<PAGE>
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-32879
Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus Dated August 12, 1997)
LOGO
BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CORPORATION
$200,000,000
6 7/8% DEBENTURES DUE DECEMBER 1, 2027
Interest on the Debentures is payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year,
commencing June 1, 1998. The Debentures are redeemable in whole or in part at
any time at the option of the Company at the redemption price equal to the
greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Debentures and (ii) the
sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury
Rate (as defined herein), plus in each case accrued interest thereon to the
date of redemption. The Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
The Debentures will be represented by one or more global securities registered
in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company. Beneficial
interests in the global securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.
Except as described herein, Debentures in definitive form will not be issued.
The Debentures will be issued only in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof. See "Description of Debentures".
--------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH
IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
--------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Price to Underwriting Proceeds to
Public(1) Discount(2) Company(1)(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Debenture 98.933% 0.875% 98.058%
Total $197,866,000 $1,750,000 $196,116,000
</TABLE>
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from December 9, 1997.
(2) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $150,000 payable by the Company.
--------------------------------------------------
The Debentures offered hereby are offered severally by the Underwriters, as
specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to
their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that the
Debentures will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through the
facilities of DTC in New York, New York on or about December 9, 1997, against
payment therefor in immediately available funds.
CHASE SECURITIES INC. MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is December 4, 1997.
<PAGE>
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE DEBENTURES,
INCLUDING OVERALLOTMENT, STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS AND SYNDICATE SHORT COVERING
TRANSACTIONS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING".
----------------
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents previously filed by Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Corporation (the "Company") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated
herein by reference:
(a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996;
(b) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997;
(c) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997;
(d) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
1997;
(e) Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of earliest event reported: January
21, 1997); and
(f) Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of earliest event reported: July 22,
1997).
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the
offering shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and shall be
deemed a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus Supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in
any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be,
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes any such statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus Supplement.
The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus Supplement is delivered, on the
request of such person, a copy of any of the foregoing documents incorporated
herein by reference (other than the exhibits to such documents unless such
exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents).
Written or telephone requests should be directed to Burlington Northern Santa
Fe Corporation, 2650 Lou Menk Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76131-2830, Attention:
Corporate Secretary (telephone (817) 352-6454).
Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in the Prospectus and this
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$" or "dollars").
THE COMPANY
On September 22, 1995, Burlington Northern Inc. ("BNI") and Santa Fe Pacific
Corporation ("SFP") effected a business combination (the "Merger") pursuant to
which each became a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
As a result of the Merger, Burlington Northern Railroad Company ("BN") and The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company ("ATSF") also became indirect
wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.
On December 30, 1996, BNI merged with and into SFP. On December 31, 1996,
ATSF merged with and into BN and BN changed its name to The Burlington
Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company ("BNSF Railway").
Through its principal operating subsidiary, BNSF Railway, the Company is
engaged primarily in railroad transportation. BNSF Railway operates one of the
largest railroad networks in the United
S-2
<PAGE>
States, with approximately 35,000 route miles as of December 31, 1996.
Approximately 7,900 route miles of BNSF Railway's system consist of trackage
rights which permit BNSF Railway to operate its trains with its crews over
another railroad's tracks. BNSF Railway's system reaches 28 states and two
Canadian provinces.
BNSF Railway serves all major ports in the western United States, certain
Mexican and Canadian gateways and Gulf ports, important gateways to the eastern
United States and most major cities in the Pacific Northwest and west and in
the midwestern and southwestern United States. The principal cities served by
BNSF Railway include Albuquerque, Billings, Birmingham, Cheyenne, Chicago,
Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denver, Des Moines, Duluth/Superior, Fargo/Moorhead,
Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, Kansas City, Little Rock, Lincoln, Los Angeles,
Memphis, Mobile, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Salt Lake City,
San Antonio, St. Louis, St. Paul/Minneapolis, the San Francisco Bay area,
Seattle, Spokane, Springfield (Missouri), Tacoma, Tulsa, Wichita, Vancouver
(British Columbia), Winnipeg (Manitoba) and the United States/Mexico crossings
of Brownsville, El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas and San Diego.
BNSF Railway derives a substantial portion of its revenues from intermodal
transportation and the transportation of coal and agricultural commodities.
