<PAGE>
RULE NO. 424(b)(3)
REGISTRATION NO. 33-65904
Subject to Completion February 1, 1994
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT RELATES TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR +
+AMENDMENT. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated November 4, 1993)
6,500,000 DECS SM
(DEBT EXCHANGEABLE FOR COMMON STOCK SM)
FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION
% EXCHANGEABLE NOTES DUE FEBRUARY , 1997
(SUBJECT TO EXCHANGE INTO SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.001 PER
SHARE, OF NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
The principal amount of each of the % Exchangeable Notes Due February , 1997
(each, a "DECS") of First Chicago Corporation (the "Company") being offered
hereby will be $ , (the last sale price of the Class A Common Stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "NEXTEL Common Stock"), of NEXTEL Communications,
Inc. ("NEXTEL") on February , 1994, as reported on the NASDAQ National Market
System) (the "Initial Price"). The DECS will mature on February , 1997.
Interest on the DECS, at the rate of % of the principal amount per annum, is
payable quarterly on , , and , beginning , 1994. DECS are not
subject to redemption or any sinking fund prior to maturity.
At maturity (including as a result of acceleration or otherwise), the principal
amount of each DECS will be mandatorily exchanged by the Company into a number
of shares of NEXTEL Common Stock (or, at the Company's option, cash with an
equal value) at the Exchange Rate. The Exchange Rate is equal to, subject to
certain adjustments, (a) if the Maturity Price per share of NEXTEL Common Stock
is greater than or equal to $ per share of NEXTEL Common Stock, shares of
NEXTEL Common Stock per DECS, (b) if the Maturity Price is less than $ but
is greater than the Initial Price, a fractional share of NEXTEL Common Stock
per DECS so that the value thereof at the Maturity Price equals the Initial
Price and (c) if the Maturity Price is less than or equal to the Initial Price,
one share of NEXTEL Common Stock per DECS. The "Maturity Price" means the
average Closing Price (as defined herein) per share of NEXTEL Common Stock on
the 20 Trading Days (as defined herein) immediately prior to (but not
including) the date of maturity. Accordingly, holders of the DECS will not
necessarily receive an amount equal to the principal amount thereof. The DECS
will be an unsecured obligation of the Company ranking pari passu with all of
its other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. See "Description of the
DECS."
For a discussion of certain United States federal income tax consequences for
holders of DECS, see "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations."
NEXTEL is not affiliated with the Company and has no obligations with respect
to the DECS. See "Special Considerations Relating to DECS--No Affiliation
Between the Company and NEXTEL."
"DECS" and "Debt Exchangeable for Common Stock" are service marks of Salomon
Brothers Inc.
The NEXTEL Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market and is
reported on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "CALL."
Application will be made to list the DECS on the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE").
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED UNDER "SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO DECS."
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT SAVINGS OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A
BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, BANK
INSURANCE FUND OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
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 REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC (1) DISCOUNT COMPANY (1)(2)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per DECS......................$ $ $
Total (3).....................$ $ $
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from February , 1994 to the date of
delivery.
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company, estimated to be $ .
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30
days from the date hereof, to purchase up to an additional 975,000 DECS at the
Price to Public, less Underwriting Discount, for the purpose of covering over-
allotments, if any. If the Underwriters exercise such option in full, the
total Price to Public, Underwriting Discount, and Proceeds to Company will be
$ , $ and $ , respectively. See "Plan of Distribution."
The DECS are offered subject to receipt and acceptance by the Underwriters, to
prior sales and to the Underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in
part and to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer without notice. It is expected
that delivery of the DECS will be made at the office of Salomon Brothers Inc,
Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York, or through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company, on or about February , 1994.
SALOMON BROTHERS INC MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is February , 1994.
<PAGE>
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE DECS AND THE
NEXTEL COMMON STOCK AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE
OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NYSE, IN THE OVER-THE-
COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents heretofore filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated herein by reference:
(i) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992, as amended by the Company's Form 8 dated March 12, 1993;
(ii) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1993, June 30, 1993 and September 30, 1993; and
(iii) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 14, 1993,
January 20, 1993, February 26, 1993, March 3, 1993, March 5, 1993, April
16, 1993, July 14, 1993, July 30, 1993, October 13, 1993, November 15,
1993, November 22, 1993 and January 17, 1994.
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 Supplement
and prior to the termination of the offering of the DECS shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus Supplement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus Supplement
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 Supplement.
Any person receiving a copy of this Prospectus Supplement may obtain without
charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any of the documents
incorporated by reference herein, except for the exhibits to such documents
(unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such
documents). Requests should be addressed to First Chicago Corporation, One
First National Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60670, Attention: Investor Relations,
(312) 732-4812.
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<PAGE>
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO DECS
DECS are novel and innovative securities. Accordingly, the NYSE requires its
members and member organizations to sell DECS only to investors whose accounts
have been specifically approved for trading equity-linked securities,
consistent with NYSE rules for the general diligence of accounts.
As described in more detail below, the trading price of the DECS may vary
considerably prior to maturity (including by acceleration or otherwise,
"Maturity") due to, among other things, fluctuations in the price of NEXTEL
Common Stock and other events that are difficult to predict and beyond the
Company's control.
COMPARISON TO OTHER DEBT SECURITIES
The terms of the DECS differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that
the amount that a holder of the DECS will receive upon mandatory exchange of
the principal amount thereof at Maturity is not fixed, but is based on the
price of the NEXTEL Common Stock as specified in the Exchange Rate (as defined
under "Description of the DECS"). There can be no assurance that such amount
receivable by such holder upon exchange at Maturity will be equal to or greater
than the principal amount of the DECS. For example, if the Maturity Price of
the NEXTEL Common Stock is less than the Initial Price, such amount receivable
upon exchange will be less than the principal amount paid for the DECS, in
which case an investment in DECS may result in a loss.
In addition, the opportunity for equity appreciation afforded by an
investment in the DECS is less than the opportunity for equity appreciation
afforded by an investment in the NEXTEL Common Stock because the amount
receivable by holders of the DECS upon exchange at Maturity will only exceed
the principal amount of such DECS if the Maturity Price exceeds the Threshold
Appreciation Price (as defined under "Description of the DECS"), which
represents an appreciation of % of the Initial Price. Moreover, holders of the
DECS will only be entitled to receive upon exchange at Maturity % of any
appreciation of the value of NEXTEL Common Stock in excess of the Threshold
Appreciation Price. Because the price of the NEXTEL Common Stock is subject to
market fluctuations, the value of the NEXTEL Common Stock (or, at the option of
the Company, the amount of cash) received by a holder of DECS upon exchange at
Maturity, determined as described herein, may be more or less than the
principal amount of the DECS.
RELATIONSHIP OF DECS AND NEXTEL COMMON STOCK
The market price of DECS at any time is affected primarily by changes in the
price of NEXTEL Common Stock. As indicated in "Price Range and Dividend History
of NEXTEL Common Stock" herein, the price of NEXTEL Common Stock has been
highly volatile during certain recent periods.
It is impossible to predict whether the price of NEXTEL Common Stock will
rise or fall. Trading prices of NEXTEL Common Stock will be influenced by
NEXTEL's operational results and by complex and interrelated political,
economic, financial and other factors that can affect the capital markets
generally, the stock exchanges or quotation systems on which NEXTEL Common
Stock is traded and the market segment of which NEXTEL is a part. NEXTEL is in
the developmental stage of its Digital Mobile Network business, the success of
which will directly affect the trading prices of NEXTEL Common Stock. Trading
prices of NEXTEL Common Stock may also be influenced if the Company or other
persons hereafter issue securities with terms similar to those of the DECS or
if the Company otherwise transfers shares of NEXTEL Common Stock owned by the
Company. As of January 31, 1994, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company held
an aggregate of 9,448,438 shares of NEXTEL Common Stock, 6,500,000 shares
(7,475,000 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in
full) of which the Company may deliver to holders of the DECS at Maturity.
Several significant and publicly announced acquisitions by NEXTEL and alliances
involving NEXTEL are currently pending which may also affect the trading prices
of the NEXTEL Common Stock. See "NEXTEL Communications, Inc."
S-3
<PAGE>
DILUTION OF NEXTEL COMMON STOCK
The amount that holders of the DECS are entitled to receive upon the
mandatory exchange at Maturity is subject to adjustment for certain events
arising from stock splits and combinations, stock dividends and certain other
actions of NEXTEL that modify its capital structure. See "Description of the
DECS--Dilution Adjustments." Such amount to be received by such holders upon
exchange at Maturity may not be adjusted for other events, such as offerings of
NEXTEL Common Stock for cash or in connection with acquisitions, that may
adversely affect the price of NEXTEL Common Stock and, because of the
relationship of such amount to be received upon exchange to the price of NEXTEL
Common Stock, such other events may adversely affect the trading price of the
DECS. See "NEXTEL Communications, Inc." There can be no assurance that NEXTEL
will not make offerings of NEXTEL Common Stock or take such other action in the
future or as to the amount of such offerings, if any. In addition, until such
time, if any, as the Company shall deliver shares of NEXTEL Common Stock to
holders of the DECS at Maturity thereof, holders of the DECS will not be
entitled to any rights with respect to NEXTEL Common Stock (including without
limitation voting rights and the rights to receive any dividends or other
distributions in respect thereof).
NO AFFILIATION BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND NEXTEL
As of January 31, 1994, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company held an
aggregate of 9,448,438 shares, or approximately 10.9% (based upon information
contained in, and subject to the assumptions set forth in, documents filed by
NEXTEL with the Commission), of the outstanding NEXTEL Common Stock, with sole
voting and investment power over all such shares.
The Company is not affiliated with NEXTEL and, although the Company has no
knowledge that any of the events described in the preceding subsection not
heretofore publicly disclosed by NEXTEL are currently being contemplated by
NEXTEL or of any event that would have a material adverse effect on NEXTEL or
on the price of NEXTEL Common Stock, such events are beyond the Company's
ability to control and are difficult to predict.
NEXTEL has no obligations with respect to the DECS, including any obligation
to take the needs of the Company or of holders of the DECS into consideration
for any reason. NEXTEL will not receive any of the proceeds of the offering of
the DECS made hereby and is not responsible for, and has not participated in,
the determination or calculation of the amount receivable by holders of the
DECS at Maturity. NEXTEL is not involved with the administration or trading of
the DECS and has no obligations with respect to the amount receivable by
holders of the DECS at Maturity.
POSSIBLE ILLIQUIDITY OF THE SECONDARY MARKET
It is not possible to predict how the DECS will trade in the secondary market
or whether such market will be liquid or illiquid. DECS are novel and
innovative securities and there is currently no secondary market for the DECS.
The Underwriters currently intend, but are not obligated, to make a market in
the DECS. There can be no assurance that a secondary market will develop or, if
a secondary market does develop, that it will provide the holders of the DECS
with liquidity of investment or that it will continue for the life of the DECS.
Application will be made to list the DECS on the NYSE. However, there can be
no assurance that, if so listed on the NYSE, the DECS will not later be
delisted or that trading in the DECS on the NYSE will not be suspended. In the
event of a delisting or suspension of trading on such exchange, the Company
will apply for listing of the DECS on another national securities exchange or
for quotation on another trading market. If the DECS are not listed or traded
on any securities exchange or trading market, or if trading of the DECS is
suspended, pricing information for the DECS may be more difficult to obtain,
and the liquidity of the DECS may be adversely affected.
FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION
The Company is a multi-bank holding company incorporated in Delaware. At
December 31, 1993, the Company had consolidated assets of $52.6 billion and
total equity capital of $4.3 billion. The
S-4
<PAGE>
principal asset of the Company is the capital stock of The First National Bank
of Chicago ("FNBC"), which provides a broad range of banking, fiduciary,
financial and other services domestically and overseas. At September 30, 1993,
FNBC had deposits of $24.4 billion and assets of approximately $35.6 billion.
The Company also owns all the outstanding capital stock of American National
Corporation ("ANC") and FCC National Bank ("FCCNB"). ANC is the holding company
for American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, several suburban
Chicago banks and American National Bank and Trust Company of Wisconsin. FCCNB
is a Delaware-based bank primarily engaged in the issuance of VISA and
MasterCard credit cards. Together with these banking organizations, the
Company, directly or indirectly, owns the stock of various nonbank companies
engaged in businesses related to banking and finance, including venture capital
and leasing subsidiaries.
In addition to financing its debt and equity investments in banking
subsidiaries, the Company, directly or indirectly, raises funds to finance the
operations of its nonbank subsidiaries. A substantial portion of the Company's
annual income typically has been derived from dividends from its subsidiaries,
and from interest on loans, some of which are subordinated, to its
subsidiaries.
Because the Company is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its
creditors, including the holders of the DECS, to participate in the assets of
any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or recapitalization would be
subject to the prior claims of such subsidiary's creditors except to the extent
that the Company may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary.
NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
According to publicly available documents, NEXTEL, a Delaware corporation, is
engaged in the business of providing wireless communications services to its
customers utilizing specialized mobile radio frequencies licensed to NEXTEL by
the Federal Communications Commission. NEXTEL is also actively developing and
implementing digital mobile networks in its markets and expanding into other
markets, including by means of several significant and publicly announced
pending acquisitions and alliances involving Motorola, Inc., Nippon Telegraph
and Telephone Corporation, PowerFone Holdings, Inc., CenCall Communications
Corp., Questar Corporation and Advanced MobileComm, Inc. NEXTEL filed a
registration statement on Form S-4 with the Commission on December 23, 1993,
relating to the issuance of NEXTEL Common Stock in connection with the
acquisition of PowerFone Holdings, Inc., and a registration statement on Form
S-3 with the Commission on January 13, 1994, relating to the issuance of NEXTEL
Senior Redeemable Discount Notes. NEXTEL is also subject to the informational
requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, NEXTEL files reports (including
NEXTEL's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 1994, containing pro
forma information relating to NEXTEL's pending acquisitions and alliances),
proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Copies of NEXTEL's
registration statements, reports, proxy statements and other information may be
inspected and copied at certain offices of the Commission at the addresses
listed under "Available Information" in the Prospectus.
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT RELATES ONLY TO THE DECS OFFERED HEREBY AND DOES
NOT RELATE TO THE NEXTEL COMMON STOCK. ALL DISCLOSURES CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT REGARDING NEXTEL ARE DERIVED FROM THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH. THE COMPANY HAS NOT
PARTICIPATED IN THE PREPARATION OF SUCH DOCUMENTS AND HAS NOT MADE ANY DUE
DILIGENCE INQUIRY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED THEREIN. THERE CAN
BE NO ASSURANCE THAT ALL EVENTS OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE DATE HEREOF (INCLUDING
EVENTS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH) THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRADING
PRICE OF NEXTEL COMMON STOCK HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY DISCLOSED. BECAUSE THE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE DECS PAYABLE AT MATURITY IS RELATED TO THE TRADING
PRICE OF NEXTEL COMMON STOCK, SUCH EVENTS, IF ANY, WOULD ALSO AFFECT THE
TRADING PRICE OF THE DECS.
S-5
<PAGE>
PRICE RANGE AND DIVIDEND HISTORY OF NEXTEL COMMON STOCK
NEXTEL completed the initial public offering of NEXTEL Common Stock on
January 27, 1992. The NEXTEL Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter
market and is reported on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol
"CALL." The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations of the
NEXTEL Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ National Market System. Such
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or
commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
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<S> <C> <C>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1992
Fourth Quarter (from January 28, 1992)........................ $15 1/4 $13
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1993
First Quarter................................................. 14 1/2 9 5/8
Second Quarter................................................ 11 7/8 9
Third Quarter................................................. 18 1/2 10 3/8
Fourth Quarter................................................ 27 7/8 17 7/8
FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1994
First Quarter................................................. 28 22 1/8
Second Quarter................................................ 44 7/8 26 3/4
Third Quarter................................................. 54 3/4 31 3/4
Fourth Quarter (through January 31, 1994)..................... 44 3/4 37 1/4
</TABLE>
For a recent closing price of the NEXTEL Common Stock, see the cover page of
this Prospectus Supplement.
Historically, cash dividends have not been declared on NEXTEL Common Stock.
The Company makes no representation as to the amount of dividends, if any, that
NEXTEL will pay in the future. In any event, holders of DECS will not be
entitled to receive any dividends that may be payable on NEXTEL Common Stock
until such time as the Company, if it so elects, delivers NEXTEL Common Stock
at Maturity of the DECS, and then only with respect to dividends having a
record date on or after the date of delivery of such NEXTEL Common Stock. See
"Description of the DECS."
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds to be received by the Company from sales of the DECS will be
used for general corporate purposes.
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<PAGE>
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COMPANY
This summary of the consolidated financial data of the Company is qualified
in its entirety by the detailed information and financial statements
incorporated herein by reference. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference" in this Prospectus Supplement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS
ENDED
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
---------------------------------------------------- ------------------
1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1993 1992
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND
RATIOS) (UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Consolidated Summary of
Income
Net interest income......... $1,183.0 $1,080.0 $1,197.6 $1,235.0 $1,164.4 $ 925.1 $ 862.4
Combined credit provisions
Assets held for
accelerated disposition.. 625.0 -- -- -- -- -- 625.0
Other..................... 481.9 544.3 518.8 468.4 245.0 203.0 400.4
Noninterest income (1)...... 1,479.6 1,228.5 1,191.8 1,133.5 1,042.8 1,680.0 1,043.6
Investment securities gains
(losses)................... 8.6 (3.3) 7.5 1.7 (11.5) (0.6) 8.6
Noninterest expense (2)..... 1,764.4 1,597.0 1,565.9 1,430.2 1,317.9 1,373.2 1,303.2
Income (loss) before
cumulative effect of
changes in
accounting principles...... (114.5) 116.3 249.3 358.7 513.1 631.7 (251.1)
Net income.................. 93.5 116.3 249.3 358.7 513.1 631.7 (43.1)
Consolidated Average Balances
Loans....................... $ 24,347 $ 27,281 $ 30,609 $ 29,239 $ 27,288 $21,908 $24,876
Total assets................ 54,768 52,655 53,097 48,534 45,952 56,570 54,302
Total deposits.............. 31,694 32,819 34,213 32,420 32,277 29,878 31,832
Long-term debt.............. 1,735 1,589 1,380 1,260 1,166 2,047 1,742
Total stockholders' equity.. 3,314 2,938 2,762 2,538 2,070 3,777 3,341
Common Share Data
Earnings per share
Primary
Income (loss) before
cumulative effect of
changes in
accounting principles.. $ (2.08) $ 1.15 $ 3.35 $ 5.10 $ 8.20 $ 6.94 $ (3.80)
Net income.............. 0.64 1.15 3.35 5.10 8.20 6.94 (1.02)
Fully diluted
Income (loss) before
cumulative effect of
changes in
accounting principles.. $ (2.08) $ 1.15 $ 3.32 $ 4.99 $ 7.92 $ 6.63 $ (3.80)
Net income.............. 0.64 1.15 3.32 4.99 7.92 6.63 (1.02)
Dividends declared ......... 1.20 2.00 2.00 1.80 1.50 .90 .90
Book value, period-end...... 33.19 34.90 36.27 34.82 31.30 39.03 32.51
Market price, period-end.... 36 3/4 24 5/8 16 1/2 37 1/8 29 5/8 48 3/4 31 3/4
Capital
Common equity-to-assets
(3)........................ 5.9% 5.1% 4.8% 4.5% 4.4% 7.0% 5.5%
Regulatory leverage ratio
(4)........................ 6.6 5.8 5.0 4.9 4.9 8.0 6.1
Risk-based capital (4)
Tier 1 ratio.............. 6.7 5.5 4.9 4.7 4.6 8.7 6.0
Total capital ratio (7)... 10.8 9.4 8.3 8.0 7.9 13.5 10.0
Tier 1 capital............ $ 3,223 $ 2,804 $ 2,642 $ 2,517 $ 2,254 $ 3,969 $ 2,981
Total capital (7)......... 5,221 4,762 4,441 4,307 3,892 6,179 4,985
Ratios
Rate of return on: (5)(6)
Average common
stockholders' equity..... 1.8% 3.2% 9.4% 15.5% 29.3% 26.5% (3.7)%
Average total
stockholders' equity..... 2.8 4.0 9.0 14.1 24.8 22.4 (1.7)
Average assets............ 0.17 0.22 0.47 0.74 1.12 1.49 (0.11)
Average earning assets.... 0.20 0.26 0.55 0.85 1.26 1.75 (0.12)
Average stockholders'
equity as a percentage of
average assets............. 6.1 5.6 5.2 5.2 4.5 6.7 6.2
Net interest margin-tax
equivalent basis (6)....... 2.61 2.51 2.73 3.03 2.96 2.64 2.57
Allowance for credit losses
as a percentage of loans
outstanding at period-end
(7)........................ 2.8(8) 3.0 3.2 4.1 4.7 2.9(8) 2.6(8)
Nonperforming loans as a
percentage of total loans
at period-end ............. 1.7(8) 3.3 3.1 3.2 2.9 1.4(8) 2.1(8)
Net charge-offs as a
percentage of average
loans (6).................. 1.5(8) 2.0 2.6 1.8 1.8 0.7(8) 1.9(8)
Consolidated Ratios of
Earnings to Fixed Charges
(9)
Excluding interest expense
on deposits................ 0.7x(10) 1.2x 1.3x 1.5x 2.0x 2.8x 0.3x(10)
Including interest expense
on deposits................ 0.9(10) 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2x 2.0x 0.7x(10)
</TABLE>
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(1) Excludes investment securities gains (losses).
