PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
---------------------
(To Prospectus Dated August 19, 1998)
$1,000,000,000
General Motors Corporation
7.20% Notes due January 15, 2011
------------------
The notes will mature on January 15, 2011. Interest will accrue from
January 11, 2001 at the rate of 7.20% per year payable semi-annually in arrears
on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2001. The notes
will be redeemable prior to maturity at prices determined in the manner
described herein and also if certain events occur involving United States
taxation.
Application has been made to list the notes on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange.
------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Per Note Total
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Public Offering Price (1) 99.514% $995,140,000
Underwriting Discount 0.425% $ 4,250,000
Proceeds before expenses to General Motors Corporation 99.089% $990,890,000
(1) Plus accrued interest from January 11, 2001 if settlement occurs after that date
</TABLE>
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes will be ready for delivery through The Depository Trust Company,
the Euroclear System or Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, Luxembourg on or
about January 11, 2001.
------------------
Joint Book-Running Managers
Banc of America Securities LLC Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Salomon Smith Barney
------------------
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Goldman, Sachs & Co.
------------------
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. Barclays Capital
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. JP Morgan
The activities of the underwriters of the notes are being jointly led by Banc
of America Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and Salomon Smith Barney.
------------------
January 4, 2001
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Prospectus Supplement
Page
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............... S-2
Recent Developments........................................... S-3
Directors of GM............................................... S-3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............................ S-5
Consolidated Capitalization of GM............................. S-5
Selected Consolidated Financial Data.......................... S-6
Use of Proceeds............................................... S-8
Description of Notes.......................................... S-8
United States Federal Taxation................................ S-14
Underwriting.................................................. S-18
General Information........................................... S-19
Legal Opinions................................................ S-20
Prospectus
Page
Available Information......................................... 1
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............... 1
General Motors Corporation ................................... 2
Use of Proceeds .............................................. 2
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............................ 3
Description of Debt Securities................................ 3
Description of Warrants....................................... 11
Plan of Distribution.......................................... 12
Experts ...................................................... 13
Legal Opinions................................................ 13
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the words "GM", "we", "our",
"ours" and "us" refer to General Motors Corporation.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We
have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide
you different information or to make any additional representations. We are
not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of any securities other
than the notes. This prospectus supplement is part of and must be read in
conjunction with the accompanying prospectus dated August 19, 1998. You
should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the information
incorporated by reference, is accurate as of any date other than the date
on the front cover of this prospectus supplement.
The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus and the offering of the notes may be restricted in certain
jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any such
restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not
constitute, and may not be used in connection with, 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.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include
particulars given in compliance with the rules governing the listing of
securities on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. We accept full responsibility for
the accuracy of the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus and, having made all reasonable inquiries, confirm that
to the best of our knowledge and belief there are no other facts the omission
of which would make any statement contained in this prospectus supplement and
the accompanying prospectus misleading.
Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, references
in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus to "dollars", "$"
and "U.S.$" are to United States dollars.
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information we file with
them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents, including our annual, quarterly and current
reports, that are considered part of this prospectus supplement and
accompanying prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede this information.
We incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that we
previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information
about General Motors Corporation and its finances.
SEC Filings Period
Annual Report on Form 10-K.......... Year ended December 31, 1999
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q...... Quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30,
2000 and September 30, 2000
Current Reports on Form 8-K......... Dated January 13, 2000, January 20, 2000,
February 1, 2000, February 25, 2000(2),
March 1, 2000, March 6, 2000, March 7,
2000(2), March 13, 2000(2), March 31,
2000, April 13, 2000(2), April 27, 2000
May 2, 2000, May 4, 2000, May 9, 2000,
June 6, 2000(2), June 12, 2000, July 25,
2000, August 2, 2000, August 16,
2000, August 24, 2000, September 14, 2000,
September 15, 2000, September 28, 2000,
October 3, 2000, November 1, 2000(2),
November 20, 2000, December 1, 2000,
December 7, 2000, December 12, 2000,
December 13, 2000 and January 3, 2001
You may, at no cost, request a copy of the documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, except
exhibits to such documents, by writing or telephoning the office of W.W. Creek,
Comptroller, at the following address and telephone number:
General Motors Corporation
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000
Tel: (313) 556-5000
This prospectus supplement and accompanyin prospectus, together with the
documents incorporated by reference, will be available free of charge at the
office of Banque Generale du Luxembourg S.A., 50 Avenue J. F. Kennedy, L-2951,
Luxembourg.
<PAGE>
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
As more fully set out in 8-K reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission dated December 7 and December 12, 2000 and in the 10-Q
report dated September 30, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference the
Corporation has reported the following:
o A Series of Actions to Improve Competitiveness and Profitability;
Revised Fourth Quarter Outlook; and Special Charges. These actions
include
- the phase-out of the Oldsmobile division
- GM Europe's plan to reduce production capacity and salaried
employment, including principally the restructuring of Vauxhall
Motors' manufacturing operations in the UK
- GM North America's plan to reduce salaried employment by 10%,
along with actions to convert and reduce production
- a revised outlook for financial results in the quarter ended
December 31, 2000; consolidated net income is expected to be
between $550-$600 million
- charges (not reflected in the outlook above) totaling $1.5-$2.5
billion before tax to account for: costs associated with the
Oldsmobile phase-out; employment costs and production equipment
write-down associated with reductions in production capacity in
North America and Europe; and reserves for legal matters related
to prior business restructuring.
o Decreased Estimates of Vehicle Production in North America for the First
Quarter of 2001.
The Corporation has decreased its estimate of vehicle production in North
America for the first quarter of 2001 to 1,200,000 vehicles as compared with
1,521,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2000, 21% below the year-ago quarter.
(Vehicle production estimates in the international regions for the first quarter
of 2001 are at or above production levels in the year-earlier quarter.)
o Potential Hughes Transaction
Due to rapid consolidation in the media and telecommunications industries,
GM is now considering alternative strategic transactions involving Hughes and
other participants in those industries. Any such transaction might involve the
separation of Hughes from General Motors. GM's objective in this effort is to
maximize the enterprise value of Hughes for the long-term benefit of the
holders of GM's Class H common stock and GM $1-2/3 par value common stock
through a structure that maintains the financial strength of General Motors.
No assurance can be given that any transaction will be agreed upon with any
party or that other conditions, including any stockholder or regulatory
approvals, will be satisfied.
In this prospectus supplement, our use of the words "expect,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "objective," "plan," "goal" and similar
expressions is intended to identify forward looking statements. While
these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold,
and we believe these judgments are reasonable, actual results may differ
materially due to numerous important factors that are described in GM's most
recent report on SEC Form 10-K (at page II-20) which may be revised or
supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Such factors
include, among others, the following: changes in economic conditions,
currency exchange rates or political stability; shortages of fuel, labor
strikes or work stoppages; market acceptance of the corporation's new
products; significant changes in the competitive environment; changes in laws,
regulations and tax rates; and the ability of the corporation to achieve
reductions in cost and employment levels to realize production
efficiencies and implement capital expenditures at levels and times planned
by management.
Directors of GM
Percy N. Barnevik, Chairman, ABB Ltd.; John H. Bryan, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Sara Lee Corporation; Thomas E. Everhart, President Emeritus
and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, California
Institute of Technology; George M. C. Fisher, Chairman, Eastman Kodak Company;
Nobuyuki Idei, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sony Corporation; Karen
Katen, President of U.S. Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., the principal operating
division of Pfizer, Inc.; J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Marriott International, Inc.; Harry J. Pearce, Vice
Chairman; Eckhard Pfeiffer, Chairman, Intershop Communication SAG/Inc.;
John F. Smith, Jr., Chairman; G. Richard Wagoner, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
and President; Lloyd D. Ward, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Maytag Corporation; Dennis Weatherstone, retired Chairman of J.P. Morgan &
Co., Incorporated and its subsidiary Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York.
The business address of each Director and the location of GM's principal
executive offices is 300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000,
United States.
<PAGE>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Unaudited
Nine Months Ended Years Ended
September 30, December 31,
----------------- ----------------
2000 1999 1999 1998
---- ---- ---- ----
1.89 2.24 2.12 1.72
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing
earnings before income taxes and fixed charges by the fixed charges.
See "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges" in the accompanying prospectus
for additional information.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Consolidated Capitalization of GM
(unaudited)
(dollars in millions)
September 30,
2000
<S> <C>
Total Debt................................................................................... $140,891
Minority interests........................................................................... 670
General Motors--obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts
holding solely junior subordinated debentures of General Motors --Series G 139
Stockholders' Equity
$1-2/3 par value common stock (issued, 565,371,465; 619,412,233 and 642,050,210
shares) and Class H common stock (issued, 874,807,080; 411,345,561 and 405,587,
898 shares) and Capital surplus (principally additional paid-in-capital)................. $ 22,848
Retained earnings..................................................................... 10,335
Net unrealized gains on securities.................................................... 933
Accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments.................................. (2,480)
Minimum pension liability adjustment....................................................... (121)
--------
Total stockholder's equity................................................................... 31,515
--------
Total Capitalization......................................................................... $173,215
========
</TABLE>
Note: Guarantees and contingent liabilities of GM are as disclosed on page ii-52
of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
GM has had no material capitalization changes since September 30, 2000.
