CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY CORP
424B3, 1994-06-14
STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING MILLS (COKE OVENS)
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<PAGE>   1
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                    P R O S P E C T U S  S U P P L E M E N T
 
                      (To Prospectus dated June 14, 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               U.S. $100,000,000
 
                        Carpenter Technology Corporation
                          Medium-Term Notes, Series A
              Due from Nine Months to 30 Years from Date of Issue
                               ------------------
 
Carpenter Technology Corporation (the "Company") may offer from time to time its
Medium-Term Notes, Series A (the "Notes") in an aggregate principal amount not
 to exceed U.S. $100,000,000 (or, if any Notes are to be Original Issue
 Discount Notes, Foreign Currency Notes or Indexed Notes (as each such term is
  defined under "Description of Notes"), such principal amount as shall result
  in an initial aggregate offering price equivalent to no more than U.S.
    $100,000,000), subject to reduction as a result of the sale of other
    Debt Securities; provided, however, that the Company may increase the
     foregoing maximum principal amount if in the future it determines that
     it may wish to sell additional Notes. See "Description of Notes" and
     "Plan of Distribution of Notes". Each Note will mature from nine
     months to 30 years from its date of original issuance ( "Issue
       Date"), as selected by the initial purchaser and agreed to by the
       Company. The Notes may be subject to optional redemption, or
       obligate the Company to redeem or purchase the Notes pursuant to
       sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the
       Holder thereof, in each case as indicated in the applicable
       Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable
        Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be issued in fully registered
        form in denominations of U.S. $100,000 and integral multiples
         of U.S. $1,000 in excess thereof or, in the case of Foreign
         Currency Notes, in such minimum denominations not less than
          the equivalent of U.S. $100,000 and such other denomination
          or denominations in excess thereof as shall be set forth in
           the applicable Pricing Supplement. See "Special Provisions
           Relating to Foreign Currency Notes".
 
The interest rate or interest rate formula, if any, currency or currency unit,
issue price, Stated Maturity, redemption provisions, if any, and other terms
 for each Note will be established by the Company at the date of issuance of
 such Note and will be indicated in a Pricing Supplement. Each interest-
  bearing Note will bear interest at either (a) a fixed rate (a "Fixed Rate
  Note") or (b) a variable rate determined by reference to an interest rate
   formula (a "Floating Rate Note"), which may be adjusted by adding or
   subtracting the Spread or multiplying by the Spread Multiplier, unless
     otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless
     otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest
     rate formula will be the Commercial Paper Rate, the Prime Rate, the CD
     Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or the Treasury Rate. A Fixed
      Rate Note may pay a level amount in respect of both principal and
      interest amortized over the life of such Note (an "Amortizing
       Note"). Interest rates, or interest rate formulas, are subject to
       change by the Company from time to time, but no such change will
        affect any Note already issued or as to which an offer to
        purchase has been accepted by the Company.
 
Notes may be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form
( "Certificated Note") or by a permanent global Security or Securities,
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as Depositary, or a
    nominee of the Depositary (a "Book-Entry Note"), as specified in the
       applicable Pricing Supplement. Beneficial interests in Book-Entry
       Notes will only be evidenced by, and transfers thereof will only
       be effected through, records maintained by the Depositary and
         its participants. Except as described under "Description of
             Notes -- Book-Entry Notes", owners of beneficial
             interests in a Book-Entry Note will not be entitled to
               receive physical delivery of Notes in definitive
               form and will not be considered the Holders
               thereof.
 
   Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, a Foreign
   Currency Note will not be sold in, or to a resident of, the country of the
 Specified Currency in which such Note is denominated. See "Special Provisions
                      Relating to Foreign Currency Notes".
                               ------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
 AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, ANY PRICING SUPPLEMENT
    HERETO OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
     CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<S>             <C>                  <C>                           <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Price to         Distributors' Commissions                Proceeds
                      Public(1)             or Discounts(2)                 to Company(2)(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Note                100%                 .125% - .750%                  99.250% - 99.875%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(4)          U.S. $100,000,000  U.S. $125,000 - U.S. $750,000 U.S. $99,250,000 - U.S. $99,875,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each Note
    will be issued at 100% of its principal amount. If so indicated in the
    applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes may be resold by the Distributors,
    acting as principals at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at
    prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
 
(2) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Company
    will pay a commission (or grant a discount) to CS First Boston Corporation
    and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (the "Distributors") of .125% to .750% of
    the principal amount of any Note, depending on its Stated Maturity, sold
    through any such Distributor, acting as agent (or sold to such Distributor
    as principal in circumstances in which no other discount is agreed).
 
(3) Before deducting other expenses payable by the Company estimated at U.S.
    $215,000.00.
 
(4) Or the equivalent thereof in other currencies or currency units.
                               ------------------
 
    The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis by the Company through the
Distributors, each of which has agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit
offers to purchase the Notes. The Company also may sell Notes to any Distributor
on its own behalf at negotiated discounts. The Company reserves the right to
sell Notes directly on its own behalf or to additional distributors and to
appoint additional agents for the purpose of soliciting offers to purchase
Notes. The Company also reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the
offer made hereby without notice. The Company or any Distributor may reject any
offer to purchase Notes, in whole or in part. The Notes will not be listed on
any securities exchange, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, and there can be no assurance that the Notes offered by this
Prospectus Supplement will be sold or that there will be a secondary market for
the Notes. See "Plan of Distribution of Notes."
 
CS First Boston                                      J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            The date of this Prospectus Supplement is June 14, 1994.
<PAGE>   2
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE DISTRIBUTORS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                    IMPORTANT CURRENCY EXCHANGE INFORMATION
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, purchasers
are required to pay for Foreign Currency Notes in the currency or currency unit
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (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 or currency units and vice
versa, and banks do not generally offer non-U.S. dollar checking or savings
account facilities in the United States. If requested on or prior to the fifth
Market Day preceding the date of delivery of the Notes, or by such other day as
determined by the Distributor who presented such offer to purchase Notes to the
Company, such Agent is prepared to arrange for the conversion of U.S. dollars
into the Specified Currency to enable the purchasers to pay for the Notes. Each
such conversion will be made by such Agent on such terms and subject to such
conditions, limitations and charges as such Agent may from time to time
establish in accordance with its regular foreign exchange practices. All costs
of exchange will be borne by the purchasers of the Foreign Currency Notes.
 
                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
 
     The following description of the particular terms of the Notes offered
hereby supplements the description of the general terms and conditions of Debt
Securities set forth under the heading "Description of Debt Securities" in the
Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms not
defined under this heading or in the Glossary contained in this Prospectus
Supplement have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus or the
Indenture.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Notes offered hereby will be issued under the Indenture referred to in
the accompanying Prospectus between the Company and Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The Notes constitute a single
series for purposes of the Indenture, limited to an aggregate principal amount
not to exceed $100,000,000 (or, if any Notes are to be Original Issue Discount
Notes or are to be denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency
units ("Foreign Currency Notes") or with amounts payable in respect of principal
of or any premium or interest on the Notes to be determined by reference to the
value, rate or price of one or more specified indices ("Indexed Notes"), such
principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price
equivalent to no more than $100,000,000). The foregoing limit may be increased
by the Company if in the future it determines that it may wish to sell
additional Notes. The Notes offered hereby may be reduced by an amount equal to
the aggregate initial offering price of any other Debt Securities (as defined in
the accompanying Prospectus) sold by the Company (including any other series of
medium-term notes). See "Plan of Distribution of Notes". For a description of
the rights attaching to different series of Securities (including the Notes)
under the Indenture, see "Description of Debt Securities" in the Prospectus.
 
     Each Note will mature from nine months to 30 years from its Issue Date, as
selected by the initial purchaser and agreed to by the Company.
 
     The Notes will be issuable only in fully registered form and, unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, only in denominations
of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, or, in the case
of Foreign Currency Notes, in such minimum denomination not less than the
equivalent of $100,000 and such other denomination or denominations in excess
thereof as shall be set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. See "Special
Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes".
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   3
 
     Notes will initially be represented either by a Certificated Note or by a
Book-Entry Note, as indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement. See
"Description of Notes -- Book-Entry Notes" below.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes
will be denominated in U.S. dollars and payments of principal of and any premium
and interest on the Notes will be made in U.S. dollars in the manner indicated
in the accompanying Prospectus and this Prospectus Supplement. If any of the
Notes are to be denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other
than U.S. dollars, additional information pertaining to the terms of such Notes
and other matters relevant to the Holders thereof will be described in the
applicable Pricing Supplement. See "Payment Currency" and "Special Provisions
Relating to Foreign Currency Notes" below.
 
     In addition, Notes may be issued as Original Issue Discount Notes, as
Indexed Notes or as Amortizing Notes. See "Original Issue Discount Notes",
"Indexed Notes" and "Amortizing Notes" below.
 
     The applicable Pricing Supplement will indicate either that a Note cannot
be redeemed prior to its Stated Maturity or that a Note will be redeemable at
the option of the Company on or after a specified date prior to its Stated
Maturity at a specified price or prices (which may include a premium), together
with accrued interest to the date of redemption. In addition, the applicable
Pricing Supplement will indicate either that the Company will not be obligated
to redeem a Note pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the
option of the Holder thereof or that the Company will be so obligated. If the
Company will be so obligated, the applicable Pricing Supplement will indicate
the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which the
applicable Notes will be redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
obligation and the other detailed terms and provisions of such obligation.
 
     Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, Book-Entry Notes
will be made to the Depositary, or its nominee, as Holder thereof, in accordance
with arrangements then in effect between the Trustee and the Depositary. Unless
otherwise indicated in an applicable Pricing Supplement, payments of principal
of, and any premium and interest on, Certificated Notes denominated and payable
in U.S. dollars will be made in immediately available funds at the Corporate
Trust Office of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, if the Note is presented to the Paying Agent in
time for the Paying Agent to make such payments in such funds in accordance with
its normal procedures; except that at the option of the Company payment of
interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by wire
transfer to an account maintained by such Holder with a bank located in the
United States, provided such Holder shall have provided in writing to the
Trustee, on or prior to the relevant Regular Record Date, appropriate payment
instructions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder of $10,000,000 or more
in aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes denominated and payable in
U.S. dollars and having the same Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to
receive such payments by wire transfer of immediately payable funds to an
account maintained by such Holder with a bank located in the United States, if
the Holder shall have provided in writing to the Trustee, on or prior to the
relevant Regular Record Date, appropriate payment instructions. With respect to
payments on Foreign Currency Notes, see "Payment Currency".
 
     Certificated Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
exchange at the Corporate Trust Office of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. No service charge will
be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificated Notes, but
the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. With respect to
registration of transfer and exchange of Book-Entry Notes see "Description of
Notes -- Book-Entry Notes" below and "Description of Debt Securities -- Global
Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     Interest rates, interest rate bases and various other variable terms of the
Notes described herein are subject to change by the Company from time to time,
but no such change will affect any Note already issued or as to which an offer
to purchase has been accepted by the Company.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Fixed Rate
Notes denominated and payable in U.S. dollars will be subject to the provisions
of the Indenture described in the Prospectus under "Description of Debt
Securities -- Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance".
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   4
 
PAYMENT CURRENCY
 
     The Company is obligated to make payments of principal of and any premium
and interest on Foreign Currency Notes in the Specified Currency (or, if such
Specified Currency is not at the time of such payment legal tender for the
payment of public and private debts, in such other coin or currency of the
country which issued such Specified Currency as at the time of such payment is
legal tender for the payment of such debts). Any such amounts paid by the
Company will, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
be converted by the Exchange Rate Agent to U.S. dollars for payment to Holders.
Principal of, and any premium and interest on, a Foreign Currency Note paid in
U.S. dollars will be paid in the manner specified in the accompanying Prospectus
and this Prospectus Supplement for interest on Notes denominated and payable in
U.S. dollars.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any U.S.
dollar amount to be received by a Holder of a Foreign Currency Note will be
based on the highest bid quotation in The City of New York received by the
Exchange Rate Agent at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the
second Market Day preceding the applicable payment date from three recognized
foreign exchange dealers (one of which may be the Exchange Rate Agent) selected
by the Exchange Rate Agent and approved by the Company for the purchase by the
quoting dealer of the Specified Currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on such
payment date in the aggregate amount of the Specified Currency payable to all
Holders of Foreign Currency Notes scheduled to receive U.S. dollar payments and
at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If three such bid
quotations are not available, payments will be made in the Specified Currency.
All currency exchange costs will be borne by the Holder of the Foreign Currency
Note by deductions from such payments.
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, a Holder of a Foreign Currency Note may elect to receive
payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Note in the
Specified Currency by transmitting a written request for such payment to the
Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York on or prior to the Regular Record Date or at least sixteen days prior
to Maturity, as the case may be. Such request may be in writing (mailed or hand
delivered) or by cable, telex or other form of facsimile transmission. A Holder
of a Foreign Currency Note may elect to receive payment in the Specified
Currency for all principal and any premium and interest payments and need not
file a separate election for each payment. Such election will remain in effect
until revoked by written notice to the Trustee, but written notice of any such
revocation must be received by the Trustee on or prior to the relevant Regular
Record Date or at least sixteen days prior to Maturity, as the case may be.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, a
beneficial owner of Book-Entry Notes denominated in a Specified Currency
electing to receive payments of principal or any premium or interest in a
currency other than U.S. dollars must notify the Depositary's nominee
("participant") through which its interest is held on or prior to the applicable
record date, in the case of a payment of interest, and on or prior to the
sixteenth day prior to Maturity, in the case of principal or premium, of such
beneficial owner's election to receive all or a portion of such payment in a
Specified Currency. Such participant must notify the Depositary of such election
on or prior to the third Market Day after such record date. The Depositary will
notify the Paying Agent of such election on or prior to the fifth Market Day
after such record date. If complete instructions are received by the participant
and forwarded by the participant to the Depositary, and by the Depositary to the
Paying Agent, on or prior to such dates, the beneficial owner will receive
payments in the Specified Currency.
 
     Interest on a Foreign Currency Note paid in the Specified Currency will be
paid by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register. All checks payable in a Specified
Currency will be drawn on a bank located outside the United States. Payments at
Maturity of principal of and any premium and interest on Foreign Currency Notes
in the Specified Currency will be made by wire transfer to an account with a
bank located in the country of the Specified Currency (or, in the case of
European Currency Units ("ECUs"), Brussels), as shall have been designated at
least fifteen days prior to Maturity by the Holder, provided that the Note is
presented at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   5
 
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York in time for such Paying Agent to
make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures.
 
     If a Specified Currency is not available for the payment of principal or
any premium or interest with respect to a Foreign Currency Note due to the
imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the
Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of
Foreign Currency Notes by making such payment in U.S. dollars on the basis of
the Market Exchange Rate on the last date prior to the relevant payment date
that such Specified Currency was available (the "Conversion Date"). Any payment
made under such circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in
other than U.S. dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the
Indenture.
 
