PROSPECTUS
$25,139,770,000
American International Group, Inc.
Debt Securities
We may offer to sell debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, and common stock, either individually or in units. The debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and preferred stock may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of AIG or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. These securities will have an initial public offering price or purchase price of up to $25,139,770,000, or will have the foreign currency or composite currency equivalent of this amount, although we may increase this amount in the future. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE and trades under the symbol AIG.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
Investing in some of the securities involves certain risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 46 to read about certain factors you should consider before buying the securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
We may use this prospectus in the initial sale of these securities. In addition, one or more of our subsidiaries may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction involving any of these securities after our initial sale. UNLESS WE OR OUR AGENT INFORM THE PURCHASER OTHERWISE IN THE CONFIRMATION OF SALE, THIS PROSPECTUS IS BEING USED IN A MARKET-MAKING TRANSACTION.
The date of this prospectus is July 24, 2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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1 | |||
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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3 | |||
USE OF PROCEEDS
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4 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
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5 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS WE MAY OFFER
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16 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS WE MAY OFFER
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28 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS WE MAY OFFER
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33 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK WE MAY OFFER
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38 | |||
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WE MAY OFFER
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44 | |||
MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION
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45 | |||
RISK FACTORS
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46 | |||
LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
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52 | |||
CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES ISSUED IN
BEARER FORM
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57 | |||
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
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61 | |||
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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61 | |||
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
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63 | |||
EXPERTS
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63 | |||
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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63 | |||
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING PROJECTIONS AND
OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS
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65 |
Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to the Company, AIG, we, our, us and similar references mean American International Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or information contained in documents which you are referred to by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are offering to sell the securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or any sale of the securities.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
About This Prospectus
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total amount of $25,139,770,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described in the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information.
To see more detail, you should read our registration statement and the exhibits filed with our registration statement.
American International Group, Inc.
AIG, a Delaware corporation, is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in a broad range of insurance and insurance-related activities in the United States and abroad. AIGs principal executive offices are located at 70 Pine Street, New York, New York 10270, and its main telephone number is (212) 770-7000. The Internet address for AIGs corporate website is www.aigcorporate.com. Except for the documents referred to under Where You Can Find More Information which are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, information contained on AIGs website or that can be accessed through its website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. AIG has included its website address only as an inactive textual reference and does not intend it to be an active link to its website.
The Securities We Are Offering
We may offer any of the following securities from time to time:
| debt securities; | |
| warrants; | |
| purchase contracts; | |
| units, comprised of two or more securities, in any combination; | |
| preferred stock, either directly or represented by depositary shares; and | |
| common stock. |
When we use the term securities in this prospectus, we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus, unless we say otherwise. This prospectus, including the following summary, describes the general terms that may apply to the securities; the specific terms of any particular securities that we may offer will be described in a separate supplement to this prospectus.
Debt Securities |
We may issue several different types of debt securities. Our debt securities may be senior or subordinated in right of payment. For any particular debt securities we offer, your prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the debt securities, and will include for each series of debt securities the initial public offering price; designation; aggregate principal amount (including whether determined by reference to an index or other financial measure); currency; denomination; maturity; interest rate (whether fixed or floating); time of payment of any interest; any terms for mandatory or optional redemption, any terms on which the debt securities may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of another entity and any other specific terms. We will issue the senior and subordinated debt securities under separate debt indentures, between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee.
Warrants |
We may offer two types of warrants:
| warrants to purchase our debt securities; and |
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| warrants to purchase or sell, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following: |
| securities of one or more issuers, including our common or preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus or debt or equity securities of third parties; | |
| one or more currencies; | |
| one or more commodities; | |
| any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and | |
| one or more indices or baskets of the items described above. |
For any particular warrants we offer, your prospectus supplement will describe the underlying property; the expiration date; the exercise price or the manner of determining the exercise price; the amount and kind, or the manner of determining the amount and kind, of property to be delivered by you or us upon exercise; and any other specific terms. We may issue the warrants under the warrant indenture between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee, or under warrant agreements between us and one or more warrant agents.
Purchase Contracts |
We may offer purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following:
| securities of one or more issuers, including our common or preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus or debt or equity securities of third parties; | |
| one or more currencies; | |
| one or more commodities; | |
| any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including, the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and | |
| one or more indices or baskets of the items described above. |
For any particular purchase contracts we offer, your prospectus supplement will describe the underlying property; the settlement date; the purchase price or manner of determining the purchase price and whether it must be paid when the purchase contract is issued or at a later date; the amount and kind, or the manner of determining the amount and kind, of property to be delivered at settlement; whether the holder will pledge property to secure the performance of any obligations the holder may have under the purchase contract; and any other specific terms. We may issue purchase contracts under a senior debt indenture or a subordinated debt indenture described above or a unit agreement described below.
Units |
We may offer units, comprised of any combination of our debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, preferred stock and common stock. For any particular units we offer, your prospectus supplement will describe the particular securities comprising each unit; the terms on which those securities will be separable, if any; whether the holder will pledge property to secure the performance of any obligations the holder may have under the unit; and any other specific terms of the units. We may issue the units under unit agreements between us and one or more unit agents.
Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares |
We may offer our preferred stock in one or more series. For any particular series we offer, your prospectus supplement will describe the specific designation; the aggregate number of shares offered; the rate and periods, or manner of calculating the rate and periods, for dividends, if any; the stated value and liquidation preference amount, if any; the voting rights, if any; the terms on which the series will be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock of another series or other securities described in this prospectus or the debt or equity securities of third parties or property, if any; the redemption terms, if any; and any other specific terms. We may also offer depositary shares, each of which would represent an interest in a fractional share or multiple shares of preferred stock. We may issue the depositary shares under deposit agreements between us and one or more depositaries.
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Common Stock |
We may also issue our common stock.
Listing |
If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, your prospectus supplement will say so. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol AIG.
Manner of Offering |
The securities will be offered when they are first issued and sold and after that in market-making transactions involving one or more of our subsidiaries.
When we issue new securities, we may offer them for sale to or through underwriters, dealers and agents, including one of our subsidiaries, such as AIG Financial Securities Corp., or directly to purchasers. Your prospectus supplement will include any required information about the firms we use and the discounts or commissions we may pay them for their services.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges of AIG and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods indicated. For more information on our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006, both of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus as described under Where You Can Find More Information.
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3.44 | 4.22 | 3.01 | 3.42 | 3.03 | 2.55 | 2.02 |
Earnings represent:
| Income from operations before income taxes, adjustments for minority interest, cumulative effect of accounting changes, less income/loss from equity investees |
plus
| Fixed charges other than capitalized interest | |
| Amortization of capitalized interest | |
| The distributed income of equity investees |
less
| The minority interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that do not have fixed charges. |
Fixed charges include:
| Interest, whether expensed or capitalized | |
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | |
| One-third of rental expense. Our management believes this is representative of the interest factor. |
As of the date of this prospectus, we have no preferred stock outstanding.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in any prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
References to AIG, us, we or our in this section means American International Group, Inc., and does not include the subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the applicable trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to you in this prospectus, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities should read the section below entitled Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
Debt Securities May Be Senior or Subordinated |
We may issue senior or subordinated debt securities. Neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets or the property or assets of our subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a debt security, you are one of our unsecured creditors.
The senior debt securities and, in the case of senior debt securities in bearer form, any related interest coupons, will be issued under our senior debt indenture described below and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.
The subordinated debt securities and, in the case of subordinated debt securities in bearer form, any related interest coupons, will be issued under our subordinated debt indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our senior indebtedness, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture. Neither indenture limits our ability to incur additional unsecured indebtedness.
When we refer to debt securities in this prospectus, we mean both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities.
The Senior and Subordinated Debt Indentures |
The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are each governed by a document called an indenture the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, and the subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the subordinated debt securities. Each indenture is a contract between AIG and The Bank of New York, which acts as trustee. The indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture.
Reference to the indenture or the trustee with respect to any debt securities, means the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture.
The trustee has two main roles:
1. The trustee can enforce the rights of holders against us if we default on our obligations under the terms of the indenture or the debt securities. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on behalf of holders, described below under Events of Default Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. | |
2. The trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending interest payments and notices to holders, and transferring a holders debt securities to a new buyer if a holder sells. |
The indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indenture and the debt securities are governed by New York law. A copy of each indenture is an exhibit to our registration statement. See Where You Can Find More Information below for information on how to obtain a copy.
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General
We may issue as many distinct series of debt securities under either indenture as we wish. The provisions of the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture allow us not only to issue debt securities with terms different from those previously issued under the applicable indenture, but also to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. We may issue debt securities in amounts that exceed the total amount specified on the cover of your prospectus supplement at any time without your consent and without notifying you. In addition we may offer debt securities, together with other debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and preferred stock or common stock in the form of units, as described below under Description of Units We May Offer.
This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, although the prospectus supplement which describes the terms of each series of debt securities may also describe differences from the material terms summarized here.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms. For your convenience, we also include references in parentheses to certain sections of the indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the indenture for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus.
This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus. There may also be a further prospectus supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which contains the precise terms of debt securities you are offered.
We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which will be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. (Section 101) The prospectus supplement relating to the original issue discount securities will describe federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. Some of the risks associated with such debt securities issued are described below under Risk Factors Indexed Securities and Risk Factors Non-U.S. Dollar Securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.
In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:
| the title of the series of debt securities; | |
| whether it is a series of senior debt securities or a series of subordinated debt securities; | |
| any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities; | |
| the person to whom interest on a debt security is payable, if other than the holder on the regular record date; | |
| the date or dates on which the series of debt securities will mature; | |
| the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable per annum, at which the series of debt securities will bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which that interest, if any, will accrue; | |
| the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities is payable; |
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| the dates on which interest, if any, on the series of debt securities will be payable and the regular record dates for the interest payment dates; | |
| any mandatory or optional sinking funds or similar provisions or provisions for redemption at the option of the issuer; | |
| the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the series of debt securities may, in accordance with any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed and the other detailed terms and provisions of those optional or mandatory redemption provisions, if any; | |
| if the debt securities may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for our common stock or preferred stock or other of our securities or the debt or equity securities of third parties, the terms on which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, including whether conversion, exercise or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the period during which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, the initial conversion, exercise or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common stock or preferred stock or other securities or the debt or equity securities of third parties issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange may be adjusted; | |
| if other than denominations of $1,000 and any of its integral multiples, the denominations in which the series of debt securities will be issuable; | |
| the currency of payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities; | |
| if the currency of payment for principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities is subject to our election or that of a holder, the currency or currencies in which payment can be made and the period within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election can be made; | |
| any index used to determine the amount of payment of principal or premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities; | |
| the applicability of the provisions described under Defeasance below; | |
| any event of default under the series of debt securities if different from those described under Events of Default below; | |
| if the debt securities will be issued in bearer form, any special provisions relating to bearer securities that are not addressed in this prospectus; | |
| if the series of debt securities will be issuable only in the form of a global security, the depositary or its nominee with respect to the series of debt securities and the circumstances under which the global security may be registered for transfer or exchange in the name of a person other than the depositary or the nominee; and | |
| any other special feature of the series of debt securities. |
An investment in debt securities may involve special risks, including risks associated with indexed securities and currency-related risks if the debt security is linked to an index or is payable in or otherwise linked to a non-U.S. dollar currency. We describe some of these risks below under Risk Factors Indexed Securities and Risk Factors Non-U.S. Dollar Securities.
