Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File Number 333-27221
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 22, 1997)
$200,000,000
[UNITED DOMINION LOGO]
Medium-Term Notes
Due Nine Months or More From Date of Issue
---------------
THE COMPANY: United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. Our principal executive
office is located at 10 South Sixth Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-3802 and
our telephone number is (804) 780-2691.
TERMS: We plan to offer and sell Notes with various terms, including the
following:
o Ranking as senior indebtedness of the Company
o Stated maturities of 9 months or more from date of issue
o Redemption and/or repayment provisions, if applicable, whether
mandatory or at our option or at the option of holders
o Payments in U.S. dollars or one or more foreign currencies
o Minimum denominations of $1,000 or other specified denominations for
foreign currencies
o Book-entry (through The Depository Trust Company) or certificated form
o Interest payments on fixed rate Notes on each June 15 and December 15
o Interest payments on floating rate Notes on a monthly, quarterly,
semiannual or annual basis
o Interest at fixed or floating rates, or no interest at all. The
floating interest rate may be based on one or more of the following
indices plus or minus a spread and/or multiplied by a spread
multiplier:
o CD rate
o CMT rate
o Commercial paper rate
o Eleventh district cost of funds rate
o Federal funds rate
o LIBOR
o Prime rate
o Treasury rate
o Such other interest basis or interest rate formula as may
be specified in the applicable pricing supplement
We will specify the final terms for each Note, which may be different from
the terms described in this prospectus supplement, in the applicable pricing
supplement.
INVESTING IN THE NOTES INVOLVES CERTAIN RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE
S-3.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any pricing supplement is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We may sell Notes to the Agents as principal for resale at varying or fixed
offering prices or through the Agents as agents using their reasonable efforts
on our behalf. If we sell all of the Notes, we expect to receive proceeds
therefrom of between $199,750,000 and $198,500,000, after paying the Agents'
discounts and commissions of between $250,000 and $1,500,000. We may also sell
Notes without the assistance of the Agents (whether acting as principal or as
agent). However, the Agents' discounts and commissions may exceed these amounts
with respect to sales of Notes with stated maturities in excess of 30 years.
If we sell other securities referred to in the accompanying prospectus, the
aggregate initial offering price of Notes that we may offer and sell under this
prospectus supplement would be reduced.
---------------
Merrill Lynch & Co.
First Union Capital Markets
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan & Co.
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC
---------------
The date of this prospectus supplement is January 21, 1999.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Risk Factors .................................................... S-3
Description of Notes ............................................ S-4
Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes ........... S-18
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations ......... S-20
Plan of Distribution ............................................ S-27
Legal Opinions .................................................. S-28
<CAPTION>
PROSPECTUS
<S> <C>
Available Information ........................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference ................. 2
The Company ..................................................... 2
Use of Proceeds ................................................. 4
Certain Ratios .................................................. 4
Description of Debt Securities .................................. 4
Description of Capital Stock .................................... 15
Plan of Distribution ............................................ 19
Legal Opinions .................................................. 20
Experts ......................................................... 20
</TABLE>
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus
supplement. We have not, and the Agents have not, authorized any other person to
provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the Agents
are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the
offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing
in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on the front cover of
this prospectus supplement only. Our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects may have changed since this date.
S-2
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the Notes will include certain risks. In consultation with
your own financial and legal advisers, you should carefully consider, among
other matters, the following discussion of risks before deciding whether an
investment in the Notes is suitable for you. Notes are not an appropriate
investment for you if you are unsophisticated with respect to foreign currency
transactions or transactions involving the type of index or formula used to
determine amounts payable.
STRUCTURE RISKS
GENERAL
If you invest in Notes indexed to one or more interest rate, currency or other
indices or formulas, there will be significant risks not associated with a
conventional fixed rate or floating rate debt security. Such risks include
fluctuation of the particular indices or formulas and the possibility that you
will receive a lower (or no) amount of principal, premium or interest and at
different times than you expected. We have no control over a number of matters,
including economic, financial and political events, that are important in
determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of such risks and their
results. In addition, if an index or formula used to determine any amounts
payable in respect of the Notes contains a multiplier or leverage factor, the
effect of any change in such index or formula will be magnified. In recent
years, values of certain indices and formulas have been volatile and volatility
in those and other indices and formulas may be expected in the future. However,
past experience is not necessarily indicative of what may occur in the future.
REDEMPTION
If your Notes are redeemable at our option or are otherwise subject to mandatory
redemption, we may (in the case of optional redemption) or must (in the case of
mandatory redemption) choose to redeem such Notes at times when prevailing
interest rates may be relatively low. Accordingly, you generally will not be
able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an
effective interest rate as high as that of the Notes.
UNCERTAIN TRADING MARKETS
We cannot assure you a trading market for your Notes will ever develop or be
maintained. Many factors independent of our creditworthiness affect the trading
market. These factors include:
o complexity and volatility of the index or formula applicable to the Notes,
o method of calculating the principal, premium and interest in respect of the
Notes,
o time remaining to the maturity of the Notes,
o outstanding amount of the Notes,
o amount of other debt securities linked to the index or formula applicable to
the Notes,
o redemption features of the Notes, and
o level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally.
In addition, certain Notes have a more limited trading market and experience
more price volatility because they were designed for specific investment
objectives or strategies. There may be a limited number of buyers when you
decide to sell such Notes. This may affect the price you receive for such Notes
or your ability to sell such Notes at all. You should not purchase Notes unless
you understand and know you can bear these investment risks.
EXCHANGE RATES AND EXCHANGE CONTROLS
If you invest in Notes that are denominated and/or payable in a currency other
than U.S. dollars ("Foreign Currency Notes"), there will be significant risks
not associated with an investment in a debt security denominated and payable in
U.S. dollars, including the possibility of material changes in the exchange rate
between U.S. dollars and your payment currency and the imposition or
modification of exchange controls by the applicable governments. We have no
control over the factors that generally affect these risks, such as economic,
financial and political events and the supply and demand for the applicable
currencies. Moreover, if payments on your Foreign Currency Notes are determined
by reference to a formula containing a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect
of any change in the exchange rates between the applicable currencies will be
magnified. In recent years, exchange rates between certain currencies have been
highly volatile and volatility between such currencies or with other currencies
may be expected in the future. Fluctuations between currencies in the past are
not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may occur in the
future. Depreciation of your payment currency would result in a decrease in the
U.S. dollar equivalent yield of your Foreign Currency Notes, in the U.S. dollar
equivalent value of the principal and any premium payable at maturity or earlier
redemption of your Foreign Currency Notes and, generally, in the U.S. dollar
equivalent market value of your Foreign Currency Notes. Governmental exchange
controls could affect exchange rates and the availability of your payment
currency on a required payment date. Even if there are no exchange controls, it
is possible that your payment currency will not be available on a required
payment date for circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, we will be
allowed to satisfy our obligations in respect of your Foreign Currency Notes in
U.S. dollars.
CREDIT RATINGS
The credit ratings of our medium-term note program may not reflect the potential
impact of all risks related to structure and other factors on the value of your
Notes. In addition, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will
generally affect the market value of your Notes.
S-3
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
The Notes will be issued as a series of Debt Securities under an Indenture,
dated as of November 1, 1995, as amended or modified from time to time (the
"Indenture"), between the Company and First Union National Bank of Virginia, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). The Indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The following summary of certain provisions
of the Notes and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the actual provisions of the Notes and the
Indenture. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the accompanying Prospectus, the Notes or the Indenture, as the
case may be. The term "Debt Securities," as used in this Prospectus Supplement,
refers to all debt securities, including the Notes, issued and issuable from
time to time under the Indenture. The following description of Notes will apply
to each Note offered hereby unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement.
GENERAL
All Debt Securities, including the Notes, issued and to be issued under the
Indenture will be unsecured general obligations of the Company and will rank
PARI PASSU with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the
Company from time to time outstanding. The Indenture does not limit the
aggregate initial offering price of Debt Securities that may be issued
thereunder and Debt Securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one
or more series up to the aggregate initial offering price from time to time
authorized by the Company for each series. The Company may, from time to time,
without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, provide for the issuance of
Notes or other Debt Securities under the Indenture in addition to the
$200,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Notes offered hereby.
The Notes are currently limited to up to $200,000,000 aggregate initial
offering price, or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies.
Each Note will mature on any day nine months or more from its date of issue (the
"Stated Maturity Date"), as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
unless the principal thereof (or any installment of principal thereof) becomes
due and payable prior to the Stated Maturity Date, whether by the declaration of
acceleration of maturity, notice of redemption at the option of the Company,
notice of the Holder's option to elect repayment or otherwise (the Stated
Maturity Date or such prior date, as the case may be, is herein referred to as
the "Maturity Date" with respect to the principal of such Note repayable on such
date). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
interest-bearing Notes will either be Fixed Rate Notes or Floating Rate Notes,
as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Company may also issue
Discount Notes, Indexed Notes and Amortizing Notes (as such terms are
hereinafter defined).
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes
will be denominated in, and payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or
interest, if any, in respect thereof will be made in, United States dollars. The
Notes also may be denominated in, and payments of principal, premium, if any,
and/or interest, if any, in respect thereof may be made in, one or more foreign
currencies. See "Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes --
Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any." The currency in
which a particular Note is denominated (or (i) if such currency (other than
Euro) is no longer legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in
the relevant country, such other currency which is then legal tender in such
country for the payment of such debts or (ii) if such currency is Euro, such
other currency which is then legal tender in the member states of the European
Union that have adopted the single currency in accordance with the Treaty
establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union)
is herein referred to as the "Specified Currency" with respect to such Note.
References herein to "United States dollars","U.S. dollars" or "$" are to the
lawful currency of the United States of America (the "United States").
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, purchasers
are required to pay for the Notes in the applicable Specified Currencies. At the
present time, there are limited facilities in the United States for the
conversion of United States dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa, and
commercial banks do not generally offer non-United States dollar checking or
savings account facilities in the United States. The Agent from or through which
a Foreign Currency Note is purchased may be prepared to arrange for the
conversion of United States dollars into the Specified Currency in order to
enable the purchaser to pay for such Foreign Currency Note, provided that a
request is made to such Agent on or prior to the fifth Business Day (as
hereinafter defined) preceding the date of delivery of such Foreign Currency
Note, or by such other day as determined by such Agent. Each such conversion
will be made by such Agent on such terms and subject to such conditions,
limitations and charges as such Agent may from time to time establish in
accordance with its regular foreign exchange practices. All costs of exchange
will be borne by the purchaser of each such Foreign Currency Note. See "Special
Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes."
S-4
<PAGE>
Interest rates offered by the Company with respect to the Notes may differ
depending upon, among other factors, the aggregate principal amount of Notes
purchased in any single transaction. Notes with different variable terms other
than interest rates may also be offered concurrently to different investors.
Interest rates or formulas and other terms of Notes are subject to change by the
Company from time to time, but no such change will affect any Note previously
issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company.
Each Note will be issued as a Book-Entry Note represented by one or more
fully registered Global Securities or as a fully registered Certificated Note.
The minimum denominations of each Note other than a Foreign Currency Note will
be $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, while the minimum denominations of each Foreign
Currency Note will be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
Payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on,
Book-Entry Notes will be made by the Company through the Trustee to the
Depositary. See " -- Book-Entry Notes." In the case of Certificated Notes,
payment of principal and premium, if any, due on the Maturity Date will be made
in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender thereof (and, in
the case of any repayment on an Optional Repayment Date, upon submission of a
duly completed election form in accordance with the provisions described below)
at the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the corporate trust office
of the Trustee located at First Union National Bank, 40 Broad Street, Suite 550,
New York, New York 10004. Payment of interest, if any, due on the Maturity Date
of a Certificated Note will be made to the person to whom payment of the
principal thereof and premium, if any, thereon shall be made. Payment of
interest, if any, due on a Certificated Note on any Interest Payment Date (as
hereinafter defined) other than the Maturity Date will be made by check mailed
to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in
the Security Register of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder of
$10,000,000 (or, if the Specified Currency is other than United States dollars,
the equivalent thereof in such Specified Currency) or more in aggregate
principal amount of Certificated Notes (whether having identical or different
terms and provisions) will be entitled to receive interest payments, if any, on
any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date by wire transfer of
immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been
received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 days prior to such Interest
Payment Date. Any such wire transfer instructions received by the Trustee shall
remain in effect until revoked by such Holder. For special payment terms
applicable to Foreign Currency Notes, see "Special Provisions Relating to
Foreign Currency Notes -- Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest,
if any."
As used herein, "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or
Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions
are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The
City of New York; provided, however, that, with respect to Foreign Currency
Notes, such day is also not a day on which commercial banks are authorized or
required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal
Financial Center (as hereinafter defined) of the country issuing the Specified
Currency (or, if the Specified Currency is Euro, such day is also a day on which
the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer
(TARGET) System is open); provided, further, that, with respect to Notes as to
which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, such day is also a London
Business Day (as hereinafter defined). "London Business Day" means a day on
which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in the
Designated LIBOR Currency (as hereinafter defined)) in London.
"Principal Financial Center" means (i) the capital city of the country
issuing the Specified Currency or (ii) the capital city of the country to which
the Designated LIBOR Currency relates, as applicable, except, in the case of (i)
or (ii) above, that with respect to United States dollars, Australian dollars,
Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Portuguese escudos, South
African rand and Swiss francs, the "Principal Financial Center" shall be The
City of New York, Sydney and (solely in the case of the Specified Currency)
Melbourne, Toronto, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London (solely in the case of the
Designated LIBOR Currency), Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively.
Book-Entry Notes may be transferred or exchanged only through the
Depositary. See " -- Book-Entry Notes." Registration of transfer or exchange of
Certificated Notes will be made at the office or agency maintained by the
Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
currently the office of the Trustee located at 40 Broad Street, Suite 550, New
York, New York 10004. No service charge will be made by the Company or the
Trustee for any such registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith (other than
exchanges pursuant to the Indenture not involving any transfer).
The defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions contained in the
Indenture shall apply to the Notes.
S-5
<PAGE>
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes
will not be subject to any sinking fund. The Notes will be redeemable at the
option of the Company prior to the Stated Maturity Date only if an Initial
Redemption Date is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If so
specified, the Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company
on any date on and after the applicable Initial Redemption Date in whole or from
time to time in part in increments of $1,000 or any other integral multiple of
an authorized denomination specified in such Pricing Supplement (provided that
any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least $1,000 or such other
minimum authorized denomination applicable thereto), at the applicable
Redemption Price (as hereinafter defined), together with unpaid interest accrued
thereon to the date of redemption, on written notice given to the Holders
thereof not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the date of
redemption and in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. "Redemption
Price", with respect to a Note, means an amount equal to the Initial Redemption
Percentage specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (as adjusted by the
Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if applicable) multiplied by the unpaid
principal amount to be redeemed. The Initial Redemption Percentage, if any,
applicable to a Note shall decline at each anniversary of the Initial Redemption
Date by an amount equal to the applicable Annual Redemption Percentage
Reduction, if any, until the Redemption Price is equal to 100% of the unpaid
principal amount to be redeemed. For a discussion of the redemption of Discount
Notes, see " -- Discount Notes."
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER
The Notes will be repayable by the Company at the option of the Holders
thereof prior to the Stated Maturity Date only if one or more Optional Repayment
Dates are specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If so specified, the
Notes will be subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof on any
Optional Repayment Date in whole or from time to time in part in increments of
$1,000 or any other integral multiple of an authorized denomination specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement (provided that any remaining principal amount
thereof shall be at least $1,000 or such other minimum authorized denomination
applicable thereto), at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal
amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date
of repayment. For any Note to be repaid, the Trustee must receive, at its office
maintained for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
currently the office of the Trustee located at 40 Broad Street, Suite 550, New
York, New York 10004, not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to
the date of repayment, (i) in the case of a Certificated Note, such Certificated
Note and the form thereon entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" duly completed or
(ii) in the case of a Book-Entry Note, instructions to such effect from the
applicable Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined) to the Depositary and
forwarded by the Depositary. Exercise of such repayment option by the Holder
will be irrevocable. For a discussion of the repayment of Discount Notes, see
" -- Discount Notes."
Only the Depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect of Global
Securities representing Book-Entry Notes. Accordingly, Beneficial Owners of
Global Securities that desire to have all or any portion of the Book-Entry Notes
represented by such Global Securities repaid must instruct the Participant (as
hereinafter defined) through which they own their interest to direct the
Depositary to exercise the repayment option on their behalf by forwarding the
repayment instructions to the Trustee as aforesaid. In order to ensure that such
instructions are received by the Trustee on a particular day, the applicable
Beneficial Owner must so instruct the Participant through which it owns its
interest before such Participant's deadline for accepting instructions for that
day. Different firms may have different deadlines for accepting instructions
from their customers. Accordingly, Beneficial Owners should consult the
Participants through which they own their interest for the respective deadlines
for such Participants. All instructions given to Participants from Beneficial
Owners of Global Securities relating to the option to elect repayment shall be
irrevocable. In addition, at the time such instructions are given, each such
Beneficial Owner shall cause the Participant through which it owns its interest
to transfer such Beneficial Owner's interest in the Global Security or
Securities representing the related Book-Entry Notes, on the Depositary's
records, to the Trustee. See " -- Book-Entry Notes."
If applicable, the Company will comply with the requirements of Section
14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
and the rules promulgated thereunder, and any other securities laws or
regulations in connection with any such repayment.