Other significant aspects of BNSF Railway's business include the transportation
of commodities in the following areas: chemicals, forest products, consumer
goods, automotive, metals, and minerals.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 2650 Lou Menk Drive,
Forth Worth, Texas 76131-2830, telephone number (817) 352-6454.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the
Company for each of the five years ended December 31, 1996, and for the nine
month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996. The ratios reflect the
historical results only for BNI in all periods reported prior to 1996, except
for the year ended December 31, 1995, which period includes SFP results from
September 22, 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS
ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------- ------------------------------
1997 1996 1996 1995(2) 1994 1993 1992
------ ------ ---- ------- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings to Fixed Charges(1).... 3.56x 3.83x 3.89x 1.85x 3.70x 3.19x 2.58x
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) For purposes of this ratio, earnings are calculated by adding fixed charges
(excluding capitalized interest) to income (loss) from continuing
operations. Fixed charges consist of interest on indebtedness (including
amortization of debt discount and premium) and the portion of rental
expense under long term operating leases representative of an interest
factor.
(2) Earnings for the year ended December 31, 1995, include merger, severance
and asset charges of $735 million. Excluding these costs, the ratio would
have been 3.91x.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures offered hereby will be used
for general corporate purposes, including but not limited to the repayment of
commercial paper currently having an average interest rate of approximately
5.9%.
S-3
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the Company
as of September 30, 1997, and as adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the
Debentures offered hereby.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
------- -----------
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS)
<S> <C> <C>
Total Debt:
Equipment obligations (1)................................ $ 1,130 $ 1,130
Notes and Debentures .................................... 2,595 2,595
Commercial Paper and Bank Loans.......................... 1,018 818(2)
Mortgages................................................ 467 467
Debentures offered hereby................................ -- 200
Other obligations........................................ 34 34
------- -------
Total Debt ............................................ 5,244 5,244
------- -------
Shareholders' Equity:
Total Shareholders' Equity............................. 6,625 6,625
------- -------
Total Capitalization....................................... $11,869 $11,869
======= =======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes capital lease obligations. Since September 30, 1997, the Company
has issued $104 million of debt under Japanese leveraged leases to acquire
locomotives.
(2) Reduced by proceeds raised from the issuance of the Debentures offered
hereby.
S-4
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES
The following description of the particular terms of the Debentures
supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the
description of the general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities set
forth in the accompanying Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby
made. Whenever a defined term is referred to and not herein defined, the
definition thereof is contained in the accompanying Prospectus or in the
Indenture referred to therein.
GENERAL
The Debentures are each to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of
December 1, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The First National
Bank of Chicago, as Trustee, which Indenture is more fully described under the
heading "Description of Debt Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus. The
Debentures will rank pari passu with each other and with all other unsecured
and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.
The Debentures will bear interest at 6.875% per annum and will mature on
December 1, 2027.
The Debentures will bear interest from December 9, 1997 or from the most
recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for,
payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year,
commencing June 1, 1998 to the persons in whose names the Debentures are
registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding May 15 and
November 15, respectively, whether or not such day is a Business Day.
SINKING FUND
The Debentures will not be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Debentures will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option of
the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)
100% of the principal amount of such Debentures and (ii) the sum of the
present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest
thereon discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as
defined below), plus in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of
redemption.
"Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per
annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed
as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury
Price for such redemption date.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable
to the remaining term of the Debentures to be redeemed that would be utilized,
at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice,
in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to
the remaining term of such Debentures. "Independent Investment Banker" means
one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after
consultation with the Company.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (i)
the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third
business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York and
S-5
<PAGE>
designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or
(ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not
contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of the Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the
highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the
Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of all such Quotations. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means,
with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the
average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the
Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury
Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
"Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Chase Securities Inc., Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, ABN AMRO Chicago Corporation, BancAmerica
Robertson Stephens and First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. and their
respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall
cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a
"Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another
Primary Treasury Dealer.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Debentures to be
redeemed.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after
the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Debentures or
portions thereof called for redemption.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
Upon issuance, the Debentures will each be represented by one or more global
securities (the "Global Securities") deposited with, or on behalf of, The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), New York, New York, which will act as
Depositary with respect to the Debentures. The Global Securities representing
the Debentures will be registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary.
Except under the circumstances described in the accompanying Prospectus under
"Description of Debt Securities--Global Securities," the Debentures will not
be issuable in definitive form.
A further description of the Depositary's procedures with respect to Global
Securities is set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under "Description of
Debt Securities--Global Securities." The Depositary has confirmed to the
Company, the Underwriters and the Trustee that it intends to follow such
procedures with respect to the Debentures.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
and the Pricing Agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters named below, and each of such Underwriters has severally agreed
to purchase, the principal amount of the Debentures set forth opposite its
name below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
UNDERWRITERS DEBENTURES
------------ ------------
<S> <C>
Chase Securities Inc. ...................................... $ 88,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated........................... 88,000,000
ABN AMRO Chicago Corporation................................ 8,000,000
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens.............................. 8,000,000
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.......................... 8,000,000
------------
Total................................................... $200,000,000
============
</TABLE>
S-6
<PAGE>
Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing
Agreement, the Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the
Debentures, if any are taken.