Market-Making Transactions |
One or more of our subsidiaries may purchase and resell debt securities in market-making transactions after their initial issuance. We discuss these transactions below under Plan of Distribution Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries. We may also purchase debt securities in the open market or in private transactions to be held by us or cancelled.
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Overview of Remainder of this Description
The remainder of this description summarizes:
| Additional Mechanics relevant to the debt securities under normal circumstances, such as how holders transfer ownership and where we make payments; | |
| Holders rights in several Special Situations, such as if we merge with another company or if we want to change a term of the debt securities; | |
| Subordination Provisions in the subordinated debt indenture that may prohibit us from making payment on those securities; | |
| Our right to release ourselves from all or some of our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture by a process called Defeasance; and | |
| Holders rights if we Default or experience other financial difficulties. |
Additional Mechanics
Form, Exchange and Transfer |
Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued:
| only in fully registered form; | |
| without interest coupons; and | |
| in denominations that are even multiples of $1,000. (Section 302) |
If we issue a debt security in bearer form, the provisions described below under Considerations Relating to Securities Issued in Bearer Form would apply to that security. Some of the features of the debt securities that we describe in this prospectus may not apply to bearer debt securities.
If a debt security is issued as a registered global debt security, only the depositary e.g., DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, each as defined below under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection, since the depositary will be the sole holder of the debt security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global security do so through participants in the depositarys securities clearance system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry procedures below under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
Holders may have their debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller denominations of not less than $1,000 or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. (Section 305) This is called an exchange.
Holders may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the trustee. They may also replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities at that office. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform it ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It will also perform transfers. (Section 305) The trustees agent may require an indemnity before replacing any debt securities.
Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but holders may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.
If we designate additional transfer agents, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. (Section 1002)
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If the debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all of the debt securities of a particular series, we may block the transfer or exchange of debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed. (Section 305)
The rules for exchange described above apply to exchange of debt securities for other debt securities of the same series and kind. If a debt security is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into or for a different kind of security, such as one that we have not issued, or for other property, the rules governing that type of conversion, exercise or exchange will be described in the prospectus supplement.
Payment and Paying Agents |
We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustees records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the regular record date and will be stated in the prospectus supplement. (Section 307) Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sale price of the securities to pro-rate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This prorated interest amount is called accrued interest.
We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York City. That office is currently located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. Holders must make arrangements to have their payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks.
BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD
CONSULT THEIR BANKS,
BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW
THEY WILL RECEIVE PAYMENTS.
We may also arrange for additional payment offices and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustees corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent or choose one of our subsidiaries to do so. We must notify holders of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities. (Section 1002)
Notices |
We and the trustee will send notices regarding the debt securities only to holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustees records. (Sections 101 and 106) With respect to who is a legal holder for this purpose, see Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, holders may look to us for payment and not to the trustee or any other paying agent. (Section 1003)
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Special Situations
Mergers and Similar Events |
We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another company or firm. We are also permitted to sell or lease substantially all of our assets to another company or firm. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:
| When we merge out of existence or sell or lease substantially all of our assets, the other firm may not be organized under a foreign countrys laws, that is, it must be a corporation, partnership or trust organized under the laws of a state of the United States or the District of Columbia or under federal law, and it must agree to be legally responsible for the debt securities. | |
| The merger, sale of assets or other transaction must not cause a default on the debt securities, and we must not already be in default (unless the merger or other transaction would cure the default). For purposes of this no-default test, a default would include an event of default that has occurred and not been cured. A default for this purpose would also include any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded. |
If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to any series of debt securities, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all of our assets. It is possible that this type of transaction may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of our debt securities, however, will have no approval right with respect to any transaction of this type.
Modification and Waiver of the Debt Securities |
There are four types of changes we can make to either indenture and the debt securities issued under that indenture.
Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders. First, there are changes that cannot be made to the indenture or the debt securities without specific approval of each holder of a debt security affected in any material respect by the change under a particular debt indenture. Affected debt securities may be all or less than all of the debt securities issued under that debt indenture or all or less than all of the debt securities of a series. Following is a list of those types of changes:
| change the stated maturity of the principal or interest on a debt security; | |
| reduce any amounts due on a debt security; | |
| reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a debt security (including the amount payable on an original issue discount debt security) following a default; | |
| change the currency of payment on a debt security; | |
| impair a holders right to sue for payment; | |
| impair any right that a holder of a debt security may have to exchange or convert the debt security for or into other property; | |
| reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture; |
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| reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults; or | |
| modify any other aspect of the provisions dealing with modification and waiver of the indenture. (Section 902) |
Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. The second type of change to the indenture and the debt securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor by holders of debt securities owning not less than a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected or, if so provided and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, of particular debt securities affected thereby. Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes and certain other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the debt securities. (Section 901) We may also obtain a waiver of a past default from the holders of debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the indenture or the debt securities listed in the first category described above under Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders unless we obtain the individual consent of each holder to the waiver. (Section 513)
Changes Not Requiring Approval. The third type of change to the indenture and the debt securities does not require any vote by holders of debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the debt securities. (Section 901)
We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect in any material respect a particular debt security, even if they affect other debt securities. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of that debt security; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected debt securities.
Modification of Subordination Provisions. We may not modify the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt indenture in a manner that would adversely affect in any material respect the outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of the holders of a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected or, if so provided and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, of particular subordinated debt securities affected thereby. Also, we may not modify the subordination provisions of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of each holder of our senior indebtedness that would be adversely affected thereby. The term senior indebtedness is defined below under Subordination Provisions.
Further Details Concerning Voting. When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a debt security:
| For original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of the debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default. | |
| For debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use a special rule for that debt security described in the prospectus supplement. | |
| For debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent. |
Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have given a notice of redemption and deposited or set aside in trust for the holders money for the payment or redemption of the debt securities. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described below under Defeasance Full Defeasance. (Section 1302)
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If we or the trustee set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be
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BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD
CONSULT THEIR BANKS,
BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW
APPROVAL MAY BE GRANTED OR DENIED IF WE SEEK TO CHANGE THE
INDENTURE OR THE DEBT SECURITIES OR REQUEST A WAIVER.
Subordination Provisions
Holders of subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the subordinated debt indenture may prohibit us from making payments on those securities. Subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the subordinated debt indenture, to all of our senior indebtedness, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture.
The subordinated debt indenture defines senior indebtedness as all indebtedness and obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, us for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, whether existing now or in the future, and all amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any indebtedness or obligations of that kind. Senior debt excludes the subordinated debt securities and any other indebtedness or obligations that would otherwise constitute indebtedness if it is specifically designated as being subordinate, or not superior, in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.
The subordinated debt indenture provides that, unless all principal of and any premium or interest on the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any subordinated debt securities in the following circumstances:
| in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for creditors or other similar proceedings or events involving us or our assets; | |
| (a) in the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any senior indebtedness beyond any applicable grace period, (b) in the event that any event of default with respect to any senior indebtedness has occurred and is continuing, permitting the holders of that senior indebtedness (or a trustee) to accelerate the maturity of that senior indebtedness, whether or not the maturity is in fact accelerated (unless, in the case of (a) or (b), the payment default or event of default has been cured or waived or ceases to exist and any related acceleration has been rescinded) or (c) in the event that any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to a payment default or event of default described in (a) or (b); or | |
| in the event that any subordinated debt securities have been declared due and payable before their stated maturity. |
If the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture or any holders of the subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee or the holders will have to repay that money to the holders of the senior indebtedness.
Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated debt securities of any series, we will be in default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture and the holders of that series can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of senior indebtedness have been fully satisfied.
The subordinated debt indenture allows the holders of senior indebtedness to obtain a court order requiring us and any holder of subordinated debt securities to comply with the subordination provisions.
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Defeasance
The following discussion of full defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to each series of debt securities that is denominated in U.S. dollars and has a fixed rate of interest and will apply to other series of debt securities if we so specify in the prospectus supplement. (Section 1301)
Full Defeasance |
If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the debt securities, called full defeasance, if we put in place the following other arrangements for holders to be repaid:
| We must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of the debt securities a combination of money and notes or bonds of the U.S. government or a U.S. government agency or U.S. government-sponsored entity (the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government) that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates. | |
| There must be a change in current U.S. federal tax law or an IRS ruling that lets us make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves. (Under current federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the obligations pursuant to the debt securities would be treated as though we took back your debt securities and gave you your share of the cash and notes or bonds deposited in trust. In that event, you could recognize gain or loss on the debt securities you give back to us.) | |
| We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming the tax law change described above. (Sections 1302 and 1304) | |
| In the case of the subordinated debt securities, the following requirement must also be met: |
| No event or condition may exist that, under the provisions described under Subordination Provisions above, would prevent us from making payments of principal, premium or interest on those subordinated debt securities on the date of the deposit referred to above or during the 90 days after that date. |
If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment on the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall.
Covenant Defeasance |
Under current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the same type of deposit as described above and we will be released from the restrictive covenants under the debt securities that may be described in the prospectus supplement. This is called covenant defeasance. In that event, you would lose the protection of these covenants but would gain the protection of having money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:
| We must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of the debt securities a combination of money and notes or bonds of the U.S. government or a U.S. government agency or U.S. government sponsored entity (the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government) that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates. | |
| We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that under current U.S. federal income tax law we may make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on the debt |
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securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves. |
If we accomplish covenant defeasance, certain provisions of the indenture and the debt securities would no longer apply:
| Covenants applicable to the series of debt securities and described in the prospectus supplement. | |
| Any events of default relating to breach of those covenants. |
If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit. In fact, if one of the remaining events of default occurred (such as a bankruptcy) and the debt securities become immediately due and payable, there may be such a shortfall. (Sections 1303 and 1304)
Events of Default
You will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.
What Is An Event of Default? The term Event of Default means any of the following:
| We do not pay the principal of or any premium on a debt security within 5 days of its due date. | |
| We do not pay interest on a debt security within 30 days of its due date. | |
| We do not deposit money in a separate account, known as a sinking fund, within 5 days of its due date. | |
| We remain in breach of any covenant or warranty of the indenture for 60 days after we receive a notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of the affected series. | |
| We file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. | |
| Any other event of default described in the prospectus supplement occurs. (Section 501) |
Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. If you are the holder of a subordinated debt security, all remedies available upon the occurrence of an event of default under the subordinated debt indenture will be subject to the restrictions on the subordinated debt securities described above under Subordination Provisions. If an event of default occurs, the trustee will have special duties. In that situation, the trustee will be obligated to use those of its rights and powers under the indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so, that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or her own affairs. If an event of default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount (or, in the case of original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount that is specified in the terms of the affected debt security) of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. However, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be cancelled, but only before a judgment or decree based on the acceleration has been obtained, by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series. (Section 502)
You should read carefully the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities which are original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and its continuation.
