amount of interest payable on any SOFR-based
floating rate notes we have issued and the trading prices of such floating rate notes. In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
may withdraw, modify or amend the published SOFR Index or SOFR data in its sole discretion and without notice. Unless the terms of a particular
issue of floating rate notes specify otherwise, the interest rate for any interest period with respect to SOFR-based floating rate notes
that we issue will not be adjusted for any modifications or amendments to the SOFR Index or SOFR data that the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York may publish after the interest rate for that interest period has been determined.
In the event that a published LIBOR rate is unavailable,
the interest rate on any LIBOR Notes (as defined below) will be determined as set forth under “Description of Notes—Floating
Rate Notes—LIBOR Notes.” If a published SOFR Index rate is unavailable on an Interest Determination Date (as defined below),
unless a “Benchmark Transition Event” and the related “Benchmark Replacement Date” with respect to the SOFR Index
has occurred, the rate of interest on any Compounded SOFR Notes will be equal to the rate of return on a daily compounded interest investment
calculated in accordance with the formula for SOFR Averages (as defined below), and definitions required for such formula, published on
the SOFR Administrator’s Website at https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/treasury-repo-reference-rates-information, in each case as
set forth under “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes—Compounded SOFR Notes.”
If we or our designee determine that a Benchmark Transition Event
and its related Benchmark Replacement Date (each, as defined below) have occurred in respect of LIBOR (for any LIBOR Notes) or the SOFR
Index (for any Compounded SOFR Notes), any LIBOR- or SOFR-based floating rate notes we issue may bear interest by reference to a rate
other than LIBOR or Compounded SOFR, respectively, which could adversely affect the value of such floating rate notes.
If we or our designee determine that a Benchmark
Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred in respect of LIBOR (for any LIBOR Notes) or the SOFR Index
(for any Compounded SOFR Notes), then the interest rate on any LIBOR- or SOFR-based floating rate notes we have issued will no longer
be determined by reference to LIBOR or the SOFR Index, respectively, but instead will be determined by reference to a different rate,
plus a spread adjustment, which we refer to as a “Benchmark Replacement,” as further described under “Description of
Notes—Floating Rate Notes—LIBOR Notes” and “—Compounded SOFR Notes.”
If a particular Benchmark Replacement or Benchmark
Replacement Adjustment (as defined below) cannot be determined, then the next available Benchmark Replacement or Benchmark Replacement
Adjustment will apply. These replacement rates and adjustments may be selected, recommended or formulated by (i) the Relevant Governmental
Body (as defined herein), (ii) the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”), (iii) in certain circumstances,
us or our designee or (iv) as otherwise specified pursuant to the terms of the applicable issue of floating rate notes. In addition, unless
the terms of a particular issue of floating rate notes specify otherwise, the terms of any LIBOR- or SOFR-based floating rate notes we
issue will expressly authorize us or our designee to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes (as defined below) with respect to,
among other things, changes to the definition of “interest period,” the timing and frequency of determining rates and making
payments of interest, the rounding of amounts or tenors and other administrative matters. The determination of a Benchmark Replacement,
the calculation of the interest rate on any SOFR-based floating rate notes by reference to a Benchmark Replacement (including the application
of a Benchmark Replacement Adjustment), any implementation of Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and any other determinations, decisions
or elections that may be made under the terms of any LIBOR- or SOFR-based floating rate notes we issue in connection with a Benchmark
Transition Event, could adversely affect the value of such floating rate notes, the return on such floating rate notes and the price at
which you can sell such floating rate notes.
In addition:
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the composition and characteristics of the Benchmark Replacement will
not be the same as those of LIBOR or Compounded SOFR, as applicable, the Benchmark Replacement may not be the economic equivalent of
LIBOR or Compounded SOFR, as applicable, there can be no assurance that the Benchmark Replacement will perform in the same way as
LIBOR or Compounded SOFR, as applicable, would have at any time and there is no guarantee that the Benchmark Replacement will be a
comparable substitute for LIBOR or Compounded SOFR, as applicable (each of which means that a Benchmark Transition Event could
adversely affect the value of any LIBOR- or SOFR-based floating rate notes we issue, the return on any such floating rate notes and
the price at which you can sell any such floating rate notes);
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any failure of the Benchmark Replacement to gain market acceptance could
adversely affect any LIBOR- or SOFR-based floating rate notes we issue;
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the Benchmark Replacement may have a very limited history and the future
performance of the Benchmark Replacement may not be predicted based on historical performance;
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the secondary trading market for any floating rate notes we issue that are
linked to the Benchmark Replacement may be limited; and
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the administrator of the Benchmark Replacement may make changes that could
change the value of the Benchmark Replacement or discontinue the Benchmark Replacement and has no obligation to consider your interests
in doing so.
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We or our designee will make certain determinations with respect
to floating rate notes we issue, which determinations may adversely affect such floating rate notes.
We or our designee, which may include a calculation
agent that we appoint prior to the issuance of any floating rate notes, will make certain determinations with respect to certain floating
rate notes that we may issue as further described under “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes.” For example, if
a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, we or our designee will make certain determinations
with respect to any SOFR-based or LIBOR-based floating rate notes we have issued in our or our designee’s sole discretion as further
described under “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes—Compounded SOFR Notes” and Description of Notes—Floating
Rate Notes—LIBOR Notes.”
For example, pursuant to these provisions, the
interest rate on SOFR-based or LIBOR-based floating rate notes may be determined by reference to a Benchmark Replacement even if the applicable
SOFR- or LIBOR-based rate continues to be published. As a result, the interest rate on such floating rate notes may be higher or lower
than the applicable SOFR- or LIBOR-based rate so long as such rate continues to be published, and the return on, value of and market for
such floating rate notes may be adversely affected.
Any determination, decision or election pursuant
to the benchmark replacement provisions not made by our designee will be made by us. Any of these determinations may adversely affect
the value of such floating rate notes, the return on such floating rate notes and the price at which you can sell such floating rate notes.
Moreover, certain determinations may require the exercise of discretion and the making of subjective judgments, such as with respect to
Compounded SOFR, LIBOR or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event and any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
These potentially subjective determinations may adversely affect the value of any such floating rate notes, the return on any such floating
rate notes and the price at which you can sell such floating rate notes. For further information regarding these types of determinations,
see “Description of Notes—Floating Rate Notes—Compounded SOFR Notes” and Description of Notes—Floating Rate
Notes—LIBOR Notes.”
Hedging and trading activities by us, the Agents and their affiliates
may adversely affect your return on the notes and the value of the notes.
We, the agents and/or any of their affiliates
may carry out activities to mitigate their risks related to notes that are linked to an interest rate, currency, index or formula.
In particular, on or prior to the date of the applicable pricing supplement, we, the agents, and/or any of their affiliates may have
hedged their anticipated exposure in connection with some of the notes by taking positions in assets (or options or futures
contracts on such assets) that relate to a linked interest rate, currency, index or formula or in other instruments that we or they,
as applicable, deem appropriate in connection with such hedging. These trading activities, however, could potentially alter the
level of a linked interest rate, linked currency, linked index or linked formula and/or the underlying asset(s) that relate to such
linked interest rate, linked currency, linked index or linked formula and, therefore, the value of the notes.
Should they enter into any hedge position in respect
of the notes, such agents and/or their affiliates are likely to modify that hedge position throughout the term of the notes by purchasing
and selling underlying asset(s) (or options or futures contracts on the underlying asset(s)) that relate to a linked interest rate, linked
currency, linked index or linked formula or other instruments that they deem appropriate. Neither we, the agents nor any of their affiliates
can give any assurance that our or their hedging or trading activities will not affect the level of a linked interest rate, linked currency,
linked index or linked formula or the underlying asset(s) that relate to such linked interest rate, linked currency, linked index or linked
formula. It is also possible that we, the agents and any of their affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging activities
while the value of the notes may decline.
We, the agents and/or any of their affiliates may
also engage in trading the underlying asset(s) (or options or futures contracts on the underlying asset(s)) that relate to a linked interest
rate, linked currency, linked index or linked formula or options or futures on such linked interest rate, linked currency, linked index
or linked formula on a regular basis, including, with respect to the agents and/or any of their affiliates, as part of their general broker-dealer
activities and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for customers,
including through block transactions. Any of these activities could adversely affect the level of a linked interest rate, linked currency,
linked index or linked formula, the underlying asset(s) that relate to such linked interest rate, linked currency, linked index or linked
formula and, therefore, the value of the notes linked to such interest rate, currency, index or formula.
We, the agents and/or any of their affiliates may
also issue or underwrite other notes or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the value of
a linked interest rate, linked currency, linked index or linked formula or the underlying asset(s) that relate to such linked interest
rate, linked currency, linked index or linked formula. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we, the
agents and any of their affiliates could adversely affect the value of the notes.
Risks Related to Foreign Currency Notes
Investment in foreign currency notes entails significant risks
that are not associated with an investment in a debt security denominated and payable in U.S. dollars.
If you invest in notes that are denominated and/or
payable in a currency or basket of currencies other than U.S. dollars (“foreign currency notes”), you will be subject
to significant risks that are not associated with an investment in a debt security denominated and payable in U.S. dollars. These risks
include the possibility of significant changes in rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and such currency and the possibility that
either the U.S. or foreign governments will impose or modify foreign exchange controls. These risks generally depend on factors over which
we have no control, such as economic and political events and the supply of and demand for the relevant currencies. Moreover, if payments
on your foreign currency notes are determined by reference to a formula containing a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect of any
change in the exchange rates between the applicable currencies will be magnified. In recent years, rates of exchange between the U.S.
dollar and certain currencies have been highly volatile, and you should be aware that volatility may occur in the future. Fluctuations
in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past, however, are not necessarily indicative of fluctuations in the rate that
may occur during the term of any note. Depreciation of your payment currency would result in a decrease in the U.S. dollar equivalent
yield of your foreign currency notes, in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of payments made on your foreign currency notes and, generally,
in the U.S. dollar equivalent market value of your foreign currency notes.
Governmental exchange controls could affect exchange
rates and the availability of your payment currency on a required payment date. Even if there are no exchange controls, it is possible
that your payment currency will not be available on a required payment date due to circumstances beyond our control or because the payment
currency is no longer in use. In such cases, we will be allowed to satisfy our obligations on your foreign currency notes in U.S. dollars.
See “Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes.”
The information set forth in this prospectus supplement
with respect to foreign currency risks is general in nature. We disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers of foreign
currency notes with respect to any matters that may affect the purchase, holding or receipt of payments of principal or premium, if any,
and interest on such notes. Such persons should consult their own counsel with regard to such matters.
Foreign exchange rate fluctuations may affect your realized
value of any court-awarded judgment.
The notes will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Illinois. Courts in the United States, including state and federal courts situated
in Illinois, have increasingly started to render judgments for money damages denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar when
the currency of the underlying transaction is a currency other than the U.S. dollar. Illinois has adopted the Uniform Foreign-Money Claims
Act, and a state court in the State of Illinois may, at the request of the claimant, render a judgment in respect of a foreign currency
note in the specified currency. The payor may, however, elect to pay the judgment in U.S. dollars calculated as of the banking day immediately
preceding the date on which the money is paid to the claimant. You may still experience foreign exchange rate fluctuations based on the
amount of time a court may take to adjudicate your claim and for you to receive payment of an award, if any. Other costs may still be
assessed in U.S. dollars, and foreign exchange rates may not be favorable to you if, at the time that you receive a foreign currency judgment
or other U.S. dollars awarded, you desire to convert the funds into another currency. It is not certain, however, whether a non-Illinois
state court would follow the same rules and procedures with respect to conversion of foreign currency judgments.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our
capitalization at March 31, 2021.
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March 31, 2021
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Outstanding
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(in millions of U.S. dollars)
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Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt
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$
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900.0
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Long-term debt, less current portion
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34,832.2
|
|
Shareholders’ equity (deficit)
|
|
|
(7,235.5
|
)
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
28,496.7
|
|
IMPORTANT CURRENCY INFORMATION
You are required to pay for each note in the
currency specified by us. You may ask an agent, if applicable, to use its reasonable efforts to arrange for the exchange of U.S.
dollars into the specified currency to enable you to pay for such note. You must make this request on or before the fifth Business
Day (as defined herein) preceding the delivery date for such note or by a later date if allowed by the agent. Each exchange will be
made on the terms and conditions established by the agent, if applicable, and all costs will be paid by you. There can be no
assurances that you will be able to convert such currencies into U.S. dollars on a timely basis or at all.
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
The following description of terms of the
notes supplements the general description of the debt securities provided in the accompanying prospectus. However, the pricing
supplement and any free writing prospectus for each offering of notes will contain the specific information and terms for that
offering. The pricing supplement and any free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. If the information in the pricing supplement or any such free writing
prospectus differs from this prospectus supplement, the pricing supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be, will
control. It is important for you to consider the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus,
the pricing supplement and any free writing prospectus in making your investment decision.
General
We will issue the notes as a single series of debt
securities under the Senior Indenture. We may use this prospectus supplement to offer an indeterminate aggregate initial public offering
price of notes. If payments on any notes must be made in the currency of a country that adopts the euro subsequent to the issuance of
the notes, then we may redenominate all of those notes into euro by giving holders notice of the redenomination as described below under
“—Redenomination.”
The notes will be issued in fully registered form
only, without coupons.
Each note will be issued either as a “book-entry”
note, represented by a permanent global note registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), or its
nominee, or as a certificate issued in temporary or definitive form. Except as described below under “—Book-Entry System,”
book-entry notes will not be issuable in certificated form.
Unless otherwise described in the applicable pricing
supplement, the authorized denominations for notes denominated in U.S. dollars will be $1,000 and any larger amount that is a multiple
of $1,000. The authorized denominations of notes denominated in some other specified currency will be described in the applicable pricing
supplement.
Each note will mature on any day from one year
to 60 years from its date of issue. However, each note may also be subject to redemption at our option or repayment at the option of the
holder, as described in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, the notes will be denominated in, and payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in respect of the notes
will be made in, U.S. dollars. The notes also may be denominated in, and payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any,
in respect of the notes may be made in one or more foreign currencies. See “Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes—Payment
of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any.” The currency in which notes are denominated (or, if that currency is no longer
legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the country issuing that currency or, in the case of euro, in the member states
of the European Union that have adopted the single currency in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended,
the currency which is then legal tender in the related country or in the adopting member states of the European Union, as the case may
be) is referred to as the “specified currency” with respect to the particular note. References to “U.S. dollars”
or “$” are to the lawful currency of the United States of America.
You will be required to pay for your notes in
the specified currency. At the present time, there are limited facilities in the United States for the conversion of U.S. dollars into
foreign currencies and vice versa, and commercial banks do not generally offer non-U.S. dollar checking or savings account facilities
in the United States. The agent from or through which a foreign currency note is purchased, if applicable, may be prepared to arrange
for the conversion of U.S. dollars into the specified currency in order to enable you to pay for your foreign currency note, provided
that you make a request to that agent on or prior to the fifth Business Day preceding the date of delivery of the particular foreign
currency note, or by any other day determined by that agent. Each conversion will be made by an agent, if applicable, on the terms and
subject to the conditions, limitations and charges as that agent may from time to time establish in accordance with its regular foreign
exchange practices. You will be required to bear all costs of exchange in respect of your foreign currency note. See “Special
Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes.”
The pricing supplement or any free writing prospectus
relating to notes will describe the following terms:
|
·
|
the specified currency;
|
|
·
|
whether the note is a fixed rate note and, if so, the rate per year at which
it will bear interest, if any, and the dates on which interest will be payable if other than February 15 and August 15;
|
|
·
|
whether the note is a floating rate note and, if so, the base rate, the initial
interest rate, the interest reset period, the interest payment dates, the Index Maturity, the maximum interest rate, if any, the minimum
interest rate, if any, the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, and any other terms relating to the particular method of calculating
the interest rate for the note;
|
|
·
|
whether the note is an indexed note and, if so, the manner in which principal
or interest will be determined;
|
|
·
|
whether the note is an amortizing note;
|
|
·
|
the original issue date;
|
|
·
|
the stated maturity date;
|
|
·
|
whether the note is an Original Issue Discount Note;
|
|
·
|
whether the note may be redeemed at our option, or repaid at the holder’s
option, prior to the stated maturity date as described further under “—Optional Redemption, Repayment and Repurchase”
below, and if so, the terms of the redemption or repayment; and
|
|
·
|
any other terms that do not conflict with the provisions of the Senior Indenture.
|
Interest rates that we offer with respect to the
notes may differ depending on, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of the notes purchased in any single transaction.
Notes with different variable terms other than
interest rates may also be offered concurrently to different investors. We may, from time to time, change interest rates or formulas and
other terms of notes, but no change of terms will affect any note we have previously issued or as to which we have accepted an offer to
purchase.
Except as described in this prospectus supplement,
there are no covenants specifically designed to protect you against a reduction in our creditworthiness in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction or to prohibit other transactions that may adversely affect you.
Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any
We will make payments of principal, premium,
if any, and interest, if any, on book-entry notes through the Trustee to DTC. Beneficial Owners (as defined herein) will be paid in
accordance with DTC’s and its participants’ procedures. See “—Book-Entry System.”
If the note is a certificated security, U.S.
dollar payments of interest on notes are generally payable to the person in whose name the note is registered at the close of
business on the record date before each interest payment date. However, interest will be payable at Maturity to the person to whom
principal is payable. The first interest payment on any note originally issued between a record date and an interest payment date or
on an interest payment date will be made on the interest payment date after the next record date. If you hold at least $10 million
(or the equivalent thereof in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars) in aggregate principal amount of notes of like tenor and
term, you will be entitled to receive your U.S. dollar interest payments by wire transfer, but only if the paying agent has received
your wire transfer instructions not later than 15 days before the applicable interest payment date. Simultaneously with your
election to receive payments in a currency other than U.S. dollars, as discussed earlier, you must provide wire transfer payment
instructions to the paying agent, and all payments made in that currency will be made by wire transfer to an account maintained by
you with a bank located outside the United States. Any payment due at Maturity will be paid in immediately available funds upon
surrender of your note at the agency office of the paying agent located in East Syracuse, New York. The agency office for The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is located at The Bank of New York Mellon, 111 Sanders Creek Parkway, East
Syracuse, New York 13057.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, if the principal of any Original Issue Discount Note is declared to be due and payable immediately as described under “Description
of Debt Securities—Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus, the amount of principal due and payable will be limited
to the principal amount of the note multiplied by the sum of its issue price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) plus
the original issue discount amortized from the date the note was issued to the date of declaration, which amortization shall be calculated
using the “interest method” (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date of
declaration).