The Underwriters propose to offer the Debentures in part directly to the
public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of
this Prospectus Supplement and in part to certain securities dealers at such
price less a concession of 0.500% of the principal amount of the Debentures.
The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not to
exceed 0.250% of the principal amount of the Debentures to certain brokers and
dealers. After the Debentures are released for sale to the public, the
offering price and such other selling terms may from time to time be varied by
the Underwriters.
In connection with the offering of the Debentures, Chase Securities Inc., on
behalf of the Underwriters, may engage in overallotment, stabilizing
transactions and syndicate covering transactions in accordance with Regulation
M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Overallotment
involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position
for the Underwriters. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the
Debentures in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or
maintaining the price of the Debentures. Syndicate covering transactions
involve purchases of the Debentures in the open market after the distribution
has been completed in order to cover short positions. Such stabilizing
transactions and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the
Debentures to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such
transactions. Such activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
The Debentures are a new series of securities with no established trading
market. The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters
intend to make a market in the Debentures but are not obligated to do so and
may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Debentures.
The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the
Underwriters and their affiliates engage and may in the future engage in
investment banking and commercial banking transactions with the Company and
its subsidiaries. Marc J. Shapiro, a director of the Company, is also an
executive officer of The Chase Manhattan Corporation, an affiliate of Chase
Securities Inc. In addition, certain other directors of the Company hold
positions with or serve in an advisory capacity to an affiliate of Chase
Securities Inc., and Denis E. Springer, Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, is a member of the National Advisory Board
of The Chase Manhattan Corporation.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule
as of December 31, 1996 and for the year ended December 31, 1996 incorporated
in this Prospectus Supplement by reference to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been so incorporated in
reliance on the reports of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants,
given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule
as of December 31, 1995 and for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 1995 incorporated in this Prospectus Supplement by reference to
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996
have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.
S-7
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CORPORATION
DEBT SECURITIES
----------------
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation ("BNSF" or the "Company") may from
time to time offer debt securities consisting of bonds, debentures, notes
(including notes commonly known as medium-term notes), or other evidences of
indebtedness in one or more series at an aggregate initial offering price not
to exceed $550,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency or composite
currency ("Debt Securities"). The Debt Securities may be offered as separate
series in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be determined at the time of
sale. The accompanying Prospectus Supplement sets forth with regard to the
series of Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being
delivered the title, aggregate principal amount, denominations (which may be
in United States dollars, in any other currency or in a composite currency),
maturity, rate, if any (which may be fixed or variable), and time of payment
of any interest, any terms for redemption at the option of the Company or the
holder, any terms for sinking fund payments, any listing on a securities
exchange, and the initial public offering price and any other terms in
connection with the offering and sale of such Debt Securities.
The Company may sell Debt Securities to or through one or more underwriters
or dealers, and also may sell Debt Securities directly to other purchasers or
through agents. The accompanying Prospectus Supplement sets forth the names of
any underwriters or agents involved in the sale of the Debt Securities in
respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, the principal amounts, if
any, to be purchased by underwriters and the compensation, if any, of such
underwriters or agents. See "Plan of Distribution" for possible
indemnification arrangements for underwriters, agents, and their controlling
persons.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless
accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
----------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECU-
RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRE-
SENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
----------------
The date of this Prospectus is August 12, 1997.
<PAGE>
NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITY OTHER THAN THE DEBT
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY TO ANY
PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION TO SUCH PERSON. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE
CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF
ANY DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy material and other information
filed with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the offices of the
Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and
should be available at its regional offices, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60661 and Seven World Trade Center, Thirteenth Floor, New York, New
York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at
prescribed rates and from the Commission's worldwide web site at
http://www.sec.gov. Such reports, proxy material and other information
concerning the Company also may be inspected at the offices of the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE"), 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005,
the Chicago Stock Exchange Incorporated, One Financial Place, 440 South
LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605, and the Pacific Stock Exchange, 301
Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104.
The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form
S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits, the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This
prospectus ("Prospectus"), which constitutes a part of the Registration
Statement, does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration
Statement, certain items of which are contained in exhibits to the
Registration Statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Commission. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the content of any
contract, agreement or other document referred to are not necessarily
complete. With respect to each such contract, agreement or other document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference is made to the
exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved, and each such
statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents previously filed by the Company under the Exchange
Act with the Commission are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996;
(b) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997;
(c) Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of earliest event reported: January
21, 1997); and
(d) Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of earliest event reported: July 22,
1997).