(2) Excludes provision for other real estate and provision for other real
estate held for accelerated disposition.
(3) Net of investment in First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
(4) Under year end 1992 risk-based capital rules.
(5) Ratios based on net income. For return on average common stockholders'
equity, dividends on preferred stock have been deducted.
(6) Ratios for interim period have been annualized.
(7) The Company reclassified its reserve for securitized credit card
receivables from the allowance for credit losses to other assets. This
information has been adjusted to give effect to this reclassification.
(8) Excludes accelerated disposition portfolio.
(9) The ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the Company are computed on
the basis of the total enterprise (as defined by the Commission) by
dividing earnings before fixed charges and income taxes by fixed charges.
Fixed charges consist principally of interest expenses on all long- and
short-term borrowings, excluding or including interest on deposits as
indicated.
(10) In the first nine months and for the full year of 1992, earnings (as
defined) were insufficient to cover fixed charges. The coverage deficiency
was approximately $415 million for the first nine months of 1992 and $201
million for the full year.
S-7
<PAGE>
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF THE COMPANY
PENDING ACQUISITION
On November 22, 1993, the Company announced the execution of a definitive
agreement with Lake Shore Bancorp., Inc. ("Lake Shore") for the purchase of all
outstanding shares of Lake Shore for approximately $323 million in the
Company's common stock.
The agreement provides that each share or share equivalent of Lake Shore
common stock will be exchanged for the Company's common stock valued at $31.08.
The exchange ratio will be determined based on the average closing price of the
Company's common stock during a 20-day period ending just prior to the closing
of the transaction, with a minimum price of $37 per share and a maximum price
of $53 per share. The Company expects to account for the transaction as a
pooling-of-interests.
Lake Shore also has granted the Company an option to purchase up to 19.9
percent of the outstanding shares of Lake Shore common stock upon the
occurrence of certain acquisition events with respect to Lake Shore.
The transaction is subject to approval of Lake Shore's stockholders and
various bank regulatory authorities and is expected to close in the second
quarter of 1994.
Lake Shore, with $1.2 billion in assets as of September 30, 1993, and eight
offices in the Chicago metropolitan area, is the bank holding company for Lake
Shore National Bank, Chicago, Illinois, and Bank of Hinsdale, Hinsdale,
Illinois.
ACCELERATED ASSET DISPOSITION PROGRAM
During the fourth quarter of 1993, the carrying value of the accelerated
disposition portfolio declined $118 million. This portfolio is composed of
certain real estate exposure of FNBC.
The following table shows the composition of the accelerated asset
disposition portfolio as of December 31, 1993, December 31, 1992 and September
30, 1992.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(BEFORE
DISPOSITION VALUE VALUATION
--------------------------------------- ADJUSTMENT)
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1993 1992 1992 1992
------------ ------------ ------------- -------------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Loans
Performing............. $ 20 $ 504 $ 570 $1,073
Nonperforming.......... 16 115 130 242
Other Real Estate Assets. 71 257 350 518
---- ------ ------ ------
Subtotal............... 107 876 1,050 1,833
Off-Balance-Sheet Expo-
sure.................... 19 161 142 142
---- ------ ------ ------
Total Portfolio...... $126 $1,037 $1,192 $1,975
==== ====== ====== ======
Disposition Value as a
Percentage of Original
Contractual Exposure.... 26% 46% 49% --
</TABLE>
RECENT FINANCIAL RESULTS
General
The Company reported net income for 1993 of $804.5 million, or $8.78 per
share. Return on common stockholders' equity was 24.2 percent. Earnings from
the Company's venture capital business were $204 million, or $2.29 per share,
for 1993.
For the fourth quarter of 1993, the Company earned net income of $172.8
million, or $1.81 per common share. Return on common stockholders' equity was
18.3 percent. Earnings from the venture capital business were $7 million, or
five cents per share, for the fourth quarter. Excluding the venture capital
contribution, quarterly earnings were up 83 percent from a year earlier.
S-8
<PAGE>
In the fourth quarter of 1992, net income was $137 million, or $1.53 per
share. Net income for the full year 1992 was $94 million, or 64 cents per
share, reflecting the $625 million special provision for combined credit losses
related to the accelerated asset disposition program.
Noteworthy factors contributing to the 1993 full year results included the
following:
. The Company's earnings from core businesses were consistently strong each
quarter throughout the year.
. Equity securities gains of $381 million were recognized in the venture
capital portfolio in 1993. Net income from the venture capital business--
revenues less the portfolio's cost-to-carry and other expenses--was $204
million, or $2.29 per share, for the year. In 1992, venture capital
earnings were $80 million, or 95 cents per share.
. Earnings from the credit card business grew substantially in 1993. Total
managed receivables ended the year at $10.7 billion, up from $8.6 billion
at year-end 1992. Average credit card outstandings for the year increased
21 percent over 1992 levels.
. Combined trading profits reached a record $285 million for the year,
compared with $177 million in 1992. Foreign exchange trading, interest
rate swap and option transactions, and emerging markets trading were the
key activities driving this performance.
. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 1993, were $277 million, or 1.2
percent of loans and other real estate. The ratio of the allowance for
credit losses to nonperforming loans at year-end was 292 percent. Total
commercial provision expense for the year was $78 million, or 54 basis
points of related loans--an improvement from 165 basis points in 1992.
. As of December 31, 1993, approximately 89 percent of the net value of the
accelerated asset disposition portfolio had been liquidated, well ahead of
the Company's "price and pace" objectives. The carrying value of the
portfolio was $126 million at year-end, down from $1.0 billion at December
31, 1992. This value represented 26 percent of original contractual
exposure, compared with 46 percent a year earlier. Net gains of $60
million from portfolio activity were recognized in noninterest income in
1993.
. The Company's regulatory capital ratios, and those of all its banking
subsidiaries, remain significantly above the guidelines for "well-
capitalized" status. At December 31, 1993, the estimated Tier 1 ratio was
8.8 percent, and the total risk-adjusted ratio was approximately 13.5
percent. Year-ago ratios were 6.7 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively.
. The Company's book value increased to $40.55 per common share at the end
of 1993 from $33.19 at year-end 1992.
Factors contributing to the fourth quarter 1993 results included the
following:
. The credit card business continued to contribute significantly to
earnings. Total managed credit card receivables grew 11 percent in the
quarter to $10.7 billion from $9.6 billion at September 30, 1993.
. The carrying value of the accelerated asset disposition portfolio
declined $118 million during the quarter to $126 million at December 31,
1993, or 26 percent of original contractual exposure. A net gain of $30
million from portfolio activity was recognized in noninterest income in
the fourth quarter.
. The Company reclassified its $196 million reserve for securitized credit
card receivables from the "allowance for credit losses" to "other assets."
This reclassification was made to be consistent with more prevalent
industry practice and had no impact on reserves available for losses or on
reported earnings.
. The provision for commercial credits was $8 million for the fourth
quarter of 1993, representing 22 basis points of related loans.
. Total equity securities gains were $40 million, of which $20 million were
generated from the venture capital portfolio. Net income from the venture
capital business was $7 million, or five cents per share, in the fourth
quarter of 1993. In 1992's fourth quarter, venture capital earnings were
$48 million, or 57 cents per share.
S-9
<PAGE>
Net Interest Income
Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis was $307 million for the fourth
quarter of 1993. Net interest margin was 2.49 percent, and average earning
assets were $49.0 billion.
Adjusted for the effects of credit card securitization and the activities of
the Company's capital markets subsidiary, net interest margin was 3.62 percent.
Adjusted net interest margin was 3.78 percent in the fourth quarter of 1992 and
3.98 percent in the third quarter of 1993.
For the full year, adjusted net interest margin was 3.70 percent, compared
with 3.45 percent in 1992. Gains on Brazilian bonds and a required revaluation
of leveraged leases in conjunction with the change in tax rates added 9 basis
points to adjusted net interest margin in 1993.
Noninterest Income
Total noninterest income was $523 million for the fourth quarter of 1993.
Combined trading activities generated revenues of $61 million.
Equity securities gains were $40 million, including $20 million from the
venture capital portfolio. The remaining gains of $20 million were realized
from equity securities held in conjunction with corporate financing activities
and the sale of Chilean equity positions previously received in exchange for
debt.
Net gains of $30 million from accelerated disposition activities were
recorded in other revenue.
For the year, noninterest income totaled $2.202 billion and included $480
million in equity securities gains.
Noninterest Expense
Operating noninterest expense was $481 million for the quarter. Higher
incentive compensation costs versus prior periods and increased expenses for
the credit card business are reflected in this total. The provision for other
real estate was $1 million.
Operating noninterest expense for 1993 was $1.854 billion, compared with
$1.764 billion a year earlier. In 1992 these expenses included charges of $86
million principally for reserves related to occupancy, asset disposition and
litigation matters.
Credit Quality
The provision for credit losses was $70 million for the fourth quarter. This
included $62 million for the consumer portfolios and $8 million for commercial
credits.
For the year, the provision for credit losses was $270 million, down
substantially from $425 million in 1992 before the special provision.
The Company's allowance for credit losses was $683 million at year-end. Of
this total, $488 million was related to the commercial exposure segment and
$195 million to the consumer portfolios.
The reclassification of reserves related to securitized credit card
receivables reduced the ratio of total allowance to nonperforming loans.
However, it had no impact on the ratio of commercial reserves to commercial
nonperforming loans, which was 209 percent at the end of 1993.
Net charge-offs were $39 million for the fourth quarter of 1993. Commercial
net charge-offs were $10 million. Consumer net charge-offs, mainly in the
credit card portfolio, were $29 million. The net charge-off rate for credit
card receivables was 3.5 percent.
S-10
<PAGE>
COMPARATIVE EARNINGS SUMMARY
Set forth below is comparative selected financial information of the Company
for the three months ended December 31, 1993 and 1992 and for the year ended
December 31, 1993 and 1992.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS
ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------
1993 1992 CHANGE
-------- -------- ------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS,
EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net interest income--tax-equivalent basis........... $ 306.9 $ 326.2 - 6%
Provisions for credit and real estate losses (in-
cluding provisions for assets held for accelerated
disposition)....................................... 71.2 81.5 - 13
Noninterest income.................................. 523.0 436.0 + 20
Noninterest expense (excluding provisions for other
real estate)....................................... 480.7 461.2 + 4
Net income.......................................... 172.8 136.6 + 27
Earnings per share
Primary........................................... 1.81 1.53 + 18
Average common and common equivalent shares (in
millions)....................................... 87.7 81.7 + 7
Fully diluted..................................... 1.77 1.49 + 19
Average shares, assuming full dilution (in mil-
lions).......................................... 91.5 85.1 + 7
Average balances
Loans............................................. 22,263 22,761 - 2
Earning assets.................................... 48,977 47,654 + 3
Total assets...................................... 57,708 56,167 + 3
Common equity..................................... 3,451 2,616 + 32
Stockholders' equity.............................. 4,212 3,235 + 30
Net interest margin................................. 2.49% 2.72% - 8
Return on assets.................................... 1.19 0.97 + 23
Return on common stockholders' equity............... 18.3 19.0 - 4
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------
1993 1992 CHANGE
-------- -------- ------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS,
EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net interest income--tax-equivalent basis........... $1,264.0 $1,217.0 + 4%
Provisions for credit and real estate losses (in-
cluding provisions for assets held for accelerated
disposition)....................................... 274.2 1,106.9 --
Noninterest income.................................. 2,202.4 1,488.2 + 48
Noninterest expense (excluding provisions for other
real estate)....................................... 1,853.9 1,764.4 + 5
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of changes in
accounting principles.............................. 804.5 (114.5) --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting princi-
ples--
Valuation of venture capital investment securi-
ties............................................. -- 220.7 --
Recognition of credit card solicitation costs..... -- (12.7) --
Net income.......................................... 804.5 93.5 --
Earnings per share
Primary
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of changes
in accounting principles......................... 8.78 (2.08) --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting princi-
ples............................................. -- 2.72 --
Net Income........................................ 8.78 0.64 --
Average common and common equivalent shares (in
millions)....................................... 85.2 76.5 + 11
Fully diluted
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of changes
in accounting principles......................... 8.43 (2.08) --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting princi-
ples............................................. -- 2.72 --
Net income........................................ 8.43 0.64 --
Average shares, assuming full dilution (in mil-
lions).......................................... 90.3 79.7 + 13
Average balances
Loans............................................. 21,997 24,347 - 10
Earning assets.................................... 48,517 46,706 + 4
Total assets...................................... 56,854 54,768 + 4
Common equity..................................... 3,092 2,733 + 13
Stockholders' equity.............................. 3,886 3,314 + 17
Net interest margin................................. 2.61% 2.61% --
Return on assets.................................... 1.42 0.17 --
Return on common stockholders' equity............... 24.2 1.8 --
</TABLE>
S-11
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE DECS
The following description of the particular terms of the DECS supplements,
and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the
general terms and provisions of Debt Securities set forth in the Prospectus, to
which description reference is hereby made.
GENERAL
The DECS are a series of Debt Securities, constituting Senior Securities (as
defined in the Prospectus), to be issued under an indenture dated as of May 1,
1990, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February
, 1994 (as supplemented from time to time, the "Indenture"), between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee").
The DECS will be unsecured and will rank on a parity with all other unsecured
and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The aggregate number of DECS to
be issued will be 6,500,000 plus such additional number of DECS as may be
issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted by the Company to the
Underwriters (see "Plan of Distribution"). The DECS will mature on February ,
1997. In the future the Company may issue additional Debt Securities or other
securities with terms similar to those of the DECS.
Each DECS, which will be issued with a principal amount of $ , will bear
interest at the annual rate of % of the principal amount per annum (or $
per annum) from February , 1994, or from the most recent Interest Payment
Date to which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal amount
thereof is exchanged at Maturity pursuant to the terms of the DECS. Interest on
the DECS will be payable quarterly in arrears on , , and ,
commencing , 1994 (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), to the persons in
whose names the DECS are registered at the close of business on the last day of
the calendar month immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided
that interest payable at Maturity shall be payable to the person to whom the
principal is payable. Interest on the DECS will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a
day that is not a Business Day (as defined below), the interest payment to be
made on such Interest Payment Date will be made on the next succeeding Business
Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date,
and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.
At Maturity (including as a result of acceleration or otherwise), the
principal amount of each DECS will be mandatorily exchanged by the Company into
a number of shares of NEXTEL Common Stock at the Exchange Rate (as defined
below), and, accordingly, holders of the DECS will not necessarily receive an
amount equal to the principal amount thereof. The "Exchange Rate" is equal to,
subject to adjustment as a result of certain dilution events (see "--Dilution
Adjustments" below), (a) if the Maturity Price (as defined below) per share of
NEXTEL Common Stock is greater than or equal to $ per share of NEXTEL Common
Stock (the "Threshold Appreciation Price"), shares of NEXTEL Common Stock
per DECS, (b) if the Maturity Price is less than the Threshold Appreciation
Price but is greater than the Initial Price, a fractional share of NEXTEL
Common Stock per DECS so that the value thereof (determined at the Maturity
Price) is equal to the Initial Price and (c) if the Maturity Price is less than
or equal to the Initial Price, one share of NEXTEL Common Stock per DECS. No
fractional shares of NEXTEL Common Stock will be issued at Maturity as provided
under "--Fractional Shares" below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may, at its option in lieu of delivering shares of NEXTEL Common Stock, deliver
cash in an amount equal to the value of such number of shares of NEXTEL Common
Stock at the Maturity Price. On or prior to , 1997, the Company will
notify The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee and publish a notice in a
daily newspaper of national circulation stating whether the principal amount of
each DECS will be exchanged for shares of NEXTEL Common Stock or cash. If the
Company elects to deliver shares of NEXTEL Common Stock, the shares which are
delivered to the holders of the DECS which are not affiliated with NEXTEL shall
be free of any transfer restrictions, and the holders of the DECS will be
responsible for the payment of any and all brokerage costs upon the subsequent
sale of such shares.
S-12
<PAGE>
The "Maturity Price" is defined as the average Closing Price per share of
NEXTEL Common Stock on the 20 Trading Days immediately prior to (but not
including) the Maturity date. The "Closing Price" of any security on any date
of determination means the closing sale price (or, if no closing price is
reported, the last reported sale price) of such security on the NYSE on such
date or, if such security is not listed for trading on the NYSE on any such
date, as reported in the composite transactions for the principal United States
securities exchange on which such security is so listed, or if such security is
not so listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation System, or, if such security is not so reported, the last quoted bid
price for such security in the over-the-counter market as reported by the
National Quotation Bureau or similar organization, or, if such bid price is not
available, the market value of such security on such date as determined by a
nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this
purpose by the Company. A "Trading Day" is defined as a day on which the
security the Closing Price of which is being determined (A) is not suspended
from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or
over-the-counter market at the close of business and (B) has traded at least
once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-
the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of such security.
"Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banking
institutions in the City of Chicago and the City of New York are open for
business.
For illustrative purposes only, the following chart shows the number of
shares of NEXTEL Common Stock or the amount of cash that a holder of DECS would
receive for each DECS at various Maturity Prices. The table assumes that there
will be no adjustments to the Exchange Rate described under "--Dilution
Adjustments" below. There can be no assurance that the Maturity Price will be
within the range set forth below. Given the Issue Price of $ per DECS and
the Threshold Appreciation Price of $ , a DECS holder would receive at
Maturity the following number of shares of NEXTEL Common Stock or amount of
cash (if the Company elects to pay the DECS in cash):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MATURITY PRICE NUMBER OF
OF NEXTEL SHARES OF NEXTEL
COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK AMOUNT OF CASH
-------------- ---------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
$ $
</TABLE>
Interest on the DECS will be payable, and delivery of NEXTEL Common Stock
(or, at the option of the Company, its cash equivalent) in exchange for the
DECS at Maturity will be made upon surrender of such DECS, at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for such purposes; provided that payment of
interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the
persons in whose names the DECS are registered at the close of business on
, , and . See "--Book-Entry System." Initially such office
will be the principal corporate trust office of First Chicago Trust Company of
New York, located at 14 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.
The DECS will be transferable at any time or from time to time at the
aforementioned office. No service charge will be made to the holder for any
such transfer except for any tax or governmental charge incidental thereto.
S-13
<PAGE>
The Indenture does not contain any restriction on the ability of the Company
to sell, pledge or otherwise convey all or any portion of the NEXTEL Common
Stock held by it, and no such shares of NEXTEL Common Stock will be pledged or
otherwise held in escrow for use at Maturity of the DECS. Consequently, in the
event of a bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation of the Company, the NEXTEL
Common Stock, if any, owned by the Company will be subject to the claims of the
creditors of the Company. In addition, as described herein, the Company will
have the option, exercisable in its sole discretion, to satisfy its obligations
pursuant to the mandatory exchange for the principal amount of each DECS at
Maturity by delivering to holders of the DECS either the specified number of
shares of NEXTEL Common Stock or cash in an amount equal to the value of such
number of shares at the Maturity Price. In the event of such a sale, pledge or
conveyance, a holder of the DECS may be more likely to receive cash in lieu of
NEXTEL Common Stock. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company
will elect at Maturity to deliver NEXTEL Common Stock or, if it so elects, that
it will use all or any portion of its current holdings of NEXTEL Common Stock
to make such delivery. Consequently, holders of the DECS will not be entitled
to any rights with respect to NEXTEL Common Stock (including without limitation
voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions in
respect thereof) until such time, if any, as the Company shall have delivered
shares of NEXTEL Common Stock to holders of the DECS at Maturity thereof.