The Company may at any time purchase Notes at any price or prices in the
open market or otherwise. Notes so purchased by the Company may, at the
discretion of the Company, be held, resold or surrendered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
S-6
<PAGE>
INTEREST
GENERAL
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each
interest-bearing Note will bear interest from its date of issue at the rate per
annum, in the case of a Fixed Rate Note, or pursuant to the interest rate
formula, in the case of a Floating Rate Note, in each case as specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, until the principal thereof is paid or duly made
available for payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, interest payments in respect of Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate
Notes will be made in an amount equal to the interest accrued from and including
the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has
been paid or duly made available for payment (or from and including the date of
issue, if no interest has been paid or duly made available for payment) to but
excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case
may be (each, an "Interest Period").
Interest on Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate Notes will be payable in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the first payment of interest on
any such Note originally issued between a Record Date (as hereinafter defined)
and the related Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date
immediately following the next succeeding Record Date to the Holder on such next
succeeding Record Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, a "Record Date" shall be the first calendar day (whether or not a
Business Day) immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date.
FIXED RATE NOTES
Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be payable on June 15 and December 15 of
each year or on such other date(s) specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement (each, an "Interest Payment Date" with respect to Fixed Rate Notes)
and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date of a Fixed Rate Note
falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal,
premium, if any, and/or interest will be made on the next succeeding Business
Day as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on
such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the
Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment on the next
succeeding Business Day.
FLOATING RATE NOTES
Interest on Floating Rate Notes will be determined by reference to the
applicable Interest Rate Basis or Interest Rate Bases, which may, as described
below, include:
o the CD Rate,
o the CMT Rate,
o the Commercial Paper Rate,
o the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate,
o the Federal Funds Rate,
o LIBOR,
o the Prime Rate,
o the Treasury Rate, or
o such other Interest Rate Basis or interest rate formula as may be specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement.
The applicable Pricing Supplement will specify certain terms with respect
to which each Floating Rate Note is being delivered, including: whether such
Floating Rate Note is a "Regular Floating Rate Note," a "Floating Rate/Fixed
Rate Note" or an "Inverse Floating Rate Note," the Fixed Rate Commencement Date,
if applicable, Fixed Interest Rate, if applicable, Interest Rate Basis or Bases,
Initial Interest Rate, if any, Initial Interest Reset Date, Interest Reset
Dates, Interest Payment Dates, Index Maturity, Maximum Interest Rate and/or
Minimum Interest Rate, if any, and Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, as
such terms are defined below. If one or more of the applicable Interest Rate
Bases is LIBOR or the CMT Rate, the applicable Pricing Supplement will also
specify the Designated LIBOR Currency and Designated LIBOR Page or the
Designated CMT Maturity Index and Designated CMT Telerate Page, respectively, as
such terms are defined below.
The interest rate borne by the Floating Rate Notes will be determined as
follows:
S-7
<PAGE>
(i) Unless such Floating Rate Note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed
Rate Note" or an "Inverse Floating Rate Note", or as having an Addendum
attached or having "Other/Additional Provisions" apply, in each case relating
to a different interest rate formula, such Floating Rate Note will be
designated as a "Regular Floating Rate Note" and, except as described below
or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, will bear interest at the rate
determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a)
plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the
applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the Initial Interest
Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Regular Floating Rate Note
shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided,
however, that the interest rate in effect for the period, if any, from the
date of issue to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest
Rate.
(ii) If such Floating Rate Note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed
Rate Note," then, except as described below or in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, such Floating Rate Note will bear interest at the rate determined
by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus
the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the applicable Spread
Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate
at which interest on such Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note shall be payable
shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that (y)
the interest rate in effect for the period, if any, from the date of issue to
the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate and (z) the
interest rate in effect (the "Fixed Interest Rate") for the period commencing
on the date specified therefor in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the
"Fixed Rate Commencement Date") to the Maturity Date shall be the interest
rate so specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or, if no such rate is
specified, the interest rate in effect thereon on the day immediately
preceding the Fixed Rate Commencement Date.
(iii) If such Floating Rate Note is designated as an "Inverse Floating
Rate Note," then, except as described below or in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, such Floating Rate Note will bear interest at the Fixed Interest
Rate minus the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate
Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (b)
multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any; provided, however,
that, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the
interest rate thereon will not be less than zero. Commencing on the Initial
Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Inverse Floating Rate
Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date;
provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period, if any,
from the date of issue to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial
Interest Rate.
The "Spread" is the number of basis points to be added to or subtracted
from the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases applicable to such Floating Rate
Note. The "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage of the related Interest Rate
Basis or Bases applicable to such Floating Rate Note by which such Interest Rate
Basis or Bases will be multiplied to determine the applicable interest rate on
such Floating Rate Note. The "Index Maturity" is the period to maturity of the
instrument or obligation with respect to which the related Interest Rate Basis
or Bases will be calculated.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the
interest rate with respect to each Interest Rate Basis will be determined in
accordance with the applicable provisions below. Except as set forth above or in
the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate in effect on each day shall
be (i) if such day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of
the Interest Determination Date (as hereinafter defined) immediately preceding
such Interest Reset Date or (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset Date, the
interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately
preceding the most recent Interest Reset Date.
The applicable Pricing Supplement will specify whether the rate of interest
on the related Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly,
quarterly, semiannually or annually or on such other specified basis (each, an
"Interest Reset Period") and the dates on which such rate of interest will be
reset (each, an "Interest Reset Date"). Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Reset Dates will be, in the case of
Floating Rate Notes which reset:
o daily, each Business Day;
o weekly, the Wednesday of each week (with the exception of weekly reset
Floating Rate Notes as to which the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest
Rate Basis, which will reset the Tuesday of each week, except as described
below);
o monthly, the third Wednesday of each month (with the exception of monthly
reset Floating Rate Notes as to which the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate
is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, which will reset on the first calendar
day of the month);
o quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each
year;
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o semiannually, the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement; and
o annually, the third Wednesday of the month specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement;
provided however, that, with respect to Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes, the rate
of interest thereon will not reset after the applicable Fixed Rate Commencement
Date. If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a
day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to
the next succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of a Floating Rate
Note as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and such Business
Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date will
be the immediately preceding Business Day. In addition, in the case of a
Floating Rate Note as to which the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate
Basis and the Interest Determination Date would otherwise fall on an Interest
Reset Date, then such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next
succeeding Business Day.
The interest rate applicable to each Interest Reset Period commencing on
the related Interest Reset Date will be the rate determined by the Calculation
Agent (as hereinafter defined) as of the applicable Interest Determination Date
and calculated on or prior to the Calculation Date (as hereinafter defined),
except with respect to LIBOR and the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, which
will be calculated on such Interest Determination Date. The "Interest
Determination Date" with respect to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial
Paper Rate, the Federal Funds Rate and the Prime Rate will be the second
Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date; the
"Interest Determination Date" with respect to the Eleventh District Cost of
Funds Rate will be the last working day of the month immediately preceding the
applicable Interest Reset Date on which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San
Francisco (the "FHLB of San Francisco") publishes the Index (as hereinafter
defined); and the "Interest Determination Date" with respect to LIBOR will be
the second London Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest
Reset Date, unless the Designated LIBOR Currency is British pounds sterling, in
which case the "Interest Determination Date" will be the applicable Interest
Reset Date. With respect to the Treasury Rate, the "Interest Determination Date"
will be the day in the week in which the applicable Interest Reset Date falls on
which day Treasury Bills (as hereinafter defined) are normally auctioned
(Treasury Bills are normally sold at an auction held on Monday of each week,
unless such Monday is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally
held on the immediately succeeding Tuesday although such auction may be held on
the preceding Friday); provided, however, that if an auction is held on the
Friday of the week preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date, the "Interest
Determination Date" will be such preceding Friday; provided, further, that if
the Interest Determination Date would otherwise fall on an Interest Reset Date,
then such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business
Day. The "Interest Determination Date" pertaining to a Floating Rate Note the
interest rate of which is determined by reference to two or more Interest Rate
Bases will be the most recent Business Day which is at least two Business Days
prior to the applicable Interest Reset Date for such Floating Rate Note on which
each Interest Rate Basis is determinable. Each Interest Rate Basis will be
determined as of such date, and the applicable interest rate will take effect on
the applicable Interest Reset Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Floating Rate Note may also have either or
both of the following: (i) a Maximum Interest Rate, or ceiling, that may accrue
during any Interest Period and (ii) a Minimum Interest Rate, or floor, that may
accrue during any Interest Period. In addition to any Maximum Interest Rate that
may apply to any Floating Rate Note, the interest rate on Floating Rate Notes
will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as
the same may be modified by United States law of general application.
Except as provided below or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest
will be payable, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset: (i) daily,
weekly or monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month or on the third
Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year, as specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement; (ii) quarterly, on the third Wednesday of
March, June, September and December of each year; (iii) semiannually, on the
third Wednesday of the two months of each year specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement; and (iv) annually, on the third Wednesday of the month of
each year specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (each, an "Interest
Payment Date" with respect to Floating Rate Notes) and, in each case, on the
Maturity Date. If any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date for any
Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such
Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day,
except that in the case of a Floating Rate Note as to which LIBOR is an
applicable Interest Rate Basis and such Business Day falls in the next
succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will be the immediately
preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of a Floating Rate Note falls on a
day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on
the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on such payment for
the period from and after the Maturity Date to the date of such payment on the
next succeeding Business Day.
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All percentages resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will
be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with
five-one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (E.G., 9.876545% (or
.09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all amounts used in
or resulting from such calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, in
the case of United States dollars, to the nearest cent or, in the case of a
foreign currency, to the nearest unit (with one-half cent or unit being rounded
upwards).
With respect to each Floating Rate Note, accrued interest is calculated by
multiplying its principal amount by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued
interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each
day in the applicable Interest Period. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for each such day will be
computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360, in the
case of Floating Rate Notes for which an applicable Interest Rate Basis is the
CD Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate,
the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or the Prime Rate, or by the actual number of days
in the year in the case of Floating Rate Notes for which an applicable Interest
Rate Basis is the CMT Rate or the Treasury Rate. Unless otherwise specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for Floating Rate Notes
for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest
Rate Bases will be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only the
applicable Interest Rate Basis specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement
applied.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, First
Union National Bank of Virginia will be the "Calculation Agent." Upon request of
the Holder of any Floating Rate Note, the Calculation Agent will disclose the
interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will
become effective as a result of a determination made for the next succeeding
Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date," if
applicable, pertaining to any Interest Determination Date will be the earlier of
(i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest Determination Date or, if such
day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day or (ii) the Business
Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity
Date, as the case may be.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the
Calculation Agent shall determine each Interest Rate Basis in accordance with
the following provisions.
CD RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
"CD Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a
Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to
the CD Rate (a "CD Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date for
negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit having the Index
Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in
H.15(519) (as hereinafter defined) under the heading "CDs (secondary market)"
or, if not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related
Calculation Date, the rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date for
negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of the Index Maturity
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in H.15 Daily Update
(as hereinafter defined), or such other recognized electronic source used for
the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "CDs (secondary market)."
If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another
recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related
Calculation Date, then the CD Rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date
will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of
the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such
CD Rate Interest Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers in
negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit in The City of New York
(which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation
Agent for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of major
United States money center banks for negotiable certificates of deposit with a
remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement in an amount that is representative for a single transaction
in that market at that time; provided, however, that if the dealers so selected
by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD
Rate determined as of such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CD
Rate in effect on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date.
"H.15(519)" means the weekly statistical release designated as such, or any
successor publication, published by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.
"H.15 Daily Update" means the daily update of H.15(519), available through
the world-wide-web site of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
at http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/h15/update, or any successor site or
publication.
CMT RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
"CMT Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a
Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to
the CMT Rate (a "CMT Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate displayed on
the Designated CMT Telerate Page under
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the caption"...Treasury Constant Maturities...Federal Reserve Board Release
H.15...Mondays Approximately 3:45 P.M.," under the column for the Designated CMT
Maturity Index for (i) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is 7051, the rate on
such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date and (ii) if the Designated CMT
Telerate Page is 7052, the weekly or monthly average, as specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, for the week or the month, as applicable, ended
immediately preceding the week or the month, as applicable, in which the related
CMT Rate Interest Determination Date falls. If such rate is no longer displayed
on the relevant page or is not so displayed by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate for such CMT Rate Interest
Determination Date will be such treasury constant maturity rate for the
Designated CMT Maturity Index as published in H.15(519). If such rate is no
longer published or is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest
Determination Date will be such treasury constant maturity rate for the
Designated CMT Maturity Index (or other United States Treasury rate for the
Designated CMT Maturity Index) for the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date with
respect to such Interest Reset Date as may then be published by either the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the United States Department of
the Treasury that the Calculation Agent determines to be comparable to the rate
formerly displayed on the Designated CMT Telerate Page and published in
H.15(519). If such information is not so provided by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate on the CMT Rate
Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will
be a yield to maturity, based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market
offered rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT
Rate Interest Determination Date reported, according to their written records,
by three leading primary United States government securities dealers in The City
of New York (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) (each, a
"Reference Dealer") selected by the Calculation Agent (from five such Reference
Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation
(or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or,
in the event of equality, one of the lowest)), for the most recently issued
direct noncallable fixed rate obligations of the United States ("Treasury
Notes") with an original maturity of approximately the Designated CMT Maturity
Index and a remaining term to maturity of not less than such Designated CMT
Maturity Index minus one year. If the Calculation Agent is unable to obtain
three such Treasury Note quotations, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest
Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a
yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered
rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Rate
Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers in The City of New York
(from five such Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and
eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the
highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the
lowest)), for Treasury Notes with an original maturity of the number of years
that is the next highest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining
term to maturity closest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and in an amount
of at least $100 million. If three or four (and not five) of such Reference
Dealers are quoting as described above, then the CMT Rate will be based on the
arithmetic mean of the offered rates obtained and neither the highest nor the
lowest of such quotes will be eliminated; provided, however, that if fewer than
three Reference Dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as
mentioned herein, the CMT Rate determined as of such CMT Rate Interest
Determination Date will be the CMT Rate in effect on such CMT Rate Interest
Determination Date. If two Treasury Notes with an original maturity as described
in the second preceding sentence have remaining terms to maturity equally close
to the Designated CMT Maturity Index, the Calculation Agent will obtain
quotations for the Treasury Note with the shorter remaining term to maturity.
"Designated CMT Telerate Page" means the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc.
(or any successor service) on the page specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the
purpose of displaying Treasury Constant Maturities as reported in H.15(519) or,
if no such page is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, page 7052.
"Designated CMT Maturity Index" means the original period to maturity of
the U.S. Treasury securities (either 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 or 30 years)
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement with respect to which the CMT
Rate will be calculated or, if no such maturity is specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, 2 years.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, "Commercial Paper Rate" means, with respect to any Interest
Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate
is determined with reference to the Commercial Paper Rate (a "Commercial Paper
Rate Interest Determination Date"), the Money Market Yield (as hereinafter
defined) on such date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in H.15(519) under
the caption "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial" or, if not so published by 3:00
P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such
Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having
the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published
in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the
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purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "Commercial
Paper-Nonfinancial." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily
Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time,
on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate on such
Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the
Calculation Agent and will be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of
the offered rates at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such
Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of
United States dollar commercial paper in The City of New York (which may include
the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial
paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement
placed for industrial issuers whose bond rating is "Aa", or the equivalent, from
a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; provided, however, that
if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned
in this sentence, the Commercial Paper Rate determined as of such Commercial
Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Commercial Paper Rate in
effect on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date.
"Money Market Yield" means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated
in accordance with the following formula:
Money Market Yield = D x 360 x 100
-------
360-(D x M)
where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted
on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and "M" refers to the
actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT COST OF FUNDS RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate" means,
with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note
for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eleventh
District Cost of Funds Rate (an "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest
Determination Date"), the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of
funds for the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which such
Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date falls as set
forth under the caption "11th District" on the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc.
(or any successor service) on page 7058 ("Telerate Page 7058") as of 11:00 A.M.,
San Francisco time, on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest
Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 7058 on such
Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, then the
Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds
Rate Interest Determination Date shall be the monthly weighted average cost of
funds paid by member institutions of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan Bank
District that was most recently announced (the "Index") by the FHLB of San
Francisco as such cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding
such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. If the
FHLB of San Francisco fails to announce the Index on or prior to such Eleventh
District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date for the calendar month
immediately preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest
Determination Date, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate determined as of
such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be
the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate in effect on such Eleventh District
Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date.
FEDERAL FUNDS RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, "Federal Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Interest
Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate
is determined with reference to the Federal Funds Rate (a "Federal Funds Rate
Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date for United States dollar
federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds
(Effective)", as such rate is displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any
successor service) on page 120 (or any other page as may replace such page on
such service) ("Telerate Page 120"), or, if such rate does not appear on
Telerate Page 120 or is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Federal Funds Rate Interest
Determination Date for United States dollar federal funds as published in H.15
Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of
displaying such rate, under the caption "Federal Funds (Effective)." If such
rate does not appear on Telerate Page 120 or is not yet published in H.15(519),
H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Federal Funds Rate on such
Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the
Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last
transaction in overnight United States dollar federal funds arranged by three
leading brokers of United States dollar federal funds transactions in The City
of New York (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the
Calculation Agent prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds
Rate Interest Determination Date; provided, however, that if the brokers so
selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
the Federal Funds Rate determined as of such Federal Funds Rate Interest
Determination Date will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such Federal
Funds Rate Interest Determination Date.