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the
offering shall be deemed to be incorporated herein
2
<PAGE>
by reference and shall be deemed a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained
herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed
to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes any such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the request of such
person, a copy of any of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by
reference (other than the exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Written or
telephone requests should be directed to Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Corporation, 2650 Lou Menk Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76131-2830, Attention:
Corporate Secretary (telephone (817) 333-2000).
Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in the Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$" or "dollars").
3
<PAGE>
THE COMPANY
On September 22, 1995, Burlington Northern Inc. ("BNI") and Santa Fe Pacific
Corporation ("SFP") effected a business combination (the "Merger") pursuant to
which each became a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
As a result of the Merger, Burlington Northern Railroad Company ("BN") and The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company ("ATSF") also became indirect
wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.
On December 30, 1996, BNI merged with and into SFP. On December 31, 1996,
ATSF merged with and into BN and BN changed its name to The Burlington
Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company ("BNSF Railway").
Through its principal operating subsidiary, BNSF Railway, the company is
engaged primarily in railroad transportation. BNSF Railway operates one of the
largest railroad networks in the United States, with approximately 35,000
route miles reaching across 29 states and two Canadian provinces as of
December 31, 1996. Approximately 7,900 route miles of BNSF Railway's system
consist of trackage rights which permit BNSF Railway to operate its trains
with its crews over another railroad's tracks.
BNSF Railway serves all major ports in the western United States, certain
Mexican and Canadian gateways and Gulf ports, important gateways to the
eastern United States and most major cities in the Pacific Northwest and West
and in the midwestern and southwestern United States. The principal cities
served by BNSF Railway include Albuquerque, Billings, Birmingham, Cheyenne,
Chicago, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denver, Des Moines, Duluth/Superior,
Fargo/Moorhead, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, Kansas City, Little Rock,
Lincoln, Los Angeles, Memphis, Mobile, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Pensacola,
Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, St. Louis, St.
Paul/Minneapolis, the San Francisco Bay area, Seattle, Spokane, Springfield
(Missouri), Tacoma, Tulsa, Wichita, Vancouver (British Columbia), Winnipeg
(Manitoba) and the United States/Mexico crossings of Brownsville, El Paso and
Eagle Pass, Texas and San Diego.
BNSF Railway derives a substantial portion of its revenues from intermodal
transportation and the transportation of coal and agricultural commodities.
Other significant aspects of BNSF Railway's business include the
transportation of commodities in the following areas: chemicals, forest
products, consumer goods, automotive, metals, and minerals.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 2650 Lou Menk
Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76131-2830, telephone number (817) 333-2000.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the
Company for each of the five years ended December 31, 1996, and for the three
month periods ended March 31, 1997 and 1996. The ratios reflect the historical
results for BNI only in all periods reported prior to 1996, except for the
year ended December 31, 1995, which period includes SFP results from September
22, 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS
ENDED
MARCH 31, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------- -------------------------------
1997 1996 1996 1995(2) 1994 1993 1992
------ ------ ----- ------- ----- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)...... 2.75x 3.45x 3.89x 1.85x 3.70x 3.19x 2.58x
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) For purposes of this ratio, earnings are calculated by adding fixed
charges (excluding capitalized interest) to income (loss) from continuing
operations. Fixed charges consist of interest on
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indebtedness (including amortization of debt discount and premium) and the
portion of rental expense under long term operating leases representative
of an interest factor.
(2) Earnings for the year ended December 31, 1995 include merger, severance
and asset charges of $735 million. Excluding these costs, the ratio would
have been 3.91x.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, net
proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities will be used for general
corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, and debt
repayment, and for the repurchase of the Company's common stock from time to
time.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture (the "Indenture")
between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"), a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The Debt Securities may be
issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each
series, or of Debt Securities forming a part of a series which are offered by
a Prospectus Supplement, will be described in such Prospectus Supplement.
The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture do not
purport to be complete and are subject, and are qualified in their entirety by
reference, to all the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions
therein of certain terms, and, with respect to any particular Debt Securities,
to the description of the terms thereof included in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto. Wherever particular Sections or defined terms of the
Indenture are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such Sections
or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein or therein, as the case
may be.
The Company is a holding company, conducting its operations through its
operating subsidiaries. Accordingly, the Company's ability to service the Debt
Securities is dependent, in part, on its ability to obtain dividends or loans
from such operating subsidiaries which may be subject to contractual
restrictions. In addition, the rights of the Company and the rights of its
creditors, including holders of the Debt Securities, to participate in any
distribution of the assets of a subsidiary upon the liquidation or
recapitalization of such subsidiary will be subject to the prior claims of the
subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent the Company itself may be a
creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.