DILUTION ADJUSTMENTS
The Exchange Rate is subject to adjustment if NEXTEL shall (i) pay a stock
dividend or make a distribution with respect to NEXTEL Common Stock in shares
of such stock, (ii) subdivide or split its outstanding shares of NEXTEL Common
Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding shares of NEXTEL Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, (iv) issue by reclassification of its shares of
NEXTEL Common Stock any shares of common stock of NEXTEL, (v) issue rights or
warrants to all holders of NEXTEL Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for
or purchase shares of NEXTEL Common Stock at a price per share less than the
market price of the NEXTEL Common Stock (other than rights to purchase NEXTEL
Common Stock pursuant to a plan for the reinvestment of dividends or interest)
or (vi) pay a dividend or make a distribution to all holders of NEXTEL Common
Stock of evidences of its indebtedness or other assets (excluding any dividends
or distributions referred to in clause (i) above or any cash dividends other
than any Extraordinary Cash Dividends) or issue to all holders of NEXTEL Common
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any of its securities
(other than those referred to in clause (v) above). In the case of the events
referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, the Exchange Rate in
effect immediately prior to such event shall each be adjusted so that the
holder of any DECS shall thereafter be entitled to receive, upon mandatory
exchange of the principal amount of such DECS at Maturity, the number of shares
of NEXTEL Common Stock which such holder would have owned or been entitled to
receive immediately following any event described above had such DECS been
exchanged immediately prior to such event or any record date with respect
thereto. In the case of the event referred to in clause (v) above, the Exchange
Rate shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exchange Rate in effect immediately
prior to the date of issuance of the rights or warrants referred to in clause
(v) above, by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the number of shares
of NEXTEL Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights or
warrants, immediately prior to such issuance, plus the number of additional
shares of NEXTEL Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase pursuant to
such rights or warrants, and of which the denominator shall be the number of
shares of NEXTEL Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such
rights or warrants, immediately prior to such issuance, plus the number of
additional shares of NEXTEL Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of
the total number of shares of NEXTEL Common Stock so offered for subscription
or purchase pursuant to such rights or warrants would purchase at the market
price (determined as the average Closing Price per share of NEXTEL Common Stock
on the 20 Trading Days immediately prior to the date such rights or warrants
are issued), which shall be determined by multiplying such total number of
shares by the exercise price of such rights or warrants and dividing the
product so obtained by such market price. To the extent that shares of NEXTEL
Common Stock are
S-14
<PAGE>
not delivered after the expiration of such rights or warrants, the Exchange
Rate shall be readjusted to the Exchange Rate which would then be in effect had
such adjustments for the issuance of such rights or warrants been made upon the
basis of delivery of only the number of shares of NEXTEL Common Stock actually
delivered. In the case of the event referred to in clause (vi) above, the
Exchange Rate shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exchange Rate in effect on
the record date, by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the market price
per share of the NEXTEL Common Stock on the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to receive the dividend or distribution referred to in
clause (vi) above (such market price being determined as the average Closing
Price per share of NEXTEL Common Stock on the 20 Trading Days immediately prior
to such record date), and of which the denominator shall be such market price
per share of NEXTEL Common Stock less the fair market value (as determined by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive,
and described in a resolution adopted with respect thereto) as of such record
date of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed
or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of NEXTEL
Common Stock. An "Extraordinary Cash Dividend" means, with respect to any one-
year period, all cash dividends on the NEXTEL Common Stock during such period
to the extent such dividends exceed on a per share basis 10% of the average
price of the NEXTEL Common Stock over such period (less any such dividends for
which a prior adjustment to the Exchange Rate was previously made). All
adjustments to the Exchange Rate will be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th
of a share of NEXTEL Common Stock (or if there is not a nearest 1/10,000th of a
share to the next lower 1/10,000th of a share). No adjustment in the Exchange
Rate shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or
decrease of at least one percent therein; provided, however, that any
adjustments which by reason of the foregoing are not required to be made shall
be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
In the event of (A) any consolidation or merger of NEXTEL, or any surviving
entity or subsequent surviving entity of NEXTEL (a "NEXTEL Successor"), with or
into another entity (other than a merger or consolidation in which NEXTEL is
the continuing corporation and in which the NEXTEL Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the merger or consolidation is not exchanged for cash,
securities or other property of NEXTEL or another corporation), (B) any sale,
transfer, lease or conveyance to another corporation of the property of NEXTEL
or any NEXTEL Successor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, (C) any
statutory exchange of securities of NEXTEL or any NEXTEL Successor with another
corporation (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition) or (D) any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of NEXTEL or any NEXTEL Successor (any
such event, a "Reorganization Event"), the Exchange Rate used to determine the
amount payable upon exchange at Maturity for each DECS will be adjusted to
provide that each holder of DECS will receive at Maturity cash in an amount
equal to (a) if the Transaction Value (as defined below) is greater than or
equal to the Threshold Appreciation Price, multiplied by the Transaction
Value, (b) if the Transaction Value is less than the Threshold Appreciation
Price but greater than the Initial Price, the Initial Price and (c) if the
Transaction Value is less than or equal to the Initial Price, the Transaction
Value. "Transaction Value" means (i) for any cash received in any such
Reorganization Event, the amount of cash received per share of NEXTEL Common
Stock, (ii) for any property other than cash or securities received in any such
Reorganization Event, an amount equal to the market value at Maturity of such
property received per share of NEXTEL Common Stock as determined by a
nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this
purpose by the Company and (iii) for any securities received in any such
Reorganization Event, an amount equal to the average Closing Price per share of
such securities on the 20 Trading Days immediately prior to Maturity multiplied
by the number of such securities received for each share of NEXTEL Common
Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of delivering cash as provided
above, the Company may at its option deliver an equivalent value of securities
or other property received in such Reorganization Event, determined in
accordance with clause (ii) or (iii) above, as applicable. If the Company
elects to deliver securities or other property, holders of the DECS will be
responsible for the payment of any and all brokerage and other transaction
costs upon the sale of such securities or other property. The kind and amount
of securities into which the DECS shall be
S-15
<PAGE>
exchangeable after consummation of such transaction shall be subject to
adjustment as described in the immediately preceding paragraph following the
date of consummation of such transaction.
The Company is required, within ten Business Days following the occurrence of
an event that requires an adjustment to the Exchange Rate (or if the Company is
not aware of such occurrence, as soon as practicable after becoming so aware),
to provide written notice to the Trustee of the occurrence of such event and a
statement in reasonable detail setting forth the method by which the adjustment
to the Exchange Rate was determined and setting forth the revised Exchange
Rate.
FRACTIONAL SHARES
No fractional shares of NEXTEL Common Stock will be issued if the Company
exchanges the DECS for shares of NEXTEL Common Stock. In lieu of any fractional
share otherwise issuable in respect of all DECS of any holder which are
exchanged at Maturity, such holder shall be entitled to receive an amount in
cash equal to the value of such fractional share at the Maturity Price.
REDEMPTION
The DECS are not subject to redemption prior to Maturity.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
The DECS will be issued in the form of one or more global securities (the
"Global Securities") deposited with The Depository Trust Company (the
"Depositary") and registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary.
The Depositary has advised the Company and the Underwriters as follows: The
Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York, 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 Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The
Depositary was created to hold securities of persons who have accounts with the
Depositary ("participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
securities transactions among its participants in such securities through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Such participants
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing
corporations. Indirect 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.
Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee will
credit the respective DECS represented by such Global Security to the accounts
of participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the
Underwriters. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Securities will
be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through
participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in such Global
Securities will be shown on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will
be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee
for such Global Securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global
Securities by persons that hold through participants will be shown on, and the
transfer of that ownership interest within such participant will be effected
only through, records maintained by such participant. The laws of some
jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may
impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such depositary or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole
S-16
<PAGE>
owner or holder of the DECS for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as set
forth below, owners of beneficial interests in such Global Securities will not
be entitled to have the DECS registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of the DECS in definitive form and will
not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.
Payment of principal of and any interest on the DECS registered in the name
of or held by the Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or
its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or the holder of the
Global Security. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any
securities registrar for the DECS will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
The Company expects that the Depositary, upon receipt of any payment of
principal or interest in respect of a permanent Global Security, will credit
immediately participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to
their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global
Security as shown on the records of the Depositary. The Company also expects
that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global
Security 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 in bearer form or registered in "street name,"
and will be the responsibility of such participants.
A Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary
to a nominee or a successor of the Depositary. If the Depositary is at any time
unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Company within ninety days, the Company will issue DECS in
definitive registered form in exchange for the Global Security representing
such DECS. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion
determine not to have any DECS represented by one or more Global Securities
and, in such event, will issue DECS in definitive form in exchange for all of
the Global Securities representing the DECS. Further, if the Company so
specifies with respect to the DECS, an owner of a beneficial interest in a
Global Security representing DECS may, on terms acceptable to the Company and
the Depositary for such Global Security, receive DECS in definitive form. In
any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will
be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of DECS represented by such
Global Security equal in number to that represented by such beneficial interest
and to have such DECS registered in its name.
REGARDING THE TRUSTEE
The Trustee has its principal corporate trust office at Sixth Street and
Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479. The Company has normal banking
relationships with the Trustee.
LISTING
Application will be made to have the DECS listed on the NYSE.
S-17
<PAGE>
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences
that may be relevant to a citizen or resident of the United States, a
corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized under the laws of
the United States, an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S.
federal income taxation regardless of its source (any of the foregoing, a "U.S.
person") who is the beneficial owner of a DECS (a "U.S. Holder"). All
references to "holders" (including U.S. Holders) are to beneficial owners of
the DECS. This summary is based on current U.S. federal income tax law and is
for general information only. It is based upon the advice of Cravath, Swaine &
Moore, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019.
This summary deals only with holders who are initial holders of the DECS and
who will hold the DECS as capital assets. It does not address tax
considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special U.S.
federal income tax treatment, such as dealers in securities or persons holding
the DECS as a position in a "straddle" for U.S. federal income tax purposes or
as part of a "synthetic security" or other integrated investment, and does not
address the consequences under state, local or foreign law.
No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addresses the
characterization of the DECS or instruments similar to the DECS for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. As a result, significant aspects of the U.S.
federal income tax consequences of an investment in the DECS are not certain.
No ruling is being requested from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") with
respect to the DECS and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with
the conclusions expressed herein. ACCORDINGLY, A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR
(INCLUDING A TAX-EXEMPT INVESTOR) IN THE DECS SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR IN
DETERMINING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE DECS, INCLUDING THE
APPLICATION OF STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company and all holders of the
DECS will be obligated to treat the DECS as a unit (the "Unit") consisting of
(i) an exchange note ("Exchange Note") which is a debt obligation with a fixed
principal amount unconditionally payable at Maturity equal to the principal
amount of the DECS, bearing interest at the stated interest rate on the DECS,
and (ii) a forward purchase contract (the "Purchase Contract") pursuant to
which the holder agrees to use the principal payment due on the Exchange Note
to purchase at Maturity the NEXTEL Common Stock which the holder is entitled to
receive at that time (subject to the Company's right to deliver cash in lieu of
the NEXTEL Common Stock). The Indenture will require that a U.S. Holder include
currently in income payments denominated as interest that are made with respect
to the DECS, in accordance with such holder's method of accounting.
Pursuant to the agreement to treat the DECS as a unit, a holder will be
required to allocate the purchase price of the DECS between the two components
of the Unit (the Exchange Note and the Purchase Contract) on the basis of their
relative fair market values. The purchase price so allocated will generally
constitute the tax basis for each component. Pursuant to the terms of the
Indenture, the Company and the holders agree to allocate the entire purchase
price of the DECS to the Exchange Note. Upon the sale or other disposition of a
DECS, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to allocate the amount realized
between the two components of the DECS on the basis of their then relative fair
market values. A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss with respect to each
component equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or
other disposition for each such component and the U.S. Holder's tax basis in
such component. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or
loss if the U.S. Holder has held the DECS for more than one year at the time of
disposition.
At Maturity, pursuant to the agreement to treat the DECS as a unit, (i) on
the repayment of the Exchange Note, a U.S. Holder will realize long-term
capital gain or loss equal to any difference between its tax basis and the
principal amount of the Exchange Note, (ii) if the Company delivers NEXTEL
Common Stock, a U.S. Holder will realize no additional gain or loss on the
exchange, pursuant to the
S-18
<PAGE>
Purchase Contract, of the principal payment due on the Exchange Note for the
NEXTEL Common Stock, will have a tax basis in such stock equal to the amount of
the principal payment, and will realize capital gain or loss upon the sale or
disposition of such stock, and (iii) if the Company pays the DECS in cash, a
U.S. Holder will have gain or loss (which might be ordinary income or loss
rather than long-term capital gain or loss) equal to the difference between the
principal amount of the Exchange Note and the amount of cash received from the
Company.
Due to the absence of authority as to the proper characterization of the
DECS, no assurance can be given that the IRS will accept or that a court will
uphold the characterization described above. Under alternative
characterizations of the DECS, it is possible, for example, that (i) gain may
be treated as ordinary income, instead of capital gain, (ii) a U.S. Holder may
be taxable upon the receipt of NEXTEL Common Stock with a value in excess of
the principal amount of the Exchange Note, rather than upon the sale of such
stock, (iii) all or part of the interest income on the Exchange Note may be
treated as nontaxable, increasing the gain (or decreasing the loss) at Maturity
or disposition of the DECS (or disposition of the NEXTEL Common Stock) or (iv)
the Exchange Notes could be considered as issued at a premium which, if
amortized, would reduce the amount of interest income currently includible in
income by a holder and would increase the taxable gain (or decrease the loss)
realized at Maturity or disposition of the DECS (or disposition of the NEXTEL
Common Stock).
It is possible that the IRS may contend that the DECS should be subject to
certain proposed Treasury regulations dealing with "contingent payment" debt
instruments (the "Proposed Regulations"). Under the Proposed Regulations,
payments made in respect of the DECS (including the value of the NEXTEL Common
Stock received at Maturity) would be treated first as a nontaxable return of
the holder's investment in the DECS and thereafter would be taxable as interest
income to the holder.
The IRS has indicated that it is considering withdrawing the Proposed
Regulations, and may replace them with a rule that requires some minimum amount
of interest income to be accrued on all contingent payment debt instruments. It
is impossible to predict whether, or in what manner, the Proposed Regulations
may be modified and whether any modifications would apply to the DECS. In
addition, the IRS has announced that it intends to promulgate regulations
addressing the tax consequences of complex financial instruments which could
affect the tax treatment of the DECS.
The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 added Section 1258 to the Internal
Revenue Code, which may require certain holders of the DECS who have entered
into hedging transactions or offsetting positions with respect to the DECS to
recognize ordinary income rather than capital gain upon the disposition of the
DECS. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of
this legislation to an investment in the DECS.
NON-UNITED STATES PERSONS
In the case of a holder of the DECS that is not a U.S. person, payments made
with respect to the DECS should not be subject to U.S. withholding tax;
provided that such holder complies with applicable certification requirements.
Any capital gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of the DECS by a
holder that is not a U.S. person will generally not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax if (i) such gain is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or
business of such holder and (ii) in the case of an individual, such individual
is not present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of
the sale or other disposition or the gain is not attributable to a fixed place
of business maintained by such individual in the United States.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
A holder of the DECS may be subject to information reporting and to backup
withholding at a rate of 31 percent of certain amounts paid to the holder
unless such holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct
taxpayer identification number, and otherwise complies with applicable
requirements of the backup withholding rules.
S-19
<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Underwriters have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase from the Company the
aggregate number of DECS set forth opposite their names below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER
UNDERWRITERS OF DECS
------------ ---------
<S> <C>
Salomon Brothers Inc ..............................................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated..................................................
---------
Total.......................................................... 6,500,000
=========
</TABLE>
In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed, subject
to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all of the DECS if
any are purchased.
The Company has been advised that the Underwriters propose to offer the DECS
to the public initially at the offering price set forth on the cover of this
Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a selling
concession of $ per DECS; that the Underwriters may allow, and each such
dealer may reallow, to other dealers a concession not exceeding $ per DECS;
and that, after the initial public offering, such public offering price and
such concession and reallowance may be changed.
The Company has agreed not to offer for sale, sell or otherwise dispose of,
without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, any shares of NEXTEL
Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or
warrants to acquire, NEXTEL Common Stock for a period of 90 days after the date
of this Prospectus Supplement; provided, however, that such restriction shall
not affect the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries to take any such
actions in connection with the offer and sale of shares of NEXTEL Common Stock
in certain transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act and
in connection with the offering of the DECS made hereby or any exchange at
Maturity pursuant to the terms of the DECS.
The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30
days from the date of this Prospectus Supplement (or, if such 30th day shall
not be a Business Day, on the next Business Day thereafter), to purchase up to
an additional 975,000 DECS, at the per DECS price to public less the aggregate
underwriting discount set forth on the cover of this Prospectus Supplement. The
Underwriters may exercise such right of purchase only for the purpose of
covering over-allotments, if any, incurred in connection with the sale of DECS
offered hereby. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each
of the Underwriters will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to
purchase a number of such additional DECS proportionate to such Underwriter's
initial commitment.
The Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to
make in respect thereof.
The Underwriters and their associates may be customers of, engage in
transactions with, and perform services for, the Company and its subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of business.
The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they may make a market
in the DECS; however, the Company cannot provide any assurance that a secondary
market for the DECS will develop.
S-20
<PAGE>
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the DECS will be passed upon for the Company by Sherman I.
Goldberg, Esq., Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the
Company, and for the Underwriters by Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Certain tax
matters with respect to the DECS will also be passed upon by Cravath, Swaine &
Moore. Cravath, Swaine & Moore has represented and continues to represent the
Company from time to time in other matters. As of November 30, 1993, Sherman I.
Goldberg was the record and beneficial owner of 65,719 shares of Common Stock
of the Company and held options to purchase 100,310 shares of Common Stock of
the Company.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1992, as amended by
the Company's Form 8 dated March 12, 1993, have been audited by Arthur Andersen
& Co., independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with
respect thereto, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said
report.
S-21
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION
DEBT SECURITIES AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES
FOREIGN CURRENCY WARRANTS, STOCK-INDEX WARRANTS AND OTHER WARRANTS
PREFERRED STOCK, DEPOSITARY SHARES AND PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS
COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
First Chicago Corporation (the "Company") may issue from time to time,
together or separately, (i) in one or more series, its unsecured debt
securities ("Debt Securities"), which may be either senior (the "Senior
Securities") or subordinated (the "Subordinated Securities") in priority of
payment, both of which may be convertible or exchangeable into common stock,
par value $5 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock"), preferred stock of
the Company ("Preferred Stock"), other Debt Securities, Debt Warrants, Common
Stock Warrants, Preferred Stock Warrants or Depositary Shares (each as defined
herein); (ii) warrants ("Debt Warrants") to purchase Debt Securities; (iii)
options, warrants or other rights relating to the exchange of certain
currencies ("Currency Warrants"); (iv) options, warrants or other rights
entitling the holder to receive an amount in cash determined by reference to
increases ("Stock-Index Call Warrants") and decreases ("Stock-Index Put
Warrants" and, collectively with Stock-Index Call Warrants, being referred to
herein as the "Stock-Index Warrants") in the level of a specified stock-index
which may be based on one or more U.S. or foreign stocks or a combination
thereof; (v) options, warrants or other rights relating to other items or
indices ("Other Warrants"); (vi) shares of Preferred Stock which may be
convertible into shares of Common Stock or exchangeable for Debt Securities;
(vii) shares of Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares ("Depositary
Shares"); (viii) warrants to purchase shares of Preferred Stock ("Preferred
Stock Warrants"); and (ix) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock
("Common Stock Warrants"), in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined
at the time of the offering. The Debt Warrants, Currency Warrants, Stock-Index
Warrants, Other Warrants, Preferred Stock Warrants and Common Stock Warrants
are collectively referred to herein as the "Warrants"; and the Debt
Securities, Warrants, shares of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares are
collectively referred to herein as the "Securities".
The Company may issue Securities for proceeds up to an aggregate of
$1,500,000,000, or the equivalent thereof if any of the Securities are
denominated in a foreign currency or a foreign currency unit, including the
European Currency Unit ("ECU"). The Securities of each series will be offered
on terms determined at the time of sale. The Securities may be sold for U.S.
dollars, foreign currencies or foreign currency units, and the principal of,
and any interest on, the Debt Securities may be payable in U.S. dollars,
foreign currencies or foreign currency units.
The Senior Securities will rank equally with all other unsubordinated and
unsecured indebtedness of the Company. The Subordinated Securities will be
unsecured and subordinated as described under "Subordinated Securities".
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
Subordinated Securities, payment of the principal of Subordinated Securities
may be accelerated only in the case of certain events involving the bankruptcy
or insolvency of the Company, and no right of acceleration will exist in the
case of default in the payment of principal or interest or in the performance
of any covenant.
When a particular series of Securities, in respect of which this Prospectus
is being delivered, is offered, a supplement to this Prospectus (the
"Prospectus Supplement") setting forth certain terms of the offered Securities
will be delivered together with this Prospectus. The applicable Prospectus
Supplement, among other things and where applicable, will include: (i) with
regard to Debt Securities, the specific designation, priority, aggregate
principal amount, currency or currency unit, rate (or method of calculation)
and time of payment of any interest, authorized denominations, maturity,
offering price, place or places of payment, redemption terms, terms of any
repayment at the option of the holder, special provisions relating to Debt
Securities in bearer form, terms for sinking fund payments, terms for
conversion or exchange into other securities, provisions regarding original
issue discount securities and other terms of such Debt Securities; (ii) with
regard to Warrants, where applicable, the duration, aggregate amount, offering
price, exercise price, and detachability; (iii) with regard to Debt Warrants,
Preferred Stock Warrants and Common Stock Warrants, the applicable type and
amount of Securities covered thereby; (iv) with regard to Stock-Index Warrants
or Other Warrants, the applicable securities index or other items or indices
with respect to which such warrants shall apply and the method of determining
the cash value payable in connection with the exercise of such warrants; (v)
with regard to Currency Warrants, the currency to which U.S. Dollars will be
compared, the method of determining the cash value payable in connection with
the exercise of such Currency Warrants, the manner in which such Currency
Warrants may be exercised and any restrictions on exercise of such Currency
Warrants; (vi) with regard to Preferred Stock, the specific number of shares,
title, stated value and liquidation preference of each share, issuance price,
dividend rate or method of calculation, dividend periods, dividend payment
dates, any redemption or sinking fund provisions, any conversion or exchange
provisions, whether fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock will be
offered through depositary arrangements and other specific terms of each
series of Preferred Stock; and (vii) in the case of Depositary Shares, the
fraction of a share of Preferred Stock which each such Depositary Share will
represent.
The Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where applicable,
about certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to, and any
listing on a securities exchange of, the Securities covered by the Prospectus
Supplement.
The Securities may be sold by the Company directly, through agents
designated from time to time, through underwriting syndicates led by one or
more managing underwriters or through one or more underwriters acting alone.
If any agent of the Company, or any underwriter, is involved in the sale of
the Securities, the name of such agent or underwriter, the principal or stated
amount to be purchased by it, any applicable commissions or discounts and the
net proceeds to the Company from such sale will be set forth in, or may be
calculated from, the Prospectus Supplement. The Company may also issue
contracts under which the counterparty may be required to purchase Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock. Such contracts
would be issued with the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares
and/or Warrants in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The aggregate net proceeds to the Company
from the sale of all the Securities will be the public offering or purchase
price of the Securities sold less the aggregate of such commissions and
discounts and other expenses of issuance and distribution. See "Plan of
Distribution".
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT SAVINGS OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS OR OTHER
OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE BANK INSURANCE FUND OR ANY OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
---------------
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.
---------------
The date of this Prospectus is November 4, 1993.
<PAGE>
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND THE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE
HEREBY, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE
RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR BY ANOTHER PERSON. THIS
PROSPECTUS AND THE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH
JURISDICTION.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the 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"). Information, as of particular dates, concerning
directors and executive officers, their compensation, options granted to them,
the principal holders of securities of the Company and any material interest of
such persons in transactions with the Company is disclosed in proxy statements
distributed to stockholders of the Company and filed with the Commission. Such
reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and the Commission's Regional Offices at 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and Seven World Trade
Center (13th Floor), New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. In addition, such
reports, proxy statements and other material concerning the Company can be
inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York; the Chicago Stock Exchange, 440 South LaSalle Street, Chicago,
Illinois; and the Pacific Stock Exchange, 301 Pine Street, San Francisco,
California.
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the
Securities being offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not contain
all the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain portions
of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the
Securities, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the
exhibits thereto. The Registration Statement may be inspected by anyone without
charge at the principal office of the Commission in Washington, D.C. and copies
of all or any part of it may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of
the prescribed fees.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by
reference:
(i) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992, as amended by the Company's Form 8 dated March 12, 1993;
(ii) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1993 and June 30, 1993;
(iii) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 14, 1993,
January 20, 1993, February 26, 1993, March 3, 1993, March 5, 1993, April
16, 1993, July 14, 1993, July 30, 1993 and October 13, 1993;
(iv) Item 14 on pages 26 and 27 of the Company's Registration Statement
on Form 10 (File No. 1-6052) describing the Company's Common Stock; and
(v) The Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated November 25,
1988, describing the Preferred Share Purchase Rights declared by the
Company on November 18, 1988, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8 dated
July 16, 1990.
All documents filed 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 Securities shall be deemed to be
2
<PAGE>
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
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.
ANY PERSON RECEIVING A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS MAY OBTAIN WITHOUT CHARGE,
UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST, A COPY OF ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE HEREIN, EXCEPT FOR THE EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS (UNLESS SUCH
EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO SUCH DOCUMENTS).
REQUESTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION, ONE FIRST NATIONAL
PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670, ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS (312) 732-4812.
FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION
GENERAL
The Company is a multi-bank holding company incorporated in Delaware. At June
30, 1993, the Company had consolidated assets of $49.9 billion and total equity
capital of $3.9 billion. The principal asset of the Company is the capital
stock of The First National Bank of Chicago ("FNBC"), which provides a broad
range of banking, fiduciary, financial and other services domestically and
overseas. At June 30, 1993, FNBC had deposits of $22.8 billion and assets of
approximately $34.1 billion.
The Company also owns all the outstanding capital stock of American National
Corporation ("ANC") and FCC National Bank ("FCCNB"). ANC is the holding company
for American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago ("ANB"), several
suburban Chicago banks and American National Bank and Trust Company of
Wisconsin. FCCNB is a Delaware-based bank primarily engaged in the issuance of
VISA and MasterCard credit cards. Together with these banking organizations,
the Company, directly or indirectly, owns the stock of various nonbank
companies engaged in businesses related to banking and finance, including
venture capital and leasing subsidiaries.
In addition to its equity investment in subsidiaries, the Company, directly
or indirectly, raises funds principally to finance the operations of its
nonbank subsidiaries. A substantial portion of the Company's annual income
typically has been derived from dividends from its subsidiaries, and from
interest on loans, some of which are subordinated, to its subsidiaries.
Because the Company is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its
creditors, including the holders of the Debt Securities, to participate in the
assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or recapitalization
would be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiary's creditors except to
the extent that the Company may itself be a creditor with recognized claims
against the subsidiary.
The Company's executive offices are located at One First National Plaza,
Chicago, Illinois 60670, and the telephone number is (312) 732-4000.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Company's
banking subsidiaries (the "Banks") and the Company's other affiliates.
Investors should be aware of the various legal limitations on the extent to
which the Banks can finance or otherwise supply funds to the Company or various
of its affiliates. In particular, the Banks are subject to certain restrictions
imposed by the laws of the United States on any extensions of credit to the
Company or, with certain exceptions, other affiliates, on investments in stock
or other securities thereof, on the taking of such securities as collateral for
loans, and on the terms of transactions between the Banks and other
subsidiaries. FNBC, FCCNB, ANB and the other Banks are subject to regulation by
the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "Comptroller"), the Board of
Governors of
3
<PAGE>
the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board") and the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). These national banks are examined by
the Comptroller, and FNBC's and ANB's operations in other countries are subject
to various restrictions imposed by the laws of such countries.
Federal law prohibits the Company and certain of its affiliates from
borrowing from the Banks without the prior approval of the respective Bank's
Board of Directors and unless such loans are secured by U.S. Treasury or other
specified obligations. Further, such secured loans and investments by any of
the Banks are limited in amount as to the Company or any other such affiliate
to 10% of the respective Bank's capital and surplus and as to the Company and
all such affiliates to an aggregate 20% of the respective Bank's capital and
surplus. Under Federal Reserve Board policy, the Company is expected to act as
a source of financial strength to each Bank and to commit resources to support
such Bank in circumstances where it might not do so absent such policy. In
addition, any capital loans by the Company to any of the Banks would be
subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness
of such Bank.
Additionally, there are certain regulatory limitations on the payment of
dividends to the Company by the Banks. Dividend payments by national banks are
limited to the lesser of (i) the level of "undivided profits then on hand" less
the amount of bad debts, as defined, in excess of the allowance for credit
losses and (ii) absent regulatory approval, an amount not in excess of "net
profits" for the current year combined with "retained net profits" for the
preceding two years. As of December 31, 1992, the Banks could have declared
additional dividends of approximately $172 million without approval of the
Comptroller. The payment of dividends by any Bank may also be affected by other
factors, such as the maintenance of adequate capital for such Bank. The
Comptroller also has authority under the Financial Institutions Supervisory Act
to prohibit a national bank from paying dividends if, in the Comptroller's
opinion, the payment of dividends would, in light of the financial condition of
such bank, constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
The Federal Reserve Board has adopted risk-based capital guidelines for bank
holding companies which require bank holding companies to maintain a minimum
ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets (including certain off-balance-
sheet items, such as standby letters of credit) of 8%. At least half of total
capital has to be composed of common stock, retained earnings, minority
interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, noncumulative
perpetual preferred stock and a limited amount of perpetual preferred stock,
less goodwill ("Tier I capital"). The remainder ("Tier II capital") may consist
of subordinated debt, other preferred stock, certain other instruments and a
limited amount of loan loss reserves. At June 30, 1993, the Company's
consolidated Tier I capital and total capital ratios were 8.0% and 13.0%,
respectively.
In addition, the Federal Reserve Board has established minimum leverage ratio
guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines provide for a minimum
ratio of Tier I capital to total assets, less goodwill (the "leverage ratio")
of 3% for bank holding companies that meet certain specified criteria,
including those having the highest regulatory rating. All other bank holding
companies generally are required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 3%
plus an additional cushion of 100 to 200 basis points. The Company's leverage
ratio at June 30, 1993 was 7.4%. The guidelines also provide that the bank
holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be
expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum
supervisory levels without significant reliance on intangible assets.
Furthermore, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that it will consider a
"tangible Tier I capital leverage ratio" (deducting all intangibles) and other
indicia of capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new
activities.
Each of the Banks is subject to similar risk-based and leverage capital
requirements adopted by the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC or the Comptroller,
as the case may be. Each of the Company's Banks was in compliance with the
applicable minimum capital requirements as of June 30, 1993. Neither the
Company nor any of the Banks has been advised by any federal banking agency of
any specific minimum leverage ratio requirement applicable to it.
4
<PAGE>
Failure to meet capital requirements could subject a bank to a variety of
enforcement remedies, including the termination of deposit insurance by the
FDIC, and to certain restrictions on its business, which are described below
under "Recent Legislation".
Bank regulators continue to indicate their desire to raise capital
requirements applicable to banking organizations beyond their current levels.
However, the management of the Company is unable to predict whether higher
capital requirements would be imposed and, if so, at what levels and on what
schedule.
RECENT LEGISLATION
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA"),
enacted in December 1991, significantly expanded the regulatory and enforcement
powers of federal banking regulators, in particular the FDIC. While the full
impact of FDICIA cannot yet be determined, it has important consequences for
the Company, the Banks and other depository institutions located in the United
States.
FDICIA establishes five tiers of capital measurement for regulatory purposes
ranging from "well capitalized" to "critically undercapitalized." Under
regulations adopted by the federal banking agencies, a depository institution
is well capitalized if it significantly exceeds the minimum level required by
regulation for each relevant capital measure, adequately capitalized if it
meets such measure, undercapitalized if it fails to meet any such measure,
significantly undercapitalized if it is significantly below such measure and
critically undercapitalized if its tangible equity is not greater than 2% of
total tangible assets. A depository institution may be deemed to be in a
capitalization category that is lower than is indicated by its actual capital
position if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating. FDICIA directs
banking regulators to take increasingly strong corrective steps, based on the
capital tier of any subject bank, to cause such bank to achieve and maintain
capital adequacy. Even if a bank is adequately capitalized, however, the
banking regulators are authorized to apply corrective measures if the bank is
determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or engaging in an unsafe or
unsound activity.
"Undercapitalized" banks are subject to growth limitations and are required
to submit a capital restoration plan. Such banks will be subject to
restrictions on borrowings from the Federal Reserve System, effective December
19, 1993. If an "undercapitalized" bank fails to submit an acceptable plan, it
is treated as if it is significantly undercapitalized. "Significantly
undercapitalized" banks may be subject to a number of requirements and
restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become
adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets, and orders to
cease receiving deposits from correspondent banks. "Critically
undercapitalized" institutions are subject to appointment of a receiver or
conservator.
In addition to the foregoing, depending on the level of capital of an insured
depository institution, the banking regulatory agencies' corrective powers can
include: requiring a capital restoration plan; placing limits on asset growth
and restrictions on activities; requiring the institution to issue additional
stock (including voting stock) or to be acquired; placing restrictions on
transactions with affiliates; restricting the interest rate the institution may
pay on deposits; ordering a new election for the institution's board of
directors; requiring that certain senior executive officers or directors be
dismissed; prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from
correspondent banks; requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries;
prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt;
prohibiting the institution's parent bank holding company from making capital
distributions without prior regulatory approval; and, ultimately, appointing a
receiver for the institution.
If the insured depository institution is undercapitalized, the parent bank
holding company is required to guarantee that the institution will comply with
any capital restoration plan submitted to, and approved by, the appropriate
federal banking agency in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the
institution's total assets at the time the institution became undercapitalized
or (ii) the amount which is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring
the institution into compliance with all applicable capital standards as of the
time the institution fails to comply with the capital restoration plan. If such
parent bank holding company guarantee is not obtained, the capital restoration
plan may not be accepted by the banking regulators. As a
5
<PAGE>
result, such institution would be subject to the more severe restrictions
imposed on significantly undercapitalized institutions. Further, the failure
of such a depository institution to submit an acceptable capital plan is
grounds for the appointment of a conservator or receiver.
FDICIA also contains a number of other provisions affecting depository
institutions, including the creation of additional reporting and independent
auditing requirements, the changing of FDIC insurance premiums from flat
amounts to a new system of risk-based assessments as described below under
"FDIC Insurance," a review of accounting standards, and supplemental
disclosures and limits on the ability of all but well capitalized depository
institutions to acquire brokered deposits.
It is anticipated that FDICIA will result in increased costs for the banking
industry due to higher FDIC assessments and more limitations on the activities
of all but the most well-capitalized banks.
In addition to FDICIA, there have been proposed a number of legislative and
regulatory proposals designed to strengthen the federal deposit insurance
system and to improve the overall financial stability of the U.S. banking
system. These include proposals to increase capital requirements above
presently published guidelines, to place special assessments on banks to
increase funds available to the FDIC, and to allow national banks to branch on
an interstate basis. It is impossible to predict whether or in what form these
proposals may be adopted in the future and, if adopted, what their effect
would be on the Banks and the Company.
The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989
("FIRREA"), among other things, provides generally that, upon the default of
any bank of a multi-unit holding company, the FDIC may assess an affiliated
insured depository institution for the estimated losses incurred by the FDIC.
Specifically, FIRREA provides that a depository institution insured by the
FDIC can be held liable for any loss incurred by, or reasonably expected to be
incurred ~by, the FDIC, in connection with (i) the default of a commonly
controlled FDIC-insured depository institution or (ii) any assistance provided
by the FDIC to a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution in
danger of a default. "Default" is defined generally as the appointment of a~
conservator or receiver. "In danger of a default" is defined generally as the
existence of certain conditions indicating that a default is likely to occur
in the absence of regulatory assistance. All of the Banks are FDIC-insured
depository institutions.
FDIC INSURANCE
The Banks are subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. Under FDICIA,
authority has been granted to the FDIC to impose special assessments on
insured depository institutions to repay FDIC borrowings from the United
States Treasury or other sources and to establish semiannual assessment rates
for the Bank Insurance Fund (the "BIF"). FDICIA provides that FDIC deposit
insurance assessments are to move from flat rate premiums to a new system of
risk-based premium assessments. On October 1, 1992, the FDIC amended its
regulations to adopt a transitional risk-based assessment system, under which
the assessment rate for an insured depository institution varies according to
the level of risk incurred in its activities. Such system has been adopted in
connection with the FDIC's establishment of a schedule to recapitalize the BIF
within 15 years.
Under the FDIC's transitional risk-based assessment system, the prior flat
assessment rate of 0.23% per annum was changed, effective January 1, 1993, to
a rate based upon classification of a depository institution in one of nine
assessment risk categories. Such classification is based upon whether the
institution is well capitalized, adequately capitalized or undercapitalized,
and upon certain supervisory evaluations of the institution as "healthy",
causing "supervisory concern" or causing "substantial supervisory concern"
(designated as supervisory subgroups "A", "B" and "C", respectively, for
reference purposes). For purposes of this regulation, a depository institution
is defined to be well capitalized if it maintains a risk-based total capital
ratio of at least 10%, a risk-based Tier I capital ratio of at least 6.0% and
a Tier I leverage ratio of at least 5.0%, adequately capitalized if the
foregoing ratios are maintained at 8.0%, 4.0% and 4.0%, respectively, and
undercapitalized if it is neither well capitalized nor adequately capitalized.
With respect to
6
<PAGE>
the supervisory evaluations, healthy institutions are financially sound
institutions with few minor weaknesses; supervisory concern refers to
institutions that demonstrate weaknesses which, if not corrected, could result
in significant deterioration, and substantial supervisory concern refers to
institutions for which there is a substantial probability that the FDIC will
suffer a loss in connection with the institution unless effective action is
taken to correct the areas of weakness.
The transitional assessment rate schedule adopted creates a 0.08% spread in
assessment rates between banks classified as strongest and weakest by the FDIC.
Under the transitional assessment rate schedule, a well capitalized bank in
subgroup A will continue to be assessed at the current rate of 0.23% per annum,
in subgroup B at 0.26% per annum and in subgroup C at 0.29% per annum. An
adequately capitalized bank in subgroup A will be assessed at 0.26% per annum,
in subgroup B at 0.29% per annum and in subgroup C at 0.30% per annum. An
undercapitalized bank in subgroup A will be assessed at 0.29% per annum, in
subgroup B at 0.30% per annum and in subgroup C at 0.31% per annum.
In June 1993, the FDIC adopted final rules for the risk-based assessment
system to be implemented as of January 1, 1994. The permanent risk-based
assessment system retains unchanged the transitional assessment rate schedule
and risk classification categories. The FDIC has indicated, however, the
possibility that it may revisit both issues at a later date if future
conditions so warrant.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the Company, which are computed
on the basis of the total enterprise (as defined by the Commission) by dividing
earnings before fixed charges and income taxes by fixed charges, are set forth
below for the periods indicated. Also set forth below are the ratios of
earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, which are
computed on the basis of the total enterprise by dividing earnings before fixed
charges and income taxes by fixed charges and preferred stock dividend
requirements for the periods indicated. Fixed charges consist principally of
interest expense on all long- and short-term borrowings, excluding or including
interest on deposits as indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS
ENDED
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
--------------------------- ----------
1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Excluding interest expense on depos-
its................................. 0.7x(1) 1.2x 1.3x 1.5x 2.0x 2.5x
Including interest expense on depos-
its................................. 0.9x(1) 1.1x 1.1x 1.1x 1.2x 1.8x
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and
Preferred Dividends:
Excluding interest expense on depos-
its................................. 0.8x(2) 1.1x 1.3x 1.5x 1.9x 2.2x
Including interest expense on depos-
its................................. 0.7x(2) 1.0x 1.1x 1.1x 1.2x 1.7x
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) For 1992, earnings (as defined) were insufficient to cover fixed charges.
The coverage deficiency was approximately $201 million.
(2) For 1992, earnings (as defined) were insufficient to cover combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends. The coverage deficiency was
approximately $279 million.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will use
the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities for general corporate
purposes, including the funding of investments in, or extensions of credit to,
the Company's subsidiaries. Pending the uses described above, the Company may
temporarily invest the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities in various
short-term securities or apply the net proceeds to reduce short-term
indebtedness. Based upon the historic and anticipated future growth of the
Company and the financial needs of its subsidiaries, the Company anticipates
that it will, on a recurrent basis, engage in additional financings in
character and amount to be determined.
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<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
GENERAL
The Debt Securities will constitute either Senior Securities or Subordinated
Securities. The Senior Securities will be issued under either an Indenture
dated as of August 1, 1987, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of March 1, 1989, between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee
("Citibank"), or an Indenture dated as of May 1, 1990 between the Company and
Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, as Trustee ("Norwest"). The
Indenture under which particular Senior Securities are issued and the Trustee
thereunder will be identified in the Prospectus Supplement. Collectively, the
two senior Indentures described above are referred to herein as the "Senior
Indenture". The Subordinated Securities will be issued under an Indenture dated
as of August 1, 1987, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as
of March 1, 1989 and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1,
1993 (the "Second Supplemental Indenture") (as so supplemented, the
"Subordinated Indenture"), between the Company and Bank of America National
Trust and Savings Association ("Bank of America"), as successor Trustee to
Security Pacific National Bank. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated
Indenture are collectively referred to herein as the "Indentures". References
to the "Trustee" shall mean Citibank, Norwest or Bank of America, as
applicable. The statements under this caption are brief summaries of certain
provisions contained in the Indentures, do not purport to be complete and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable Indenture, copies of
which are exhibits to the Registration Statement. Whenever defined terms are
used but not defined herein, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the applicable Indenture, it being intended that such defined terms
shall be incorporated herein by reference.
The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of any Debt Securities
and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to such Debt
Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities.
