<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2000
Registration No. 333-34580
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------------------
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NORTH CAROLINA 56-0578072
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
P. O. Box 1111
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28656
(336) 658-4000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Stephen A. Hellrung
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
1605 Curtis Bridge Road
Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697
(336) 658-5445
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Lathan M. Ewers, Jr.
Randall S. Parks
Hunton & Williams
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
951 East Byrd Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4074
(804) 788-8200
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box: [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering: [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering: [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434 under
the Securities Act, please check the following box: [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to a Registration Statement on Form S-3
filed by Lowe's Companies, Inc. on April 11, 2000 (File No. 333-34580) is being
filed solely to file as Exhibit 25.1 a revised Form T-1 for Bank One, N.A., and
includes the Registration Statement facing page, this page, the Part II
information, the signature page, an exhibit index, and the Form T-1.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit Number
- --------------
25.1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of Bank One, N.A.,
as the Trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
II-1
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this amendment no. 1 to
the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the County of Wilkes, State of North Carolina, on
April 18, 2000.
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Stephen A. Hellrung
-----------------------------------
Stephen A. Hellrung, Senior Vice
President, General Counsel and
Secretary
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment
no. 1 to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities indicated on April 18, 2000.
Signature Title
--------- -----
/s/ Robert L. Tillman* Chairman of the Board of Directors, President,
- ------------------------------ Chief Executive Officer and Director
Robert L. Tillman (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Thomas E. Whiddon* Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
- ------------------------------ Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Thomas E. Whiddon
/s/ Kenneth W. Black, Jr.* Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting
- ------------------------------ Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
Kenneth W. Black, Jr.
/s/ Leonard L. Berry, Ph.D.* Director
- ------------------------------
Leonard L. Berry, Ph.D.
/s/ Peter C. Browning* Director
- ------------------------------
Peter C. Browning
<PAGE>
/s/ Carol A. Farmer* Director
- ------------------------------
Carol A. Farmer
/s/ Paul Fulton* Director
- ------------------------------
Paul Fulton
/s/ James F. Halpin* Director
- ------------------------------
James F. Halpin
/s/ Richard K. Lochridge* Director
- ------------------------------
Richard K. Lochridge
/s/ Claudine B. Malone* Director
- ------------------------------
Claudine B. Malone
/s/ Robert G. Schwartz* Director
- ------------------------------
Robert G. Schwartz
/s/ Robert L. Strickland* Director
- ------------------------------
Robert L. Strickland
Director
- ------------------------------
Kenneth D. Lewis
Director
- ------------------------------
Thomas D. O'Malley
* By: /s/ Stephen A. Hellrung
--------------------------------
Stephen A. Hellrung
Attorney-in-Fact
II-3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
- --------------
25.1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of Bank One, N.A.,
as the Trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
II-4
<PAGE>
Exhibit 25.1
------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
--------
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)
-------------------------------
Bank One, National Association
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
A National Banking Association 36-0899825
(I.R.S. employer
identification number)
1 Bank One Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Bank One, National Association
1 Bank One Plaza, Suite IL1-0126
Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
Attn: Sandra L. Caruba (312) 336-9436
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
-------------------------------
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
North Carolina 56-0578072
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) identification number)
P. O. Box 1111
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Debt Securities
(Title of Indenture Securities)
<PAGE>
Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the
-------------------
trustee:
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to
which it is subject.
Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, Washington D.C.
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
Item 2. Affiliations With the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate
------------------------------
of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
No such affiliation exists with the trustee.
Item 16. List of exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this
-----------------
Statement of Eligibility.
1. A copy of the articles of association of the trustee now in
effect.*
2. A copy of the certificates of authority of the trustee to
commence business.*
3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate
trust powers.*
4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*
5. Not Applicable.
6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or
examining authority.
8. Not Applicable.
9. Not Applicable.
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Bank One, National Association, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago
and the State of Illinois, on this 7th day of April, 2000.
Bank One, National Association,
Trustee
By /s/ Sandra L. Caruba
--------------------
Sandra L. Caruba
Vice President
* Exhibits 1, 2, 3, and 4 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibits
bearing identical numbers in Item 16 of the Form T-1 of Bank One, National
Association, filed as Exhibit 25 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of
Household Finance Corporation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on March 24, 2000 (Registration No. 333-33240).