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, the record date for any interest payment date for a floating rate note will be the date (whether or not a Business Day) 15
calendar days immediately before the interest payment date, and for a fixed rate note will be February 1 or August 1 (whether
or not a Business Day) immediately before the interest payment date or Maturity, as the case may be.
Interest payments on the notes will equal the amount
of interest accrued from, and including, the immediately preceding interest payment date on which interest was paid or made available
for payment (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid) to, but excluding, the related interest payment date
or Maturity, as the case may be.
For information on payment of principal and interest
of foreign currency notes, see “Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes.”
Optional Redemption, Repayment and Repurchase
The pricing supplement for a note will indicate
whether we will have the option to redeem the note before Maturity and the price and date or dates on which redemption may occur. If we
are allowed to redeem a note, we may exercise the option by causing the Trustee or the paying agent to mail notice of redemption to the
holders at least 10 but not more than 45 days before the redemption date. Any such redemption of the note may, at our option, be subject
to one or more conditions precedent. Any related written notice of redemption shall describe the conditions precedent and, at our option,
shall indicate that the redemption date may be delayed or the written notice rescinded if all such conditions precedent shall not have
been satisfied or waived. We shall be solely responsible for determining whether any such conditions precedent have been satisfied or
waived and in the event of any delay or rescission of redemption, written notice shall be provided by the date of redemption. If a note
is only redeemed in part, we will issue a new note or notes for the unredeemed portion.
The pricing supplement relating to a note will
also indicate whether you will have the option to elect repayment by us prior to Maturity and the price and the date or dates on which
repayment may occur.
For a note to be repaid, the paying agent must
receive, at least 30 but not more than 45 days prior to an optional repayment date, such note with the form entitled “Option to
Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the note completed. You may also send the paying agent a facsimile or letter from a member of
a national securities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company in the United
States describing the particulars of the repayment, including a guarantee that the note and the form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment”
will be received by the paying agent no later than five Business Days after such facsimile or letter. If you present a note for repayment,
that act will be irrevocable. You may exercise the repayment option for less than the entire principal of the note, provided the remaining
principal outstanding is an authorized denomination. If you elect partial repayment, your note will be cancelled, and we will issue a
new note or notes for the remaining amount.
DTC or its nominee will be the holder of each global
note and will be the only party that can exercise a right of repayment. If you are a Beneficial Owner of a global note and you want to
exercise your right of repayment, you must instruct your broker or Indirect Participant through which you hold your interest to notify
DTC. You should consult your broker or such Indirect Participant to discuss the appropriate cut-off times and any other requirements for
giving this instruction.
Regardless of anything in this prospectus
supplement to the contrary, if a note is an Original Issue Discount Note (other than an indexed note), the amount payable in the
event of redemption or repayment prior to Maturity will be the amortized face amount on the redemption or repayment date, as the
case may be. The amortized face amount of an Original Issue Discount Note will be equal to (1) the issue price plus
(2) that portion of the difference between the issue price and the principal amount of the note that has accrued at the yield
to maturity described in the pricing supplement (computed in accordance with generally accepted U.S. bond yield computation
principles) by the redemption or repayment date. However, in no case will the amortized face amount of an Original Issue Discount
Note exceed its principal amount.
We may at any time purchase notes at any price
in the open market or otherwise. We may hold, resell or surrender for cancellation any notes that we purchase.
Transfer of Notes
Book-entry notes may be transferred or exchanged
only through DTC. See “—Book-Entry System.” Registration of transfer or exchange of certificated notes will be made
at the office or agency maintained by the Trustee for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, currently the corporate
trust office of the Trustee. No service charge will be imposed for any such registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but we may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with such transfer
or exchange (other than certain exchanges not involving any transfer).
Listing
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, the notes will not be listed on, or admitted to trading on or by, any stock exchanges and/or markets within or outside the
United States. No note will have an established trading market when issued. A market for any particular issue of notes may not develop.
Other Provisions; Addenda
Any provisions with respect to the notes, including
the determination of an interest rate basis, the specification of interest rate basis, the calculation of the interest rate applicable
to a floating rate note, the Interest Payment Dates, the stated maturity, any redemption or repayment provisions or any other matters
may be modified as specified under “Other Provisions” on the face of the note or in an addendum to the note and in the applicable
pricing supplement.
Fixed Rate Notes
Each fixed rate note will bear interest from the
date it is originally issued, or from the last interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to, but excluding,
the next interest payment date, at the rate per year stated on its face until the principal amount is paid or made available for payment.
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable pricing supplement, we will pay interest on each fixed rate note semiannually in arrears
on each February 15 and August 15 and at Maturity. Each payment of interest on an interest payment date will include interest
accrued to, but excluding, that interest payment date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, interest on fixed
rate notes will be computed using a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
If any payment date for a fixed rate note falls
on a day that is not a Business Day, we will make the payment on the next Business Day, without additional interest.
Floating Rate Notes
General
Each note will not bear any interest or will bear
interest from and including the Issue Date at the rate per annum or, in the case of a floating rate note, pursuant to the interest rate
formula (the “interest rate basis or bases”) stated in the applicable note and in the applicable pricing supplement
until the principal of the note is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be payable in arrears on each interest payment date
specified in the applicable pricing supplement on which an installment of interest is due and payable (an “Interest Payment Date”)
and at Maturity. The first payment of interest on any note originally issued between a Regular Record Date, as defined below, and the
related Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date immediately following the next succeeding Regular Record Date
to the registered holder on the next succeeding Regular Record Date.
Defined Terms
In addition to terms defined elsewhere in this
prospectus supplement, we have used the following terms:
“Business Day” means, unless
specified otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement:
Type of Note
|
Business Day
|
CMS Rate Notes and CMT Rate Notes
|
any day except for a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities
|
Compounded SOFR Notes
|
a day that is both (i) a 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 (a “New York Business Day”) and (ii) a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities (a “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”)
|
LIBOR Notes
|
any day that (i) is a New York Business Day and (ii) is a day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in the designated Index Currency (as defined below), in London (a “London Banking Day”)
|
For fixed rate notes and floating rate notes not listed above
|
a day that is a New York Business Day
|
The foregoing Business Day descriptions are subject to further adjustment
as follows:
|
·
|
with respect to non-U.S. dollar denominated notes (other than notes denominated in euro), the day is also a day other than a day on
which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center (as
defined below) of the country issuing the specified currency (a “Principal Financial Center Business Day”); and
|
|
·
|
with respect to euro denominated notes, the day is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express
Transfer (TARGET2) System or any successor thereto is open (a “TARGET2 Business Day”).
|
“Fixed Conversion Rate” with
respect to any specified currency means the irrevocably fixed conversion rate between the euro and such specified currency adopted by
the Council of the European Union according to Article 109 1(4) first sentence of the Treaty of Rome.
“Index Currency” means the currency
specified in the applicable pricing supplement as the currency for which Compounded SOFR or LIBOR will be calculated. If no currency is
specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the Index Currency will be U.S. dollars.
“Index Maturity” means the period
to stated maturity of the instrument or obligation with respect to which the interest rate basis or bases will be calculated.
“Maturity” means the date on
which the principal of a note or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in the note or in the Senior Indenture,
whether at stated maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Original Issue Discount Note”
means:
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·
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any note where the difference between (x) the first price at which
a substantial amount of the notes that are part of the same issue is sold for money (other than to an underwriter, placement agent
or wholesaler) and (y) the stated redemption price at Maturity
of the note is at least 0.25% of that stated redemption price multiplied by the number of full years from the issue date to Maturity;
and
|
|
·
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any other note we designate as issued with original issue discount for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. The stated redemption price at Maturity of an Original Issue Discount Note is the total of all payments to
be made under the Original Issue Discount Note, other than payments of qualified stated interest.
|
“Participating Member
State” means a member state of the European Union that adopts the euro in accordance with the Treaty of Rome.
“Principal Financial Center”
means, unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement:
|
·
|
the capital city of the country issuing the specified currency except that
with respect to U.S. dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, euro, New Zealand dollars, South African rand and Swiss francs, the
Principal Financial Center will be The City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, London, Wellington, Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively; or
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|
·
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the capital city of the country to which the Index Currency relates, except
that with respect to U.S. dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, euro, New Zealand dollars, South African rand and Swiss francs,
the Principal Financial Center will be The City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, London, Wellington, Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively.
|
“Regular Record Date” will,
unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement, be the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a Business Day, immediately
preceding the related Interest Payment Date (as the Interest Payment Date may be adjusted by any applicable “business day convention”).
“Senior Indenture” means the
Indenture for Senior Debt Securities, dated October 19, 1996, by and between McDonald’s Corporation and the Trustee, as supplemented.
“specified currency” means the
currency in which a particular note is denominated or payable (or, if the currency is no longer legal tender for the payment of public
and private debts, any other currency of the relevant country or entity which is then legal tender for the payment of such debts).
“Spread” means the number of
basis points (one basis point equals one one-hundredth of a percentage point) that may be specified in the applicable pricing supplement
as being applicable to the interest rate basis or bases of a floating rate note.
“Spread Multiplier” means the
percentage that may be specified in the applicable pricing supplement as being applicable to the interest rate basis or bases of a floating
rate note.
“Treaty of Rome” means the Treaty
of Rome of March 25, 1957, as amended by various agreements, including the Treaty on European Union (1993), the Treaty of Amsterdam
(1999), the Treaty of Nice (2003) and as further amended, from time to time.
“Trustee” means U.S. Bank National
Association (formerly, First Union National Bank), or its successor.
Interest Rate Basis
Each floating rate note will have an interest rate
formula set forth, or otherwise described, in the applicable pricing supplement. The formula may be based on:
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·
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the Commercial Paper Rate;
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·
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The Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate;
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·
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the Federal Funds Rate;
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·
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the Federal Funds OIS Compound Rate;
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·
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another base rate or formula described in the pricing supplement.
|
The pricing supplement will also indicate any Spread
and/or Spread Multiplier, which would be applied to the interest rate formula to determine the interest rate. Any floating rate note may
have a maximum or minimum interest rate limitation but in no event shall the interest rate on a floating rate note be less than zero.
See “—Maximum and Minimum Interest Rates” below.
Interest Reset Dates
The interest rate on each floating rate note may
be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually (this period is the “Interest Reset Period,” and
the first day of each Interest Reset Period is an “Interest Reset Date”), as specified in the pricing supplement. Unless
otherwise specified in the pricing supplement, the Interest Rest Date associated with an Interest Reset Period is as follows:
Interest Reset Period
|
Interest Reset Date
|
Daily
|
Each Business Day
|
Weekly (other than Treasury Rate notes)1
|
Wednesday of each week
|
Monthly
|
Third Wednesday of each month
|
Quarterly
|
Third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year
|
Semiannually
|
Third Wednesday of each of the two months of each year specified in the pricing supplement
|
Annually
|
Third Wednesday of one month of each year specified in the pricing supplement
|
|
1
|
For Treasury Rate notes that reset weekly, Tuesday of each week (except as provided below under “—Treasury Rate Notes”)
is the Interest Reset Date.
|
Unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, if any Interest Reset Date for a floating rate note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, the applicable Interest
Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (the “Following Business Day Convention”),
except that in the case of a floating rate note as to which Compounded SOFR or LIBOR is the applicable interest rate basis, if the Business
Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the applicable Interest Reset Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day (the
“Modified Following Business Day Convention”). In addition, in the case of a floating rate note as to which Treasury
Rate is the applicable interest rate basis, if the Interest Determination Date would otherwise fall on an Interest Reset Date, then the
applicable Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day.
Unless otherwise specified on the applicable pricing
supplement, floating rate notes will accrue interest from and including the original issue date or the last date to which interest has
been paid or provided for, as the case may be, up to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date, as described below, or Maturity,
as the case may be.
Maximum and Minimum Interest Rates
A floating rate note may also have either or both
of the following:
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·
|
a maximum numerical limitation, or ceiling, on the annual rate at which interest
may accrue during any interest period (“Maximum Interest Rate”); and
|
|
·
|
a minimum numerical limitation, or floor, on the annual rate at which interest
may accrue during any interest period (“Minimum Interest Rate”).
|
In addition to any Maximum Interest Rate that
may be applicable to a floating rate note under the above provisions, the interest rate on floating rate notes will in no event be higher
than the maximum rate permitted by Illinois law, as the same may be modified by U.S. laws of general application.
Interest Payments
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, we will pay interest on floating rate notes as follows:
Interest Reset Period
|
Interest Payment Dates
|
Daily, weekly or monthly
|
Third Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year as specified in the applicable pricing supplement
|
Quarterly
|
Third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year
|
Semiannually
|
Third Wednesday of each of two months of each year specified in the pricing supplement
|
Annually
|
Third Wednesday of one month of each year specified in the pricing supplement
|
We will also pay interest on all notes at Maturity.
Unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, if any Interest Payment Date for a floating rate note other than an Interest Payment Date at Maturity would otherwise be a
day that is not a Business Day, the Interest Payment Date will follow the Following Business Day Convention, except that in the case of
a floating rate note as to which Compounded SOFR or LIBOR is the applicable interest rate basis, unless specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, if the Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will follow the Modified Following
Business Day Convention. If the Maturity of a floating rate note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal,
premium and interest, if any, will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on the payment will accrue for the period
from and after Maturity to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day.
Unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, all percentages resulting from any calculation on floating rate notes will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point, with five one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards. For example, 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be
rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from the calculation on floating rate notes will be rounded
to the nearest cent or, in the case of a foreign currency, to the nearest unit (with one-half cent or unit being rounded upward).
Interest payments on floating rate notes will equal
the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been
paid (or from and including the Issue Date, if no interest has been paid), to but excluding the related Interest Payment Date. Interest
payments on floating rate notes made at Maturity will include interest accrued to but excluding the date of Maturity.
Except as specified otherwise in the applicable
pricing supplement, each floating rate note will accrue interest on an “Actual/360” basis, an “Actual/Actual”
basis, or a “30/360” basis, in each case from the period from the Issue Date to the date of Maturity, unless specified otherwise
in the applicable pricing supplement. If no day count convention is specified in the applicable pricing supplement, interest on floating
rate notes will be paid on an “Actual/360” basis. For floating rate notes calculated on an Actual/360 basis and Actual/Actual
basis, accrued interest for each Interest Calculation Period, as defined below, will be calculated by multiplying:
|
(1)
|
the face amount of the floating rate Note;
|
|
(2)
|
the applicable interest rate; and
|
|
(3)
|
the actual number of days in the related Interest Calculation Period,
|
and dividing the resulting product by 360 or 365, as applicable; or
with respect to an Actual/Actual basis floating rate note, if any portion of the related Interest Calculation Period falls in a leap year,
the product of (1) and (2) above will be multiplied by the sum of:
|
·
|
the actual number of days in that portion of the related Interest Calculation Period falling in a leap year divided by 366; and
|
|
·
|
the actual number of days in that portion of the related Interest Calculation Period falling in a non-leap year divided by 365.
|
For floating rate notes calculated on a 30/360
basis, accrued interest for an Interest Calculation Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, irrespective
of how many days are actually in the Interest Calculation Period. Unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement, for
floating rate notes that accrue interest on a 30/360 basis, if any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity falls on a day that is not a
Business Day, the related payment of principal or interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date such
payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the Interest Payment Date or Maturity,
as the case may be.
“Interest Calculation Period”
means with respect to any period, the period from and including the most recent Interest Reset Date (or from and including the Issue Date
in the case of the first Interest Reset Date) to but excluding the next succeeding Interest Reset Date for which accrued interest is being
calculated.
Unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, interest with respect to notes for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases
will be calculated in the same manner as if only one of the applicable Interest Rate Bases applied.
Interest Determination Dates
The interest rate applicable to each Interest Reset
Period beginning on the Interest Reset Date with respect to that Interest Reset Period will be the rate determined on the applicable “Interest
Determination Date,” as follows unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement:
Interest Rate Basis
|
|
Interest Determination Date
|
CMS Rate, CMT Rate, Commercial Paper Rate and Prime Rate
|
|
The second Business Day preceding each Interest
Reset Date for the related Note.
|
Compounded SOFR
|
|
The second U.S. Government Securities Business Day preceding
each Interest Payment Date for the related Note.
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Federal Funds Rate
|
|
The same day as the Interest Reset Date or the first
Business Day preceding each Interest Reset Date, as specified in the pricing supplement for the related Note.
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Federal Funds OIS Compound Rate
|
|
The same day as each Interest Reset Date for the
related Note.
|
Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate
|
|
The last Business Day of the month immediately preceding
each Interest Reset Date on which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco publishes the Index, as defined below under
“—Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes.”
|
LIBOR
|
|
The second London Banking Day preceding each Interest Reset
Date, unless the Index Currency is the British pound sterling, in which case the Interest Determination Date will be the applicable
Interest Reset Date.
|
Treasury Rate
|
|
The day in the week in which the related Interest Reset Date falls on which day Treasury
Bills, as defined below, having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement are normally auctioned. Treasury
Bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally
held on the following Tuesday, except that the auction may be held on the preceding Friday; provided, however, that if an auction is
not held on Monday or Tuesday of the week in which the Interest Reset Date falls and an auction is held on the Friday of the week
preceding the related Interest Reset Date, the related Interest Determination Date will be that preceding Friday; and provided,
further, that if an auction falls on any Interest Reset Date, then the related Interest Reset Date will instead be the first
Business Day following the auction.
|
Floating Rate Note Where Interest Rate Determined With Reference to Two or More Interest Rate Bases
|
|
The most recent Business Day that is at least two Business Days prior to the Interest Reset Date for the floating rate note on which each interest rate basis is determinable.
Each interest rate basis will be determined and compared on that date, and the applicable interest rate will take effect on the related
Interest Reset Date.
|
Calculation Agent and Calculation Date
We may appoint a
calculation agent prior to the time of sale of any floating rate note. Any calculation agent we appoint will be specified in the
applicable pricing supplement. If we do not appoint a calculation agent, we will be responsible for making all calculations or
determinations as described herein. We will make these calculations and determinations in good faith and, absent manifest error, our
calculations will be final and binding on holders of the applicable floating rate notes and the Trustee. If we appoint a calculation
agent, such calculation agent will make certain calculations or determinations as described herein or in the applicable pricing
supplement. To the extent such calculations or determinations are based on a quotation from market providers (including quotations
from leading or major banks, brokers, dealers, securities dealers or swap dealers), such calculations or determinations shall be
made in accordance with the terms of a calculation agency agreement, between us and the appointed calculation agent, with respect to
such quotation, calculation or determination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, whenever the calculation
agent is referred to as selecting, determining or otherwise exercising discretion hereunder, this shall mean the calculation agent
acting in accordance with and under the terms of the calculation agency agreement and not in its sole discretion. Upon request of
the holder of any floating rate note or the Trustee, the calculation agent (or us, if there is no calculation agent) will provide
the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective as a result of a determination
made for the next Interest Reset Date with respect to such floating rate note. The calculation agent will be required to make
certain determinations and calculations as summarized in this prospectus supplement. Those determinations or calculations will be
conclusive for all purposes and binding on holders of the applicable floating rate notes, the Trustee and us without any
liability on the part of the calculation agent.