The covenants in the Indenture would not necessarily afford the holders of
the Debt Securities protection in the event of a decline in the Company's
credit quality resulting from highly leveraged or other transactions involving
the Company.
GENERAL
The Indenture provides that separate series of Debt Securities may be issued
under the Indenture from time to time without limitation as to aggregate
principal amount. The Company may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount
for the Debt Securities of any series. (Section 301) The Debt Securities are
to have such terms and provisions which are not inconsistent with the
Indenture, including as to maturity, principal and interest, as the Company
may determine. Except as provided in Section 1008, the Debt Securities will be
unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank on a parity with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.
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<PAGE>
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the price or prices at
which the Debt Securities to be offered will be issued and will describe the
following terms of such Debt Securities: (1) the title of such Debt
Securities; (2) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the particular
series of Debt Securities; (3) the date or dates on which the principal of any
of such Debt Securities will be payable or the method by which such date or
dates will be determined or extended; (4) the rate or rates at which any of
such Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such
rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which any such
interest will accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest
will be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on
any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be
determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other
than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; (5) the place or places
where the principal of and any premium and interest on any of such Debt
Securities will be payable; (6) the period or periods within which, the price
or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any of such Debt
Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company
and the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem such Debt
Securities shall be evidenced (if other than by a Board Resolution); (7) the
obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any of such Debt
Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the
option of the Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the
price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which any of such
Debt Securities will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant
to any such obligation; (8) the denominations in which any of such Debt
Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof; (9) if the amount of principal of or any premium or
interest on any of such Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an
index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be
determined; (10) if other than the currency of the United States of America,
the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any
premium or interest on any of such Debt Securities will be payable (and the
manner in which the equivalent of the principal amount thereof in the currency
of the United States of America is to be determined for any purpose, including
for the purpose of determining the principal amount deemed to be Outstanding
at any time); (11) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any of
such Debt Securities is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the
Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than those
in which such Debt Securities are stated to be payable, the currency,
currencies or currency units in which payment of any such amount as to which
such election is made will be payable, the periods within which and the terms
and conditions upon which such election is to made and the amount so payable
(or the manner in which such amount is to be determined); (12) the percentage
of the principal amount at which such Debt Securities will be issued and, if
other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal
amount of any of such Debt Securities which will be payable upon declaration
of acceleration of the Maturity thereof or the method by which such portion
shall be determined; (13) if the principal amount payable at the Stated
Maturity of any of such Debt Securities will not be determinable as of any one
or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to
be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the
principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any Maturity other
than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any
such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal
amount is to be determined); (14) any variation from the application of the
provisions of the Indenture described under "Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance--Defeasance and Discharge" or "Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance--
Defeasance of Certain Covenants" or under both such captions and the manner in
which any election of the Company to defease such Debt Securities shall be
evidenced (if other than by a Board Resolution); (15) whether any of such Debt
Securities will be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more
Global Securities and, if so, the respective Depositaries for such Global
Securities, the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global
Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to under "Form,
Exchange and Transfer--Global Securities" and, if different from those
described under such caption, any circumstances under which any such Global
Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities
registered, and any transfer of such Global
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<PAGE>
Securities in whole or in part may be registered, in the names of Persons other
than the Depositary for such Global Securities or its nominee; (16) whether any
of such Debt Securities will be subject to certain optional interest rate reset
provisions; (17) whether any of such Debt Securities will be subject to certain
optional extensions of maturity provisions; (18) any addition to or change in
the Events of Default applicable to any of such Debt Securities and any change
in the right of the Trustee or the Holders of any of such Debt Securities to
declare the principal amount of any of such Debt Securities and any change in
the right of the Trustee or the Holders of any of such Debt Securities to
declare the principal amount thereof, due and payable; (19) any addition to or
change in the covenants in the Indenture applicable to any of such Debt
Securities; and (20) any other terms of such Debt Securities not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Indenture. (Section 301)
Debt Securities, including Original Issue Discount Securities, may be sold at
a substantial discount below their principal amount. Certain special United
States income tax considerations (if any) applicable to Debt Securities sold at
an original issue discount may be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. In addition, certain special United States federal income tax or
other considerations (if any) applicable to any Debt Securities which are
denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may
be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
FORM, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER
The Debt Securities of each series will be issuable only in fully registered
form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof. (Section 302)
At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the Indenture and the
limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities of each series
will be exchangeable for other Debt Securities of the same series of any
authorized denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
(Section 305)
Subject to the terms of the Indenture and the limitations applicable to
Global Securities, Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided
above or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) at the office of the Security
Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for
such purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer
or exchange of Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
therewith. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security
Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the
documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Company
has appointed the Trustee as Security Registrar. Any transfer agent (in