<PAGE>
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
The following table sets forth our selected financial data derived from
the audited consolidated financial statements for the two years ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998 and from unaudited financial statements for the
nine months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999. We do not publish
non-consolidated financial statements. We believe that all adjustments
necessary for the fair presentation thereof have been made to the unaudited
financial data. The results for the interim period ended September 30, 2000
are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The
following information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in the
accompanying prospectus. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference"
in the accompanying prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Balance Sheet Data(1):
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Year Ended
Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
Balance Sheet Data (1): 2000 199 1999 1998
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES --------- --------- ---- ----
(unaudited) (unaudited)
(dollars in millions)
ASSETS
Automotive, Communications Services, and Other Operations
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash and cash equivalents................................................... $ 9,351 $ 12,056 $ 9,730 $ 9,728
Marketable securities....................................................... 1,176 1,666 1,698 402
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total cash and marketable securities.................................. 10,527 13,722 11,428 10,130
Accounts and notes receivable (less allowances)............................. 5,975 5,480 5,093 4,750
Inventories (less allowances)............................................... 11,300 10,603 10,638 10,437
Net assets of discontinued operations....................................... - - - 77
Equipment on operating leases (less accumulated depreciation)............... 5,980 6,244 5,744 4,954
Deferred income taxes and other current assets.............................. 9,489 7,494 9,006 10,051
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total current assets.................................................. 43,271 43,543 41,909 40,399
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated associates.......................... 3,301 1,642 1,711 950
Property - net.............................................................. 34,036 31,761 32,779 32,222
Intangible assets - net..................................................... 8,651 12,338 8,527 9,994
Deferred income taxes....................................................... 13,202 17,139 15,277 14,967
Other assets................................................................ 33,015 13,894 25,358 16,062
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total Automotive, Comm. Serv., and Other Operations assets............ 135,476 120,317 125,561 114,594
Financing and Insurance Operations
Cash and cash equivalents................................................... $ 912 $ 328 $ 712 $ 146
Investments in securities................................................... 9,309 8,937 9,110 8,748
Finance receivables - net................................................... 87,534 76,449 80,627 70,436
Investment in leases and other receivables.................................. 37,551 35,837 36,407 32,798
Other assets................................................................ 24,864 20,589 21,312 19,150
Net receivable from Automotive, Comm. Serv., and Other Operations........... 1,599 369 1,001 816
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total Financing and Insurance Operations assets....................... 161,769 142,509 149,169 132,094
------- ------- ------- -------
Total assets................................................................ $297,245 $262,826 $274,730 $246,688
======== ======== ======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Automotive, Communications Services, and Other Operations
Accounts payable (principally trade)........................................ $ 18,190 $ 16,323 $ 17,254 $ 13,542
Loans payable............................................................... 3,321 695 1,991 1,204
Accrued expenses............................................................ 31,997 32,803 32,854 30,548
Net payable to Financing and Insurance Operations........................... 1,599 369 1,001 816
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total current liabilities................................................... 55,107 50,190 53,100 46,110
Long-term debt.............................................................. 8,245 7,880 7,415 7,118
Postretirement benefits other than pensions................................. 34,376 34,455 34,166 33,503
Pensions.................................................................... 3,226 3,179 3,339 4,410
Other liabilities and deferred income taxes................................. 16,088 18,170 17,426 17,807
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total Automotive, Communications Services, and
Other Operations liabilities 117,042 113,874 115,446 108,948
Financing and Insurance Operations
Accounts payable............................................................ $ 5,316 $ 4,587 $ 4,262 $ 4,148
Debt........................................................................ 129,325 115,329 122,282 107,753
Other liabilities and deferred income taxes................................. 13,238 11,607 11,282 10,004
-------- -------- -------- ------
Total Financing and Insurance Operations liabilities........................ 147,879 131,523 137,826 121,905
Minority interests.......................................................... 670 635 596 563
General Motors - obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred
securities of subsidary trusts holding solely junior
subordinated debentures of General Motors
Series D........................................................ - 79 79 79
Series G........................................................ 139 140 139 141
Stockholders' equity
Preference stocks........................................................... - - - 1
$1-2/3 par value common stock (issued, 565,371,465; 642,050,210
619,412,233 and 655,008,344shares)........................................ 943 1,071 1,033 1,092
Class H common stock (issued, 874,807,080; 405,587,898
411,345,561 and 318,479,328 shares)......................................... 87 14 14 11
Capital surplus (principally additional paid-in capital).................... 21,818 15,282 13,794 12,661
Retained earnings........................................................... 10,335 5,573 6,961 6,984
-------- -------- -------- --------
Subtotal........................................................ 33,183 21,940 21,802 20,749
Accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments........................ (2,480) (1,969) (2,033) (1,089)
Net unrealized gains on securities.......................................... 933 631 996 481
Minimum pension liability adjustment........................................ (121) (4,027) (121) (5,089)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Accumulated other comprehensive loss............................ (1,668) (5,365) (1,158) (5,697)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total stockholders' equity................................ 31,515 16,575 20,644 15,052
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity.................................. $297,245 $262,826 $274,730 $246,688
======== ======== ======== ========
Nine Months Ended Years Ended
September 30, December 31,
2000 1999 1999 1998
---- ---- ---- ----
(dollars in millions)
Income Statement Data (1):
Total net sales and revenues................................................ $138,291 $130,296 $176,558 $155,445
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cost of sales and other expenses............................................ 108,888 104,261 140,708 127,785
Selling, general, and administrative expenses............................... 15,604 13,169 19,053 16,087
Interest expense............................................................ 7,066 5,624 7,750 6,629
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total costs and expenses........................................... 131,558 123,054 167,511 150,501
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes and minority interests....................................... 6,733 7,242 9,047 4,944
Income tax expense.......................................................... 2,148 2,538 3,118 1,636
Equity income/(loss) and minority interests................................. (222) (273) (353) (259)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income from continuing operations........................................... 4,363 4,431 5,576 3,049
Income from discontinued operations......................................... - 426 426 (93)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income......................................................... 4,363 4,857 6,002 2,956
--------------
(1) Certain amounts for 1998 and 1999 have been reclassified to conform with 2000 classifications.
</TABLE>
Use of Proceeds
We will receive net proceeds before expenses of $990,890,000. We estimate
that our expenses will be approximately $250,000. We will use the net proceeds
for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of existing
indebtedness.
Description of Notes
General
The following description of the particular terms of the 7.20% Notes due
January 15, 2011 (the "Notes") offered hereby supplements and, to the extent
that the terms are inconsistent, replaces, the description of the general terms
and provisions of the Debt Securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus.
The Notes are part of the Debt Securities registered by GM in August 1998 to be
issued on terms to be determined at the time of sale.
The Notes offered hereby will be issued in an initial aggregate principal
amount of $1,000,000,000 pursuant to an Indenture dated as of December 7, 1995,
between GM and Citibank, N.A. (the "Trustee"), which is more fully described in
the accompanying prospectus and the Notes have been authorized and approved by
resolution of the Borrowings Committee of our Board of Directors dated January
4, 2001.
The Indenture and the Notes are governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York, United States.
The Notes will be redeemed at par on January 15, 2011. The Notes will be
redeemable by GM prior to maturity at prices determined in the manner described
below and also if certain events occur involving U.S. taxation. See "Optional
Redemption" and "Redemption for Tax Reasons." The Notes will bear interest,
calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months,
from January 11, 2001 at the rate of 7.20% per annum, payable on January 15 and
July 15 of each year, the first payment to be made on July 15, 2001 in respect
of the period from January 11, 2001 to July 15, 2001, to the person in whose
name the Notes are registered at the close of business on the last day of the
calendar month next preceding such January 15 and July 15.
Citibank, N.A., the Trustee, is an affiliate of Salomon Smith Barney Inc.,
one of the representatives of the underwriters.
Optional Redemption
The Notes will be redeemable at any time, at our option, in whole or in
part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice, prior to their
maturity at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount of the
Notes, the Make-Whole Amount described below and any accrued and unpaid interest
to the date of redemption. Holders of record on a record date that is on or
prior to a redemption date will be entitled to receive interest due on the
interest payment date.
The term "Make-Whole Amount" means, the excess, if any, of (i) the
aggregate present value as of the date of the redemption of principal being
redeemed and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the date
of redemption) that would have been payable if redemption had not been made,
determined by discounting, on a semiannual basis, the remaining principal and
interest at the Reinvestment Rate described below (determined on the third
business day preceding the date notice of redemption is given) from the dates
on which the principal and interest would have been payable if the redemption
had not been made, to the date of redemption, over (ii) the aggregate
principal amount of the Global Notes being redeemed.
The term "Reinvestment Rate" means 0.35% plus the arithmetic mean of the
yields under the heading "Week Ending" published in the most recent weekly
Statistical Release under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities" for the
maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining life to
maturity, as of the payment date of the principal being redeemed or paid. If no
maturity exactly corresponds to the maturity, yields for the two published
maturities most closely corresponding to the maturity would be so calculated
and the Reinvestment Rate would be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-
line basis, rounding to the nearest tenth. The most recent Statistical
Release published prior to the date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount
will be used for purposes of calculating the Reinvestment Rate.
The Make-Whole Amount will be calculated by an independent investment
banking institution of national standing appointed by us. If we fail to make
the appointment at least 45 business days prior to the date of redemption, or
if the institution is unwilling or unable to make the calculation, the
calculation will be made by an independent investment banking institution of
national standing appointed by the Trustee.
If the Reinvestment Rate is not available as described above, the
Reinvestment Rate will be calculated by interpolation or extrapolation of
comparable rates selected by the independent investment banking institution.
In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for
redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of
the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed or, if the Notes are not listed on a national securities exchange, by lot
or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems to be fair
and appropriate.
<PAGE>
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
The Notes will be offered and sold in principal amounts of U.S. $1,000 and
integral multiples thereof. The Notes will be issued in the form of one or more
fully registered Global Notes (collectively, the "Global Notes"), which will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New
York (the "Depository" or "DTC") and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the
Depository's nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on
behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in the
Depository. Investors may elect to hold interests in the Global Notes through
DTC, Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, Luxembourg, formerly Cedelbank
("Clearstream"), or Euroclear Bank S.A./NV, as operator of the Euroclear System
("Euroclear") if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through
organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear
will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers'
securities accounts in Clearstream's and Euroclear's names on the books of their
respective depositaries. Clearstream's and Euroclear's depositaries will hold
interests in customers' securities accounts in the depositaries' names on the
books of the Depository. Citibank, N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream
and The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as depositary for Euroclear (in such
capacities, the "U.S. Depositaries"). Except as set forth below, the Global
Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of
the Depository or to a successor of the Depository or its nominee. The transfer
of Global Notes may be made at the office of the Registrar according to the
rules of the clearing systems.