Unless specified otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, the “Calculation Date,” if applicable, pertaining to any Interest Determination Date, will be the earlier
of:
|
·
|
the
10th calendar day after the applicable Interest Determination Date, or, if that
day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day; or
|
|
·
|
the Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or Maturity,
as the case may be.
|
The Trustee shall have no responsibility
or liability for calculations made by the calculation agent (or us, if there is no calculation agent) and shall be entitled to conclusively
rely on the accuracy of such calculations.
CMS Rate Notes
CMS Rate Notes (“CMS
Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the CMS Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier,
if any) specified in the CMS Rate Notes and the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “CMS Rate” means the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for U.S.
dollar swaps having the Designated CMS Maturity Index specified in the applicable pricing supplement, expressed as a percentage, which
appears on the Reuters Screen ICESWAP1 Page or any Successor Source as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time.
The following procedures will
be followed if the CMS Rate cannot be determined as described above:
|
(1)
|
If the rate referred to above is no longer published on the relevant page, or if not published by 3:00
p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMS Rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date will be a percentage
determined on the basis of the mid-market semiannual swap rate quotations provided by five leading swap dealers (which may include one
or more of the agents, the calculation agent or their respective affiliates) in the New York City interbank market selected by the calculation
agent (after consultation with us) as of approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
related Interest Determination Date. For this purpose, the semiannual swap rate means the mean of the bid and offered rates for the semiannual
fixed leg, calculated on a 30/360 day count basis, of a fixed-for-floating U.S. dollar interest rate swap transaction having the Designated
CMS Maturity Index specified in the applicable pricing supplement in an amount that is representative for a single transaction in that
market at the time with an acknowledged dealer of good credit in the swap market, where the floating leg, calculated on an Actual/360
day count basis, is equivalent to USD-LIBOR-ICE with a designated stated maturity of three months. The calculation agent will request
the principal New York City office of each of the swap dealers to provide a quotation of this rate. If at least three quotations are provided,
the rate will be the arithmetic mean of the quotations, eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest)
and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest).
|
|
(2)
|
If fewer than three swap dealers selected by the calculation agent are quoting as referred to in clause
(1) above, the CMS Rate will be the rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date.
|
“Designated CMS Maturity
Index” means the original period to stated maturity of the CMS Rate specified in the applicable pricing supplement with respect
to which the CMS Rate will be calculated.
“Successor Source”
means, in relation to any display page, other published source, information vendor or provider: (i) the successor display page, other
published source, information vendor or provider that has been officially designated by the sponsor of the original page or source; or
(ii) if the sponsor has not officially designated a successor display page, other published source, information vendor or provider (as
the case may be), the successor display page, other published source, information vendor or provider, if any, designated by the relevant
information vendor or provider (if different from the sponsor).
CMT Rate Notes
CMT Rate Notes (“CMT
Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the CMT Rate and any Spread and/or Spread Multiplier
and subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any) specified in the CMT Rate Notes and in the applicable
pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “CMT Rate” means, for the applicable Interest Determination Date, any of the following
rates published by the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors as the yield is displayed for Treasury securities at “constant
maturity” under the column for the Designated CMT Maturity Index, as defined below, for:
|
·
|
the rate on that applicable Interest Determination Date, if the Designated CMT Reuters Page specified in
the pricing supplement is FRBCMT or any Successor Source; and
|
|
·
|
the week or the month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week in which the related Interest
Determination Date occurs, if the Designated CMT Reuters Page specified in the pricing supplement is FEDCMT or any Successor Source.
|
The following procedures will
be followed if the CMT rate cannot be determined as described above:
|
(1)
|
If the above rate is no longer displayed on the relevant page, or if not published by 3:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate will be the “Treasury constant maturities” rate for the Designated
CMT Maturity Index or other U.S. Treasury rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index on the applicable Interest Determination Date for
the related Interest Reset Date as may then be published by either the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the U.S. Department
of the Treasury that the calculation agent determines (after consultation with us) to be comparable to the rate formerly displayed on
the Designated CMT Reuters Page and published on the website of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors or in another recognized
electronic source.
|
|
(2)
|
If the information described in clause (1) above is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the calculation
agent as a yield to stated maturity, based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market closing offer side prices as of approximately
3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, of three leading primary U.S. government securities dealers
(which may include one or more of the agents, the calculation agent or their respective affiliates) in New York City
selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with us) (each, a “Reference Dealer”) from five such dealers
and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of
equality, one of the lowest) for the most recently issued direct noncallable fixed rate obligations of the United States, which are commonly
referred to as “Treasury notes,” with an original stated maturity equal to the Designated CMT Maturity Index specified in
the applicable pricing supplement, a remaining term to stated maturity no more than one year shorter than the Designated CMT Maturity
Index and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in that market at that time. If two Treasury notes with
an original stated maturity as described above have remaining terms to stated maturity equally close to the Designated CMT Maturity Index,
the quotes for the Treasury note with the shorter remaining term to stated maturity will be used.
|
|
(3)
|
If the calculation agent cannot obtain three Treasury notes quotations as described in clause (2) above,
the calculation agent will determine the CMT Rate to be a yield to stated maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market
offer side prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date of three Reference
Dealers, selected using the same method described in clause (2) above, for Treasury notes with an original stated maturity equal to the
number of years closest to but not less than the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining term to stated maturity closest to the
Designated CMT Maturity Index and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in that market
at that time.
|
|
(4)
|
If fewer than five but more than two of the Reference Dealers are quoting as described above, then the
CMT Rate will be based on the arithmetic mean of the offer prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of those quotes will
be eliminated.
|
|
(5)
|
If fewer than three Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent are quoting as described above,
the CMT Rate for that applicable Interest Determination Date will remain the CMT Rate for the immediately preceding Interest Reset Period,
or, if there was no Interest Reset Period, the rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate.
|
“Designated CMT
Maturity Index” means the original period to stated maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities, either one, two, three,
five, seven, 10, 20 or 30 years, specified in the applicable pricing supplement with respect to which the CMT Rate will be calculated. If
no stated maturity is specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the Designated CMT Maturity Index will be two years.
“Designated CMT Reuters
Page” means the Reuters Page specified in the applicable pricing supplement with respect to which the CMT Rate will be calculated.
Commercial Paper Rate
Notes
Commercial Paper Rate Notes (“Commercial
Paper Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the Commercial Paper Rate and the Spread and/or
Spread Multiplier, if any) specified in the Commercial Paper Rate Notes and the applicable pricing supplement. Commercial Paper Rate Notes
will be subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “Commercial Paper Rate” means the Money Market Yield, as defined below, on
the applicable
Interest Determination Date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement
published in the H.15 Daily Update under the heading “Commercial Paper—Nonfinancial.”
The following procedures will
be followed if the Commercial Paper Rate cannot be determined as described above:
|
(1)
|
If the rate referred to above is not published in the H.15 Daily Update by 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate for the Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the calculation
agent as the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, as of the
applicable Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers (which may include one or more of the agents, the calculation agent or
their respective affiliates) of U.S. dollar commercial paper in The City of New York, selected by the calculation
agent (after consultation with us) for U.S. dollar commercial paper having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement
placed for industrial issuers whose bond rating is “Aa,” or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized rating agency.
|
|
(2)
|
If the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (1) above, the Commercial
Paper Rate determined on the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination
Date.
|
“H.15 Daily Update”
means the daily statistical release designated as such published by the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors, or its successor, available
through the website of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15 or any Successor
Source.
“Money Market Yield”
means, in respect of any security with a stated maturity of six months or less, the rate for which is quoted on a bank discount basis,
a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
Money Market Yield =
|
D × 360
|
x 100
|
360 – (D x M)
|
where “D”
refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and “M”
refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.
Compounded SOFR Notes
Compounded SOFR Notes (“Compounded
SOFR Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to Compounded SOFR and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier,
if any) specified in the Compounded SOFR Notes and the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in
the applicable pricing supplement, a base rate designated as “Compounded SOFR” means the rate computed in accordance
with the following formula:
(
|
SOFR IndexEnd
|
-1) x
|
(
|
360
|
)
|
SOFR IndexStart
|
dc
|
where:
“SOFR IndexStart”
is the SOFR Index value for the day which is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the first date of the relevant interest
period;
“SOFR IndexEnd”
is the SOFR Index value for the day which is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the Interest Payment Date relating
to such interest period; and
“dc”
is the number of calendar days in the relevant Observation Period.
“SOFR Index,”
with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day, means:
|
(1)
|
the SOFR Index value as published by the SOFR Administrator as such index appears on the SOFR
Administrator’s Website at
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on such U.S. Government Securities Business Day (the “SOFR
Determination Time”); or
|
|
(2)
|
if a SOFR Index value specified in (1) above does not so appear at the SOFR Determination Time, then:
(a) if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have not occurred with respect to SOFR, then Compounded
SOFR shall be the rate determined pursuant to the “SOFR Index Unavailability” provisions below; or (b) if a Benchmark Transition
Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to SOFR, then Compounded SOFR shall be the rate determined
pursuant to the “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” provisions below.
|
“SOFR”
means the daily secured overnight financing rate as provided by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website;
“SOFR Administrator”
means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of SOFR);
“SOFR Administrator’s
Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor
website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the website of a successor administrator of SOFR; and
“Observation
Period” means, in respect of each interest period, the period from, and including, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business
Days preceding the first date in such interest period to, but excluding, the date two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding
the Interest Payment Date for such interest period.
The SOFR Index, which the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York started publishing on March 2, 2020, measures the cumulative impact of compounding the SOFR on a unit
of investment over time, with the initial value set to 1.00000000 on April 2, 2018, the first value date of the SOFR.
SOFR Index Unavailability
If SOFR IndexStart or SOFR IndexEnd
is not published on the relevant Interest Determination Date and a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date
have not occurred with respect to SOFR, “Compounded SOFR” will mean, for the relevant interest period for which such index
is not available, the rate of return on a daily compounded interest investment calculated in accordance with the formula for SOFR Averages,
and definitions required for such formula, published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/treasury-repo-reference-rates-information.
For the purposes of this provision, references in the SOFR Averages compounding formula and related definitions to “calculation
period” shall be replaced with “Observation Period” and the words “that is, 30-, 90-, or 180- calendar days”
shall be removed. If the daily SOFR (“SOFRi”) does not so appear for any day, “i” in the Observation
Period, SOFRi for such day “i” shall be SOFR published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities
Business Day for which SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.
Effect of Benchmark Transition Event
If we (or our designee) determine
that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any
determination of the Benchmark on any date, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating
to the Compounded SOFR Notes in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.
In connection with the implementation
of a Benchmark Replacement, we (or our designee) will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.
Any determination, decision or
election that may be made by us (or our designee) pursuant to this “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” subsection, including
any determination with respect to tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and
any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, will be
made in our (or our designee’s) sole discretion, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the documentation relating to
the Compounded SOFR Notes, shall become effective without consent from the holders of the Compounded SOFR Notes or any other party.
Certain Defined Terms
As used in this “Compounded
SOFR Notes” subsection:
“Benchmark”
means, initially, Compounded SOFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have
occurred with respect to Compounded SOFR (or the published daily SOFR or SOFR Index used in the calculation thereof) or the then-current
Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.
“Benchmark Replacement”
means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by us (or our designee) as of the Benchmark Replacement
Date:
|
(1)
|
the sum of (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental
Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
|
|
(2)
|
the sum of (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or
|
|
(3)
|
the sum of (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by us (or our designee) as the replacement
for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest
as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement
Adjustment.
|
“Benchmark Replacement
Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by us (or our designee) as of the
Benchmark Replacement Date:
|
(1)
|
the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), or method for calculating or
determining such spread adjustment, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted
Benchmark Replacement;
|
|
(2)
|
if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA
Fallback Adjustment; or
|
|
(3)
|
the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by us
(or our designee) giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread
adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated
floating rate notes at such time.
|
The Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall not
include the margin specified in the applicable pricing supplement and shall be applied to the Benchmark Replacement to determine the interest
payable on such Compounded SOFR Notes, provided that the Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for calculations made pursuant
to this definition and shall be entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of such calculations.
“Benchmark Replacement
Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including
changes to the definitions or interpretations of interest period, the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of
interest, the rounding of amounts or tenors and other administrative matters) that we (or our designee) decide may be appropriate to reflect
the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if we (or our designee) decide
that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if we (or our designee) determine that no market
practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as we (or our designee) determine is reasonably necessary).
“Benchmark Replacement
Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
|
(1)
|
in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later
of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of
the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
|
|
(2)
|
in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the
public statement or publication of information referenced therein.
|
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark
Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement
Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.
“Benchmark Transition
Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the
daily published component used in the calculation thereof):
|
(1)
|
a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark (or
such component) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component), permanently
or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to
provide the Benchmark (or such component);
|
|
(2)
|
a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the
Benchmark (or such component), the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark (or such component), an insolvency official with
jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator
for the Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for
the Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to
provide the Benchmark (or such component) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there
is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
|
|
(3)
|
a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the
Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.
|
For the avoidance of doubt, for
purposes of the definitions of Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Event, references to “Benchmark” also include
any reference rate underlying such Benchmark.
“Corresponding Tenor”
with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business
day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.
“ISDA” means
the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto.
“ISDA Definitions”
means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet
for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.
“ISDA Fallback Adjustment”
means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing
the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark.
“ISDA Fallback Rate”
means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an
index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.
“Reference Time”
with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is Compounded SOFR, the SOFR Determination Time, and (2)
if the Benchmark is not Compounded SOFR, the time determined by us (or our designee) in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming
Changes.
“Relevant Governmental
Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened
by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
“Unadjusted Benchmark
Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Eleventh District Cost of
Funds Rate Notes
Eleventh District Cost of Funds
Rate Notes (“Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference
to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any) specified in the Eleventh District Cost of
Funds Rate Notes and the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate” means the rate equal to the monthly
weighted
average cost of funds set forth opposite the caption “11TH Dist COFI:” on the Reuters Screen COFI/ARMS Page or any Successor
Source as of
11:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date.
The following procedures will
be followed if the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate cannot be determined as described above:
|
(1)
|
If the rate referred to above is no longer published on the relevant page, or if not published by 11:00
a.m., San Francisco time, on the related Calculation Date, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate for the applicable Interest
Determination Date will be the monthly weighted average cost of funds paid by member institutions of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan
Bank District that was most recently announced (the “Index”)
by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco as the cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding the applicable Interest
Determination Date.
|
|
(2)
|
If the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco fails to announce the Index as referred to in clause (1) on or before the related Calculation
Date for the calendar month immediately preceding the applicable Interest Determination Date, then the Eleventh District Cost of Funds
Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate in effect on the applicable Interest
Determination Date.
|
Federal Funds Rate Notes
Federal Funds Rate Notes (“Federal
Funds Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the Federal Funds Rate and the Spread and/or
Spread Multiplier, if any) specified in the Federal Funds Rate Notes and the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “Federal Funds Rate” means the rate with respect to the applicable Interest Determination
Date as set forth in the H.15 Daily Update for that day opposite the caption “Federal funds (effective)” as such rate is displayed
on the Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page or any Successor Source under the caption “EFFECT.”
The following procedures will
be followed if the Federal Funds Rate cannot be determined as described above:
|
(1)
|
If the rate referred to above is not so published by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Federal Funds
Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates for
the last transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers (which may include one or more of the agents,
the calculation agent or their respective affiliates) of U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in The City of New York, selected by the
calculation agent (after consultation with us), as of a time before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination
Date.
|
|
(2)
|
If the brokers so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as referred to in clause (1) above, the Federal Funds Rate for
the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date.
|
Federal Funds OIS Compound
Rate Notes
Federal Funds OIS Compound Rate
Notes (“Federal Funds OIS Compound Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the Federal
Funds OIS Compound Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any) specified in the Federal Funds OIS Compound Rate Notes and the
applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, the “Federal Funds OIS Compound Rate” on the applicable Interest Determination Date
immediately following an Interest Reset Period will be the rate of return of a daily compound interest investment calculated in accordance
with the formula set forth below:
where:
“d0”
is the number of New York Banking Days in the relevant Interest Reset Period;
“i”
is a series of whole numbers from one to d0, each representing the relevant New York Banking Days in chronological order from, and including,
the first New York Banking Day in the relevant Interest Reset Period;
“FEDFUNDi,”
for any day “i” in the relevant Interest Reset Period, is a reference rate equal to the rate set forth in the H.15 Daily
Update in respect of that day opposite the caption “Federal funds (effective)” as such rate is displayed on the Reuters Screen
FEDFUNDS1 Page or any Successor Source under the caption “EFFECT”; provided that (1) if such rate does not appear
on Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page or any Successor Source or is not yet published in the H.15 Daily Update by 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the related day, FEDFUNDi for that day will be calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates for the
last transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers (which may include one or more of the agents,
the calculation agent or their respective affiliates) of U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in The City of New York, selected by
the calculation agent (after consultation with us) as of a time before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable day, (2) if the
brokers so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as referred to in clause (1) above, FEDFUNDi for such day will be the rate
displayed on the Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page or any Successor Source in respect of the first preceding New York Banking Day, and (3)
if the rate is not displayed on Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page or any Successor Source in respect of the first preceding New York Banking
Day, then FEDFUNDi for such day will be the FEDFUNDi in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date;
“ni”
is the number of calendar days in the relevant Interest Reset Period on which the rate is FEDFUNDi;
“d”
is the number of calendar days in the relevant Interest Reset Period; and
“New York
Banking Day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealings in foreign exchange and
foreign currency deposits) in New York, New York.
LIBOR Notes
LIBOR Notes (“LIBOR
Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to LIBOR and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any)
specified in the LIBOR Notes and the applicable pricing supplement.