Except in cases of default, where the trustee has the special duties described above, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability called an indemnity. (Section 603) If indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit
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Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities the following must occur:
| The holder of the debt security must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred and remains uncured; | |
| The holders of 25% in principal amount of all outstanding securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and they must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities of taking that action; and | |
| The trustee must have not taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity. (Section 507) |
However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its due date. (Section 508)
BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO GIVE NOTICE OR DIRECTION TO OR MAKE A REQUEST OF THE TRUSTEE AND TO MAKE OR CANCEL A DECLARATION OF ACCELERATION.
We will give to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under it, or else specifying any default. (Section 1004)
Our Relationship with the Trustee
The Bank of New York is one of our lenders and from time to time provides other banking services to us and our subsidiaries.
The Bank of New York is initially serving as the trustee for our senior debt securities, our subordinated debt securities and the warrants issued under our warrant indenture, as well as the trustee under any amended and restated trust agreement and capital securities subordinated guarantee that we enter into in connection with the issuance of capital securities. Consequently, if an actual or potential event of default occurs with respect to any of these securities, trust agreements or subordinated guarantees, the trustee may be considered to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In that case, the trustee may be required to resign under one or more of the indentures, trust agreements or subordinated guarantees and we would be required to appoint a successor trustee. For this purpose, a potential event of default means an event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or for the default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS WE MAY OFFER
References to AIG, us, we or our in this section mean American International Group, Inc., and do not include the subsidiaries of American International Group Inc. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own warrants registered in their own names, on the books that we or the applicable trustee or warrant agent maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in warrants registered in street name or in warrants issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to you in this section, we mean all purchasers of warrants being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those warrants. Owners of beneficial interests in the warrants should read the section below entitled Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
Warrants May Be Debt Warrants or Universal Warrants |
We may issue warrants that are debt warrants or universal warrants. We may offer warrants separately or together with our debt securities. We may also offer warrants together with other warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities and preferred stock or common stock in the form of units, as summarized under Description of Units We May Offer.
We will issue the warrants under either a warrant indenture or a warrant agreement. The warrant indenture, the warrant agreement and their associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The warrant indenture and the warrant agreement and the warrants issued thereunder are governed by New York law.
Warrant Indenture |
The warrants may be governed by a document called an indenture. The warrant indenture is a contract between AIG and The Bank of New York, which acts as trustee. See Description of Debt Securities We May Offer Our Relationship with the Trustee above for more information about the trustee.
Reference to the warrant indenture or the trustee with respect to any warrants, means the indenture under which those warrants are issued and the trustee under that indenture.
The trustee has two main roles:
1. The trustee can enforce the rights of holders against us if we default on our obligations under the terms of the warrant indenture or the warrants. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on behalf of holders, described below under Events of Default Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. | |
2. The trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending payments to holders and notices, and transferring a holders warrants to a new buyer if a holder sells. |
Warrant Agreement |
A warrant agreement is a contract between us and a bank, trust company or other financial institution, as warrant agent. References to a warrant agreement or warrant agent with respect to any warrants, means the warrant agreement under which those warrants are issued and the warrant agent under that warrant agreement.
The warrant agent is our agent and, unlike a trustee, has no obligations to holders of the warrants issued under the warrant agreement. The main role of the warrant agent is to perform administrative duties for us, such as sending payments and notices to holders and transferring a holders warrants to a new buyer if a holder sells.
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General
We may issue as many distinct series of warrants as we wish.
This section summarizes terms of the warrant indenture and warrant agreements and terms of the warrants that apply generally to the warrants, although the prospectus supplement which describes the terms of the warrants may also describe differences from the material terms summarized here.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the warrants. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the warrant indenture and warrant agreement, including definitions of certain terms used in the warrant indenture and warrant agreement. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the warrant indenture or warrant agreement in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the warrant indenture or warrant agreement for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus.
This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your warrants described in the prospectus supplement. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your warrant as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your warrant.
When we refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part of the same series under the applicable warrant indenture or warrant agreement. When we refer to your prospectus supplement, we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the warrant you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
In addition, the specific financial, legal and other specific terms of your warrant will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. The prospectus supplement relating to the warrants may contain, where applicable, the following information about your warrants:
| the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants; | |
| the currency with which the warrants may be purchased; | |
| the warrant indenture or warrant agreement under which we will issue the warrants; | |
| the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants; | |
| whether the warrants will be redeemable by us before their expiration date, and any applicable redemption dates or periods and the related redemption prices; | |
| whether the warrants will be issued in fully registered form or bearer form, in global or non-global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security or purchase contract included in that unit; | |
| the identities of the trustee or warrant agent, any depositaries and any paying, transfer, calculation or other agents for the warrants; | |
| any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed; | |
| whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities, as part of units or otherwise; and | |
| any other terms of the warrants. |
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If we issue warrants as part of a unit, your prospectus supplement will specify whether the warrants will be separable from the other securities in the unit before the warrants expiration date.
Until a warrant is properly exercised, no holder of a warrant will have any rights of a holder of the warrant property deliverable under the warrant.
An investment in a warrant may involve special risks, including risks associated with indexed securities and currency-related risks if the warrant or the warrant property is linked to an index or is payable in or otherwise linked to a non-U.S. dollar currency. We describe some of these risks below under Risk Factors Indexed Securities and Risk Factors Non-U.S. Dollar Securities.
Debt Warrants
We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities on terms to be determined at the time of sale. We refer to this type of warrant as a debt warrant.
If you purchase debt warrants, your prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following additional information about your debt warrants:
| the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of the debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the debt warrants; | |
| the exercise price and whether the exercise price may be paid in cash, by the exchange of any debt warrants or other securities or both and the method of exercising the debt warrants; and | |
| the designation, terms and amount of debt securities, if any, to be issued together with each of the debt warrants and the date, if any, after which the debt warrants and debt securities will be separately transferable. |
Universal Warrants |
We may also issue warrants, on terms to be determined at the time of sale, for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following:
| securities of one or more issuers, including our common or preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus or debt or equity securities of third parties; | |
| one or more currencies; | |
| one or more commodities; | |
| any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and | |
| one or more indices or baskets of the items described above. |
We refer to this type of warrant as a universal warrant. We refer to each property described above as a warrant property.
We may satisfy our obligations, if any, and the holder of a universal warrant may satisfy its obligations, if any, with respect to any universal warrants by delivering:
| the warrant property; | |
| the cash value of the warrant property; or | |
| the cash value of the warrants determined by reference to the performance, level or value of the warrant property. |
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Your prospectus supplement will describe what we may deliver to satisfy our obligations, if any, and what the holder of a universal warrant may deliver to satisfy its obligations, if any, with respect to any universal warrants.
If you purchase universal warrants, your prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following additional information about your universal warrants:
| whether the universal warrants are put warrants or call warrants, including in either case warrants that may be settled by means of net cash settlement or cashless exercise, or any other type of warrants; | |
| the money or warrant property, and the amount or method of determining the amount of money or warrant property, payable or deliverable upon exercise of each universal warrant; | |
| the price at which and the currency with which the warrant property may be purchased or sold by or on behalf of the holder of each universal warrant upon the exercise of that warrant, or the method of determining that price; | |
| whether the exercise price may be paid in cash, by the exchange of any universal warrants or other securities or both, and the method of exercising the universal warrants; and | |
| whether the exercise of the universal warrants is to be settled in cash or by delivery of the warrant property or both, whether the election of the form of settlement will be at the option of the holder or of us and whether settlement will occur on a net basis or a gross basis. |
Market-Making Transactions |
One or more of our subsidiaries may resell warrants in market-making transactions after their initial issuance. We discuss these transactions below under Plan of Distribution Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries. We may also purchase, in our discretion, warrants to be held, resold or canceled.
General Provisions of the Warrant Indenture
We may issue as many distinct series of warrants under the warrant indenture as we wish, in such amounts as we wish. The provisions of the warrant indenture allow us not only to issue warrants with terms different from those of warrants previously issued under the warrant indenture, but also to reopen a previous issue of a series of warrants and issue additional warrants of that series. We may issue warrants in amounts that exceed the total amount specified on the cover of your prospectus supplement at any time without your consent and without notifying you.
The warrant indenture and the warrants do not limit our ability to incur other contractual obligations or indebtedness or to issue other securities. Also, the terms of the warrants do not impose financial or similar restrictions on us.
Warrants will not be secured by any property or our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a warrant issued under the warrant indenture, you hold one of our unsecured obligations.
The warrants issued under the warrant indenture will be our contractual obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured contractual obligations and unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The warrant indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional contractual obligations or debt.
Overview of Remainder of this Description
The remainder of this description summarizes:
| Additional Terms relevant to the warrants under normal circumstances, such as how holders transfer warrants, and the expiration and payment and delivery mechanics relating to warrants; |
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| Holders rights in several Special Situations, such as if we merge with another company or if we want to change a term of the warrants; and | |
| Holders rights if we Default or experience other financial difficulties. |
Additional Mechanics
Form, Exchange and Transfer of Warrants |
Unless we specify otherwise in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each warrant in registered global i.e., book-entry form only. Warrants in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depositarys system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry securities below under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
If a warrant is issued as a registered global warrant, only the depositary e.g., DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream will be entitled to transfer and exchange the warrant as described in this subsection, since the depositary will be the sole holder of the warrant.
If any warrants cease to be issued in registered global form, they will be issued:
| only in fully registered form; and | |
| only in the denominations specified in your prospectus supplement. |
Holders may exchange their warrants for certificates representing smaller or larger number of warrants, as long as the total number of warrants is not changed.
Holders may exchange or transfer their warrants at the office of the trustee. They may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated warrants at that office. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering warrants in the names of holders and transferring and replacing warrants. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.
Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their warrants, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may require an indemnity before replacing any warrants.
If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any warrants before their expiration, and we exercise our right as to less than all those warrants, we may block the transfer or exchange of those warrants during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing or during any other period specified in the prospectus supplement, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or to exchange any warrant selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any warrant being partially settled.
If we have designated additional transfer agents for your warrant, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.
The rules for exchange described above apply to exchange of warrants for other warrants of the same series and kind. If a warrant is exercisable for a different kind of security, such as one that we have not issued, or for other property, the rules governing that type of exercise will be described in your prospectus supplement.
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Expiration Date and Payment or Settlement Date |
The term expiration date with respect to any warrant means the date on which the right to exercise the warrant expires. The term payment or settlement date with respect to any warrant means the date when any money or warrant property with respect to that warrant becomes payable or deliverable upon exercise or redemption of that warrant in accordance with its terms.
Currency of Warrants |
Amounts that become due and payable on your warrant may be payable in a currency, composite currency, basket of currencies or currency unit or units specified in your prospectus supplement. We refer to this currency, composite currency, basket of currencies or currency unit or units as a specified currency. The specified currency for your warrant will be U.S. dollars, unless your prospectus supplement states otherwise. You will have to pay for your warrant by delivering the requisite amount of the specified currency to a firm that we name in your prospectus supplement, unless other arrangements have been made between you and us or you and that firm. We will make payments on your warrants in the specified currency, except as described in your prospectus supplement. See Risk Factors Non-U.S. Dollar Securities below for more information about risks of investing in warrants of this kind.