addition to the Security Registrar) initially designated by the Company for any
Debt Securities will be named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. (Section
305) The Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents or
rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office
through which any transfer agent acts, except that the Company will be required
to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities
of each series. (Section 1002)
If the Debt Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor)
are to be redeemed in part, the Company will not be required to (i) issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security of that series (or of
that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning
at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of
redemption of any such Debt Security that may be selected for redemption and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (ii) register the
transfer of or exchange any Debt Security so selected for
7
<PAGE>
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such
Debt Security being redeemed in part. (Section 305)
GLOBAL SECURITIES
Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, some or all of the
Debt Securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one
or more Global Securities which will have an aggregate principal amount equal
to that of the Debt Securities represented thereby. Unless otherwise provided
in the Prospectus Supplement, the Global Security representing Debt Securities
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"),
or other successor depository appointed by the Company (DTC or such other
depository is herein referred to as the "Depositary") and registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee and such Global Security will bear a
legend regarding the restrictions on exchange and registration of transfer
thereof referred to below and any such other matters as may be provided for
pursuant to the Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus
Supplement, Debt Securities will not be issued in definitive form.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Indenture or any Debt Security
described herein, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Debt Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or
in part may be registered in the name of any Person other than the Depositary
for such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless (i) the
Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as
such as required by the Indenture, (ii) there shall have occurred and be
continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities represented
by such Global Security or (iii) there shall exist such circumstances, if any,
in addition to or in lieu of those described above as may be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. All Debt Securities issued in exchange for a
Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the
Depositary may direct. (Sections 204 and 305)
DTC 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. DTC
holds securities that its participants ("Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC
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
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of
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 DTC's book-entry 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 DTC
and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
Upon the issuance by the Company of Debt Securities represented by a Global
Security, purchases of Debt Securities under the DTC System must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Debt
Securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser
of each Debt Security ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC 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
or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the
transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Debt Securities are to be
accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on
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<PAGE>
behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in Debt Securities, except in the event
that use of the book-entry system for the Debt Securities is discontinued. The
laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair
the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
So long as the Depositary for the Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of the Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
Indenture. Except as described above, Beneficial Owners will not be entitled
to have Debt Securities represented by such Global Security registered in
their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
Debt Securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or
holders thereof under the Indenture.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Debt Securities deposited by
Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee,
Cede & Co. The deposit of Debt Securities with DTC and their registration in
the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no
knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Debt Securities; DTC's
records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts
such Debt Securities 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 DTC 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 DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to Debt
Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to the
Issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns
Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose
accounts the Debt Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a
listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Payments of principal of and interest, if any, on the Debt Securities
represented by the Global Security registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee will be made by the Company through the Trustee under the
Indenture or a paying agent (the "Paying Agent"), which may also be the
Trustee under the Indenture, to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may
be, as the registered owner of the Global Security. Neither the Company, the
Trustee, nor the Paying Agent will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of
beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
The Company has been advised that DTC will credit Direct Participants'
accounts on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings
shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not
receive payment on the payable date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial
Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as
in 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 DTC, the Paying Agent, or the Company, subject to any
statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Payment of principal and interest to DTC is the responsibility of the Company
or the Paying Agent, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants
shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the
Beneficial Owners shall be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect
Participants.
The information in this section concerning the Depositary and the
Depositary's book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Company
believes to be reliable, but the Company takes no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof.
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PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of interest on a Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to
the Person in whose name such Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest. (Section 307)
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities of a
particular series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying
Agents as the Company may designate for such purpose from time to time, except
that at the option of the Company payment of any interest may be made by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears
in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, the corporate trust office of the Trustee in Chicago,
Illinois will be designated as the Company's sole Paying Agent for payments
with respect to Debt Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents
initially designated by the Company for the Debt Securities of a particular
series will be named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company may
at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of
any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying
Agent acts, except that the Company will be required to maintain a Paying
Agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of a particular series.