The calculation agent will determine
“LIBOR” on each Interest Determination Date as follows:
|
(1)
|
With respect to any Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will be generally determined as the average of the offered rates for deposits
in the Index Currency having the specified Index Maturity beginning on the second London Banking Day immediately after the Interest Determination
Date (or, if pounds sterling is the Index Currency, beginning on such date or, if euro is the Index Currency, beginning on the second
TARGET2 Settlement Day immediately after such date), that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,
on that Interest Determination Date, if at least two such offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page; provided that if the
specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the single rate will be used.
|
|
(2)
|
If fewer than two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, or, if no rate appears and the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms
provides only for a single rate, LIBOR for that Interest Determination Date will be determined based on the rates on that Interest Determination
Date at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, at which deposits on that date in the Index Currency for the period of the specified Index
Maturity are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks (which may include one or more of the agents, the
calculation agent or their respective affiliates) in that market selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with us) and in
a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Index Currency in such market at such time. The offered rates
must begin on the second London Banking Day immediately after such Interest Determination Date (or if pounds sterling is the Index Currency,
commencing on such Interest Determination Date or, if euro is the Index Currency, beginning on the second TARGET2 Settlement Day immediately
after such date). The calculation agent will request the principal London office of each of these banks to quote its rate. If the calculation
agent receives at least two quotations, LIBOR will be the average of those quotations.
|
|
(3)
|
If the calculation agent receives fewer than two quotations as referred to in clause (2) above, LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean
of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., in the Principal Financial Center, on the Interest Determination Date by major banks
(which may include one or more of the agents, the calculation agent or their respective
affiliates) in the Principal Financial Center selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with us). The rates will be for loans
in the Index Currency to leading European banks having the specified Index Maturity beginning on the second London Banking Day after such
Interest Determination Date (or, if pounds sterling is the Index Currency, commencing on such Interest Determination Date or, if euro
is the Index Currency, beginning on the second TARGET2 Settlement Day immediately after such Interest Determination Date) and in a principal
amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Index Currency in that market at that time.
|
|
(4)
|
If LIBOR is not determinable as described in clauses (1)-(3) above, LIBOR for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be equal
to the interest rate in effect during the most recent Interest Reset Period for which LIBOR was determinable as described in clauses (1)-(3)
above for the applicable LIBOR Notes.
|
“Designated LIBOR Page”
means the display page specified in the LIBOR Notes and the applicable pricing supplement, or if no page is so specified or LIBOR Reuters
is specified, the display on Reuters on page LIBOR01 or any Successor Source, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates
of major banks for the applicable Index Currency.
“TARGET2 Settlement
Day” means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) System or any
successor thereto is open.
Notwithstanding clauses (1)-(4)
above, if we (or our designee) determine on or prior to the relevant Interest Determination Date that a Benchmark Transition Event and
its related Benchmark Replacement Date (each, as defined in this “LIBOR Notes” subsection) have occurred with respect to LIBOR
(or the then-current Benchmark, as applicable), then the provisions set forth below under “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event,”
which are referred to as the benchmark transition provisions, will thereafter apply to all determinations of the rate of interest payable
on the LIBOR Notes. In accordance with the benchmark transition provisions, after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark
Replacement Date have occurred, the amount of interest that will be payable for each interest period will be an annual rate equal to the
sum of the Benchmark Replacement (as defined in this “LIBOR Notes” subsection) and the margin specified in the applicable
pricing supplement. However, if we (or our designee) determine that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement
Date have occurred with respect to the then-current Benchmark, but for any reason the Benchmark Replacement has not been determined as
of the relevant Interest Determination Date, the interest rate for the applicable interest period will be equal to the interest rate for
the immediately preceding interest period, as determined by us (or our designee).
In no event shall the calculation
agent or the Trustee be responsible for determining any substitute for LIBOR, or for making any adjustments to any alternative benchmark
or spread thereon, the Business Day convention, interest determination dates or any other relevant methodology for calculating any such
substitute or successor benchmark. In connection with the foregoing, the calculation agent will be entitled to conclusively rely on any
determinations made by us (or our designee) and will have no liability for such actions taken at our direction.
Any determination, decision or
election that may be made by us (or our designee) in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or a Benchmark Replacement, including
any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date
and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, may
be made in our or our designee’s sole discretion, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the transaction documents, will
become effective without consent from any other party. Neither the Trustee nor the calculation agent will have any liability for any determination
made by or on behalf of us (or our designee) in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or a Benchmark Replacement.
Effect of Benchmark Transition Event
If we (or our designee) determine
that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any
determination of the Benchmark on any date, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating
to the LIBOR Notes in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.
In connection with the implementation
of a Benchmark Replacement, we (or our designee) will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.
Any determination, decision or
election that may be made by us (or our designee) pursuant to this “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” subsection, including
any determination with respect to tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and
any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, will be
made in our (or our designee’s) sole discretion, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the documentation relating to
the LIBOR Notes, shall become effective without consent from the holders of the LIBOR Notes or any other party.
Certain Defined Terms
As used in this “LIBOR
Notes” subsection:
“Benchmark”
means, initially, LIBOR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred
with respect to LIBOR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.
“Benchmark Replacement”
means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark;
provided that if we (or our designee) cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date, then “Benchmark
Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by us (or our designee) as of the
Benchmark Replacement Date:
|
(1)
|
the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
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|
(2)
|
the sum of (a) Compounded SOFR (as defined below) and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
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|
(3)
|
the sum of (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement
for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
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|
(4)
|
the sum of (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or
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|
(5)
|
the sum of (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by us (or our designee) as the replacement for the then-current
Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for
the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
|
“Benchmark Replacement
Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by us (or our designee) as of the
Benchmark Replacement Date:
|
(1)
|
the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment,
that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;
|
|
(2)
|
if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; or
|
|
(3)
|
the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by us (or our designee) giving due
consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement
of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at
such time.
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The Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall not include the margin specified
in the applicable pricing supplement and shall be applied to the Benchmark Replacement to determine the interest payable on the applicable
LIBOR Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the definitions of Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Event,
references to “Benchmark” also include any reference rate underlying such Benchmark.
“Benchmark
Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or
operational changes (including changes to the definitions or interpretations of interest period, the timing and frequency of
determining rates and making payments of interest, the rounding of amounts or tenors and other administrative matters) that we (or
our designee) decide may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent
with market practice (or, if we (or our designee) decide that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not
administratively feasible or if we (or our designee) determine that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists,
in such other manner as we (or our designee) determine is reasonably necessary).
“Benchmark Replacement
Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
|
(1)
|
in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public
statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or
indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
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|
(2)
|
in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication
of information referenced therein.
|
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark
Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement
Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.
“Benchmark Transition
Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the
daily published component used in the calculation thereof):
|
(1)
|
a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark (or
such component) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component), permanently
or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue
to provide the Benchmark (or such component);
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|
(2)
|
a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component),
the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark (or such component), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator
for the Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component)
or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component),
which states that the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component)
permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will
continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
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|
(3)
|
a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that
the Benchmark is no longer representative.
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“Compounded SOFR”
means, with respect to LIBOR Notes, the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology
for this rate (which will be compounded in arrears with a lookback and/or suspension period as a mechanism to determine the interest
amount payable prior to the end of each interest period), and conventions for this rate being established by us (or our designee) in
accordance with: (1) the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental
Body for determining Compounded SOFR; provided that (2) if, and to the extent that, we (or our designee) determine that Compounded
SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this
rate that have been selected by us (or our designee) giving due consideration to any industry-accepted market practice for U.S. dollar
denominated floating rate notes at such time. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark
Replacement Adjustment and the margin specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
“Corresponding Tenor,”
with respect to a Benchmark Replacement, means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business
day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.
“Interpolated Benchmark,”
with respect to the Benchmark, means the rate determined for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between (1) the
Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor and (2) the Benchmark
for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor.
“ISDA” means
the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto.
“ISDA Definitions”
means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet
for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.
“ISDA Fallback Adjustment”
means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing
the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark.
“ISDA Fallback Rate”
means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an
index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.
“Reference Time”
with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is LIBOR, approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the
Interest Determination Date, and (2) if the Benchmark is not LIBOR, the time determined by us (or our designee) in accordance with the
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
“Relevant Governmental
Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened
by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
“SOFR” means
the daily secured overnight financing rate as provided by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.
“SOFR Administrator”
means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of SOFR).
“SOFR Administrator’s
Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor
website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the website of a successor administrator of SOFR.
“Term SOFR”
means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the
Relevant Governmental Body.
“Unadjusted Benchmark
Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Prime Rate Notes
Prime Rate Notes (“Prime
Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the Prime Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier,
if any) specified in the Prime Rate Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “Prime Rate” means the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date set forth
in the H.15 Daily Update opposite the caption “Bank prime loan.”
The following procedures will
be followed if the Prime Rate cannot be determined as described above:
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(1)
|
If the rate referred to above is not so published by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Prime Rate
for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the rate calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates
of interest publicly announced by each bank (which may include one or more of the agents, the calculation agent or their respective affiliates)
that appears on the Reuters Page US PRIME 1, as defined below, as that bank’s prime rate or base lending rate, as of 11:00 a.m.,
New York City time, for the applicable Interest Determination Date.
|
|
(2)
|
If fewer than four rates appear on the Reuters Page US PRIME 1 by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date,
the Prime Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the rate calculated by the calculation agent as
the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by three major banks (which may include one or more of the agents, the
calculation agent or their respective affiliates) in New York City, selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with us), as
its U.S. dollar prime rate or base lending rate as in effect for that day. Each change in the prime rate or base lending rate so announced
by such bank will be effective as of the effective date of the announcement or, if no effective date is specified, as of the date of the
announcement.
|
|
(3)
|
If the banks selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as described in clause (2) above, the Prime Rate for the applicable
Interest Determination Date will be the Prime Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date.
|
“Reuters Page US PRIME
1” means the display designated as the “US PRIME 1” page on Reuters, or any Successor Source, for the purpose of
displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major U.S. banks.
Treasury Rate Notes
Treasury Rate Notes (“Treasury
Rate Notes”) will bear interest at the rates (calculated with reference to the Treasury Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier,
if any) specified in the Treasury Rate Notes and the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless specified otherwise in
the applicable pricing supplement, “Treasury Rate” means the rate from the auction held on the applicable Interest
Determination Date (“Auction”) of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury Bills”) having
the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement which appears on either the Reuters Screen USAUCTION10 Page or any Successor
Source or the Reuters Screen USAUCTION11 Page or any Successor Source opposite such Index Maturity under the heading “INVEST RATE.”
The following procedures will
be followed if the Treasury Rate cannot be determined as described above:
|
(1)
|
If the rate referred to above is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Treasury
Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills
announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
|
|
(2)
|
If the rate described in clause (1) above is not announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, or if the Auction is not held,
the Treasury Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the applicable Interest
Determination Date of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement set forth in the H.15 Daily
Update under the caption “U.S. government securities/Treasury bills (secondary market).”
|
|
(3)
|
If the rate described in clause (2) above is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the
Treasury Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date of the applicable
Treasury Bills as published in the H.15 Daily Update under the caption “U.S. government securities/Treasury bills (secondary market).”
|
|
(4)
|
If the rate described in clause (3) above is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date,
the Treasury Rate for the applicable Interest Determination Date will be the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date
calculated by the calculation agent as the Bond Equivalent Yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of
approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, of three primary U.S. government
securities dealers (which may include one or more of the agents, the calculation agent or their respective affiliates), selected by
the calculation agent (after consultation with us), for the issue of Treasury Bills with
a remaining stated maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
|
|
(5)
|
If the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as described in clause (4) above, the Treasury Rate for the applicable
Interest Determination Date will be the rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date.
|
“Bond Equivalent Yield”
means, in respect of any security with a stated maturity of six months or less, the rate for which is quoted on a bank discount basis,
a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
Bond Equivalent Yield =
|
D × N
|
x 100
|
360 – (D x M)
|
where:
“D”
refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal;
“N”
refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be; and
“M”
refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.
European Monetary Union
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable pricing
supplement, to the extent legally permissible, neither the occurrence or non-occurrence of an EMU Event (as defined below), nor the entry
into force of any law, regulation, directive or order that requires us to redenominate on terms different from those we describe below,
will alter any term of, or discharge or excuse performance under, the Senior Indenture or the notes, nor would it permit the Trustee,
the holders of the notes or us the right unilaterally to alter or terminate the Senior Indenture or the notes or give rise to any event
of default or otherwise be the basis for any rescission or renegotiation of the Senior Indenture or the notes. To the extent legally permissible,
the occurrence or non-occurrence of an EMU Event will be considered to occur automatically pursuant to the terms of the notes.
An “EMU Event” means any event
associated with the European Monetary Union in the European Community, including:
|
·
|
the fixing of exchange rates between the currency of a Participating Member
State and the euro or between the currencies of Participating Member States;
|
|
·
|
the introduction of the euro as the lawful currency in a Participating Member
State;
|
|
·
|
the withdrawal from legal tender of any currency that, before the introduction
of the euro, was the lawful currency in any of the Participating Member States;
|
|
·
|
the disappearance or replacement of a relevant rate option or other price
source for the currency of any Participating Member State or the failure of the agreed price or rate sponsor or screen provider to publish
or display the required information; or
|
|
·
|
any combination of the above.
|
Redenomination
If payments on the notes are to be made in a foreign
currency and the issuing country of that currency becomes a Participating Member State, then we may, solely at our option and without
the consent of holders or the need to amend the Senior Indenture or the notes, redenominate all of those notes into euro (whether or not
any other similar debt securities are so redenominated) on any interest payment date and after the date on which that country became a
Participating Member State. We will give holders at least 30 days’ notice of the redenomination, including a description of the
way we will implement it.
If we elect to redenominate a tranche of notes,
the election to redenominate will have effect, as follows:
|
·
|
each denomination will be deemed to be denominated in such amount of
euro as is equivalent to its denomination or the amount of interest so specified in the relevant foreign currency at the fixed conversion rate adopted by the Council of the European Union
for the relevant foreign currency, rounded down to the nearest euro 0.01;
|
|
·
|
after the redenomination date, all payments in respect of those notes, other
than payments of interest in respect of periods commencing before the redenomination date, will be made solely in euro as though references
in those notes to the relevant foreign currency were to euro. Payments will be made in euro by credit or transfer to a euro account (or
any other account to which euro may be credited or transferred) specified by the payee, or at the option of the payee, by a euro cheque;
|
|
·
|
if those notes are notes which bear interest at a fixed rate and interest
for any period ending on or after the redenomination date is required to be calculated for a period of less than one year, it will be
calculated on the basis of the applicable fraction specified in the applicable pricing supplement;
|
|
·
|
if those notes are notes which bear interest at a floating rate, the applicable
pricing supplement will specify any relevant changes to the provisions relating to interest; and
|
|
·
|
such other changes shall be made to the terms of those notes as we may decide,
after consultation with the Trustee, and as may be specified in the notice, to conform them to conventions then applicable to debt securities
denominated in euro or to enable those notes to be consolidated with other notes, whether or not originally denominated in the relevant
foreign currency or euro. Any such other changes will not take effect until after they have been notified to the holders.
|
Indexed Notes
We may from time to time offer
notes (“Indexed Notes”) with the amounts payable determined by reference to:
|
·
|
the price or prices of specified commodities or stocks;
|
|
·
|
interest rate swap or exchange rate swap indices;
|
|
·
|
the exchange rate of one or more specified currencies relative to another currency; or
|
|
·
|
other indices as may be specified in the notes and described in the applicable pricing supplement.
|
Holders of Indexed Notes may
receive amounts at Maturity that are greater than or less than the face amount of the Indexed Notes. The method for determining the amounts,
if any, payable on Interest Payment Dates and at Maturity and any applicable historical information and other considerations, including
material tax considerations, associated with Indexed Notes, will be set forth in the applicable pricing supplement. See “Risk Factors—Risks
Related to Floating Rate Notes—Floating rate notes have risks that conventional fixed rate notes do not” in this prospectus
supplement for a description of risks associated with Indexed Notes.
For purposes of determining
the voting rights of a holder of an Indexed Note indexed as to principal under the Indenture, the principal amount of the Indexed Note
will be deemed to be equal to the face amount of that Note upon issuance.
Amortizing Notes
We may offer amortizing notes. Unless otherwise
specified in the pricing supplement, interest on an amortizing note will be computed using a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Payments
on amortizing notes will be applied first to interest due and payable and then to the unpaid principal amount. Further information about
amortizing notes will be specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
Book-Entry System
Upon issuance, all notes having the same
original issue date and otherwise identical terms will be represented by one or more global notes. Each global note representing
book-entry notes will be deposited with DTC. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder. DTC will keep a
computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the notes. Unless it is exchanged in
whole or in part for a certificated note, a global note may not be transferred, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors
may transfer a global note as a whole to one another.
Beneficial interests in global notes will be shown
on, and transfers of interests will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. The laws of some jurisdictions
require that certain purchasers take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a global note.
We will wire principal and interest payments to
DTC or its nominee. We and the Trustee will treat DTC or its nominee as the owner of a global note for all purposes. Accordingly, we,
the Trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on a global note to owners of beneficial
interests in a global note.
It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt
of any payment of principal or interest and corresponding detail information from us or the Trustee, to credit participants’ accounts
on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global note as shown on DTC’s records.
In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to participants whose accounts are credited
with notes on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global note, and
voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and owners of beneficial interests, as is
the case with notes held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” However, payments by participants to Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of the participants and not our responsibility or that of DTC or the Trustee.
Notes represented by a global note will be exchangeable
for certificated notes with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:
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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary
or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days;
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we determine not to require all of the notes of a series to be represented
by global notes and notify the Trustee of our decision; or
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there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default with respect
to the applicable notes of any series.
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Information Relating to DTC
The descriptions of operations and procedures of
DTC that follow are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within DTC’s control
and are subject to changes by DTC, from time to time. Neither we nor the agents take any responsibility for these operations and procedures
and urge you to contact DTC or its participants directly to discuss these matters. DTC has advised us as follows:
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DTC
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, as amended.
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DTC holds securities that its direct participants (“Direct Participants”)
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers
and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges in Direct Participants’ accounts,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
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Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.
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DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of Direct Participants of DTC and Members of the National
Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (NSCC, FICC, and EMCC, also
subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock
Exchange LLC, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
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Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers
and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant,
either directly or indirectly, which are referred to as “Indirect Participants” and, together with the Direct Participants,
the “Participants.”
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The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the
SEC.