Redemption |
We will not be entitled to redeem your warrant before its expiration date unless your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date.
If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, it will also specify one or more redemption prices. It may also specify one or more redemption periods during which the redemption prices relating to a redemption of warrants during those periods will apply.
If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, your warrant will be redeemable at our option at any time on or after that date or at a specified time or times. If we redeem your warrant, we will do so at the specified redemption price. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which your warrant is redeemed.
If we exercise an option to redeem any warrant, we will give the holder written notice of the redemption price of the warrant to be redeemed, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date or within any other period before the applicable redemption date specified in your prospectus supplement. We will give the notice in the manner described in your prospectus supplement.
Special Situations
Mergers and Similar Events |
We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another corporation or firm. We are also permitted to sell substantially all of our assets to another firm, or to buy or lease substantially all of the assets of another firm. With regard to any warrant, however, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:
| When we merge out of existence or sell or lease substantially all of our assets, the other firm may not be organized under a foreign countrys laws, that is, it must be a corporation, partnership or trust organized under the laws of a state of the United States or the District of Columbia or under federal law, and it must agree to be legally responsible for our obligations under that warrant and the warrant indenture, as applicable. | |
| The merger, sale of assets or other transaction must not cause a default under the warrant, and we must not already be in default (unless the merger or other transaction would cure the default). For purposes of this no-default test, a default under the warrant would include an event of default with respect to |
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that warrant or any event that would be an event of default with respect to that warrant if the requirements for giving us default notice and for our default having to continue for a specific period of time were disregarded. We describe these matters below under Events of Default. |
If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to any warrant, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holder of that warrant in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all of our assets. It is possible that this type of transaction may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of our warrants, however, will have no approval right with respect to any transaction of this type.
Modification and Waiver of the Warrants |
There are three types of changes we can make to the warrant indenture and the warrants issued under that warrant indenture.
Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders. First, there are changes that cannot be made to the warrant indenture or the warrants issued under that warrant indenture without the approval of each holder of a warrant affected by the change. Affected warrants may be all or less than all of the warrants issued under that warrant indenture or all or less than all of the warrants of a series. Here is a list of those types of changes:
| change the exercise price of the warrant; | |
| change the terms of any warrant with respect to the expiration date or the payment or settlement date of the warrant; | |
| reduce the amount of money payable or reduce the amount or change the kind of warrant property deliverable upon the exercise of the warrant or any premium payable upon redemption of the warrant; | |
| change the currency of any payment on a warrant; | |
| change the place of payment on a warrant; | |
| permit redemption of a warrant if not previously permitted; | |
| impair a holders right to exercise its warrant, or sue for payment of any money payable or delivery of any warrant property deliverable with respect to its warrant on or after the payment or settlement date or, in the case of redemption, the redemption date; | |
| if any warrant provides that the holder may require us to repurchase the warrant, impair the holders right to require repurchase of the warrant; | |
| reduce the percentage in number of the warrants of any one or more affected series, taken separately or together, as applicable, whose consent is needed to modify or amend the warrant indenture or those warrants; | |
| reduce the percentage in number of the warrants of any one or more affected series, taken separately or together, as applicable, whose consent is needed to waive compliance with the warrant indenture or to waive defaults; or | |
| modify any other aspect of the provisions dealing with modification and waiver of the warrant indenture, except to increase any required percentage referred to above or add to the provisions that cannot be changed or waived without approval of the holder of the affected warrants. |
Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. The second type of change to the warrant indenture and the warrants is the kind that requires a vote in favor by holders of warrants owning not less than a majority of the amount of the particular series affected or, if so provided and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture
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Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes and certain other changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect holders of the warrants. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the warrant indenture or the warrants listed in the first category described above under Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders unless we obtain the individual consent of each holder to the waiver.
Changes Not Requiring Approval. The third type of change to the warrant indenture and the warrants does not require any approval by holders of the warrants. These changes are limited to clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect in any material respect the holders of the warrants. Nor do we need any approval to make changes that affect only warrants to be issued under the warrant indenture after the changes take effect.
We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect a particular warrant, even if they affect other warrants. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of that warrant; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected warrants.
Further Details Concerning Voting. We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders that are entitled to take action under the warrant indenture. In certain limited circumstances, only the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If we or the trustee set a record date for an approval or other action to be taken by holders, that vote or action may be taken only by persons or entities who are holders on the record date and must be taken during the period that we specify for this purpose, or that the trustee specifies if it sets the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. In addition, record dates for any global warrant may be set in accordance with procedures established by the depositary from time to time. Accordingly, record dates for global warrants may differ from those for other warrants.
BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT OWNERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW APPROVAL MAY BE GRANTED OR DENIED IF WE SEEK TO CHANGE THE WARRANT INDENTURE OR ANY WARRANTS OR REQUEST A WAIVER.
Events of Default
You will have special rights if an event of default with respect to your warrant occurs and is continuing, as described in this subsection.
What is an Event of Default? Unless your prospectus supplement says otherwise, when we refer to an event of default with respect to any warrant, we mean that, upon satisfaction by the holder of the warrant of all conditions precedent to our relevant obligation or covenant to be satisfied by the holder, any of the following occurs:
| We do not pay any money or deliver any warrant property with respect to that warrant within 5 days of the payment or settlement date in accordance with the terms of that warrant. | |
| We remain in breach of any covenant and warranty we make in the warrant indenture for the benefit of the holder of that warrant for 60 days after we receive a notice of default stating that we are in breach and requiring us to remedy the breach. The notice must be sent by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in number of the relevant series of warrants. | |
| We file for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur with respect to us. | |
| Any other event of default described in the prospectus supplement occurs. |
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If we do not pay any money or deliver any warrant property when due with respect to a particular warrant of a series, as described in the first bullet point above, that failure to make a payment or delivery will not constitute an event of default with respect to any other warrant of the same series or any other series.
Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. If an event of default occurs, the trustee will have special duties. In that situation, the trustee will be obligated to use those of its rights and powers under the warrant indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so, that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or her own affairs.
Except in cases of default, where the trustee has special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the warrant indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability called an indemnity. If indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee is provided, the holders of a majority in number of all warrants of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee with respect to that series. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the warrant indenture with respect to the warrants of that series.
Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to any warrant, all of the following must occur:
| The holder of your warrant must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred, and the event of default must not have been cured or waived; | |
| The holders of not less than 25% in number of all warrants of your series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and they must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities of taking that action; and | |
| The trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after the above steps have been taken. |
However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of any money or delivery of any warrant property due on your warrant on or after its payment or settlement date.
BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO GIVE NOTICE OR DIRECTION TO OR MAKE A REQUEST OF THE TRUSTEE AND TO MAKE OR CANCEL A DECLARATION OF ACCELERATION.
We will give to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the warrant indenture and the warrants issued under it, or else specifying any default.
General Provisions of Warrant Agreements
We may issue debt warrants and universal warrants in one or more series under one or more warrant agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may add, replace or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of our subsidiaries to do so.
We will describe the warrant agreement under which we issue any warrants in your prospectus supplement. Each warrant agreement and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by New York law. We will file that agreement with the SEC, either as an exhibit to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K. See Where You Can Find More Information below for information on how to obtain a copy of a warrant agreement when it is filed.
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We may also issue warrants under the warrant indenture. For these warrants, the applicable provisions of the warrant indenture described above would apply instead of the provisions described in this section.
Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified under Trust Indenture Act |
No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants.
Enforcement of Rights |
The warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement. The warrant agent will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of those warrants. Any holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms. Until the warrant is properly exercised, no holder of any warrant will be entitled to any rights of a holder of the warrant property purchasable upon exercise of the warrant.
Form, Exchange and Transfer |
Unless we specify otherwise in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each warrant in global i.e., book-entry form only. Warrants in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depositarys system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry securities below under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
In addition, we will issue each warrant in registered form, unless we say otherwise in your prospectus supplement. Bearer warrants would be subject to special provisions, as we describe below under Considerations Relating to Securities Issued in Bearer Form.
If any warrants are issued in non-global form, the terms described below will apply to them:
| The warrants will be issued in fully registered form. Holders may exchange their warrants for certificates representing smaller or larger number of warrants, as long as the total number of warrants is not changed. | |
| Holders may exchange or transfer their warrants at the office of the warrant agent. They may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated warrants at that office. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves. | |
| Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their warrants, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may also require an indemnity before replacing any warrants. | |
| If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any warrants before their expiration, and we exercise our right as to less than all those warrants, we may block the transfer or exchange of those warrants during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any warrant selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any warrant being partially settled. |
Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a warrant in global form, because it will be the sole holder of the warrant.
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Mergers and Similar Events |
The warrant agreements and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another corporation or other entity or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time we merge or consolidate with, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another corporation or other entity, the successor entity will succeed to and assume our obligations under the warrants and warrant agreements. We will then be relieved of any further obligation under the warrants and warrant agreements. It is possible that this type of transaction may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of our warrants, however, will have no right to vote with respect to any transaction of this type.
No Events of Default |
The warrant agreements and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements also will not provide for any specific events of default.
Modification of the Warrant Agreement |
There are three types of amendments that we and the applicable warrant agent may make to any warrant agreement or warrants issued under that warrant agreement:
Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders. First, we may not amend any particular warrant or a warrant agreement with respect to any particular warrant unless we obtain the consent of the holder of that warrant, if the amendment would:
| change the exercise price of the warrant; | |
| change the kind or reduce the amount of the warrant property or other consideration receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration of the warrant; | |
| shorten, advance or defer the period of time during which the holder may exercise the warrant or otherwise impair the holders right to exercise the warrant; or | |
| reduce the percentage of outstanding, unexpired warrants of any series or class the consent of whose holders is required to amend the series or class, or the applicable warrant agreement with regard to that series or class, as described below. |
Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. Second, any other change to a particular warrant agreement and the warrants issued under that agreement would require the following approval:
| If the change affects only the warrants of a particular series issued under that warrant agreement, the change must be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding, unexpired warrants of that series. | |
| If the change affects the warrants of more than one series issued under that warrant agreement, the change must be approved by the holders of a majority of all outstanding, unexpired warrants of all series affected by the change, with the warrants of all the affected series voting together as one class for this purpose. |
Changes Not Requiring Approval. Third, we and the applicable warrant agent may amend any warrant or warrant agreement without the consent of any holder:
| to cure any ambiguity; | |
| to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or | |
| to make any other change that we believe is necessary or desirable and will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
We do not need any approval to make changes that affect only warrants to be issued after the changes take effect. We may also make changes that do not adversely affect a particular warrant in any material
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Payments and Notices
We will describe the plan we will use to make payments and give notices with respect to our warrants issued under the warrant indenture or warrant agreements in a separate supplement to this prospectus.
Calculation Agent
Calculations relating to warrants will be made by the calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. That institution may be a subsidiary of ours. The prospectus supplement for a particular warrant will name the institution that we have appointed to act as the calculation agent for that warrant as of its original issue date. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date of the warrant without your consent and without notifying you of the change.