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LIBOR. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
"LIBOR" means the rate determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) With respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating
Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR
(a "LIBOR Interest Determination Date"), LIBOR will be either: (a) if "LIBOR
Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or if neither
"LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement as the method for calculating LIBOR, the rate for deposits in the
Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity specified in such Pricing
Supplement, commencing on such Interest Reset Date, that appears on the
Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest
Determination Date; or (b) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (unless the
Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, in which
case such single rate shall be used) for deposits in the Designated LIBOR
Currency having the Index Maturity specified in such Pricing Supplement,
commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, that appear (or, if only a
single rate is required as aforesaid, appears) on the Designated LIBOR Page
as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. If
fewer than two such offered rates so appear, or if no such rate so appears,
as applicable, LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be
determined in accordance with the provisions described in clause (ii) below.
(ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date on which fewer
than two offered rates appear, or no rate appears, as the case may be, on the
Designated LIBOR Page as specified in clause (i) above, the Calculation Agent
will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference
banks (which may include affiliates of the Agents) in the London interbank
market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation
Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in the Designated LIBOR
Currency for the period of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, to
prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M.,
London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal
amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated
LIBOR Currency in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations
are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be
the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are
so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the
arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in the
applicable Principal Financial Center, on such LIBOR Interest Determination
Date by three major banks (which may include affiliates of the Agents) in
such Principal Financial Center selected by the Calculation Agent for loans
in the Designated LIBOR Currency to leading European banks, having the Index
Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement and in a principal
amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated
LIBOR Currency in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the
banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in
this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date
will be LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
"Designated LIBOR Currency" means the currency specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement as to which LIBOR shall be calculated or, if no such currency
is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, United States dollars.
"Designated LIBOR Page" means (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, the display on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates
Service (or any successor service) on the page specified in such Pricing
Supplement (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the
purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the
Designated LIBOR Currency, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement or neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as the method for calculating
LIBOR, the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on the
page specified in such Pricing Supplement (or any other page as may replace such
page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates
of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency.
PRIME RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, "Prime Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date
relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with
reference to the Prime Rate (a "Prime Rate Interest Determination Date"), the
rate on such date as such rate is published in H.15(519) under the caption "Bank
Prime Loan" or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
related Calculation Date, the rate on such Prime Rate Interest Determination
Date as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic
source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "Bank
Prime Loan." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update
or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
related Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of
the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the
Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page (as hereinafter defined)
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as such bank's prime rate or base lending rate as of 11:00 A.M., New York City
time, on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. If fewer than four such
rates so appear on the Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page for such Prime Rate
Interest Determination Date, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of
the prime rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number
of days in the year divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on
such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by three major banks (which may
include affiliates of the Agents) in The City of New York selected by the
Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if the banks or trust companies so
selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
the Prime Rate determined as of such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date will
be the Prime Rate in effect on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date.
"Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page" means the display on the Reuter Monitor
Money Rates Service (or any successor service) on the "US PRIME 1"page (or such
other page as may replace the US PRIME 1 page on such service) for the purpose
of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks.
TREASURY RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination
Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined
by reference to the Treasury Rate (a "Treasury Rate Interest Determination
Date"), the rate from the auction held on such Treasury Rate Interest
Determination Date (the "Auction") of direct obligations of the United States
("Treasury Bills") having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement under the caption "AVGE INVEST YIELD" on the display on Bridge
Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on page 56 (or any other page as may
replace such page on such service) ("Telerate Page 56") or page 57 (or any other
page as may replace such page on such service) ("Telerate Page 57") or, if not
so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date,
the auction average rate of such Treasury Bills (expressed as a bond equivalent
on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily
basis) as otherwise announced by the United States Department of the Treasury.
In the event that the results of the Auction of Treasury Bills having the Index
Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement are not so published by
3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, or if no such
Auction is held, then the Treasury Rate will be the rate (expressed as a bond
equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied
on a daily basis) on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of Treasury
Bills having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement
as published in H.15(519) under the caption"U.S. Government Securities/Treasury
Bills/Secondary Market" or, if not yet published by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Treasury Rate Interest
Determination Date of such Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or
such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such
rate, under the caption"U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary
Market." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or
another recognized electronic source, then the Treasury Rate will be calculated
by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond
equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied
on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as
of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury Rate Interest
Determination Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers
(which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation
Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the
Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided,
however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not
quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury Rate determined as of such
Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Treasury Rate in effect on
such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date.
OTHER/ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS; ADDENDUM
Any provisions with respect to the Notes, including the specification and
determination of one or more Interest Rate Bases, the calculation of the
interest rate applicable to a Floating Rate Note, the Interest Payment Dates,
the Stated Maturity Date, any redemption or repayment provisions or any other
term relating thereto, may be modified and/or supplemented as specified under
"Other/Additional Provisions" on the face thereof or in an Addendum relating
thereto, if so specified on the face thereof and described in the applicable
Pricing Supplement.
DISCOUNT NOTES
The Company may from time to time offer Notes ("Discount Notes") that have
an Issue Price (as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement) that is less
than 100% of the principal amount thereof (i.e. par) by more than a percentage
equal to the product of 0.25% and the number of full years to the Stated
Maturity Date. Discount Notes may not bear any interest currently or may bear
interest at a rate that is below market rates at the time of issuance. The
difference between the Issue Price of a Discount Note and par is referred to
herein as the "Discount." In the event of redemption, repayment
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or acceleration of maturity of a Discount Note, the amount payable to the Holder
of such Discount Note will be equal to the sum of (i) the Issue Price (increased
by any accruals of Discount) and, in the event of any redemption of such
Discount Note (if applicable), multiplied by the Initial Redemption Percentage
(as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if applicable) and
(ii) any unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date of such redemption,
repayment or acceleration of maturity, as the case may be.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, for
purposes of determining the amount of Discount that has accrued as of any date
on which a redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity occurs for a
Discount Note, such Discount will be accrued using a constant yield method. The
constant yield will be calculated using a 30-day month, 360-day year convention,
a compounding period that, except for the Initial Period (as hereinafter
defined), corresponds to the shortest period between Interest Payment Dates for
the applicable Discount Note (with ratable accruals within a compounding
period), a coupon rate equal to the initial coupon rate applicable to such
Discount Note and an assumption that the maturity of such Discount Note will not
be accelerated. If the period from the date of issue to the initial Interest
Payment Date for a Discount Note (the "Initial Period") is shorter than the
compounding period for such Discount Note, a proportionate amount of the yield
for an entire compounding period will be accrued. If the Initial Period is
longer than the compounding period, then such period will be divided into a
regular compounding period and a short period with the short period being
treated as provided in the preceding sentence. The accrual of the applicable
Discount may differ from the accrual of original issue discount for purposes of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), certain Discount
Notes may not be treated as having original issue discount within the meaning of
the Code, and Notes other than Discount Notes may be treated as issued with
original issue discount for federal income tax purposes. See "Certain United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations".
INDEXED NOTES
The Company may from time to time offer Notes ("Indexed Notes") with the
amount of principal, premium and/or interest payable in respect thereof to be
determined with reference to the price or prices of specified commodities or
stocks, to the exchange rate of one or more designated currencies relative to an
indexed currency or to other items, in each case as specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement. In certain cases, Holders of Indexed Notes may receive a
principal payment on the Maturity Date that is greater than or less than the
principal amount of such Indexed Notes depending upon the relative value on the
Maturity Date of the specified indexed item. Information as to the method for
determining the amount of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any,
payable in respect of Indexed Notes, certain historical information with respect
to the specified indexed item and any material tax considerations associated
with an investment in Indexed Notes will be specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement. See also "Risk Factors."
AMORTIZING NOTES
The Company may from time to time offer Notes ("Amortizing Notes") with the
amount of principal thereof and interest thereon payable in installments over
the term of such Notes. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, interest on each Amortizing Note will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Payments with respect to Amortizing Notes
will be applied first to interest due and payable thereon and then to the
reduction of the unpaid principal amount thereof. Further information concerning
additional terms and provisions of Amortizing Notes will be specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, including a table setting forth repayment
information for such Amortizing Notes.
BOOK-ENTRY NOTES
The Company has established a depositary arrangement with The Depository
Trust Company with respect to the Book-Entry Notes, the terms of which are
summarized below. Any additional or differing terms of the depositary
arrangement with respect to the Book-Entry Notes will be described in the
applicable Pricing Supplement.
Upon issuance, all Book-Entry Notes of like tenor and terms up to
$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount will be represented by a single Global
Security. Each Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will be deposited
with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and will be registered in the name of the
Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. No Global Security may be transferred
except as a whole by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another
nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or such nominee to a successor
of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor.
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So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a
Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be the
sole Holder of the Book-Entry Notes represented thereby for all purposes under
the Indenture. Except as otherwise provided below, the Beneficial Owners of the
Global Security or Securities representing Book-Entry Notes will not be entitled
to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes and will not be considered
the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no Global Security
representing Book-Entry Notes shall be exchangeable or transferable.
Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of the Depositary
and, if such Beneficial Owner is not a Participant, on the procedures of the
Participant through which such Beneficial Owner owns its interest in order to
exercise any rights of a Holder under such Global Security or the Indenture. The
laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of such securities in certificated form. Such limits and laws
may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security
representing Book-Entry Notes.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each
Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will be exchangeable for
Certificated Notes of like tenor and terms and of differing authorized
denominations in a like aggregate principal amount, only if (i) the Depositary
notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for the Global Securities or the Company becomes aware that the Depositary has
ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in any
such case, the Company shall not have appointed a successor to the Depositary
within 60 calendar days thereafter, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion,
determines that the Global Securities shall be exchangeable for Certificated
Notes or (iii) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with
respect to the Notes under the Indenture. Upon any such exchange, the
Certificated Notes shall be registered in the names of the Beneficial Owners of
the Global Security or Securities representing Book-Entry Notes, which names
shall be provided by the Depositary's relevant Participants (as identified by
the Depositary) to the Trustee.
The following is based on information furnished by the Depositary:
The Depositary will act as securities depository for the Book-Entry Notes.
The Book-Entry Notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered
in the name of Cede & Co. (the Depositary's partnership nominee). One fully
registered Global Security will be issued for each issue of Book-Entry Notes,
each in the aggregate principal amount of such issue, and will be deposited
with the Depositary. If, however, the aggregate principal amount of any issue
exceeds $200,000,000, one Global Security will be issued with respect to each
$200,000,000 of principal amount and an additional Global Security will be
issued with respect to any remaining principal amount of such issue.
The Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New
York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York
Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation"
within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing
agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange
Act. The Depositary holds securities that its participants ("Participants")
deposit with the Depositary. The Depositary also facilitates the settlement
among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges,
in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. Direct Participants of the Depositary ("Direct
Participants") include securities brokers and dealers (including the Agents),
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. The Depositary is owned by a number of its Direct Participants
and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc.,
and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the
Depositary's system is also available to others such as securities brokers
and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or
indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to the Depositary
and its Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Purchases of Book-Entry Notes under the Depositary's system must be made
by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for such
Book-Entry Notes on the Depositary's records. The ownership interest of each
actual purchaser of each Book-Entry Note represented by a Global Security
("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the records of Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from the Depositary of their purchase, but Beneficial
Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the
Direct Participants or Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial
Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in a
Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes are to be accomplished by
entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial
Owners. Beneficial Owners of a Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes
will not receive Certificated Notes representing their ownership interests
therein, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for such
Book-Entry Notes is discontinued.
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To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Global Securities representing
Book-Entry Notes which are deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary
are registered in the name of the Depositary's nominee, Cede & Co. The
deposit of Global Securities with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and their
registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial
ownership. The Depositary has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of
the Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes; the Depositary's
records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose
accounts such Book-Entry Notes are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither the Depositary nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to
the Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes. Under its usual
procedures, the Depositary mails an Omnibus Proxy to the Company as soon as
possible after the applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede &
Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose
accounts the Book-Entry Notes are credited on the applicable record date
(identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payments on the
Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes will be made in
immediately available funds to the Depositary. The Depositary's practice is
to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the applicable payment date in
accordance with their respective holdings shown on the Depositary's records
unless the Depositary has reason to believe that it will not receive payment
on such date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by standing instructions and customary practices, as is 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 Participant and not of
the Depositary, the Trustee or the Company, subject to any statutory or
regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of
principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, to the Depositary is the
responsibility of the Company and the Trustee, disbursement of such payments
to Direct Participants shall be the responsibility of the Depositary, and
disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners shall be the
responsibility of Direct Participants and Indirect Participants.
If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than
all of the Book-Entry Notes of like tenor and terms are being redeemed, the
Depositary's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
A Beneficial Owner shall give notice of any option to elect to have its
Book-Entry Notes repaid by the Company, through its Participant, to the
Trustee, and shall effect delivery of such Book-Entry Notes by causing the
Direct Participant to transfer the Participant's interest in the Global
Security or Securities representing such Book-Entry Notes, on the
Depositary's records, to the Trustee. The requirement for physical delivery
of Book-Entry Notes in connection with a demand for repayment will be deemed
satisfied when the ownership rights in the Global Security or Securities
representing such Book-Entry Notes are transferred by Direct Participants on
the Depositary's records.
Management of the Depositary is aware that some computer applications,
systems and the like for processing data ("Systems") that are dependent upon
calendar dates, including dates before, on, and after January 1, 2000, may
encounter "Year 2000 problems." The Depositary has informed Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants and other members of the financial
community (the "Industry") that it has developed and is implementing a
program so that its Systems, as the same relate to the timely payment of
distributions (including principal and interest payments) to securityholders,
book-entry deliveries, and settlement of trades within the Depositary
("Depositary Services"), continue to function appropriately. This program
includes a technical assessment and a remediation plan, each of which is
complete. Additionally, the Depositary's plan includes a testing phase, which
is expected to be completed within appropriate time frames.
However, the Depositary's ability to perform properly its services is also
dependent upon other parties, including, but not limited to, issuers and
their agents, as well as the Depositary's Direct Participants and Indirect
Participants, third party vendors from whom the Depositary licenses software
and hardware, and third party vendors on whom the Depositary relies for
information or the provision of services, including telecommunication and
electrical utility service providers, among others. The Depositary has
informed the Industry that it is contacting (and will continue to contact)
third party vendors from whom the Depositary acquires services to: (i)
impress upon them the importance of such services being Year 2000 compliant;
and (ii) determine the extent of their efforts for Year 2000
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remediation (and, as appropriate, testing) of their services. In addition,
the Depositary is in the process of developing such contingency plans as it
deems appropriate.
According to the Depositary, the information in the preceding two
paragraphs with respect to the Depositary has been provided to the Industry
for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a
representation, warranty, or contract modification of any kind.
The Depositary may discontinue providing its services as securities
depository with respect to the Book-Entry Notes at any time by giving
reasonable notice to the Company or the Trustee. Under such circumstances, in
the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained,
Certificated Notes are required to be printed and delivered.
The Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry
transfers through the Depositary (or a successor securities depository). In
that event, Certificated Notes will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning the Depositary and the
Depositary's system has been obtained from sources that the Company believes to
be reliable, but neither the Company nor any Agent takes any responsibility for
the accuracy thereof.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES
GENERAL
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Foreign
Currency Notes will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country issuing the
Specified Currency. The information set forth in this Prospectus Supplement is
directed to prospective purchasers who are United States residents and, with
respect to Foreign Currency Notes, is by necessity incomplete. The Company and
the Agents disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers who are
residents of countries other than the United States with respect to any matters
that may affect the purchase, holding or receipt of payments of principal of,
and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, Foreign Currency Notes. Such
persons should consult their own financial and legal advisors with regard to
such matters. See "Risk Factors -- Exchange Rates and Exchange Controls."
PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST, IF ANY
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the
Company is obligated to make payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on, a Foreign Currency Note in the Specified Currency. Any
such amounts payable by the Company in the Specified Currency will be converted
by the exchange rate agent named in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the
"Exchange Rate Agent") into United States dollars for payment to Holders unless
otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or the Holder of such
Foreign Currency Note elects, in the manner hereinafter described, to receive
such amounts in the Specified Currency.
Any United States dollar amount to be received by a Holder of a Foreign
Currency Note will be based on the highest bid quotation in The City of New York
received by the Exchange Rate Agent at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City
time, on the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date from
three recognized foreign exchange dealers (one of whom may be the Exchange Rate
Agent) selected by the Exchange Rate Agent and approved by the Company for the
purchase by the quoting dealer of the Specified Currency for United States
dollars for settlement on such payment date in the aggregate amount of such
Specified Currency payable to all Holders of Foreign Currency Notes scheduled to
receive United States dollar payments and at which the applicable dealer commits
to execute a contract. All currency exchange costs will be borne by the Holders
of such Foreign Currency Notes by deductions from such payments. If three such
bid quotations are not available, payments will be made in the Specified
Currency.
Holders of Foreign Currency Notes may elect to receive all or a specified
portion of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any,
in the Specified Currency by submitting a written request for such payment to
the Trustee at its office in The City of New York on or prior to the applicable
Record Date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the
case may be. Such written request may be mailed or hand delivered or sent by
cable, telex or other form of facsimile transmission. Holders of Foreign
Currency Notes may elect to receive all or a specified portion of all future
payments in the Specified Currency and need not file a separate election for
each payment. Such election will remain in effect until revoked by written
notice to the Trustee, but written notice of any such revocation must be
received by the Trustee on or prior to the applicable Record Date or at least
fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Holders of
Foreign Currency Notes to be held in the name of a broker or nominee
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should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether and how an election
to receive payments in the Specified Currency may be made.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, if the
Specified Currency is other than United States dollars, a Beneficial Owner of
the related Global Security or Securities which elects to receive payments of
principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in the Specified Currency
must notify the Participant through which it owns its interest on or prior to
the applicable Record Date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the
Maturity Date, as the case may be, of such Beneficial Owner's election. Such
Participant must notify the Depositary of such election on or prior to the third
Business Day after such Record Date or at least twelve calendar days prior to
the Maturity Date, as the case may be, and the Depositary will notify the
Trustee of such election on or prior to the fifth Business Day after such Record
Date or at least ten calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may
be. If complete instructions are received by the Participant from the Beneficial
Owner and forwarded by the Participant to the Depositary, and by the Depositary
to the Trustee, on or prior to such dates, then such Beneficial Owner will
receive payments in the Specified Currency.