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DTC will act as securities depository for the book-entry
notes. The book-entry notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership
nominee). One fully registered global note will be issued for each issue of book-entry notes, each in the aggregate principal amount of
such issue, and will be deposited with DTC. If, however, the aggregate principal amount of any issue exceeds $500 million, then one global
note will be issued with respect to each $500 million of principal amount, and an additional global note will be issued with respect to
any remaining principal amount of such issue.
Purchases of book-entry notes under DTC’s
system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for such book-entry notes on DTC’s records. The
ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Book-Entry Note represented by a global note (“Beneficial Owner”)
is in turn to be recorded on the records of Direct Participants and Indirect Participants. Beneficial Owners will not receive written
confirmation from DTC 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 Participants or Indirect Participants through which such
Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in a global note representing book-entry notes are to
be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners of a global note
representing book-entry notes will not receive certificated notes representing their ownership interests therein, except in the event
that use of the book-entry system for such book-entry notes is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global
notes representing book-entry notes which are deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee,
Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of global notes with, or
on behalf of, DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge
of the actual Beneficial Owners of the global notes representing the book-entry notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of
the Direct Participants to whose accounts such book-entry notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants
will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications
by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to
Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect,
from time to time. Beneficial Owners of global notes may wish to take certain steps to augment transmission to them of notices of significant
events with respect to the global notes, such as redemptions, tenders, defaults, and proposed amendments to the security documents. For
example, Beneficial Owners of global notes may wish to ascertain that the nominee holding the global notes for their benefit has agreed
to obtain and transmit notices to Beneficial Owners; in the alternative, Beneficial Owners may wish to provide their names and addresses
to the registrar and request that copies of the notices be provided directly to them.
If the global notes are redeemable, redemption
notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the global notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine
by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent
or vote with respect to the global notes representing the book-entry notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to
us as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or
voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the book-entry notes are credited on the applicable record date (identified
in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Payments of principal, premium, if any,
and/or interest, if any, on the global notes representing the book-entry notes will be made to DTC. DTC’s practice is to
credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the
Trustee for such notes on the payable date in accordance with the respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. 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 DTC, the Trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to
time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on any of the global notes representing book-entry notes to
DTC is the responsibility of us and the Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants shall be the
responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners shall be the responsibility of Direct Participants
and Indirect Participants.
A Beneficial Owner will give notice of any option
to elect to have its book-entry notes repaid by us, through its Participant, to the Trustee, and will effect delivery of the applicable
book-entry notes by causing the Direct Participant to transfer the Participant’s interest in the global note or notes representing
such book-entry notes, on DTC’s records, to the Trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of book-entry notes in connection
with a demand for repayment will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the global note or notes representing such book-entry
notes are transferred by Direct Participants on DTC’s records.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depository with respect to the book-entry notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the Trustee. Under such circumstances,
in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificated notes are required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system
of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, certificated notes will be printed and delivered.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that
certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability
to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global notes.
The information in this “Information Relating
to DTC” subsection concerning DTC and DTC’s system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but neither
we nor any agent takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
Clearstream Luxembourg and Euroclear Systems
Investors may elect to hold interests in book-entry
notes through either DTC (in the United States) or Clearstream Banking S.A. (“Clearstream Luxembourg”) or Euroclear
Bank S.A./N.V., or its successor, as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) (in Europe) if they are participants
of those systems, or indirectly, through organizations that are participants in such systems. Interests held through Clearstream Luxembourg
and Euroclear will be recorded on DTC’s books as being held by the U.S. depositary for each of Clearstream Luxembourg and Euroclear,
which U.S. depositaries will in turn hold interests on behalf of their participants’ securities accounts.
Clearstream Luxembourg has advised us that it was
incorporated as a limited liability company under the laws of Luxembourg. Clearstream Luxembourg holds securities for its participating
organizations (“Clearstream Luxembourg Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions
between Clearstream Luxembourg Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Luxembourg Participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Transactions may be settled by Clearstream Luxembourg in many currencies,
including U.S. dollars. Clearstream Luxembourg provides to Clearstream Luxembourg Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping,
administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream Luxembourg
also deals with domestic securities markets in over 30 countries through established depositary and custodial relationships. Clearstream
Luxembourg has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.
As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream
Luxembourg is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (Commission for the Supervision
of the Financial Sector). Clearstream Luxembourg Participants are financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the agents or their
affiliates. Indirect access to Clearstream Luxembourg is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies
that clear through, or maintain a custodial relationship with, a Clearstream Luxembourg Participant.
Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially
through Clearstream Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Luxembourg Participants in accordance with its rules and
procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream Luxembourg.
Euroclear has advised us that it was created in
1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions
between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services,
including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear
Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear plc,
a United Kingdom corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts
and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear
on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and
other professional financial intermediaries and may include the agents or their affiliates. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available
to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts
with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of
the Euroclear system, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions
govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments
with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates
to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants,
and has no record of, or relationship with, persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially
through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the
extent received by the U.S. depositary of Euroclear.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Initial settlement for the notes will be made in
immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s
rules. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Luxembourg Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way
in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream Luxembourg and Euroclear, respectively, and will be settled
using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding
directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Luxembourg or Euroclear Participants,
on the other, will be effected within DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing
system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European
international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established
deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements,
deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving notes in
DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures. Clearstream Luxembourg Participants and Euroclear Participants
may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes
received in Clearstream Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Participant in DTC will be made during subsequent
securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits, or any transactions in the
notes settled during such processing, will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Luxembourg Participants on
that business day. Cash received in Clearstream Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of sales of notes by, or through a Clearstream Luxembourg
Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the business day of settlement in DTC but
will be available in the relevant Clearstream Luxembourg or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in
DTC.
Although DTC, Clearstream Luxembourg and Euroclear
have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream Luxembourg
and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued
at any time.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCY
NOTES
General
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, foreign currency notes will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country issuing the specified currency. The information
set forth in this prospectus supplement is directed to prospective purchasers who are U.S. residents and, with respect to foreign currency
notes, is by necessity incomplete. We and the agents disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers who are residents of
countries other than the United States with respect to any matters that may affect the purchase, holding or receipt of payments of principal
of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, their foreign currency notes. These purchasers should consult their own financial and
legal advisors with regard to these risks. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Foreign Currency Notes— Investment in
foreign currency notes entails significant risks that are not associated with an investment in a debt security denominated and payable
in U.S. dollars.”
Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, we are obligated to make payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, a foreign currency note
in the specified currency. Any amounts so payable by us in the specified currency will be converted by the exchange rate agent named in
the applicable pricing supplement (the “exchange rate agent”) into U.S. dollars for payment to the registered holders
thereof unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement or a registered holder elects, in the manner described below,
to receive these amounts in the specified currency.
Any U.S. dollar amount to be received by a registered
holder of a foreign currency note will be based on the highest bid quotation in New York City received by the exchange rate agent
at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date (or, if no
such rate is quoted on that date, the last date on which such rate was quoted) from three (or, if three are not available, then two) recognized
foreign exchange dealers (which may include the agents, their affiliates or the exchange rate agent) selected by the exchange rate agent
and approved by us for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the specified currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on that payment date
in the aggregate amount of the specified currency payable to all registered holders of foreign currency notes scheduled to receive U.S.
dollar payments and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. All currency exchange costs will be borne by the registered
holders of foreign currency notes by deductions from any payments. If at least two bid quotations are not available, payments will be
made in the specified currency, except as described below under “—Availability of Specified Currency.”
Registered holders of foreign currency notes may
elect to receive all or a specified portion of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in the specified currency
by submitting a written request to the Trustee at its corporate trust office in New York City on or prior to the applicable record
date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity, as the case may be. This written request may be mailed, hand delivered or
sent by cable, telex or other form of facsimile transmission. This election will remain in effect until revoked by written notice delivered
to the Trustee on or prior to a record date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity, as the case may be. Registered holders
of foreign currency notes to be held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact their broker or nominee to determine whether and
how an election to receive payments in the specified currency may be made.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
pricing supplement, if the specified currency is other than U.S. dollars, a Beneficial Owner of a global security that elects to
receive payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in the specified currency must notify the Participant
through which it owns its interest on or prior to the applicable record date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the
Maturity, as the case may be, of its election. The applicable Participant must notify the depositary of its election on or prior to
the third Business Day after the applicable record date or at least twelve calendar days prior to the Maturity, as the case may be,
and the depositary will notify the Trustee of that election on or prior to the fifth Business Day after the applicable record date
or at least 10 calendar days prior to the Maturity, as the case may be. If complete instructions are received by the Participant
from the applicable Beneficial Owner and forwarded by the Participant to the depositary, and by the depositary to the Trustee, on or
prior to such dates, then the applicable Beneficial Owner will receive payments in the specified currency.
We will make payments of the principal of,
and premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on, foreign currency notes that are to be made in U.S. dollars in the manner specified
herein with respect to notes denominated in U.S. dollars. See “Description of Notes—General.” We will make
payments of interest, if any, on foreign currency notes that are to be made in the specified currency on an Interest Payment Date
other than the Maturity by check mailed to the address of the registered holders of their foreign currency notes as they appear in
the security register, subject to the right to receive these interest payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds under
the circumstances described under “Description of Notes—General.” We will make payments of principal of, and
premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on, foreign currency notes that are to be made in the specified currency on the Maturity
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account with a bank designated at least fifteen calendar days prior to the
Maturity by the applicable registered holder, provided the particular bank has appropriate facilities to make these payments and the
particular foreign currency note is presented and surrendered at the office or agency maintained by the Trustee for this purpose in
the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, in time for the Trustee to make these payments in accordance with its normal
procedures.
Availability of Specified Currency
If the specified currency for foreign currency
notes is not available for any required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, due to the imposition of exchange
controls or other circumstances beyond our control, we will be entitled to satisfy our obligations to the registered holders of these
foreign currency notes by making payments in U.S. dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate, computed by the exchange rate agent,
on the second Business Day prior to the particular payment or, if the Market Exchange Rate is not then available, on the basis of the
most recently available Market Exchange Rate.
The “Market Exchange Rate” for
a specified currency other than U.S. dollars means the noon U.S. dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers for the
specified currency as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York.
All determinations made by the exchange rate agent
shall be at its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the registered
holders of the foreign currency notes.
Judgments
Under current Illinois law, a state court in the
State of Illinois may, at the request of the claimant, render a judgment in respect of a foreign currency note in the specified currency.
Any such judgment made in the specified currency would be payable in that currency or, at the option of the payor, in the amount of U.S.
dollars that would purchase that currency as of the banking day next preceding the date on which the money is paid to the claimant. A
non-Illinois state court may not follow the same rules and procedures with respect to payments and conversions of foreign currency judgments.
U.S. TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal
income tax considerations that may be relevant to a Beneficial Owner of a note. This summary is based on laws, regulations, rulings and
decisions now in effect, which may change. Any change could apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary.
This summary deals only with Beneficial Owners that hold notes as capital assets. It does not address specific tax considerations applicable
to investors that may be subject to special tax rules, such as entities that are treated as pass-through entities (e.g., partnerships)
for U.S. federal income tax purposes or persons who hold the notes through such pass-through entities, banks, thrifts, real estate investment
trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities or commodities
that elect mark to market treatment, persons that will hold notes as a hedge against currency or other risks or as a position in a “straddle”
or conversion transaction, tax exempt organizations, controlled foreign corporations, former U.S. citizens or residents of the United
States subject to special expatriation rules, or persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar. It
is intended to apply only to investors who acquire their notes upon original issuance, or investors who acquire their notes in a subsequent
purchase and are not members of our expanded affiliated group, as defined in the Treasury regulations under Section 385 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). For the purposes of this discussion, a U.S. holder is an individual
who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a U.S. domestic corporation, or any other person that is subject to U.S. federal income
tax on a net income basis in respect of its investment in a note.
This summary deals only with notes that are due
to mature 30 years or less from the date on which they are issued. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning notes that are due
to mature more than 30 years from their date of issue will be discussed in the applicable pricing supplement.
An accrual method taxpayer that reports revenues
on an applicable financial statement generally must recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than the taxable year
in which such income is taken into account as revenue in an applicable financial statement of the taxpayer. To the extent this rule is
inconsistent with the rules described below, this rule supersedes such rules. Thus, this rule could potentially require such a taxpayer
to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to the notes prior to the time such income would be recognized pursuant
to the rules described below. Potential investors in the notes should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential applicability
of these rules to their investment in the notes.
You should consult your tax adviser about the tax
consequences of holding notes, including the relevance to your particular situation of the considerations discussed below, as well as
of state, local or other tax laws.
U.S. Holders
Payments or Accruals of Interest
Payments of or accruals of “qualified stated
interest” (as defined below) on a note will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time that the holder
accrues or receives such amounts (in accordance with the holder’s method of tax accounting). If a U.S. holder using the cash method
of tax accounting receives payments of interest pursuant to the terms of a note in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars
(a “foreign currency”), the amount of interest income to be included in income by the holder will be the U.S. dollar
value of the foreign currency payment based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt regardless of whether the payment is
converted into U.S. dollars. In the case of a U.S. holder who uses the accrual method of accounting or who is otherwise required to accrue
interest prior to receipt, the amount of interest income will be based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual
period (or with respect to an interest accrual period that spans two taxable years, at the average exchange rate for the partial period
within the taxable year). Alternatively, an accrual basis U.S. holder may elect to translate all interest income on foreign currency-denominated
notes at the spot rate on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year, in the case of an accrual period that
spans more than one taxable year) or at the spot rate on the date the holder receives the interest payment if that date is within five
business days of the end of the accrual period. A U.S. holder that makes this election must apply it consistently to all debt instruments
from year to year, including all debt instruments subsequently acquired, and cannot change the election without the consent of the Internal
Revenue Service (the “IRS”). A U.S. holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes will recognize
foreign currency gain or loss on the receipt of a foreign currency interest payment if the exchange rate in effect on the date the payment
is received differs from the rate applicable to a previous accrual of that interest income. This foreign currency gain or loss will be
treated as ordinary income or loss, but generally will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the note.
Purchase, Sale and Retirement of Notes
A U.S. holder’s tax basis in a note generally
will equal the cost of the note to that holder, increased by any amounts includible in income by the holder as original issue discount
and market discount, and reduced (but not below zero) by any amortized premium (each as described below) and any payments other than payments
of qualified stated interest made on the note. The cost to a U.S. holder of a note denominated in a foreign currency will be the U.S.
dollar value of the foreign currency purchase price on the date of purchase calculated at the exchange rate in effect on that date. In
the case of a foreign currency note that is traded on an established securities market, a cash-basis U.S. holder (or, if it so elects,
an accrual-basis U.S. holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the cost of the note by translating the amount paid at the spot
rate of exchange on the settlement date of the purchase. The amount of any subsequent adjustments to the holder’s tax basis in a
note in respect of foreign currency-denominated original issue discount, market discount and premium will be determined in the manner
described below. The conversion of U.S. dollars to a foreign currency and the immediate use of that currency to purchase a note generally
will not result in taxable gain or loss for a U.S. holder.
Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a note,
a U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the transaction (less any accrued
but unpaid qualified stated interest, which will be taxable as such) and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the note. If a U.S. holder
receives foreign currency in respect of the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency note, the amount realized generally will
be the dollar value of the foreign currency the holder receives calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date the foreign currency
note is disposed of or retired. In the case of a foreign currency note that is traded on an established securities market, a cash-basis
U.S. holder (or, if it so elects, an accrual-basis U.S. holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized by translating
the amount at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale, exchange or retirement.
The election available to accrual-basis U.S. holders
in respect of the purchase and sale of foreign currency notes traded on an established securities market, which is discussed in the two
preceding paragraphs, must be applied consistently to all debt instruments from year to year, including all debt instruments subsequently
acquired, and cannot be changed without the consent of the IRS.
Except as discussed below with respect to market
discount and foreign currency gain or loss, gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder on the sale, exchange or retirement of a note generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the note for more than one year at the time of disposition, and otherwise
will be short-term capital gain or loss. Net long-term capital gains recognized by an individual U.S. holder may be subject to preferential
tax rates. The ability of U.S. holders to offset capital losses against ordinary income is limited.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain or loss recognized
by a U.S. holder on the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency note generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss to
the extent that the gain or loss is attributable to changes in exchange rates during the period in which the holder held the note. This
foreign currency gain or loss will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income that the holder receives on the note.
Original Issue Discount
U.S. holders of Original Issue Discount Notes generally
will be subject to the special tax accounting rules for original issue discount obligations provided by the Code and certain Treasury
regulations. U.S. holders of these notes should be aware that, as described in greater detail below, they generally must include original
issue discount in ordinary gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it accrues on a constant yield to maturity basis regardless
of when such holder receives the cash attributable to that income.
In general, each U.S. holder of an Original
Issue Discount Note with a maturity greater than one year, whether the U.S. holder uses the cash or the accrual method of tax
accounting, will be required to include in ordinary gross income the sum of the “daily portions” of original issue
discount on that note for all days during the taxable year that the holder owns the note whether or not such U.S. holder has
received any cash payment with respect to the notes. The daily portions of original issue discount on an Original Issue Discount
Note are determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period a ratable portion of the original issue discount allocable to
that period. Accrual periods may be any length and may vary in length over the term of an Original Issue Discount Note, so long as
no accrual period is longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs on the first or last day of an
accrual period. In the case of an initial holder, the amount of original issue discount on an Original Issue Discount Note allocable
to each accrual period is determined by (i) multiplying the “adjusted issue price” (as defined below) of the note
at the beginning of the accrual period by a fraction, the numerator of which is the annual yield to maturity of the note and the
denominator of which is the number of accrual periods in a year and (ii) subtracting from that product the amount (if any)
payable as qualified stated interest allocable to that accrual period. The term “qualified stated interest” generally
means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments issued by us) at least
annually during the entire term of an Original Issue Discount Note at a single fixed interest rate or, subject to certain
conditions, based on one or more interest indices.
In the case of an Original Issue Discount Note
that is a floating rate note qualifying as a variable rate debt instrument as defined in the Treasury Regulations, both the “annual
yield to maturity” and the “qualified stated interest” will be determined for these purposes as though the note will
bear interest in all periods at a fixed rate generally equal to the rate that would be applicable to interest payments on the note on
its date of issue or, in the case of some floating rate notes, the rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the note.