The calculation agents determination of any amount of money payable or warrant property deliverable with respect to a warrant will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS WE MAY OFFER
References to AIG, us, we or our in this section mean American International Group, Inc., and do not include the subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own purchase contracts registered in their own names, on the books that we or our agent maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in purchase contracts registered in street name or in purchase contracts issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to you in this section, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the purchase contracts should read the section below entitled Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
General
We may issue purchase contracts in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. In addition, we may issue a purchase contract separately or as part of a unit, as described below under Description of Units We May Offer.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the purchase contracts. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms.
As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your purchase contract as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your purchase contract.
When we refer to a series of purchase contracts, we mean all the purchase contracts issued as part of the same series under the applicable governing instrument. The purchase contracts and any governing documents will be governed by New York law. When we refer to your prospectus supplement, we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the purchase contract you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
Prepaid Purchase Contracts; Applicability of Debt Indenture |
Some purchase contracts may require the holders to satisfy their obligations under the contracts at the time the contracts are issued. We refer to those contracts as prepaid purchase contracts. Our obligation to settle a prepaid purchase contract on the relevant settlement date will be subject to the holders delivery of one of our senior or subordinated debt securities, which are described above under Description of Debt Securities We May Offer. Prepaid purchase contracts will be issued under the senior or subordinated debt indenture, and the provisions of the applicable indenture will govern those contracts.
Non-Prepaid Purchase Contracts; No Trust Indenture Act Protection |
Some purchase contracts do not require the holders to satisfy their obligations under the contracts until settlement. We refer to those contracts as non-prepaid purchase contracts. The holder of a non-prepaid purchase contract may remain obligated to perform under the contract for a substantial period of time.
Non-prepaid purchase contracts will be issued under a unit agreement, if they are issued in units, or under some other document, if they are not. For example, we may issue non-prepaid purchase contracts under which the holder has multiple obligations to purchase or sell, some of which are prepaid and some of which are not, under one of our indentures. We describe unit agreements generally under Description of Units We May Offer below. We will describe the particular governing document that applies to your non-prepaid purchase contracts in your prospectus supplement.
Non-prepaid purchase contracts will not be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and will not be issued under an indenture, unless we say otherwise in your prospectus supplement. Consequently, no
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Principal Purchase Contract Terms
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference or linked to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following:
| securities of one or more issuers, including our common or preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus or debt or equity securities of third parties; | |
| one or more currencies; | |
| one or more commodities; | |
| any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and | |
| one or more indices or baskets of the items described above. |
We refer to each property described above as a purchase contract property. Each purchase contract will obligate:
| the holder to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, one or more purchase contract properties at a specified price or prices; or | |
| the holder or us to settle the purchase contract by reference to the value, performance or level of one or more purchase contract properties, on specified dates and at a specified price or prices. |
Some purchase contracts may include multiple obligations to purchase or sell different purchase contract properties, and both we and the holder may be sellers or buyers under the same purchase contract. Until a purchase contract is properly exercised, no holder of a purchase contract will have any rights of a holder of the purchase contract property purchasable under the contract.
An investment in purchase contracts may involve special risks, including risks associated with indexed securities and currency-related risks if the purchase contract or purchase contract property is linked to an index or is payable in or otherwise linked to a non-U.S. dollar currency. We describe some of these risks below under Risk Factors Indexed Securities and Risk Factors Non-U.S. Dollar Securities.
Your prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following information about your purchase contract:
| whether the purchase contract obligates the holder to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, one or more purchase contract properties and the nature and amount of each of those properties, or the method of determining those amounts; | |
| whether the purchase contract is to be prepaid or not and the governing document for the contract; | |
| whether the purchase contract is to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of, the purchase contract properties; | |
| any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contract; | |
| whether the purchase contract will be issued as part of a unit and, if so, the other securities comprising the unit and whether any unit securities will be subject to a security interest in our favor as described below; and | |
| whether the purchase contract will be issued in fully registered or bearer form and in global or non-global form. |
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If we issue a purchase contract as part of a unit, your prospectus supplement will state whether the contract will be separable from the other securities in the unit before the contract settlement date.
Market-Making Transactions |
One or more of our subsidiaries may purchase and resell purchase contracts after their initial issuance in market-making transactions. We describe these transactions below under Plan of Distribution Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries. We may also purchase, in our discretion, purchase contracts to be held, resold or canceled.
Form, Exchange and Transfer |
Unless we specify otherwise in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each purchase contract in global i.e., book-entry form only. Purchase contracts in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the purchase contracts represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a purchase contract will do so through participants in the depositarys system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry securities under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
In addition, we will issue each purchase contract in registered form, unless we say otherwise in your prospectus supplement.
If any purchase contracts are issued in non-global form, the following will apply to them:
| The purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered form. Holders may exchange their purchase contracts for contracts of smaller or larger number as long as the total number of contracts is not changed. | |
| Holders may exchange or transfer their purchase contracts at the office of the trustee, unit agent or other agent we name in the prospectus supplement. Holders may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated purchase contracts at that office. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves. | |
| Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their purchase contracts, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may also require an indemnity before replacing any purchase contracts. | |
| If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any purchase contracts before their maturity, and we exercise our right as to less than all those purchase contracts, we may block the transfer or exchange of those purchase contracts during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any purchase contract selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any purchase contract being partially settled. |
Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a purchase contract in global form, because it will be the sole holder of the purchase contract.
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Additional Terms of Non-Prepaid Purchase Contracts
In addition to the general terms described above, a non-prepaid purchase contract may include the following additional terms described below.
Pledge by Holders to Secure Performance |
If we specify in your prospectus supplement, the holders obligations under the purchase contract and governing document will be secured by collateral. In that case, the holder, acting through the unit agent as its attorney-in-fact, if applicable, will pledge the items described below to a collateral agent named in the prospectus supplement, which will hold them, for our benefit, as collateral to secure the holders obligations. We refer to this as the pledge and all the items described below as the pledged items. The pledge will create in our favor a security interest in the holders entire interest in and to:
| any other securities included in the unit, if the purchase contract is part of a unit, or any other property specified in the prospectus supplement; | |
| all additions to and substitutions for the pledged items; | |
| all income, proceeds and collections received in respect of the pledged items; and | |
| all powers and rights owned or acquired later with respect to the pledged items. |
The collateral agent will forward all payments from the pledged items to us, unless the payments have been released from the pledge in accordance with the purchase contract and the governing document. We will use the payments from the pledged items to satisfy the holders obligations under the purchase contract.
Settlement of Purchase Contracts that are Part of Units |
The following will apply to a non-prepaid purchase contract that is issued together with any of our debt securities as part of a unit. If the holder fails to satisfy its obligations under the purchase contract, the unit agent may apply the principal payments on the debt securities to satisfy those obligations as provided in the governing document. If the holder is permitted to settle its obligations by cash payment, the holder may be permitted to do so by delivering the debt securities in the unit to the unit agent as provided in the governing document.
BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT OWNERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO SETTLE THEIR PURCHASE CONTRACTS.
Failure of Holder to Perform Obligations under a Non-Prepaid Purchase Contract |
If the holder fails to settle its obligations under a non-prepaid purchase contract as required, the holder will not receive the purchase contract property or other consideration to be delivered at settlement. Holders that fail to make timely settlement may also be obligated to pay interest or other amounts.
Assumption of Obligations by Transferee |
When the holder of a non-prepaid purchase contract transfers the purchase contract to a new holder, the new holder will assume the obligations of the prior holder with respect to the purchase contract, and the prior holder will be released from those obligations. Under the non-prepaid purchase contract, we will consent to the transfer of the purchase contract, to the assumption of those obligations by the new holder and to the release of the prior holder, if the transfer is made in accordance with the provisions of the purchase contract.
Mergers and Similar Events |
Purchase contracts that are not prepaid will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another corporation or firm or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time we merge or consolidate with, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another corporation or firm, the successor corporation or firm will succeed to and assume our obligations, under these purchase contracts. We will then be relieved of
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No Events of Default |
Purchase contracts that are not prepaid will not provide for any specific events of default.
Payments and Notices
We will describe the plan we will use to make payments and give notices with respect to purchase contracts in a separate supplement to this prospectus.
Calculation Agent
Calculations relating to purchase contracts will be made by the calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. That institution may be a subsidiary of ours. The prospectus supplement for a particular purchase contract will name the institution that we have appointed to act as the calculation agent for that purchase contract as of its original issue date. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date of the purchase contract without your consent and without notifying you of the change.
The calculation agents determination of any amount of money payable of purchase contract property deliverable with respect to a purchase contract will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS WE MAY OFFER
References to AIG, us, we or our in this section mean American International Group, Inc., and do not include the subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own units registered in their own names, on the books that we or our agent maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in units registered in street name or in units issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to you in this section, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the units should read the section below entitled Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
General
We may issue units comprised of any combination of our debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, preferred stock and common stock. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the units that apply generally to all series. We will describe most of the financial and other specific terms of your series in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your unit as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your unit.
When we refer to a series of units, we mean all units issued as part of the same series under the applicable unit agreement. We will identify the series of which your units are a part in your prospectus supplement. When we refer to your prospectus supplement, we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the units you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
| the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; | |
| any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and | |
| any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under Description of Debt Securities We May Offer, Description of Warrants We May Offer, Description of Purchase Contracts We May Offer, Description of Preferred Stock We May Offer and Description of Common Stock We May Offer, will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.
Unit Agreements Will Not Be Qualified under Trust Indenture Act |
No unit agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no unit agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of units issued under unit agreements will not have the protections of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their units.
An investment in units may involve special risks, including risks associated with indexed securities and currency-related risks if the securities comprising the units are linked to an index or are payable in or
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Market-Making Transactions |
One or more of our subsidiaries may purchase and resell units after their initial issuance in market-making transactions. We discuss these transactions below under Plan of Distribution Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries.
Unit Agreements: Prepaid, Non-Prepaid and Other |
We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. We may add, replace or terminate unit agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own unit agent or may appoint one of our subsidiaries to do so. We will identify the unit agreement under which your units will be issued and the unit agent under that agreement in your prospectus supplement.
If a unit includes one or more purchase contracts and all those purchase contracts are prepaid purchase contracts, we will issue the unit under a prepaid unit agreement. Prepaid unit agreements will reflect the fact that the holders of the related units have no further obligations under the purchase contracts included in their units. If a unit includes one or more non-prepaid purchase contracts, we will issue the unit under a non-prepaid unit agreement. Non-prepaid unit agreements will reflect the fact that the holders have payment or other obligations under one or more of the purchase contracts comprising their units. We may also issue units under other kinds of unit agreements, which we will describe in your prospectus supplement. In some cases, we may issue units under one of our indentures.
A unit agreement may also serve as the governing document for a security included in a unit. For example, a non-prepaid purchase contract that is part of a unit may be issued under and governed by the relevant unit agreement.
In this prospectus, we refer to prepaid unit agreements, non-prepaid unit agreements and other unit agreements, generally, as unit agreements. The unit agreements and the units will be governed by New York law. The unit agreement under which we issue your units will be filed with the SEC, either as an exhibit to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K. See Where You Can Find More Information below for information on how to obtain a copy of a unit agreement when it is filed.