None of the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securities which may be
issued thereunder, and each Indenture provides that Debt Securities of any
series may be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount which may
be authorized from time to time by the Company and may be denominated in any
currency or currency unit designated by the Company. Neither the Indentures nor
the Debt Securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amount of other
indebtedness which may be incurred or the other securities which may be issued
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in registered form without
coupons ("Registered Securities"), in bearer form with or without coupons
attached ("Bearer Securities") or in the form of one or more global securities
in registered or bearer form (each a "Global Security"). Bearer Securities, if
any, will be offered only to non-United States persons and to offices located
outside the United States of certain United States financial institutions.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for a description of the
following terms, where applicable, of each series of Debt Securities in respect
of which this Prospectus is being delivered: (1) the title of such Debt
Securities; (2) the limit, if any, on the aggregate principal amount or
aggregate initial public offering price of such Debt Securities; (3) the
priority of payment of such Debt Securities; (4) the price or prices (which may
be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at
which the Debt Securities will be issued; (5) the date or dates on which the
principal of the Debt Securities will be payable; (6) the rate or rates (which
may be fixed or variable) per annum at which such Debt Securities will bear
interest, if any, or the method of determining the same; (7) the date or dates
from which such interest, if any, on the Debt Securities will accrue, the date
or dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable, the date or dates on
which payment of such interest, if any, will commence and the Regular Record
Dates for such Interest Payment Dates; (8) the extent to which any of the Debt
Securities will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, or the
manner in which any interest payable on a temporary or permanent global Debt
Security will be paid; (9) each office or agency where, subject to the terms of
the applicable Indenture, the Debt Securities may be presented for registration
of transfer or exchange; (10) the place or places where
8
<PAGE>
the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Debt
Securities will be payable; (11) the date or dates, if any, after which such
Debt Securities may be redeemed or purchased in whole or in part, at the option
of the Company or mandatorily pursuant to any sinking, purchase or analogous
fund or may be required to be purchased or redeemed at the option of the
holder, and the redemption or repayment price or prices thereof; (12) the
denomination or denominations in which such Debt Securities are authorized to
be issued; (13) the currency, currencies or units (including ECU) based on or
related to currencies for which the Debt Securities may be purchased and the
currency, currencies or currency units (including ECU) in which the principal
of, premium, if any, and any interest on such Debt Securities may be payable;
(14) any index used to determine the amount of payments of principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities; (15) whether any of the
Debt Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities and/or Registered
Securities, and if issuable as Bearer Securities, any limitations on issuance
of such Bearer Securities and any provisions regarding the transfer or exchange
of such Bearer Securities (including exchange for registered Debt Securities of
the same series); (16) the payment of any additional amounts with respect to
the Debt Securities; (17) whether any of the Debt Securities will be issued as
Original Issue Discount Securities (as defined below); (18) information with
respect to book-entry procedures, if any; (19) the terms, if any, upon which
the Debt Securities may be convertible into or exchanged for Common Stock,
Preferred Stock (which may be represented by Depositary Shares), other Debt
Securities, Debt Warrants, Common Stock Warrants or Preferred Stock Warrants of
the Company and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange
will be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate,
the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in
lieu of those described herein; (20) any additional covenants or Events of
Default not currently set forth in the applicable Indenture; and (21) any other
terms of such Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the
applicable Indenture.
If any of the Debt Securities are sold for one or more foreign currencies or
foreign currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
any series of Debt Securities is payable in one or more foreign currencies or
foreign currency units, the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific
terms and other information with respect to such issue of Debt Securities and
such currencies or currency units will be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto.
Debt Securities may be issued as original issue discount Debt Securities
(bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is
below market rates) ("Original Issue Discount Securities"), to be sold at a
substantial discount below the stated principal amount thereof due at the
stated maturity of such Debt Securities. There may not be any periodic payments
of interest on Original Issue Discount Securities as defined herein. In the
event of an acceleration of the maturity of any Original Issue Discount
Security, the amount payable to the holder of such Original Issue Discount
Security upon such acceleration will be determined in accordance with the
Prospectus Supplement, the terms of such security and the Indenture, but will
be an amount less than the amount payable at the maturity of the principal of
such Original Issue Discount Security. Federal income tax considerations with
respect to Original Issue Discount Securities will be set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Debt
Securities will be issued only as Registered Securities. If Bearer Securities
are issued, the United States Federal income tax consequences and other special
considerations, procedures and limitations applicable to such Bearer Securities
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
Debt Securities issued as Registered Securities will be without coupons. Debt
Securities issued as Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached,
unless issued as zero coupon securities.
Registered Securities (other than a Global Security) may be presented for
transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) or
exchanged for other Debt Securities of the same series at the office of the
Note Registrar specified according to the terms of the applicable Indenture.
The Company has agreed in each of the Indentures that, with respect to
Registered Securities having The City of New York as a place of payment, the
Company will appoint a Note Registrar or Co-Note Registrar located in The City
of
9
<PAGE>
New York for such transfer or exchange. Such transfer or exchange shall be made
without service charge, but the Company may require payment of any taxes or
other governmental charges as described in the applicable Indenture. Provisions
relating to the exchange of Bearer Securities for other Debt Securities of the
same series (including, if applicable, Registered Securities) will be described
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In no event, however, will Registered
Securities be exchangeable for Bearer Securities.
GLOBAL SECURITIES
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form
of one or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of,
a depositary (the "Depositary") identified in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. Global Securities may be issued in either registered
or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it
is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Debt Securities represented
thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a
nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such
Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor Depositary or any
nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of
Debt Securities and certain limitations and restrictions relating to a series
of Bearer Securities in the form of one or more Global Securities, will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. The Company
anticipates that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary
arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that
have accounts with such Depositary. Such accounts shall be designated by the
underwriters or agents with respect to such Debt Securities. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to persons that have
accounts with the applicable Depositary ("participants") or persons that may
hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its
nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of
participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants).
The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such
laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global
Security.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
Indenture governing such Debt Securities. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of
the individual Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global
Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any such Debt Securities of such series in definitive form
and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture
governing such Debt Securities.
Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
individual Debt Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the
name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security
representing such Debt Securities. Neither the Company, the Trustee for such
Debt Securities, any Paying Agent, nor the Note Registrar for such Debt
Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of the Global Security for such Debt Securities or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
Subject to certain restrictions relating to Bearer Securities, the Company
expects that the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities or its nominee,
upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in
10
<PAGE>
respect of a permanent Global Security representing any of such Debt Securities
immediately will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount
of such Global Security for such Debt Securities as shown on the records of
such Depositary or its nominee. The Company also expects that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security 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 in bearer form or registered in "street name". Such payments will
be the responsibility of such participants. With respect to owners of
beneficial interests in a temporary Global Security representing Bearer
Securities, receipt by such beneficial owners of payments of principal, premium
or interest in respect thereof will be subject to additional restrictions.
If the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is
not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual
Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global
Security representing such series of Debt Securities. In addition, the Company
may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities,
determine not to have any Debt Securities of a series represented by one or
more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue individual Debt
Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global
Security or Securities representing such series of Debt Securities. Further, if
the Company so specifies with respect to the Debt Securities of a series, an
owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security representing Debt
Securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to the Company, Trustee and
the Depositary for such Global Security, receive Debt Securities of such series
in definitive form in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global
Security will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of Debt
Securities of the series represented by such Global Security equal in principal
amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities registered
in its name (if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Registered
Securities). Debt Securities of such series so issued in definitive form will
be issued (a) as Registered Securities in denominations, unless otherwise
specified by the Company, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof if the Debt
Securities of such series are issuable as Registered Securities, (b) as Bearer
Securities in the denomination, unless otherwise specified by the Company, of
$5,000 if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Bearer Securities
or (c) as either Registered or Bearer Securities, if the Debt Securities of
such series are issuable in either form. Certain restrictions may apply,
however, on the issuance of a Bearer Security in definitive form in exchange
for an interest in a Global Security.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and any interest on Registered Securities will
be made at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may
designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment
of any interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the applicable Note Register
or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled
thereto as specified in the applicable Note Register. Unless otherwise
indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any installment of
interest on Registered Securities will be made to the person in whose name such
Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such payment.
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and any interest on Bearer Securities will be
payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of such
Paying Agents outside the United States as the Company may designate from time
to time, at the option of the Holder, by check or by transfer to an account
maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States. Unless
otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
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payment of interest on Bearer Securities will be made only against surrender of
the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date. No payment with respect to
any Bearer Security will be made at any office or agency of the Company in the
United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by
transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS
Each Indenture provides that the Company may, without the consent of the
holders of any of the Debt Securities outstanding under the applicable
Indenture, consolidate with, merge into or transfer its assets substantially as
an entirety to any person, provided that (i) any such successor assumes the
Company's obligations on the applicable Debt Securities and under the
applicable Indenture, (ii) after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default (as
defined in the Senior Indenture) in the case of the Senior Securities, or
Default (as defined in the Subordinated Indenture) in the case of the
Subordinated Securities, shall have happened and be continuing and (iii)
certain other conditions under the applicable Indenture are met. Accordingly,
any such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets substantially as an
entirety, which meets the conditions described above, would not create any
Event of Default or Default which would entitle holders of the Debt Securities,
or the Trustee on their behalf, to take any of the actions described below
under "Senior Securities--Events of Default, Waivers, etc." or "Subordinated
Securities--Events of Default, Waivers, etc."
LEVERAGED AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Each Indenture and the Debt Securities do not contain, among other things,
provisions which would afford holders of the Debt Securities protection in the
event of a highly leveraged or other transaction involving the Company which
could adversely affect the holders of Debt Securities.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE; WAIVER OF COVENANTS
Each Indenture provides that, with the consent of the holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt
Securities of each affected series, modifications and alterations of such
Indenture may be made which affect the rights of the holders of such Debt
Securities; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be
made without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected which
would, among other things, (i) change the maturity of the principal of, or of
any installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any Debt Security issued
pursuant to such Indenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any
premium thereon, or change the method of calculation of interest or the
currency of payment of principal or interest (or premium, if any) on, or reduce
the minimum rate of interest thereon, or impair the right to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to any such Debt
Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity
thereof; or (ii) reduce the above-stated percentage in principal amount of
outstanding Debt Securities required to modify or alter such Indenture.
CONVERTIBLE DEBT SECURITIES
Certain Debt Securities (the "Convertible Debt Securities") may be
convertible into other Securities of the Company. The holders of such
Convertible Debt Securities of a specified series may be entitled or, if so
provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, may be required at such time
or times specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, subject to prior
redemption, repayment or repurchase, to convert any Convertible Debt Securities
of such series (in denominations set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement) into Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Common Stock Warrants,
Preferred Stock Warrants, another series of Debt Securities, Debt Warrants or
Depositary Shares, as the case may be, (collectively, the foregoing securities
into which the Convertible Debt Securities may convert are referred to herein
as "Conversion Securities") at the conversion price set forth in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, subject to adjustment as described below, and in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The relevant provisions for each series of
Convertible Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. Except
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as described below or in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, no adjustment
will be made upon conversion of any Convertible Debt Securities for interest
accrued thereon or for dividends on any Conversion Securities issued. If any
Convertible Debt Securities not called for redemption are converted between a
Regular Record Date for the payment of interest and the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date, such Convertible Debt Securities must be accompanied by
funds equal to the interest payable on such succeeding Interest Payment Date on
the principal amount so converted. The Company is not required to issue
fractional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock upon conversion of
Convertible Debt Securities that are convertible into Common Stock or Preferred
Stock, respectively, and, in lieu thereof, will pay a cash adjustment, in the
case of Convertible Debt Securities convertible into Common Stock, based upon
the market value of the Common Stock, and in the case of Convertible Debt
Securities convertible into Preferred Stock, based upon the liquidation
preference of such series of Preferred Stock, unless otherwise specified in the
Prospectus Supplement. In the case of Convertible Debt Securities convertible
into securities other than Common Stock or Preferred Stock, such adjustment
will be based on such method as is set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
The conversion price for a series of Convertible Debt Securities that are
convertible into Common Stock is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain events under formulas that will be set forth in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
In the event of a taxable distribution to holders of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock (or other transaction) which results in any adjustment of the
conversion price of Convertible Debt Securities that are convertible into
Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the holders of such Convertible Debt
Securities may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a
distribution subject to United States Federal income tax as a dividend; in
certain other circumstances, the absence of such an adjustment may result in a
taxable dividend to the holders of Common Stock or Preferred Stock acquired
upon conversion of such Convertible Debt Securities.
SENIOR SECURITIES
The Senior Securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of the Company
and will rank pari passu with all outstanding unsecured senior indebtedness of
the Company.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, WAIVERS, ETC.
An Event of Default with respect to Senior Securities of any series is
defined in the Senior Indenture as (i) default in the payment of principal of
or premium, if any, on any of the Senior Securities of that series outstanding
under the Senior Indenture when due; (ii) default in the payment of interest on
any of the Senior Securities of that series outstanding under the Senior
Indenture when due and continuance of such default for 30 days; (iii) default
in the performance of any other covenant of the Company in the Senior Indenture
with respect to Senior Securities of such series and continuance of such
default for 60 days after written notice; (iv) due acceleration of any
indebtedness for borrowed money in principal amount in excess of $1,000,000 of
the Company under the terms of the instrument under which such indebtedness is
issued or secured, if such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled or such
indebtedness is not discharged within 30 days after written notice; (v) certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or FNBC; and
(vi) any other event that may be specified in a Prospectus Supplement with
respect to any series of Senior Securities. If an Event of Default with respect
to any series of Senior Securities for which there are Senior Securities
outstanding under the Senior Indenture occurs and is continuing, either the
applicable Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Senior Securities of such series outstanding may declare the
principal amount (or if such Senior Securities are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of that series) of all Senior Securities of that series to be immediately
due and payable. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Senior Securities of any series outstanding under the Senior Indenture may
waive an Event of Default resulting in acceleration of such Senior Securities,
but only if all Events of Default with respect to Senior Securities of
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such series have been remedied and all payments due (other than those due as a
result of acceleration) have been made. If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the applicable Trustee may, in its discretion, and at the written
request of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Senior Securities of any series outstanding under the Senior Indenture
and upon reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to
be incurred in compliance with such request and subject to certain other
conditions set forth in the Senior Indenture shall, proceed to protect the
rights of the holders of all the Senior Securities of such series. Prior to
acceleration of maturity of the Senior Securities of any series outstanding
under the Senior Indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of such Senior Securities may waive any past default under the Senior
Indenture except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Senior Securities of such series.
The Senior Indenture provides that upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding
paragraph, the Company will, upon demand of the applicable Trustee, pay to it,
for the benefit of the holder of any such Senior Security, the whole amount
then due and payable on such Senior Securities for principal, premium, if any,
and interest. The Senior Indenture further provides that if the Company fails
to pay such amount forthwith upon such demand, such Trustee may, among other
things, institute a judicial proceeding for the collection thereof.
A judgment for money damages by courts in the United States, including a
money judgment based on an obligation expressed in a foreign currency, will
ordinarily be rendered only in U.S. dollars. New York statutory law provides
that a court shall render a judgment or decree in the foreign currency of the
underlying obligation and that the judgment or decree shall be converted into
U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the
judgment or decree.
The Senior Indenture also provides that notwithstanding any other provision
of the Senior Indenture, the holder of any Senior Security of any series shall
have the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Senior Securities when due
and that such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
The Company is required to file annually with the Trustees a written
statement of officers as to the existence or non-existence of defaults under
the Senior Indenture or the Senior Securities.
REGARDING CITIBANK
Citibank, a Trustee under one of the Senior Indentures, has its principal
corporate trust office at 120 Wall Street, New York, New York 10043. With
respect to payment or registration of transfer or exchange by Citibank under
the Senior Indenture, Citibank's offices for such functions are located at 111
Wall Street, New York, New York 10043. The Company has normal banking
relationships with Citibank.
REGARDING NORWEST
Norwest, a Trustee under one of the Senior Indentures, has its principal
corporate trust office at Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55479. The Company has normal banking relationships with Norwest.
SUBORDINATED SECURITIES
The Subordinated Securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of the
Company and will be subject to the subordination provisions described below.
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
The Second Supplemental Indenture has been entered into to allow
Subordinated Securities issued by the Company to be treated as capital for
calculation of regulatory capital ratios. The Federal Reserve Board ~ has
issued interpretations of its capital regulations indicating, among other
things, that subordinated debt of
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bank holding companies issued on or after September 4, 1992 is includable in
capital for calculation of regulatory capital ratios only if the subordination
of the debt meets certain criteria and if the debt may be accelerated only for
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar matters. Accordingly, the Second
Supplemental Indenture contains subordination and acceleration provisions for
the Subordinated Securities issued on and after January 1, 1993 (the "New
Subordinated Securities") which are intended to be consistent with the
interpretations of the Federal Reserve Board. Unless otherwise specified in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of Subordinated
Securities offered thereby, Subordinated Securities offered pursuant to this
Prospectus will constitute New Subordinated Securities for purposes of the
Subordinated Indenture. See "Subordination" and "Events of Default, Defaults,
Waivers, etc." below.
The Second Supplemental Indenture has been filed with the Commission and is
available for inspection at the corporate trust office of Bank of America at
333 South Beaudry Avenue, 25th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017.
SUBORDINATION
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding
up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Subordinated Securities is to be subordinated in right
of payment, to the extent provided in the Subordinated Indenture, to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness. In certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, the payment of the principal of and interest on the New
Subordinated Securities will, to the extent provided in the Subordinated
Indenture, also be effectively subordinated in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all General Obligations.
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding
up, liquidation or reorganization, the holders of Senior Indebtedness will
first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become
due before the holders of the Subordinated Securities will be entitled to
receive any payment in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Subordinated Securities. If upon any such payment or
distribution of assets there remain, after giving effect to such subordination
provisions in favor of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, any amounts of cash,
property or securities available for payment or distribution in respect of the
New Subordinated Securities ("Excess Proceeds") and if, at such time, any
creditors in respect of General Obligations have not received payment in full
of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of such General
Obligations, then such Excess Proceeds shall first be applied to pay or provide
for the payment in full of such General Obligations before any payment or
distribution may be made in respect of the New Subordinated Securities.
In addition, no payment may be made of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Subordinated Securities, or in respect of any redemption,
retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Subordinated
Securities, at any time when (i) there is a default in the payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, interest on or otherwise in respect of any
Senior Indebtedness or (ii) any event of default with respect to any Senior
Indebtedness has occurred and is continuing, or would occur as a result of such
payment on the Subordinated Securities or any redemption, retirement, purchase
or other acquisition of any of the Subordinated Securities, permitting the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity thereof. Except
as described above, the obligation of the Company to make payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Subordinated Securities will
not be affected.
By reason of such subordination in favor of the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, in the event of a distribution of assets upon any dissolution,
winding up, liquidation or reorganization, certain creditors of the Company who
are not holders of Senior Indebtedness or of the Subordinated Securities may
recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Indebtedness and may recover
more, ratably, than holders of the Subordinated Securities. By reason of the
obligation of the holders of New Subordinated Securities to pay over any Excess
Proceeds to creditors in respect of General Obligations, in the event of a
distribution of assets upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization, holders of Existing Subordinated Indebtedness may recover less,
ratably, than creditors in respect of General Obligations and may recover more,
ratably, than the holders of New Subordinated Securities.
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Subject to payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the
holders of Subordinated Securities will be subrogated to the rights of the
holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash,
property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to payment in full of all General Obligations, the rights of the
holders of the New Subordinated Securities will be subrogated to the rights of
the creditors in respect of General Obligations to receive payments or
distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such
creditors in respect of General Obligations.
Senior Indebtedness is defined in the Subordinated Indenture as the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest on (i) all of the Company's indebtedness for
money borrowed, other than the subordinated securities issued under the
Subordinated Indenture, the Company's Floating Rate Subordinated Capital Notes
Due December 1996 (the "1996 Subordinated Capital Notes"), and the Company's 9
7/8% Subordinated Notes Due July 1999 (the "1999 Subordinated Notes"), whether
outstanding on the date of execution of the Subordinated Indenture or
thereafter created, assumed or incurred, except such indebtedness as is by its
terms expressly stated to be not superior in right of payment to the
subordinated securities issued under the Subordinated Indenture, the 1996
Subordinated Capital Notes or the 1999 Subordinated Notes or to rank pari passu
with the subordinated securities issued under the Subordinated Indenture, the
1996 Subordinated Capital Notes or the 1999 Subordinated Notes and; (ii) any
deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such Senior Indebtedness. The term
"indebtedness for money borrowed" as used in the prior sentence includes,
without limitation, any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, the
Company for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other written instruments, and any deferred obligation for
the payment of the purchase price of property or assets. There is no limitation
on the issuance of additional Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
Since the original execution of the Subordinated Indenture, the Company has
issued $200 million in aggregate principal amount 9% Subordinated Notes Due
June 15, 1999, $100 million in aggregate principal amount 9 7/8% Subordinated
Notes Due August 15, 2000, $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 11
1/4% Subordinated Notes Due February 20, 2001, $100 million in aggregate
principal amount of 10 1/4% Subordinated Notes Due May 1, 2001, $100 million in
aggregate principal amount of 9 1/4% Subordinated Notes Due November 15, 2001,
$100 million in aggregate principal amount of 8 7/8% Subordinated Notes Due
March 15, 2002, $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 8 1/4%
Subordinated Notes Due June 15, 2002 and $5 million in aggregate principal
amount of 9 1/5% Subordinated Notes Due December 17, 2001 (collectively, the
"Additional Subordinated Indebtedness"). The Company has also issued $200
million in aggregate principal amount of 7 5/8% Subordinated Notes due January
15, 2003 (the "January 2003 Subordinated Notes"), $200 million in aggregate
principal amount 6 7/8% Subordinated Notes Due June 15, 2003 (the "June 2003
Subordinated Notes") and $150 million in aggregate principal amount Floating
Rate Subordinated Notes Due July 28, 2003 (the "July 2003 Subordinated Notes")
since the original execution of the Subordinated Indenture. The January 2003
Subordinated Notes, the June 2003 Subordinated Notes and the July 2003
Subordinated Notes constitute New Subordinated Securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a
particular series of Subordinated Securities offered thereby, Existing
Subordinated Indebtedness means the 1996 Subordinated Capital Notes, the 1999
Subordinated Notes and the Additional Subordinated Indebtedness. The New
Subordinated Securities rank and will rank pari passu with the Existing
Subordinated Indebtedness, subject to the obligations of the holders of New
Subordinated Securities to pay over any Excess Proceeds to creditors in respect
of General Obligations. Thus, in the event of a distribution of assets of the
Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the
holders of the New Subordinated Securities may receive less, ratably, than
holders of Existing Subordinated Indebtedness.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a
particular series of Subordinated Securities offered thereby, General
Obligations means all obligations of the Company to make payment on account of
claims in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange
rate contracts,
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commodity contracts and similar arrangements, other than (i) obligations on
account of Senior Indebtedness, (ii) obligations on account of indebtedness for
money borrowed ranking pari passu with or subordinate to the Subordinated
Securities and (iii) obligations which by their terms are expressly stated not
to be superior in right of payment to the Subordinated Securities or to rank on
parity with the Subordinated Securities; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any rule, guideline or
interpretation promulgated or issued by the Federal Reserve Board (or other
competent regulatory agency or authority), as from time to time in effect,
establishes or specifies criteria for the inclusion in regulatory capital of
subordinated debt of a bank holding company requiring that such subordinated
debt be subordinated to obligations to creditors in addition to those set forth
above, then the term "General Obligations" shall also include such additional
obligations to creditors, as from time to time in effect pursuant to such
rules, guidelines or interpretations. For purposes of this definition, "claim"
shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 101(4) of the Bankruptcy
Code 1978, as amended to the date of the Second Supplemental Indenture.