     If payment in respect of a Note is required to be made in any currency unit
(e.g., ECU), and such currency unit is unavailable due to the imposition of
exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the Company's control, then the
Company will be entitled, but not required, to make any payments in respect of
such Note in U.S. dollars until such currency unit is again available. The
amount of each payment in U.S. dollars shall be computed on the basis of the
equivalent of the currency unit in U.S. dollars, which shall be determined by
the Company or its agent on the following basis. The component currencies of the
currency unit for the purpose (the "Component Currencies" or, individually, a
"Component Currency") shall be the currency amounts that were components of the
currency unit as of the last day on which the currency unit was used. The
equivalent of the currency unit in U.S. dollars shall be calculated by
aggregating the U.S. dollar equivalents of the Component Currencies. The U.S.
dollar equivalent of each of the Component Currencies shall be determined by the
Company or such agent on the basis of the most recently available Market
Exchange Rate for each such Component Currency, or as otherwise indicated in the
applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     If the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of
combination or subdivision, the number of units of the currency as a Component
Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If two or more
Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the amounts of
those currencies as Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such
single currency equal to the sum of the amounts of the consolidated Component
Currencies expressed in such single currency. If any Component Currency is
divided into two or more currencies, the amount of the original Component
Currency shall be replaced by the amounts of such two or more currencies, the
sum of which shall be equal to the amount of the original Component Currency.
 
     All determinations referred to above made by the Company or its agent
(including 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 Holders of Notes.
 
INTEREST
 
     Each interest-bearing Note will bear interest from and including its Issue
Date or from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date with respect to
which interest on such Note (or any predecessor Note) has been paid or duly
provided for to, but excluding, the relevant Interest Payment Date at the fixed
rate per annum, or at the rate per annum determined pursuant to the interest
rate formula, stated therein and in the applicable Pricing Supplement until the
principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest payments, if
any, will be in the amount of interest accrued from and including the next
preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or
duly provided for (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has
been paid with respect to such Note) to, but excluding, the applicable Interest
Payment Date.
 
     Interest, if any, will be payable on each Interest Payment Date and at
Maturity; see "Description of Notes -- General". Interest will be payable
generally to the person (which, in the case of a Book-Entry Note, shall be the
Depositary) in whose name a Note (or any predecessor Note) is registered at the
close of business on the Regular Record Date next preceding each Interest
Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity will be
payable to the person (which, in the case of a Book-Entry Note, shall be the
Depositary) to whom principal shall be payable. Unless otherwise indicated in
the applicable Pricing
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   6
 
Supplement, the first payment of interest on any Note originally issued between
a Regular Record Date and an Interest Payment Date will be made on the second
Interest Payment Date following the Issue date of issue of such Note to the
registered owner on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding such Interest
Payment Date. With respect to payments of interest on Book-Entry Notes, see
"Description of Notes -- Book-Entry Notes".
 
FIXED RATE NOTES
 
     The applicable Pricing Supplement relating to a Fixed Rate Note will
designate a fixed rate of interest per annum payable on such Note. Unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Payment
Dates with respect to Fixed Rate Notes other than Amortizing Notes shall be
January 15 and July 15 of each year and at Maturity and the Regular Record Dates
for such Notes shall be the January 1 and July 1 next preceding the relevant
Interest Payment Dates. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
     If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity of a Fixed Rate Note falls on
a day that is not a Market Day, the related payment of principal, premium, if
any, or interest will be made on the next succeeding Market Day as if made on
the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so
payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or Maturity, as
the case may be.
 
FLOATING RATE NOTES
 
     The applicable Pricing Supplement relating to a Floating Rate Note will
designate an interest rate basis for such Floating Rate Note. Such basis may be:
(a) the Commercial Paper Rate, in which case such Note will be a Commercial
Paper Rate Note, (b) the Prime Rate, in which case such Note will be a Prime
Rate Note, (c) the CD Rate, in which case such Note will be a CD Rate Note, (d)
the Federal Funds Rate, in which case such Note will be a Federal Funds Rate
Note, (e) LIBOR, in which case such Note will be a LIBOR Note, (f) the Treasury
Rate, in which case such Note will be a Treasury Rate Note, or (g) such other
interest rate basis or formula as may be agreed to between the Company and the
purchaser and set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. In addition, a
Floating Rate Note may bear interest at the lowest or highest or average of two
or more interest rate formulae. The applicable Pricing Supplement for a Floating
Rate Note also will specify the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any, and the
maximum or minimum interest rate limitation, if any, applicable to each Note. In
addition, such Pricing Supplement will define or particularize for each Floating
Rate Note the following terms, if applicable: Calculation Agent, Calculation
Dates, Initial Interest Rate, Interest Payment Dates, Regular Record Dates,
Index Maturity, Interest Determination Dates and Interest Reset Dates with
respect to such Note. See "Glossary" for definitions of certain terms used in
this Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The rate of interest on a Floating Rate Note in effect on any day will be
(a) if such day is an Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate
Note, the interest rate on such Floating Rate Note determined as of the Interest
Determination Date pertaining to such Interest Reset Date, or (b) if such day is
not an Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note, the interest
rate on such Floating Rate Note determined as of the Interest Determination Date
pertaining to the immediately preceding Interest Reset Date with respect to such
Floating Rate Note; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect from the
Issue Date of a Floating Rate Note (or that of a predecessor Note) to but
excluding the first Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note
will be the Initial Interest Rate (as set forth in the applicable Pricing
Supplement). Subject to applicable provisions of law and except as described
herein, the rate of interest on a Floating Rate Note on any Interest Reset Date
with respect thereto will be the rate of interest determined with respect to the
Interest Determination Date pertaining to such Interest Reset Date as determined
in accordance with the applicable provisions described below.
 
     The rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset daily,
weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually (each an "Interest Reset
Date"), as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Reset Date will be,
in the case of
 
                                       S-6
<PAGE>   7
 
Floating Rate Notes which reset daily, each Market Day; in the case of Floating
Rate Notes (other than Treasury Rate Notes) which reset weekly, the Wednesday of
each week; in the case of Treasury Rate Notes which reset weekly, except as
provided in the following paragraph, the Tuesday of each week; in the case of
Floating Rate Notes which reset monthly, the third Wednesday of each month; in
the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of
March, June, September and December; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which
reset semi-annually, the third Wednesday of two months of each year, as
indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and in the case of Floating Rate
Notes which reset annually, the third Wednesday of one month of each year, as
indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If any Interest Reset Date for
any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Market Day with
respect to such Note, such Interest Reset Date shall be the next succeeding
Market Day with respect to such Note, except that if such Note is a LIBOR Note
and the next succeeding Market Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month,
such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Market Day.
 
     The Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a
Commercial Paper Rate Note (the "Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date"),
a Prime Rate Note (the "Prime Rate Interest Determination Date"), a CD Rate Note
(the "CD Rate Interest Determination Date") or a Federal Funds Rate Note (the
"Federal Funds Interest Determination Date") will be the second Market Day
preceding the Interest Reset Date with respect to such Note. The Interest
Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a LIBOR Note (the
"LIBOR Interest Determination Date") will be the second London Market Day
preceding such Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date pertaining
to an Interest Reset Date for a Treasury Rate Note (the "Treasury Interest
Determination Date") will be the day on which Treasury bills are auctioned for
the week in which such Interest Reset Date falls, or if no auction is held for
such week, the Monday of such week (or if Monday is a legal holiday, the next
succeeding Market Day) and the Interest Reset Date will be the Market Day
immediately following such Treasury Interest Determination Date. Treasury bills
are usually sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal
holiday, in which case the auction is usually held on the following Tuesday,
except that such auction may be held on the preceding Friday. If an auction for
such week is held on Monday or the preceding Friday, such Monday or preceding
Friday shall be the Treasury Interest Determination Date for such week, and the
Interest Reset Date for such week shall be the Tuesday of such week (or, if such
Tuesday is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day). If the auction for
such week is held on any day of such week other than Monday, then such day shall
be the Treasury Interest Determination Date and the Interest Reset Date for such
week shall be the next succeeding Market Day.
 
     A Floating Rate Note may have either or both of the following: (a) a
maximum numerical interest rate limitation, or ceiling, on the rate of interest
which may accrue during any interest period; and (b) a minimum numerical
interest rate limitation, or floor, on the rate of interest which may accrue
during any interest period. In addition to any maximum interest rate which may
be applicable to any Floating Rate Note, the interest rate on such Floating Rate
Note will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law,
as the same may be modified by United States law of general application. Under
present New York law the maximum rate of interest, with certain exceptions, is
25% per annum on a simple interest basis. The limit may not apply to Notes in
which $2,500,000 or more has been invested.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement and except
as provided below, the Interest Payment Date will be, in the case of Floating
Rate Notes which reset daily, weekly or monthly, the third Wednesday of each
month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each
year (as indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement); in the case of
Floating Rate Notes which reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June,
September and December of each year; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which
reset semi-annually, the third Wednesday of the two months of each year
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and in the case of Floating Rate
Notes which reset annually, the third Wednesday of the month specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement. If, pursuant to the preceding sentence, an
Interest Payment Date with respect to any Floating Rate Note (other than an
Interest Payment Date at Maturity) would otherwise be a day that is not a Market
Day with respect to such Note, such Interest Payment Date shall be the next
succeeding Market Day with respect to such Note, except that if such Note is a
LIBOR Note and the next succeeding Market Day falls in the next succeeding
calendar month, such
 
                                       S-7
<PAGE>   8
 
Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Market Day. If the
Maturity of a Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Market Day, the
payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next
succeeding Market Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue from and
after such Maturity. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, the Regular Record Date with respect to Floating Rate Notes shall be
the date 15 calendar days prior to each Interest Payment Date, whether or not
such date shall be a Market Day.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the
interest accrued from and including the date of issue, or from and including the
last date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, is calculated by
multiplying the face amount of such Floating Rate Note by an accrued interest
factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor
calculated for each day in such period from and including the date of issue, or
from and including the last date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, to but excluding the date for which accrued interest is being
calculated. Unless otherwise specified in the Note and the applicable Pricing
Supplement, the interest factor (expressed as a decimal rounded upwards, if
necessary, as described below) for each such day is computed by dividing the
interest rate (expressed as a decimal rounded upwards, if necessary, as
described below) applicable to such date by 360, (or, in the case of Treasury
Rate Notes, by the actual number of days in the year). The interest factor for
Notes for which two or more interest rate formulae are applicable will be
calculated in each period in the same manner as if only the lowest, highest or
average of, as the case may be, such interest rate formulae applied.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in a Pricing Supplement, all percentages
resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, upwards
if necessary, to the nearest one-hundred thousandth of a percentage point, with
five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or
.09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655) and 9.876544% (or .09876544)
being rounded to 9.87654% (or .0987654)), and all dollar amounts used in or
resulting from such calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the
nearest cent or, in the case of Foreign Currency Notes, the nearest unit (with
one-half cent or five one-thousandths of a unit being rounded upwards).
 
     Upon the request of the Holder of any Floating Rate Note, the Calculation
Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect, and, if determined, the
interest rate which will become effective as a result of a determination made on
the most recent Interest Determination Date with respect to such Floating Rate
Note.
 
     Commercial Paper Rate Notes.  Each Commercial Paper Rate Note will bear
interest at the interest rate (calculated with reference to the Commercial Paper
Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any) specified on the face of such
Commercial Paper Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
"Commercial Paper Rate" means, with respect to any Commercial Paper Interest
Determination Date, the Money Market Yield (calculated as described below) of
the rate on such date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified
in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in H.15(519) under the heading
"Commercial Paper". In the event that such rate is not published prior to 3:00
P.M. New York City time, on the Calculation Date pertaining to such Commercial
Paper Interest Determination Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate shall be the
Money Market Yield of the rate on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination
Date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement as published in Composite Quotations under the heading
"Commercial Paper". If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation
Date such rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations,
the Commercial Paper Rate for that Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date
shall be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean, as calculated by the
Calculation Agent on such Calculation Date, of the offered rates, as of 11:00
A.M., New York City time, on that Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date,
of three leading dealers of commercial paper in The City of New York selected by
the Calculation Agent (which may include one or more of the Distributors or
their affiliates) for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement placed for an industrial issuer whose bond
rating is "AA", or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized rating agency;
provided, however, that if fewer than three dealers selected as aforesaid by the
Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Commercial
 
                                       S-8
<PAGE>   9
 
Paper Rate will be the Commercial Paper Rate in effect on such Commercial Paper
Interest Determination Date.
 
     "Money Market Yield" shall be a yield (expressed as a percentage rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next higher one-hundred thousandth of a percentage
point) calculated in accordance with the following formula:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                    <C>
Money Market Yield  =     D X 360      
                       -------------   X 100
                       360 - (D X M)
</TABLE>
 
where "D" refers to the 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.
 
     Prime Rate Notes.  Each Prime Rate Note will bear interest at the interest
rate (calculated with reference to the Prime Rate and the Spread or Spread
Multiplier, if any) specified on the face of such Prime Rate Note and in the
applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Prime
Rate" means, with respect to any Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, the
arithmetic mean of the announced prime rates quoted on the basis of the actual
number of days in the year divided by 360 as of the close of business on such
Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by three major money center banks in The
City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent. If fewer than three such
quotations are provided, the Prime Rate shall be determined on the basis of the
announced prime rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the
year divided by 360 in The City of New York by three substitute banks or trust
companies organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, or
any state thereof, having total equity capital of at least $500 million and
being subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority,
selected by the Calculation Agent to provide such rate or rates; provided,
however, that if the banks or trust companies selected as aforesaid are not
quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate will be the Prime Rate
then in effect on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date.
 
     CD Rate Notes.  Each CD Rate Note will bear interest at the interest rate
(calculated with reference to the CD Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier,
if any) specified on the face of such CD Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing
Supplement.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "CD Rate"
means, with respect to any CD Rate Interest Determination Date, the rate on such
date for negotiable certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity specified
in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in H.15(519) under the heading
"Cds (Secondary Market)". In the event that such rate is not published prior to
3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date pertaining to such CD
Rate Interest Determination Date, then the CD Rate shall be the rate on such CD
Rate Interest Determination Date for negotiable certificates of deposit having
the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published
in Composite Quotations under the heading "Certificates of Deposit". If by 3:00
P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date such rate is not yet
published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations, the CD Rate for that CD
Interest Determination Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and
shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher
one-hundred thousandth of a percentage point) of the secondary market offered
rates, as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on that CD Rate Interest
Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers of negotiable U.S. dollar
certificates of deposit in The City of New York selected by the Calculation
Agent (which may include one or more of the Distributors or their affiliates)
for negotiable certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks
with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement in a denomination of $5,000,000; provided,
however, that if fewer than three dealers selected as aforesaid by the
Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD Rate will be
the CD Rate in effect on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date.
 