Principal Unit Agreement Terms
The following provisions will generally apply to all unit agreements unless otherwise stated in your prospectus supplement.
Enforcement of Rights |
The unit agent under a unit agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the units issued under that agreement. The unit agent will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of those units or of the securities comprising those units. The unit agent will not be obligated to take any action on behalf of those holders to enforce or protect their rights under the units or the included securities.
Except as described in the next paragraph, a holder of a unit may, without the consent of the unit agent or any other holder, enforce its rights as holder under any security included in the unit, in accordance with the terms of that security and the indenture, warrant agreement or purchase contract under which that security is issued. Those terms are described elsewhere in this prospectus under the sections relating to debt securities, warrants and purchase contracts.
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A unit agreement, however, may limit or otherwise affect the ability of a holder of units issued under that agreement to enforce its rights, including any right to bring a legal action, with respect to those units or any securities, other than debt securities, prepaid purchase contracts or warrants issued under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, that are included in those units. Limitations of this kind will be described in your prospectus supplement.
Form, Exchange and Transfer |
Unless otherwise stated in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each unit in global i.e., book-entry form only. Units in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the units represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a unit will do so through participants in the depositarys system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry securities below under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
In addition, we will issue each unit in registered form, unless we say otherwise in the prospectus supplement. Each unit and all securities comprising the unit will be issued in the same form. If we issue any units in registered, non-global form, the following will apply to them:
| The units will be issued in fully registered form. Holders may exchange their units for units of smaller or larger number, as long as the total number of units is not changed. | |
| Holders may exchange or transfer their units at the office of the unit agent. Holders may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated units at that office. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves. | |
| Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their units, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may also require an indemnity before replacing any units. | |
| If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any units before their maturity, and we exercise our right as to less than all those units or other securities, we may block the exchange or transfer of those units during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or to exchange any unit selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any unit being partially settled. We may also block the transfer or exchange of any unit in this manner if the unit includes securities that are or may be selected for early settlement. |
Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a unit in global form, because it will be the sole holder of the unit.
Modification and Waiver of the Units |
There are three types of changes we can make to the unit agreement and the units issued under that unit agreement:
Changes Requiring Approval of All Holders. First, we may not amend any particular unit or a unit agreement with respect to any particular unit unless we obtain the consent of the holder of that unit, if the amendment would:
| impair any right of the holder to exercise or enforce any right under a security included in the unit if the terms of that security require the consent of the holder to any changes that would impair the exercise or enforcement of that right; |
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| impair the right of the holder to purchase or sell, as the case may be, the purchase contract property under any non-prepaid purchase contract issued under the unit agreement, or to require delivery of or payment for that property when due; or | |
| reduce the percentage of outstanding units of any series or class the consent of whose holders is required to amend that series or class, or the applicable unit agreement with respect to that series or class, as described below. |
Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. Second, any other change to particular unit agreement and the units issued under that agreement would require the following approval:
| If the change affects only the units of a particular series, it must be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of that series. | |
| If the change affects the units of more than one series issued under that agreement, it must be approved by the holders of a majority of all outstanding units of all series affected by the change, with the units of all the affected series voting together as one class for this purpose. |
These provisions regarding changes with majority approval apply to changes affecting any securities issued under a unit agreement, as the governing document.
Changes Not Requiring Approval. Third, we and the applicable unit agent may amend any unit or unit agreement without the consent of any holder:
| to cure any ambiguity; | |
| to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or | |
| to make any other change that we believe is necessary or desirable and will not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the affected holders. |
We do not need any approval to make changes that affect only units to be issued after the changes take effect. We may also make changes that do not adversely affect in any material respect a particular unit, even if they adversely affect in any material respect other units. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected unit; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected units.
The foregoing applies also to any security issued under a unit agreement, as the governing document.
Additional Provisions of a Non-Prepaid Unit Agreement
In addition to the provisions described above, a non-prepaid unit agreement will include the provisions described below:
Obligations of Unit Holder |
Each holder of units issued under a non-prepaid unit agreement will:
| be bound by the terms of each non-prepaid purchase contract included in the holders units and by the terms of the unit agreement with respect to those contracts; and | |
| appoint the unit agent as its authorized agent to execute, deliver and perform on the holders behalf each non-prepaid purchase contract included in the holders units. |
The unit agreement for a unit that includes a non-prepaid purchase contract will also include provisions regarding the holders pledge of collateral and special settlement provisions. These are described above under Description of Purchase Contracts We May Offer Additional Terms of Non-Prepaid Purchase Contracts.
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Failure of Holder to Perform Obligations |
If the holder fails to settle its obligations under a non-prepaid purchase contract included in a unit as required, the holder will not receive the purchase contract property or other consideration to be delivered at settlement of the purchase contract. Holders that fail to make timely settlement may also be obligated to pay interest or other amounts.
Assumption of Obligations by Transferee |
When the holder of a unit issued under a non-prepaid unit agreement transfers the unit to a new holder, the new holder will assume the obligations of the prior holder with respect to each purchase contract included in the unit, and the prior holder will be released from those obligations. Under the non-prepaid unit agreement, we will consent to the transfer of the unit, to the assumption of those obligations by the new holder and to the release of the prior holder, if the transfer is made in accordance with the provisions of that agreement.
Mergers and Similar Events |
The non-prepaid unit agreements will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another corporation or firm or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time we merge or consolidate with, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another corporation or firm, the successor corporation or firm will succeed to and assume our obligations under the unit agreements. We will then be relieved of any further obligation under the units and the unit agreements. It is possible that this type of transaction may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of units will have no right to vote with respect to any transaction of this type.
No Events of Default |
The non-prepaid unit agreements will not provide for any specific events of default.
Payments and Notices
We will describe the plan we will use to make payments and give notices with respect to our units in a separate supplement to this prospectus.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK WE MAY OFFER
References to AIG, us, we or our in this section mean American International Group, Inc., and do not include the subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own shares of preferred stock or depositary shares, as the case may be, registered in their own names, on the books that the registrar or we maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in shares registered in street name or in shares issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to you in this section, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. Owners of beneficial interests in shares of preferred stock or depositary shares should read the section below entitled Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance.
General
We may issue preferred stock in one or more series. We may also reopen a previously issued series of preferred stock and issue additional preferred stock of that series. In addition, we may issue preferred stock together with other preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and common stock in the form of units as described above under Description of Units We May Offer. This section summarizes terms of the preferred stock that apply generally to all series. The description of most of the financial and other specific terms of your series will be in your prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the preferred stock and any related depositary shares. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your series of preferred stock and any related depositary shares as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your series of preferred stock or any related depositary shares.
Reference to a series of preferred stock means all of the shares of preferred stock issued as part of the same series under a certificate of designations filed as part of our restated certificate of incorporation. Reference to your prospectus supplement means the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the preferred stock and any related depositary shares you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
Our authorized capital stock includes 6,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $5.00 per share. The preferred stock will be governed by Delaware law. We do not have any preferred stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. The prospectus supplement with respect to any offered preferred stock will describe any preferred stock that may be outstanding as of the date of the prospectus supplement.
Preferred Stock Issued in Separate Series
The authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock are available for issuance from time to time at the discretion of our board of directors without shareholder approval. Our board of directors is authorized to divide the preferred stock into series and, with respect to each series, to determine the designations, the powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the series, including:
| dividend rights; | |
| conversion or exchange rights; | |
| voting rights; | |
| redemption rights and terms; | |
| liquidation preferences; | |
| sinking fund provisions; | |
| the serial designation of the series; and | |
| the number of shares constituting the series. |
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In addition, as described below under Fractional or Multiple Shares of Preferred Stock Issued as Depositary Shares, we may, at our option, instead of offering whole individual shares of any series of preferred stock, offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing a fraction of a share or some multiple of shares of the particular series of preferred stock issued and deposited with a depositary. The fraction of a share or multiple of shares of preferred stock which each depositary share represents will be stated in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock offered through depositary shares.
The rights of holders of preferred stock may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Our board of directors may cause shares of preferred stock to be issued in public or private transactions for any proper corporate purpose. Examples of proper corporate purposes include issuances to obtain additional financing for acquisitions and issuances to officers, directors and employees under their respective benefit plans. Our issuance of shares of preferred stock may have the effect of discouraging or making more difficult an acquisition.
Preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable when issued, which means that our holders will have paid their purchase price in full and that we may not ask them to surrender additional funds. Unless otherwise provided in your prospectus supplement, holders of preferred stock will not have preemptive or subscription rights to acquire more stock of AIG.
The transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for shares of each series of preferred stock will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.
Market-Making Transactions
One or more of our subsidiaries may purchase and resell preferred stock and depositary shares after their initial issuance in market-making transactions. We describe these transactions below under Plan of Distribution Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries. We may also purchase, in our discretion, preferred stock and depositary shares to be held, resold or canceled.
Form of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares
We may issue preferred stock in book-entry form. Preferred stock in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the shares of preferred stock represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in shares of preferred stock will do so through participants in the depositarys system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. However, beneficial owners of any preferred stock in book-entry form will have the right to obtain their shares in non-global form. We describe book-entry securities below under Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance. All preferred stock will be issued in registered form.
We will issue depositary shares in book-entry form, to the same extent as we describe above for preferred stock. All depositary shares will be issued in registered form.
Overview of Remainder of this Description
The remainder of this description summarizes:
| Preferred Stockholders Rights relative to common stockholders, such as the right of preferred stockholders to receive dividends and amounts on our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up before any such amounts may be paid to our common shareholders; | |
| Our ability to issue Fractional or Multiple Shares of Preferred Stock in the Form of Depositary Shares; and | |
| Various provisions of the Deposit Agreement, including how distributions are made, how holders vote their depositary shares and how we may amend the Deposit Agreement. |
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Preferred Stockholders Rights
Rank
Shares of each series of preferred stock will rank senior to our common stock with respect to dividends and distributions of assets. However, we will generally be able to pay dividends and distributions of assets to holders of our preferred stock only if we have satisfied our obligations on our indebtedness then due and payable.
Dividends
Holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors, from funds legally available for the payment of dividends. The rates and dates of payment of dividends for each series of preferred stock will be stated in your prospectus supplement. Dividends will be payable to holders of record of preferred stock as they appear on our books on the record dates fixed by our board of directors. Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as set forth in the prospectus supplement.
Redemption
If specified in your prospectus supplement, a series of preferred stock may be redeemable at any time, in whole or in part, at our option or the holders, and may be redeemed mandatorily.
Any restriction on the repurchase or redemption by us of our preferred stock while there is an arrearage in the payment of dividends will be described in your prospectus supplement.
Any partial redemptions of preferred stock will be made in a way that our board of directors decides is equitable.
Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue after the redemption date on shares of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of holders of these shares, including voting rights, will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
Our prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock that is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable will state the terms on which shares of that series are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock, another series of preferred stock or other securities or debt or equity securities of third parties.