Payments of the principal of, and premium, if any, and/or interest, if any,
on, Foreign Currency Notes which are to be made in United States dollars will be
made in the manner specified herein with respect to Notes denominated in United
States dollars. See "Description of Notes -- General." Payments of interest, if
any, on Foreign Currency Notes which are to be made in the Specified Currency on
an Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date will be made by check
mailed to the address of the Holders of such Foreign Currency Notes as they
appear in the Security Register, subject to the right to receive such interest
payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds under the circumstances
described under "Description of Notes -- General." Payments of principal of, and
premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on, Foreign Currency Notes which are
to be made in the Specified Currency on the Maturity Date will be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account with a bank designated at
least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date by each Holder thereof,
provided that such bank has appropriate facilities therefor and that the
applicable Foreign Currency Note is presented and surrendered at the office or
agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York, currently the office of the Trustee located at 40 Broad
Street, Suite 550, New York, New York 10004, in time for the Trustee to make
such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures.
AVAILABILITY OF SPECIFIED CURRENCY
If the Specified Currency for a Foreign Currency Note is not available for
the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in
respect thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other
circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to
satisfy its obligations to the Holder of such Foreign Currency Note by making
such payment in United States dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate,
computed by the Exchange Rate Agent, on the second Business Day prior to such
payment or, if such Market Exchange Rate is not then available, on the basis of
the most recently available Market Exchange Rate, or as otherwise specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement.
If payment in respect of a Foreign Currency Note is required to be made in
any composite currency, and such composite currency is unavailable due to the
imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the
Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to the Holder
of such Foreign Currency Note by making such payment in United States dollars.
The amount of each payment in United States dollars shall be computed by the
Exchange Rate Agent on the basis of the equivalent of the composite currency in
United States dollars. The component currencies of the composite currency for
this purpose (collectively, the "Component Currencies" and each, a "Component
Currency") shall be the currency amounts that were components of the composite
currency as of the last day on which the composite currency was used. The
equivalents of the composite currency in United States dollars shall be
calculated by aggregating the United States dollar equivalents of the Component
Currencies. The United States dollar equivalent of each of the Component
Currencies shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent on the basis of the
most recently available Market Exchange Rate for each such Component Currency,
or as otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
If the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of
combination or subdivision, the number of units of the currency as a Component
Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If two or more
Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the amounts of
those currencies as Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such
single currency equal to the sum of the amounts of the consolidated Component
Currencies expressed in such single currency. If any Component Currency is
divided into two or more currencies, the amount of
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the original Component Currency shall be replaced by the amounts of such two or
more currencies, the sum of which shall be equal to the amount of the original
Component Currency.
The "Market Exchange Rate" for a Specified Currency other than United
States dollars means the noon dollar buying rate in The City of New York for
cable transfers for such Specified Currency as certified for customs purposes
(or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York. Any payment made in United States dollars under such circumstances
where the required payment is in a Specified Currency other than United States
dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect
to the Notes.
All determinations referred to above made by the Exchange Rate Agent shall
be at its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be
conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Holders of the Foreign Currency
Notes.
JUDGMENTS
The Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is uncertain, however, whether under current
Virginia law a state court in the Commonwealth of Virginia rendering a judgment
in respect of a Foreign Currency Note would render such judgment in the
Specified Currency, and, if such judgment is rendered in the Specified Currency,
whether such judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the
exchange rate prevailing on the date of default, on the date of entry of such
judgment or on the date of satisfaction of such judgment. Accordingly, the
Holder of such Foreign Currency Note would be subject to exchange rate
fluctuations between the date of entry of a judgment in a foreign currency and
the time the amount of such foreign currency judgment is paid to such Holder in
United States dollars and converted by such Holder into the Specified Currency.
It is also uncertain whether a non-Virginia state court would follow the same
rules and procedures with respect to conversions of foreign currency judgments.
The Company will indemnify the Holder of any Note against any loss incurred
by such Holder as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any
amount due under such Note and such judgment or order requiring payment in a
currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than the Specified Currency, and as a
result of any variation between (i) the rate of exchange at which the Specified
Currency amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such
judgment or order, and (ii) the rate of exchange at which the Holder of such
Note, on the date of payment of such judgment or order, is able to purchase the
Specified Currency with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by
such Holder, as the case may be.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary of certain United States Federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes is based
upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are
subject to change (including changes in effective dates) or possible differing
interpretations. It deals only with Notes held as capital assets and does not
purport to deal with persons in special tax situations, such as financial
institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, dealers in
securities or currencies, persons holding Notes as a hedge against currency
risks or as a position in a "straddle" for tax purposes, or persons whose
functional currency is not the United States dollar. It also does not deal with
holders other than original purchasers (except where otherwise specifically
noted). Persons considering the purchase of the Notes should consult their own
tax advisors concerning the application of United States Federal income tax laws
to their particular situations as well as any consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of the Notes arising under the laws of any other
taxing jurisdiction.
As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Note
that is for United States Federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen or resident
of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United
States person under any applicable Treasury regulations), (iii) an estate whose
income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source,
(iv) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States
persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or
(v) any other person whose income or gain in respect of a Note is effectively
connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Notwithstanding
the preceding clause (iv), to the extent provided in regulations, certain trusts
in existence on August 20, 1996 and treated as United States persons prior to
such date that elect to continue to be so treated also shall be considered U.S.
Holders. As used herein, the term "non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of
a Note that is not a U.S. Holder.
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U.S. HOLDERS
INTEREST. Payments of interest on a Note generally will be taxable to a
U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued
or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax
accounting).
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. The following summary is a general discussion of
the United States Federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of Notes issued with original issue discount
("Original Issue Discount Notes"). The following summary is based upon final
Treasury regulations (the "OID Regulations") under the original issue discount
provisions of the Code.
For United States Federal income tax purposes, original issue discount is
the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of a Note over its issue
price, if such excess equals or exceeds a de minimis amount (generally 1/4 of 1%
of the Note's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of
complete years to its maturity from its issue date or, in the case of a Note
providing for the payment of any amount other than qualified stated interest (as
defined below) prior to maturity, multiplied by the weighted average maturity of
such Note). The issue price of each Note in an issue of Notes equals the first
price at which a substantial amount of such Notes has been sold (ignoring sales
to bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the
capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers). The stated
redemption price at maturity of a Note is the sum of all payments provided by
the Note other than "qualified stated interest" payments. The term "qualified
stated interest" generally means stated interest that is unconditionally payable
in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least
annually at a single fixed rate. In addition, under the OID Regulations, if a
Note bears interest for one or more accrual periods at a rate below the rate
applicable for the remaining term of such Note (E.G., Notes with teaser rates or
interest holidays), and if the greater of either the resulting foregone interest
on such Note or any "true" discount on such Note (I.E., the excess of the Note's
stated principal amount over its issue price) equals or exceeds a specified de
minimis amount, then the stated interest on the Note in excess of the lowest
applicable interest rate would be treated as original issue discount rather than
qualified stated interest.
Payments of qualified stated interest on a Note are taxable to a U.S.
Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are
received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax
accounting). A U.S. Holder of an Original Issue Discount Note must include
original issue discount in income as ordinary interest for United States Federal
income tax purposes as it accrues under a constant yield method in advance of
receipt of the cash payments attributable to such income, regardless of such
U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting. In general, the amount of
original issue discount included in income by the initial U.S. Holder of an
Original Issue Discount Note is the sum of the daily portions of original issue
discount with respect to such Original Issue Discount Note for each day during
the taxable year (or portion of the taxable year) on which such U.S. Holder held
such Original Issue Discount Note. The "daily portion" of original issue
discount on any Original Issue Discount Note is determined by allocating to each
day in any accrual period a ratable portion of the original issue discount
allocable to that accrual period. An "accrual period" may be of any length and
the accrual periods may vary in length over the term of the Original Issue
Discount Note, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and
each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs either on the final day
of an accrual period or on the first day of an accrual period. The amount of
original issue discount allocable to each accrual period is generally equal to
the difference between (i) the product of the Original Issue Discount Note's
adjusted issue price at the beginning of such accrual period and its yield to
maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual
period and appropriately adjusted to take into account the length of the
particular accrual period) and (ii) the amount of any qualified stated interest
payments allocable to such accrual period. The "adjusted issue price" of an
Original Issue Discount Note at the beginning of any accrual period is the sum
of the issue price of the Original Issue Discount Note plus the amount of
original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual periods minus the amount
of any prior payments on the Original Issue Discount Note that were not
qualified stated interest payments. Under these rules, U.S. Holders generally
will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of original issue
discount in successive accrual periods.
A U.S. Holder who purchases an Original Issue Discount Note for an amount
that is greater than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date and less
than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the Original Issue Discount
Note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest,
will be considered to have purchased the Original Issue Discount Note at an
"acquisition premium." Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of
original issue discount which such U.S. Holder must include in its gross income
with respect to such Original Issue Discount Note for any taxable year (or
portion thereof in which the U.S. Holder holds the Original Issue Discount Note)
will be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion of the acquisition premium
properly allocable to the period.
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Under the OID Regulations, Floating Rate Notes and Indexed Notes ("Variable
Notes") are subject to special rules whereby a Variable Note will qualify as a
"variable rate debt instrument" if (a) its issue price does not exceed the total
noncontingent principal payments due under the Variable Note by more than a
specified de minimis amount and (b) it provides for stated interest, paid or
compounded at least annually, at current values of (i) one or more qualified
floating rates, (ii) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating
rates, (iii) a single objective rate, or (iv) a single fixed rate and a single
objective rate that is a qualified inverse floating rate.
A "qualified floating rate" is any variable rate where variations in the
value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous
variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the
Variable Note is denominated. Although a multiple of a qualified floating rate
generally will not itself constitute a qualified floating rate, a variable rate
equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is
greater than .65 but not more than 1.35 will constitute a qualified floating
rate. A variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a
fixed multiple that is greater than .65 but not more than 1.35, increased or
decreased by a fixed rate, will also constitute a qualified floating rate. In
addition, under the OID Regulations, two or more qualified floating rates that
can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the
term of the Variable Note (E.G., two or more qualified floating rates with
values within 25 basis points of each other as determined on the Variable Note's
issue date) will be treated as a single qualified floating rate. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a variable rate that would otherwise constitute a qualified
floating rate but which is subject to one or more restrictions such as a maximum
numerical limitation (i.e., a cap) or a minimum numerical limitation (I.E., a
floor) may, under certain circumstances, fail to be treated as a qualified
floating rate under the OID Regulations unless such cap or floor is fixed
throughout the term of the Note. An "objective rate" is a rate that is not
itself a qualified floating rate but which is determined using a single fixed
formula and that is based on objective financial or economic information. A rate
will not qualify as an objective rate if it is based on information that is
within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the
circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as dividends, profits, or
the value of the issuer's stock (although a rate does not fail to be an
objective rate merely because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer).
A "qualified inverse floating rate" is any objective rate where such rate is
equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, as long as variations in
the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous
variations in the qualified floating rate. The OID Regulations also provide that
if a Variable Note provides for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial
period of one year or less followed by a variable rate that is either a
qualified floating rate or an objective rate and if the variable rate on the
Variable Note's issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate (E.G., the
value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of
the fixed rate by more than 25 basis points), then the fixed rate and the
variable rate together will constitute either a single qualified floating rate
or objective rate, as the case may be.
If a Variable Note that provides for stated interest at either a single
qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term thereof
qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations and if
the interest on such Note is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other
than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually, then all stated interest
on the Note will constitute qualified stated interest and will be taxed
accordingly. Thus, a Variable Note that provides for stated interest at either a
single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term
thereof and that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID
Regulations will generally not be treated as having been issued with original
issue discount unless the Variable Note is issued at a "true" discount (I.E., at
a price below the Note's stated principal amount) in excess of a specified de
minimis amount. The amount of qualified stated interest and the amount of
original issue discount, if any, that accrues during an accrual period on such a
Variable Note is determined under the rules applicable to fixed rate debt
instruments by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to (i) in
the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the
value, as of the issue date, of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse
floating rate, or (ii) in the case of an objective rate (other than a qualified
inverse floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably
expected for the Variable Note. The qualified stated interest allocable to an
accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during
an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest assumed to be paid
during the accrual period pursuant to the foregoing rules.
In general, any other Variable Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt
instrument" will be converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument
for purposes of determining the amount and accrual of original issue discount
and qualified stated interest on the Variable Note. The OID Regulations
generally require that such a Variable Note be converted into an "equivalent"
fixed rate debt instrument by substituting any qualified floating rate or
qualified inverse floating rate provided for under the terms of the Variable
Note with a fixed rate equal to the value of the qualified floating rate or
qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be, as of the Variable Note's
issue date. Any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate)
provided for under the terms of the Variable Note is converted into a fixed rate
that
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reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Variable Note. In the
case of a Variable Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" and
provides for stated interest at a fixed rate in addition to either one or more
qualified floating rates or a qualified inverse floating rate, the fixed rate is
initially converted into a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse
floating rate, if the Variable Note provides for a qualified inverse floating
rate). Under such circumstances, the qualified floating rate or qualified
inverse floating rate that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair
market value of the Variable Note as of the Variable Note's issue date is
approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt
instrument that provides for either the qualified floating rate or qualified
inverse floating rate rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to converting the
fixed rate into either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse floating
rate, the Variable Note is then converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt
instrument in the manner described above.
Once the Variable Note is converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt
instrument pursuant to the foregoing rules, the amount of original issue
discount and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the
"equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument by applying the general original issue
discount rules to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument and a U.S. Holder
of the Variable Note will account for such original issue discount and qualified
stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the "equivalent" fixed rate debt
instrument. Each accrual period appropriate adjustments will be made to the
amount of qualified stated interest or original issue discount assumed to have
been accrued or paid with respect to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument
in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued
or paid on the Variable Note during the accrual period.
If a Variable Note does not qualify as a "variable rate debt instrument"
under the OID Regulations, then the Variable Note would be treated as a
contingent payment debt obligation. The OID Regulations generally require a U.S.
Holder of such an instrument to include future contingent and noncontingent
interest payments in income as such interest accrues based upon a projected
payment schedule. Moreover, in general, under the OID Regulations, any gain
recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, or retirement of a contingent
payment debt instrument will be treated as ordinary income and all or a portion
of any loss realized could be treated as ordinary loss as opposed to capital
loss (depending upon the circumstances). The proper United States Federal income
tax treatment of Variable Notes that are treated as contingent payment debt
obligations will be more fully described in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
Furthermore, any other special United States Federal income tax considerations,
not otherwise discussed herein, which are applicable to any particular issue of
Notes will be discussed in the applicable Pricing Supplement.
Certain of the Notes (i) may be redeemable at the option of the Company
prior to their stated maturity (a "call option") and/or (ii) may be repayable at
the option of the holder prior to their stated maturity (a "put option"). Notes
containing such features may be subject to rules that differ from the general
rules discussed above. Investors intending to purchase Notes with such features
should consult their own tax advisors, since the original issue discount
consequences will depend, in part, on the particular terms and features of the
purchased Notes.
U.S. Holders may generally, upon election, include in income all interest
(including stated interest, acquisition discount, original issue discount, de
minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount,
and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or
acquisition premium) that accrues on a debt instrument by using the constant
yield method applicable to original issue discount, subject to certain
limitations and exceptions.
Notes that have a fixed maturity of one year or less ("Short-Term Notes")
will be treated as having been issued with original issue discount. In general,
an individual or other cash method U.S. Holder is not required to accrue such
original issue discount unless the U.S. Holder elects to do so. If such an
election is not made, any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale,
exchange or maturity of the Short-Term Note will be ordinary income to the
extent of the original issue discount accrued on a straight-line basis, or upon
election under the constant yield method (based on daily compounding), through
the date of sale or maturity, and a portion of the deductions otherwise
allowable to the U.S. Holder for interest on borrowings allocable to the
Short-Term Note will be deferred until a corresponding amount of income is
realized. U.S. Holders who report income for United States Federal income tax
purposes under the accrual method, and certain other holders including banks and
dealers in securities, are required to accrue original issue discount on a
Short-Term Note on a straight-line basis unless an election is made to accrue
the original issue discount under a constant yield method (based on daily
compounding).
MARKET DISCOUNT. If a U.S. Holder purchases a Note, other than an Original
Issue Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its issue price (or, in the
case of a subsequent purchaser, its stated redemption price at maturity) or, in
the case of an Original Issue Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its
adjusted issue price as of the purchase date,
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such U.S. Holder will be treated as having purchased such Note at a "market
discount,"unless such market discount is less than a specified de minimis
amount.
Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder will be required to treat
any partial principal payment (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Note, any payment that does not constitute qualified stated interest) on, or any
gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a Note
as ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of such payment
or realized gain or (ii) the market discount which has not previously been
included in income and is treated as having accrued on such Note at the time of
such payment or disposition. Market discount will be considered to accrue
ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of
the Note, unless the U.S. Holder elects to accrue market discount on the basis
of semiannual compounding.