                                       S-9
<PAGE>   10
 
     Federal Funds Rate Notes.  Each Federal Funds Rate Note will bear interest
at the interest rate (calculated with reference to the Federal Funds Rate and
the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any) specified on the face of such Federal
Funds Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Federal
Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Federal Funds Interest Determination
Date, the rate on such date for Federal Funds having the Index Maturity
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in H.15(519) under
the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)". In the event that such rate is not
published prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date
pertaining to such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date, then the Federal
Funds Rate will be the rate on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date as
published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Federal Funds/Effective
Rate". If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date such rate
is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations, the Federal
Funds Rate for that Federal Funds Interest Determination Date shall be the
arithmetic mean, as calculated by the Calculation Agent on such Calculation
Date, of the rates, prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on that Federal
Funds Interest Determination Date, for the last transaction in overnight Federal
Funds arranged by three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in The
City of New York (which may include one or more of the Distributors or their
affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if fewer
than three brokers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as
mentioned in this sentence, the Federal Funds Rate will be the Federal Funds
Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date.
 
     LIBOR Notes.  Each LIBOR Note will bear interest at the interest rate
(calculated with reference to LIBOR and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any)
specified on the face of such LIBOR Note and in the applicable Pricing
Supplement.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, LIBOR will
be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following
provisions: On each LIBOR Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will be determined
on the basis of the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having the Index
Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, commencing on the
second London Market Day immediately following such LIBOR Interest Determination
Date, which appears on the Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on
that LIBOR Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not so appear on the
Telerate Page 3750, the rate in respect of such LIBOR Interest Determination
Date will be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S.
dollars are offered by four major banks in the London interbank market (selected
by the Calculation Agent) at approximately 11:00 A.M., London Time, on the LIBOR
Interest Determination Date next preceding the relevant Interest Reset Date to
prime banks in the London interbank market for a period of the Index Maturity
commencing on that Interest Reset Date and in a principal amount equal to an
amount not less than $1,000,000 that is representative for a single transaction
in such market at such time. In such case, the Calculation Agent will request
the principal London office of each of the aforesaid major banks to provide a
quotation of such rate. If at least two such quotations are provided in respect
of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the rate for that Interest Reset Date
will be the arithmetic mean of the quotations, and, if fewer than two quotations
are provided as requested in respect of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date,
the rate for that Interest Reset Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates
quoted by three major banks in The City of New York, selected by the Calculation
Agent (which may include one or more of the Distributors or their affiliates),
at approximately 11:00 A.M. New York City time on that LIBOR Interest
Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a
period of the Index Maturity commencing on that Interest Reset Date and in a
principal amount equal to an amount not less than $1,000,000 that is
representative for a single transaction in such market at such time; provided,
however, if the aforesaid rate cannot be determined by the Calculation Agent,
LIBOR in respect of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be LIBOR then in
effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
 
     Treasury Rate Notes.  Each Treasury Rate Note will bear interest at the
interest rate (calculated with reference to the Treasury Rate and the Spread or
Spread Multiplier, if any) specified on the face of such Treasury Rate Note and
in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
                                      S-10
<PAGE>   11
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Treasury
Rate" means, with respect to any Treasury Interest Determination Date, the rate
for the most recent auction of direct obligations of the United States
("Treasury bills") having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement as published in H.15(519) under the heading, "U.S. Government
Securities/Treasury Bills -- Auction Average (Investment)" or, if not so
published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date pertaining
to such Treasury Interest Determination Date, the auction average rate
(expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as
applicable, and applied on a daily basis) for such auction as otherwise
announced by the United States Department of the Treasury. In the event that the
results of the auction of Treasury bills having the Index Maturity specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement are not published or reported as provided
above by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such date, or if no such auction is
held in a particular week, then the Treasury Rate shall be the rate as published
in H.15(519) under the heading "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury
Bills/Secondary Market." In the event that such rate is not so published by 3:00
P.M., New York City time, on its Calculation Date, then the Treasury Rate shall
be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be a yield to maturity
(expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as
applicable, and applied on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean, as calculated
by the Calculation Agent on such Calculation Date, of the secondary market bid
rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury
Interest Determination Date, of three leading primary United States government
securities dealers in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent
(which may include one or more of the Distributors or their affiliates), for the
issue of Treasury bills with a remaining maturity closest to the specified Index
Maturity; provided, however, that if the dealers selected as aforesaid by the
Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury
Rate will be the Treasury Rate in effect on such Treasury Interest Determination
Date.
 
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT NOTES
 
     Notes may be issued as Original Issue Discount Notes. An Original Issue
Discount Note is a Note which is issued at a price lower than the principal
amount thereof and which provides that upon redemption or acceleration of the
Maturity thereof an amount less than the principal thereof shall become due and
payable. In the event of redemption or acceleration of the Maturity of an
Original Issue Discount Note, the amount payable to the Holder of such Note upon
such redemption or acceleration will be determined in accordance with the terms
of the Note, but will be an amount less than the amount payable at the Stated
Maturity of such Note. In addition, a Note issued at a discount may, for United
States federal income tax purposes, be considered an original issue discount
note, regardless of the amount payable upon redemption or acceleration of
Maturity of such Note. See "United States Taxation -- Original Issue Discount".
 
INDEXED NOTES
 
     Notes may be issued as Indexed Notes, as indicated in the applicable
Pricing Supplement. Holders of Indexed Notes may receive a principal amount at
Maturity that is greater than or less than the face amount of such Notes
depending upon the fluctuation of the relative value, rate or price of the
specified index. Specific information pertaining to the method for determining
the principal amount payable at Maturity, a historical comparison of the
relative value, rate or price of the specified index and the face amount of the
Indexed Note and certain additional tax considerations will be described in the
applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
AMORTIZING NOTES
 
     The Company may from time to time offer Amortizing Notes. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on each Amortizing Note
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Payments of principal and interest on Amortizing Notes, which are securities for
which payments of principal and interest are made in equal installments over the
life of the security, will be made either quarterly on each January 15, April
15, July 15 and October 15 or semiannually on each January 15 and July 15, and
on the Stated Maturity, unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing
Supplement. Payments with respect to Amortizing Notes will be applied first to
interest due and payable thereon and then to the reduction of the unpaid
principal amount thereof. Further information concerning additional terms and
 
                                      S-11
<PAGE>   12
 
conditions of any issue of Amortizing Notes will be provided in the applicable
Pricing Supplement. A table setting forth repayment information in respect of
each Amortizing Note will be included in the applicable Pricing Supplement and
set forth in such Notes.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Redemption (Option of Company).  If one or more Redemption Dates (or range
of Redemption Dates) is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the
Notes described therein will be subject to redemption, in whole or in part, as
specified in such Pricing Supplement, on any such date (or during any such range
of dates) at the option of the Company upon not less than 30 days' or more than
60 days' notice, at the Redemption Price or Prices specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, together with interest accrued to the Redemption Date;
provided, however, that interest installments due prior to the date fixed for
redemption will be payable to the Holder of record at the close of business on
the Regular Record Date. If less than the entire principal amount of a Note is
redeemed, the principal amount of such Note that remains outstanding after such
redemption shall be an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the
minimum authorized denomination) for the Notes. If less than all Notes of like
tenor are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the
Trustee by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.
 
     Redemption (Option of Holder).  If one or more Redemption Dates (Option of
Holder) (or range of such dates) is specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, the Notes described therein will be subject to redemption, in whole,
or from time to time in part, as specified in such Pricing Supplement, on any
such date (or during any such range) or, if such date is not a Market Day, on
the first Market Day following such date, at the election of the Holder at the
Redemption Price determined as set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
together with interest accrued to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that
interest installments due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption will be
payable to the Holder of record at the close of business on the Regular Record
Date.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, in order
to exercise such an election, a Holder must, unless a different notice period is
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, give to the Trustee not less
than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' notice. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, any such notice shall consist of either (i) the
Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Redemption" duly completed, or (ii)
a telegram, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national
securities exchange, or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States, setting forth the
name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note, the principal amount of
the Note to be redeemed, the certificate number or a description of the tenor
and terms of the Note, a statement that the option to elect redemption is being
exercised thereby and a guarantee that such Note, together with the duly
completed form entitled "Option to Elect Redemption", will be received by the
Trustee not later than the fifth Business Day after the date of such telegram,
facsimile transmission or letter; provided, however, that such telegram,
facsimile transmission or letter shall only be effective if such Note and such
form, duly completed, are received by the Trustee by such fifth Business Day.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, exercise
of a redemption option by a Holder will be irrevocable. Such option may be
exercised with respect to less than the entire principal amount of a Note,
provided that the portion remaining Outstanding after such redemption is an
authorized denomination.
 
     If a Note is represented by a Book-Entry Note the Depositary's nominee will
be the Holder thereof entitled to exercise a right to redemption. In order to
ensure that the Depositary's nominee will timely exercise a right to repayment
with respect to a particular Note, the beneficial owner of an interest in such
Note must instruct the broker or other direct or indirect participant through
which it holds an interest in such Note to notify the Depositary of its desire
to exercise a right to repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times
for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each such
beneficial owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect
participant through which it holds an interest in a Book-Entry Note in order to
ascertain the cut-off time by which such an instruction must be given in order
for timely notice to be delivered to the Depositary.
 
                                      S-12
<PAGE>   13
 
REPURCHASE
 
     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 its discretion, be held,
resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
 
BOOK-ENTRY NOTES
 
     Upon issuance, all Book-Entry Notes of like tenor and having the same Issue
Date will be represented by one or more fully registered securities in permanent
global form (each a "Global Note"). See "Description of Securities -- Global
Securities" in the Prospectus. Each Global Note representing Book-Entry Notes
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, as
Depositary (the "Depositary"), located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, and will be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of
the Depositary. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
the Depositary will only accept the deposit of a Global Note denominated in U.S.
dollars.
 
     Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note representing Book-Entry
Notes will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or
its nominee ("participants") or person that may hold interests through
participants. The Company has been advised by the Depositary that upon the
issuance of a Global Note representing Book-Entry Notes, and the deposit of such
Global Note with the Depositary, the Depositary will immediately credit, on its
book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of
the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note to the accounts of
participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the soliciting
Agent or, to the extent that the Book-Entry Notes are offered and sold directly,
by the Company.
 
     The Company has been advised by the Depositary that upon receipt of any
payment of principal of or any premium or interest in respect of a Global Note,
the Depositary will immediately credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate
to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global
Note as shown on the records of the Depositary. Payments by participants to
owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note held through such participants
will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the
case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street
name", and will be the sole responsibility of such participants.
 
     The Depositary has advised the Company as follows: the Depositary is a
limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a
"banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member
of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of
the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The Depositary was created to hold securities of its
participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions, such as transfers and pledges, among its participants in such
securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in accounts of the
participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. The Depositary's participants include securities brokers and
dealers (including the Distributors), banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their
representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary's book-entry
system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
participant, either directly or indirectly.
 
                                      S-13
<PAGE>   14
 
             SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
     The following provisions, which apply to Foreign Currency Notes, supplement
the description of general terms and conditions of (a) Debt Securities set forth
under the heading "Description of Debt Securities" in the accompanying
Prospectus and (b) Notes set forth above under the heading "Description of
Notes" in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
     THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS AND ANY PRICING
SUPPLEMENT DO NOT DESCRIBE ALL RISKS OF AN INVESTMENT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES
THAT RESULT FROM SUCH NOTES BEING DENOMINATED IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY OR CURRENCY
UNIT EITHER AS SUCH RISKS EXIST AT THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR AS
SUCH RISKS MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS SHOULD CONSULT
THEIR OWN FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS AS TO THE RISKS ENTAILED IN AN INVESTMENT
IN FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES AND AS TO ANY MATTERS THAT MAY AFFECT THE PURCHASE OR
HOLDING OF A FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTE OR THE RECEIPT OF PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL OF
AND ANY PREMIUM AND INTEREST ON A FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTE IN A SPECIFIED CURRENCY.
FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES ARE NOT AN APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT FOR INVESTORS WHO ARE
UNSOPHISTICATED WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, a Foreign
Currency Note will not be sold in, or to a resident of, the country of the
Specified Currency in which such Note is denominated.
 
     The authorized denominations of Foreign Currency Notes will be indicated in
the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     Specific information pertaining to the foreign currency or currency unit in
which a particular Foreign Currency Note is denominated, including historical
exchange rates and a description of the currency and any exchange controls, will
be described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Such information contained
therein shall be furnished as a matter of information only and should not be
regarded as indicative of the range of or trends in fluctuations in currency
exchange rates that may occur in the future.
 
EXCHANGE RATES AND EXCHANGE CONTROLS
 
     An investment in Foreign Currency Notes entails significant risks that are
not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in U.S.
dollars. Such risks include, without limitation, the possibility of significant
changes in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the Specified
Currency and the possibility of the imposition or modification of foreign
exchange controls by either the United States or foreign governments. Such risks
generally depend on economic and political events and the supply of and demand
for the relevant currencies over which the Company has no control. In recent
years, rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and certain foreign currencies
have been highly volatile and such volatility may be expected in the future.
Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past are
not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations in the rate that may occur
during the term of any Foreign Currency Note. Depreciation of the Specified
Currency applicable to a Foreign Currency Note against the U.S. dollar would
result in a decrease in the U.S. dollar-equivalent yield of such Note, in the
U.S. dollar-equivalent value of the principal repayable at Maturity of such Note
and, generally, in the U.S. dollar-equivalent market value of such Note.
 
     Governments have imposed from time to time exchange controls and may in the
future impose or revise exchange controls at or prior to a Foreign Currency
Note's Maturity. Even if there are not exchange controls, it is possible that
the Specified Currency for any particular Foreign Currency Note would not be
available at such Note's Maturity due to other circumstances beyond the control
of the Company.
 
JUDGMENTS
 
     In the event an action based on Foreign Currency Notes were commenced in a
court of the United States, it is likely that such court would grant judgment
relating to such Notes only in U.S. dollars. It is not clear,
 
                                      S-14
<PAGE>   15
 
however, whether, in granting such judgment, the rate of conversion into U.S.
dollars would be determined with reference to the date of default, the date
judgment is rendered or some other date. Holders of Foreign Currency Notes would
bear the risk of exchange rate fluctuations between the time the amount of the
judgment is calculated and the time the Trustee converts U.S. dollars to the
Specified Currency for payment of the judgment.
 