As of June 30, 1993, the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness and General
Obligations of the Company was approximately $1.7 billion.
LIMITED RIGHTS OF ACCELERATION
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to any
series of Subordinated Securities, payment of principal of the New Subordinated
Securities may be accelerated only in case of the bankruptcy or reorganization
of the Company. There is no right of acceleration in the case of a default in
the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the New
Subordinated Securities or the performance of any other covenant of the Company
in the Subordinated Indenture. Payment of principal of the Existing
Subordinated Indebtedness may be accelerated in the case of the bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization of the Company. Such payment may also be
accelerated in the case of certain events of insolvency or receivership of
FNBC.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, DEFAULTS, WAIVERS, ETC.
An Event of Default with respect to New Subordinated Securities of any series
is defined in the Subordinated Indenture as certain events involving the
bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company and any other Event of Default
provided with respect to Subordinated Securities of that series. An Event of
Default with respect to the Additional Subordinated Indebtedness of any series
is defined in the Subordinated Indenture as certain events involving the
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization of the Company or FNBC
and any other Event of Default with respect to Additional Subordinated
Securities of that series. A Default with respect to Subordinated Securities of
any series is defined in the Subordinated Indenture as (i) an Event of Default
with respect to such series, (ii) default in the payment of the principal of or
premium, if any, on any Subordinated Security of such series when due, (iii)
default in the payment of interest upon any Subordinated Security of such
series when due and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days,
(iv) default in the performance of any other covenant or agreement of the
Company in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to Subordinated Securities
of such series and continuance of such default for 60 days after written
notice, or (v) any other Default provided with respect to Subordinated
Securities of any series. If an Event of Default with respect to any series of
Subordinated Securities for which there are Subordinated Securities outstanding
under the Subordinated Indenture occurs and is continuing, either Bank of
America, as Trustee, or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Subordinated Securities of such series may declare the principal
amount (or if such Subordinated Securities are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of that series) of all Subordinated Securities of that series to be
immediately due and payable. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Subordinated Securities of any series outstanding under the
Subordinated Indenture may waive an Event of Default resulting in acceleration
of such Subordinated Securities, but only if all Defaults have been remedied
and all payments due (other than those due as a result of acceleration) have
been made. If a Default occurs and is continuing, Bank of America may in its
discretion, and at the written request of holders of not less than a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of any series
outstanding under the Subordinated Indenture and upon reasonable indemnity
against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with
such request and subject to certain other conditions set forth in the
Subordinated Indenture shall, proceed to protect the rights of the holders of
all the
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Subordinated Securities of such series. Prior to acceleration of maturity of
the Subordinated Securities of any series outstanding under the Subordinated
Indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such
Subordinated Securities may waive any past default under the Subordinated
Indenture except a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Subordinated Securities of such series.
The Subordinated Indenture provides that in the event of a Default specified
in clauses (ii) or (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph in payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Subordinated Security of any
series, the Company will, upon demand of Bank of America, pay to it, for the
benefit of the holder of any such Subordinated Security, the whole amount then
due and payable on such Subordinated Security for principal, premium, if any,
and interest. The Subordinated Indenture further provides that if the Company
fails to pay such amount forthwith upon such demand, Bank of America may, among
other things, institute a judicial proceeding for the collection thereof.
The Subordinated Indenture also provides that notwithstanding any other
provision of the Subordinated Indenture, the holder of any Subordinated
Security of any series shall have the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
such Subordinated Security on the respective Stated Maturities (as defined in
the Subordinated Indenture) expressed in such Subordinated Security and that
such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
The Company is required to file annually with Bank of America a written
statement of officers as to the existence or non-existence of defaults under
the Subordinated Indenture or the Subordinated Securities.
REGARDING BANK OF AMERICA
Bank of America, the successor Trustee to Security Pacific National Bank
under the Subordinated Indenture, has a principal corporate trust office at 333
South Beaudry Avenue, 25th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017. The Company
has normal banking relationships with Bank of America.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT WARRANTS
The Company may issue Debt Warrants for the purchase of Debt Securities. Debt
Warrants may be issued independently or together with any Debt Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or separate from
such Debt Securities. The Debt Warrants are to be issued under warrant
agreements (each a "Debt Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the
Company and a warrant agent which will be designated in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement (the "Debt Warrant Agent"), all as set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of Debt Warrants (the
"Offered Debt Warrants"). The Debt Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of
the Company in connection with the Debt Warrants and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or
beneficial owners of Debt Warrants. The following summaries of certain
provisions of the form of Debt Warrant Agreement and the warrant certificates
representing the Debt Warrants (the "Debt Warrant Certificates"), if any, do
not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Debt Warrant Agreement and
the Debt Warrant Certificates, respectively, including the definitions therein
of certain terms, which Agreement and Certificates will be filed as exhibits to
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part.
If Debt Warrants are offered, the Prospectus Supplement will describe the
terms of the Offered Debt Warrants, the Debt Warrant Agreement relating to the
Offered Debt Warrants and the Debt Warrant Certificates representing the
Offered Debt Warrants, if any, including the following: (1) the offering price;
(2) the currency or currency unit in which the price for the Offered Debt
Warrants may be payable; (3) the designation, aggregate principal amount and
terms of the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of the
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Offered Debt Warrants; (4) if applicable, the designation and terms of the Debt
Securities with which the Offered Debt Warrants are issued and the number of
Offered Debt Warrants issued with each such Debt Security; (5) if the Debt
Securities purchasable upon exercise of Offered Debt Warrants are denominated
in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars, the denomination of
such Debt Securities and the currency or units based on or relating to
currencies (including ECU) in which the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Debt Securities will be payable; (6) if applicable, the date
on and after which the Offered Debt Warrants and the related Debt Securities
will be separately transferable; (7) the principal amount of Debt Securities
purchasable upon exercise of an Offered Debt Warrant and the price at which,
and currency or currency units based on or relating to currencies (including
ECU) in which, such principal amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon
such exercise; (8) the date on which the right to exercise the Offered Debt
Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; (9) if
applicable, a discussion of certain Federal income tax, accounting and other
special considerations, procedures and limitations; (10) whether the Debt
Warrants represented by the Debt Warrant Certificates will be issued as
Registered Securities or Bearer Securities; and (11) any other terms of the
Offered Debt Warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to
the exchange and exercise of the Offered Debt Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENCY WARRANTS
The Company may issue Currency Warrants which, upon exercise at a permitted
time or times in the future, entitle any holder thereof to receive the Cash
Settlement Value (as defined below) of two designated currencies. Currency
Warrants may be issued independently or together with any Debt Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or separate from
such Debt Securities. The Currency Warrants are to be issued under warrant
agreements (each a "Currency Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the
Company and a warrant agent which will be designated in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement (the "Currency Warrant Agent"), all as set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of Currency Warrants
(the "Offered Currency Warrants"). The Currency Warrant Agent will act solely
as an agent of the Company in connection with the Currency Warrants and will
not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any
holder or beneficial owners of Currency Warrants. The following summaries of
certain provisions of the form of Currency Warrant Agreement do not purport to
be complete and are subject to and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to all the provisions of the Currency Warrant Agreement and the form of
certificate, if any, representing the Currency Warrants (the "Currency Warrant
Certificates"), respectively, including the definitions therein of certain
terms which Agreement and Certificate, if any, will be filed as an exhibit to
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part.
The Currency Warrants will not require, or entitle, any holder thereof to
sell any foreign currency to the Company. The Company will make only a U.S.
dollar cash settlement upon exercise of a Currency Warrant and will not be
obligated to purchase or take delivery of any foreign currency from any holder
of a Currency Warrant.
The "Cash Settlement Value" of an exercised Currency Warrant will be an
amount stated in U.S. dollars which is the greater of (i) zero and (ii) an
amount equal to (a) the nominal amount of such Currency Warrant, minus (b) an
amount equal to the nominal amount of such Currency Warrant times a fraction,
the numerator of which is the Strike Price of such Currency Warrant and the
denominator of which is the Spot Rate of such Currency Warrant on the Exercise
Date. The "nominal amount" of a Currency Warrant refers to the principal
amount, expressed in U.S. dollars, of a currency (the "Base Currency") which is
to be compared to another currency (the "Second Currency") upon exercise of
such Currency Warrant. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Base Currency shall be U.S. dollars. The "Strike Price" is the
designated rate of exchange of the Base Currency for the Second Currency which
the Company will specify in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Offered
Currency Warrants. The "Spot Rate" refers to the floating rate of exchange of
the Base Currency for the Second Currency on any given date, as quoted by a
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reference bank or banks or other institution at a designated time of day, such
source of quotations and time to be specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. The "Exercise Date" refers to the effective date on which the
holder of a Currency Warrant exercises such Currency Warrant.
If Currency Warrants are offered, the Prospectus Supplement will describe the
terms of the Offered Currency Warrants, the Currency Warrant Agreement relating
to the Offered Currency Warrants and, if applicable, Currency Warrant
Certificates, including the following: (1) the aggregate number of Offered
Currency Warrants; (2) the Nominal Amount of each Offered Currency Warrant; (3)
the price of the Offered Currency Warrants; (4) the Base Currency and the
Second Currency; (5) the Strike Price for the Offered Currency Warrants; (6)
the reference bank or banks or other institution and time of day to be used to
determine the Spot Rate; (7) the date on which the right to exercise the
Offered Currency Warrants shall begin and the date on which such right shall
terminate; (8) if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of Offered Currency
Warrants which may be exercised at any one time; (9) the place or places at
which payment of the Cash Settlement Value is to be made by the Company; (10)
whether the Offered Currency Warrants will be represented by certificates or
issued in book-entry form; (11) the method by which the Offered Currency
Warrants are to be exercised; (12) the Federal income tax consequences and
other special considerations, procedures and limitations applicable to such
Offered Currency Warrants; and (13) any other terms of the Offered Currency
Warrants, including risk factors specifically relating to the Base Currency or
Second Currency and Currency Warrants relating to such currencies.
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK-INDEX WARRANTS
The Company may issue Stock Index Warrants which, upon exercise at a
permitted time or times in the future, entitle any holder thereof to receive an
amount of cash determined by references to increases and/or decreases in the
level of a specified stock index. Stock-Index Warrants may be issued
independently or together with other Securities offered by any Prospectus
Supplement and may be attached to or separate from such other Securities. The
Stock-Index Warrants are to be issued under one or more warrant agreements
(each a "Stock-Index Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company
and a bank or trust company, as stock-index warrant agent which will be
designated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the "Stock-Index Warrant
Agent"), all as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
particular issue of Stock-Index Warrants. The Stock-Index Warrant Agent will
act solely as an agent of the Company in connection with the Stock-Index
Warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust
for or with any holder or beneficial owners of Stock-Index Warrants. The
following summaries of certain provisions of the form of Stock-Index Warrant
Agreement and form of certificate, if any, representing the Stock-Index
Warrants (the "Stock-Index Warrant Certificates") do not purport to be complete
and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all
the provisions of the Stock-Index Warrant Agreement and the Stock-Index Warrant
Certificates, respectively, including the definitions therein of certain terms
which Agreement and Certificate, if any, will be filed as an exhibit to or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part.
The Company may issue Stock-Index Warrants either in the form of Stock-Index
Put Warrants entitling the holders thereof to receive from the Company the
Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value (as described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement) in U.S. dollars, which amount will be determined by reference to
the amount, if any, by which the Stock-Index Exercise Price (as described in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement) exceeds the closing value of the Index on
the valuation date (the "Index Value") at the time of exercise, or in the form
of Stock-Index Call Warrants entitling the holders thereof to receive from the
Company the Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value in U.S. dollars, which amount
will be determined by reference to the amount, if any, by which the Index Value
at the time of exercise exceeds the Stock-Index Exercise Price.
The Prospectus Supplement for an issue of Stock-Index Warrants will set forth
the formula pursuant to which the Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value will be
determined. In addition, if so specified in the applicable
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Prospectus Supplement, following the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event
(as defined therein), the Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value may be determined
on a different basis than under normal exercise of a Stock-Index Warrant.
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, a Stock-Index
Warrant will be settled only in cash and, accordingly, will not require or
entitle a holder thereof to sell, deliver, purchase or take delivery of any
shares of any underlying stock or any other securities. The holders will not be
entitled to any of the rights of the holders of any underlying stock.
If Stock-Index Warrants are offered, the Prospectus Supplement will describe
the terms of Stock-Index Warrants offered thereby, including the following: (1)
whether such Stock-Index Warrants are Stock-Index Put Warrants, Stock-Index
Call Warrants or both; (2) the aggregate amount of such Stock-Index Warrants;
(3) the offering price; (4) the stock index for such Stock-Index Warrants,
which may be based on one or more U.S. or foreign stocks or a combination
thereof and may be a preexisting U.S. or foreign stock index compiled and
published by a third party or an index based on one or more underlying stock or
stocks selected by the Company solely in connection with the issuance of such
Stock-Index Warrants, and certain information regarding such stock index and
the underlying stock or stocks; (5) the date on which the right to exercise
such Stock-Index Warrants commences and the date on which such right expires
(the "Stock-Index Warrant Expiration Date"); (6) the procedures and conditions
relating to exercise; (7) the circumstances, if any, which will cause the
Stock-Index Warrants to be deemed to be automatically exercised; (8) the
minimum number, if any, of Stock-Index Warrants to be exercised at any one time
other than upon automatic exercise and any other restrictions on exercise; (9)
the maximum number, if any, of such Stock-Index Warrants that may, subject to
the Company's election, be exercised by all owners (or by any person or entity)
on any day; (10) the method of providing for a substitute index or otherwise
determining the amount payable in connection with the exercise of such Stock-
Index Warrants if the stock index changes or ceases to be made available by its
publisher, which determination will be made by an independent expert; (11) the
national securities exchange on which the Stock-Index Warrants will be listed,
if any; (12) whether the Stock-Index Warrants will be issued in certificated or
book-entry form; (13) the place or places at which payment of the Stock-Index
Cash Settlement Value is to be made by the Company; (14) information with
respect to book-entry procedures, if any; (15) the plan of distribution of such
Stock-Index Warrants; (16) the identity of the Stock-Index Warrant Agent; (17)
any provisions permitting a holder of a Stock-Index Warrant to condition a
stock-index exercise notice on the absence of certain specified changes in the
Index Value after the Stock-Index Warrant Exercise Date; and (18) any other
terms of such Stock-Index Warrants, including risk factors specifically
relating to fluctuations in the applicable stock index and possible illiquidity
in the secondary market.
Prospective purchasers of Stock-Index Warrants should be aware that special
U.S. Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable
to instruments such as Stock-Index Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement relating
to any issue of Stock-Index Warrants will describe such considerations.
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER WARRANTS
The Company may issue Other Warrants, if permitted under applicable law, to
buy or sell debt securities of or guaranteed by the United States, to buy or
sell a commodity or a unit of a commodity index or to buy or sell some other
item or unit of an index other than indices covered by Stock-Index Warrants
(collectively, "Exercise Items"). Owners of Other Warrants will be entitled to
receive from the Company the cash settlement value in U.S. dollars of the right
to buy or sell the Exercise Items (the "Other Warrant Cash Settlement Value").
An Owner of Other Warrants will receive a cash payment upon exercise only if
the Other Warrants have an Other Warrant Cash Settlement Value in excess of
zero at that time.
Other Warrants may be issued independently or together with other Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or separate from
such other Securities. The Other Warrants are to be issued under one or more
other warrant agreements (the "Other Warrant Agreements") to be entered into
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between the Company and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent which will be
designated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the "Other Warrant Agent"),
all as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue
of Other Warrants. The Other Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the
Company in connection with the Other Warrants and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holder or
beneficial owners of the Other Warrants. The following summaries of certain
provisions of the form of Other Warrant Agreement and form of certificate, if
any, representing the Other Warrants (the "Other Warrant Certificates") do not
purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety
by reference to, all the provisions of the Other Warrant Agreement and the
Other Warrant Certificates, respectively, including the definitions therein of
certain terms which Agreement and Certificate, if any, will be filed as an
exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part.
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, an Other Warrant
will be settled only in cash, in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, will not
require or entitle an owner thereof to sell, deliver, purchase or take delivery
of any Exercise Items.
If Other Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will
describe the terms of such Other Warrants, including, where applicable, the
following: (1 ) the title and aggregate number of such Other Warrants; (2) the
offering price; (3) the Exercise Items that such Other Warrants represent the
right to buy or sell; (4) the procedures and conditions relating to exercise;
(5) the date on which the right to exercise the Other Warrants shall commence
and the date such right shall expire (the "Other Warrant Expiration Date"); (6)
the method of determining the Other Warrant Cash Settlement Value; (7) whether
such Other Warrants will be issued in certificated or book-entry form; (8)
whether such Other Warrants will be listed on a national securities exchange;
(9) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; (10) the
identity of the Other Warrant Agent; and (11) any other terms of such Other
Warrants, including risk factors relating to significant fluctuations in the
market for the applicable Exercise Item, the potential illiquidity of the
secondary market and the risk that the Other Warrants may expire worthless.
Prospective purchasers of Other Warrants should be aware that special U.S.
Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to
instruments such as Other Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any
issue of Other Warrants will describe such considerations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK
The following description of the terms of the Preferred Stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Certain other terms of any series of
Preferred Stock offered by any Prospectus Supplement will be specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. If so specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the terms of any series of Preferred Stock may differ from the
terms set forth below. The description of the terms of the Preferred Stock set
forth below and in any Prospectus Supplement does not purport to be complete
and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate
of Designation relating to the applicable series of Preferred Stock, which
Certificate will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
GENERAL
Pursuant to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors of the Company has the authority, without further stockholder action,
to issue from time to time a maximum of 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
without par value, in one or more series and for such consideration, as may be
fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company, and to fix
before the issuance of any shares of preferred stock of a particular series,
the designation of such series, the number of shares to comprise such series,
the dividend rate or rates payable with respect to the shares of such series,
the redemption price or prices, if any, and the terms and conditions of the
redemption, the voting rights, any
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sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of the shares of such
series, the terms and conditions upon which the shares are convertible, if they
are convertible, and any other relative rights, preferences and limitations
pertaining to such series. As of June 30, 1993, there were issued and
outstanding 2,410,000 shares of the Company's Preferred Stock with Cumulative
and Adjustable Dividends ($50 stated value) (the "Series A Preferred Stock"),
1,191,000 shares of the Company's Preferred Stock with Cumulative and
Adjustable Dividends, Series B ($100 stated value) (the "Series B Preferred
Stock"), 713,800 shares of the Company's Preferred Stock with Cumulative and
Adjustable Dividends, Series C ($100 stated value) (the "Series C Preferred
Stock"), 6,000,000 shares of the Company's 10% Cumulative Preferred Stock,
Series D (stated value $25 per share) (the "Series D Preferred Stock"), 160,000
shares of the Company's 8.45% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E ($625 stated
value) (the "Series E Preferred Stock"), 2,150,210 shares of the Company's
$3.75 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A ($50 stated value) (the
"Series A Convertible Preferred Stock") and 40,000 shares of the Company's 5
3/4% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B ($5,000 stated value)
(the "Series B Convertible Preferred Stock") (collectively, the "Existing
Preferred Stock"). All shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were
called for redemption on September 2, 1993, and consequently, as of the date
hereof, no shares remain outstanding. See "Description of Existing Preferred
Stock" herein.