A U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction of a portion of the
interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase
or carry a Note with market discount until the maturity of the Note or certain
earlier dispositions, because a current deduction is not allowed to the extent
the interest expense for any taxable year exceeds the stated interest and
original issue discount income recognized with respect to the Note for that
year, up to an allocable portion of market discount for that year. A U.S. Holder
may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues (on
either a ratable or semiannual compounding basis), in which case the rules
described above regarding the treatment as ordinary income of gain upon the
disposition of the Note and upon the receipt of certain cash payments and
regarding the deferral of interest deductions will not apply. Generally, such
currently included market discount is treated as ordinary interest for United
States Federal income tax purposes. Such an election will apply to all debt
instruments acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first
taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked only with the
consent of the IRS.
PREMIUM. If a U.S. Holder purchases a Note for an amount that is greater
than the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date other
than payments of qualified stated interest, such U.S. Holder will be considered
to have purchased the Note with "amortizable bond premium" equal in amount to
such excess. A U.S. Holder may elect to amortize such premium using a constant
yield method over the remaining term of the Note and may offset interest
otherwise required to be included in respect of the Note during any taxable year
by the amortized amount of such excess for the taxable year. However, if the
Note may be optionally redeemed after the U.S. Holder acquires it at a price in
excess of its stated redemption price at maturity, special rules would apply
which could result in a deferral of the amortization of some bond premium until
later in the term of the Note. Any election to amortize bond premium applies to
all taxable debt instruments acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first
day of the first taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked
only with the consent of the IRS.
DISPOSITION OF A NOTE. Except as discussed above, upon the sale, exchange
or retirement of a Note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or
loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange
or retirement (other than amounts representing accrued and unpaid interest) and
such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Note. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax
basis in a Note generally will equal such U.S. Holder's initial investment in
the Note increased by any original issue discount included in income (and
accrued market discount, if any, if the U.S. Holder has included such market
discount in income) and decreased by the amount of any payments, other than
qualified stated interest payments, received and amortizable bond premium taken
with respect to such Note. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital
gain or loss if the Note were held for more than the applicable holding period.
Non-corporate taxpayers are subject to reduced maximum rates on long-term
capital gains and are generally subject to tax at ordinary income rates on
short-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
certain limitations. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors
concerning these tax law provisions.
NOTES DENOMINATED OR ON WHICH INTEREST IS PAYABLE IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY
PAYMENTS OF INTEREST IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY. Cash Method. A U.S. Holder who
uses the cash method of accounting for United States Federal income tax
purposes and who receives a payment of interest on a Note (other than original
issue discount or market discount) in a currency other than U.S. dollars (a
"Foreign Currency") will be required to include in income the U.S. dollar value
of the Foreign Currency payment (determined on the date such payment is
received) regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to U.S.
dollars at that time, and such U.S. dollar value will be the U.S. Holder's tax
basis in such Foreign Currency.
Accrual Method. A U.S. Holder who uses the accrual method of accounting
for United States Federal income tax purposes, or who otherwise is required to
accrue interest prior to receipt, will be required to include in income the
U.S.
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dollar value of the amount of interest income (including original issue discount
or market discount and reduced by amortizable bond premium to the extent
applicable) that has accrued and is otherwise required to be taken into account
with respect to a Note during an accrual period. The U.S. dollar value of such
accrued income will be determined by translating such income at the average rate
of exchange for the accrual period or, with respect to an accrual period that
spans two taxable years, at the average rate for the partial period within the
taxable year. A U.S. Holder may elect, however, to translate such accrued
interest income using the rate of exchange on the last day of the accrual period
or, with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, using the
rate of exchange on the last day of the taxable year. If the last day of an
accrual period is within five business days of the date of receipt of the
accrued interest, a U.S. Holder may translate such interest using the rate of
exchange on the date of receipt. The above election will apply to other debt
obligations held by the U.S. Holder and may not be changed without the consent
of the IRS. A U.S. Holder should consult a tax advisor before making the above
election. A U.S. Holder will recognize exchange gain or loss (which will be
treated as ordinary income or loss) with respect to accrued interest income on
the date such income is received. The amount of ordinary income or loss
recognized will equal the difference, if any, between the U.S. dollar value of
the Foreign Currency payment received (determined on the date such payment is
received) in respect of such accrual period and the U.S. dollar value of
interest income that has accrued during such accrual period (as determined
above).
PURCHASE, SALE AND RETIREMENT OF NOTES. A U.S. Holder who purchases a Note
with previously owned Foreign Currency will recognize ordinary income or loss
in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between such U.S. Holder's tax
basis in the Foreign Currency and the U.S. dollar fair market value of the
Foreign Currency used to purchase the Note, determined on the date of purchase.
Except as discussed above with respect to Short-Term Notes, upon the sale,
exchange or retirement of a Note, a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or
loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange
or retirement and such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Note. Such gain
or loss generally will be capital gain or loss (except to the extent of any
accrued market discount not previously included in the U.S. Holder's income) and
will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange or
retirement the Note has been held by such U.S. Holder for more than one year. To
the extent the amount realized represents accrued but unpaid interest, however,
such amounts must be taken into account as interest income, with exchange gain
or loss computed as described in "Payments of Interest in a Foreign Currency"
above. If a U.S. Holder receives Foreign Currency on such a sale, exchange or
retirement the amount realized will be based on the U.S. dollar value of the
Foreign Currency on the date the payment is received or the Note is disposed of
(or deemed disposed of as a result of a material change in the terms of the
Note). In the case of a Note that is denominated in Foreign Currency and is
traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. Holder (or, upon
election, an accrual basis U.S. Holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of
the amount realized by translating the Foreign Currency payment at the spot rate
of exchange on the settlement date of the sale. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax
basis in a Note will equal the cost of the Note to such holder, increased by the
amounts of any market discount or original issue discount previously included in
income by the holder with respect to such Note and reduced by any amortized
acquisition or other premium and any principal payments received by the holder.
A U.S. Holder's tax basis in a Note, and the amount of any subsequent
adjustments to such holder's tax basis, generally will be the U.S. dollar value
of the Foreign Currency amount paid for such Note, or of the Foreign Currency
amount of the adjustment, determined on the date of such purchase or adjustment.
Gain or loss realized upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note that
is attributable to fluctuations in currency exchange rates will be ordinary
income or loss which will not be treated as interest income or expense. Gain or
loss attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates will equal the difference
between the U.S. dollar value of the Foreign Currency principal amount of the
Note, determined on the date such payment is received or the Note is disposed
of, and the U.S. dollar value of the Foreign Currency principal amount of the
Note, determined on the date the U.S. Holder acquired the Note. Such Foreign
Currency gain or loss will be recognized only to the extent of the total gain or
loss realized by the U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or retirement of the
Note.
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. In the case of an Original Issue Discount Note or
Short-Term Note, (i) original issue discount is determined in units of the
Foreign Currency, (ii) accrued original issue discount is translated into U.S.
dollars as described in "Payments of Interest in a Foreign Currency--Accrual
Method" above and (iii) the amount of Foreign Currency gain or loss on the
accrued original issue discount is determined by comparing the amount of income
received attributable to the discount (either upon payment, maturity or an
earlier disposition), as translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange on
the date of such receipt, with the amount of original issue discount accrued, as
translated above.
MARKET DISCOUNT AND PREMIUM. In the case of a Note with market discount,
(i) market discount is determined in units of the Foreign Currency, (ii) accrued
market discount taken into account upon the receipt of any partial principal
payment
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or upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of the Note (other
than accrued market discount required to be taken into account currently) is
translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on such disposition date (and
no part of such accrued market discount is treated as exchange gain or loss) and
(iii) accrued market discount currently includible in income by a U.S. Holder
for any accrual period is translated into U.S. dollars on the basis of the
average exchange rate in effect during such accrual period, and the exchange
gain or loss is determined upon the receipt of any partial principal payment or
upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of the Note in the
manner described in "Payments of Interest in a Foreign Currency--Accrual Method"
above with respect to computation of exchange gain or loss on accrued interest.
With respect to a Note acquired with amortizable bond premium, such premium
is determined in the relevant Foreign Currency and reduces interest income in
units of the Foreign Currency. Although not entirely clear, a U.S. Holder should
recognize exchange gain or loss equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar
value of the bond premium amortized with respect to a period, determined on the
date the interest attributable to such period is received, and the U.S. dollar
value of the bond premium determined on the date of the acquisition of the Note.
EXCHANGE OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES. A U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in any
Foreign Currency received as interest or on the sale, exchange or retirement of
a Note equal to the U.S. dollar value of such Foreign Currency, determined at
the time the interest is received or at the time of the sale, exchange or
retirement. Any gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other
disposition of Foreign Currency (including its exchange for U.S. dollars or its
use to purchase Notes) will be ordinary income or loss.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
A non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income taxes
on payments of principal, premium (if any) or interest (including original issue
discount, if any) on a Note, unless such non-U.S. Holder is a direct or indirect
10% or greater shareholder of the Company, a controlled foreign corporation
related to the Company or a bank receiving interest described in section
881(c)(3)(A) of the Code. To qualify for the exemption from taxation, the last
United States payor in the chain of payment prior to payment to a non-U.S.
Holder (the "Withholding Agent") must have received in the year in which a
payment of interest or principal occurs, or in either of the two preceding
calendar years, a statement that (i) is signed by the beneficial owner of the
Note under penalties of perjury, (ii) certifies that such owner is not a U.S.
Holder and (iii) provides the name and address of the beneficial owner. The
statement may be made on an IRS Form W-8 or a substantially similar form, and
the beneficial owner must inform the Withholding Agent of any change in the
information on the statement within 30 days of such change. If a Note is held
through a securities clearing organization or certain other financial
institutions, the organization or institution may provide a signed statement to
the Withholding Agent. However, in such case, the signed statement must be
accompanied by a copy of the IRS Form W-8 or the substitute form provided by the
beneficial owner to the organization or institution. The Treasury Department is
considering implementation of further certification requirements aimed at
determining whether the issuer of a debt obligation is related to holders
thereof.
Final regulations dealing with withholding tax on income paid to foreign
persons and related matters (the "New Withholding Regulations") were issued by
the Treasury Department on October 6, 1997. The New Withholding Regulations will
generally be effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, subject to
certain transition rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Holders are strongly urged to
consult their own tax advisors with respect to the New Withholding Regulations.
Generally, a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to Federal income taxes on
any amount which constitutes capital gain upon retirement or disposition of a
Note, provided the gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade
or business in the United States by the non-U.S. Holder. Certain other
exceptions may be applicable, and a non-U.S. Holder should consult its tax
advisor in this regard.
The Notes will not be includible in the estate of a non-U.S. Holder unless
the individual is a direct or indirect 10% or greater shareholder of the Company
or, at the time of such individual's death, payments in respect of the Notes
would have been effectively connected with the conduct by such individual of a
trade or business in the United States.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Backup withholding of United States Federal income tax at a rate of 31% may
apply to payments made in respect of the Notes to registered owners who are not
"exempt recipients" and who fail to provide certain identifying information
(such as the registered owner's taxpayer identification number) in the required
manner. Generally, individuals are not
S-26
<PAGE>
exempt recipients, whereas corporations and certain other entities generally are
exempt recipients. Payments made in respect of the Notes to a U.S. Holder must
be reported to the IRS, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient or
establishes an exemption. Compliance with the identification procedures
described in the preceding section would establish an exemption from backup
withholding for those non-U.S. Holders who are not exempt recipients.
In addition, upon the sale of a Note to (or through) a broker, the broker
must withhold 31% of the entire purchase price, unless either (i) the broker
determines that the seller is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii)
the seller provides, in the required manner, certain identifying information
and, in the case of a non-U.S. Holder, certifies that such seller is a non-U.S.
Holder (and certain other conditions are met). Such a sale must also be reported
by the broker to the IRS, unless either (i) the broker determines that the
seller is an exempt recipient or (ii) the seller certifies its non-U.S. status
(and certain other conditions are met). Certification of the registered owner's
non-U.S. status would be made normally on an IRS Form W-8 under penalties of
perjury, although in certain cases it may be possible to submit other
documentary evidence.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a
beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a credit against such
beneficial owner's United States Federal income tax provided the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis for sale by the Company
to or through Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, First Union Capital Markets, a division of Wheat First Securities,
Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and NationsBanc
Montgomery Securities LLC (the "Agents"). The Agents, individually or in a
syndicate, may purchase Notes, as principal, from the Company from time to time
for resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices relating to
prevailing market prices at the time of resale as determined by the applicable
Agent or, if so specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, for resale at a
fixed offering price. If agreed to by the Company and an Agent, such Agent may
also utilize its reasonable efforts on an agency basis to solicit offers to
purchase the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Company will pay a
commission to an Agent, ranging from .125% to .750% of the principal amount of
each Note, depending upon its stated maturity, sold through such Agent as an
agent of the Company. Commissions with respect to Notes with stated maturities
in excess of 30 years that are sold through an Agent as an agent of the Company
will be negotiated between the Company and such Agent at the time of such sale.
In addition, the expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the
offering and sale of the Notes are currently estimated to be $88,000.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any Note
sold to an Agent as principal will be purchased by such Agent at a price equal
to 100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage of the principal
amount equal to the commission applicable to an agency sale of a Note of
identical maturity. An Agent may sell Notes it has purchased from the Company as
principal to certain dealers less a concession equal to all or any portion of
the discount received in connection with such purchase. Such Agent may allow,
and such dealers may reallow, a discount to certain other dealers. After the
initial offering of Notes, the offering price (in the case of Notes to be resold
on a fixed offering price basis), the concession and the reallowance may be
changed.
The Company reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer made
hereby without notice and may reject offers in whole or in part (whether placed
directly with the Company or through an Agent). Each Agent will have the right,
in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject in whole or in part any offer
to purchase Notes received by it on an agency basis.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payment
of the purchase price of the Notes will be required to be made in immediately
available funds in the Specified Currency in The City of New York on the date
of settlement. See "Description of Notes -- General."
Upon issuance, the Notes will not have an established trading market. The
Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. The Agents may from time to
time purchase and sell Notes in the secondary market, but the Agents are not
obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary
market for the Notes or that there will be liquidity in the secondary market if
one develops. From time to time, the Agents may make a market in the Notes, but
the Agents are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making
activity at any time.
In connection with an offering of Notes purchased by one or more Agents as
principal on a fixed offering price basis, such Agent(s) will be permitted to
engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of Notes. Such
transactions
S-27
<PAGE>
may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or
maintaining the price of Notes. If the Agent creates or the Agents create, as
the case may be, a short position in Notes, I.E., if it sells or they sell Notes
in an aggregate principal amount exceeding that set forth in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, such Agent(s) may reduce that short position by purchasing
Notes in the open market. In general, purchases of Notes for the purpose of
stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of Notes to be
higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.
Neither the Company nor any of the Agents makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions
described in the immediately preceding paragraph may have on the price of Notes.
In addition, neither the Company nor any of the Agents makes any representation
that the Agents will engage in any such transactions or that such transactions,
once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
The Agents may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company has
agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Agents
may be required to make in respect thereof. The Company has agreed to reimburse
the Agents for certain other expenses.
In the ordinary course of their business, the Agents and their affiliates
have engaged and may in the future engage in investment and commercial banking
transactions with the Company and certain of its affiliates.
From time to time, the Company may issue and sell other Offered Securities
described in the accompanying Prospectus, and the amount of Notes offered hereby
is subject to reduction as a result of such sales.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the Notes will be passed upon for the Company by Hunton &
Williams, Richmond, Virginia. Brown & Wood LLP, New York, New York, will act as
counsel to the Agents.
S-28
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
$674,842,500
[UNITED DOMINION LOGO]
DEBT SECURITIES
PREFERRED STOCK
COMMON STOCK
---------------
United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. (the "Company") intends to issue from
time to time its (i) unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities (the "Debt
Securities"), (ii) shares of Preferred Stock, no par value ("Preferred Stock"),
and (iii) shares of Common Stock, $1 par value ("Common Stock"), having an
aggregate initial public offering price not to exceed $674,842,500 or the
equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies,
including European Currency Units, on terms to be determined at the time of
sale. The Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock offered
hereby (collectively, the "Offered Securities") may be offered, separately or as
units with other Offered Securities, in separate series in amounts, at prices
and on terms to be determined at the time of sale and to be set forth in a
supplement to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement").
The Debt Securities will be direct unsecured obligations of the Company and
may be either senior Debt Securities ("Senior Securities") or subordinated Debt
Securities ("Subordinated Securities"). The Senior Securities will rank equally
with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The
Subordinated Securities will be subordinated to all existing and future Senior
Debt of the Company, as defined. See "Description of Debt Securities."
The specific terms of the Offered Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement and will include, where applicable, (i) in the case of Debt
Securities, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, currency,
denominations, maturity, priority, interest rate, time of payment of interest,
terms of redemption at the option of the Company or repayment at the option of
the holder or for sinking fund payments, terms for conversion into or exchange
for other Offered Securities and the initial public offering price; (ii) in the
case of Preferred Stock, the series designation and number of shares and the
dividend, liquidation, redemption, conversion, voting and other rights and the
initial public offering price; (iii) in the case of Common Stock, the initial
public offering price; and (iv) in the case of all Offered Securities, whether
such Offered Securities will be offered separately or as a unit with other
Offered Securities. In addition, such specific terms may include limitations on
direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer of the Offered
Securities, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve the status of the
Company as a qualified real estate investment trust ("REIT") under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where
applicable, concerning certain United States federal income tax considerations
relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the Offered Securities
covered thereby.
The Offered Securities may be offered directly, through agents designated
from time to time by the Company or to or through underwriters or dealers. If
any designated agents or any underwriters are involved in the sale of Offered
Securities, they will be identified and their compensation will be described in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution." No Offered
Securities may be sold without delivery of the applicable Prospectus Supplement
describing such Offered Securities and the method and terms of the offering
thereof.