Clearstream has advised that it is incorporated under the laws of the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities
for its participating organizations ("Clearstream Participants"). Clearstream
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between
Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of
Clearstream Participants, eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other
things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of
internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing.
Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a
professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg
Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (CSSF). Clearstream
Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including
underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to Clearstream is
also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies
that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream
Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Distributions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for
Clearstream, with respect to the Notes held beneficially through Clearstream
will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with
its rules and procedures.
Euroclear has advised that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for
its participants ("Euroclear Participants") and to clear and settle transactions
between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry
delivery against payment, eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates and eliminating any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of
securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including
securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./NV (the "Euroclear
Operator"), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian
cooperative corporation (the "Cooperative"). All operations are conducted by the
Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and
Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator not the
Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of
Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central
banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial
intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is
also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator has advised us that it is licensed by the Belgian
Banking and Finance Commission to carry out banking activities on a global
basis. As a Belgian bank, it is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking
Commission.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator
are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the
related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law
(collectively, the "Terms and Conditions"). The Terms and Conditions govern
transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and
cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in
Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without
attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts.
The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of
Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons
holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear,
with respect to Notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to
the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and
Conditions.
In the event definitive Notes are issued, we will appoint a paying agent
and transfer agent in Luxembourg (the "Luxembourg Paying and Transfer Agent").
Holders of definitive Notes will be able to receive payments and effect
transfers at the offices of the Luxembourg Paying and Transfer Agent.
Individual certificates in respect of Notes will not be issued in exchange
for the Global Notes, except in very limited circumstances. If Euroclear,
Clearstream or DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
clearing system in connection with a Global Note or, in the case of DTC only,
DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act,
and in each case we do not appoint a successor clearing system within 90 days
after receiving such notice from Euroclear, Clearstream or DTC or on becoming
aware that DTC is no longer so registered, we will issue or cause to be issued
individual certificates in registered form on registration of, transfer of or in
exchange for book-entry interests in the Notes represented by such Global Note
upon delivery of such Global Note for cancellation.
Title to book-entry interests in the Notes will pass by book-entry
registration of the transfer within the records of Euroclear, Clearstream or
DTC, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective procedures.
Book-entry interests in the Notes may be transferred within Euroclear and within
Clearstream and between Euroclear and Clearstream in accordance with procedures
established for these purposes by Euroclear and Clearstream. Book-entry
interests in the Notes may be transferred within DTC in accordance with
procedures established for this purpose by DTC. Transfers of book-entry
interests in the Notes between Euroclear and Clearstream and DTC may be effected
in accordance with procedures established for this purpose by Euroclear,
Clearstream and DTC.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Initial settlement for the Notes will be made in immediately available
funds. Secondary market trading between DTC Participants will occur in the
ordinary way in accordance with Depository rules. Secondary market trading
between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the
ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of
Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to
conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly
through the Depository on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through
Clearstream or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in the
Depository in accordance with the Depository rules on behalf of the relevant
European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary. However, a
cross-market transfer will require delivery of instructions to the relevant
European international clearing system, by the counterparty in such European
international clearing system, in accordance with its rules and procedures and
within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European
international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement
requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to
effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving Notes in the
Depository, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures
for same-day funds settlement applicable to the Depository. Clearstream
Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to
their respective U.S. Depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of Notes received in Clearstream
or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made
during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day
following the Depository settlement date. Credits or any transactions of the
type described above settled during subsequent securities settlement processing
will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on the
business day that the processing occurs. Cash received in Clearstream or
Euroclear as a result of sales of Notes by or through a Clearstream Participant
or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on
the Depository settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream
or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in
the Depository.
Although the Depository, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the
foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of Notes among
participants of the Depository, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no
obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures. The foregoing
procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.
Further Issues
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the
registered holders of the Notes, create and issue further Notes ranking pari
passu with the Notes in all respects, or in all respects except for the payment
of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further Notes or except for
the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further Notes.
Such further Notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes
and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes.
Payment of Additional Amounts
We will pay to the holder of any Note who is a non-United States person (as
defined below) such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that every
net payment in respect of the principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on such Note, after deduction or withholding by GM or any paying agent for or on
account of any present or future tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed
upon or as a result of such payment by the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, will not be less than the
amount provided for in such Note to be then due and payable before any such
deduction or withholding for or on account of any such tax, assessment or
governmental charge. The foregoing obligation to pay such additional amounts
shall not apply to:
(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not
have been so imposed but for:
o the existence of any present or former connection between such
holder (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or
shareholder of, or holder of a power over, such holder, if such
holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the
United States, including, without limitation, such holder (or
such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder of, or
holder of a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or
treated as a resident thereof or being or having been engaged in
a trade or business therein or being or having been present
therein or having or having had a permanent establishment
therein, or
o such holder's present or former status as a personal holding
company or foreign personal holding company or controlled foreign
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes or
corporation which accumulates earnings to avoid United States
federal income tax;
(b) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not
have been so imposed but for the presentation by the holder of such Note
for payment on a date more than 10 days after the date on which such
payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly
provided for, whichever occurs later;
(c) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property
or excise tax or any similar tax, assessment or governmental charge;
(d) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable
otherwise than by withholding from payments in respect of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Note;
(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on
interest received by a holder or beneficial owner of a Note who actually or
constructively owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of GM entitled to vote within the meaning of Section
871(h)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed as a
result of the failure to comply with:
o certification, information, documentation, reporting or
other similar requirements concerning the nationality,
residence, identity or connection with the United States of
the holder or beneficial owner of the Note, if such
compliance is required by statute, or by regulation of the
United States Treasury Department, as a precondition to
relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other
governmental charge (including backup withholding) or
o any other certification, information, documentation,
reporting or other similar requirements under United States
income tax laws or regulations that would establish
entitlement to otherwise applicable relief or exemption from
such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(g) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be
withheld by any paying agent from any payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest, if any, on any Note, if such payment can be made
without such withholding by at least one other paying agent; or
(h) any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g);
nor will such additional amounts be paid to any holder who is a fiduciary or
partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the Note to the extent a
settlor or beneficiary with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such
partnership or a beneficial owner of the Note would not have been entitled to
payment of such additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or
beneficial owner been the holder of the Note.
The Notes are subject in all cases to any tax, fiscal or other law or
regulation or administrative or judicial interpretation applicable thereto.
Except as specifically provided under this heading "Payment of Additional
Amounts" and under the heading "Description of Notes--Redemption for Tax
Reasons", GM shall not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax,
assessment or governmental charge imposed by any government or a political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
As used under this heading "Payment of Additional Amounts" and under the
headings "Description of Notes--Redemption for Tax Reasons" and "United States
Federal Taxation - Tax Consequences to Non-United States Persons" the term
"United States" means the United States of America (including the States and the
District of Columbia) and its territories, its possessions and other areas
subject to its jurisdiction. "United States person" has the meaning set forth in
"United States Federal Taxation - Tax Consequences to United States Person" and
"non-United States person" has the meaning set forth in "United States Federal
Taxation - Tax Consequences to Non-United States Persons" below.
Redemption for Tax Reasons
If, as a result of:
o any change in or amendment to the laws (including any regulations or
rulings promulgated thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof or therein affecting taxation, which becomes
effective after the date of this prospectus supplement or which
proposal is made after such date,
o any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws,
including any official proposal for such a change, amendment or change
in the application or interpretation of such laws, which change,
amendment, application or interpretation is announced or becomes
effective after the date of this prospectus supplement or which
proposal is made after such date, o any action taken by any taxing
authority of the United States which action is taken or becomes
generally known after the date of this Prospectus Supplement, or any
commencement of a proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction in
the United States after such date, whether or not such action was
taken or such proceeding was brought with respect to GM,
there is, in such case, in the written opinion of independent legal counsel of
recognized standing to GM, a material increase in the probability that GM has or
may become obligated to pay additional amounts (as described above under
"Payment of Additional Amounts"), and GM in its business judgment, determines
that such obligation cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures
available to it, not including assignment of the Notes, the Notes may be
redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at GM's option at any time thereafter,
upon notice to the Trustee and the holders of the Notes in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal
amount of the Notes to be redeemed together with accrued interest thereon to the
date fixed for redemption.
Notices
Notices to holders of the Notes will be published in authorized daily
newspapers in The City of New York, in London, and, so long as the Notes are
listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, in Luxembourg. It is expected that
publication will be made in The City of New York in The Wall Street Journal, in
London in the Financial Times, and in Luxembourg in the Luxemburger Wort. Any
notice given pursuant to these provisions shall be deemed to have been given on
the date of publication or, if published more than once, on the date first
published.
United States Federal Taxation
The following summary describes the material United States federal income
and certain estate tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the Notes.
This summary provides general information only and is directed solely to
original holders purchasing Notes at the "issue price", that is, the first price
to the public at which a substantial amount of the Notes in an issue is sold
(excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations
acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers). This
summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date
hereof (the "Code"), existing administrative pronouncements and judicial
decisions, existing and proposed Treasury Regulations currently in effect, and
interpretations of the foregoing, changes to any of which subsequent to the date
of this prospectus supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein,
possibly with retroactive effect. This summary discusses only Notes held as
capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This summary does
not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in
light of the holder's particular circumstances or to holders subject to special
rules, such as certain financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in
securities, persons holding Notes in connection with a hedging transaction,
"straddle," conversion transaction or other integrated transaction or persons
who have ceased to be United States citizens or to be taxed as resident aliens
or United States persons whose functional currency (as defined in Section 985 of
the Code) is not the U.S. dollar. Persons considering the purchase of Notes
should consult their tax advisors with regard to the application of the United
States federal income and estate tax laws to their particular situations as well
as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign
taxing jurisdiction.