As described under "Description of Depositary Shares" below, the Company may,
at its option, elect to offer depositary shares ("Depositary Shares") evidenced
by depositary receipts, each representing a fraction (to be specified in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series of Preferred Stock) of
a share of the particular series of the Preferred Stock issued and deposited
with a depositary, in lieu of offering full shares of such series of the
Preferred Stock.
Under interpretations adopted by the Federal Reserve Board, if the holders of
Preferred Stock of any series become entitled to vote for the election of
directors because dividends on such series are in arrears as described under
"Voting Rights" below, such series may then be deemed a "class of voting
securities" and a holder of 25% or more of such series (or a holder of 5% or
more if it otherwise exercises a "controlling influence" over the Company) may
then be subject to regulation as a bank holding company in accordance with the
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. In addition, at such time as such
series is deemed a class of voting securities, any other bank holding company
may be required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board to
acquire 5% or more of such series, and any person other than a bank holding
company may be required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve
Board to acquire 10% or more of such series.
The Preferred Stock shall have the dividend, liquidation, redemption, voting
and conversion rights set forth below unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Reference is made to the Prospectus
Supplement relating to the particular series of Preferred Stock offered thereby
for specific terms, including: (1) the designation, stated value and
liquidation preference of such Preferred Stock and the number of shares
offered; (2) the initial public offering price at which such shares will be
issued; (3) the dividend rate or rates (or method of calculation), the dividend
periods, the date on which dividends shall be payable and whether such
dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates
from which dividends shall commence to cumulate; (4) any redemption or sinking
fund provisions; (5) any conversion provisions; (6) whether the Company has
elected to offer Depositary Shares as described below under "Description of
Depositary Shares"; and (7) any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption,
sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and
restrictions of such Preferred Stock.
The Preferred Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the shares
of each series of Preferred Stock will upon issuance rank on a parity in all
respects with the Company's Existing Preferred Stock, described below, and each
other then outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company. The Preferred
Stock will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities
which may be issued by the Company. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, First Chicago Trust Company of New York will
be the transfer agent and registrar for the Preferred Stock.
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Because the Company is a holding company, its rights and the rights of
holders of its securities, including the holders of Preferred Stock, to
participate in the assets of any Company subsidiary upon the latter's
liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of such
subsidiary's creditors and preferred shareholders, except to the extent the
Company may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against such subsidiary
or a holder of preferred shares of such subsidiary.
DIVIDENDS
The holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors of the Company, out of funds legally
available therefor, dividends at such rates and on such dates as will be
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such rates may be fixed or
variable or both. If variable, the formula used for determining the dividend
rate for each dividend period will be specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. Dividends will be payable to the holders of record as they appear
on the stock books of the Company (or, if applicable, the records of the
Depositary referred to below under "Description of Depositary Shares") on such
record dates as will be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Dividends may be paid in the form of cash, Preferred Stock (of the same or a
different series) or Common Stock of the Company, in each case as specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Dividends on any series of Preferred Stock may be cumulative or
noncumulative, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the
Board of Directors of the Company fails to declare a dividend payable on a
dividend payment date on any Preferred Stock for which dividends are
noncumulative ("Noncumulative Preferred Stock"), then the holders of such
Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend in respect of the
dividend period relating to such dividend payment date, and the Company will
have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for such period, whether or not
dividends on such Preferred Stock are declared or paid on any future dividend
payment dates.
The Company shall not declare or pay or set apart for payment any dividends
on any series of its preferred shares ranking, as to dividends, on a parity
with or junior to the outstanding Preferred Stock of any series unless (i) if
such Preferred Stock has a cumulative dividend ("Cumulative Preferred Stock"),
full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid
or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such
payment on such Preferred Stock for all dividend periods terminating on or
prior to the date of payment of any such dividends on such other series of
preferred shares of the Company, or (ii) if such Preferred Stock is
Noncumulative Preferred Stock, full dividends for the then-current dividend
period on such Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for
such payment. When dividends are not paid in full upon Preferred Stock of any
series and any other shares of preferred stock of the Company ranking on a
parity as to dividends with such Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon
such Preferred Stock and any other preferred shares of the Company ranking on a
parity as to dividends with such Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so
that the amount of dividends declared per share on such Preferred Stock and
such other shares shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that the
accrued dividends per share on such Preferred Stock (which shall not, if such
Preferred Stock is Noncumulative Preferred Stock, include any accumulation in
respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods) and such other
preferred shares bear to each other. Except as set forth in the preceding
sentence, unless full dividends on the outstanding Cumulative Preferred Stock
of any series have been paid for all past dividend periods and full dividends
for the then-current dividend period on the outstanding Noncumulative Preferred
Stock of any series have been declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment, no dividends
(other than in Common Stock of the Company or other shares of the Company
ranking junior to such Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation)
shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment, nor shall any other
distribution be made on the Common Stock of the Company or on any other shares
of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with such Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation. Unless full dividends on the Cumulative
Preferred Stock of any series have been paid for all past dividend periods and
full dividends for the then-current dividend period on the Noncumulative
Preferred Stock of any series have been declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such
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payment, no Common Stock or any other shares of the Company ranking junior to
or on a parity with such Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation
shall be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or
any moneys be paid or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of
any such shares) by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company except by
conversion into or exchange for shares of the Company ranking junior to such
Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation.
REDEMPTION
A series of the Preferred Stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at
the option of the Company, and may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant
to a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case upon terms, at the times and at
the redemption prices specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and
subject to the rights of holders of other securities of the Company. Preferred
Stock redeemed by the Company will be restored to the status of authorized but
unissued preferred shares.
The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Preferred Stock that is
subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of such
Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed by the Company in each year commencing
after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified,
together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon
(which shall not, if such Preferred Stock is Noncumulative Preferred Stock,
include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend
periods) to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash
or other property, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the
redemption price for Preferred Stock of any series is payable only from the net
proceeds of the issuance of capital stock of the Company, the terms of such
Preferred Stock may provide that, if no such capital stock shall have been
issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to
pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, such Preferred Stock shall
automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of the applicable
capital stock of the Company pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If fewer than all the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any series are
to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed will be determined in a
manner designated by the Board of Directors of the Company and such shares
shall be redeemed pro rata from the holders of record of such shares in
proportion to the number of such shares held by such holders (with adjustments
to avoid redemption of fractional shares) or by lot or by any other method as
may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any dividends, including any accumulation,
on Cumulative Preferred Stock of any series are in arrears, no Preferred Stock
of such series shall be redeemed unless all outstanding Preferred Stock of such
series is simultaneously redeemed, and the Company shall not purchase or
otherwise acquire any Preferred Stock of such series; provided, however, that
the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Preferred Stock
of such series pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer provided such offer is
made on the same terms to all holders of the Preferred Stock of such series.
Notice of redemption shall be given by mailing the same to each record holder
of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, to the respective addresses of
such holders as the same shall appear on the stock books of the Company. Each
notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares and
series of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv)
the place or places where certificates for such Preferred Stock are to be
surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (v) that dividends on the
shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vi)
the date upon which the holder's conversion rights, if any, as to such shares,
shall terminate. If fewer than all the shares of Preferred Stock of any series
held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall
also specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such
holder.
If notice of redemption of any shares of Preferred Stock has been given, from
and after the redemption date for such shares (unless default shall be made by
the Company in providing money for the payment of
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the redemption price of such shares), dividends on such shares shall cease to
accrue and such shares shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all
rights of the holders thereof as shareholders of the Company (except the right
to receive the redemption price) shall cease. Upon surrender in accordance with
such notice of the certificates representing any such shares (properly endorsed
or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so
require and the notice shall so state), the redemption price set forth above
shall be paid out of the funds provided by the Company. If fewer than all the
shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate
shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without cost to the holder
thereof.
CONVERSION RIGHTS
The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of the Preferred Stock that is
convertible will state the terms on which shares of such series are convertible
into the Company's Common Stock, or another series of Preferred Stock.
RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
receive out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to
shareholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common
Stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to such Preferred
Stock upon liquidation, liquidating distributions in the amount of the
liquidation preference of such Preferred Stock plus accrued and unpaid
dividends (which shall not, if such Preferred Stock is Noncumulative Preferred
Stock, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior
dividend periods). If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company the amounts payable with respect to
Preferred Stock of any series and any other shares of the Company ranking as to
any such distribution on a parity with such Preferred Stock are not paid in
full, the holders of such Preferred Stock and of such other shares will share
ratably in any such distribution of assets of the Company in proportion to the
full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After payment
of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled,
the holders of Preferred Stock of any series will not be entitled to any
further participation in any distribution of assets by the Company.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as indicated below or in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, or
except as expressly required by applicable law, the holders of the Preferred
Stock will not be entitled to vote. In the event the Company issues full shares
of any series of Preferred Stock, each such share will be entitled to one vote
on matters on which holders of such series of the Preferred Stock are entitled
to vote. However, as more fully described under "Description of Depositary
Shares" below, if the Company elects to issue Depositary Shares representing a
fraction of a share of a series of Preferred Stock, each such Depositary Share
will, in effect, be entitled to such fraction of a vote, rather than a full
vote, per Depositary Share. Since each full share of any series of Preferred
Stock of the Company shall be entitled to one vote, the voting power of such
series, on matters on which holders of such series and holders of other series
of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a single class, shall depend on the
number of shares in such series, not the aggregate stated value, liquidation
preference or initial offering price of the shares of such series of Preferred
Stock.
If the equivalent of six quarterly dividends payable on any series of
Preferred Stock are in default, the number of directors of the Company will be
increased by two and the holders of all outstanding series of Preferred Stock,
voting as a single class without regard to series, will be entitled to elect
such additional two directors until all dividends in default have been paid or
declared and set apart for payment.
The affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3 percent of
the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any series, voting as a class,
will be required for any amendment to the Company's
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Certificate of Incorporation (or any certificate supplemental thereto) that
will adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of the
Preferred Stock of such series. The affirmative vote or consent of the holders
of at least 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any
series and any other series of preferred shares of the Company ranking on a
parity with the Preferred Stock of such series as to dividends or upon
liquidation, voting as a single class without regard to series, will be
required to authorize, effect or validate the creation, authorization or issue
of any shares of any class of stock of the Company ranking prior to the
Preferred Stock of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation, or the
reclassification of any authorized stock of the Company into any such prior
shares, or the creation, authorization or issue of any obligation or security
convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such prior shares.
Subject to such affirmative vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock of any series, the Company may, by resolution of its
Board of Directors or as otherwise permitted by law, from time to time alter or
change the preferences, rights or powers of the Preferred Stock of such series.
The holders of the Preferred Stock of such series shall not be entitled to
participate in any such vote if, at or prior to the time when any such
alteration or change is to take effect, provision is made for the redemption of
all the Preferred Stock of such series at the time outstanding. Nothing in this
section shall be taken to require a class vote or consent in connection with
the authorization, designation, increase or issuance of any shares of any class
or series (including additional Preferred Stock of any series) that rank junior
to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock of such series as to dividends and
liquidation rights or in connection with the authorization, designation,
increase or issuance of any bonds, mortgages, debentures or other obligations
of the Company.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
GENERAL
The Company may, at its option, elect to offer fractional shares of Preferred
Stock, rather than full shares of Preferred Stock. In the event such option is
exercised, the Company will issue to the public receipts for Depositary Shares,
each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to a particular series of Preferred Stock) of a share of a
particular series of Preferred Stock as described below.
The shares of any series of Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares
will be deposited under a Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement") between
the Company and a bank or trust company selected by the Company having its
principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000 (the "Depositary"). Subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share will be entitled, in proportion to
the applicable fraction of a share of Preferred Stock represented by such
Depositary Share, to all the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock
represented thereby (including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and
liquidation rights).
The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued
pursuant to the Deposit Agreement ("Depositary Receipts"). Depositary Receipts
will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of
Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. Copies of the
forms of Deposit Agreement and Depositary Receipt will be filed as exhibits to,
or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such exhibits.
Pending the preparation of definitive engraved Depositary Receipts, the
Depositary may, upon the written order of the Company, issue temporary
Depositary Receipts substantially identical to (and entitling the holders
thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive Depositary Receipts but
not in definitive form. Definitive Depositary Receipts will be prepared
thereafter without unreasonable delay, and temporary Depositary Receipts will
be exchangeable for definitive Depositary Receipts at the Company's expense.
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Upon surrender of Depositary Receipts at the principal office of the
Depositary (unless the related Depositary Shares have previously been called
for redemption), the owner of the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby is
entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon his order, of the number of
whole shares of Preferred Stock and any money or other property represented by
such Depositary Shares. Partial shares of Preferred Stock will not be issued.
If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of
Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing a
number of whole shares of Preferred Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary will
deliver to such holder at the same time a new Depositary Receipt evidencing
such excess number of Depositary Shares. Holders of shares of Preferred Stock
thus withdrawn will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such shares under the
Deposit Agreement or to receive Depositary Shares therefor. The Company does
not expect that there will be any public trading market for withdrawn shares of
Preferred Stock.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
The Depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions
received in respect of the Preferred Stock to the record holders of Depositary
Shares relating to such Preferred Stock in proportion to the numbers of such
Depositary Shares owned by such holders. The Depository shall distribute only
such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any holder
of Depositary Shares a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed
shall be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the
Depositary for distribution to record holders of Depositary Shares.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Shares
entitled thereto, unless the Depositary determines that it is not feasible to
make such distribution, in which case the Depositary may, with the approval of
the Company, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale
to such holders.
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
If a series of Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares is subject to
redemption, the Depositary Shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received
by the Depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of such
series of Preferred Stock held by the Depositary. The Depositary shall mail
notice of redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date
fixed for redemption to the record holders of the Depositary Shares to be so
redeemed at their respective addresses appearing in the Depositary's books. The
redemption price per Depositary Share will be equal to the applicable fraction
of the redemption price per share payable with respect to such series of the
Preferred Stock. Whenever the Company redeems shares of Preferred Stock held by
the Depositary, the Depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the
number of Depositary Shares representing shares of Preferred Stock so redeemed.
If less than all the Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary
Shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined
by the Depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the Depositary Shares so called for
redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the
holders of the Depositary Shares will cease, except the right to receive the
moneys payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which
the holders of such Depositary Shares were entitled upon such redemption upon
surrender to the Depositary of the Depositary Receipts evidencing such
Depositary Shares.
VOTING THE PREFERRED STOCK
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary will mail the information contained
in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the Depositary Shares
relating to such Preferred Stock. Each record holder of such Depositary Shares
on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the
Preferred Stock) will be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise
of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of the Preferred Stock
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represented by such holder's Depositary Shares. The Depositary will endeavor,
insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the Preferred Stock represented
by such Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions, and the Company
will agree to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary
in order to enable the Depositary to do so. The Depositary will abstain from
voting shares of the Preferred Stock to the extent it does not receive specific
instructions from the holders of Depositary Shares representing such Preferred
Stock.
TAXATION
Owners of the Depositary Shares will be treated for Federal income tax
purposes as if they were owners of the series of Preferred Stock represented by
such Depositary Shares and, accordingly, will be entitled to take into account
for Federal income tax purposes income and deductions to which they would be
entitled if they were holders of such series of Preferred Stock. In addition,
(i) no gain or loss will be recognized for Federal income tax purposes upon the
withdrawal of Preferred Stock in exchange for Depositary Shares as provided in
the Deposit Agreement, (ii) the tax basis of each share of Preferred Stock to
an exchanging owner of Depositary Shares will, upon such exchange, be the same
as the aggregate tax basis of the Depositary Shares exchanged therefor and
(iii) the holding period for shares of the Preferred Stock in the hands of an
exchanging owner of Depositary Shares who held such Depositary Shares as a
capital asset at the time of the exchange thereof for Preferred Stock will
include the period during which such person owned such Depositary Shares.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSITARY AGREEMENT
The form of Depositary Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares and any
provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement
between the Company and the Depositary. However, any amendment which materially
and adversely alters the rights of the holders of Depositary Shares will not be
effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a
majority of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. The Deposit Agreement may
be terminated by the Company or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding
Depositary Shares have been redeemed or (ii) there has been a final
distribution in respect of the Preferred Stock in connection with any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has
been distributed to the holders of Depositary Receipts.
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
The Company will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges
arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. The Company
will pay charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of
the Preferred Stock and any redemption of the Preferred Stock. Holders of
Depositary Receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental
charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit
Agreement to be for their accounts.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Depositary will forward to the holders of Depositary Shares all reports
and communications from the Company which are delivered to the Depositary and
which the Company is required to furnish to the holders of the Preferred Stock.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or
delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its
obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Company and the
Depositary under the Deposit Agreement will be limited to performance in good
faith of their duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to prosecute or
defend any legal proceeding in respect of any Depositary Shares or Preferred
Stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. They may rely upon written
advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting
Preferred Stock for deposit, holders of Depositary Receipts or other persons
believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
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RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
The Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to the Company notice of
its election to do so, and the Company may at any time remove the Depositary,
any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a
successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor
Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of
resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal
office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000.
DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING PREFERRED STOCK
The outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series
C Preferred Stock of the Company were issued in October 1982, February 1983,
and February 1984, respectively. The dividend rate on each series is adjusted
quarterly, based on a formula that considers the interest rates for selected
short- and long-term U.S. Treasury securities prevailing at the time the rate
is set. The Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred
Stock and Series E Preferred Stock, which were issued in March 1993, May 1991
and November 1992, respectively, have fixed dividend rates. The Existing
Preferred Stock ranks prior to the Company's Common Stock, both as to dividends
and upon liquidation, but has no general voting rights (except as described
under "Description of Preferred Stock--Voting Rights"). Each series of the
Existing Preferred Stock ranks pari passu with each other series of the
Existing Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and liquidation rights.
The Series A Preferred Stock is subject to a minimum and maximum dividend
rate of 7.00 percent and 15.00 percent, respectively. The dividend rate for the
quarterly dividend period ended September 30, 1993, is 7.00 percent. Shares of
this series are redeemable, at the option of the Company, at their stated value
of $50 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Shares of this series are
not convertible into other securities of the Company.
The Series B Preferred Stock is subject to a minimum and maximum dividend
rate of 6.00 percent and 12.00 percent, respectively. The dividend rate for the
quarterly period ended November 30, 1993, is 6.00 percent. Shares of this
series are redeemable, at the option of the Company, at their stated value of
$100 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Shares of this series are not
convertible into other securities of the Company.
The Series C Preferred Stock is subject to a minimum and maximum dividend
rate of 6.50 percent and 12.50 percent, respectively. The dividend rate for the
quarterly period ended November 30, 1993, is 6.50 percent. Shares of this
series are redeemable, at the option of the Company, through February 28, 1994,
at a redemption price equal to $103.00 per share, and thereafter at their
stated value of $100 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Shares of
this series are not convertible into other securities of the Company.
The Series D Preferred Stock has an annual dividend rate equal to $2.50, or
10 percent, which was fixed at the date of issue. Shares of this series are
redeemable, at the option of the Company, at any time on or after June 1, 1994,
at a redemption price equal to $25.75 per share during the twelve-month period
ending May 31, 1995, at a redemption price equal to $25.375 per share during
the twelve-month period ending May 31, 1996, and thereafter at their stated
value of $25 per share plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid dividends. Shares
of this series are not convertible into other securities of the Company.
The Series E Preferred Stock is represented by depositary shares with each
depositary share representing a one-twenty-fifth interest in a share of Series
E Preferred Stock. The Series E Preferred Stock has an annual dividend rate
equal to $52.8125 ($2.1125 per depositary share), or 8.45 percent, which was
fixed at the date of issue. Shares of this series are redeemable, at the option
of the Company, at any time on or after November 16, 1997 at a redemption price
of $625 per share ($25 per depositary share). Shares of this series are not
convertible into other securities of the Company.
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The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is represented by depositary shares
with each depositary share representing a one-hundredth interest in a share of
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
has an annual dividend rate equal to $287.50 ($2.875 per depositary share), or
5 3/4 percent, which was fixed at the date of issue. Shares of the Company's
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted into shares of the
Company's Common Stock at a conversion price of $53 5/8 per share of Common
Stock (equivalent to a conversion rate of .9324 share of Common Stock for each
depositary share) at the option of the stockholder at any time. Resultant
fractional interests are paid in cash. The conversion rate is subject to
adjustment for certain stock dividends, subdivisions, splits and combinations,
certain distributions of assets and debt to holders of Common Stock, certain
reclassifications of Common Stock into other securities and certain
distributions of rights or warrants to purchase Common Stock at a price per
share less than the Common Stock's then market value. Shares of this series are
redeemable, at the option of the Company, on or after April 1, 1997, through
March 30, 2003, at an original redemption price of $5,172.50 ($51.7250 per
depositary share), declining over such period to $5,028.75 ($50.2875 per
depositary share), and thereafter at their stated value of $5,000 per share
($50.00 per depositary share) plus accrued and unpaid dividends.
All shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were called for
redemption on September 2, 1993. Shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock were convertible into 1.391 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the
option of the stockholder through August 26, 1993, and 2,134,568 shares of the
stock were so converted into 2,968,781 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
Resultant fractional shares were paid in cash. On September 2, 1993, the
Company redeemed the remaining 15,642 shares of the Series A Convertible
Preferred at the redemption price of $51.50 per share plus accrued and unpaid
dividends through the redemption date.
The shares of the outstanding Existing Preferred Stock (or with respect to
the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the
outstanding depositary shares representing such stock), are listed on the New
York Stock Exchange. First Chicago Trust Company of New York serves as transfer
agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for shares of the Existing
Preferred Stock and the depositary shares representing such stock. The First
National Bank of Chicago also serves as depositary for the shares of Existing
Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS
The Company may issue Preferred Stock Warrants for the purchase of Preferred
Stock. Preferred Stock Warrants may be issued independently or together with
other Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or
separate from such other Securities. Each series of Preferred Stock Warrants
will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each a "Preferred Stock
Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust
company, as preferred stock warrant agent which will be designated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement (the "Preferred Stock Warrant Agent"), all as
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of
Preferred Stock Warrants. The Preferred Stock Warrant Agent will act solely as
an agent of the Company in connection with the Preferred Stock Warrants and
will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with
any holders of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates or beneficial owners of
Preferred Stock Warrants. The following summaries of certain provisions of the
form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and form of certificate representing
the Preferred Stock Warrants (the "Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates") do
not purport to be complete and are subject to and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Preferred Stock Warrant
Agreement and the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates which Agreement and
Certificate will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
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GENERAL
If Preferred Stock Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement
will describe the terms of such Preferred Stock Warrants, including the
following, where applicable: (1) the offering price; (2) the designation,
aggregate number and terms of the series of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
exercise of such Preferred Stock Warrants and minimum number of Preferred Stock
Warrants that are exercisable; (3) the designation and terms of the series of
Preferred Stock with which such Preferred Stock Warrants are being offered and
the number of such Preferred Stock Warrants being offered with each such
Preferred Stock; (4) the date on and after which such Preferred Stock Warrants
and the related series of Preferred Stock will be transferable separately; (5)
the number and stated values of the series of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
exercise of each such Preferred Stock Warrant and the price at which such
number of shares of Preferred Stock of such series may be purchased upon such
exercise; (6) the date on which the right to exercise such Preferred Stock
Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire (the
"Preferred Stock Warrant Expiration Date"); (7) whether the Preferred Stock
Warrants represented by the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates will be issued
in registered or bearer form; (8) information with respect to book-entry
procedures, if any; and (9) any other terms of such Preferred Stock Warrants
for the purchase of shares of Preferred Stock.
Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for new Preferred Stock
Warrant Certificates of different denominations, may (if in registered form) be
presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate
trust office of the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent or any other office indicated
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of any Preferred
Stock Warrant, a holder thereof shall have no rights of a holder of shares of
the Preferred Stock purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to
receive payment of dividends, if any, on the underlying Preferred Stock or the
right to vote such underlying Preferred Stock.
Prospective purchasers of Preferred Stock Warrants should be aware that
special U.S. Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be
applicable to instruments such as Preferred Stock Warrants. The Prospectus
Supplement relating to any issue of Preferred Stock Warrants will describe such
considerations.
EXERCISE OF PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS
Each Preferred Stock Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such
number of shares of Preferred Stock at such exercise price as shall be set
forth in, or calculable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the offered
Preferred Stock Warrants. After the close of business on the Preferred Stock
Warrant Expiration Date (or such later date to which such Preferred Stock
Warrant Expiration Date may be extended by the Company), unexercised Preferred
Stock Warrants will become void.
Preferred Stock Warrants may be exercised by delivery to the Preferred Stock
Warrant Agent of payment as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement of
the amount required to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
such exercise together with certain information set forth on the reverse side
of the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate. Preferred Stock Warrants will be
deemed to have been exercised upon receipt of the exercise price, subject to
the receipt, within five business days, of the Preferred Stock Warrant
Certificate evidencing such Preferred Stock Warrants. Upon receipt of such
payment and the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly
executed at the corporate trust office of the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent or
any other office indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company
will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the shares of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the Preferred Stock
Warrants represented by such Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate are exercised,
a new Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate will be issued for the remaining
number of Preferred Stock Warrants.
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MODIFICATIONS
The Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Preferred Stock
Warrants may be amended by the Company and the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent,
without the consent of the holders, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or
of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision
contained therein, or in any other manner which the Company may deem necessary
or desirable and which will not materially and adversely affect the interests
of the owners.
The Company and the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent also may modify or amend
the Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Preferred Stock
Warrants, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number
of the then outstanding unexercised Preferred Stock Warrants affected, provided
that no such modification or amendment that shortens the period of time during
which the Preferred Stock Warrants may be exercised, increases the exercise
price of such Preferred Stock Warrants or otherwise materially and adversely
affects the exercise rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock Warrants or
reduces the number of outstanding Preferred Stock Warrants the consent of whose
holders is required for modification or amendment of the Preferred Stock
Warrant Agreement or the terms of the Preferred Stock Warrants may be made
without the consent of the holders affected thereby.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Company, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Company in, and the Company will be relieved of any further
obligation under, the Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement or the Preferred Stock
Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
The Company may issue Common Stock Warrants for the purchase of Common Stock.
Common Stock Warrants may be issued independently or together with other
Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or
separate from such Securities. Each series of Common Stock Warrants will be
issued under one or more warrant agreements (each a "Common Stock Warrant
Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company,
as common stock warrant agent which will be designated in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement (the "Common Stock Warrant Agent"), all as set forth in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of Common Stock
Warrants. The Common Stock Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the
Company in connection with the Common Stock Warrants and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or
beneficial owners of Common Stock Warrants. The following summaries of certain
provisions of the form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and certificate
representing Common Stock Warrants (the "Common Stock Warrant Certificates") do
not purport to be complete and are subject to and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Common Stock Warrant
Agreement and the Common Stock Warrant Certificate which Agreement and
Certificate will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement which this Prospectus forms a part of.
GENERAL
If Common Stock Warrants are offered, the related Prospectus Supplement will
describe the terms of such Common Stock Warrants, including the following,
where applicable: (1) the offering price; (2) the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of such Common Stock Warrants and
minimum number of Common Stock Warrants that are exercisable; (3) the number of
shares of Common Stock with which such Common Stock Warrants are being offered
and the number of such Common Stock Warrants being offered with each such share
of Common Stock; (4) the date on and after which such Common Stock Warrants and
the related shares of Common Stock will be transferable separately; (5) the
number of
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shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of each such Common Stock
Warrant and the price at which such number of shares of Common Stock may be
purchased upon such exercise; (6) the date on which the right to exercise such
Common Stock Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall
expire (the "Common Stock Warrant Expiration Date"); (7) whether the Common
Stock Warrants represented by the Common Stock Warrant Certificates will be
issued in registered or bearer form; (8) information with respect to book-entry
procedures, if any; and (9) any other terms of such Common Stock Warrants for
the purchase of shares of Common Stock which shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of the Common Stock Warrant Agreements.
Common Stock Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for new Common Stock
Warrant Certificates of different denominations, may (if in registered form) be
presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate
trust office of the Common Stock Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of any Common Stock
Warrants to purchase Common Stock, holders of such Common Stock Warrants will
not have any rights of holders of shares of the Common Stock purchasable upon
such exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on
the Common Stock purchasable upon such exercise or to exercise any applicable
right to vote.
Prospective purchasers of Common Stock Warrants should be aware that special
U.S. Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable
to instruments such as Common Stock Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement
relating to any issue of Common Stock Warrants will describe such
considerations.
EXERCISE OF COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
Each Common Stock Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such
number of shares of Common Stock at such exercise price as shall be set forth
in, or calculable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Common Stock
Warrants. After the close of business on the Common Stock Warrant Expiration
Date (or such later date to which such Common Stock Warrant Expiration Date may
be extended by the Company), unexercised Common Stock Warrants will become
void.
Common Stock Warrants may be exercised by delivery to the Common Stock
Warrant Agent of payment as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement of
the amount required to purchase the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
such exercise together with certain information set forth on the reverse side
of the Common Stock Warrant Certificate. Common Stock Warrants will be deemed
to have been exercised upon receipt of the exercise price, subject to the
receipt, within five business days, of the Common Stock Warrant Certificate
evidencing such Common Stock Warrants. Upon receipt of such payment and the
Common Stock Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed at the
corporate trust office of the Common Stock Warrant Agent or any other office
indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will, as soon as
practicable, issue and deliver the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon such
exercise. If fewer than all of the Common Stock Warrants represented by such
Common Stock Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Common Stock Warrant
Certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of Common Stock Warrants.
MODIFICATIONS
The Common Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Common Stock Warrants
may be amended by the Company and the Common Stock Warrant Agent, without the
consent of the holders, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing,
correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained
therein, or in any other manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which will not materially and adversely affect the interests of
the owners.
The Company and the Common Stock Warrant Agent also may modify or amend the
Common Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Common Stock Warrants, with
the consent of the holders of not
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<PAGE>
less than a majority in number of the then outstanding unexercised Common Stock
Warrants affected, provided that no such modification or amendment that
shortens the period of time during which the Common Stock Warrants may be
exercised, increases the exercise price of such Common Stock Warrants or
otherwise materially and adversely affects the exercise rights of the holders
of the Common Stock Warrants or reduces the number of outstanding Common Stock
Warrants the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment
of the Common Stock Warrant Agreement or the terms of the Common Stock Warrants
may be made without the consent of the holders affected thereby.
COMMON STOCK WARRANT ADJUSTMENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
exercise price of, and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Common
Stock Warrant, will be subject to adjustment in certain events, including: (i)
dividends (and other distributions) payable in the Common Stock on any class of
capital stock of the Company; (ii) subdivision, combinations and
reclassifications of Common Stock; (iii) the issuance to all holders of Common
Stock of certain rights or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase
Common Stock, at less than the current market price (as defined in the Common
Stock Warrant Agreement for such series of Common Stock Warrants); and (iv) the
distribution to all holders of Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets of the Company (including securities, but excluding those dividends and
distributions referred to above and dividends and distributions paid in cash
out of surplus or retained earnings of the Company) or rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to above) of the Company, subject to the limitation
that all adjustments by reason of any of the foregoing need not be made until
they result in a cumulative change in the exercise price of at least 1%.
In the event that the Company shall distribute or shall have distributed any
rights or warrants to acquire capital stock pursuant to clause (iv) of the
preceding paragraph ("Capital Stock Rights"), pursuant to which separate
certificates representing such Capital Stock Rights are distributed subsequent
to the initial distribution of such Capital Stock Rights (whether or not such
distribution shall have occurred prior to the date of the issuance of a series
of Common Stock Warrants), the subsequent distribution shall be deemed to be
the distribution of such Capital Stock Rights; provided, however, that the
Company may, in lieu of making any adjustment in the exercise price of, and the
number of shares of Common Stock covered by, a Common Stock Warrant upon a
distribution of separate certificates representing such Capital Stock Rights,
make proper provision so that each holder of such a Common Stock Warrant who
exercises such Common Stock Warrant (or any portion thereof) (a) on or before
the record date for such distribution of separate certificates shall be
entitled to receive upon such exercise shares of Common Stock issued with
Capital Stock Rights and (b) after such record date and prior to the
expiration, redemption or termination of such Capital Stock Rights shall be
entitled to receive upon such exercise, in addition to the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon such exercise, the same number of such Capital Stock Rights
as would a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock that such Common
Stock Warrant so exercised would have entitled the holder thereof to acquire in
accordance with the terms and provisions applicable to the Capital Stock Rights
if such Common Stock Warrant were exercised immediately prior to the record
date for such distribution. Common Stock owned by or held for the account of
the Company or any majority owned subsidiary shall not be deemed outstanding
for the purpose of any adjustment.
In the event the Company shall effect any capital reorganization or
reclassification of its shares or shall consolidate, merge or engage in a
statutory share exchange with or into any other corporation (other than a
consolidation, merger or share exchange into which the Company is the surviving
corporation) or shall sell or transfer substantially all its assets to any
other corporation for a consideration consisting in whole or in part of equity
securities of such other corporation, the holders of the Common Stock Warrants
then outstanding will be entitled thereafter to exercise such Common Stock
Warrants to acquire the kind and amount of stock and other securities, cash or
property which they would have received in connection with such transaction had
such Common Stock Warrants been exercised immediately prior to such
transaction.
35
<PAGE>
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Company, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Company in, and the Company will be relieved of any further
obligation under, the Common Stock Warrant Agreement or the Common Stock
Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK
GENERAL
The Company is authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As of
June 30, 1993, there were outstanding 83,217,811 shares of the Company's Common
Stock.
Holders of the Company's Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when,
as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of any funds legally available
therefor, and are entitled upon liquidation, after claims of creditors and
preferences of the Company's preferred stock and any other series of preferred
stock hereafter authorized, to receive pro rata the net assets of the Company.
The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held
and are vested with all of the voting power except as the Board of Directors of
the Company has provided with respect to the outstanding shares of the
Company's preferred stock or may provide, in the future, with respect to any
other series of preferred stock which it may hereafter authorize. Directors of
the Company are elected for a one-year term expiring upon the annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company. The shares of the Company's Common Stock do not
have cumulative voting rights.
The holders of the Company's Common Stock do not have any preemptive rights
to subscribe for additional shares of capital stock of the Company. The holders
of Common Stock have no conversion rights, the Common Stock is not subject to
redemption by either the Company or a stockholder, and there is no restriction
on the purchase by the Company of shares of Common Stock except for certain
regulatory limits.
The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York, Chicago, Pacific and
London Stock Exchanges. First Chicago Trust Company of New York is the transfer
agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the Common Stock.
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
On November 18, 1988, the Board of Directors declared a dividend to holders
of Common Stock of record on December 2, 1988 (the "Record Date") of one
preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common
Stock for, and to be attached to, each share of Common Stock outstanding on the
Record Date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-hundreth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Voting
Preferred Stock, without par value (the "Junior Preferred Shares"), of the
Company, at a price of $130 per one one-hundreth of a Junior Preferred Share,
subject to certain adjustments. As long as the Rights are attached to shares of
Common Stock as provided in the Rights Agreement referred to below, one
additional Right shall be issued with each share of Common Stock issued after
December 2, 1988.
The Rights will expire on December 2, 1998, unless the expiration date is
extended or the Rights are redeemed earlier and will not be exercisable or
transferable separately from the shares of Common Stock until the "Distribution
Date" which will occur on the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of
an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of
which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or
more of the outstanding Common Stock.
36
<PAGE>
In the event the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets are sold,
each holder of a Right will have the right to receive, upon payment of the
Right's then current exercise price, common stock of the acquiring company
which has a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the
event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right,
other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of shares of Common Stock (or under certain circumstances, Common
Stock-equivalent Junior Preferred Shares) having a market value of two times
the exercise price of the Rights.
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or
more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become
void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock
per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction (or under certain circumstances, Common Stock-equivalent
Junior Preferred Shares).
At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Stock, the Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction (the "Redemption Price"). The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.
The purchase price payable, and the number of Junior Preferred Shares or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Junior
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Junior Preferred Shares
of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Junior Preferred
Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Junior Preferred Shares with
a conversion price, less than the current market price of the Junior Preferred
Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Junior Preferred Shares
of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in
Junior Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than
those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one-hundreths of a Junior
Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock
dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors without the
consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment to lower the
threshold for exercisability of the Rights from 20% to not less than the
greater of (i) any percentage greater than the largest percentage of the
outstanding Common Stock then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by
any person or group of affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except
that from and after such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Board of Directors. The Rights should not
interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board
of Directors since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at the Redemption
Price prior to the time that a person or group has acquired beneficial
ownership of 20% or more of the Common Stock.
The foregoing description of the Rights and the Junior Preferred Shares does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Rights Agreement, as amended, which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus forms a part, and the Certificate of Designation,
Preferences and Rights for the Junior Preferred Shares.
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<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices (which may be changed 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. Each Prospectus
Supplement will describe the method of distribution of the Securities offered
therein.
The Company may sell Securities directly, through agents designated from time
to time, through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing
underwriters or through one or more underwriters acting alone. Each Prospectus
Supplement will set forth the terms of the Securities to which such Prospectus
Supplement relates, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents
with whom the Company has entered into arrangements with respect to the sale of
such Securities, the public offering or purchase price of such Securities and
the net proceeds to the Company from such sale, any underwriting discounts and
other items constituting underwriters' compensation, any discounts and
commissions allowed or paid to dealers, if any, any commissions allowed or paid
to agents, and the securities exchange or exchanges, if any, on which such
Securities will be listed. Dealer trading may take place in certain of the
Securities, including Securities not listed on any securities exchange.
Securities may be purchased to be reoffered to the public through
underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters, or through
one or more underwriters acting alone. The underwriter or underwriters with
respect to each underwritten offering of Securities will be named in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such offering and, if an underwriting
syndicate is used, the managing underwriter or underwriters will be set forth
on the cover page of such Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to
purchase the Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and
each of the underwriters with respect to a sale of Securities will be obligated
to purchase all of its Securities if any are purchased. Any initial public
offering price and any discounts or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers may be changed from time to time.
Securities may be offered and sold by the Company through agents designated
by the Company from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer and sale of
any Securities will be named, and any commissions payable by the Company to
such agent will be set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
offering. Unless otherwise indicated in such Prospectus Supplement, any such
agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Offers to purchase Securities may be solicited directly by the Company and
sales thereof may be made by the Company directly to institutional investors or
others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the
Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
The Company may also issue contracts under which the counterparty may be
required to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or
Common Stock. Such contracts would be issued with Debt Securities, Preferred
Stock or Depositary Shares and/or Warrants in amounts, at prices and on terms
to be set in a Prospectus Supplement.
The anticipated place and time of delivery of Securities will be set forth in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize underwriters or agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to
purchase Securities from the Company pursuant to delayed delivery contracts
providing for payment and delivery at a future date. Institutions with which
such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by
the Company. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will not
be subject to any conditions except that (i) the
38
<PAGE>
purchase of the Securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited
under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject, and (ii)
if the Securities are also being sold to underwriters acting as principals for
their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such Securities not
sold for delayed delivery. The underwriters and such other persons will not
have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such
contracts.
Any underwriter or agent participating in the distribution of the Securities
may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities
Act, of the Securities so offered and sold and any discounts or commissions
received by them from the Company and any profit realized by them on the sale
or resale of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.
Underwriters and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with
the Company, to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments which such underwriters or agents may be required to
make in respect thereof. Certain of any such underwriters and agents, including
their associates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform
services for, the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Certain legal matters relating to the Securities offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by its General Counsel and for any underwriters,
selling agents and certain other purchasers by Cravath, Swaine & Moore,
Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019. Cravath, Swaine &
Moore has represented and continues to represent the Company from time to time
in other matters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1992, as amended by
the Company's Form 8 dated March 12, 1993, have been audited by Arthur Andersen
& Co., independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with
respect thereto, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said
report.
39
<PAGE>
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS 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 THE
UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY
SINCE THE DATES AS OF WHICH INFORMATION IS GIVEN IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
AND THE PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
---------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ S-2
Special Considerations Relating to DECS.................................... S-3
First Chicago Corporation.................................................. S-4
NEXTEL Communications, Inc................................................. S-5
Price Range and Dividend History of NEXTEL
Common Stock.............................................................. S-6
Use of Proceeds............................................................ S-6
Summary Consolidated Financial Data of the
Company................................................................... S-7
Recent Developments of the Company......................................... S-8
Description of the DECS.................................................... S-12
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations............................................................ S-18
Plan of Distribution....................................................... S-20
Legal Opinions............................................................. S-21
Experts.................................................................... S-21
PROSPECTUS
Available Information...................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ 2
First Chicago Corporation.................................................. 3
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 7
Description of Debt Securities............................................. 8
Senior Securities.......................................................... 13
Subordinated Securities.................................................... 14
Description of Debt Warrants............................................... 18
Description of Currency Warrants........................................... 19
Description of Stock-Index Warrants........................................ 20
Description of Other Warrants.............................................. 21
Description of the Preferred Stock......................................... 22
Description of Depositary Shares........................................... 27
Description of Existing Preferred Stock.................................... 30
Description of Preferred Stock Warrants.................................... 31
Description of Common Stock Warrants....................................... 33
Description of the Company's Common Stock.................................. 36
Plan of Distribution....................................................... 38
Legal Opinions............................................................. 39
Experts.................................................................... 39
</TABLE>
6,500,000 DECS SM
(DEBT EXCHANGEABLE FOR COMMON STOCK SM)
FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION
% EXCHANGEABLE NOTES
DUE FEBRUARY , 1997
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
DATED FEBRUARY , 1994