                             UNITED STATES TAXATION
 
     The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income
tax consequences of the ownership of Notes. It deals only with Notes held as
capital assets by initial purchasers, and not with special classes of holders,
such as dealers in securities or currencies, banks, tax-exempt organizations,
life insurance companies, persons that hold Notes that are a hedge or that are
hedged against currency risks or that are part of a straddle or conversion
transaction, or persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. The
summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published
rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect and all subject to
change at any time, perhaps with retroactive effect.
 
     PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF NOTES SHOULD CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING
DISCUSSION AND THE APPLICABLE PRICING SUPPLEMENT AND SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN
TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE CONSEQUENCES, IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES,
UNDER THE CODE AND THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION, OF THE OWNERSHIP
OF THE NOTES.
 
UNITED STATES HOLDERS
 
     Payments of Interest
 
     Interest on a Note, whether payable in U.S. dollars or a Specified
Currency, other than interest on a Discount Note that is not "qualified stated
interest," (as such terms are defined below) will be taxable to a beneficial
owner who or that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation, partnership or other entity organized in the United States or (iii)
otherwise subject to United States federal income taxation on a net income basis
in respect of the Note (a "United States Holder") as ordinary income at the time
it is received or accrued, depending on the holder's method of accounting for
tax purposes.
 
     If an interest payment is denominated in or determined by reference to a
Specified Currency, the amount of interest income recognized by a cash basis
United States Holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment,
based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of
whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars.
 
     An accrual basis United States Holder may determine the amount of income
recognized with respect to an interest payment denominated in, or determined by
reference to, a Specified Currency in accordance with either of two methods.
Under the first method, the amount of interest accrued will be based on the
average rate of exchange in effect during the interest accrual period (or, in
the case of an accrual period that spans two taxable years, the part of the
period within the taxable year). Upon receipt of the interest payment (including
a payment attributable to accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or
retirement of a Note) denominated in, or determined by reference to, the
Specified Currency, the United States Holder will recognize ordinary income or
loss measured by the difference, between the average exchange rate used to
accrue interest income and the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt,
regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Under
the second method, the United States Holder may elect to determine the amount of
income accrued on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on the last day of
the accrual period or, in the case of an accrual period that spans two taxable
years, the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the part of the period
within the taxable year. Additionally, if a payment of interest is actually
received within 5 business days of the last day of the accrual period or taxable
year, an electing accrual basis United States Holder may instead translate such
accrued interest into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day of
actual receipt. Any such election will apply to all debt instruments held by the
United States Holder at the beginning
 
                                      S-15
<PAGE>   16
 
of the first taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired
by the United States Holder, and will be irrevocable without the consent of the
Internal Revenue Service (the "Service").
 
     Original Issue Discount
 
     General.  A Note, other than a Note with a term of one year or less (a
"short-term Note"), will be treated as issued at an original issue discount (a
"Discount Note") if the excess of the Note's "stated redemption price at
maturity" over its issue price is more than a de minimis amount (as defined
below). Generally, the issue price of a Note will be the first price at which a
substantial amount of Notes included in the issue of which the Note is a part is
sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or
organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or
wholesalers. The stated redemption price at maturity of a Note is the total of
all payments provided by the Note that are not payments of "qualified stated
interest". A qualified stated interest payment is generally any one of a series
of stated interest payments on a Note that are unconditionally payable at least
annually at a single fixed rate (with certain exceptions for lower rates paid
during some periods) applied to the outstanding principal amount of the Note.
Special rules for "Variable Rate Notes" are described below under "Original
Issue Discount -- Variable Rate Notes."
 
     In general, if the excess of a Note's stated redemption price at maturity
over its issue price is less than 1/4 of 1 percent of the Note's stated
redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its
maturity (the "de minimis amount"), then such excess, if any, constitutes "de
minimis original issue discount" and the Note is not a Discount Note. Unless the
election described below under "Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue
Discount" is made, a United States Holder of a Note with de minimis original
issue discount must include such de minimis original issue discount in income as
stated principal payments on the Note are made. The includible amount with
respect to each such payment will equal the product of the total amount of the
Note's de minimis original issue discount and a fraction, the numerator of which
is the amount of the principal payment made and the denominator of which is the
stated principal amount of the Note.
 
     United States Holders of Discount Notes having a maturity of more than one
year from their date of issue must include original issue discount ("OID") in
income as it accrues calculated on a constant-yield method whether or not the
United States Holder receives cash attributable to such income, and generally
will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID over the life
of the Note. The amount of OID includible in income by a United States Holder of
a Discount Note is the sum of the daily portions of OID with respect to the
Discount Note for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable
year on which the United States Holder holds such Discount Note ("accrued OID").
The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any "accrual
period" a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. Accrual
periods with respect to a Note may be of any length selected by the United
States Holder and may vary in length over the term of the Note as long as (i) no
accrual period is longer than one year and (ii) each scheduled payment of
interest or principal on the Note occurs on either the final or first day of an
accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to an accrual period equals the
excess of (a) the product of the Discount Note's adjusted issue price at the
beginning of the accrual period and such Note's yield to maturity (determined on
the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly
adjusted for the length of the accrual period) over (b) the sum of the payments
of qualified stated interest on the Note allocable to the accrual period. The
"adjusted issue price" of a Discount Note at the beginning of any accrual period
is the issue price of the Note increased by (x) the amount of accrued OID for
each prior accrual period and decreased by (y) the amount of any payments
previously made on the Note that were not qualified stated interest payments.
For purposes of determining the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period, if
an interval between payments of qualified stated interest on the Note contains
more than one accrual period, the amount of qualified stated interest payable at
the end of the interval (including any qualified stated interest that is payable
on the first day of the accrual period immediately following the interval) is
allocated pro rata on the basis of relative lengths of each accrual period in
the interval, and the adjusted issue price at the beginning of each accrual
period in the interval must be increased by the amount of any qualified stated
interest that has accrued prior to the first day of the accrual period but that
is not payable until the end of the interval. The amount of OID allocable to an
initial short accrual period may be computed using any reasonable method if
 
                                      S-16
<PAGE>   17
 
all other accrual periods other than a final short accrual period are of equal
length. The amount of OID allocable to the final accrual period is the
difference between (x) the amount payable at the maturity of the Note (other
than any payment of qualified interest) and (y) the Note's adjusted issue price
as of the beginning of the final accrual period.
 
     Acquisition Premium.  A United States Holder that purchases a Discount Note
for an amount less than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the Note
after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest but in
excess of its adjusted issue price (any such excess being "acquisition premium")
and that does not make the election described below under "Election to Treat All
Interest as Original Issue Discount" is permitted to reduce the daily portions
of OID by a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of the United States
Holder's adjusted basis in the Note immediately after its purchase over the
adjusted issue price of the Note, and the denominator of which is the excess of
the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date, other than
payments of qualified stated interest, over the Note's adjusted issue price.
 
     Market Discount.  A Note, other than a short-term Note, will be treated as
purchased at a market discount (a "Market Discount Note") if (i) the amount for
which a United States Holder purchased the Note is less than the Note's issue
price (as determined above under "Original Issue Discount -- General") and (ii)
the Note's stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of a Discount
Note, the Note's "revised issue price," exceeds the amount for which the United
States Holder purchased the Note by at least 1/4 of 1 percent of such Note's
stated redemption price at maturity or revised issue price, respectively,
multiplied by the number of complete years to the Note's maturity. If such
excess is not sufficient to cause the Note to be a Market Discount Note, then
such excess constitutes "de minimis market discount". The Code provides that,
for these purposes, the revised issue price of a Note generally equals its issue
price, increased by the amount of any OID that has accrued on the Note.
 
     Any gain recognized on the maturity or disposition of a Market Discount
Note will be treated as ordinary income to the extent that such gain does not
exceed the accrued market discount on such Note. Alternatively, a United States
Holder of a Market Discount Note may elect to include market discount in income
currently over the life of the Note. Such an election shall apply to all debt
instruments with market discount acquired by the electing United States Holder
on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election
applies. This election may not be revoked without the consent of the Service.
 
     Market discount on a Market Discount Note will accrue on a straight-line
basis unless the United States Holder elects to accrue such market discount
using a constant-yield method. Such an election shall apply only to the Note
with respect to which it is made and may not be revoked without the consent of
the Service. A United States Holder of a Market Discount Note that does not
elect to include market discount in income currently generally will be required
to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to such Note in an
amount not exceeding the accrued market discount on such Note until the maturity
or disposition of such Note.
 
     Pre-Issuance Accrued Interest.  If (i) a portion of the initial purchase
price of a Note is attributable to pre-issuance accrued interest, (ii) the first
stated interest payment on the Note is to be made within one year of the Note's
issue date and (iii) the payment will equal or exceed the amount of pre-issuance
accrued interest, then the United States Holder may elect to decrease the issue
price of the Note by the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest. In that event,
a portion of the first stated interest payment will be treated as a return of
the excluded pre-issuance accrued interest and not as an amount payable on the
Note.
 
     Notes Subject to Contingencies Including Optional Redemption.  In general,
if a Note provides for an alternative payment schedule or schedules applicable
upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies and the timing and amounts
of the payments that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue
date, the yield and maturity of the Note for purposes of determining its OID
characteristics are determined by assuming that the payments will be made
according to the Note's stated payment schedule. If, however, based on all the
facts and circumstances as of the issue date, it is more likely than not that
the Note's stated payment schedule will not occur, then, in general, the yield
and maturity of the Note are computed based on the payment schedule most likely
to occur.
 
                                      S-17
<PAGE>   18
 
     Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity in the
case of Notes subject to contingencies, if the Company or the United States
Holder has an unconditional option or options to require payments to be made on
a Note under an alternative payment schedule or schedules, then (i) in the case
of an option or options of the Company, the Company will be deemed to exercise
or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that minimizes
the yield on the Note and (ii) in the case of an option or options of the
Holder, the Holder will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or
combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on the Note.
 
     If a contingency (including the exercise of an option) actually occurs or
does not occur contrary to an assumption made according to the above rules (a
"change in circumstances") then, except to the extent that a portion of the Note
is repaid as a result of a change in circumstances and solely for purposes of
the accrual of OID, the yield and maturity of the Note are redetermined by
treating the Note as reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an
amount equal to the Note's adjusted issue price on that date.
 
     Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount.  A United States
Holder may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues on a Note
using the constant-yield method described above under the heading "Original
Issue Discount -- General," with the modifications described below. For purposes
of this election, interest includes stated interest, OID, de minimis OID, market
discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any
amortizable bond premium (described below under "Notes Purchased at a Premium")
or acquisition premium.
 
     In applying the constant-yield method to a Note with respect to which this
election has been made, the issue price of the Note will equal the electing
United States Holder's adjusted basis in the Note immediately after its
acquisition, the issue date of the Note will be the date of its acquisition by
the electing United States Holder, and no payments on the Note will be treated
as payments of qualified stated interest. This election will generally apply
only to the Note with respect to which it is made and may not be revoked without
the consent of the Service. If this election is made with respect to a Note with
amortizable bond premium, then the electing United States Holder will be deemed
to have elected to apply amortizable bond premium against interest with respect
to all debt instruments with amortizable bond premium (other than debt
instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income) held by the
electing United States Holder as of the beginning of the taxable year in which
the Note with respect to which the election is made is acquired or thereafter
acquired. The deemed election with respect to amortizable bond premium may not
be revoked without the consent of the Service.
 
     If the election to apply the constant yield method to all interest on a
Note is made with respect to a Market Discount Note, the electing United States
Holder will be treated as having made the election discussed above under
"Original Issue Discount -- Market Discount" to include market discount in
income currently over the life of all debt instruments held or thereafter
acquired by such United States Holder.
 
     Variable Rate Notes.  In general, a "Variable Rate Note" is a Note that
provides for stated interest compounded or paid at least annually at (1) one or
more "qualified floating rates," (2) a single fixed rate and one or more
qualified floating rates, (3) a single "objective rate" or (4) a single fixed
rate and a single objective rate that is a "qualified inverse floating rate."
 
     A variable rate is a "qualified floating rate" if (i) variations in the
value of the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous
variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the Note
is denominated or (ii) it is equal to the product of such a rate and either (a)
a fixed multiple that is greater than zero but not more than 1.35 or (b) a fixed
multiple greater than zero but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a
fixed rate. A rate is not a qualified floating rate, however, if the rate is
subject to certain restrictions (including caps, floors, governors, or other
similar restrictions) unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of
the Note or are not reasonably expected to affect significantly the yield on the
Note.
 
     An "objective rate" is a rate, other than a qualified floating rate, that
is determined using a single, fixed formula and that is based on (i) one or more
qualified floating rates, (ii) one or more rates each of which would be a
qualified floating rate for a debt instrument denominated in a currency other
than the currency in
 
                                      S-18
<PAGE>   19
 
which the debt instrument is denominated, (iii) the yield or changes in the
price of one or more actively traded items of personal property other than stock
or debt of the issuer or a related party, or (iv) a combination of objective
rates. A variable rate is not an objective rate, however, if it is reasonably
expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of the Note's
term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the
average value of the rate during the final half of the Note's term. An objective
rate is a "qualified inverse floating rate" if (i) the rate is equal to a fixed
rate minus a qualified floating rate, and (ii) the variations in the rate can
reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the
cost of newly borrowed funds.
 
     Under these rules, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, Prime Rate Notes, CD Rate
Notes, Federal Funds Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes and Treasury Rate Notes will
generally be treated as Variable Rate Notes.
 
     In general, if a Variable Rate Note provides for stated interest at a
single qualified floating rate or objective rate, all stated interest on the
Note is qualified stated interest and the amount of OID, if any, on the Note is
determined by using, in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified
inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating
rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or, in the case of any other objective
rate, a fixed rate that reflects the yield reasonably expected for the Note.
 
     If a Variable Rate Note does not provide for stated interest at a single
qualified floating rate or objective rate, or at a single fixed rate (other than
at a single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and OID
accruals on the Note are determined by (i) determining a fixed rate substitute
for each variable rate provided under the Variable Rate Note (generally, the
value of each variable rate as of the issue date or, in the case of an objective
rate that is not a qualified inverse floating rate, a rate that reflects the
reasonably expected yield on the Note), (ii) constructing the equivalent fixed
rate debt instrument (using the fixed rate substitute described above), (iii)
determining the amount of qualified stated interest and OID with respect to the
equivalent fixed rate debt instrument and (iv) making the appropriate
adjustments for actual variable rates during the applicable accrual period.
 
     If a Variable Rate Note provides for stated interest either at one or more
qualified floating rates or at a qualified inverse floating rate, and in
addition provides for stated interest at a single fixed rate (other than at a
single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and OID
accruals are determined as in the immediately preceding paragraph with the
modification that the Variable Rate Note is treated, for purposes of the first
three steps of the determination, as if it provided for a qualified floating
rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be) rather than the
fixed rate. The qualified floating (or qualified inverse floating rate)
replacing the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the Variable
Rate Notes as of the issue date would be approximately the same as the fair
market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the
qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating rate) rather than the
fixed rate.
 