Tax Consequences to United States Persons
For purposes of the following discussion, "United States person" means a
beneficial owner of a Note that is for United States federal income tax
purposes:
o a citizen or resident of the United States,
o a corporation or other entity created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof,
o an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source, or
o a trust if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise
primary supervision over the administration of the trust and (2) one
or more United States persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust.
If a partnership holds Notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally
depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the
partnership. Partners of partnerships holding Notes should consult their tax
advisors.
Payments of Interest
Interest on a Note will generally be taxable to a United States person as
ordinary interest income at the time it is accrued or is received in accordance
with the United States person's method of accounting for tax purposes.
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Notes
Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, a United States person
will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount
realized on the sale, exchange or retirement and the United States person's
adjusted tax basis in the Note. For these purposes, the amount realized does not
include any amount attributable to interest on the Note that has not previously
been included in income, which will be includable as interest as described under
"Payments of Interest" above. A United States person's adjusted tax basis in a
Note generally will equal the cost of the Note to the United States person.
In general, gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of a
Note will be capital gain or loss. Prospective investors should consult their
tax advisors regarding the treatment of capital gains (which may be taxed at
lower rates than ordinary income for taxpayers who are individuals, trusts or
estates) and losses (the deductibility of which is subject to limitations).
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Backup withholding and information reporting requirements may apply to
certain payments of principal, premium and interest on a Note, and to payments
of proceeds of the sale or redemption of a Note, to certain non-corporate United
States persons. GM, its agent, a broker, or any paying agent, as the case may
be, will be required to withhold from any payment a tax equal to 31 percent of
such payment if the United States person fails to furnish or certify his correct
taxpayer identification number to the payor in the manner required, fails to
certify that such United States person is not subject to backup withholding, or
otherwise fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the backup
withholding rules. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from
a payment to a United States person may be credited against that United States
person's United States federal income tax and may entitle that United States
person to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the
United States Internal Revenue Service.
Tax Consequences to Non-United States Persons
As used herein, the term "non-United States person" means an owner of a
Note that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:
o a nonresident alien individual,
o a foreign corporation, or
o a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.
If a partnership holds Notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally
depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the
partnership. Partners of partnerships holding Notes should consult their tax
advisors.
Income and Withholding Tax
Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below:
(a) payments of principal and interest on a Note that is beneficially
owned by a non-United States person will not be subject to United States
federal withholding tax; provided, that in the case of interest,
o (1) the beneficial owner does not actually or constructively own
10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of GM entitled to vote, (2) the beneficial owner is not a
controlled foreign corporation that is related, directly or
indirectly, to GM through stock ownership, and (3) either (A) the
beneficial owner of the Note certifies (generally on an IRS Form
W-8BEN) to the person otherwise required to withhold United
States federal income tax from such interest, under penalties of
perjury, that it is not a United States person and provides its
name and address or (B) a securities clearing organization, bank
or other financial institution that holds customers' securities
in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a "financial
institution") and holds the Note certifies to the person
otherwise required to withhold United States federal income tax
from such interest, under penalties of perjury, that such
statement has been received from the beneficial owner by it or by
a financial institution between it and the beneficial owner and
furnishes the payor with a copy thereof;
o the beneficial owner is entitled to the benefits of an income tax
treaty under which the interest is exempt from United States
federal withholding tax and the beneficial owner of the Note or
such owner's agent provides an IRS Form W-8BEN claiming the
exemption; or
o the beneficial owner conducts a trade or business in the United
States to which the interest is effectively connected and the
beneficial owner of the Note or such owner's agent provides an
IRS Form W-8ECI;
provided that in each such case, the relevant certification or IRS
Form is delivered pursuant to applicable procedures and is properly
transmitted to the person otherwise required to withhold United States
federal income tax, and none of the persons receiving the relevant
certification or IRS Form has actual knowledge that the certification
or any statement on the IRS Form is false.
(b) a non-United States person will not be subject to United States
federal withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other
disposition of a Note unless the gain is effectively connected with the
beneficial owner's trade or business in the United States or, in the case
of an individual, the holder is present in the United States for 183 days
or more in the taxable year in which the sale, exchange or other
disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met; and
(c) a Note owned by an individual who at the time of death is not, for
United States estate tax purposes, a citizen or resident of the United
States generally will not be subject to United States federal estate tax as
a result of such individual's death if the individual does not actually or
constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of GM's stock entitled to vote and, at the time of such
individual's death the income on the Note would not have been effectively
connected with a United States trade or business of the individual.
With respect to the certification requirement referred to in subparagraph
(a), for Notes held by a foreign partnership, unless the foreign partnership has
entered into a withholding agreement with the IRS, a foreign partnership will be
required, in addition to providing a Form W-8IMY, to attach an appropriate
certification by each partner. Prospective investors, including foreign
partnerships and their partners, should consult their tax advisors regarding
possible additional reporting requirements.
If a non-United States person holding a Note is engaged in a trade or
business in the United States, and if interest on the Note (or gain realized on
its sale, exchange or other disposition) is effectively connected with the
conduct of such trade or business, such holder, although exempt from the
withholding tax discussed in the preceding paragraphs, will generally be subject
to regular United States income tax on such effectively connected income in the
same manner as if it were a United States person. Such a holder may also need to
provide a United States taxpayer identification number on the forms referred to
in paragraph (a) above in order to meet the requirements set forth above. In
addition, if such holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a 30%
branch profits tax (unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable treaty) of its
effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to
certain adjustments. For purposes of the branch profits tax, interest on, and
any gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of, a Note will
be included in the effectively connected earnings and profits of such holder if
such interest or gain, as the case may be, is effectively connected with the
conduct by such holder of a trade or business in the United States.
Each holder of a Note should be aware that if it does not properly provide
the required IRS form, or if the IRS form or, if permissible, a copy of such
form, is not properly transmitted to and received by the United States person
otherwise required to withhold United States federal income tax, interest on the
Note may be subject to United States withholding tax at a 30% rate and the
holder, including the beneficial owner, will not be entitled to any additional
amounts from GM described under the heading "Description of Notes-Payment of
Additional Amounts" with respect to such tax. Such tax, however, may in certain
circumstances be allowed as a refund or as a credit against such holder's United
States federal income tax. The foregoing does not deal with all aspects of
federal income tax withholding that may be relevant to foreign holders of the
Notes. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors for specific
advice concerning the ownership and disposition of Notes.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Under current Treasury Regulations, backup withholding (imposed at the rate
of 31%) will not apply to payments made by GM or a paying agent to a non-United
States person in respect of a Note if the certifications required by Sections
871(h) and 881(c) of the Code, which are described above, are received, provided
in each case that GM or the paying agent, as the case may be, does not have
actual knowledge that the payee is a United States person.
Under current Treasury Regulations, payments of the proceeds from the sale,
exchange or other disposition of a Note made to or through a foreign office of a
broker (including a custodian, nominee or other agent acting on behalf of the
beneficial owner of a Note) generally will not be subject to information
reporting or backup withholding. However, if such broker is a United States
person, a controlled foreign corporation for United States federal tax purposes,
a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with
a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, or a
foreign partnership with certain connections with the United States, then
information reporting will be required unless the broker has in its records
documentary evidence that the beneficial owner is not a United States person and
certain other conditions are met or the beneficial owner otherwise establishes
an exemption. Backup withholding may apply to any payment that such broker is
required to report if such broker has actual knowledge that the payee is a
United States person. Payments to or through the United States office of a
broker are subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the
holder or beneficial owner certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is a
non-United States person and that it satisfies certain other conditions or
otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup
withholding.
Non-United States persons holding Notes should consult their tax advisors
regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in
their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the
procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if available. Backup withholding is
not a separate tax, but is allowed as a refund or credit against the holder's
United States federal income tax, provided the necessary information is
furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Interest on a Note that is beneficially owned by a non-United States person
will be reported annually on IRS Form 1042S, which must be filed with the
Internal Revenue Service and furnished to such beneficial owner.
The United States federal income tax discussion set forth above is included
for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a holder's
particular situation. Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect
to the tax consequences to them of the ownership and disposition of the Notes,
including the tax consequences under state, local, foreign and other tax laws
and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
<PAGE>
Underwriting
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
dated January 4, 2001 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), we have agreed to sell to
each of the underwriters named below, and each of the underwriters, for whom
Banc of America Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Salomon
Smith Barney Inc. are acting as representatives (collectively, the
"Representatives"), has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of the
Notes set forth opposite its name below. In the Underwriting Agreement, the
several underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein, to purchase all the Notes offered hereby if any of the Notes are
purchased.
Principal Amount
Underwriters of Notes
------------ ----------------
Banc of America Securities LLC ...................... $ 280,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.................... 280,000,000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. .......................... 280,000,000
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ...................... 40,000,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.................................. 40,000,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc........................ 20,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc................................. 20,000,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.............................. 20,000,000
Chase Securities Inc................................. 20,000,000
Total............................................ $ 1,000,000,000
================
The Representatives of the underwriters have advised us that the
underwriters propose initially to offer the Notes to the public at the offering
price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to certain
dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of 0.250% of the principal
amount of the Notes. After the initial public offering, the public offering
price and concession may be changed.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Notes are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States,
Europe, Asia and Canada where it is legal to make such offers. Only offers and
sales of the Notes in the United States, as part of the initial distribution
thereof or in connection with resales thereof under circumstances where this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must be delivered, are
made pursuant to the registration statement of which the accompanying
prospectus, as supplemented by this prospectus supplement, is a part.
