If the Interest Rate Basis specified on the face of this Note is Treasury Rate, this Note will bear interest for each Interest Reset Period at an interest rate calculated with reference to the Treasury Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified on the face of this Note.
Unless the Company indicates otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement, the Treasury Rate for any Interest Determination Date will be the rate applicable to the auction held on such date of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury bills”) having the Index Maturity as specified on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement as such rate appears opposite the caption “INVEST RATE” on the display on Reuters (or any successor service) on USAUCTION10 (or any other page as may replace such page) or page USAUCTION11 (or any other page as may replace such page).
The following procedures will be followed if the Treasury Rate cannot be determined as above:
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• | If the above rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the Treasury Rate will be the bond equivalent yield (as defined below) of the rate for such Treasury bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the heading “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High.” |
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• | In the event that the results of the auction of Treasury bills having the Index Maturity as specified on the face of this Note or designated in the applicable pricing supplement are not published or reported as provided above by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, or if no such auction is held on such Interest Determination Date, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Treasury Rate to be the bond equivalent yield of the auction rate of such Treasury bills as announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. |
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• | In the event that the auction rate of Treasury bills having the Index Maturity as specified on the face of this Note or designated in the applicable pricing supplement is not so announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, or if no such auction is held, then the Treasury rate will be the bond equivalent yield of the rate on that Interest Determination Date of Treasury bills having the Index Maturity as specified on the face of this Note or designated in the applicable pricing supplement as published in H.15(519) under the heading “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market” or, if not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on that Interest Determination Date of such Treasury bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the heading “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market.” |
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• | In the event such rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, then the Calculation Agent will calculate the Treasury rate, which will be a bond equivalent yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such Interest Determination Date, of three leading primary U.S. government securities dealers selected by the Calculation Agent after consultation with the Company for the issue of Treasury bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity as specified on the face of this Note or designated in the applicable pricing supplement. |
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• | If the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting bid rates as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury rate with respect to the Interest Determination Date will be the same as the Treasury rate in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Reset Period (or, if there was no preceding Interest Reset Period, the rate of interest will be the Initial Interest Rate). |
“Bond Equivalent Yield” means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated as follows:
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| | D ´ N | | |
Bond Equivalent | = |
| ´ | 100 |
| | 360 - (D´ M) | | |
where “D” refers to the applicable annual rate for the 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.
Indexed Notes
If this Note is an indexed note, then certain or all interest payments, in the case of an Indexed Rate Note, and/or the Principal Amount payable at Maturity, in the case of an Indexed Principal Note, is determined by reference to the amount designated on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement as the face amount of this Note and by reference to the Index as described on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement. If this Note is an Indexed Rate Note that is also an Indexed Principal Note, the amount of any interest payment will be determined by reference to the face amount described on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement unless otherwise specified. If this Note is an Indexed Principal Note, the Principal Amount payable at Maturity may be different from the face amount. Principal Amount payable at Stated Maturity will be calculated in the manner set forth in the applicable pricing supplement.
Amortizing Notes
If this Note is an Amortizing Note, a portion or all the Principal Amount of the Note is payable prior to Stated Maturity in accordance with a schedule, by application of a formula, or by reference to an Index as set forth on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement.
Redemption and Repayment
If so specified on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement, the Company may, at its option, redeem this Note in whole or in part, on the date or dates (each a “Redemption Date”) specified herein, at the price (the “Redemption Price”) (together with interest accrued to such Redemption Date) specified herein. Provisions regarding requirements and procedures for redemption if other than set forth in the Indenture will be set forth in the applicable pricing supplement.
If so specified on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement, this Note will be repayable prior to Maturity at the option of the holder on the Repayment Dates shown on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement at the Repayment Prices shown on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement, together with interest accrued to the date of repayment. Provisions regarding requirements and procedures for repayment will be set forth in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless otherwise specified on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement, this Note will not be subject to any sinking fund.
The Company may at any time purchase Notes at any price in the open market or otherwise. Notes so purchased by the Company may, at the discretion of the Company, be held or resold or surrendered to the Trustee for such Notes for cancellation.
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Other Terms
As specified on the face of this Note or in the applicable pricing supplement, this Note may also have either or both of the following (in each case expressed as a rate per annum on a simple interest basis): (i) a maximum limitation, or ceiling, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest period (“Maximum Interest Rate”) and/or (ii) a minimum limitation, or floor, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest period (“Minimum Interest Rate”).
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance and discharge at the Company’s option of either the entire principal of all the Securities of any series or of certain covenants in the Indenture upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.
If an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Notes, shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of the Notes of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series to be affected thereby. The Indenture also permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of outstanding Notes of any series, on behalf of the holders of all the Notes of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences with respect to such series. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein, the transfer of this Note is registrable on the Securities Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company to be maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York, or at any other office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of Authorized Denominations and for the same aggregate Principal Amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $100,000 and any larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate Principal Amount of Notes of a like tenor and of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the registration of such transfer or exchange, other than certain exchanges not involving any transfer.
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In case this Note shall at any time become mutilated, destroyed, stolen or lost and this Note or evidence of the loss, theft, or destruction hereof (together with such indemnity and such other documents or proof as may be required by the Company or the Trustee) shall be delivered to the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, a new Note of like tenor and Principal Amount will be issued by the Company in exchange for, or in lieu of, this Note. All expenses and reasonable charges associated with procuring such indemnity and with the preparation, authentication and delivery of a new Note shall be borne by the holder of this Note.
Holders of Securities may not enforce their rights pursuant to the Indenture or the Note except as provided in the Indenture.
Certain terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture have the meaning set forth therein.
This Note shall for all purposes be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Prior to the due presentment for the registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee for the Notes and any agent of the Company or such Trustee may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the holder hereof for the purpose of receiving payment as herein provided and for all other purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, such Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
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TEN COM | - | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | | _____________ | Custodian | ____________ |
TEN ENT | - | as tenants by the entireties | | | (Cust) | | (Minor) |
JT TEN | - | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | | | Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act |
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| | | | | (State) |
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list
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OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT
The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the Company to repay $ ___ Principal Amount of the Note, pursuant to its terms, on the “Repayment Date” first occurring after the date of receipt of the within Note as specified below, together with interest thereon accrued to the date of repayment, to the undersigned at:
(Please Print or Type Name and Address of the Undersigned)
and to issue to the undersigned, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, a new Note or Notes representing the remaining Principal Amount of this Note.
For this Option to Elect Repayment to be effective, this Note with the Option to Elect Repayment duly completed must be received by the Company within the relevant time period applicable to the within Note at its office or agency, located initially at the office of the Trustee at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York, 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
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Dated: | |
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| Note: The signature to this Option to Elect Repayment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
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Please Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee |
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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Please Print or Type Name and Address Including Zip Code of Assignee |
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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing |
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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ attorney |
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to transfer such Note on the books of American Express Credit Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises. |
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Dated: | | |
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| | Signature |
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| | NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever |
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