     Short-Term Notes.  In general, an individual or other cash basis United
States Holder of a short-term Note is not required to accrue OID for United
States federal income tax purposes unless it elects to do so (but may be
required to include any stated interest in income as the interest is received).
Accrual basis United States Holders and certain other United States Holders,
including banks, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities, common
trust funds, United States Holders who hold Notes as part of certain identified
hedging transactions, certain pass-thru entities and cash basis United States
Holders who so elect, are required to accrue OID on short-term Notes in income
on either a straight-line basis or under the constant-yield method (based on
daily compounding), at the election of the United States Holder. In the case of
a United States Holder not required and not electing to include OID in income
currently, any gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other
disposition of the short-term Note will be ordinary income to the extent of the
OID accrued on a straight-line basis (unless an election is made to accrue the
OID under the constant yield method) through the date of such sale, exchange,
retirement or other disposition. United States Holders who are not required and
do not elect to accrue OID on short-term Notes will be required to defer
deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to short-term Notes in an amount
not exceeding the deferred income until the deferred income is realized.
 
                                      S-19
<PAGE>   20
 
     For purposes of determining the amount of OID subject to these rules, all
interest payments on a short-term Note, including stated interest, are included
in the short-term Note's stated redemption price at maturity.
 
     Foreign Currency Discount Notes.  OID for any accrual period on a Discount
Note that is a Foreign Currency Note will be determined in the Specified
Currency and then translated into U.S. dollars in the same manner as stated
interest accrued by an accrual basis United States Holder, as described above
under "Payments of Interest." Upon receipt of an amount attributable to OID
(whether in connection with a payment of interest or the sale or retirement of a
Note), a United States Holder may recognize ordinary income or loss.
 
     Notes Purchased at a Premium
 
     A United States Holder that purchases a Note for an amount in excess of its
principal amount may elect to treat such excess as "amortizable bond premium",
in which case the amount required to be included in the United States Holder's
income each year with respect to interest on the Note will be reduced by the
amount of amortizable bond premium allocable (based on the Note's yield to
maturity) to such year. Any election to amortize bond premium shall apply to all
bonds (other than bonds the interest on which is excludible from gross income)
held by the United States Holder at the beginning of the first taxable year to
which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the United States Holder,
and is irrevocable without the consent of the Service. See also "Original Issue
Discount -- Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount".
 
     In the case of a Foreign Currency Note, bond premium will be computed in
units of Specified Currency, and amortizable bond premium will reduce interest
income in units of the Specified Currency. At the time amortized bond premium
offsets interest income, exchange gain or loss (taxable as ordinary income or
loss) is realized measured by the difference between exchange rates at that time
and at the time of the acquisition of the Notes.
 
     Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Notes
 
     A United States Holder's tax basis in a Note, including a Discount Note,
will generally be its U.S. dollar cost (as defined below), increased by the
amount of any OID or market discount included in the United States Holder's
income with respect to the Note and, the amount, if any, of income attributable
to de minimis OID and de minimis market discount included in the United States
Holder's income with respect to the Note, and reduced by (i) the amount of any
payments that are not qualified stated interest payments, and (ii) the amount of
any amortizable bond premium applied to reduce interest on the Note. The U.S.
dollar cost of a Note purchased with a Specified Currency will generally be the
U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the date of purchase or, in the case
of Notes traded on an established securities market, as defined in the
applicable Treasury Regulations, that are purchased by a cash basis United
States Holder (or an accrual basis United States Holder that so elects), on the
settlement date for the purchase.
 
     A United States Holder will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or
retirement of a Note equal to the difference between the amount realized on such
sale or retirement and the tax basis of the Note. The amount realized on a sale
or retirement for an amount in Specified Currency will be the U.S. dollar value
of such amount on the date of such sale or retirement or in the case of Notes
traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable
Treasury Regulations, sold by a cash basis United States Holder (or an accrual
basis United States Holder that so elects), on the settlement date for the sale.
Except to the extent described above under "Original Issue Discount -- Short
Term Notes" or "Original Issue Discount -- Market Discount", described in the
next succeeding paragraph or attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, gain
or loss recognized on the sale or retirement of a Note will be capital gain or
loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Note was held for more
than one year.
 
     Gain or loss recognized by a United States Holder on the sale, exchange,
retirement or other disposition of a Note that is attributable to changes in
exchange rates will be treated as ordinary income or loss. However, exchange
gain or loss is taken into account only to the extent of total gain or loss
realized on the transaction.
 
                                      S-20
<PAGE>   21
 
     Exchange of Amounts in Other Than U.S. Dollars
 
     Specified Currency received as interest on a Note or on the sale, exchange,
retirement or other disposition of a Note will have a tax basis equal to its
U.S. dollar value at the time such interest is received or at the time of such
sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition. Specified Currency that is
purchased will generally have a tax basis equal to the U.S. dollar value of the
Specified Currency on the date of purchase. Any gain or loss recognized on a
sale or other disposition of a Specified Currency (including its use to purchase
Notes or upon exchange for U.S. dollars) will be ordinary income or loss.
 
     Indexed Renewable, Extendible and Amortizing Notes
 
     The applicable Pricing Supplement will contain a discussion of any special
United States federal income tax rules with respect to Indexed Notes that are
not subject to the rules governing Variable Rate Notes and with respect to any
Renewable, Extendible or Amortizing Notes.
 
UNITED STATES ALIEN HOLDERS
 
     For purposes of this discussion, a "United States Alien Holder" is any
holder who or that is (i) a nonresident alien individual or (ii) a foreign
corporation, partnership or estate or trust, in either case not subject to
United States federal income tax on a net income basis with respect to a Note.
 
     In general, under present United States federal income and estate tax law
and subject to the discussion of backup withholding below:
 
     (i) payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest (including OID) by
the Company or any of its paying agents to a United States Alien Holder of a
Note will not be subject to United States federal withholding tax, if, in the
case of interest or OID, (a) the beneficial owner of the Note does not actually
or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, (b) the beneficial owner of
the Note is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Company
(directly or indirectly) through stock ownership, and (c) either (A) the
beneficial owner of the Note certifies to the Company or its agent, under
penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States Holder and provides its
name and address or (B) a securities clearing organization, bank or other
financial institution that holds customers' securities in the ordinary course of
its trade or business (a "financial institution") and holds the Note certifies
to the Company or its agent under penalties of perjury that such statement has
been received from the beneficial owner by it or by a financial institution
between it and the beneficial owner and furnishes the payor with a copy thereof;
 
     (ii) a United States Alien Holder of a Note will not be subject to United
States federal withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale or exchange of a
Note; and
 
     (iii) a Note held by an individual who at death is not a citizen or
resident of the United States will not be subject to United States federal
estate tax as a result of such individual's death if the individual did not
actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote and the income on the Note
would not have been effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the
individual at the time of the individual's death.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
     United States Holders
 
     In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of
principal, any premium and interest on a Note and the proceeds of the sale of a
Note before maturity within the United States to, and to the accrual of OID on a
Discount Note with respect to, non-corporate United States Holders. In addition,
"backup withholding" at a rate of 31% will apply to such payments and to
payments of OID if the United States Holder fails to provide an accurate
taxpayer identification number or fails to report all interest and dividends
required to be shown on its federal income tax returns.
 
                                      S-21
<PAGE>   22
 
     United States Alien Holders
 
     Information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to payments of
principal, premium (if any) and interest (including OID) made by the Company or
a paying agent to a United States Alien Holder on a Note if the certification
described in clause (i)(c) under "United States Alien Holders" above is
received, provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder
is a United States person or that the conditions of any exemption are not in
fact satisfied.
 
     Payments of the proceeds from the sale by a United States Alien Holder of a
Note made to or through a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to
information reporting or backup withholding, except that if the broker is a
United States person, a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax
purposes or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively
connected with a United States trade or business for a specified three-year
period, information reporting may apply to such payments. Payments of the
proceeds from the sale of a Note to or through the United States office of a
broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the
holder or beneficial owner certifies as to its non-United States status or
otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup
withholding.
 
                         PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION OF NOTES
 
     Under the terms of a Distribution Agreement, dated January 12, 1994 (the
"Distribution Agreement"), the Notes are offered on a continuing basis by the
Company through the Distributors, each of which has agreed to use reasonable
efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes. Unless otherwise disclosed in the
applicable pricing supplement, the Company will pay a commission, or grant a
discount, to the Distributors. The Company will pay each Distributor a
commission of from .125% to .750% of the principal amount of each Note,
depending on its Stated Maturity, sold through such Distributor, as agent. The
Company will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes and may
reject any such offer, in whole or in part. Each Distributor shall have the
right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, without notice to the Company, to
reject any offer to purchase Notes received by it, in whole or in part.
 
     The Company also may sell Notes to any Distributor, acting as principal, at
a discount to be agreed upon at the time of sale or, if no other discount is
agreed, the Distributors may receive from the Company a discount or commission
equivalent to that set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement.
Such Notes may be resold at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at
prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, as
determined by such Distributor. Such Notes may also be resold to certain
securities dealers who may resell to investors at the public offering price set
forth on the cover page of the applicable Pricing Supplement. Such dealers also
may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions
from the Distributors and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may
act as agents. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
any concession allowed by any Distributor to any such dealer shall not be in
excess of the commission or discount received by such Distributor from the
Company. The offering price and other selling terms for such resales may from
time to time be varied by such Distributor.
 
     The Distributors, whether acting as agents or as principals for their own
accounts, may also receive commissions from purchasers of Notes for whom they
may act as agents.
 
     The Company has reserved the right to sell Notes directly on its own behalf
and to accept (but not solicit) offers to purchase Notes through additional
distributors on substantially the same terms and conditions (including
commission rates) as would apply to purchases of Notes pursuant to the
Distribution Agreement. Such additional distributors or agents, as the case may
be, will be named in the applicable Pricing Supplement. No commission will be
payable on any Notes sold directly by the Company.
 
     The Distributors and any dealers to whom the Distributors may sell Notes
may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Act"). The Company has agreed to indemnify the Distributors against
certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, or contribute to payments which the Distributors may be required to make
in respect thereof. The Company has agreed to reimburse the Distributors for
certain expenses.
 
                                      S-22
<PAGE>   23
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payment of
the purchase price of Notes, other than Foreign Currency Notes, will be required
to be made in funds immediately available in The City of New York. With respect
to payment of the purchase price of Foreign Currency Notes, see "Important
Currency Exchange Information" herein.
 
     In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, each of the
Distributors and certain of their respective affiliates have engaged in
transactions with and provided, and may in the future provide, investment
banking and/or commercial banking services for the Company. J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc., a Distributor, is an affiliate of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company
of New York, the Trustee under the Indenture.
 
                               VALIDITY OF NOTES
 
     The validity of the Notes will be passed upon for the Company by Dechert
Price & Rhoads, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for the Distributors by Cravath,
Swaine & Moore, New York, New York. The opinions of Dechert Price & Rhoads and
Cravath, Swaine & Moore will be conditioned upon, and subject to certain
assumptions regarding future action required to be taken by the Company and the
Trustee in connection with the issuance and sale of any particular Note, the
specific terms of Notes and other matters which may affect the validity of Notes
but which cannot be ascertained on the date of such opinions.
 
                                    GLOSSARY
 
     Set forth below are definitions, or the locations elsewhere of definitions,
of some of the terms used in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
     "Calculation Agent" means the agent appointed by the Company to calculate
interest rates for Floating Rate Notes. Unless otherwise provided in a Pricing
Supplement, the Calculation Agent will be Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York.
 
     "Calculation Date" means the date on which the Calculation Agent is to
calculate an interest rate for a Floating Rate Note, which is the applicable
date set forth below, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
Supplement:
 
          Prime Rate -- The Prime Rate Interest Determination Date.
 
          CD Rate -- The earlier of (i) the tenth day after the related CD Rate
     Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Market Day, the next
     succeeding Market Day; and (ii) the Market Day next preceding the relevant
     Interest Payment Date or date of Maturity, as the case may be.
 
          Commercial Paper Rate -- The earlier of (i) the tenth day after the
     related Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not
     a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day; and (ii) the Market Day next
     preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date or date of Maturity, as the
     case may be.
 
          LIBOR -- The LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
 
          Treasury Rate -- The earlier of (i) the tenth day after the related
     Treasury Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Market Day,
     the next succeeding Market Day; and (ii) the Market Day next preceding the
     relevant Interest Payment Date or date of Maturity, as the case may be.
 
          Federal Funds Rate -- The earlier of (i) the tenth day after the
     related Federal Funds Effective Interest Determination Date or, if such day
     is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day; and (ii) the Market
     Day next preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date or date of Maturity,
     as the case may be.
 
                                      S-23
<PAGE>   24
 
     "CD Rate" means the rate calculated as set forth under the heading
"Description of Notes -- Floating Rate Notes -- CD Rate Notes", unless otherwise
indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Commercial Paper Rate" means the rate calculated as set forth under the
heading "Description of Notes -- Floating Rate Notes -- Commercial Paper Rate
Notes", unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Composite Quotations" means the daily statistical release entitled
"Composite 3:30 P.M. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities", or any
successor publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
     "Exchange Rate Agent" means the agent appointed by the Company to convert
principal and any premium and interest payments in respect of Foreign Currency
Notes into U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise provided in a Pricing Supplement, the
Exchange Rate Agent will be Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York.
 
     "Federal Funds Rate" means the rate calculated as set forth under the
heading "Description of Notes -- Floating Rate Notes -- Federal Funds Rate
Notes", unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Fixed Rate Note" shall have the meaning set forth under the heading
"Description of Notes -- Interest".
 
     "Floating Rate Notes" shall have the meaning set forth under the heading
"Description of Notes -- Interest".
 
     "H.15(519)" means the weekly statistical release entitled "Statistical
Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates", or any successor publication,
published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
 
     "Index Maturity" means, with respect to a Floating Rate Note, the period to
maturity of the instrument or obligation on which the interest rate formula is
based, as indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Initial Interest Rate" means the rate at which Floating Rate Note will
bear interest from its Issue Date (or that of a predecessor Note) to the first
Reset Date, as indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Interest Determination Date" means the date as of which the interest rate
for a Floating Rate Note is to be calculated, to be effective as of the
following Reset Date and calculated on the related Calculation Date (except in
the case of Prime Rate and LIBOR, which are calculated on the related Prime Rate
Interest Determination Date and LIBOR Interest Determination Date,
respectively). See the fourth paragraph under the heading "Description of
Notes -- Floating Rate Notes" for the Interest Determination Dates for Floating
Rate Notes. The Interest Determination Dates for any Floating Rate Note will
also be indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Interest Reset Date" means the date on which a Floating Rate Note will
begin to bear interest at the variable interest rate determined as of any
Interest Determination Date. See the third paragraph under the heading "Floating
Rate Notes" for the applicable Reset Dates for such Notes. The Reset Dates with
respect to any Floating Rate Note will also be set forth in the applicable
Pricing Supplement and in such Note.
 