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it will comply with all
applicable laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction in which it
purchases, offers, sells or delivers the Notes or possesses or distributes this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and will obtain any
consent, approval or permission required by it for the purchase, offer or sale
by it of the Notes under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction
to which it is subject or in which it makes such purchases, offers or sales and
neither GM nor any other underwriter shall have responsibility therefor.
Each underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and agrees that:
o it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Notes to
persons in the United Kingdom prior to the expiry of the period of six
months from the issue date of the Notes except to persons whose
ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or
disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of
their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted
and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom
within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations
1995;
o it has only issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in the
United Kingdom any document received by it in connection with the
issue of the Notes to a person who is of a kind described in Article
11(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment Advertisements)
(Exemptions) Order 1996, as amended, or is a person to whom such
document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on;
o it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in
relation to any Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United
Kingdom; and
o it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not
directly or indirectly, offer or sell in the Netherlands any Notes
other than to persons who trade or invest in securities in the conduct
of a profession or business (which include banks, stockbrokers,
insurance companies, pension funds, other institutional investors and
finance companies and treasury departments of large enterprises).
Although application has been made to list the Notes on the Luxembourg
Stock Exchange, the Notes are a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading
markets for, the Notes. We have been advised by the underwriters that they
intend to make a market in the Notes, but they are not obligated to do so and
may discontinue such market-making at any time without notice.
Purchasers of the Notes may be required to pay stamp taxes and other
charges in accordance with the laws and practices of the country of purchase in
addition to the issue price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus
supplement.
In connection with the sale of the Notes, certain of the underwriters may
engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of
the Notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot the offering, creating a
short position. In addition, the underwriters may bid for and purchase the Notes
in the open market to cover short positions or to stabilize the price of the
Notes. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the
Notes above independent market levels. The underwriters will not be required to
engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
The underwriters have agreed to reimburse GM for certain of its expenses in
connection with the offering of the Notes.
John H. Bryan, a director of Bank One Corporation, of which Banc One
Capital Markets, Inc. is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary, and a director of
Goldman, Sachs Group Inc., of which Goldman, Sachs & Co. is a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary, is a director of GM. Lloyd D. Ward, a director of J.P.
Morgan Chase & Co., of which Chase Securities Inc. is a direct wholly-owned
subsidiary, is a director of GM. In the ordinary course of their respective
businesses, certain of the underwriters or their affiliates have engaged, and
will in the future engage, in commercial banking and investment banking
transactions with GM and certain of its affiliates.
<PAGE>
General Information
Application has been made to list the Notes on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange. In connection with the listing application, the Certificate of
Incorporation and the By-Laws of GM and a legal notice relating to the issuance
of the Notes have been deposited prior to listing with the Greffier en Chef du
Tribunal d'Arrondissement de et a Luxembourg, where copies thereof may be
obtained upon request. Copies of the above documents together with this
prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the Indenture and GM's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 as well as all
Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports
on Form 8-K filed since December 31, 1999, so long as any of the Notes are
outstanding, will be made available for inspection at the main office of Banque
Generale du Luxembourg S.A. Banque Generale du Luxembourg S.A. will act as
intermediary between the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and GM and the holders of the
Notes. In addition, copies of the Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports and Current
Reports of GM may be obtained free of charge at such office.
Except as may be disclosed herein (including the documents incorporated by
reference), there has been no material adverse change in the financial or
trading position of GM since December 31, 1999.
Except as may be disclosed in the documents incorporated by reference, GM
is not a party to any legal or arbitration proceedings (including any that are
pending or threatened) which may have or have had during the previous 12 months
a significant effect on GM's consolidated financial position.
The Notes have been accepted for clearance through Euroclear and
Clearstream and have been assigned Euroclear and Clearstream Common Code No.
012299605, International Security Identification Number (ISIN) US370442BB09 and
CUSIP No. 370442BB0.
Legal Opinions
The validity of the Notes offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement
will be passed on for GM by Martin I. Darvick, Esq., Attorney, Legal Staff of
GM, and for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell. Mr. Darvick owns shares,
and has options to purchase shares, of General Motors Corporation common stock,
$1 2/3 par value and owns shares of General Motors Corporation Class H common
stock, $0.10 par value.
The firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell acts as counsel to the Executive
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of General Motors Corporation
and has acted as counsel for General Motors Corporation and certain of its
subsidiaries in various matters.
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF GM
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000
United States
LEGAL AND TAX ADVISORS
TO GM
(As to United States Law) (As to United States Law)
Martin I. Darvick, Esq. Peter F. Hiltz, Esq.
300 Renaissance Center 300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48265 Detroit, Michigan 48265
United States United States
AUDITORS
Independent Auditors
of GM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
600 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48243-1274
United States
LEGAL ADVISORS TO THE UNDERWRITERS
(As to United States Law)
Davis Polk & Wardwell
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
United States
LISTING AGENT
Banque Generale du Luxembourg S.A.
50 Avenue J. F. Kennedy
L-2951 Luxembourg
TRUSTEE
Citibank
Global Agency & Trust Services
111 Wall Street, Fifth Floor
New York, New York 10043
United States
PAYING AND TRANSFER AGENT IN LUXEMBOURG
Banque Generale du Luxembourg S.A.
50 Avenue J. F. Kennedy
L-2951 Luxembourg
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES
General Motors Corporation (the "Corporation" or "General Motors"),
directly, through agents designated from time to time, or through dealers or
underwriters also to be designated, may offer from time to time its debt
securities (the "Debt Securities") and/or its warrants (the "Warrants") to
purchase any of the Debt Securities, for issuance and sale, at an aggregate
initial offering price not to exceed $3,000,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in
other currencies, including composite currencies such as the European Currency
Unit ("ECU") (the "Specified Currency"), on terms to be determined at the time
of sale. The Debt Securities and the Warrants are herein collectively called the
"Securities." The Securities may be offered either together or separately and in
one or more series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in
supplements to this Prospectus. The Securities may be sold for U.S. dollars or
the Specified Currency and the principal of and any premium and interest on the
Securities may likewise be payable in U.S. dollars or the Specified Currency.
The Specified Currency for which the Securities may be purchased and the
Specified Currency in which principal of and any premium and interest on the
Securities may be payable are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus
Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement").
The Debt Securities will be issued in fully registered definitive form
("Certificated Securities") or in the form of global securities which may be
held and registered only in the name of a depositary institution ("Book-Entry
Securities").
The terms of the Debt Securities, including, where applicable, the specific
designation, aggregate principal amount, authorized denominations, purchase
price, maturity, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable) and time of
payment of interest, if any, any redemption or repayment terms, and the
Specified Currency in which the Debt Securities shall be payable (and similar
information with respect to the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of
each Warrant), are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement (the
"Prospectus Supplement"). Where Warrants are to be offered, a Prospectus
Supplement shall set forth the offering price and terms of the Warrants,
including the purchase price, exercise price or prices, detachability,
expiration date or dates, exercise period or periods, the Specified Currency in
which such Warrants are exercisable, the price or prices, if any, at which the
Warrants may be redeemed at the option of the holder or will be redeemed upon
expiration, and the Warrant Agent acting under the Warrant Agreement pursuant to
which the Warrants are to be issued.
The Securities may be sold directly by the Corporation, through agents of
the Corporation designated from time to time, or through underwriters or
dealers, or through a combination of such methods. If any agents, underwriters
or dealers are involved in the sale of the Securities, the names of such agents,
underwriters or dealers and any applicable commissions or discounts are set
forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Any Agents, underwriters or
dealers participating in the offering may be deemed "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Plan of Distribution"
for possible indemnification arrangements for the agents, underwriters and
dealers. The Corporation reserves the sole right to accept and, together with
its agents from time to time, to reject in whole or in part any proposed
purchase of Securities to be made directly or through agents.
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 August 19, 1998
<PAGE>
No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement, and Pricing Supplement, if
any, and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be
relied upon as having been authorized by the Corporation or by any agent,
underwriter or dealer. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus, Prospectus
Supplement and Pricing Supplement, if any, nor any sale made thereunder shall,
under any circumstances, create any implication that the information therein is
correct at any time subsequent to the date thereof. This Prospectus, Prospectus
Supplement and Pricing Supplement, if any, shall not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Securities offered hereby 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.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Corporation is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected, and copies may be obtained at
the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates, as well as at the following
Regional Offices of the Commission: Citicorp Center, 500 Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New
York, New York 10048. Such material may also be accessed electronically by means
of the Commission's home page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Reports,
proxy statements and other information concerning the Corporation can also be
inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10005, where the Corporation's Common Stock, $1-2/3 Par Value
and Class H Common Stock, $.10 par value, are listed and at the offices of the
following other stock exchanges where the Corporation's Common Stock, $1-2/3 Par
Value, is listed in the United States: the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., One
Financial Place, 440 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605, the Pacific
Stock Exchange, Inc., 233 South Beaudry Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90012
and 301 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104, and the Philadelphia Stock
Exchange, Inc., 1900 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
The Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement filed by the
Corporation with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act of 1933"). This Prospectus omits certain of the information
contained in the Registration Statement in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Commission. Reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the
Corporation and the Securities. Statements contained herein concerning the
provisions of any document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission. Each such
statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1997, as amended, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1998 and June 30, 1998 and Reports on Form 8-K dated January 9, 1998,
January 26, 1998, February 9, 1998, March 2, 1998, April 16, 1998, June 5, 1998,
June 8, 1998, July 8, 1998, July 9, 1998, July 14, 1998(2), August 3, 1998 and
August 17, 1998, filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
All documents filed by the Corporation with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 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 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a
part thereof 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.