Accordingly, the stated interest that is payable at least annually on a floating rate note generally will be treated as “qualified
stated interest” and such note will not be an Original Issue Discount Note solely as a result of the fact that it provides for interest
at a variable rate. If a floating rate note does not qualify as a “variable rate debt instrument,” the note will be subject
to special rules that govern the tax treatment of debt obligations that provide for contingent payments. (Additional rules may apply if
interest on a floating rate note is based on more than one interest index. We will provide detailed guidance of the tax considerations
relevant to U.S. holders of any such notes in the pricing supplement.)
The “adjusted issue price” of an Original
Issue Discount Note at the beginning of any accrual period will generally be the sum of its issue price (including any accrued interest)
and the amount of original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual periods, reduced by the amount of all payments other than any
qualified stated interest payments on the note in all prior accrual periods. All payments on an Original Issue Discount Note (other than
qualified stated interest) will generally be viewed first as payments of previously accrued original issue discount (to the extent of
the previously accrued discount), with payments considered made from the earliest accrual periods first, and then as a payment of principal.
The “annual yield to maturity” of a note is the discount rate (appropriately adjusted to reflect the length of accrual periods)
that causes the present value on the issue date of all payments on the note to equal the issue price. As a result of this “constant
yield” method of including original issue discount income, the amounts so includible in gross income by a U.S. holder in respect
of an Original Issue Discount Note denominated in U.S. dollars are generally lesser in the early years and greater in the later years
than amounts that would be includible on a straight-line basis.
A U.S. holder generally may make an irrevocable
election to include in its income its entire return on a note (i.e., the excess of all remaining payments to be received on the note,
including payments of qualified stated interest, over the amount paid by the holder for the note) under the constant yield method described
above. For notes purchased at a premium or bearing market discount in the hands of the U.S. holder, the holder making this election will
also be deemed to have made the election (discussed below under “—Premium and Market Discount”) to amortize premium
or to accrue market discount in income currently on a constant yield basis.
In the case of an Original Issue Discount Note
that is also a foreign currency note, a U.S. holder should determine the U.S. dollar amount includible as original issue discount for
each accrual period by (i) calculating the amount of original issue discount allocable to each accrual period in the foreign currency
using the constant yield method, and (ii) translating the foreign currency amount so received at the average exchange rate in effect
during that accrual period (or, with respect to an interest accrual period that spans two taxable years, at the average exchange rate
for each partial period). Alternatively, the holder may translate the foreign currency amount so derived at the spot rate of exchange
on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year, for an accrual period that spans two taxable years) or at
the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt, if that date is within five business days of the last day of the accrual period, provided
that the U.S. holder has made the election described under “—Payments or Accruals of Interest” above. Because exchange
rates may fluctuate, a U.S. holder of an Original Issue Discount Note that is also a foreign currency note may recognize a different amount
of original issue discount income in each accrual period than would the holder of an otherwise similar Original Issue Discount Note denominated
in U.S. dollars. Upon the receipt of an amount attributable to original issue discount (whether in connection with a payment of an amount
that is not qualified stated interest or the sale or retirement of the Original Issue Discount Note), a U.S. holder will recognize ordinary
income or loss measured by the difference between the amount received (translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on
the date of receipt or on the date of disposition of the Original Issue Discount Note, as the case may be) and the amount accrued (using
the exchange rate applicable to such previous accrual).
A subsequent U.S. holder of an Original Issue Discount
Note that purchases the note at a cost less than its “remaining redemption amount,” or an initial U.S. holder that purchases
an Original Issue Discount Note at a price other than the note’s issue price, also generally will be required to include in gross
income the daily portions of original issue discount, calculated as described above. However, if the subsequent holder acquires the Original
Issue Discount Note at a price greater than its adjusted issue price, the holder may reduce its periodic inclusions of original issue
discount income to reflect the premium paid over the adjusted issue price. The remaining redemption amount for an Original Issue Discount
Note is the total of all future payments to be made on the note other than qualified stated interest.
Certain of the Original Issue Discount Notes may
be redeemed prior to Maturity, either at our option or at the option of the holder, or may have special repayment or interest rate reset
features as indicated in the pricing supplement. Original Issue Discount Notes containing these features may be subject to rules that
differ from the general rules discussed above. If you purchase Original Issue Discount Notes with these features, you should carefully
examine the pricing supplement and consult your tax adviser about them since the tax consequences of original issue discount will depend,
in part, on the particular terms and features of the notes.
Short-Term Notes
The rules described above will also generally apply
to Original Issue Discount Notes with maturities of one year or less (“short-term notes”), but with some modifications.
First, the original issue discount rules treat
none of the interest on a short-term note as qualified stated interest, but treat a short-term note as having original issue discount.
Thus, all short-term notes will be Original Issue Discount Notes. Except as noted below, a cash basis U.S. holder of a short-term note
will generally not be required to accrue original issue discount currently, but will be required to treat any gain realized on a sale,
exchange or retirement of the note as ordinary income to the extent such gain does not exceed the original issue discount accrued with
respect to the note during the period the holder held it. A U.S. holder may not be allowed to deduct all of the interest paid or accrued
on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry a short-term note until Maturity of the note or its earlier disposition
in a taxable transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a cash-basis U.S. holder of a short-term note may elect to accrue original issue
discount on a current basis (in which case the limitation on the deductibility of interest described above will not apply). A U.S. holder
using the accrual method of tax accounting and some cash method holders (including banks, securities dealers, regulated investment companies
and certain trust funds) generally will be required to include original issue discount on a short-term note in gross income on a current
basis. Original issue discount will be treated as accruing for these purposes on a ratable basis or, at the election of the holder, on
a constant yield basis based on daily compounding.
Second, any U.S. holder of a short-term note (whether
a cash- or accrual-basis holder) can elect to accrue the “acquisition discount,” if any, with respect to the note on a current
basis. Acquisition discount is the excess of the remaining redemption amount of the note at the time of acquisition over the purchase
price. This election, once made, applies to all obligations acquired by the U.S. holder on or after the first day of the first taxable
year to which such election applies unless revoked with the consent of the IRS. Acquisition discount will be treated as accruing ratably
or, at the election of the holder, under a constant yield method based on daily compounding. If a U.S. holder elects to accrue acquisition
discount, the original issue discount rules will not apply.
Finally, the market discount rules described below
will not apply to short-term notes.
As described above, certain of the notes may be
subject to special redemption features. These features may affect the determination of whether a note has a maturity of one year or less
and thus is a short-term note. If you purchase notes with these features, you should carefully examine the pricing supplement and consult
your tax adviser about these features.
Premium and Market Discount
A U.S. holder that purchases a note at a cost
greater than the note’s remaining redemption amount will be considered to have purchased the note at a premium, and may elect
to amortize the premium as an offset to interest income, using a constant yield method, over the remaining term of the note. This
election, once made, generally applies to all debt instruments held or subsequently acquired by the holder during or after the first
taxable year to which the election applies unless revoked with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. holder that elects to amortize the
premium must reduce its tax basis in the note by the amount of the premium amortized during its holding period. Original Issue
Discount Notes purchased at a premium will not be subject to the original issue discount rules described above. In the case of
premium on a foreign currency note, the holder should calculate the amortization of the premium in the foreign currency.
Amortization deductions attributable to a period reduce interest payments in respect of that period, and therefore are translated
into U.S. dollars at the rate used by the U.S. holder for those interest payments. Exchange gain or loss will be realized with
respect to amortized premium on a foreign currency note based on the difference between the exchange rate computed on the date or
dates the premium is amortized against interest payments on the note and the exchange rate on the date when the holder acquired the
note. For a U.S. holder that does not elect to amortize premium, the amount of premium will be included in the holder’s tax
basis when the note matures or is disposed of. Therefore, a U.S. holder that does not elect to amortize premium and that holds the
note to Maturity must generally treat the premium as capital loss when the note matures.
If a U.S. holder purchases a note at a price that
is lower than the note’s remaining redemption amount, or in the case of an Original Issue Discount Note, the note’s adjusted
issue price, by 0.25% or more of the remaining redemption amount (or adjusted issue price), multiplied by the number of remaining whole
years to Maturity, the note will be considered to bear “market discount” in the hands of the holder. In this case, gain realized
by the holder on the disposition of the note generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of the market discount
that accrued on the note while held by the holder. In addition, the holder could be required to defer the deduction of a portion of the
interest paid on any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the note. In general, market discount will be treated as
accruing ratably over the term of the note, or, at the election of the holder, under a constant yield method. A U.S. holder must accrue
market discount on a foreign currency note in the specified currency. The amount includible in income by a U.S. holder in respect of accrued
market discount will be the U.S. dollar value of the accrued amount, generally calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date that
the note is disposed of.
A U.S. holder may elect to include market discount
in gross income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or constant yield basis), in lieu of treating a portion of any gain realized
on a sale of the note as ordinary income. If a U.S. holder elects to include market discount on a current basis, the interest deduction
deferral rule described above will not apply. The election, once made, applies to all market discount debt instruments acquired by
the U.S. holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies unless revoked with the consent of the
IRS. Any accrued market discount on a foreign currency note that is currently includible in income will be translated into U.S. dollars
at the average exchange rate for the accrual period (or portion thereof within the holder’s taxable year).
Indexed Notes and Other Notes Providing for Contingent Payment
Special rules govern the tax treatment of debt
obligations that provide for contingent payments (“contingent debt obligations”). These rules generally require accrual
of interest income on a constant yield basis in respect of contingent debt obligations at a yield determined at the time of issuance of
the obligation, and may require adjustments to these accruals when any contingent payments are made. We will provide a detailed description
of the tax considerations relevant to U.S. holders of any contingent debt obligations in the pricing supplement.
Medicare Tax
A 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on a portion or
all of the net investment income of certain individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of over $200,000 (or $250,000 in the case
of joint filers or $125,000 in the case of married individuals filing separate returns) and on the undistributed net investment income
of certain estates and trusts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally will include interest (including interest
paid or accrued with respect to the notes), dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, net gain attributable to the disposition of property
not held in a trade or business (including net gain from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of notes) and certain
other income, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
The paying agent or other reporting agent will
be required to file information returns with the IRS with respect to payments made to certain U.S. holders. In addition, certain U.S.
holders may be subject to a backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 24%) in respect of these payments if they do not provide their
taxpayer identification numbers to the paying agent or other reporting agent.
Non-U.S. Holders
If a holder is a non-resident alien individual
or a foreign corporation that is the beneficial owner of the notes (a “non-U.S. holder”):
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(a)
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payments of interest (including any original issue discount) on a note made to such non-U.S. holder will not be subject to withholding
of U.S. federal income tax, provided that, with respect to payments of interest on a note: (i) the non-U.S. holder does not actually
or constructively own 10% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock and is not a controlled foreign corporation
related to us through stock ownership; (ii) the payments are not payments of contingent interest as described in Section 871(h)(4) of
the Code (generally, interest (including original issue discount), the amount of which is determined by reference to our receipts, sales,
cash flow, income, profits, property values, dividends or comparable attributes or such attributes of a party related to us); (iii) the
beneficial owner provides a statement signed under penalties of perjury (typically, on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E) that includes
its name and address and certifies that it is a non-U.S. holder in compliance with applicable requirements (or satisfies certain documentary
evidence requirements for establishing that it is a non-U.S. holder); (iv) the non-U.S. holder has provided any direct or indirect
information with respect to its direct and indirect U.S. owners; and (v) if the non-U.S. holder or any intermediary through which
it holds notes is a “foreign financial institution” (as defined below), each such entity has entered into an agreement with
the U.S. government, pursuant to which it agrees, among other responsibilities, to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities information
about its direct and indirect U.S. accountholders and investors, or otherwise establishes an exemption; and
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(b)
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such non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of the note,
provided that: (i) the gain of such holder is not effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a trade or business in
the United States (and, if certain treaties apply, is not attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder
within the United States); and (ii) if the non-U.S. holder is an individual holder, such holder is not present in the United States
for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale, exchange or redemption (and does not satisfy certain other conditions).
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If U.S. tax is imposed as a result of a failure
to comply with the documentation requirements described in clauses (a)(iv) and (v), the beneficial owner may be entitled to a refund
if the required information is provided to the IRS.
For purposes of the discussion in paragraph (a) above,
a “foreign financial institution” generally is a non-U.S. entity that: (i) accepts deposits in the ordinary course of
a banking or similar business; (ii) as a substantial portion of its business, holds financial assets for the account of others; or
(iii) is engaged (or holds itself out as being engaged) primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities,
partnership interests or commodities, or interests in securities, partnership interests or commodities.
U.S. information reporting requirements and backup
withholding tax will not apply to payments on a note made to a non-U.S. holder if the statement described in paragraph (a)(iii) above
is duly provided.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts
withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. A holder may obtain a
refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claims for a refund with the IRS
and furnishing the required information.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement,
dated September 28, 2009, as amended (the “Distribution Agreement”), we will offer the notes on a continuous basis
to or through the agents. The agents, individually or in a syndicate, may purchase notes, as principal, from us, from time to time, for
resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices. Such prices relate to prevailing market prices at the time of resale as determined
by the applicable agent or, if so specified in the applicable pricing supplement, for resale at a fixed offering price. However, we may
agree that an agent may utilize its reasonable efforts on an agency basis on our behalf to solicit offers to purchase notes at 100% of
the principal amount thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement. We will pay a commission to an agent, ranging
from 0.150% to 0.750% of the principal amount of each note, depending upon its stated maturity, sold through that agent as our agent.
We will negotiate commissions with respect to notes with stated maturities in excess of 30 years that are sold through an agent as our
agent at the time of the related sale. The following table summarizes the commissions or discounts payable in connection with our offering
of the notes with stated maturities of 30 years or less:
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Price to Public
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Agent’s
Commissions and Discounts
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Proceeds to Us
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Per Note
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100%
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0.150% to 0.750%
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99.850% to 99.250%
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Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing
supplement, any note sold to an agent as principal will be purchased at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount minus a discount
equal to the commission that would be paid on an agency sale of a note of identical maturity. We reserve the sole right to accept offers
to purchase notes, withdraw, cancel or modify the offer made hereby without notice, and may reject offers in whole or in part (whether
placed directly by us or through an agent). Each agent will have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject in whole
or in part any offer to purchase notes received by it on an agency basis.
Agents may sell notes purchased from us as principal
to other dealers for resale to investors and other purchasers and may provide any portion of the discount received in connection with
their purchase from us to such dealers. After the initial public offering of the notes, the public offering price, the concession and
the discount may be changed.
The notes will not have an established trading
market when issued. Also, the notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. The agents may, from time to time, make a market in
the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The agents may, from time to
time, purchase and sell notes in the secondary market but are not obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market
for the notes will develop or be maintained or that there will be liquidity in the secondary market if one develops.
In connection with an offering of notes purchased
by one or more agents as principal on a fixed public offering price basis, the applicable agents will be permitted to engage in certain
transactions that stabilize the price of notes. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing
or maintaining the price of notes. If those agents create a short position in notes, that is, if they sell notes in an amount exceeding
the amount referred to in the applicable pricing supplement, they may reduce that short position by purchasing notes in the open market.
In general, purchases of notes for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of notes to be higher
than it might be in the absence of these type of purchases.
Neither we nor any agent makes any representation
or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described in the immediately preceding paragraph may
have on the price of notes. In addition, neither we nor any agent makes any representation that the agents will engage in any such transactions
or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
We may, from time to time, engage a dealer other
than an agent to solicit a specific purchase of notes if (a) that dealer is engaged on terms substantially similar, including the same
commission schedule, to the applicable terms of the Distribution Agreement entered into between us and the agents, and (b) the agents
are given notice of the purchase, including the terms thereof, promptly after the purchase has been agreed to. Each such dealer will act
individually in connection with the notes and not collectively or jointly with the agents. We may also sell notes directly to investors
and other purchasers on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are permitted to do so.
The agents may be deemed to be
“underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
We have agreed to indemnify the agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute
to payments that they may be required to make in connection with such indemnification.
Standard Chartered Bank will not effect any offers
or sales of any notes offered in this prospectus supplement in the United States unless it is through one or more U.S. registered broker-dealers
as permitted by the regulations of FINRA. Standard Chartered Bank’s identification as an agent in this prospectus supplement should
not be deemed to be an offer by it to sell notes in the United States or a solicitation of an offer by persons in the United States to
buy notes from it.
We estimate that our expenses that will be incurred
in connection with the offering and sale of the notes, excluding any fees and commissions paid to the SEC and the agents, will total approximately
$170,000.
In the ordinary course of its business, the agents
and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment and commercial banking transactions with us and certain
of our affiliates, for which they were, and may be, paid customary fees and expenses. To the extent that the net offering proceeds, not
including underwriting compensation, of any offering of the notes are used to repay indebtedness owed to affiliates of the agents, such
offerings will be made pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121. In addition, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., one of the agents, is an affiliate of
the Trustee.
In
addition, the agents have advised that, in the ordinary course of their business activities, they and their affiliates may make or hold
a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments
(including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may
involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The agents have also advised us that, if they or their affiliates have
a lending relationship with us, they would expect to hedge their credit exposure to us, and even in the absence of a lending relationship,
they may do so, in each case consistent with their customary risk management policies. The agents have advised us that typically they
and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions that consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps
or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or
short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The agents have also advised us that they and
their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities
or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and
instruments.
Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors
Each agent has represented and agreed, and each
further agent appointed under the Distribution Agreement will be required to represent and agree, that it has not offered, sold or otherwise
made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available, any notes to any retail investor in the EEA. For the purposes of
this provision:
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(a)
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the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:
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(i)
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a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II;
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(ii)
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a customer within the meaning of the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client
as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or
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(iii)
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not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and
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(b)
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the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the
terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes.
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Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom
Retail Investors
Each agent has represented and agreed, and
each further agent appointed under the Distribution Agreement will be required to represent and agree, that it has not offered, sold
or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any notes to any retail investor in the United
Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:
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(a)
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the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:
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(i)
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a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the United
Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA;
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(ii)
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a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance
Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation
(EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or
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(iii)
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not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation; and
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(b)
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the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the
terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes.
