DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities in one or more series. The specific terms of each series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement may or may not modify the general terms found in this prospectus and will be filed with the SEC. For a complete description of the terms of a particular series of debt securities, you should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series.
As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities are governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution, acting as trustee on your behalf, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have entered into an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee, pursuant to which we may issue multiple series of debt securities from time to time. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described in the second paragraph under “Events of Default — Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities and the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. A copy of the indenture is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file a supplemental indenture with the SEC prior to the commencement of any debt offering, at which time the supplemental indenture would be publicly available.
The prospectus supplement, which will accompany this prospectus, will describe the particular series of debt securities being offered by including:
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the designation or title of the series of debt securities;
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the total principal amount of the series of debt securities;
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the percentage of the principal amount at which the series of debt securities will be offered;
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the date or dates on which principal will be payable;
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the rate or rates (which may be either fixed or variable) and/or the method of determining such rate or rates of interest, if any;
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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or the method of determining such date or dates, and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable;
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whether any interest may be paid by issuing additional securities of the same series in lieu of cash (and the terms upon which any such interest may be paid by issuing additional securities);
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the terms for redemption, extension or early repayment, if any;
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the currencies in which the series of debt securities are issued and payable;
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whether the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest, if any, on a series of debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which could be based on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices) and how these amounts will be determined;
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the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;
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the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued (if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof for registered securities);
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the provision for any sinking fund;
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any restrictive covenants;
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any Events of Default;