(Section 1002)
Any money paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remains
unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest
has become due and payable may be repaid to the Company at the Company's
request. (Section 1003)
NEGATIVE PLEDGE
In the Indenture, the Company covenants that it will not, and it will not
permit any subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any Lien
upon any stock of SFP or BNSF Railway (each, a "Restricted Subsidiary") to
secure any obligation (other than the Debt Securities) of the Company, any
Subsidiary or other Person, unless all of the Outstanding Debt Securities are
directly secured equally and ratably with such obligation. (Section 1008) The
Indenture defines the term Restricted Subsidiary to include any successor or
assign thereof, whether by merger or otherwise.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
The Company may not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person (a
"successor Person"), and may not permit any Person to merge into, or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to,
the Company, unless (i) the successor Person (if any) is a corporation,
partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the
laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes the Company's obligations on the
Debt Securities and under the Indenture and (ii) immediately after giving
effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have
occurred and be continuing. (Section 801)
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the
Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay
principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due; (b)
failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series when due,
continued for 30 days; (c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when
due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series; (d) failure to perform,
or breach of, any other covenant or warranty of the
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Company in the Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of that series (other
than a covenant included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series
other than that series), continued for 90 days after written notice has been
given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, as provided in
the Indenture; and (e) certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization. (Section 501)
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause
(d) above that is applicable to all Outstanding Debt Securities) with respect
to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding Debt shall occur
and be continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series
by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the
Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is
an Original Issue Discount Security or the principal amount of which is not
then determinable, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security,
or such other amount in lieu of such principal amount, as may be specified in
the terms of such Debt Security) to be due and payable immediately. If an
Event of Default described in clause (d) above that is applicable to all
Outstanding Debt Securities shall occur and be continuing, either the Trustee
or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Debt
Securities then Outstanding (treated as one class) by notice as provided in
the Indenture may declare the principal amount (or, if any Debt Securities are
Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as
may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Debt Securities then
Outstanding to be due and payable immediately. After any such acceleration of
a series, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities
of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such
acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of
accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived
as provided in the Indenture. (Section 502) For information as to waiver of
defaults, see "Modification and Waiver".
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Trustee, in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers
under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section
603) Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the
Debt Securities of that series. (Section 512)
No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a
receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless (i) such
Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing
Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series, (ii) the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or
Holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such
proceeding and (iii) the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and
has not received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent
with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer.
(Section 507) However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a
Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of
or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable
due date specified in such Debt Security. (Section 508)
The Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement
by certain of its officers as to whether or not the Company, to their
knowledge, is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Indenture and, if so, specifying all such
known defaults. (Section 1004)
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MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by
such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification
or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt
Security affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of,
or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security, (b)
reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt
Security, (c) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security or any other Debt Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity
thereof, (d) change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any
premium or interest on, any Debt Security, (e) impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt
Security, (f) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt
Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for
modification or amendment of the Indenture, (g) reduce the percentage in
principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series necessary for
waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of
certain defaults, or (h) make certain modifications to such provisions with
respect to modification and waiver. (Section 902)
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Debt Securities of any series may waive any past default or compliance with
certain restrictive provisions under the Indenture, except a default in the
payment of principal, premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions
of the Indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Debt Security of such series affected. (Sections 513 and
1009)
The Indenture provides that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities have given or
taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the
Indenture as of any date, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue
Discount Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of
the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of such date upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date, (ii) if, as of such date,
the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Debt Security is not
determinable (for example, because it is based on an index), the principal
amount of such Debt Security deemed to be Outstanding as of such date will be
an amount determined in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security and (iii)
the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one or more foreign
currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the
U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed
for such Debt Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security (or, in
the case of a Debt Security described in clause (i) or (ii) above, of the
amount described in such clause). Certain Debt Securities, including those for
whose payment or redemption money has been deposited or set aside in trust for
the Holders and those that have been fully defeased pursuant to Section 1402,
will not be deemed to be Outstanding. (Section 101)
Except in certain limited circumstances, the Company will be entitled to set
any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of
Outstanding Debt Securities of any series entitled to give or take any
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the Indenture, in the
manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain
limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for
action by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by
Holders of a particular series, such action may be taken only by persons who
are Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the record date.
To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders of the requisite
principal amount of such Debt Securities within a specified period following
the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days
or such shorter period as may be specified by the Company (or the Trustee, if
it set the record date) and may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180
days) from time to time. (Section 104)
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DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
provisions of Section 1402, relating to defeasance and discharge of
indebtedness, or Section 1403, relating to defeasance of certain restrictive
covenants in the Indenture, shall apply to the Debt Securities of any series
or to any specified part of a series. (Section 1401)
Defeasance and Discharge. Section 1402 of the Indenture provides that the
Company will be discharged from all its obligations with respect to such Debt
Securities (except for certain obligations to exchange or register the
transfer of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt
Securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in
trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt
Securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through
the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with
their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal
of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective
Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt
Securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other
things, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the
United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in
tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities
will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of
such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income
tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge were not to occur.