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The United Kingdom
In addition to the provisions identified above
under “—Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom Retail Investors,” the following provisions shall apply in respect of
the United Kingdom:
Each agent has represented and agreed, and each
further agent appointed under the Distribution Agreement will be required to represent and agree, that:
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·
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it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement
to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of
any notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and
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·
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it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to any
notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
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Canada
The notes may be sold in Canada only to purchasers
purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus
Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument
31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance
with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or
territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this document (including any amendment thereto)
contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit
prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable
provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with
a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument
33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the agents are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements
of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Japan
The notes have not been and will not be
registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended, the
“FIEL”), and each agent has represented and agreed, and each further agent appointed under the Distribution
Agreement will be required to represent and agree, that it will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to,
or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Item 5, Paragraph 1, Article 6 of the Foreign Exchange and
Foreign Trade Law of Japan (Law No. 228 of 1949, as amended)) (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of
Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any
resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEL
and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Singapore
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus have not been, and will not be, registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the
“SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the notes in Singapore is made primarily pursuant to
the exemptions under Sections 274 and 275 of the SFA. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold, or made the subject of an invitation
for subscription or purchase, nor may this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection
with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase of the notes be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly,
to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Institutional
Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Accredited
Investor”) or other relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant
to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with
the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors)
Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision
of the SFA.
It is a condition of the offer that where the notes
are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:
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(a)
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a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor), the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital
of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an Accredited Investor; or
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(b)
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a trust (where the trustee is not an Accredited Investor), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of
the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor,
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securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each as defined
in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall
not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the notes except:
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(1)
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to an Institutional Investor, an Accredited Investor, a Relevant Person, or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A)
of the SFA (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA (in the case of that trust);
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(2)
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where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;
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(3)
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where the transfer is by operation of law;
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(4)
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as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or
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(5)
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as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives
Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.
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Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product
Classification — Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA), that the notes are prescribed capital
markets products (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 of Singapore) and Excluded Investment
Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations
on Investment Products).
Hong Kong
The notes may not be offered or sold in the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“Hong Kong”) (except for notes
which are a “structured product” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong), by means
of any document, other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.
571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (ii) in other circumstances that do not result in the document being a
“prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or
that do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No person may issue or have in its possession
for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or
elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes, that is directed at, or the contents of which are likely
to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than
with respect to notes that are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional
investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules
made under that Ordinance.
General
The Plan of Distribution and any selling restrictions
may be supplemented or modified upon our agreement. Any such supplement or modification will be set out in the applicable pricing supplement.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing
supplement, Desiree Ralls-Morrison, our Corporate Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, will pass upon
the validity of the notes for us. Allen & Overy LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the notes for the agents.
McDONALD'S CORPORATION
Medium-Term
Notes
Due
from One Year to 60 Years from Date of Issue
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
Citigroup
ANZ Securities
Barclays
BMO Capital Markets
BNP PARIBAS
BofA Securities
Citizens Capital Markets
COMMERZBANK
Credit Agricole CIB
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
HSBC
ING
J.P. Morgan
MUFG
Mizuho Securities
Morgan Stanley
PNC Capital Markets LLC
Rabo Securities
RBC Capital Markets
SMBC Nikko
SOCIETE GENERALE
Standard Chartered Bank
TD Securities
Truist Securities
UniCredit Capital Markets
US Bancorp
Wells Fargo Securities
Westpac Capital Markets LLC
July 29, 2021
PROSPECTUS
McDONALD’S
CORPORATION
110 North Carpenter Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
United States of America
+1.630.623.3000
Debt Securities
We may, from time to time, offer to sell debt
securities. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer them. We
will provide the specific terms of any securities that we offer in supplements to this prospectus, which will describe the specific manner in which we will offer such securities and may also supplement, update or amend information
contained in this prospectus.
We may offer and sell these securities on a continuous
or delayed basis directly, through one or more agents, dealers or underwriters, as designated from time to time, or through a combination
of these methods. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject,
in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities,
the applicable supplement will set forth any corresponding commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities also
will be set forth in the applicable supplement.
We may sell these securities for, and payments on these securities may be made in, U.S. dollars or a foreign currency. These securities may be offered
separately or together in any combination and as separate series.
We will describe how a particular offering of securities
will be made in the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement for the offering.
You should read this prospectus and any
supplement, as well as the information described under “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,”
carefully before you invest.
Investing in our securities involves certain
risks. You should carefully review the risk factors beginning on page 1 of this prospectus before you invest.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales
of securities unless accompanied by an applicable supplement.
The date of this prospectus is July 29, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf
registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a
“well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”). Under the automatic shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer to sell any
combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general
description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer to sell securities, we will describe in a supplement to this
prospectus specific information about the terms of that offering. The applicable supplement may also add, update or change
information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this
prospectus and the applicable supplement, you should rely on the information in the supplement.
To understand the terms of our securities,
you should carefully read this prospectus together with the related prospectus supplement and pricing supplement, if applicable.
Together they give the specific terms of the securities we are offering. You should also read the documents we have referred you to
under “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for additional information regarding us and our financial
statements before investing in our securities.
You should rely only on the information contained
or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement. We have not authorized
anyone to give any information or make any representation about the offering that is different from, or in addition to, that contained
or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this type, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell,
or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful
to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this prospectus does not extend to you. The information contained in
this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
References in this prospectus to “McDonald’s,”
“the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to McDonald’s
Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
McDONALD’S CORPORATION
The Company franchises and operates McDonald’s
restaurants, which serve a locally relevant menu of quality food and beverages in 119 countries. Of the 39,160 restaurants at March 31,
2021, 36,484 were franchised, which is 93% of McDonald's restaurants.
Under our conventional franchise arrangement,
franchisees provide a portion of the capital required by initially investing in the equipment, signs, seating and décor of
their restaurant business, and by reinvesting in the business over time. We own the land and building or secure long-term leases
for both Company-operated and conventional franchised restaurant sites. This maintains long-term occupancy rights, helps control
related costs and assists in alignment with franchisees enabling restaurant performance levels that are among the highest in the
industry. In certain circumstances, we participate in reinvestment for conventional franchised restaurants in an effort to
accelerate implementation of certain initiatives.
Under our developmental license arrangement,
licensees provide capital for the entire business, including the real estate interest, and we have no capital invested. In
addition, we have an equity investment in a limited number of affiliates that invest in real estate and operate or franchise
restaurants within a market.
Our restaurants offer a substantially
uniform menu, although there are geographic variations to suit local consumer preferences and tastes. Our operations are
designed to assure consistency and high quality at every restaurant.
McDonald's Corporation is a Delaware
corporation, organized on March 1, 1965, as the successor to an Illinois corporation formed in 1956. Its principal executive
offices are at 110 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States, and its telephone number is +1.630.623.3000.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus (including the information
incorporated by reference in this prospectus) includes forward-looking statements about future events and circumstances and their
effects upon revenues, expenses and business opportunities. Generally speaking, any statement contained or incorporated by reference
in this prospectus not based upon historical fact is a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements can also be identified
by the use of forward-looking or conditional words, such as “could,” “should,” “can,”
“continue,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “intend,” “look,” “may,”
“will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “remain,”
“confident” and “commit” or similar expressions. In particular, statements regarding our plans, strategies,
prospects and expectations regarding our business and industry are forward-looking statements. They reflect our expectations, are
not guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date the statement is made. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to
update such forward-looking statements. Our business results are subject to a variety of risks, including those risks discussed
under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our filings with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize, our expectations (or
the underlying assumptions) may change and our performance may be adversely affected. You should not rely unduly on forward-looking
statements.
RISK FACTORS
In connection with any investment in our
securities, you should consider carefully (i) the discussion under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and any subsequent periodic or current report filed with the SEC that
includes “Risk Factors” or that discusses such risks, and (ii) the other information set forth elsewhere in this
prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any pricing supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
These risks can have an impact both in the near-
and long-term and are reflective of various considerations and factors that we believe are most likely to affect our performance.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement or pricing supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, including,
but not limited to, refinancing of debt, capital expenditures, payment of dividends, the purchase of our common stock, investments in
or extensions of credit to our subsidiaries or business expansion. Specific allocations of the proceeds for such purposes have not been
made at this time.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a description of the general terms
of the debt securities. We will describe the particular terms and conditions of any series of debt securities offered in a prospectus
supplement. The prospectus supplement, which we will file with the SEC, may modify the general terms found in this prospectus. For a complete
description of any series of debt securities, you should read this prospectus, the relevant prospectus supplement, and any pricing supplement
relating to that series of debt securities.
We may issue senior and subordinated debt
securities. The senior debt securities will be issued under an Indenture, dated October 19, 1996 (the “Senior Indenture”), between us and
U.S. Bank National Association (formerly, First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “Trustee”). The
subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate Indenture, dated October 18, 1996 (the “Subordinated
Indenture”), between us and the Trustee. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture
are sometimes referred to in this prospectus individually as the “applicable Indenture” and, collectively, as the
“Indentures.” Copies of the Indentures may be viewed through the hyperlinks contained in the exhibit index to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The following
summaries highlight some of the provisions of the Indentures but may not contain all of the information that is important to you and
are qualified in their entirety by the provisions of the Indentures. Numerical references in parentheses below are to Articles and
Sections of the Indentures. Except as otherwise indicated, the terms of the Indentures are identical.
General
The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal
amount of debt securities that we may issue, and we may issue debt securities in one or more series. The debt securities will be unsecured.
Certain of our unsecured obligations may, however, under certain circumstances, become secured by mortgages as a result of negative pledge
covenants applicable to such obligations while the senior debt securities remain unsecured.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, the senior debt securities will be our unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
Payments on the subordinated debt securities will
be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, as described under “—Subordination of Subordinated
Debt Securities” and in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may, from time to time, without the consent
of the registered holders of a series of debt securities, issue additional debt securities of that series having the same terms as the
previously issued debt securities of that series (other than the date of issuance, the date interest, if any, begins to accrue, and the
offering price, which may vary) that will form a single issue with the previously issued debt securities of that series.
The prospectus supplement or the pricing supplement
for each offering will specify whether the debt securities being offered will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities
and will provide the following terms, where applicable:
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the title of the debt securities of the series;
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whether the debt securities of the series will be senior debt securities
issued under the Senior Indenture or subordinated debt securities issued under the Subordinated Indenture;
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the
series;
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the date or dates on which the principal of, and premium, if any, on the
debt securities of the series will be payable;
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the rate or rates at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest,
if any, or the method of calculating such rate or rates of interest; the date or dates from which such interest will accrue; the interest
payment dates on which any such interest shall be payable and, if other than as set forth in the applicable Indenture, the record dates
for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable;
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whether the debt securities of the series are to be issued as original issue
discount securities and, if so, the yield to maturity;
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the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, on the debt securities of the series will be payable, where the debt securities of the series may be presented for transfer and,
if applicable, conversion or exchange, and where notices and demands in respect of the debt securities of the series may be served on
us;
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our right, if any, to redeem the debt securities of the series, and the period
or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, the debt securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;
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our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities
of the series, in whole or in part, pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof, and the
period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the other terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series
will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
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if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof,
the denominations in which the debt securities of the series will be issuable;
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if the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, on the debt securities of the series is to be determined by reference to an index, formula or other method, or based on a coin
or currency or currency unit other than that in which the debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the manner in which
these amounts are to be determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;
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if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal
amount of the debt securities of the series that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to
an event of default;
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whether the debt securities of the series are convertible or exchangeable
into other debt or equity securities, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange will be effected, including
the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and any adjustments thereto, the conversion or exchange period and other conversion or
exchange provisions;
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any modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants
with respect to debt securities of the series;
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whether the debt securities of the series will be subject to legal defeasance
or covenant defeasance as provided in the applicable Indenture;
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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies (including currency
unit or units) in which payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series will or
may be payable, or in which the debt securities of the series will be denominated, and the particular provisions applicable thereto;
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if the debt securities are non-interest bearing, the “stated intervals”;
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if the payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
the debt securities of the series are to be made, at our or a holder’s election, in a currency or currencies (including currency
unit or units) other than that in which such securities are denominated or designated to be payable, the currency or currencies (including
currency unit or units) in which such payments are to be made, the terms and conditions of such payments and the manner in which the exchange
rate with respect to such payments will be determined, and the particular provisions applicable thereto; and
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any other terms of the debt securities of the series not inconsistent with
the applicable Indenture. (Section 2.02)
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The prospectus supplement relating to any series
of subordinated debt securities being offered will also describe the subordination provisions applicable to that series, if different
from the subordination provisions described in this prospectus. In addition, the prospectus supplement relating to a series of subordinated
debt will describe our rights, if any, to defer payments of interest on the subordinated debt securities by extending the interest payment
period.
Debt securities may be issued as original issue
discount securities to be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any
original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Special U.S. federal tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will
be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, special U.S. federal tax considerations or other restrictions or terms
applicable to any debt securities to be issued in bearer form, offered exclusively to non-U.S. holders or denominated in a currency other
than U.S. dollars will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The above description is not intended to be an
exclusive list of the terms that may be applicable to any debt securities, and we are not limited in any respect in our ability to issue
debt securities with terms different from or in addition to those described above or elsewhere in this prospectus, provided that the terms
are not inconsistent with the applicable Indenture. Any applicable prospectus supplement will also describe any special provisions for
the payment of additional amounts with respect to the debt securities.
Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement,
payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be made at the corporate trust offices
of the Trustee; provided, however, that we may, at our option, make payments of interest by check mailed to the address of the
person entitled thereto as it appears in the security register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank
located in the United States (Sections 2.04, 4.01 and 4.02) Debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office or agency that
we maintain for that purpose, subject to the limitations provided in the applicable Indenture, without any service charge except for
any tax or governmental charges. (Section 2.06)
Any money that we pay for principal of, premium,
if any, or interest, if any, on any debt security that remains unclaimed at the end of two years will be repaid to us on demand, and afterwards
the holder of such debt security may look only to us for payment. (Section 12.05)
Global Securities
If any debt securities are issuable in temporary
or permanent global form, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the circumstances, if any, under which beneficial owners
of interests in the global security may obtain definitive debt securities. Payments on a permanent global debt security will be made in
the manner described in the prospectus supplement. (Section 2.01)
Limitation on Liens Covenant in the Senior Indenture
The covenant described below applies with respect
to any and all series of senior debt securities, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will describe
any additional covenants for a particular series of senior debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.
For your reference, we have provided a list of
definitions of the capitalized terms used in the covenant at the end of the description.
We will not, nor will we permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, issue or assume any debt for money borrowed if such debt is secured by a mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other
encumbrance (mortgages, security interests, pledges, liens and other encumbrances are called “mortgage” or “mortgages”)
upon any Principal Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or upon any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Restricted
Subsidiary (whether such Principal Property, shares of stock or indebtedness are now owned or hereafter acquired) without in any such
case effectively providing concurrently that the senior debt securities, and at our option any other indebtedness of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary ranking equally with the senior debt securities, are secured equally and ratably. These restrictions do not apply
to debt secured by:
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mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness of any corporation
existing at the time the corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;
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mortgages on property existing at the time of its acquisition and certain
purchase money mortgages;
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mortgages securing debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to us or another
subsidiary;
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mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time it is merged
into or consolidated with us or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of a corporation
as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a Restricted Subsidiary;
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mortgages in favor of any country or any political subdivision of any country,
or any instrumentality thereof, to secure certain payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred
for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of construction of the property subject to such mortgages;
or
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any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals
or replacements), in whole or in part, of any mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses.
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Notwithstanding the above, we and one or more Restricted
Subsidiaries may, without securing the senior debt securities, issue or assume secured debt if, after giving effect to the transaction,
the aggregate of the secured debt then outstanding (not including secured debt permitted under the above exceptions) does not exceed 20%
of the shareholders’ equity of us and our consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the preceding fiscal year. The transfer of
a Principal Property to a subsidiary or any third party will not be restricted. (Section 4.06 of the Senior Indenture)
The term “Principal Property”
means all real property owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary that is located within the continental United States and, in the opinion
of our Board of Directors, is of material importance to the total business we and our consolidated affiliates, as an entity, conduct.
(Section 1.01 of the Senior Indenture)
The term “Restricted Subsidiary”
means any subsidiary (i) substantially all the property of which is located within the continental United States, (ii) which
owns Principal Property and (iii) in which our investment, direct or indirect and whether in the form of equity, debt, advances or
otherwise, is in excess of $1 billion as shown on our books as of the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of determination.
A “Restricted Subsidiary” does not include any subsidiary primarily engaged in financing activities, primarily engaged in
the leasing of real property to persons other than us and our subsidiaries, or that we characterize as a temporary investment. (Section 1.01
of the Senior Indenture)
Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
Each Indenture provides that we may not merge or
consolidate with any other person or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any person,
unless:
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we are the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation or person
(if other than us) expressly assumes all of our obligations under that Indenture and the applicable debt securities; and
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we, or such successor corporation or person, will not, immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or such sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, be in default in the performance of any applicable
covenant or condition.
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In the event of any such consolidation, merger,
sale, conveyance (other than by way of lease), transfer or other disposition, the predecessor company may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated
at any time thereafter. The successor corporation or person will succeed to and be substituted for us with the same effect as if it had
been named in the applicable Indenture as the Company, and we will be relieved of any further obligation under the applicable Indenture
and applicable debt securities. (Article 11)
Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the following provisions will apply to the subordinated debt securities.
The subordinated debt securities will, to the extent
described in the Subordinated Indenture, be subordinate in right of payment to all of our indebtedness for borrowed money, whether outstanding
now or incurred in the future, which is not by its terms subordinate to our other indebtedness (“Senior Indebtedness”).
However, Senior Indebtedness will not include amounts owed to our trade creditors in the ordinary course of business. At March 31, 2021,
our aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness was approximately $35.7 billion.
Except as provided under the Subordinated Indenture,
if any one of the following events occurs, we will pay, or otherwise provide for the payment of, all principal, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, on the Senior Indebtedness in full before we make any payment on the subordinated debt securities:
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any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings of the Company, including any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization or similar proceedings;
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any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up
of the Company, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings; or
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any series of subordinated debt securities is declared due and payable because
of an occurrence of an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture.
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The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the incurrence
of additional Senior Indebtedness. Senior Indebtedness may include debt securities, indebtedness and other obligations that are senior
in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, but may be subordinate in right of payment to certain other indebtedness and
obligations of the Company. We may issue other debt securities or incur other indebtedness or obligations that are referred to or designated
as “subordinated” securities, indebtedness or obligations, but that may constitute Senior Indebtedness for purposes of the
Subordinated Indenture.