---------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE 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 MAY 22, 1997.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at
its Regional Offices at Suite 1400, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661 and Suite 1300, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and can
also be inspected and copied at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE"), 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Copies of such material can
be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, upon payment of the prescribed fees. The
Commission maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding the Company and other registrants
that file electronically with the Commission. The address of such site is
http://www.sec.gov.
This Prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (together
with all amendments and exhibits, the "Registration Statement") filed by the
Company with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). This Prospectus does not contain all the information set
forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules of the Commission. For further information, reference
is made to the Registration Statement.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents (File No. 1-10524) filed by the Company with the
Commission under the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus: (i) the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, filed on March 31, 1997; (ii) the Company's quarterly report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, filed on May 15, 1997; (iii)
the Company's current report on Form 8-K dated August 15, 1996, filed on August
30, 1996; (iv) the Company's current report on Form 8-K dated October 31, 1996,
filed on November 15, 1996; (v) the Company's current report on Form 8-K dated
December 31, 1996, filed on January 15, 1997, including the Company's Form 8K/A
No. 1 filed on March 17, 1997; (vi) the Company's current report on Form 8-K
dated January 21, 1997, filed on January 21, 1997; and (vii) the descriptions of
the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock contained in the Company's registration
statements on Form 8-A dated April 19, 1990 and April 24, 1995, respectively,
filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or reports filed for the
purpose of updating such descriptions. All documents filed by the Company
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
termination of the offering of all of the Offered Securities shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein.
Any statement contained herein or 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,
in any accompanying Prospectus Supplement relating to a specific offering of
Offered Securities or in any other subsequently filed document, as the case may
be, 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 or any accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
The Company will provide on request and without charge to each person to
whom this Prospectus is delivered a copy (without exhibits) of any or all
documents incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Requests for such
copies should be directed to United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc., 10 South 6th
Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-3802, Attention: Investor Relations (telephone
804/780-2691).
THE COMPANY
United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. is a self-administered equity REIT
formed in 1972 which acquires, repositions, develops, manages and selectively
sells apartment homes for its own portfolio in the Sunbelt region of the United
States.
The Company is an owner and operator of primarily middle income apartment
communities across the Sunbelt region, which it believes will enjoy population
and job growth above the national average. The Company operates in 22 major
markets, dispersed throughout a 15-state area extending from Delaware to Nevada,
where it seeks to be a market leader by operating a sufficiently sized portfolio
of apartments within each market. The Company believes this market
diversification increases investment opportunities and decreases the risks
associated with concentration in cyclical local markets. At May 9, 1997, the
Company's largest apartment market was Dallas, Texas, where it owned 13% of its
apartment homes.
2
<PAGE>
Excluding Dallas, Texas, the Company did not own more than 6% of its apartment
homes in any one market. At May 9, 1997, the Company owned 217 apartment
communities containing 59,021 completed apartment homes (including 11 apartment
communities containing 2,556 apartment homes classified as real estate held for
disposition) and 1,196 apartment homes under development.
The Company has experienced significant growth during the past several
years, increasing the number of apartment homes owned by 327% since 1992. During
1996, the Company completed a record number of apartment acquisitions, adding a
total of 22,032 apartment homes at a total cost of approximately $881 million.
The 1996 acquisitions included the statutory merger with South West Property
Trust Inc. (the "South West Merger"), which added 44 apartment communities
containing 14,320 completed apartment homes and 675 under development, at an
aggregate cost of approximately $560 million. Another acquisition added a
portfolio of 18 apartment communities containing 4,508 apartment homes, at an
aggregate cost of approximately $182 million.
The Company's current objective is to be a major apartment owner in the
larger Sunbelt markets by focusing on the following strategies:
ACQUISITIONS. The Company's investment strategy hinges on acquiring
apartment communities where it can add value. The Company focuses on
acquiring two types of apartment communities: (i) Class B+ to near Class A
properties built since 1980 where the investment (purchase price plus planned
improvements) represents a significant discount to replacement cost; and (ii)
well located, pre-1980s communities that can be upgraded and repositioned for
the longer term.
PORTFOLIO ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS. The Company has been a major
participant in consolidation within the apartment industry, having acquired
apartment portfolios in each of the last three years and completed the South
West Merger on December 31, 1996. The Company expects to continue to
participate in the consolidation process as an acquirer of other apartment
portfolios and/or apartment REITs when such transactions are accretive to
earnings and can enhance dividend growth and shareholder value.
DEVELOPMENT. Consistent with the Company's acquisition strategy, apartment
home development activity will be primarily focused in its major markets
through investments in site locations favorable for new development and
additions to existing apartment communities. The capability to develop is
another resource for growth in the Company's major markets.
EXISTING COMMUNITIES. The Company seeks to achieve income growth from its
portfolio of mature apartment communities by increasing rental revenues while
maintaining occupancy and controlling operating expenses. The Company also
has a program to upgrade its older apartment communities. These upgrades are
designed to enhance rent growth and add value to the apartment communities.
SALES. The Company continually assesses its real estate portfolio in order
to make hold, upgrade or sell decisions on each of its apartment communities.
The Company's strategy is to selectively sell certain apartment communities
that no longer meet the long term investment objectives that have been
established for its apartment portfolio due to size, location, age or
projected earnings potential.
FINANCINGS. The Company intends to maintain what management believes is a
conservative capital structure. Prior to 1996, the Company generally managed
its debt at levels at or below 40% of total market capitalization (debt and
equity). However, in 1996, management decided to increase the proportion of
debt in its capital structure to approximately 45% in order to take advantage
of long term borrowing rates which were at historical lows.
In 1995, the Company organized United Dominion Realty, L.P. (the "Operating
Partnership") to assist the Company in competing for acquisitions of properties
that meet the Company's investment strategies from seller partnerships, some or
all of whose partners may wish to defer taxation of gain realized on sale
through an exchange of partnership interests. As of May 15. 1997, the Company
had acquired three apartment communities and land to develop an additional
apartment community using the Operating Partnership and had transferred seven of
its Tennessee properties into the Operating Partnership, and the Operating
Partnership was 98% owned by the Company.
The Company has an Eastern Division and a Western Division to divide
apartment operations, acquisitions and development geographically. Because the
company operated only in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic prior to the South West
Merger, its Eastern Division today represents approximately 75% of its revenues
and apartment homes. The Eastern Division is divided into three regions,
Northern, Southern and Florida, respectively headquartered in Richmond, Atlanta
and Orlando. Management believes that a region can operate approximately 30,000
apartment homes. The largest region today,
3
<PAGE>
the Northern Region, operates approximately 18,000 apartment homes. The
management team in each region includes a director of apartment operations, a
manager of property improvements, an asset manager and a senior acquisitions
analyst. Regional teams were first organized in 1995 to move decision making
closer to the community and customer level. The Company believes that the
regional concept can allow the Company to effectively operate 200,000 apartment
homes or more. As the Western Division grows, it will also be divided into
regions.
The Company seeks to provide its shareholders with regularly increasing
distributions and stock price appreciation. The Company has paid quarterly
distributions to its shareholders continuously since 1973 and has increased
common stock distributions each year for the past 21 years. The declared common
stock distribution was last increased in March 1997, and the current indicated
annual distribution is $1.01 per share. In past years, a portion of the
Company's distribution to its shareholders has been designated a non-taxable
return of capital for income tax purposes. During the past 15 years, the Company
provided its shareholders with an average annual return of 20%.
The Company, a Virginia corporation, has its principal office at 10 South
6th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-3802. Its telephone number is (804)
780-2691 and its E-mail address is irudrt.com. Unless the context indicates
otherwise, the term "Company," as used herein, includes the Company and its
subsidiaries.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities will be used for general
corporate purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, making
improvements to properties and the acquisition and development of additional
properties.
CERTAIN RATIOS
The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated ratios of
earnings to fixed charges and earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred
Stock dividends for the periods shown and for the year ended December 31, 1996
supplemental pro forma.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ............. 1.54x 1.64x 1.69x 1.81x 1.73x
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and Preferred Stock dividends ......... 1.54 1.64 1.69 1.56 1.45
<CAPTION>
SUPPLEMENTAL
PRO
FORMA(1)
------------- THREE MONTHS ENDED
1996 MARCH 31, 1997
------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ............. 1.67x 1.84x
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and Preferred Stock dividends ......... 1.48 1.64
</TABLE>
- ---------
(1) Assumes (i) the consummation of the South West Merger and (ii) the
acquisition of 20 apartment communities containing 5,157 apartment homes, as
if the transactions had occurred on January 1, 1996.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges was computed by dividing earnings by
fixed charges. The ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred
Stock dividends was computed by dividing earnings by the total of fixed charges
and Preferred Stock dividends. For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings
consist of income before extraordinary items plus fixed charges other than
capitalized interest, and fixed charges consist of interest on borrowed funds
(including capitalized interest) and amortization of debt discount and expense.
The Company did not issue any shares of Preferred Stock until April 1995;
therefore, only the ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred
Stock dividends for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1996, the year ended
December 31, 1996 supplemental pro forma and the three months ended March 31,
1996 and 1997 include Preferred Stock dividends.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
GENERAL
The Senior Securities are to be issued under an indenture dated as of
November 1, 1995, as supplemented from time to time (the "Senior Indenture"),
between the Company and First Union National Bank of Virginia (the "Senior
Indenture Trustee"), and the Subordinated Securities are to be issued under an
indenture dated as of August 1, 1994, as supplemented from time to time (the
"Subordinated Indenture"), between the Company and Crestar Bank (the
"Subordinated Indenture Trustee"). The term "Trustee," as used herein, shall
refer to the Senior Indenture Trustee or the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, as
appropriate. The forms of the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture
(being sometimes referred to
4
<PAGE>
herein collectively as the "Indentures" and individually as an "Indenture") are
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and will be respectively
available for inspection at the Corporate Trust Office (as such term is defined
in the Indentures) of the Senior Indenture Trustee and the Subordinated
Indenture Trustee, or as described under "Available Information." The Indentures
are subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the "TIA"). The statements made hereunder relating to the Indentures and the
Debt Securities are summaries of certain provisions thereof, do not purport to
be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to, all provisions of the Indentures and the Debt Securities. All section
references appearing herein are to sections of the Indentures, and capitalized
terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the
Indentures and the Debt Securities.
TERMS
The Debt Securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of the Company.
The indebtedness represented by the Senior Securities will rank equally with all
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The indebtedness
represented by the Subordinated Securities will be subordinated in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of the Senior Debt of the Company, as
described under "Subordination."
Each Indenture provides that the Debt Securities may be issued without
limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as
established from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company or as established in one or
more indentures supplemental to such Indenture. Debt Securities may be issued
with terms different from those of Debt Securities previously issued. All Debt
Securities of one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless
otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders
of the Debt Securities of such series, for issuances of additional Debt
Securities of such series (Section 301 of each Indenture).
Each Indenture provides that there may be more than one Trustee thereunder,
each with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities. Any Trustee under
either Indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of
Debt Securities, and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to
such series (Section 608 of each Indenture). In the event that two or more
persons are acting as Trustee with respect to different series of Debt
Securities, each such Trustee shall be a Trustee of a trust under the applicable
Indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other Trustee
(Sections 101 and 609 of each Indenture), and, except as otherwise indicated
herein, any action described herein to be taken by the Company may be taken by
each such Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more
series of Debt Securities for which it is Trustee under the applicable
Indenture.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the series of
Debt Securities being offered for the specific terms thereof, including:
(1) the title of such Debt Securities and whether such Debt Securities are
Senior Securities or Subordinated Securities;
(2) the aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities and any limit
on such principal amount;
(3) the percentage of the principal amount at which such Debt Securities
will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion
of the principal amount payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof, or (if applicable) the portion of the principal amount of
such Debt Securities that is convertible into Capital Stock of the Company,
or the method by which any such portion will be determined;
(4) if convertible, in connection with the preservation of the Company's
status as a REIT, any applicable limitations on the ownership or
transferability of the Capital Stock of the Company into which such Debt
Securities are convertible;
(5) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be
determined, on which the principal of such Debt Securities will be payable
and the amount of principal payable thereon;
(6) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which such Debt
Securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or
rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will
accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined, the
Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest will be payable and the
Regular Record Dates for such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which
such Dates will be determined, and the basis upon which interest will be
calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months;
5
<PAGE>
(7) the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole
Amount (as defined in each Indenture), if any), interest, if any, on, and
Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of, such Debt Securities will
be payable, where such Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in
respect of such Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture may be served;
(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (including
premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) at which, the currency or currencies,
currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which and other
terms and conditions upon which such Debt Securities may be redeemed in whole
or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the
option;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase
such Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or
at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or
the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the currency or
currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in
which, and other terms and conditions upon which such Debt Securities will be
redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
obligation;
(10) whether such Debt Securities will be in registered or bearer form and
terms and conditions relating thereto, and, if other than $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any registered Debt
Securities will be issuable and, if other than $5,000, the denomination or
denominations in which any bearer Debt Securities will be issuable;
(11) if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies in
which such Debt Securities will be denominated and payable, which may be a
foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite
currency or currencies;
(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium or
Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest, if any, on such Debt Securities may
be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which
index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more
currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices
or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(13) whether the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any)
or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on such Debt Securities are to be
payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or
currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies other
than that in which such Debt Securities are denominated or stated to be
payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions
upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of, and
identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the
exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or
composite currency or currencies in which such Debt Securities are
denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency
unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Debt
Securities are to be so payable;
(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of such
Debt Securities upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of
Default or covenants of the Company with respect to such Debt Securities,
whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the
Events of Default or covenants set forth in the applicable Indenture;
(16) whether such Debt Securities will be issued in certificated or
book-entry form;
(17) the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance
provisions of Article Fourteen of the applicable Indenture;
(18) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional
Amounts as contemplated in the applicable Indenture on such Debt Securities
in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether
the Company will have the option to redeem such Debt Securities rather than
pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option); and
(19) any other terms of such Debt Securities not inconsistent with the
provisions of the applicable Indenture (Section 301 of each Indenture).
The Debt Securities may provide for less than the entire principal amount
thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof
("Original Issue Discount Securities") (Section 502 of each Indenture). Special
United
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States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to
Original Issue Discount Securities will be described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
DENOMINATIONS, INTEREST, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Debt Securities of any series issued in registered form will be issuable in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities of any
series issued in bearer form will be issuable in denominations of $5,000
(Section 302 of each Indenture).
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on any
series of Senior Securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the
Senior Indenture Trustee located at 230 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North
Carolina 28288 and the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any)
and interest on any series of Subordinated Securities will be payable at the
corporate trust office of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee located at 919 East
Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219; provided that at the option of the
Company payment of interest on any series of Debt Securities may be made by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the
Security Register for such series or by wire transfer of funds to such Person at
an account maintained within the United States (Sections 301, 305, 306, 307 and
1002 of each Indenture).
Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest
Payment Date with respect to a Debt Security ("Defaulted Interest") will
forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the applicable Regular Record
Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name such Debt Security is
registered at the close of business on a special record date (the "Special
Record Date") for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Company, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of such Debt Security not
less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner, all as more completely described in the applicable
Indenture (Section 307 of each Indenture).
Subject to certain limitations imposed upon Debt Securities issued in
book-entry form, the Debt Securities of any series will be exchangeable for
other Debt Securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal
amount and tenor of different authorized denominations upon surrender of such
Debt Securities at the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee referred
to above. In addition, subject to certain limitations imposed upon Debt
Securities issued in book-entry form, the Debt Securities of any series may be
surrendered for conversion or registration of transfer thereof at the corporate
trust office of the applicable Trustee referred to above. Every Debt Security
surrendered for conversion, registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly
endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service charge
will be made for any registration or transfer or exchange of any Debt
Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith (Section 305 of
each Indenture). If the applicable Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer
agent (in addition to the applicable Trustee) initially designated by the
Company with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the Company may at any
time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in
the location through which such transfer agent acts, except that the Company
will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for such
series. The Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents with
respect to any series of Debt Securities (Section 1002 of each Indenture).
Neither the Company nor either Trustee shall be required to (i) issue,
register the transfer of or exchange Debt Securities of any series during a
period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Debt
Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on
the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; (ii) register the
transfer of or exchange any Debt Security, or portion thereof, called for
redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Debt Security being redeemed in
part; or (iii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security
which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the
portion, if any, of such Debt Security not to be so repaid (Section 305 of each
Indenture).
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE
The Company may consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or
substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into, any other entity,
provided that (a) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the
successor entity (if other than the Company) formed by or resulting from any
such consolidation or merger or which shall have received the transfer of such
assets is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or
any State thereof and shall expressly assume payment of the principal of (and
premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on all of the Debt Securities
and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions contained in each Indenture; (b) immediately after giving effect to
such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of
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the Company or any Subsidiary as a result thereof as having been incurred by the
Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default
under an Indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would become such an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be
continuing; and (c) an Officers' Certificate and legal opinion covering such
conditions shall be delivered to the Company (Sections 801 and 803 of each
Indenture).
CERTAIN COVENANTS
SENIOR INDENTURE LIMITATIONS ON INCURRENCE OF DEBT. The Senior Indenture
provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur
any Debt (as defined below) if, immediately after giving effect to the
incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds thereof, the
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Debt of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles is greater than 60% of the sum of (without
duplication) (i) the Company's Total Assets as of the end of the calendar
quarter covered in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the Commission (or,
if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, with the Company) prior
to the incurrence of such additional Debt and (ii) the purchase price of any
real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the amount of any
securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used
to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt),
by the Company or any Subsidiary since the end of such calendar quarter,
including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such
additional Debt (Section 1004 of the Senior Indenture). The Subordinated
Indenture does not limit the incurrence of Debt.