<PAGE>
THE CORPORATION WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL
REQUEST, TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, A COPY OF ANY OR
ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE WHICH HAVE BEEN OR MAY BE INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, OTHER THAN EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS. SUCH
REQUEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
MAIL CODE: 482-111-238
3044 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202-3091
(TELEPHONE NUMBER: (313) 556-2044)
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
While the major portion of General Motors operations is derived from the
automotive industry, General Motors also has financing and insurance operations
and produces products and provides services in other industries. General Motors
participates in the automotive industry through the activities of its automotive
business operating segments: General Motors-North American Operations (GM-NAO);
Delphi Automotive Systems (Delphi); and General Motors International Operations
(GMIO). GM-NAO designs, manufactures and markets vehicles primarily in North
America under the following nameplates: Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Oldsmobile,
Buick, Cadillac and Saturn. Delphi is a diverse supplier of automotive systems
and components. Delphi offers products and services in the areas of chassis,
interior, lighting, electronics, power and signal distribution, energy and
engine management, steering and thermal systems. GMIO meets the demands of
customers outside North America with vehicles designed, manufactured and
marketed under the following nameplates: Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, Isuzu, Saab,
Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac. General Motors financing and insurance operations
primarily relate to General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). GMAC provides
a broad range of financial services, including consumer vehicle financing,
full-service leasing and fleet leasing, dealer financing, car and truck extended
service contracts, residential and commercial mortgage services, and vehicle and
homeowners insurance. GM's other operations relate to its Hughes Electronics
Corporation subsidiary, which is the telecommunications and space business, and
the design, manufacturing and marketing of locomotives and heavy-duty
transmissions.
General Motors principal executive offices are located at 200 Renaissance
Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265-2000 (Telephone Number (313) 556-5000).
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, net
proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be used for general Corporate
purposes, including the repayment of existing indebtedness.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the consolidated ratio of earnings from
continuing operations to fixed charges for the Corporation for the periods
indicated.
SIX MONTHS
ENDED
JUNE 30 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
--------------- -------------------------------------
1998 1997 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1.87 2.93 2.21 2.10 2.39 2.35 1.26
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing
earnings before income taxes and fixed charges by the fixed charges. This ratio
includes the earnings and fixed charges of the Corporation and its consolidated
subsidiaries; fixed charges consist of interest and discount and the portion of
rentals for real and personal properties in an amount deemed to be
representative of the interest factor.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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 the Debt Securities in
respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered and the extent, if any, to
which such general provisions may not apply thereto will be described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
The Debt Securities offered hereby are to be issued under an Indenture (the
"Indenture"), dated as of December 7, 1995, between the Corporation and
Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee"), a copy of which is filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. The following statements are subject to
the detailed provisions of the Indenture. Numerical references in parentheses
below are to sections in the Indenture. Wherever particular provisions of the
Indenture are referred to, such provisions are incorporated by reference as a
part of the statements made, and the statements are qualified in their entirety
by such reference. Capitalized terms used in this description but not defined
herein have the meanings provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that, in addition to the Debt Securities offered
hereby, additional Debt Securities may be issued thereunder without limitation
as to aggregate principal amount, except as authorized from time to time by the
Corporation's Board of Directors. (Section 2.01 of the Indenture.)
GENERAL
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular
series of Debt Securities offered thereby for the following terms of the Debt
Securities (to the extent such terms are applicable to such Debt Securities):
(i) the designation of such Debt Securities;
(ii) the authorized denominations and the aggregate principal amount of
such Debt Securities;
(iii) the percentage of their principal amount at which such Debt
Securities will be issued;
(iv) the date or dates on which such Debt Securities will mature (or the
manner of determining the same);
(v) the rate or rates per annum, if any, which may be fixed or variable, at
which such Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, and, if the rate is
variable, the manner of calculation thereof;
(vi) the date or dates from which interest, if any, shall accrue or the
method by which such date or dates shall be determined and the date or dates at
which such interest, if any, will be payable and the record dates therefor;
(vii) the period or periods within which, the terms and conditions upon
which, such Debt Securities may be redeemed and the redemption price or prices;
(viii) any mandatory or optional sinking fund or analogous provisions;
(ix) the provisions, if any, for the defeasance of the Debt Securities;
(x) the form (registered or bearer) in which Debt Securities may be issued,
any restrictions applicable to the exchange of one form for another and to the
offer, sale and delivery of Debt Securities in either form;
(xi) whether and under what circumstances the Corporation will pay
additional amounts (the "Additional Amounts") on Debt Securities held by a
person who is not a United States person (as defined in the Prospectus
Supplement) in respect of specified taxes, assessments or other governmental
charges withheld or deducted, and if so, whether the Corporation has the option
to redeem the affected Debt Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;
(xii) the Specified Currency for which such Debt Securities may be
purchased and the Specified Currency in which the principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on, such Debt Securities may be payable;
(xiii) the exchanges, if any, on which such Debt Securities may be listed;
(xiv) whether such Debt Securities are to be issued in book-entry form and,
if so, the identify of the Depositary for such book-entry Securities;
(xv) the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on the Debt Securities will be payable; and
(xvi) any other specific terms of the Debt Securities, including any
additional covenants applicable to such Debt Securities and any terms which may
be required or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. (Sections 2.04
and 4.02 of the Indenture.)
The Debt Securities will be unsecured and will rank equally and ratably
with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Corporation
(other than obligations preferred by mandatory provisions of law).
Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, principal, premium,
if any, interest, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, will be payable, and,
unless the Debt Securities are issued in book-entry form, the Debt Securities
offered hereby will be transferable, at the office of the Trustee, 111 Wall
Street, New York, New York 10043, provided that payment of interest may be made
at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the address of the person
entitled thereto. Principal of and premium, if any, interest, if any, and
Additional Amounts, if any, on Debt Securities in bearer form, and coupons
appertaining thereto (the "Coupons"), if any, will be payable against surrender
of such Debt Securities or Coupons, as the case may be, subject to any
applicable laws and regulations, at such paying agencies outside the United
States as the Corporation may appoint from time to time at the places and
subject to the restrictions set forth in the Indenture, the Debt Securities and
the Prospectus Supplement. (Section 4.02 of the Indenture.) Debt Securities in
bearer form and the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto will be transferable
by delivery. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of such
Debt Securities, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
(Section 2.05 of the Indenture.)
Debt Securities may be issued, from time to time, with the principal amount
payable on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable on any
interest payment date, to be determined by reference to one or more currency
exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of
such Debt Securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment
date, or a payment of interest on any interest payment date, that is greater
than or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such
dates, depending upon the value on such dates of the applicable currencies,
commodities, equity indices or other factors. Information as to the methods for
determining the amount of principal or interest payable on any date, the
currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount
payable on such date is linked and certain additional United States Federal
income tax considerations will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto.
As used herein, the term Debt Securities shall include Debt Securities
denominated in United States dollars or, at the option of the Corporation if so
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in any other freely
transferable currency or units based on or relating to foreign currencies,
including European Currency Units.
If a Prospectus Supplement specifies that Debt Securities are denominated
in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars, such Prospectus
Supplement shall also specify the denominations in which such Debt Securities
will be issued and the coin or currency in which the principal, premium, if any,
and interest, if any, on such Debt Securities, will be payable, which may be
United States dollars based upon the exchange rate for such other currency
existing on or about the time a payment is due.
Some of the Debt Securities may be issued as discounted Debt Securities
(bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is
below market rates) to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated
principal amount. Special considerations applicable to the Debt Securities of
any series, including any United States Federal income tax consequences
applicable to any discounted Debt Securities or to certain Debt Securities
issued at par which are treated as having been issued at discount or to Debt
Securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies or currency units, will
be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
If a Prospectus Supplement specifies that the Debt Securities will have a
redemption option, the "Option to Elect Repurchase" constitutes an issuer tender
offer under the Exchange Act. The Corporation will comply with all issuer tender
offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14e-1, if
such redemption option is elected, including making any required filings with
the Commission and the furnishing of certain information to the holders of the
Debt Securities.
BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES - DELIVERY AND FORM
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Debt
Securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global
securities (collectively, the "Registered Global Debt Securities") which will be
deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Corporation ("DTC") or other
depositary (DTC or such other depositary as is specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement is herein referred to as the "Depositary") and registered
in the name of the Depositary or the Depositary's nominee. No single Registered
Global Security shall exceed U.S.$200,000,000. Except as set forth below, the
Registered Global Debt Securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part,
only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or
its nominee.
DTC has advised the Corporation that it 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 under the Exchange
Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its 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 securities
certificates. DTC's participants include securities brokers and dealers
(including the agents and/or underwriters named in any Prospectus Supplement),
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations,
some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to DTC'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. Persons who are not participants may
beneficially own securities held by DTC only through participants. The rules
applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the Commission.
Upon the issuance by the Corporation of Securities represented by a
Registered Global Debt Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with, the
respective principal amounts of the Securities represented by such Registered
Global Debt Security beneficially owned by such participants. The accounts to be
credited shall be designated by the agents, underwriters or dealers
participating in the distribution of such Securities, or the Corporation, if
such Securities are offered and sold directly by the Corporation, as the case
may be. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Debt Security
will be limited to participants or persons that hold interests through
participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Securities represented by a
Registered Global Debt Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that
ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary
(with respect to interests of participants in the Depositary), or by
participants in the Depositary or persons that may hold interests through such
participants (with respect to persons other than participants in the
Depositary). 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 Registered Global Debt Security.
So long as the Depositary for a Registered Global Debt Security, or its
nominee, is the registered owner of the Registered Global Debt Security, the
Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner
or holder of the Book-Entry Securities represented by such Registered Global
Debt Security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below,
owners of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Securities represented by a
Registered Global Debt Security or Securities will not be entitled to have
Book-Entry Securities represented by such Registered Global Debt Securities
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of Book-Entry Securities in definitive form and will not be considered
the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Registered
Global Debt Security must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such
person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which
such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the
Indenture or a Registered Global Debt Security. The Corporation understands that
under existing policy of the Depositary and industry practices, in the event
that the Corporation requests any action of holders or that an owner of a
beneficial interest in such a Registered Global Debt Security desires to give
any notice or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under
the Indenture or a Registered Global Debt Security, the Depositary would
authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give
such notice or take such action. Any beneficial owner that is not a participant
must rely on the contractual arrangements it has directly, or indirectly through
its financial intermediary, with a participant to give such notice or take such
action.
Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the
Securities represented by a Registered Global Debt Security registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee will be made by the Corporation through
the Trustee to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the
registered owner of a Registered Global Debt Security. None of the Corporation,
the Trustee, any paying agent or any other agent of the Corporation will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Registered
Global Debt Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests. The Corporation expects that
the Depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, in respect of a Registered Global Debt Security, will
immediately credit the accounts of the related participants with payment in
amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of
beneficial interest in such Registered Global Debt Security as shown on the
records of the Depositary. The Corporation also expects that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Debt
Security will be governed by standing customer 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.
If the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as
depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a
successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is
not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days, the Corporation will issue Debt
Securities in definitive form in exchange for all the Registered Global Debt
Securities. In addition, the Corporation may at any time, and in its sole
discretion, determine not to have the Debt Securities represented by the
Registered Global Debt Securities and, in such event, will issue Debt Securities
in definitive form in exchange for all the Registered Global Debt Securities. In
either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in Registered Global Debt
Securities will be entitled to have Debt Securities equal in principal amount to
such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical
delivery of such Debt Securities in definitive form. Debt Securities so issued
in definitive form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without Coupons;
however, Medium-Term Notes issued pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement will be
issued in denominations of $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an
integral multiple of $1,000 (or in such other denominations as shall be provided
in an applicable Pricing Supplement) and will be issued in registered form only,
without Coupons. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of
such Debt Securities, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
therewith. (Section 2.05 of the Indenture.)
The Debt Securities of a series may also be issued in the form of one or
more bearer global securities (a "Bearer Global Debt Security") that will be
deposited with a common depositary for the Euroclear System and Cedel Bank,
societe anonyme or with a nominee for such depositary identified in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. The specific terms and
procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement, with
respect to any portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a
Bearer Global Debt Security will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO COVENANTS. The following definitions shall be
applicable to the covenants specified below:
(i) "Attributable Debt" means, at the time of determination as to any
lease, the present value (discounted at the actual rate, if stated, or, if
no rate is stated, the implicit rate of interest of such lease transaction
as determined by the chairman, president, any vice chairman, any vice
president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer of the Corporation),
calculated using the interval of scheduled rental payments under such
lease, of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the
remaining term of such lease (excluding any subsequent renewal or other
extension options held by the lessee). The term "net rental payments"
means, with respect to any lease for any period, the sum of the rental and
other payments required to be paid in such period by the lessee thereunder,
but not including, however, any amounts required to be paid by such lessee
(whether or not designated as rental or additional rental) on account of
maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates,
indemnities or similar charges required to be paid by such lessee
thereunder or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee thereunder
contingent upon the amount of sales, earnings or profits or of maintenance
and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates, indemnities or
similar charges; provided, however, that, in the case of any lease which is
terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty in an amount which
is less than the total discounted net rental payments required to be paid
from the later of the first date upon which such lease may be so terminated
and the date of the determination of net rental payments, "net rental
payments" shall include the then-current amount of such penalty from the
later of such two dates, and shall exclude the rental payments relating to
the remaining period of the lease commencing with the later of such two
dates.
(ii) "Debt" means notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences
of indebtedness for money borrowed.
<PAGE>
(iii) "Manufacturing Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary (A)
substantially all the property of which is located within the continental
United States of America, (B) which owns a Principal Domestic Manufacturing
Property and (C) in which the Corporation's investment, direct or indirect
and whether in the form of equity, debt, advances or otherwise, is in
excess of $2,500,000,000 as shown on the books of the Corporation as of the
end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of determination;
provided, however, that "Manufacturing Subsidiary" shall not include Hughes
Electronics Corporation and its Subsidiaries, General Motors Acceptance
Corporation and its Subsidiaries (or any corporate successor of any of
them) or any other Subsidiary which is principally engaged in leasing or in
financing installment receivables or otherwise providing financial or
insurance services to the Corporation or others or which is principally
engaged in financing the Corporation's operations outside the continental
United States of America.
(iv) "Mortgage" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest,
conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other similar
encumbrance.
(v) "Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property" means any
manufacturing plant or facility owned by the Corporation or any
Manufacturing Subsidiary which is located within the continental United
States of America and, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, is of
material importance to the total business conducted by the Corporation and
its consolidated affiliates as an entity.
(vi) "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which at least a majority
of the outstanding stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or
classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason
of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by the
Corporation, or by one or more Subsidiaries, or by the Corporation and one
or more Subsidiaries. (Section 4.08 of the Indenture.)
LIMITATION ON LIENS. For the benefit of the Debt Securities, the
Corporation will not, nor will it permit any Manufacturing Subsidiary to, issue
or assume any Debt secured by a Mortgage upon any Principal Domestic
Manufacturing Property of the Corporation or any Manufacturing Subsidiary or
upon any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Manufacturing Subsidiary
(whether such Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property, shares of stock or
indebtedness are now owned or hereafter acquired) without in any such case
effectively providing concurrently with the issuance or assumption of any such
Debt that the Debt Securities (together with, if the Corporation shall so
determine, any other indebtedness of the Corporation or such Manufacturing
Subsidiary ranking equally with the Debt Securities and then existing or
thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with such Debt, unless
the aggregate amount of Debt issued or assumed and so secured by Mortgages,
together with all other Debt of the Corporation and its Manufacturing
Subsidiaries which (if originally issued or assumed at such time) would
otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions, but not including Debt
permitted to be secured under clauses (i) through (vi) of the immediately
following paragraph, does not at the time exceed 20% of the stockholders' equity
of the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, as determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shown on the
audited consolidated balance sheet contained in the latest published annual
report to the stockholders of the Corporation.
<PAGE>
The above restrictions shall not apply to Debt secured by:
(i) Mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness of any
corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Manufacturing
Subsidiary;
(ii) Mortgages on property existing at the time of acquisition of such
property by the Corporation or a Manufacturing Subsidiary, or Mortgages to
secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of such
property upon the acquisition of such property by the Corporation or a
Manufacturing Subsidiary or to secure any Debt incurred prior to, at the
time of, or within 180 days after, the later of the date of acquisition of
such property and the date such property is placed in service, for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof, or
Mortgages to secure any Debt incurred for the purpose of financing the cost
to the Corporation or a Manufacturing Subsidiary of improvements to such
acquired property;
(iii) Mortgages securing Debt of a Manufacturing Subsidiary owing to
the Corporation or to another Subsidiary;
(iv) Mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time such
corporation is merged or consolidated with the Corporation or a
Manufacturing Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other
disposition of the properties of a corporation as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to the Corporation or a Manufacturing
Subsidiary;
(v) Mortgages on property of the Corporation or a Manufacturing
Subsidiary in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof,
or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of
the United States of America or any State thereof, or in favor of any other
country, or any political subdivision thereof, to secure partial, progress,
advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure
any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of
the purchase price or the cost of construction of the property subject to
such Mortgages; or
(vi) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions,
renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any Mortgage referred to
in the foregoing clauses (i) to (v); provided, however, that the principal
amount of Debt secured thereby shall not exceed by more than 115% the
principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal
or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be
limited to all or a part of the property which secured the Mortgage so
extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).
(Section 4.06 of the Indenture.)
LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASE-BACK. For the benefit of the Debt Securities,
the Corporation will not, nor will it permit any Manufacturing Subsidiary to,
enter into any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by the
Corporation or any Manufacturing Subsidiary of any Principal Domestic
Manufacturing Property owned by the Corporation or any Manufacturing Subsidiary
on the date that the Debt Securities are originally issued (except for temporary
leases for a term of not more than five years and except for leases between the
Corporation and a Manufacturing Subsidiary or between Manufacturing
Subsidiaries), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the
Corporation or such Manufacturing Subsidiary to such person, unless either:
(i) the Corporation or such Manufacturing Subsidiary would be
entitled, pursuant to the provisions of the covenant on limitation on liens
described above, to issue, assume, extend, renew or replace Debt secured by
a Mortgage upon such property equal in amount to the Attributable Debt in
respect of such arrangement without equally and ratably securing the Debt
Securities; provided, however, that from and after the date on which such
arrangement becomes effective the Attributable Debt in respect of such
arrangement shall be deemed for all purposes under the covenant on
limitation on liens described above and this covenant on limitation on sale
and lease-back to be Debt subject to the provisions of the covenant on
limitation on liens described above (which provisions include the
exceptions set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) of such covenant), or
(ii) the Corporation shall apply an amount in cash equal to the
Attributable Debt in respect of such arrangement to the retirement (other
than any mandatory retirement or by way of payment at maturity), within 180
days of the effective date of any such arrangement, of Debt of the
Corporation or any Manufacturing Subsidiary (other than Debt owned by the
Corporation or any Manufacturing Subsidiary) which by its terms matures at
or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more
than twelve months after the date of the creation of such Debt. (Section
4.07 of the Indenture.)
DEFEASANCE
If the terms of a particular series of Debt Securities so provide, the
Corporation may, at its option, (a) discharge its indebtedness and its
obligations under the Indenture with respect to such series or (b) not comply
with certain covenants contained in the Indenture with respect to such series,
in each case by depositing funds or obligations issued or guaranteed by the
United States of America with the Trustee. The Prospectus Supplement will more
fully describe the provisions, if any, relating to such defeasance. (Section
12.02 of the Indenture.)