     "LIBOR" means the rate calculated as set forth under the heading
"Description of Notes -- Floating Rate Notes -- LIBOR Notes", unless otherwise
indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "London Market Day" means any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S.
dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
 
     "Market Day" means (a) with respect to any Note, any day that is not a
Saturday or Sunday and that, in The City of New York, is not a day on which
banking institutions generally are authorized or obligated by law
 
                                      S-24
<PAGE>   25
 
or executive order to close, and (b) with respect to LIBOR Notes only, any such
day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London
interbank market, (c) with respect to Foreign Currency Notes (other than Foreign
Currency Notes denominated in European Currency Units ("ECUs")) only, any such
day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in the principal financial center
of the country of the Specified Currency is not a day on which banking
institutions generally are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close and (d) with respect to Foreign Currency Notes denominated in ECU, any day
that is designated as an ECU settlement day by the ECU Banking Association in
Paris or otherwise generally regarded in the ECU interbank market as a day in
which payments in ECU are made.
 
     "Market Exchange Rate" for any Specified Currency means the noon buying
rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Specified Currency as
certified for customs purposes by (or if not so certified as otherwise
determined by) the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
     "Prime Rate" means the rate calculated as set forth under the heading
"Description of Notes -- Floating Rate Notes -- Prime Rate Notes", unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
     "Specified Currency" shall have the meaning set forth under the heading
"Important Currency Exchange Information".
 
     "Spread " means the number of basis points specified in the Note and the
applicable Pricing Supplement as being applicable to the interest rate for a
particular Floating Rate Note.
 
     "Spread Multiplier" means the percentage specified in the Note and the
applicable Pricing Supplement as being applicable to the interest rate for a
particular Floating Rate Note.
 
     "Telerate Page 3750" means the display page so designated on the Dow Jones
Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace that page on that service,
or such other service as may be nominated as the information vendor, for the
purpose of displaying rates or prices relating to LIBOR).
 
     "Treasury Rate" means the interest rate calculated as set forth under the
heading "Description of Notes -- Floating Rate Notes -- Treasury Rate Notes",
unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
 
                                      S-25
<PAGE>   26
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              P R O S P E C T U S
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  $100,000,000
 
                        CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
                               ------------------
 
Carpenter Technology Corporation (the "Company") may offer from time to time its
unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences
   of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities") at an aggregate initial
      offering price of not more than $100,000,000 or, if applicable, the
      equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or currency
        units. The Debt Securities may be offered as separate series in
          amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of
          market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a
              Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements.
 
The terms of each series of Debt Securities, including, where applicable, the
specific designation, aggregate principal amount, authorized denominations,
 maturity, rate or rates and time or times of payment of any interest, any
 terms for optional or mandatory redemption or payment of additional amounts
  or any sinking fund provisions, any initial public offering price, the
    proceeds to the Company and any other specific terms in connection with
    the offering and sale of such series will be set forth in a Prospectus
     Supplement or Prospectus Supplements. Debt Securities may be issued
      with amounts payable in respect of principal of or any premium or
      interest on the Debt Securities determined by reference to the
       value, rate or price of one or more specified indices.
 
The Debt Securities may be sold directly by the Company, through agents
designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. See
 "Plan of Distribution". If any agents of the Company or any underwriters are
 involved in the sale of any Debt Securities in respect of which this
  Prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters
    and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a
    Prospectus Supplement.
 
                               ------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
     PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
       REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ------------------
 
     This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Debt Securities
unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
 
                               ------------------
 
                 The date of this Prospectus is June 14, 1994.
<PAGE>   27
 
     NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR
ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY
OR ANY UNDERWRITER OR AGENT. THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DO
NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND
THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE
INFORMATION HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THEIR
RESPECTIVE DATES.
                            ------------------------
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the United
States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission, at Room 1024, Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following
Regional Offices of the Commission: Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and 13th Floor, 7 World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from
the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. The common stock of the Company is listed on, and reports,
proxy statements and other information concerning the Company can be inspected
at the offices of, the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005. This Prospectus does not contain all information set forth in the
Registration Statement and Exhibits thereto which the Company has filed with the
Commission under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), and to which reference is hereby made.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus the following
documents heretofore filed with the Commission by the Company pursuant to the
Exchange Act:
 
          (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
              June 30, 1993;
 
          (b) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
              quarters ended September 30, 1993, December 31, 1993 and March 31,
              1994;
 
          (c) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 28, 1993;
 
          (d) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 2, 1993;
              and
 
          (e) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 18, 1993.
 
     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Debt Securities shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Any statement contained herein or
in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
     THE COMPANY HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO
WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF
ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF ANY AND ALL OF THE FOREGOING DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED
BY REFERENCE HEREIN, OTHER THAN THE EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS (UNLESS SUCH
EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN SUCH DOCUMENTS). REQUESTS
SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, 101 WEST BERN STREET,
READING, PENNSYLVANIA 19601, ATTENTION: CORPORATE SECRETARY, TELEPHONE NUMBER
(215) 208-2000.
                            ------------------------
 
     Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$", "dollars", "U.S.
dollars" or "U.S.$").
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   28
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
OVERVIEW
 
     Carpenter Technology Corporation (collectively with its subsidiaries,
"Carpenter" or the "Company") is a manufacturer, fabricator and marketer of over
450 grades of specialty metals used in a wide variety of end-use markets. The
Company processes basic raw materials such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum,
cobalt, iron scrap and other metal alloying elements through melting, hot
forming and cold working facilities to produce products in the form of billets,
bars, rod, wire, narrow strip and special shapes in many sizes and finishes.
These products include stainless steels, special alloys and tool steels. In the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1993, stainless steels, special alloys and tool
steels accounted for 60%, 33% and 7%, respectively, of the Company's net sales.
 
     Unlike large integrated carbon steel producers that generally manufacture
steel in large tonnage quantities, Carpenter produces custom-tailored products
for its customers, in quantities priced by the pound rather than by the ton.
These products generally require more process control and labor input than
conventional metals due to their high alloy content, technologically unique
characteristics and the special processing techniques that are required for
their manufacture. The Company's products are frequently used in extreme
environments demanding exceptional heat, corrosion or abrasion resistance, or
exceptional hardness or strength. As a result of the specialized nature of its
products, the Company's average selling price has historically been about ten
times the average per ton selling price for carbon steels.
 
     The Company's strategy is to be a supplier of high margin, specialty
products to specific segments -- or niches -- of major end-use markets,
targeting customers in need of high technology products and specialized service.
 
     Carpenter's specialty metals can be found in a broad range of products,
including fuel injectors, anti-skid brakes and air bag sensors for automobiles;
shafts and containment rings for jet engines; photo-etched components for
integrated circuits; drill collars and directional drilling devices for oil and
gas drilling rigs; blades for gas and steam turbines; and surgical instruments
and orthopaedic implants. The Company's sales are not dependent upon any one
particular end-use market. The following table sets forth the Company's estimate
of the breakdown of its sale by end-use market for the last three fiscal years:
 
                      BREAKDOWN OF SALES BY END-USE MARKET
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        YEARS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                                     --------------------------
                                                                     1993       1992       1991
                                                                     ----       ----       ----
<S>                                                                  <C>        <C>        <C>
Aerospace..........................................................   14 %       16 %       17 %
Motor Vehicles and Equipment.......................................   13         13         12
Metal Producing and Distribution...................................   13         11         12
Electrical and Electronic Equipment................................   12         12         11
General Industrial Equipment.......................................   11         11         11
Power Generation and Distribution..................................    7          7          7
Metal Working Equipment............................................    7          6          6
Chemical and Petroleum Processing..................................    5          6          7
Consumer Durables..................................................    5          5          5
Instruments and Controls...........................................    4          5          5
Housing and Construction...........................................    3          3          3
Miscellaneous......................................................    6          5          4
                                                                     ----       ----       ----
                                                                     100 %      100 %      100 %
                                                                     ====       ====       ====
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   29
 
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     Carpenter believes that one of its principal competitive advantages is its
distribution system -- 24 company-owned service centers located in the major
metalworking areas in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and
customized stocking programs elsewhere in Europe. Carpenter's service centers
are staffed with skilled sales and service professionals who assist with grade
selection, provide technical assistance, arrange field consultations with
Carpenter metallurgists and provide information about availability, pricing and
delivery. Each service center carries an inventory of grades, sizes and forms
tailored to meet the needs of customers within the geographic area it serves.
 
     The structure of Carpenter's distribution system allows the Company's
technical support staff to work directly with customers to determine the proper
specifications for their applications and to solve particular metallurgical
problems. This enables Carpenter to maintain its leadership position as a
supplier to those market niches that benefit from the technological expertise,
quality and service provided by the Company.
 
MANUFACTURING
 
     During the past ten years, the Company has made significant capital
investments in its manufacturing operations aggregating approximately $400
million. As a result of these investments, Carpenter has substantially improved
its manufacturing and delivery reliability, increased its yields and enhanced
product and process capability. Today, Carpenter's $130-million hot rolling mill
reduces a seven-inch square billet to  5/8-inch diameter wire in less than two
minutes. A single, integrated bar finishing line now equals the productivity of
five bar-turning machines, three straightening machines and six grinders.
Carpenter plans to continue to invest in cost-effective, state-of-the-art
machinery to maintain a competitive manufacturing capability.
 
     Carpenter has also developed a computerized manufacturing control system
designed to optimize the flow of material through its plants and minimize
production lead-times and in-process inventory. Through the use of bar-coding
equipment, material is electronically tracked, sequenced and scheduled for each
manufacturing operation. Production constraints are identified and isolated for
corrective action. The system "pulls" material through more than 600 work
stations based on customers' delivery requirements. Carpenter believes it is the
only system of its kind in the specialty metals industry.
 
     The Company's primary manufacturing facility is located in Reading,
Pennsylvania and consists of approximately 3,133,000 square feet on 370 acres.
Carpenter also operates manufacturing facilities in Orangeburg, South Carolina
(approximately 188,000 square feet on 12 acres), Fryeburg, Maine (approximately
18,000 square feet on 9 acres) and El Cajon, California (approximately 140,000
square feet on 7 acres). All of the Company's manufacturing facilities are owned
in fee except for the El Cajon facility, which is leased.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; TECHNICAL SERVICES
 
     Another of Carpenter's competitive advantages is its research and
development capability. Carpenter's R&D group consists of approximately 85
individuals who are dedicated to developing new alloys and improving the
reliability of existing products and processes to meet customer requirements. An
important achievement of Carpenter's R&D group was its development of AerMet(R)
100 alloy, a proprietary, patented alloy of exceptional strength and toughness.
AerMet 100 alloy was designed to meet the United States Navy's new, more
rigorous material standards for aircraft landing gear. R&D Magazine awarded
AerMet 100 alloy one of its prestigious R&D 100 Awards, given in recognition of
the world's 100 most significant new technical products of 1991.
 
     In addition to its R&D group, Carpenter has 120 metallurgists, engineers
and technicians who provide problem-solving assistance in such areas as
specification interpretation, manufacturing process development, quality
verification and quality systems.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   30
 
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
 
     Over the last five years, Carpenter has been implementing a company-wide
Continuous Improvement Program designed to increase customer satisfaction and
improve Company performance. Continuous Improvement Teams, composed of members
from different disciplines, concentrate on solving problems and improving
methods. Team members come from every part of the Company -- technical,
engineering, research and development, production, finance and marketing. Teams
solve problems by using statistical methods and customer surveys and then
continue to monitor the processes with various data-gathering techniques.
 
     The primary benefits of Carpenter's Continuous Improvement Program have
been greater reliability and improved customer service. Substantial improvements
in on-time deliveries and reduced lead times have enabled Carpenter to
significantly decrease both its work-in-process and finished goods inventory
levels. The cash savings generated as a result of these inventory reductions
total approximately $107 million over the last three years and have been
invested in Steel Division improvements and corporate growth programs.
 
     Carpenter's focus on quality, exemplified by its Continuous Improvement
Program, has earned the Company an excellent reputation among its customers. The
number of accreditations or certifications awarded to Carpenter as a preferred
supplier has continued to increase. Carpenter has an excellent record in these
certified supplier programs, achieving ratings that distinguish the Company.
Major customers certifying Carpenter or individual Carpenter plants as a
preferred supplier include General Motors Corporation, General Electric Co.,
Pratt & Whitney Co., Inc., TRW Incorporated, Eaton Corporation and Texas
Instruments Incorporated.
 
GLOBAL EXPANSION
 
     During 1993, Carpenter embarked on a strategy designed to expand
internationally into markets experiencing growth rates for steel products made
by the Company that exceed those in the United States. Over the past year,
Carpenter has formed a manufacturing and distribution joint venture in Taiwan
and acquired a specialty steel distributor in Mexico.
 
     The Taiwanese joint venture, Walsin-CarTech Specialty Steel Corporation
("Walsin-CarTech"), is with Walsin Lihwa Corporation, a major manufacturer of
wire and cable products and a participant in the government-led infrastructure
development program. In September 1993, Carpenter invested approximately $45
million for a 19% equity stake in Walsin-CarTech and has the option to increase
its stake to 35% any time before July 1996. Walsin-CarTech is currently building
a $300 million steel plant in southern Taiwan which will feature the latest
technologies in electric arc melting, continuous casting and hot rolling
equipment. The facility, expected to start-up in mid-1994, will have an
estimated annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tons when fully
operational and will produce and distribute stainless and carbon steel bar, rod
and wire products for world markets. Carpenter believes the Walsin-CarTech
venture will be a gateway to the Pacific Rim countries, whose specialty steel
consumption has been increasing more rapidly than most other regions of the
world.
 
     In July 1993, Carpenter completed the purchase of Aceros Fortuna, a Mexican
specialty steel distributor, for approximately $22 million. Aceros Fortuna
operates eight warehouses selling machinery grade, tool, and stainless steels
and is the largest distributor of specialty steel long products in Mexico. As a
result of this acquisition, the Company expects a significant increase in the
distribution of both Carpenter and Walsin-CarTech products in Mexico and other
rapidly growing South American economies.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The Company, established in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1889, was incorporated
in New Jersey as the Carpenter Steel Company in 1904. In 1968, the Company
changed its state of incorporation to Delaware and its name to Carpenter
Technology Corporation. The Company's principal executive offices are located at
101 West Bern Street, Reading, Pennsylvania 19601 and its telephone number is
(215) 208-2000.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   31
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The selected consolidated financial data presented below have been derived
from the consolidated financial statements of the Company which (except for the
nine months ended March 31, 1994 and 1993 and the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for all periods) have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand, independent
accountants. The consolidated financial statements for, and at the end of, the
nine months ended March 31, 1994 and 1993 are unaudited but, in the opinion of
the management of the Company, have been prepared on the same basis as the
audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial
position and results of operations for those periods. The results for the nine
months ended March 31, 1994 are not necessarily indicative of the results that
may be expected for the full fiscal year.
 