In addition to the foregoing limitation on the incurrence of Debt, the
Senior Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, incur any Debt secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge,
encumbrance or security interest of any kind upon any of the property of the
Company or any Subsidiary if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence
of such Debt and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries on
a consolidated basis which is secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge,
encumbrance or security interest on property of the Company or any Subsidiary is
greater than 40% of the Company's Total Assets (Section 1004 of the Senior
Indenture).
In addition to the foregoing limitations on the incurrence of Debt, the
Senior Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, incur any Debt if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for
Debt Service (as defined below) to the Annual Service Charge (as defined below)
for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date
on which such additional Debt is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5,
on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto and to the application of the
proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the assumption that (i) such Debt and any
other Debt incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries since the first day of
such four-quarter period and the application of the proceeds therefrom,
including to refinance other Debt, had occurred at the beginning of such period;
(ii) the repayment or retirement of any other Debt by the Company and its
Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period had been incurred,
repaid or retired at the beginning of such period (except that, in making such
computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit facility shall be
computed based upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period);
(iii) in the case of Acquired Debt (as defined below) or Debt incurred in
connection with any acquisition since the first day of such four-quarter period,
the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the
appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such
pro forma calculation; and (iv) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by
the Company or its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since the first
day of such four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale, or
asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition or any related repayment
of Debt had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate
adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in
such pro forma calculation (Section 1004 of the Senior Indenture).
As used herein,
"ACQUIRED DEBT" means Debt of a Person (i) existing at the time such Person
becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of
assets from such Person, in each case, other than Debt incurred in connection
with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such
acquisition. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date of the
related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person
becomes a Subsidiary.
"ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE" as of any date means the maximum amount which is
payable in any period for interest on, and original issue discount of, Debt of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and the amount of dividends which are payable
in respect of any Disqualified Stock (as defined below).
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"CAPITAL STOCK" means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock
(including preferred stock), shares, interests, participations or other
ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other
than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for corporate stock),
warrants or options to purchase any thereof.
"CONSOLIDATED INCOME AVAILABLE FOR DEBT SERVICE" for any period means Funds
from Operations (as defined below) of the Company and its Subsidiaries plus
amounts which have been deducted for interest on Debt of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
"DEBT" of the Company or any Subsidiary means any indebtedness of the
Company, or any Subsidiary, whether or not contingent, in respect of (without
duplication) (i) borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or
similar instruments, (ii) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien,
charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by the
Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) the reimbursement obligations, contingent or
otherwise, in connection with any letters of credit actually issued or amounts
representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property or services, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued
expense or trade payable, or all conditional sale obligations or obligations
under any title retention agreement, (iv) the principal amount of all
obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to redemption,
repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock or (v) any lease of
property by the Company or any Subsidiary as lessee which is reflected on the
Company's consolidated balance sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles to the extent, in the case of items of
indebtedness under (i) through (iii) above, that any such items (other than
letters of credit) would appear as a liability on the Company's consolidated
balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of the
Company or any Subsidiary to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of
business), Debt of another Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) (it
being understood that Debt shall be deemed to be incurred by the Company or any
Subsidiary whenever the Company or such Subsidiary shall create, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof).
"DISQUALIFIED STOCK" means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock
of such Person which by the terms of such Capital Stock (or by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or
exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise (i) matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii)
is convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Debt or Disqualified
Stock or (iii) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in
part, in each case on or prior to the Stated Maturity of the series of Debt
Securities.
"FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS" for any period means income before gains (losses)
on investments and extraordinary items plus amounts which have been deducted,
and minus amounts which have been added, for the following items (without
duplication): (a) provision for Preferred Stock dividends, (b) provision for
property depreciation and amortization and (c) the effect of any adjustments for
significant non-recurring items, including any noncash charge resulting from a
change in accounting principles in determining income before gains (losses) on
investments and extraordinary items for such period, as reflected in the
financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.
"TOTAL ASSETS" as of any date means the sum of (i) the Company's
Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (ii) all other assets of the Company
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (but
excluding intangibles).
"UNDEPRECIATED REAL ESTATE ASSETS" as of any date means the cost (original
cost plus capital improvements) of real estate assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Except as described above, the Indentures do not contain any provisions
that would limit the ability of the Company to incur indebtedness or that would
afford Holders of the Debt Securities protection in the event of a highly
leveraged or similar transaction involving the Company or in the event of a
change of control. However, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company include
provisions for mandatory redemption and stopping transfer of its Common Stock
designed to preserve the Company's status as a REIT. The Code provides that
concentration of more than 50% in value of direct or indirect ownership of
Common Stock in five or fewer individual shareholders during the last six months
of any year will result in disqualification of the Company as a REIT.
Enforcement of the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation would
prevent such concentration and, therefore, prevent or hinder a change of
control. Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement for
information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to
the Events of Default or covenants of the Company that are described herein,
including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or
similar protection.
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EXISTENCE. Except as described above under " -- Merger, Consolidation or
Sale," the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve
and keep in full force and effect the existence, rights (charter and statutory)
and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise if it
determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct
of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole and that the loss
thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of the
Debt Securities of any series (Section 1005 of each Indenture).
MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. The Company will cause all of its properties
used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary
to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and
supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary
repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in
the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times;
provided, however, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be prevented
from selling or otherwise disposing of for value their properties in the
ordinary course of business (Section 1006 of each Indenture).
INSURANCE. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
keep all of its insurable properties insured against loss or damage in an amount
at least equal to their then full insurable value with financially sound and
reputable insurance companies (Section 1007 of each Indenture).
PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS. The Company will pay or discharge or
cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any
Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any
Subsidiary, and (ii) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which,
if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any
Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or
claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings (Section 1008 of each Indenture).
PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Whether or not the Company is subject
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will, to the extent
permitted under the Exchange Act, file with the Commission the annual reports,
quarterly reports and other documents which the Company would have been required
to file with the Commission pursuant to such Section 13 and 15(d) if the Company
were so subject, such documents to be filed with the Commission on or prior to
the respective dates (the "Required Filing Dates") by which the Company would
have been required so to file such documents if the Company were so subject. The
Company will also in any event (x) within 15 days of each Required Filing Date
(i) transmit by mail to all Holders of Debt Securities, as their names and
addresses appear in the Security Register, without cost to such Holders, copies
of the annual reports and quarterly reports which the Company would have been
required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act if the Company were subject to such Sections and (ii) file with the
Company copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents
which the Company would have been required to file with the Commission pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Company were subject to such
Sections and (y) if filing such documents by the Company with the Commission is
not permitted under the Exchange Act, promptly upon written request and payment
of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery, supply copies of such
documents to any prospective Holder (Section 1009 of each Indenture).
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER
Each Indenture provides that the following events are "Events of Default"
with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued thereunder: (a) default for
30 days in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts
payable on any Debt Security of such series; (b) default in the payment of the
principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Debt Security of
such series at its Maturity; (c) default in making any sinking fund payment as
required for any Debt Security of such series; (d) default in the performance of
any other covenant of the Company contained in the Indenture (other than a
covenant added to the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Debt
Securities issued thereunder other than such series), continued for 60 days
after written notice as provided in the Indenture; (e) default under any bond,
debenture, note, mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money
borrowed by the Company (or by any Subsidiary, the repayment of which the
Company has guaranteed or for which the Company is directly responsible or
liable as obligor or guarantor) having an aggregate principal amount outstanding
of at least $10,000,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter
be created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness being
declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have
become due and payable, without such acceleration having been rescinded or
annulled within 10
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days after written notice as provided in the Indenture; (f) the entry by a court
of competent jurisdiction of one or more judgments, orders or decrees against
the Company or any Subsidiary in an aggregate amount (excluding amounts covered
by insurance) in excess of $10,000,000 and such judgments, orders or decrees
remain undischarged, unstayed and unsatisfied in an aggregate amount (excluding
amounts covered by insurance) in excess of $10,000,000 for a period of 30
consecutive days; (g) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the
Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of either
of its property; and (h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to
such series of Debt Securities (Section 501 of each Indenture). The term
"Significant Subsidiary" means each significant subsidiary (as defined in
Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Company.
If an Event of Default under either Indenture with respect to Debt
Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then
in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may declare the
principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue
Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount
as may be specified in the terms thereof) of, and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on,
all of the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by
written notice thereof to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the
Holders). However, at any time after such declaration of acceleration with
respect to Debt Securities of such series (or of all Debt Securities then
Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be) has been made,
but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained
by the Trustee, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series (or of all Debt Securities then
Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be) may rescind and
annul such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company shall have
deposited with the Trustee all required payments of the principal of (and
premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, and any Additional Amounts,
on the Debt Securities of such series (or of all Debt Securities then
Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be), plus certain
fees, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and (b) all Events of
Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal (or specified
portion thereof and the premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest, with
respect to the Debt Securities of such series (or of all Debt Securities then
Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be) have been cured
or waived as provided in the Indenture (Section 502 of each Indenture). Each
Indenture also provides that the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series (or of all
Debt Securities then Outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may
be) may waive any past default with respect to such series and its consequences,
except a default (x) in the payment of the principal of (or premium or
Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts payable on any Debt
Security of such series or (y) in respect of a covenant or provision contained
in the applicable Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby
(Section 513 of each Indenture).
Each Trustee is required to give notice to the Holders of Debt Securities
within 90 days of a default under the applicable Indenture; provided, however,
that such Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of any series of Debt
Securities of any default with respect to such series (except a default in the
payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or
interest or Additional Amounts payable on any Debt Security of such series or in
the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any Debt Security of
such series) if the Responsible Officers of such Trustee consider such
withholding to be in the interest of such Holders (Section 601 of each
Indenture).
Each Indenture provides that no Holders of Debt Securities of any series
may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such
Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the
Trustee, for 60 days, to act after it has received a written request to
institute proceedings in respect of an Event of Default from the Holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such
series, as well as an offer of reasonable indemnity (Section 507 of each
Indenture). This provision will not prevent, however, any Holder of Debt
Securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal
of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest on and Additional
Amounts payable with respect to, such Debt Securities at the respective due
dates thereof (Section 508 of each Indenture).
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES
Modifications and amendments of either Indenture may be made with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all
Outstanding Debt Securities issued under such Indenture that are affected by
such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or
amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each such Debt Security
affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium
or Make-Whole
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Amount, if any), or any installment of principal of or interest or Additional
Amounts payable on, any such Debt Security; (b) reduce the principal amount of,
or the rate or amount of interest on, or any premium or Make-Whole Amount
payable on redemption of, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect to, any
such Debt Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue
Discount Security or Make-Whole Amount, if any, that would be due and payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or would be provable in
bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the Holder of any such
Debt Security; (c) change the Place of Payment, or the coin or currency, for
payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest
on, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect to, any such Debt Security;
(d) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or
with respect to any such Debt Security; (e) reduce the percentage of Outstanding
Debt Securities of any series necessary to modify or amend the applicable
Indenture, to waive compliance with certain provisions thereof or certain
defaults and consequences thereunder or to reduce the quorum or voting
requirements set forth in the Indenture; or (f) modify any of the foregoing
provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of certain past
defaults or certain covenants, except to increase the required percentage to
effect such action or to provide that certain other provisions may not be
modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of such Debt Security
(Section 902 of each Indenture).
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of Outstanding
Debt Securities issued under either Indenture have the right to waive compliance
by the Company with certain covenants in such Indenture (Section 1012 of each
Indenture).
SUBORDINATION
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation,
dissolution or reorganization, the payment of the principal of and interest on
the Subordinated Securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the
Subordinated Indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Debt (Sections 1601 and 1602 of the Subordinated Indenture), but the
obligation of the Company to make payment of the principal and interest on the
Subordinated Securities will not otherwise be affected (Section 1608 of the
Subordinated Indenture). No payment of principal or interest may be made on the
Subordinated Securities at any time if a default on Senior Debt exists that
permits the holders of such Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and the
default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the Company receives notice of
the default (Section 1603 of the Subordinated Indenture). After all Senior Debt
is paid in full and until the Subordinated Securities are paid in full, holders
will be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to the extent that
distributions otherwise payable to holders have been applied to the payment of
Senior Debt (Section 1607 of the Subordinated Indenture). By reason of such
subordination, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, certain
general creditors of the Company may recover more, ratably, than holders of the
Subordinated Securities.
Senior Debt is defined in the Subordinated Indenture as the principal of
and interest on, or substantially similar payments to be made by the Company in
respect of, the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the
Subordinated Indenture or thereafter incurred, created or assumed: (a)
indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed or represented by purchase-money
obligations, (b) indebtedness of the Company evidenced by notes, debentures, or
bonds, or other securities issued under the provisions of an indenture, fiscal
agency agreement or other instrument, (c) obligations of the Company as lessee
under leases of property either made as part of any sale and leaseback
transaction to which the Company is a party or otherwise, (d) indebtedness of
partnerships and joint ventures that is included in the consolidated financial
statements of the Company, (e) indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of
others in respect of which the Company is liable contingently or otherwise to
pay or advance money or property or as guarantor, endorser or otherwise or which
the Company has agreed to purchase or otherwise acquire, and (f) any binding
commitment of the Company to fund any real estate investment or to fund any
investment in any entity making such real estate investment, in each case other
than (1) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability referred to in clauses
(a) through (f) above as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the
same pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such
indebtedness, obligation or liability is not superior in right of payment to the
Subordinated Securities or ranks pari passu with the Subordinated Securities,
(2) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability which is subordinated to
indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as or to a greater
extent than the Subordinated Securities are subordinated and (3) the
Subordinated Securities (Section 101 of the Subordinated Indenture). At March
31, 1997, Senior Debt aggregated approximately $1.1 billion. There are no
restrictions in the Subordinated Indenture upon the creation of additional
Senior Debt. However, the Senior Indenture contains limitations on incurrence of
indebtedness by the Company. See " -- Certain Covenants -- Senior Indenture
Limitations on Incurrence of Debt."
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DISCHARGE, DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Under each Indenture, the Company may discharge certain obligations to
Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued thereunder that have not already
been delivered to the applicable Trustee for cancellation and that either have
become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or
scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the
applicable Trustee, in trust, funds in such currency or currencies, currency
unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Debt Securities
are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such Debt
Securities in respect of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any)
and interest and any Additional Amounts payable to the date of such deposit (if
such Debt Securities have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or
Redemption Date, as the case may be (Section 401 of each Indenture).
Each Indenture provides that, if the provisions of Article Fourteen thereof
are made applicable to the Debt Securities of or within any series pursuant to
Section 301 of such Indenture, the Company may elect either (a) to defease and
be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to such Debt Securities
(except for the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, upon the
occurrence of certain events of tax, assessment or governmental charge with
respect to payments on such Debt Securities and the obligations to register the
transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities, to replace temporary or mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, to maintain an office or agency in
respect of such Debt Securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust)
("defeasance") (Section 1402 of each Indenture) or (b) to be released from its
obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under provisions of each
Indenture described under " -- Certain Covenants," or, if provided pursuant to
Section 301 of each Indenture, its obligations with respect to any other
covenant, and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute
a default or an Event or Default with respect to such Debt Securities ("covenant
defeasance") (Section 1403 of each Indenture), in either case upon the
irrevocable deposit by the Company with the applicable Trustee, in trust, of an
amount, in such currency or currencies, currency unit or currency units or
composite currency or currencies in which such Debt Securities are payable at
Stated Maturity, or Government Obligations (as defined below), or both,
applicable to such Debt Securities which through the scheduled payment of
principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an
amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if
any) and interest on such Debt Securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or
analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor.
Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, the Company
has delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (as specified in
each Indenture) to the effect that the Holders of such Debt Securities will not
recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as
a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to United
States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance
had not occurred, and such Opinion of Counsel, in the case of defeasance, must
refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change
in applicable United States federal income tax laws occurring after the date of
such Indenture (Section 1404 of each Indenture).
"GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" means securities which are (i) direct obligations
of the United States of America or the government which issued the Foreign
Currency in which the Debt Securities of a particular series are payable, for
the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of
a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality
of the United States of America or the government which issued the Foreign
Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable, the payment of
which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the
United States of America or such other government, which, in either case, are
not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also
include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with
respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on
or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the
account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required
by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount
payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of
interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such
depository receipt (Section 101 of each Indenture).
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if after
the Company has deposited funds and/or Government Obligations to effect
defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to Debt Securities of any series,
(a) the Holder of a Debt Security of such series is entitled to, and does, elect
pursuant to Section 301 of either Indenture or the terms of such Debt Security
to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than
that in which such deposit has been made in respect of such Debt Security, or
(b) a Conversion Event (as defined below) occurs in respect of the currency,
currency unit or composite currency in which such deposit has been made, the
indebtedness represented by such Debt Security shall be deemed to have been, and
will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of
(and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on such Debt Security as
they become due out of
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the proceeds yielded by converting the amount so deposited in respect of such
Debt Security into the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which
such Debt Security becomes payable as a result of such election or such
cessation of usage based on the applicable market exchange rate (Section 1405 of
each Indenture). "Conversion Event" means the cessation of use of (i) a
currency, currency unit or composite currency (other than the ECU or other
currency unit) both by the government of the country that issued such currency
and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public
institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii) the ECU both
within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by
public institutions of or within the European Communities or (iii) any currency
unit or composite currency other than the ECU for the purposes for which it was
established. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
all payments of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and
interest on any Debt Security that is payable in a Foreign Currency that ceases
to be used by its government of issuance shall be made in United States dollars
(Section 101 of each Indenture).