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 6
THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT
April 7, 2000
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen::
In connection with the qualification of an indenture between Lowe's
Companies, Inc. and Bank One, National Association, the undersigned, in
accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by
Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may be
furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its
request therefor.
Very truly yours,
Bank One, National Association
By /s/ Sandra L. Caruba
--------------------
Sandra L. Caruba
Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 7
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Legal Title of Bank: Bank One, NA Call Date: 12/31/99 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address: 1 Bank One Plaza, Ste 0303 Page RC-1
City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670
FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8
---------
</TABLE>
Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial and State-Chartered
Savings Banks for December 31, 1999
All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding of the last business day of the
quarter.
Schedule RC--Balance Sheet
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dollar Amounts in thousands C400
------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
1. Cash and balances due from depository
institutions (from Schedule RC-A):
RCFD
-------
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1) ............... 0081 5,055,227 1.a
b. Interest-bearing balances(2) ........................................ 0071 6,267,008 1.b
2. Securities
a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A) ........... 1754 0 2.a
b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D) ........ 1773 10,171,065 2.b
3. Federal funds sold and securities
purchased under agreements to resell .................................... 1350 9,133,306 3.
4. Loans and lease financing receivables:
a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from RCFD
-------
Schedule RC-C) ......................................................... 2122 54,113,895 4.a
b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ........................... 3123 485,672 4.b
c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ............................... 3128 0 4.c
d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and RCFD
-------
reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c) ................................ 2125 53,628,223 4.d
5. Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D) ..................................... 3545 5,625,628 5.
6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................. 2145 728,892 6.
7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M) ............................ 2150 2,661 7.
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
associated companies (from Schedule RC-M) ............................... 2130 225,055 8.
9. Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ............ 2155 318,645 9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M) .................................. 2143 222,903 10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F) ....................................... 2160 2,515,075 11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11) ................................ 2170 93,893,688 12.
</TABLE>
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Legal Title of Bank: Bank One, NA Call Date: 12/31/99 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address: 1 Bank One Plaza, Ste 0303 Page RC-2
City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670
FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>
Schedule RC-Continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dollar Amounts in
Thousands
---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C RCON
----
from Schedule RC-E, part 1) ................................. 2200 26,310,375 13.a
(1) Noninterest-bearing(1) .................................. 6631 11,553,564 13.a1
(2) Interest-bearing ........................................ 6636 14,756,811 13.a2
b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and RCFN
----
IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II) .......................... 2200 28,917,958 13.b
(1) Noninterest bearing ..................................... 6631 623,837 13.b1
(2) Interest-bearing ........................................ 6636 28,294,121 13.b2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
to repurchase: ................................................. RCFD 2800 9,453,894 14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury .................... RCON 2840 1,263,434 15.a
b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D) ..................... RCFD 3548 3,262,946 15.b
16. Other borrowed money: RCFD
----
a. With original maturity of one year or less .................. 2332 12,462,976 16.a
b. With original maturity of more than one year ............... A547 1,049,525 16.b
c. With original maturity of more than three years ............. A548 477,923 16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding ........ 2920 318,645 18.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures .............................. 3200 3,250,000 19.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G) ......................... 2930 1,377,838 20.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20) ................. 2948 88,145,514 21.
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus .................. 3838 0 23.
24. Common stock ................................................... 3230 200,858 24.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) ....... 3839 3,660,673 25.
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves ...................... 3632 2,057,661 26.a
b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities .................................................. 8434 (170,996) 26.b
c. Accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges .......... 4336 0 26.c
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ............ 3284 ( 22) 27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27) .............. 3210 5,748,174 28.
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity
capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28) .......................... 3300 93,893,688 29.
</TABLE>
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that +++++++++++++++
best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for + Number +
the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 1996................RCFD 6724 ...+ N/A M.1. +
+++++++++++++++
</TABLE>
1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which
submits a report on the bank
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company conducted in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified
public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding
company (but not on the bank separately)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be
required by state chartering authority)
4. = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other external auditors
(may be required by state chartering authority)
5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external auditors
6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external auditors
7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
8 = No external audit work
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
deposits.