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
The Indenture provides that the Corporation and the Trustee may enter into
supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of the Debt
Securities to (a) evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of the
obligations of the Corporation, (b) add covenants for the protection of the
holders of the Debt Securities, (c) add or change any of the provisions of the
Indenture to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series
in bearer form, (d) cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in such
Indenture, (e) establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as
permitted by the terms of the Indenture and (f) evidence the acceptance of
appointment by a successor trustee. (Section 10.01 of the Indenture.)
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the
Trustee to modify or amend the Indenture or any supplemental indenture or the
rights of the holders of the Debt Securities issued thereunder, with the consent
of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Debt
Securities of all series at the time outstanding under such Indenture which are
affected by such modification or amendment (voting as one class), provided that
no such modification shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Debt Securities,
or reduce the principal amount thereof, or premium, if any, or reduce the rate
or extend the time of payment of interest or Additional Amounts thereon, or
reduce the amount due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof or
the amount provable in bankruptcy, or make the principal of, or interest,
premium or Additional Amounts on, any Debt Security payable in any coin or
currency other than that provided in such Debt Security, (ii) impair the right
to initiate suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated
maturity thereof, or (iii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities,
the consent of the holders of which is required for any such modification, or
the percentage required for the consent of the holders to waive defaults,
without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected. (Section
10.02 of the Indenture.)
<PAGE>
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An Event of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities is
defined in the Indenture as being: (a) default in payment of any principal or
premium, if any, on such series; (b) default for 30 days in payment of any
interest or Additional Amounts on such series; (c) default for 90 days after
notice in performance of any other covenant applicable to the Debt Securities;
or (d) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. (Section 6.01
of the Indenture.)
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities
issued under the Indenture necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with
respect to any other series of Debt Securities issued thereunder. In case an
Event of Default under clause (a), (b) or (c) shall occur and be continuing with
respect to any series, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of each such series then
outstanding may declare the principal (or, in the case of discounted Debt
Securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of such series to be due
and payable. In case an Event of Default under clause (d) shall occur and be
continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of all the Debt Securities then outstanding (voting as one
class) may declare the principal (or, in the case of discounted Debt Securities,
the amount specified in the terms thereof) of all outstanding Debt Securities to
be due and payable. Any Event of Default with respect to a particular series of
Debt Securities may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series (or of all
the outstanding Debt Securities, as the case may be), except in a case of
failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts
in respect of such Debt Security for which payment had not been subsequently
made. (Section 6.01 of the Indenture.) The Indenture provides that the Trustee
may withhold notice to the securityholders of any default (except in payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts) if it considers
it in the interests of the securityholders to do so. (Section 6.07 of the
Indenture.)
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee
shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the
Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the securityholders,
unless such securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity. (Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of the Indenture.) Subject to such provisions
for the indemnification of the Trustee and to certain other limitations, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of
all series affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding shall have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on
the Trustee.(Section 6.06 of the Indenture.)
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Citibank, N.A. is the Trustee under the Indenture. Citibank, N.A. acts as
depositary for funds of, makes loans to, acts as trustee and performs certain
other services for, the Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries and
affiliates in the normal course of its business.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
GENERAL
The Corporation may issue, together with Debt Securities or separately,
Warrants for the purchase of Debt Securities. If the Warrants are issued
together with any Debt Securities, they may be attached to or traded separately
from such Debt Securities. The Warrants are to be issued under one or more
separate Warrant Agreements (each a "Warrant Agreement") between the Corporation
and a banking institution organized under the laws of the United States or one
of the States thereof (each a "Warrant Agent").
The following statements with respect to the Warrants are summaries of the
Warrant Agreement, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. Such summaries of certain provisions of the Warrant Agreement and the
Warrants do not purport to be complete and such summaries are subject to the
detailed provisions of the Warrant Agreement to which reference is hereby made
for a full description of such provisions, including the definition of certain
terms used herein, and for other information regarding the Warrants. Wherever
particular provisions of the Warrant Agreement or terms defined therein are
referred to, such provisions or definitions are incorporated by reference as a
part of the statements made, and the statements are qualified in their entirety
by such reference.
The Warrants will be evidenced by Warrant Certificates (the "Warrant
Certificates") and, except as otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement
accompanying this Prospectus, may be traded separately from any Debt Securities
with which they may be issued. Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for new
Warrant Certificates of different denominations at the office of the Warrant
Agent. The holder of a Warrant does not have any of the rights of a holder of a
Debt Security in respect of, and is not entitled to any payments on, any Debt
Securities issuable (but not yet issued) upon exercise of the Warrants.
The Warrants may be issued in one or more series, and reference is made to
the Prospectus Supplement accompanying this Prospectus relating to the
particular series of Warrants offered thereby for the terms of, and other
information with respect to, such Warrants, including: (i) the title and the
aggregate number of Warrants; (ii) the designation, aggregate principal amount,
currency or currencies and terms of the Debt Securities that may be purchased
upon exercise of the Warrants; (iii) the price or prices at which such Warrants
are exercisable; (iv) the currency or currencies in which such Warrants are
exercisable; (v) the places at which such Warrants are exercisable and the date
on which the right to exercise the Warrants shall commence and the date on which
such right shall expire (the "Warrant Expiration Date") or, if the Warrants are
not continuously exercisable throughout such period, the specific date or dates
on which they will be exercisable (each, a "Warrant Exercise Date", which term
shall also mean, with respect to Warrants continuously exercisable for a period
of time, every date during such period); (vi) the terms of any mandatory or
optional call provisions; (vii) the price or prices, if any, at which the
Warrants may be redeemed at the option of the holder or will be redeemed upon
expiration; (viii) the identity of the Warrant Agent; (ix) the exchanges, if
any, on which such Warrants may be listed; (x) whether such Warrants shall be
issued in book-entry form; (xi) if applicable, the designation and terms of the
Debt Securities with which the Warrants are issued and the number of Warrants
issued with each of such Debt Securities; (xii) if applicable, the date on and
after which the Warrants and the related Debt Securities will be separately
transferable; (xiii) whether the Warrant Certificates will be in registered form
or bearer form or both; (xiv) any applicable United States Federal income tax
consequences; (xv) the price at which the Warrants will be issued; and (xvi) any
other terms of the Warrants.
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
Warrants in registered form may be exercised by payment to the Warrant
Agent of the exercise price, in each case in such currency or currencies as are
specified in the Warrant, and by communicating to the Warrant Agent the identity
of the Warrantholder and the number of Warrants to be exercised. Upon receipt of
payment and the Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed, at the
office of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent will, as soon as practicable,
arrange for the issuance of the applicable Debt Securities, the form of which
shall be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. If less than all of the
Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Warrant
Certificate will be issued for the remaining amounts of Warrants. A more
complete summary for the exercise of Warrants in registered form and for
exercises of Warrants in bearer form is contained in the Prospectus Supplement
accompanying this Prospectus.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Corporation may sell the Securities being offered hereby in any of four
ways: (i) directly to purchasers, (ii) through agents, (iii) through
underwriters, and (iv) through dealers.
Offers to purchase Securities may be solicited directly by the Corporation
or by agents designated by the Corporation from time to time. Any such agent,
who may be deemed to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities
Act of 1933, involved in the offer or sale of the Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the
Corporation to such agent set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless
otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting
on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment (ordinarily
five business days or less). Agents may be entitled under agreements which may
be entered into with the Corporation to indemnification by the Corporation
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, the Corporation and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business.
If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale, the Corporation
will enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the time of
sale to them and the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction
will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, which will be used by the
underwriters to make resales of the Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is delivered to the public. The underwriters may be entitled, under
the relevant underwriting agreement, to indemnification by the Corporation
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933. Among others, one or more of the following firms may act as managing
underwriter(s) with respect to the offering of the Securities: Bear, Stearns &
Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Salomon Smith Barney and Salomon Brothers Inc.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is delivered, the Corporation will sell such Securities to the
dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell such Securities to the public at
varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Dealers
may be entitled to indemnification by the Corporation against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation
will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions
to purchase Securities from the Corporation at the public offering price set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts
("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the
Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an amount not less than, and
unless the Corporation otherwise agrees the aggregate principal amount of
Securities sold pursuant to Contracts shall be not less nor more than, the
respective amounts stated in the Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom
Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks,
insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
charitable institutions, and other institutions but shall in all cases be
subject to the approval of the Corporation. Contracts will not be subject to any
conditions except that the purchase by an institution of the Securities covered
by its Contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws
of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject. A
commission indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement will be paid to
underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of Securities pursuant to Contracts
accepted by the Corporation.
The place and time of delivery for the Securities n respect of which this
Prospectus is delivered are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
--------------------
Dennis Weatherstone, a director of J. P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated, of
which J. P. Morgan Securities Inc. is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, is a
director of the Corporation. In the ordinary course of their respective
businesses, affiliates of the Agents have engaged, and will in the future engage
in commercial banking and investment banking transactions with General Motors
and certain of its affiliates.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule
included in the Corporation's 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended,
incorporated by reference herein, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent public accountants, as stated in their reports appearing therein,
and have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon such reports given
upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Securities, the legality of the Securities will be passed upon for the
Corporation by Martin I. Darvick, Attorney, Legal Staff, of the Corporation. Mr.
Darvick owns shares, and has options to purchase shares, of the Corporation's
Common Stock, $1-2/3 Par Value and owns shares of the Corporation's Class H
Common Stock, $0.10 par value.
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Securities, certain legal matters relating to the Securities will be passed upon
for the Underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell. Davis Polk & Wardwell acts as
counsel to the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation and has acted as counsel for the Corporation and its subsidiaries in
various matters.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Available Information ........................................ 5
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference ............. 6
General Motors Corporation.................................... 6
Use of Proceeds............................................... 7
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............................ 7
Description of Debt Securities................................ 8
Description of Warrants....................................... 19
Plan of Distribution.......................................... 20
Experts....................................................... 22
Legal Opinions................................................ 22
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS
Prospectus Dated August 19, 1998