In the event the Company effects covenant defeasance with respect to any
Debt Securities and such Debt Securities are declared due and payable because of
the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Event of Default described
in clause (d) under " -- Events of Default, Notice and Waiver" with respect to
Sections 1004 to 1009, inclusive, of either Indenture (which Sections would no
longer be applicable to such Debt Securities) or described in clause (h) under
"Events of Default, Notice and Waiver" with respect to a covenant as to which
there has been covenant defeasance, the amount in such currency, currency unit
or composite currency in which such Debt Securities are payable, and Government
Obligations on deposit with the Trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due
on such Debt Securities at the time of their Stated Maturity but may not be
sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities at the time of the
acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, the Company would
remain liable to make payment of such amounts due at the time of acceleration.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions,
if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any
modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the Debt
Securities of or within a particular series.
CONVERSION RIGHTS
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Debt Securities are
convertible into Capital Stock of the Company will be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Such terms will include
whether such Debt Securities are convertible into Capital Stock of the Company,
the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period,
provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the Holders or the
Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and
provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of such Debt
Securities.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the
form of one or more global securities ("Global Securities") that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of a depository (the "Depository") identified in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global Securities, if any,
are expected be deposited with The Depository Trust Company, as Depository.
Global Securities may be issued in fully registered form and may be issued in
either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or
in part for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby, a Global
Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository for such
Global Security to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such
Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by such
Depository or any nominee of such Depository to a successor Depository or any
nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series
of Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. The Company expects that unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement the following provisions will apply to
depository arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depository for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer
system the respective principal amounts of the individual Debt Securities
represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have
accounts with such Depository ("Participants"). Such accounts shall be
designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such Debt
Securities or by the Company if such Debt Securities are offered directly by the
Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be
limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by the Depository
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for such Global Security or its nominee (with respect to beneficial interests of
Participants) and records of Participants (with respect to beneficial interests
of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some states require that
certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in
definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or
transfer beneficial interest in a Global Security.
So long as the Depository for a Global Security or its nominee is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depository or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
applicable Indenture. Except as described below or in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, owners of beneficial interest in a Global Security will not be
entitled to have any of the individual Debt Securities represented by such
Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of any such Debt Securities in definitive form and
will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable
Indenture.
Payments of principal of, any premium or Make-Whole Amount and any interest
on, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect to, individual Debt
Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a
Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security. None of the
Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar for such Debt
Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Global Security for such Debt Securities or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
The Company expects that the Depository for any Debt Securities or its
nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, Make-Whole Amount,
interest or Additional Amounts in respect of the Global Security representing
such Debt Securities will immediately credit Participants' accounts with
payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in
the principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such
Depository or its nominee. The Company also expects that payments by
Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held
through such Participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of
customers in bearer form or registered in street name. Such payments will be the
responsibility of such Participants.
If a Depository for any Debt Securities is at any time unwilling, unable or
ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed
by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual Debt Securities
in exchange for the Global Security representing such Debt Securities. In
addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities, determine not to have any of such Debt Securities represented by one
or more Global Securities and in such event will issue individual Debt
Securities in exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing such
Debt Securities. Individual Debt Securities so issued will be issued in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
TRUSTEES
First Union National Bank of Virginia is the Trustee under the Senior
Indenture. Crestar Bank is the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. Both
First Union National Bank of Virginia and Crestar Bank have lending
relationships with the Company.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
GENERAL
The Company is authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $1
par value, and 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value. At May 9,
1997, there were outstanding 86,484,586 shares of Common Stock and 4,200,000
shares of Preferred Stock, consisting exclusively of the Company's 9 1/4% Series
A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred").
The following statements with respect to the capital stock of the Company
are subject to the detailed provisions of the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended (the "Articles"), and bylaws (the "Bylaws") as
currently in effect. These statements do not purport to be complete, or to give
full effect to the terms of the provisions of statutory or common law, and are
subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the terms of
the Articles and Bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement.
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COMMON STOCK
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as
declared by the Board of Directors after payment of, or provision for, full
cumulative dividends on and any required redemptions of shares of Preferred
Stock then outstanding. Holders of Common Stock have one vote per share and
non-cumulative voting rights, which means that holders of more than 50% of the
shares voting can elect all of the directors if they choose to do so, and, in
such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any
directors. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, holders of Common Stock are entitled to share
ratably in the distributable assets of the Company remaining after satisfaction
of the prior preferential rights of the Preferred Stock and the satisfaction of
all debts and liabilities of the Company. Holders of Common Stock do not have
preemptive rights.
The dividend and liquidation rights of holders of the Common Stock are
specifically limited by the terms of the Series A Preferred as described below
in " -- Series A Preferred."
The transfer agent for the Common Stock is ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. The Common Stock is traded on
the NYSE under the symbol "UDR."
PREFERRED STOCK
The following description of the terms of the Preferred Stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock to which a
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Specific terms of any series of Preferred
Stock offered by a Prospectus Supplement will be described in that Prospectus
Supplement. The description set forth below is subject to and qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Articles of Amendment to the Articles fixing the
preferences, limitations and relative rights of a particular series of Preferred
Stock.
GENERAL. Under the Articles, the Board of Directors of the Company is
authorized, without further shareholder action, to provide for the issuance of
up to 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, in one or more series, with such
voting powers and with such designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions, as the Board of Directors shall approve.
The Preferred Stock will have the dividend, liquidation, redemption,
conversion and voting rights set forth below unless otherwise provided in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of Preferred Stock.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series
of Preferred Stock offered thereby for specific terms, including: (i) the title
and liquidation preference per share of such Preferred Stock and the number of
shares offered; (ii) the price at which such series will be issued; (iii) the
dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends shall be
payable and the dates from which dividends shall commence to accumulate; (iv)
any redemption or sinking fund provisions of such series; (v) any conversion
provisions of such series; and (vi) any additional dividend, liquidation,
redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations
and restrictions of such series.
The Preferred Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular
series of Preferred Stock, each series will rank on a parity as to dividends and
distributions in the event of a liquidation with each other series of Preferred
Stock and, in all cases, will be senior to the Common Stock.
DIVIDEND RIGHTS. Holders of Preferred Stock of each series will be entitled
to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of assets of
the Company legally available therefor, cash dividends at such rates and on such
dates as are set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of
Preferred Stock. Such rate may be fixed or variable or both and may be
cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative.
If the applicable Prospectus Supplement so provides, as long as any shares
of Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividends will be declared or paid or any
distributions be made on the Common Stock, other than a dividend payable in
Common Stock, unless the accrued dividends on each series of Preferred Stock
have been fully paid or declared and set apart for payment and the Company shall
have set apart all amounts, if any, required to be set apart for all sinking
funds, if any, for each series of Preferred Stock.
If the applicable Prospectus Supplement so provides, when dividends are not
paid in full upon any series of Preferred Stock and any other series of
Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with such series of
Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon such series of Preferred Stock and
any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends will be
declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on such
series of Preferred Stock and
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such other series will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that
accrued dividends per share on such series of Preferred Stock and such other
series bear to each other.
Each series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to dividends as described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series, which may be based upon
one or more methods of determination. Different series of Preferred Stock may be
entitled to dividends at different dividend rates or based upon different
methods of determination. Except as provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, no series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to participate in the
earnings or assets of the Company.
RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of each
series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Company available for distribution to shareholders the amount stated or
determined on the basis set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series, which may include accrued dividends, if such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up is involuntary or may equal the current redemption price per share
(otherwise than for the sinking fund, if any, provided for such series) provided
for such series set forth in such Prospectus Supplement, if such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up is voluntary, and on such preferential basis as is set
forth in such Prospectus Supplement. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the amounts payable with
respect to Preferred Stock of any series and any other shares of stock of the
Company ranking as to any such distribution on a parity with such series of
Preferred Stock are not paid in full, the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series and of such other shares will share ratably in any such distribution of
assets of the Company in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts
to which they are entitled or on such other basis as is set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The rights, if any, of the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock to participate in the assets of the Company remaining
after the holders of other series of Preferred Stock have been paid their
respective specified liquidation preferences upon any liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series.
REDEMPTION. A series of Preferred Stock may be redeemable, in whole or in
part, at the option of the Company, and may be subject to mandatory redemption
pursuant to a sinking fund, in each case upon terms, at the times, the
redemption prices and for the types of consideration set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such series. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a
series of Preferred Stock which is subject to mandatory redemption shall specify
the number of shares of such series that shall be redeemed by the Company in
each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per
share to be specified, together with an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid
dividends thereon to the date of redemption.
If, after giving notice of redemption to the holders of a series of
Preferred Stock, the Company deposits with a designated bank funds sufficient to
redeem such Preferred Stock, then from and after such deposit, all shares called
for redemption will no longer be outstanding for any purpose, other than the
right to receive the redemption price and the right to convert such shares into
other classes of capital stock of the Company. The redemption price will be
stated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of Preferred
Stock.
Except as indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Preferred
Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption at the option of the holder.
SINKING FUND. The Prospectus Supplement for any series of Preferred Stock
will state the terms, if any, of a sinking fund for the purchase or redemption
of that series.
CONVERSION RIGHTS. The Prospectus Supplement for any series of Preferred
Stock will state the terms, if any, on which shares of that series are
convertible into shares of Common Stock or another series of Preferred Stock.
The Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights.
VOTING RIGHTS. Except as indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
a particular series of Preferred Stock, or except as expressly required by
Virginia law, a holder of Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote. Except
as indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of
Preferred Stock, in the event the Company issues full shares of any series of
Preferred Stock, each such share will be entitled to one vote on matters on
which holders of such series of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote.
Under Virginia law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of all series of Preferred Stock, voting as a separate
voting group, will be required for (i) the authorization of any class of stock
ranking prior to or on parity with Preferred Stock or the increase in the number
of authorized shares of any such stock, (ii) any increase in the number of
authorized shares of Preferred Stock and (iii) certain amendments to the
Articles that may be adverse to the rights of Preferred Stock outstanding.
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TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR. The transfer agent, registrar and dividend
disbursement agent for a series of Preferred Stock will be selected by the
Company and be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The registrar
for shares of Preferred Stock will send notices to shareholders of any meetings
at which holders of Preferred Stock have the right to vote on any matter.
SERIES A PREFERRED
The Board of Directors has designated 4,200,000 shares of Preferred Stock
as the "9 1/4% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock," all of which
were outstanding at March 31, 1997. The Board of Directors may redesignate any
unissued shares of Series A Preferred as all or a part of a different series of
Preferred Stock. Holders of shares of Series A Preferred are entitled to
receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally
available for the payment of dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends
at the rate of 9 1/4% of the liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to
$2.3125 per share). In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Company, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred are entitled to be
paid out of the assets of the Company legally available for distribution to its
stockholders a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal
to any accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of payment, before any
distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any other capital
stock that ranks junior to the Series A Preferred as to liquidation rights. The
Series A Preferred is not redeemable prior to April 24, 2000. On and after April
24, 2000, the Company, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' written notice, may redeem shares of the Series A Preferred, in whole or
in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of
$25.00 per share, plus accrued dividends. The Series A Preferred has no stated
maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption
(except as provided under "Description of Capital Stock -- Redemption and
Restrictions on Transfer").
The transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the Series
A Preferred is ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., Ridgefield Park, New
Jersey. The Series A Preferred is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UDRpfA."
DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
Covenants in its loan agreements with certain lenders restrict the payment
of distributions in excess of the sum of (i) current "cash flow," (ii) varying
additional amounts and (iii) the proceeds of capital stock offerings subsequent
to various dates, all as defined in the particular loan agreement. The covenants
do not prohibit the Company from paying distributions in order to continue its
qualification as a REIT under the Code.
AFFILIATED TRANSACTIONS
The Virginia Stock Corporation Act contains provisions governing
"Affiliated Transactions" designed to deter uninvited takeovers of Virginia
corporations. These provisions, with several exceptions discussed below, require
approval of material acquisition transactions between a Virginia corporation and
any holder of more than 10% of any class of its outstanding voting shares (an
"Interested Shareholder") by the holders of at least two-thirds of the remaining
voting shares. For three years following the time that the Interested
Shareholder becomes an owner of 10% of the outstanding voting shares, Virginia
corporations cannot engage in an Affiliated Transaction with such Interested
Shareholder without approval of two-thirds of the voting shares other than those
shares beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder, and majority approval
of the "Disinterested Directors." At the expiration of the three year period,
the statute requires approval of Affiliated Transactions by two-thirds of the
voting shares other than those beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder
absent an exception. The principal exceptions to the special voting requirement
apply to transactions proposed after the three year period has expired and
require either that the transaction be approved by a majority of the
corporation's Disinterested Directors or that the transaction satisfy the
fair-price requirements of the law.
The Virginia Stock Corporation Act also provides that shares acquired in a
transaction that would cause the acquiring person's voting strength to cross any
of three thresholds (20%, 33% or 50%) have no voting rights unless granted by a
majority vote of shares not owned by the acquiring person or any officer or
employee-director of the Company. An acquiring person may require the Company to
hold a special meeting of shareholders to consider the matter within 50 days of
its request.
REDEMPTION AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
In order to preserve the Company's status as a REIT as defined in the Code,
the Company can redeem or stop the transfer of its shares. The Articles provide
that the Company is organized to qualify as a REIT. Because the Code provides
that the concentration of more than 50% in value of the direct or indirect
ownership of its shares in five or fewer individual
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shareholders during the last six months of any year would result in the
disqualification of the Company as a REIT, the Articles provide that the Company
shall have the power (i) to redeem that number of concentrated shares sufficient
in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company to maintain or bring the
direct or indirect ownership of shares into conformity with the requirements of
the Code, and (ii) to stop the transfer of shares to any person whose
acquisition thereof would, in the opinion of the Company's Board of Directors,
result in such disqualification. The per share redemption price of any shares
redeemed by the Company pursuant to this provision shall be the last reported
sale price for the shares as of the business day preceding the day on which
notice of redemption is given. The Board of Directors of the Company can require
shareholders to disclose in writing to the Company such information with respect
to ownership of its shares as it deems necessary to comply with the REIT
provisions of the Code.
REIT QUALIFICATION
The Company operates in a manner intended to qualify for treatment as a
REIT under the Code. In general, a REIT which distributes to its shareholders at
least 95% of its taxable income (other than net capital gain) for a taxable year
and which meets certain other conditions will not be subject to federal income
taxation on income (including net capital gain) distributed for that year. If
the Company fails to qualify in any taxable year, it will be taxed for federal
income tax purposes as a corporation for that year and distributions to
shareholders will not be deductible by the Company in computing its taxable
income. Under such circumstances, the Company also will be disqualified from
being treated as a REIT under the Code for the ensuing four taxable years.
Failure to qualify could result in the Company's incurring indebtedness and
perhaps liquidating investments in order to pay the resultant taxes.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell Offered Securities to or through underwriters or may
sell Offered Securities to investors directly or through designated agents. Any
such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the Offered
Securities will be named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Underwriters may offer and sell the Offered Securities at a fixed price or
prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices. The Company also may, from time to time, authorize
underwriters acting as agents to offer and sell the Offered Securities upon the
terms and conditions set forth in any Prospectus Supplement. In connection with
the sale of Offered Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received
compensation from the Company in the form of underwriting discounts or
commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of Offered
Securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell Offered
Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in
the form of discounts, concessions or commissions (which may be changed from
time to time) from the underwriters and/or from the purchasers for whom they may
act as agent.
Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents
in connection with the offering of Offered Securities and any discounts,
concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will
be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters, dealers and
agents participating in the distribution of the Offered Securities may be deemed
to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any
profit realized by them on resale of the Offered Securities may be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Underwriters,
dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the
Company, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize dealers acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase Offered Securities from the Company at the public
offering price set forth in such Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Delayed
Delivery Contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date
or dates stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an
amount not less than, and the principal amount of Offered Securities sold
pursuant to Contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts
stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with which 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 will in all cases be subject to the
approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except
(i) the purchase by an institution of the Offered 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 and (ii)
the Company shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of
the Offered Securities less the principal amount
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thereof covered by Contracts. A commission indicated in the Prospectus
Supplement will be paid to agents and underwriters soliciting purchases of
Offered Securities pursuant to Contracts accepted by the Company. Agents and
underwriters shall have no responsibility in respect of the delivery or
performance of Contracts.
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may be customers of,
engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company in the ordinary
course of business.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the Offered Securities will be passed upon for the Company
by Hunton & Williams, Richmond, Virginia. Brown & Wood LLP, New York, New York,
will act as counsel to any underwriters, dealers or agents.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company
appearing in the annual report (Form 10-K) of United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.
for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of South West Property Trust Inc. at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years ended in the period
ended December 31, 1996, appearing in the Company's current report on Form 8-K
dated December 31, 1996, incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon
included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
The statements of rental operations of Steeplechase Apartments and Westland
Park Apartments, included in the Company's current report on Form 8-K, dated
October 31, 1996, incorporated herein by reference, have been incorporated
herein in reliance upon the reports respectively dated June 20, 1996 and June
18, 1996 of L. P. Martin & Company, P.C., independent auditors, also
incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of such firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.
The combined statement of rental operations of the Properties, included in
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 15, 1996, incorporated
herein by reference, has been incorporated herein in reliance upon the report
dated May 16, 1996, of Dixon, Odom & Co., L.L.P., independent public
accountants, also incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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$200,000,000
[UNITED DOMINION LOGO]
Medium-Term Notes
Due Nine Months or More
From Date of Issue
---------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
---------------
Merrill Lynch & Co.
First Union Capital Markets
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan & Co.
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC
JANUARY 21, 1999
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