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection
with the offering of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will describe the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of a recent
date. That prospectus supplement also may describe any particular provisions applicable to the subordination of those subordinated debt
securities, including any changes to the subordination provisions described in this prospectus. (Article 15 of the Subordinated Indenture)
Events of Default
Each Indenture describes an event of default with
respect to any series of debt securities issued under that Indenture as being any one of the following events:
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default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of the series
when due, continuing for 30 days;
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default in the payment of principal, or premium, if any, on debt securities
of the series when due (and continuing for 10 days, in the case of subordinated debt securities);
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default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment on debt
securities of the series when due (and continuing for 10 days, in the case of subordinated debt securities);
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failure to observe or perform any other covenants or agreements in the Indenture
(other than the limitation on liens covenant in the Senior Indenture and any other covenant included in the Indenture solely for the benefit
of another series of debt securities), continuing for 60 days after we receive appropriate written notice specifying such failure (and
requiring that we remedy such failure), unless such failure cannot with due diligence be cured within the 60-day period due to causes
beyond our control;
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company;
or
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default in the performance of a particular covenant applicable to debt securities
of the series after appropriate notice and opportunity to cure the default.
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The Senior Indenture defines a failure in the performance
or observance of the limitation on liens covenant, continuing for 120 days after we receive appropriate written notice specifying such
failure (and requiring that we remedy such failure), as an additional event of default with respect to the senior debt securities.
The supplemental indenture or the form of security
for a particular series of debt securities may include additional events of default or changes to the events of default described above.
Any changes to the events of default applicable to a particular series of debt securities will be discussed in the prospectus supplement
or pricing supplement relating to such series.
An event of default with respect to a particular
series of debt securities issued under an Indenture does not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series
of debt securities issued under that Indenture. If an event of default under the first, second, third or sixth bulleted sentences above
with respect to an Indenture is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, then the Trustee or the holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the affected series of debt securities may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities
are original issue discount securities, the specified portion of the principal amount) of such series to be due and payable. In case an
event of default under the fourth or fifth bulleted sentences above with respect to an Indenture, or with respect to the limitation on
liens covenant of the Senior Indenture, is continuing, the Trustee or holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all
the debt securities for which such event of default has occurred and is continuing may declare the principal amount (or, if any debt securities
are original issue discount securities, the specified portion of the principal amount) of the debt securities of all such series to be
due and payable. (Section 6.01)
No holder of a debt security of any series under
an Indenture will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to that Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee
(or other similar official), or for any remedy thereunder, unless:
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such holder will have previously given to the Trustee for that Indenture
written notice of a continuing event of default;
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the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of such series (or at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of all series (voting as a class) with respect to which
such event of default relates if such event of default is under the fourth or fifth bulleted sentences above with respect to that Indenture,
or under the limitation on liens covenant of the Senior Indenture) have made a written request upon the Trustee to institute such proceeding
and offered reasonable security and indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or
thereby; and
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the Trustee has neglected or refused to institute such proceeding for 60
days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. (Section 6.04)
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Subject to the provisions of the Indentures relating
to the duties of the Trustee, each Indenture provides that the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers
at the request, order or direction of the holders of the debt securities unless the holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security
and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby. (Sections 6.04 and 7.01)
Subject to indemnification and other rights of
the Trustee, the holders of a majority (voting as one class) in aggregate principal amount of each affected series of debt securities
under an Indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising
any of the Trustee’s trusts or powers with respect to the debt securities of such series. Any event of default with respect to a
particular series of debt securities under an Indenture may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of those
debt securities, except, in each case, a failure to pay principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on those debt securities.
(Section 6.07)
We are required to file an annual officers’
certificate with the Trustee concerning our compliance with the Indentures. (Section 4.05)
Modification of the Indentures
Each Indenture permits us and the Trustee to execute
a supplemental indenture without the consent of the holders of the debt securities outstanding under that Indenture:
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to evidence the succession of another corporation to us and the assumption
by it of our covenants, agreements and obligations, in the case of a merger or consolidation as permitted by that Indenture;
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to add additional covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection
of the holders of all or any series of the debt securities issued under that Indenture;
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to
provide for the issuance under that Indenture of debt securities of any series in bearer or coupon form (including securities registrable
as to principal only) and to provide for exchangeability of such debt securities with the debt securities of the same series issued
under that Indenture in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;
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to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted
by the terms of that Indenture;
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to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any defect or inconsistency
in that Indenture or any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under that
Indenture which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any debt securities issued under that Indenture; and
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor
trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series, or to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indentures as are
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee.
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The Senior Indenture further permits modification
without the consent of the holders of the debt securities to add appropriate provisions (including the appointment of a co-trustee) to
evidence the securing of any series of debt securities pursuant to the limitation on liens covenant. (Section 10.01)
Each Indenture also permits us and the Trustee
to execute a supplemental indenture, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of each series issued under that Indenture that are affected by such supplemental indenture (each series voting as a class),
to add any provisions to, or change in any manner, or eliminate any provisions of, the Indenture or any supplemental indenture with respect
to that series of debt securities or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of debt securities of that series.
However, the consent of the holders of all of the
outstanding debt securities affected under an Indenture will be required:
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to extend the stated maturity of any debt security issued under that Indenture,
or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest, if any, or reduce the principal amount of or premium, if any, on such debt
security, or make the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such debt security payable in any coin or currency other
than that provided in the debt security, or reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due
and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity of the debt security or adversely affect the right of repayment, if any, at the option
of the holder; and
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to reduce the percentage of debt securities of any series required to consent
to any such supplemental indenture.
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A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates
any covenant or other provision of the applicable Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular
series of debt securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of debt securities of such series with respect to such covenant
or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the applicable Indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other
series. (Section 10.02)
Defeasance
Each Indenture provides that we (a) will
be discharged from all obligations with respect to the debt securities of any series issued under that Indenture (except for certain
obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain
paying agencies and hold monies for payment in trust) on the 91st day after the applicable conditions set forth below have
been satisfied, or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of that Indenture (including the limitation on liens covenant
in the Senior Indenture, if applicable) and will not be limited by any restrictions with respect to consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance
of assets with respect to the debt securities of any series issued under that Indenture, at any time after:
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we
irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series, money and/or U.S.
government securities, which through the payment of interest and principal, in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an
amount sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent public accounting firm selected by us) to pay the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the outstanding debt securities of such series on the dates that such principal, premium,
if any, and interest, if any, is due;
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in the event the debt securities of such series are then listed on the New
York Stock Exchange, we have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that our exercise of this discharge option would
not cause the debt securities of such series to be delisted;
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certain events of default with respect to the debt securities of such series
will not have occurred and will not be continuing on the date of such deposit, and we have delivered an officers’ certificate to
that effect; and
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we have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel or a ruling from,
or published by, the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize
income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes, as a result of our exercise of this discharge option, and such holders will be subject
to federal income tax as if we had not exercised this discharge option. (Section 12.02)
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Satisfaction and Discharge
At our option, we may satisfy and discharge an
Indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series issued under that Indenture (except for specified obligations of the Trustee
and ours, including, among others, the obligations to apply money held in trust) when:
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either (a) all debt securities of such series previously authenticated and
not otherwise cancelled have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or (b) all debt securities of such series not previously
cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, or will become due and payable by their terms within
one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption, and we have deposited with the Trustee funds, in trust, sufficient to pay at maturity or redemption all of the debt securities
of such series; and
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we have delivered notice to the Trustee, accompanied by an officers’
certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture
with respect to such series of debt securities have been satisfied. (Section 12.01)
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Regarding the Trustee
The Trustee and any authenticating agent appointed
by the Trustee, and/or one or more of their respective affiliates, may be lenders under our credit agreements and may provide other commercial
banking, investment banking and other services to us and/or our subsidiaries and affiliates, from time to time, in the ordinary course
of business.
Nothing in the Indentures prohibits the Trustee
from serving as trustee under any other indenture to which we may be a party, from time to time.
If the Trustee or any authenticating agent acquires
a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, then it must eliminate the conflict or resign in accordance
with the provisions of Article Seven of the applicable Indenture.
Governing Law
The Indentures and the debt securities issued under
the Indentures will be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois. (Section 14.04)
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may offer and sell the securities in any of
the following ways:
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to or through underwriters;
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through any combination of these methods of sale; or
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through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.
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We will describe how a particular offering of securities
will be made, including the names of any agents, dealers or underwriters, the purchase price of the securities, the proceeds we will receive
from the offering, any underwriters’ discounts or commissions, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed
or re-allowed or paid to dealers or agents, and any securities exchanges on which such offered securities may be listed, in the applicable
prospectus supplement or pricing supplement for the offering.
If we use underwriters or dealers in the sale,
the underwriters or dealers will acquire the securities for their own account as principal, and may resell them, from time to time, in
one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time
of sale. We may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters
without a syndicate. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, the obligations of the
underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase
all of the securities proposed to be sold if they buy any of them. The underwriters may change any initial public offering price and any
discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, from time to time.
We may also sell securities directly or through
designated agents. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such
agent will be described, in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement. If we utilize an agent in the sale of securities
in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, then we may sell the securities to the agent, as principal. The agent may then resell
the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the agent at the time of resale.
We may enter into derivative transactions with
third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable
prospectus supplement or pricing supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities
covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so,
the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open
borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings
of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement
or pricing supplement.
The securities may or may not be listed on a national
securities exchange or a foreign securities exchange. Each series of debt securities may be a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. Underwriters and agents may, from time to time, purchase and sell the securities described in this prospectus and the
relevant prospectus supplement or pricing supplement in the secondary market, but are not obligated to do so. No assurance can be given
that there will be a secondary market for the securities or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time, underwriters
and dealers may make a market in the securities.
In order to facilitate the offering of the
securities, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of these securities
or any other securities, the prices of which may be used to determine payments on these securities. Specifically, the underwriters
may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. In addition, to
cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and
purchase, the securities or any other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate
of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing
the securities in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate
short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of
the securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of
these activities at any time.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating
in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be “underwriters,” and any discounts or commissions received by them on
the sale or resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Agents and underwriters may be entitled under agreements
entered into with us to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. One or more of the underwriters,
dealers or agents, and/or one or more of their respective affiliates, may be a lender under our credit agreements and may provide other
commercial banking, investment banking and other services to us and/or our subsidiaries and affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in the prospectus supplement or
pricing supplement, we will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase our securities at
the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing
for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement. These delayed delivery contracts
will be subject only to those conditions described in the relevant prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, and the prospectus supplement
or pricing supplement will describe the commissions payable for the solicitation.
We will estimate our expenses associated with any
offering of debt securities in the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement relating to such offering.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement
or applicable pricing supplement, Desiree Ralls-Morrison, our Corporate Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, will
pass upon the validity of the securities that we offer. Ms. Ralls-Morrison is a full-time employee of ours and owns, and has the
right to acquire, through the exercise of options or otherwise, shares of our common stock directly and as a participant in various employee
benefit plans.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be advised
about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement or
applicable pricing supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of McDonald’s
Corporation appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the effectiveness of the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such
consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We file annual, quarterly and current reports,
proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy
statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may find our reports, proxy statements and
other information at this SEC Web site.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference”
into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we
file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede, as appropriate, this information. This prospectus
incorporates by reference the documents listed below (other than portions of these documents that are either (i) described in paragraphs
(d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) or (e)(5) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC or (ii) “furnished” under applicable
SEC rules rather than “filed” and exhibits furnished in connection with such items):
Any future filings that we make with the SEC
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for so long as the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part remains effective, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this prospectus from the date such documents are filed (other than information in the documents or filings that is deemed not to be
filed).
We will provide a copy of any or all of the above
documents (including any exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference in them) to each person, including any beneficial owner,
to whom a prospectus is delivered. You may request these documents, at no cost, by writing to us at the following address or telephoning
us at +1.800.228.9623:
McDonald’s Shareholder Services
McDonald’s Corporation
110 North Carpenter Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
United States of America
McDONALD'S CORPORATION
Debt Securities
PROSPECTUS
July 29, 2021
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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Item 14.
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Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
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The following table sets forth all estimated expenses
in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
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$
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(1
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)
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Accounting fees and expenses(2)
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40,000
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Legal fees and expenses(2)
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105,000
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Trustee’s and transfer agent’s fees and expenses(2)
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3,000
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Printing and engraving expenses(2)
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11,000
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Rating agency fees(2)
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—
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Miscellaneous(2)
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11,000
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Total
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$
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170,000
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(1)
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This registration statement relates to the registration of securities having an indeterminate maximum aggregate offering amount. Payment
of the registration fee has been deferred and will be calculated and paid in accordance with Rules 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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(2)
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Estimated amounts of fees and expenses to be incurred in connection with the registration of the securities pursuant to this registration
statement. The actual amounts of fees and expenses will be determined from time to time. As the amount of the securities to be issued
and distributed pursuant to this registration statement is indeterminate, the fees and expenses of such issuance cannot be determined
or estimated at this time.
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Item 15.
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers
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Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation
Law (the “DGCL”) permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation
shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for: (a) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (b) acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (c) payment of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock
purchases or redemptions; or (d) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Article Fourteenth of the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of McDonald’s Corporation (the “Registrant”) provides that no director of the Registrant shall
be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, to the fullest extent
permitted under the DGCL, and that no amendment to or repeal of such Article shall apply to or have any effect on liability or alleged
liability of any director of the Registrant for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment
or repeal.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a
corporation may indemnify directors and officers, as well as other employees and individuals, against expenses (including attorneys’
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with specified actions, suits or
proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation—a
“derivative action”), if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation. In criminal actions, the person indemnified must also have had no reasonable cause to believe
that his or her conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification
only extends to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification
has been found liable to the corporation. Any present or former director or officer who has been successful on the merits or otherwise
in defense of any such action, suit or proceeding referred to above shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The statute further provides
that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation’s by-laws, disinterested director vote, stockholder
vote, agreement, or otherwise.
Article Eighth of the Registrant’s Restated
Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Registrant shall have power to indemnify any and all of its current or former directors
or officers, or any person who may have served at its request as a director or officer of another corporation in which it has specified
interests. Article V of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws provides that it shall indemnify and hold harmless each director
and officer, as well as certain other employees and individuals, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. Such indemnification
shall cover all expenses, as well as liabilities and losses, incurred by such individuals.
The Registrant’s Amended and Restated
By-Laws further provide that the Registrant may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect any director or officer, as well as
certain other employees and individuals, against any expenses, liabilities or losses, regardless of whether the Registrant would
have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liabilities or losses under the DGCL. Pursuant to this provision, the
Registrant maintains insurance against any liability incurred by its directors and officers, as well as certain other employees and
individuals, in defense of any action in which they are made parties by reason of their positions as directors and officers, or
other relationship with the Registrant.
1(a)
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Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2009, among McDonald’s Corporation and the agents named therein, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(a) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-162182) filed September 28, 2009.
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1(b)
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First Amendment to Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, among McDonald’s Corporation and the agents named therein, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(b) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-184198) filed September 28, 2012.
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1(c)
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Second Amendment to Distribution Agreement, dated July 17, 2015, among McDonald’s Corporation and the agents named therein, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(c) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-205731) filed July 17, 2015.
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1(d)
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Third Amendment to Distribution Agreement, dated July 27, 2018, among McDonald’s Corporation and the agents named therein, incorporated herein by referenced to Exhibit 1(d) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-226380) filed July 27, 2018.
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1(e)
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Fourth Amendment to Distribution Agreement, dated July 29, 2021, among McDonald’s Corporation and the agents named therein, filed herewith.
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1(f)
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Form of Underwriting Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(b) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-162182) filed September 28, 2009.
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4(a)
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Senior
Debt Securities Indenture, between McDonald’s Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (including form of
Senior Debt Security), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-14141)
filed October 15, 1996.
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4(b)
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Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, between McDonald’s Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (including form of Subordinated Debt Security), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(b) to the Registration Statement on Form (File No. 333-14141) filed October 15, 1996.
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4(c)
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Supplemental Indenture No. 9, dated September 28, 2009, between McDonald’s Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(c) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-162182) filed September 28, 2009.
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4(d)
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Form of Fixed Rate Registered Note, filed herewith.
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4(e)
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Form of Floating Rate Registered Note, filed herewith.
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5
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Opinion of Desiree Ralls-Morrison, Corporate Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of McDonald’s Corporation, filed herewith.
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23(a)
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, filed herewith.
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23(b)
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Consent of Desiree Ralls-Morrison, Corporate Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of McDonald’s Corporation (included in Exhibit 5 hereto).
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24
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Powers of Attorney (set forth on the signature pages hereto).
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25
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Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1 of U.S. Bank National Association, filed herewith.
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(a) The undersigned registrant
hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
“Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and (iii) to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii)
above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.
(4) That,
for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser: (i) each prospectus filed by
the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed
prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and (ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2),
(b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i),
(vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first
used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided
in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed
to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus
relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a
document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration
statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that
was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately
prior to such effective date.
(5) That,
for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser in the initial
distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant
pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities
are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to
the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus
of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free writing prospectus
relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned
registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer
in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned
registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each
filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 of this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGlNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago,
State of Illinois, on July 29, 2021.
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By:
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/s/
Kevin M. Ozan
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Kevin M. Ozan
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Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Christopher J. Kempczinski, Denise A. Horne, Michael T. Cieplak and Desiree Ralls-Morrison, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature/Title
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Date
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/s/ Lloyd H. Dean
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July 29, 2021
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Lloyd H. Dean
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Director
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/s/ Robert A. Eckert
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July 29, 2021
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Robert A. Eckert
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Director
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/s/ Catherine M. Engelbert
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July 29, 2021
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Catherine M. Engelbert
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Director
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/s/ Margaret H. Georgiadis
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July 29, 2021
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Margaret H. Georgiadis
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Director
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/s/ Enrique Hernandez, Jr.
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July 29, 2021
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Enrique Hernandez, Jr.
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Chairman of the Board and Director
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/s/ Catherine A. Hoovel
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July 29, 2021
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Catherine A. Hoovel
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Corporate Senior Vice President — Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
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/s/ Christopher J. Kempczinski
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July 29, 2021
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Christopher J. Kempczinski
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
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/s/ Richard H. Lenny
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July 29, 2021
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Richard H. Lenny
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Director
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/s/ John J. Mulligan
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July 29, 2021
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John J. Mulligan
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Director
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/s/ Kevin M. Ozan
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July 29, 2021
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Kevin M. Ozan
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Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
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/s/ Sheila A. Penrose
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July 29, 2021
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Sheila A. Penrose
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Director
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/s/ John W. Rogers, Jr.
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July 29, 2021
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John W. Rogers, Jr.
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Director
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/s/ Paul S. Walsh
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July 29, 2021
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Paul S. Walsh
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Director
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/s/ Miles D. White
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July 29, 2021
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Miles D. White
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Director
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