Liquidation Preference
Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of AIG, holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive distributions upon liquidation in the amount described in your prospectus supplement, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. These distributions will be made before any distribution is made on our common stock. If the liquidation amounts payable relating to the preferred stock of any series and any other parity securities ranking on a parity regarding liquidation rights are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and the other parity securities will share in any distribution of our available assets on a ratable basis in proportion to the full liquidation preferences of each security. Holders of our preferred stock will not be entitled to any other amounts from us after they have received their full liquidation preference and accrued and unpaid dividends.
Voting Rights
The holders of preferred stock of each series will have no voting rights, except:
| as stated in the prospectus supplement and in the certificate of designations establishing the series; or | |
| as required by applicable law. |
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Fractional or Multiple Shares of Preferred Stock Issued as Depositary Shares
We may choose to offer fractional shares or some multiple of shares of our preferred stock, rather than whole individual shares. If we decide to do so, we will issue the preferred stock in the form of depositary shares. Each depositary share would represent a fraction or multiple of a share of the preferred stock and would be evidenced by a depositary receipt.
Deposit Agreement
We will deposit the shares of preferred stock to be represented by depositary shares under a deposit agreement. The parties to the deposit agreement will be:
| AIG; | |
| a bank or other financial institutional selected by us and named in the prospectus supplement, as preferred stock depositary; and | |
| the holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued under that deposit agreement. |
Each holder of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the underlying preferred stock, including, where applicable, dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights, in proportion to the applicable fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. The depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional or multiple shares of preferred stock. A depositary receipt may evidence any number of whole depositary shares.
We will file the deposit agreement, including the form of depositary receipt, with the SEC, either as an exhibit to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K. See Where You Can Find More Information below for information on how to obtain a copy of the form of deposit agreement.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The preferred stock depositary will distribute any cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the deposited preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the underlying preferred stock in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders. The preferred stock depositary will distribute any property received by it other than cash to the record holders of depositary shares entitled to those distributions, unless it determines that the distribution cannot be made proportionally among those holders or that it is not feasible to make a distribution. In that event, the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders of the depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares they own.
The amounts distributed to holders of depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the preferred stock depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.
Redemption of Preferred Stock
If we redeem preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the preferred stock depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds it receives from the redemption. The preferred stock depositary will redeem the depositary shares at a price per share equal to the applicable fraction or multiple of the redemption price per share of preferred stock. Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same date the number of depositary shares representing the redeemed shares of preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the preferred stock depositary will select the depositary shares to be redeemed by lot or ratably or by any other equitable method it chooses.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights of the holders of those shares will cease, including voting rights, except the
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Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption, any holder of depositary shares may receive the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the preferred stock depositary, paying any taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and complying with any other requirement of the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary shares making these withdrawals will be entitled to receive whole shares of preferred stock, but holders of whole shares of preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit that preferred stock under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts for that preferred stock after withdrawal. If the depositary shares surrendered by the holder in connection with withdrawal exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.
Voting Deposited Preferred Stock
When the preferred stock depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of any series of deposited preferred stock are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the applicable series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the preferred stock depositary to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by the holders depositary shares. To the extent possible, the preferred stock depositary will vote the amount of the series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the preferred stock depositary determines are necessary to enable the preferred stock depositary to vote as instructed. If the preferred stock depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any depositary shares representing a series of preferred stock, the preferred stock depositary will vote all shares of that series in proportion to the instructions received.
Conversion of Preferred Stock
If our prospectus supplement relating to the depositary shares says that the deposited preferred stock is convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock of another series or other securities, or debt or equity securities of one or more third parties, our depositary shares, as such, will not be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any securities. Rather, any holder of the depositary shares may surrender the related depositary receipts to the preferred stock depositary with written instructions to instruct us to cause conversion, exercise or exchange of our preferred stock represented by the depositary shares into or for whole shares of common stock, shares of another series of preferred stock or other securities or debt or equity securities of the relevant third party, as applicable. Upon receipt of those instructions and any amounts payable by the holder in connection with the conversion, exercise or exchange, we will cause the conversion, exercise or exchange using the same procedures as those provided for conversion, exercise or exchange of the deposited preferred stock. If only some of the depositary shares are to be converted, exercised or exchanged, a new depositary receipt or receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted, exercised or exchanged.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
We may amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time and from time to time by agreement with the preferred stock depositary.
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The deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:
| all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or converted or exchanged for any other securities into which they or the underlying preferred stock are convertible or exchangeable; or | |
| a final distribution in respect of our preferred stock has been made to the holders of depositary shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of AIG. |
We may terminate the deposit agreement at any time, and the preferred stock depositary will give notice of that termination to the recordholders of all outstanding depositary receipts not less than 30 days before the termination date. In that event, the preferred stock depositary will deliver or make available for delivery to holders of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock as are represented by those depositary shares.
Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary; Taxes and Other Governmental Charges
We will pay the fees, charges and expenses of our preferred stock depositary provided in the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts will pay any taxes and governmental charges and any charges provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by them, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts. If the preferred stock depositary incurs fees, charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable at the election of a holder of a depositary receipt or other person, that holder or other person will be liable for those fees, charges and expenses.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by giving us notice, and we may remove or replace the preferred stock depositary at any time.
Reports to Holders
We will deliver all required reports and communications to holders of the preferred stock to the preferred stock depositary, who will forward those reports and communications to the holders of depositary shares.
Limitation on Liability of the Preferred Stock Depositary
The preferred stock depositary will not be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond our control in performing our obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of its duties under the agreement, and the preferred stock depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares, depositary receipts or shares of preferred stock unless satisfactory and reasonable protection from expenses and liability is furnished. This is called an indemnity. The preferred stock depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, upon information provided by holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and upon documents believed to be genuine.
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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WE MAY OFFER
Our authorized capital stock includes 5,000,000,000 shares of common stock (par value $2.50 per share). As of March 31, 2006, there were 2,597,469,137 shares of common stock outstanding.
General
All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to the prior rights of the holders of shares of preferred stock that may be issued and outstanding, none of which are currently outstanding, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive:
| dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends (there are restrictions that apply under applicable insurance laws, however, to the payment of dividends to us by our insurance subsidiaries); and | |
| in the event of dissolution of AIG, to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and satisfaction of the liquidation preferences, if any, of then outstanding shares of preferred stock, as provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. |
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters presented to a vote at a shareholders meeting, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock have no cumulative voting rights or preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of common stock or other securities and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to the common stock. Additional authorized shares of common stock may be issued without shareholder approval.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law |
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law applies to us. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A business combination includes a merger, asset sale or a transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or, in certain cases, within the preceding three years, did own) 15% or more of the corporations outstanding voting stock. Under Section 203, a business combination between us and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:
| before the stockholder became an interested stockholder, our board of directors must have approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; | |
| on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and officers; or | |
| the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
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The table below sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low closing sales prices per share of common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange and the dividends per share of common stock declared by us during those periods.
Shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol AIG.
Common Stock | |||||||||||||
High | Low | Dividends | |||||||||||
2003:
|
|||||||||||||
First Quarter
|
63.50 | 44.47 | 0.047 | ||||||||||
Second Quarter
|
60.20 | 50.60 | 0.047 | ||||||||||
Third Quarter
|
64.70 | 55.54 | 0.065 | ||||||||||
Fourth Quarter
|
66.28 | 56.59 | 0.065 | ||||||||||
2004:
|
|||||||||||||
First Quarter
|
75.12 | 66.79 | 0.065 | ||||||||||
Second Quarter
|
76.77 | 69.39 | 0.065 | ||||||||||
Third Quarter
|
72.66 | 66.48 | 0.075 | ||||||||||
Fourth Quarter
|
68.72 | 54.70 | 0.075 | ||||||||||
2005:
|
|||||||||||||
First Quarter
|
73.12 | 55.41 | 0.125 | ||||||||||
Second Quarter
|
58.48 | 50.35 | 0.125 | ||||||||||
Third Quarter
|
62.67 | 58.61 | 0.150 | ||||||||||
Fourth Quarter
|
69.10 | 59.33 | 0.150 | ||||||||||
2006:
|
|||||||||||||
First Quarter
|
70.83 | 65.35 | 0.150 | ||||||||||
Second Quarter
|
66.71 | 58.54 | 0.165 | ||||||||||
Third Quarter (through July 18, 2006)
|
58.75 | 57.80 | |
As of January 31, 2006, there were approximately 56,000 holders of record of AIGs common stock.
Subject to the dividend preference of any of our preferred stock that may be outstanding, the holders of common stock will be entitled to receive dividends that may be declared by our board of directors from funds legally available for the payment of dividends. There are restrictions that apply under applicable insurance laws, however, to the payment of dividends to us by our insurance subsidiaries.
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RISK FACTORS
Indexed Securities
We use the term indexed securities to mean debt securities, warrants and purchase contracts whose value is linked to an underlying asset or index, as well as units that include a debt security, warrant or purchase contract of this kind.
An Investment in Indexed Securities Presents Significant Risks Not Associated with Other Types of Securities |
An investment in indexed securities presents certain significant risks not associated with other types of securities. If we issue indexed securities, we will describe certain risks associated with any such particular indexed security more fully in the applicable pricing supplement. Indexed securities may present a high level of risk, and you may lose your entire investment if you purchase these types of securities.
The treatment of indexed securities for United States federal income tax purposes is often unclear due to the absence of any authority specifically addressing the issues presented by any particular indexed security. Accordingly, you, or your tax adviser, should, in general, be capable of independently evaluating the federal income tax consequences of purchasing an indexed security applicable in your particular circumstances.
Investors in Indexed Securities Could Lose Principal or Interest |
The principal amount of an indexed security payable at maturity, the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, the cash value or physical settlement value of a physically settled debt security and the cash value or physical settlement value of an indexed warrant or purchase contract, will be determined by reference to one or more of the following:
| currencies, including baskets or indices of currencies; | |
| commodities, including baskets or indices of commodities; | |
| securities, including baskets or indices of securities; or | |
| any other index or financial measure, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstances. |
The direction and magnitude of the change in the value of the relevant index will determine either or both the principal amount of an indexed security payable at maturity, the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, the cash value or physical settlement value of a physically settled debt security and the cash value or physical settlement value of an indexed warrant or purchase contract. The terms of a particular indexed security may or may not include a guaranteed return of a percentage of the face amount at maturity or a minimum interest rate. An indexed warrant or purchase contract generally will not provide for any guaranteed minimum settlement value. Accordingly, if you invest in an indexed security, you may lose all or a portion of the amount invested in such indexed security and may receive no interest on the security.
Market Price of Indexed Securities Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors |
Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of indexed securities, including:
| the market price of the index stock or other property, which we call the reference property; | |
| the volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in price) of the reference property; | |
| the dividend rate on the reference property; | |
| economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect markets generally and which may affect the market price of the reference property; |
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| interest and yield rates in the market; and | |
| the time remaining until (a) you can exchange your indexed securities for the reference property, (b) we can call the indexed securities and (c) the indexed securities mature. |
These factors will influence the price that you will receive if you sell your indexed securities prior to maturity. For example, you may have to sell your indexed securities at a substantial discount from the issue price if the market price of the reference property is at, below or not sufficiently above the price of the reference property at pricing.