(Sections 1402 and 1404)
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. Section 1403 of the Indenture provides
that, in certain circumstances, the Company may omit to comply with certain
restrictive covenants, including those described under "Certain Covenants" and
any that may be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and that in
those circumstances the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are
described above in clause (d) (with respect to such restrictive covenants)
under "Events of Default" and any that may be described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, will be deemed not to be or result in an Event of
Default, in each case with respect to such Debt Securities. The Company, in
order to exercise such option, will be required to deposit, in trust for the
benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, money or U.S. Government
Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in
respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an
amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such
Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture and such Debt Securities. The Company will also be
required, among other things, to deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or
loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and
defeasance of certain obligations and will be subject to federal income tax on
the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the case if such deposit and defeasance were not to occur. In the event the
Company exercised this option with respect to any Debt Securities and such
Debt Securities were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any
Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations so
deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt
Securities at the time of their respective Stated Maturities but might not be
sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities upon any acceleration
resulting from such Event of Default. In such case, the Company would remain
liable for such payments. (Sections 1403 and 1404)
NOTICES
Notices to Holders of Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses
of such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register. (Sections 101 and
106)
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TITLE
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute
owner thereof (whether or not such Debt Security may be overdue) for the
purpose of making payment and for all other purposes. (Section 309)
GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. (Section 112)
REGARDING THE TRUSTEE
The First National Bank of Chicago has lending and other customary banking
relationships with the Company.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell the Debt Securities (i) through an underwriter or
underwriters, (ii) through dealers, (iii) through agents, (iv) directly to
purchasers, including affiliates of the Company, or (v) through a combination
of any such methods of sale. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set
forth the terms of the offerings of any Debt Securities, including the method
of distribution, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any
managing underwriter or underwriters, the purchase price of the Debt
Securities and the proceeds to the Company from the sale, any underwriting
discounts, agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' compensation
and any discounts and concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers or
agents. Any initial public offering price and any discount or concessions
allowed or reallowed to dealers may be changed from time to time. The expected
time of delivery of the Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale of the Debt Securities, the
underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters
are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters with
respect to a sale of Debt Securities will be obligated to purchase all such
Debt Securities if any are purchased. In connection with the sale of Debt
Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company or from
purchasers of Debt Securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell Debt Securities
to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form
of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or
commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
Underwriters, agents or dealers participating in the distribution of Debt
Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the Debt
Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under
the Securities Act.
The Debt Securities may be sold in one or more transactions either at a
fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the
time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices. The Company may also offer and sell the Debt Securities in
exchange for one or more of its outstanding issues of debt or convertible debt
securities or in the satisfaction of indebtedness.
Underwriters, agents or dealers who participate in the distribution of Debt
Securities may be entitled, under agreements which may be entered into with
the Company, to indemnification by the
14
<PAGE>
Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribution by the Company to payments that such
underwriters, dealers or agents or any of their controlling persons may be
required to make in respect thereof. Underwriters, agents or dealers may be
customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for the Company
or subsidiaries of the Company in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
underwriters, dealers and agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to
purchase Debt Securities from the Company pursuant to delayed delivery
contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the
Prospectus Supplement. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement will also
set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
Offers to purchase Debt Securities may be solicited directly by the Company
and sales thereof may be made by the Company directly to institutional
investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of
the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such
sales will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Except
as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, no director, officer or
employee of the Company will solicit or receive a commission in connection
with direct sales by the Company of the Debt Securities, although such persons
may respond to inquiries by potential purchasers and perform ministerial and
clerical work in connection with any such direct sales.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the Debt Securities being offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Company by Mayer, Brown & Platt, Chicago, Illinois, and for the
underwriters, dealers, or agents, if any, by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York,
New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule
as of December 31, 1996 and for the year ended December 31, 1996 incorporated
in this Prospectus by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been so incorporated in reliance on
the reports of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule
as of December 31, 1995 and for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 1995 incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
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<PAGE>
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR
THE PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF
AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Documents Incorporated by Reference S-2
The Company S-2
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges S-3
Use of Proceeds S-3
Capitalization S-4
Description of Debentures S-5
Underwriting S-6
Experts S-7
PROSPECTUS
Available Information 2
Documents Incorporated by Reference 2
The Company 4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 4
Use of Proceeds 5
Description of Debt Securities 5
Plan of Distribution 14
Validity of Securities 15
Experts 15
</TABLE>
Prospectus Supplement
BURLINGTON NORTHERN
SANTA FE CORPORATION
$200,000,000
6 7/8% DEBENTURES DUE DECEMBER 1, 2027
BNSF
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
Dated December 4, 1997