     The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Company
Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
incorporated herein by reference.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                      MARCH 31,                            YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                 --------------------    --------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1994        1993        1993        1992        1991        1990        1989
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
                                                                           (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIO)
<S>                                              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
  Net Sales..................................... $450,903    $417,782    $576,248    $570,200    $562,476    $584,351    $634,272
  Costs and Expenses:
    Costs of Sales..............................  329,075     318,672     436,057     439,785     409,225     416,907     474,246
    Selling and Administrative Expenses.........   68,109      61,110      82,214      80,829      79,959      74,042      70,439
    Interest Expense............................   12,713      15,430      20,594      19,637      19,795      19,732      18,235
    Special Charges.............................       --          --          --       7,500       7,000          --      22,500
    Other Expense (Income)......................      399      (1,908)     (5,416)       (378)       (201)        471         466
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
  Income Before Income Taxes, Extraordinary
    Charges and Cumulative Effect of Changes in
    Accounting Principles.......................   40,607      24,478      42,799      22,827      46,698      73,199      48,386
  Income Taxes..................................   17,650       9,710      16,265       7,943      16,627      28,182      19,434
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
  Income Before Extraordinary Charges and
    Cumulative Effect of Changes in Accounting
    Principles..................................   22,957      14,768      26,534      14,884      30,071      45,017      28,952
  Extraordinary Charge, Net of Income Taxes.....   (2,039)         --          --      (1,238)         --          --          --
  Cumulative Effect of Changes In Accounting
    Principles, Net of Income Taxes(1)..........       --     (74,676)    (74,676)         --          --          --          --
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
  Net Income (Loss)............................. $ 20,918    $(59,908)   $(48,142)   $ 13,646    $ 30,071    $ 45,017    $ 28,952
                                                 ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========
  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(2).........     3.2x        2.4x        2.8x        2.0x        3.1x        4.4x        3.2x

BALANCE SHEET DATA (end of period):
  Working Capital............................... $ 83,605    $136,479    $143,262    $154,005    $126,886    $131,201    $138,187
  Property, Plant and Equipment, Net............  396,209     393,233     391,129     397,918     390,295     393,856     395,729
  Total Assets..................................  729,898     691,793     699,565     714,752     716,995     695,419     673,996
  Total Debt....................................  183,764     199,411     196,512     203,355     186,694     178,375     162,642
  Deferred Income Taxes.........................   75,781      57,689      64,028     125,201     122,076     117,352     100,749
  Shareholders' Equity..........................  227,887     210,773     218,461     296,267     319,853     313,559     318,641

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS DATA:
  Capital Expenditures.......................... $ 21,084    $ 15,556    $ 20,563    $ 35,042    $ 31,294    $ 22,569    $ 36,233
  Depreciation and Amortization.................   21,612      19,948      26,947      25,657      24,139      23,053      22,320
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1993, the Company adopted, retroactive
    to July 1, 1992, two new financial accounting standards, "Employers'
    Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions" (SFAS 106) and
    "Accounting for Income Taxes" (SFAS 109). Under SFAS 106 the Company elected
    to immediately recognize the transition obligation for benefits earned as of
    July 1, 1992 resulting in a non-cash charge of $146,802,000 pre-tax
    ($87,113,000 after tax), representing the cumulative effect of the change in
    accounting. SFAS 109 resulted in an increase to income of $12,437,000
    principally for the cumulative effect of restating deferred taxes as of July
    1, 1992 to current tax rates.
 
(2) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
    consist of income before income taxes, extraordinary charges and cumulative
    effect of changes in accounting principles, plus fixed charges (other than
    capitalized interest), plus the amount of previously capitalized interest
    amortized during the period. Fixed charges consist of interest costs
    (including capitalized interest and amortization of debt discount and
    expense) and an amount representing the interest component of
    non-capitalized leases.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   32
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities will be used for general corporate
purposes, including the repayment of debt.
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization (including
current debt) of the Company as of March 31, 1994.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT DEBT:                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                           <C>
  Current Portion of Long-Term Debt.........................................      $ 15,619
  Commercial Paper and Bank Debt............................................           556
                                                                              ----------------
          Total Current Debt................................................        16,175
                                                                              ----------------
LONG-TERM DEBT:
  9% debentures due 2022, sinking fund requirements annually from 2003......        99,521
  Current Debt to be refinanced.............................................        45,851
  10.45% Senior Notes, Series B, due in annual installments through 1999....        15,000
  9.40% notes due in annual installments through 1997.......................         7,143
  Capitalized lease obligations at 8.3% to 9.5% due in installments through
     1995...................................................................            74
                                                                              ----------------
          Total Long-Term Debt..............................................       167,589
                                                                              ----------------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES.......................................................        75,781
                                                                              ----------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred Stock, $5 par value -- authorized 2,000,000 shares;
     issued 460.6 shares....................................................        29,090
  Deferred Compensation.....................................................       (25,979)
  Common Stock, $5 par value -- authorized 50,000,000 shares;
     issued 9,587,822 shares................................................        47,938
  Capital in Excess of Par Value............................................        49,580
  Reinvested Earnings.......................................................       194,567
  Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments..................................        (1,159)
  Common Stock in Treasury, at cost -- 1,522,584 shares.....................       (66,150)
                                                                              ----------------
          Total Shareholders' Equity........................................       227,887
                                                                              ----------------
          TOTAL CAPITALIZATION..............................................      $487,432
                                                                              ==============
</TABLE>
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   33
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Securities are to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of January 12,
1994 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
New York, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The Securities
may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of
each series, or of Securities forming a part of a series, which are offered by a
Prospectus Supplement will be described in such Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture do not
purport to be complete and are subject, and are qualified in their entirety by
reference, to all the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions
therein of certain terms, and, with respect to any particular Securities, to the
description of the terms thereof included in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto. Wherever particular Sections or defined terms of the Indenture are
referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such Sections or defined terms
are incorporated by reference herein or therein, as the case may be.
 
     The term "Securities", as used under this caption, refers to all Securities
issued under the Indenture and includes the Debt Securities.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Indenture provides that Securities in separate series may be issued
thereunder from time to time without limitation as to aggregate principal
amount. The Company may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the
Securities of any series. (Section 301) The Securities are to have such terms
and provisions which are not inconsistent with the Indenture, including as to
maturity, principal and interest, as the Company may determine. The Securities
will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank on a parity with all
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.
 
     The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the price or prices at
which the Securities to be offered will be issued and will describe the
following terms of such Securities: (i) the title of such Securities; (ii) any
limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Securities or the series of
which they are a part; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of any of
such Securities will be payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which any of such
Securities will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such
interest will accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest will
be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any
Interest Payment Date; (v) the place or places where the principal of and any
premium and interest on any of such Securities will be payable; (vi) the period
or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and
conditions on which any of such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part,
at the option of the Company; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to
redeem or purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous provision or at the option of the Holder thereof, and the period or
periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
on which any of such Securities will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in
part, pursuant to any such obligation; (viii) the denominations in which any of
such Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof; (ix) if the amount of principal of or any premium or
interest on any of such Securities may be determined with reference to an index
or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(x) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency,
currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or
interest on any of such Securities will be payable (and the manner in which the
equivalent of the principal amount thereof in the currency of the United States
of America is to be determined for any purpose, including for the purpose of
determining the principal amount deemed to be Outstanding at any time); (xi) if
the principal of or any premium or interest on any of such Securities is to be
payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more
currencies or currency units other than those in which such Securities are
stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which
payment of any such amount as to which such election is made will be payable,
the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election
is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount is
to be determined); (xii) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the
portion of the principal amount of any
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   34
 
of such Securities which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
Maturity thereof; (xiii) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity
of any of such Securities will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such
principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal
amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the
Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date
(or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be
determined); (xiv) if applicable, that such Securities, in whole or any
specified part, are defeasible pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture
described under "Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance -- Defeasance and Discharge"
or "Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance -- Defeasance of Certain Covenants", or
under both such captions; (xv) whether any of such Securities will be issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, if so, the
respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or
legends to be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of the
legend referred to under "Global Securities" and, if different from those
described under such caption, any circumstances under which any such Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any
transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the
names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or its
nominee; (xvi) any addition to or change in the Events of Default applicable to
any of such Securities and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders
to declare the principal amount of any of such Securities due and payable;
(xvii) any addition to or change in the covenants in the Indenture described
under "Certain Covenants of the Company" applicable to any of such Securities;
and (xviii) any other terms of such Securities not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Indenture. (Section 301)
 
     Securities, including Original Issue Discount Securities, may be sold at a
substantial discount below their principal amount. Certain special United States
federal income tax considerations (if any) applicable to Securities sold at an
original issue discount may be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. In addition, certain special United States federal income tax or
other considerations (if any) applicable to any Securities which are denominated
in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
FORM, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER
 
     The Securities of each series will be issuable only in fully registered
form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof. (Section 302)
 
     At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the Indenture and the
limitations applicable to Global Securities, Securities of each series will be
exchangeable for other Securities of the same series of any authorized
denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount. (Section 305)
 
     Subject to the term of the Indenture and the limitations applicable to
Global Securities, Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or
for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer
endorsed thereon duly executed) at the office of the Security Registrar or at
the office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for such purpose. No
service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Such transfer
or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent,
as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of
the person making the request. The Company has appointed the Trustee as Security
Registrar. Any transfer agent (in addition to the Security Registrar) initially
designated by the Company for any Securities will be named in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. (Section 305) The Company may at any time designate
additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or
approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except
that the Company will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of
Payment for the Securities of each series. (Section 1002)
 
     If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified terms) are
to be redeemed in part, the Company will not be required to (i) issue, register
the transfer of or exchange any Security of that series (or of that series and
specified terms, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   35
 
days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Security
that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the
day of such mailing or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Security so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any such Security being redeemed in part. (Section 305)
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     Some or all of the Securities of any series may be represented, in whole or
in part, by one or more Global Securities which will have an aggregate principal
amount equal to that of the Securities represented thereby. Each Global Security
will be registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee thereof identified
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, will be deposited with such Depositary
or nominee or a custodian therefor and will bear a legend regarding the
restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to below
and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the Indenture.
 
     Notwithstanding any provision of the Indenture or any Security described
herein, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities
registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global
Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless (i) the Depositary has
notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as
required by the Indenture, (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an
Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global
Security or (iii) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to
or in lieu of those described above as may be described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. All securities issued in exchange for a Global Security
or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the Depositary may
direct. (Sections 204 and 305)
 
     As long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered Holder of a
Global Security, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Security and the Securities
represented thereby for all purposes under the Securities and the Indenture.
Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial
interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have such Global Security
or any Securities represented thereby registered in their names, will not
receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Securities
in exchange therefor and will not be considered to be the owners or Holders of
such Global Security or any Securities represented thereby for any purpose under
the Securities or the Indenture. All payments of principal of and any premium
and interest on a Global Security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee,
as the case may be, as the Holder thereof. The laws of some jurisdictions
require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
     Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to
institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee
("participants") and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through
participants. In connection with the issuance of any Global Security, the
Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of Securities represented by the Global Security to
the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global
Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests
will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with
respect to participants' interests) or any such participant (with respect to
interests of persons held by such participants on their behalf). Payments,
transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a
Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the
Depositary from time to time. None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of
the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the Depositary's or any participant's records relating to, or for
payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Security, or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
interests.
 
     Secondary trading in notes and debentures of corporate issuers is generally
settled in clearing-house or next-day funds. In contrast, beneficial interests
in a Global Security, in some cases, may trade in the Depositary's same-day
funds settlement system, in which secondary market trading activity in those
beneficial interests would be required by the Depositary to settle in
immediately available funds. There is no assurance as
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   36
 
to the effect, if any, that settlement in immediately available funds would have
on trading activity in such beneficial interests. Also, settlement for purchases
of beneficial interests in a Global Security upon the original issuance thereof
may be required to be made in immediately available funds.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of interest on a Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the
Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest. (Section 307)
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of a particular
series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as
the Company may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at the
option of the Company payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security
Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the corporate trust office of the Trustee in The City of New York will be
designated as the Company's sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to
Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by the
Company for the Securities of a particular series will be named in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company may at any time designate
additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or
approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that
the Company will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment
for the Securities of a particular series. (Section 1002)
 
     All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Security which remain unclaimed
at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due
and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the Holder of such Security
thereafter may look only to the Company for payment thereof. (Section 1003)
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     "Attributable Debt" means, as to any particular lease under which any
person is at the time liable and at any date as of which the amount thereof is
to be determined, the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such
person under such lease during the remaining primary term thereof, discounted
from the respective due dates thereof to such date at the same rate per annum as
the rate of interest borne by the Outstanding Securities. The net amount of rent
required to be paid under any such lease for any such period shall be the
aggregate amount of the rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period
after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and
repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges. In the
case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a
penalty, such net amount shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no
rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to
the first date upon which it may be so terminated.
 
     "Capital Stock", as applied to the stock of any corporation, means the
capital stock of every class whether now or hereafter authorized, regardless of
whether such capital stock shall be limited to a fixed sum or percentage with
respect to the rights of the holders thereof to participate in dividends and in
the distribution of assets upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of such corporation.
 
     "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the aggregate amount of assets
(less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting
therefrom (i) all liabilities other than (a) deferred income taxes, (b) Funded
Debt and (c) shareholders' equity (including all preferred stock whether or not
redeemable) and (ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents,
organization expenses and other like intangibles, all as set forth on the most
recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and
computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
     "Funded Debt" means (i) all indebtedness for money borrowed having a
maturity of more than 12 months from the date as of which the determination is
made or having a maturity of 12 months or less but by
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   37
 
its terms being renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the
option of the borrower and (ii) rental obligations payable more than 12 months
from such date under leases which are capitalized in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (such rental obligations to be included as Funded
Debt at the amount so capitalized at the date of such computation and to be
included for the purposes of the definition of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets
both as an asset and as Funded Debt at the respective amounts so capitalized).
 
     "Principal Property" means any manufacturing or processing plant or
warehouse owned at the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which is located within the
United States of America and the gross book value (including related land and
improvements thereon and all machinery and equipment included therein without
deduction of any depreciation reserves) of which on the date as of which the
determination is being made exceeds 2% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets,
other than (i) any property which in the opinion of the Company's Board of
Directors is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the
Company as an entirety or (ii) any portion of a particular property which is
similarly found not to be of material importance to the use or operation of such
property.
 
     "Restricted Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Company (i) substantially
all the property of which is located, or substantially all the business of which
is carried on, within the United States of America and (ii) which owns a
Principal Property.
 
     "Subsidiary" means any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting
stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) the
Company, (ii) the Company and one or more Subsidiaries or (iii) one or more
Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock
which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all
times or only so long as no senior class has such voting power by reason of any
contingency.
 
     "U.S. Government Obligation" means (x) any security which is (i) a direct
obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full
faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an
obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or
instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is
unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United
States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or
redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt
issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as
custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in
Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such
depositary receipt, or with respect to any such payment of principal of or
interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held,
provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to
make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary
receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S.
Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced
by such depositary receipt.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
     Restrictions on Secured Debt.  If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
shall incur, issue, assume or guarantee any loans or notes, bonds, debentures or
other similar evidences of indebtedness for money borrowed ("Debt") secured by a
mortgage, pledge or lien ("Mortgage") on any Principal Property of the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary, or on any shares of Capital Stock or Debt of any
Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will provide or cause such Restricted
Subsidiary to provide that the Securities (together with, if the Company shall
so determine, any other Debt of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary then
existing or thereafter created which is not subordinated to the Securities) be
secured equally and ratably with (or, at the Company's option, prior to) such
secured Debt, unless the aggregate amount of all such secured Debt, together
with all Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback transactions
involving Principal Properties (with the exception of such transactions which
are excluded as described in "Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks" below),
would not exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   38
 
     The above restrictions will not apply to, and there will be excluded from
secured Debt in any computation under such restriction, Debt secured by (i)
Mortgages on property of, or on any shares of Capital Stock or Debt of, any
corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary, (ii) Mortgages in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,
(iii) Mortgages in favor of governmental bodies to secure progress, advance or
other payments, (iv) Mortgages on property, shares of Capital Stock or Debt
existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through
merger or consolidation) and purchase money and construction Mortgages which are
entered into within specified time limits, (v) Mortgages securing industrial
revenue or pollution control bonds and (vi) any extension, renewal or
replacement of any Mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v)
inclusive. (Section 1008)
 
     Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks.  Neither the Company nor any
Restricted Subsidiary may enter into any sale and leaseback transaction
involving any Principal Property, unless the aggregate amount of all
Attributable Debt with respect to such transactions plus all Debt secured by
Mortgages on Principal Properties (with the exception of secured Debt which is
excluded as described in "Restrictions on Secured Debt" above) would not exceed
5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
 
     This restriction will not apply to, and there will be excluded from
Attributable Debt in any computation under such restriction, any sale and
leaseback transaction if (i) the lease is for a period, including renewal
rights, of not in excess of three years, (ii) the sale and leaseback transaction
of the Principal Property is made prior to, at the time of or within a specified
period after its acquisition or construction, (iii) the lease secures or relates
to industrial revenue or pollution control bonds, (iv) the transaction is
between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted
Subsidiaries or (v) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary within 180 days
after the sale or transfer applies an amount equal to the greater of the net
proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property leased pursuant to such
arrangement or the fair market value of the Principal Property so leased at the
time of entering into such arrangement to (a) the retirement of the Securities
or certain Funded Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) the
purchase of other property which will constitute Principal Property having a
fair market value, in the opinion of the Company's Board of Directors, at least
equal to the fair market value of the Principal Property so leased. The amount
to be applied to the retirement of such Funded Debt of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary shall be reduced by (x) the principal amount of any
Securities (or other notes or debentures constituting such Funded Debt)
delivered within such 180-day period to the Trustee or other applicable trustee
for retirement and cancellation and (y) the principal amount of such Funded Debt
other than items referred to in the preceding clause (x), voluntarily retired by
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary within 180 days after such sale, provided
that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no retirement referred to in this paragraph
may be effected by payment at maturity or pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund
payment or any mandatory prepayment provision. (Section 1009)
 
     Except as described in "Restrictions on Secured Debt" and "Restrictions on
Sales and Leasebacks", the Indenture will not contain any covenants or
provisions that may afford holders of the Securities protection in the event of
a highly leveraged transaction.
 
SUCCESSOR COMPANY
 
     The Indenture will provide that no consolidation or merger of the Company
with or into any other corporation and no conveyance, transfer or lease of its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person may be made
unless (i) the person formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or
merger or which shall have received the transfer of such property and assets
shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume
by a supplemental indenture payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and
interest on the Securities and the performance and observance of the Indentures,
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default,
and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or
lease, and if a supplemental indenture is required for such transaction, such
supplemental indenture, complies with the above requirements of the Indenture.
(Section 801)
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   39
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     Each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the
Indenture with respect to Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay principal
of or any premium on any Security of that series when due; (b) failure to pay
any interest on any Securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days;
(c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any
Security of that series; (d) failure to perform any other covenant of the
Company in the Indenture (other than a covenant included in the Indenture solely
for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 60 days after
written notice has been given by the Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, as provided in
the Indenture; (e) certain defaults by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness
for money borrowed in excess of $3,000,000, under any capitalized lease or under
any mortgage, indenture or instrument, which default (a) consists of a failure
to pay any such indebtedness or liability upon its stated maturity or (b)
results in such indebtedness or liability becoming or being declared due and
payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and
payable, and continuance thereof for 10 days after written notice has been given
by the Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series, as provided in the Indenture; and (f)
certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. (Section 501)
 
     If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause
(f) above) with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding
shall occur and be continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series by
notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the
Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Security that is an Original
Issue Discount Security or the principal amount of which is not then
determinable, such portion of the principal amount of such Security, or such
other amount in lieu of such principal amount, as may be specified in the terms
of such Security) to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default
described in clause (f) above with respect to the Securities of any series at
the time Outstanding shall occur, the principal amount of all the Securities of
that series (or, in the case of any such Original Issue Discount Security or
other Security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any
action by the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. After
any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration,
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul
such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of
accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as
provided in the Indenture. (Section 502) For information as to waiver of
defaults, see "Modification and Waiver."
 
     Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee
will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the
Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders
shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 603) Subject to
such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any
series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust
or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of that series.
(Section 512)
 
     No Holder of a Security of any series will have any right to institute any
proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver
or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless (i) such Holder has
previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default
with respect to the Securities of that series, (ii) the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series have
made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable
indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee and (iii) the
Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60
days after such notice, request and offer. (Section 507) However, such
limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Security for the
enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such
Security on or after the applicable due date specified in such Security.
(Section 508)
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   40
 
     The Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement
by certain of its officers as to whether or not the Company, to their knowledge,
is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults.
(Section 1004)
 
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
 
     Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by the Company
and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or
amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security
affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
instalment of principal of or interest on, any Security, (b) reduce the
principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any Security, (c) reduce the
amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security
payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, (d) change the place or
currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any
Security, (e) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or with respect to any Security, (f) reduce the percentage in
principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose
Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture, (g) reduce
the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series
necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or
for waiver of certain defaults or (h) modify such provisions with respect to
modification and waiver. (Section 902)
 
     The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of any series may waive compliance by the Company with certain restrictive
provisions of the Indenture. (Section 1010) The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may waive any past
default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal,
premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture which
cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security
of such series affected. (Section 513)
 
     The Indenture provides that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given or taken any
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the Indenture as of any
date, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that will
be deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of the principal thereof that
would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity
thereof to such date, (ii) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at
the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable (for example, because it
is based on an index), the principal amount of such Security deemed to be
Outstanding as of such date will be an amount determined in the manner
prescribed for such Security and (iii) the principal amount of a Security
denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be
deemed to be Outstanding will be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of
such date in the manner prescribed for such Security, of the principal amount of
such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (i) or (ii)
above, of the amount described in such clause). Certain Securities, including
those for whose payment or redemption money has been deposited or set aside in
trust for the Holders and those that have been fully defeased pursuant to
Section 1302, will not be deemed to be Outstanding. (Section 101)
 
     Except in certain limited circumstances, the Company will be entitled to
set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of
Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action under the Indenture, in the manner and
subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain limited
circumstances, the Trustee also will be entitled to set a record date for action
by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by Holders of a
particular series, such action may be taken only by persons who are Holders of
Outstanding Securities of that series on the record date. To be effective, such
action must be taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of such
Securities within a specified period following the record date. For any
particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such shorter period as
may be specified by the Company (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and
may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180 days) from time to time.
(Section 104)
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   41
 
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
     If and to the extent indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have the provisions of Section
1302, relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or Section 1303,
relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants in the Indenture,
applied to the Securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series.
(Section 1301)
 
     Defeasance and Discharge.  The Indenture provides that, upon the Company's
exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities,
the Company will be discharged from all its obligations with respect to such
Securities (except for certain obligations to exchange or register the transfer
of Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities, to maintain
paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in
trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities of money or U.S.
Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and
interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money
in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on
such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms
of the Indenture and such Securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur
only if, among other things, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion
of Counsel to the effect that the Company has received from, or there has been
published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has
been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such
Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would
have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge were not to occur.
(Sections 1302 and 1304)
 
     Defeasance of Certain Covenants.  The Indenture provides that, upon the
Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 1303 apply to any
Securities, the Company may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants,
including those described under "Certain Covenants of the Company," any that may
be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and the occurrence of
certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (d) (with respect
to such restrictive covenants) and clause (e) under "Events of Default" and any
that may be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, will be deemed
not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such
Securities. The Company, in order to exercise such option, will be required to
deposit, in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, money or
U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal
and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide
money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture and such Securities. The Company will also be
required, among other things, to deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of
certain obligations and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such deposit and defeasance were not to occur. In the event the Company
exercised this option with respect to any Securities and such Securities were
declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the
amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be
sufficient to pay amounts due on such Securities at the time of their respective
Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such
Securities upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such
case, the Company would remain liable for such payments. (Sections 1303 and
1304)
 
NOTICES
 
     Notices to Holders of Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of
such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register. (Sections 101 and 106)
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   42
 
TITLE
 
     The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner
thereof (whether or not such Security may be overdue) for the purpose of making
payment and for all other purposes. (Section 308)
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Indenture and the Securities will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the law of the State of New York. (Section 112)
 
REGARDING THE TRUSTEE
 
     Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York is the Trustee under the
Indenture. Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York also acts as the trustee
under the Indenture (the "9% Indenture") for the Company's 9% Debentures due
2022 and the Indenture (the "12 7/8% Indenture") for the Company's 12 7/8%
Debentures due 2014.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company may sell Debt Securities to one or more underwriters for public
offering and sale by them or may sell Debt Securities to investors directly or
through agents. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of
the Debt Securities (the "Offered Debt Securities") will be named in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Underwriters may offer and sell the Offered Debt Securities at a fixed
price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. The Company also may offer and sell the Offered
Debt Securities in exchange for one or more of its outstanding issues of debt or
convertible debt securities. The Company also may, from time to time, authorize
underwriters acting as the Company's agents to offer and sell the Offered Debt
Securities upon the terms and conditions as shall be set forth in any Prospectus
Supplement. In connection with the sale of Offered Debt Securities, underwriters
may be deemed to have received compensation from the Company in the form of
underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from
purchasers of Offered Debt Securities for whom they may act as agent.
Underwriters may sell Offered Debt Securities to or through dealers, and such
dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from
time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
 
     Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents
in connection with the offering of Offered Debt Securities, and any discounts,
concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers,
will be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters, dealers
and agents participating in the distribution of the Offered Debt Securities may
be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them
and any profit realized by them on resale of the Offered Debt Securities may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Act.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements with the
Company, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Act, and to reimbursement by the
Company for certain expenses.
 
     If so indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize dealers acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase Offered Debt Securities from the Company at the public
offering price set forth in such Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Delayed
Delivery Contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date
or dates stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an
amount not less than, and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Debt
Securities sold pursuant to Contracts shall be not less nor more than, the
respective amounts stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom
Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks,
insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   43
 
charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject
to the approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions
except (i) the purchase by an institution of the Offered Debt Securities covered
by its Contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws
of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject,
and (ii) if the Offered Debt Securities are being sold to underwriters, the
Company shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the
Offered Debt Securities less the principal amount thereof covered by Contracts.
Agents and underwriters will have no responsibility in respect of the delivery
or performance of Contracts.
 
     All Offered Debt Securities will be a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Offered Debt Securities are
sold by the Company for public offering and sale may make a market in such
Offered Debt Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so
and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance
can be given as to the liquidity of or the trading markets for any Offered Debt
Securities.
 
     Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may be customers
of, engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company in the
ordinary course of business.
 
                      VALIDITY OF OFFERED DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The validity of the Offered Debt Securities will be passed upon for the
Company by Dechert Price & Rhoads, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for any
underwriters or agents by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements and related financial schedules of
the Company, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been
incorporated herein in reliance on the report, which includes an explanatory
paragraph for the changes in the Company's method of accounting for income taxes
and postretirement benefits other than pensions in the year ended June 30, 1993,
of Coopers & Lybrand, independent accountants, given on the authority of that
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   44
 
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     NO DEALER, AGENT, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED
IN THIS PROSPECTUS, PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND ANY PRICING SUPPLEMENT IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER CONTAINED HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY OR BY ANY DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS, PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND
ANY PRICING SUPPLEMENT SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR ANY PRICING SUPPLEMENT OR AN OFFER TO SELL
OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS, PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR ANY PRICING SUPPLEMENT NOR
ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF
ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE DATES.
 
                               ------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
           PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Important Currency Exchange
  Information.........................  S- 2
Description of Notes..................  S- 2
Special Provisions Relating to Foreign
  Currency Notes......................  S-14
United States Taxation................  S-15
Plan of Distribution of Notes.........  S-22
Validity of Notes.....................  S-23
Glossary..............................  S-23
                 PROSPECTUS
Available Information.................     2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
  Reference...........................     2
The Company...........................     3
Selected Consolidated Financial
  Data................................     6
Use of Proceeds.......................     7
Capitalization........................     7
Description of Debt Securities........     8
Plan of Distribution..................    17
Validity of Offered Debt Securities...    18
Experts...............................    18
</TABLE>
 
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                                [Car Tech Logo]
 
                              CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY
                                  CORPORATION
 
                               U.S. $100,000,000
 
                               MEDIUM-TERM NOTES,
                                    SERIES A
 
                 ---------------------------------------------
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                 ---------------------------------------------
 
                                CS First Boston
 
                          J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
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