You cannot predict the future performance of an index or an indexed security based on its historical performance.
The Issuer of Reference Property Could Take Actions That May Adversely Affect an Indexed Security |
The issuer of a stock or other security that serves as the reference property or as part of the reference property for an indexed security will, unless otherwise provided in the pricing supplement, have no involvement in the offer and sale of the indexed security and no obligations to the holder of the indexed security. The issuer may take actions, such as a merger or sale of assets, without regard to the interests of the holders of our indexed securities. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of a security indexed to the reference property.
The issuer of the reference property is not involved in the offering of the indexed securities in any way and has no obligation to consider your interest as owner of these indexed securities in taking any corporate actions that might affect the value of your securities. None of the money you pay for an indexed security will go to a third-party issuer.
An Indexed Security May Be Linked to a Volatile Index, Which Could Hurt Your Investment |
Certain indices are highly volatile, which means that their value may change significantly, up or down, over a short period of time. The expected principal amount payable at maturity, the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, the cash value or physical settlement value of a physically settled debt security and the cash value or physical settlement value of an indexed warrant or purchase contract based on a volatile index may vary substantially from time to time. Because the amount payable on an indexed security is generally calculated based on the value of the relevant index on a specified date or over a limited period of time, volatility in the index increases the risk that the return on the indexed securities may be adversely affected by a fluctuation in the level of the relevant index.
The volatility of an index may be affected by political or economic events, including governmental actions, or by the activities of participants in the relevant markets. Any of these could adversely affect the value of an indexed security.
An Index to Which a Security is Linked Could Be Changed or Become Unavailable |
Certain indices reference several different currencies, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. The compiler of such an index typically reserves the right to alter the composition of the index and the manner in which the value of the index is calculated. Such an alteration may result in a decrease in the value of or return on an indexed security which is linked to such index.
An index may become unavailable due to such factors as war, natural disasters, cessation of publication of the index, or suspension of or disruption in trading in the currency or currencies, commodity or commodities, security or securities or other financial instrument or instruments comprising or underlying such index. If an index becomes unavailable, the determination of the amount payable on an indexed security may be delayed or an alternative method may be used to determine the value of the unavailable index. Alternative methods of valuation are generally intended to produce a value similar to the value resulting from reference to the relevant index. However, it is unlikely that such alternative methods of valuation will produce values identical to those
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Certain indexed securities are linked to indices which are not commonly utilized or have been recently developed. The lack of a trading history may make it difficult to anticipate the volatility or other risks to which such a security is subject. In addition, there may be less trading in such indices or instruments underlying such indices, which could increase the volatility of such indices and decrease the value of or return on indexed securities relating to them.
You Have No Rights With Respect to the Reference Property |
As an owner of indexed securities, you will not have voting rights or the right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to reference property.
We May Engage in Hedging Activities that Could Adversely Affect the Value of an Indexed Security |
In order to hedge an exposure on a particular indexed security, we may, directly or through our subsidiaries, enter into transactions involving the currencies, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments that underlie the index for that security, or derivative instruments, such as options, on those currencies, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Transactions of this kind could affect the value of the indexed security in a manner adverse to the investor.
You Have No Right to Any of Our Hedging Profits |
We may engage in activities to hedge our exposure under an indexed security. We may have profits or losses from these hedging activities. It is possible that we could achieve substantial profits from our hedging transactions while the value of the indexed security may decline. The holders of an indexed security will have no right to any such profit.
Information About Indices May Not Be Indicative of Future Performance |
If we issue an indexed security, we may include historical information about the relevant index in the applicable pricing supplement. Any information about indices that we may provide will be furnished as a matter of information only, and you should not regard the information as indicative of the range of, or trends in, fluctuations in the relevant index that may occur in the future.
We May Have Conflicts of Interest Regarding an Indexed Security |
One or more of our affiliates may have conflicts of interest with respect to some indexed securities. These affiliates may engage in trading, including trading for hedging purposes, for their proprietary accounts or for other accounts under their management, in indexed securities and in the currencies, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments on which the index is based or in other derivative instruments related to the index. These trading activities could adversely affect the value of indexed securities. We and our affiliates may also issue securities or derivative instruments that are linked to the same index as one or more indexed securities. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we could adversely affect the value of an indexed security.
To the extent that one of our affiliates calculates or compiles a particular index or serves as calculation agent with respect to an indexed security, it may have considerable discretion in performing the calculation or compilation. Exercising discretion in this manner could adversely affect the value of or the rate of return on an indexed security based on that index.
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Non-U.S. Dollar Securities
This prospectus and any attached prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement) do not describe all the risks of an investment in the securities denominated in other than U.S. dollars. You should consult your own financial and legal advisors about the risks of an investment in the securities denominated in a currency, including any composite currency, other than U.S. dollars. If you are unsophisticated with respect to foreign currency transactions, these securities are not an appropriate investment for you.
Information About Exchange Rates May Not Be Indicative of Future Performance |
With respect to any security denominated in other than U.S. dollars, the applicable pricing supplement may include a currency supplement on the applicable specified currency. A currency supplement may include historical exchange rates for the specified currency. Information concerning exchange rates is furnished as a matter of information only. You should not regard such information as indicative of the range of or trends in fluctuations in currency exchange rates that may occur in the future.
The information set forth in this prospectus is applicable to you only if you are a U.S. resident. We 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 on the securities. If you are not a U.S. resident, you should consult your own financial and legal advisors with regard to such matters.
An Investment in a Non-U.S. Dollar Security Involves Currency-Related Risks |
If you invest in securities that are denominated in other than U.S. dollars, your investment may be subject to significant risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in U.S. dollars. These risks include, for example, the possibility of significant changes in rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the various foreign currencies or composite currencies and the possibility of the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls by either the U.S. or foreign governments. These risks depend on events over which we have no control, such as economic and political events and the supply of and demand for the relevant currencies.
Changes in Currency Exchange Rates Can Be Volatile and Unpredictable |
In recent years, rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and many other currencies have been highly volatile, and this volatility may be expected to continue and perhaps spread to other currencies in the future. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could adversely affect an investment in a security with a specified currency other than U.S. dollars. Depreciation of the specified currency against the U.S. dollar could result in a decrease in the U.S. dollar-equivalent value of payments on the security, including the principal payable at maturity or the settlement value payable upon exercise. That in turn could cause the market value of the security to fall. Depreciation of the specified currency against the U.S. dollar could result in a loss to the investor on a U.S. dollar basis.
Government Policy Can Adversely Affect Currency Exchange Rates and an Investment in a Non-U.S. Dollar Security |
Currency exchange rates can either float or be fixed by sovereign governments. From time to time, governments use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by a countrys central bank or imposition of regulatory controls or taxes, to affect the exchange rate of their currencies. Governments may also issue a new currency to replace an existing currency or alter the exchange rate or exchange characteristics by devaluation or revaluation of a currency. Thus, a special risk in purchasing non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities is that
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Governments have imposed from time to time and may in the future impose exchange controls or other conditions with respect to the exchange or transfer of a specified currency that could affect exchange rates as well as the availability of a specified currency for a security at its maturity or on any other payment date. In addition, the ability of a holder to move currency freely out of the country in which payments are made, or to convert the currency at a freely determined market rate, could be limited by governmental actions.
Non-U.S. Dollar Securities Will Permit Us to Make Payments in Dollars if We Are Unable to Obtain the Specified Currency |
Securities payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars will provide that, if the other currency is not available to us at or about the time when a payment on the securities comes due because of circumstances beyond our control, we will be entitled to make the payment in U.S. dollars. These circumstances could include the imposition of exchange controls or our inability to obtain the currency because of a disruption in the currency markets. If we made payment in U.S. dollars, the exchange rate we would use would be based on the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of the other currency, as published in the H.10 daily update, as of whatever date the exchange rate was then most recently available from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The most recently available rate may be for a date substantially before the payment date. As a result, the amount of dollars an investor would receive on the payment date may not reflect currency market conditions at the time of payment.
Payments Due in Other Currencies May Be Made From an Overseas Bank |
Currently, there are limited facilities in the United States for conversion of U.S. dollars into foreign currencies, and vice versa. Accordingly, payments on securities made in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars are likely to be made from an account with a bank located in the country issuing the specified currency.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, securities denominated in other than U.S. dollars will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country issuing the specified currency in which particular securities are denominated.
We Will Not Adjust Non-U.S. Dollar Securities to Compensate for Changes in Currency Exchange Rates |
Except as described in your prospectus supplement, we will not make any adjustment or change in the terms of a security payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars in the event of any change in exchange rates for that currency, whether in the event of any devaluation, revaluation or imposition of exchange or other regulatory controls or taxes or in the event of other developments affecting that currency, the U.S. dollar or any other currency. Consequently, investors in non-U.S. dollar securities will bear the risk that their investment may be adversely affected by these types of events.
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In a Lawsuit for Payment on a Non-U.S. Dollar Security, an Investor May Bear Currency Exchange Risk |
The securities we are offering will be governed by New York law. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on a security denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars would be required to render the judgment in the specified currency; however, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on a security denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, investors would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a long time.
In courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain a judgment in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on a non-U.S. dollar security in many other U.S. federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the currency in which any particular security is denominated into U.S. dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment.
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LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
In this section, we describe special considerations that will apply to registered securities issued in global i.e., book-entry form. First we describe the difference between legal ownership and indirect ownership of registered securities. Then we describe special provisions that apply to global securities.
Who is the Legal Owner of a Registered Security?
Each debt security, warrant, purchase contract, unit, share of preferred or common stock in registered form will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing such securities. We refer to those who have securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee, warrant agent or other agent maintain for this purpose, as the holders of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names as indirect owners of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect owners are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect owners.
Book-Entry Owners |
Unless otherwise noted in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. This means securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositarys book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Under each indenture, warrant agreement, purchase contract, unit agreement or depositary agreement, only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities and we will make all payments on the securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositarys book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect owners, and not holders, of the securities.
Street Name Owners |
We may terminate an existing global security or issue securities initially in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in street name. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities and we will make all payments on those securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect owners, not holders, of those securities.
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Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee under any indenture and the obligations, if any, of any warrant agents and unit agents and any other third parties employed by us or any of those agents, run only to the holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect owner of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose for example, to amend the indenture for a series of debt securities or warrants or the warrant agreement for a series of warrants or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect owners, of the relevant securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect owners is up to the holders.
When we refer to you in this prospectus, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. When we refer to your securities in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.
Special Considerations for Indirect Owners
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
| how it handles securities payments and notices; | |
| whether it imposes fees or charges; | |
| whether and how you can instruct it to exercise any rights or purchase or sell warrant property under a warrant or purchase contract property under a purchase contract or to exchange or convert a security for or into other property; | |
| how it would handle a request for the holders consent, if ever required; | |
| how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and | |
| if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositarys rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
What is a Global Security?
Unless otherwise noted in the applicable pricing supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of one or more financial institutions or clearing systems, or their nominees, which we select. A financial institution or clearing system that we select for any security for this purpose is called the depositary for that security. A security will usually have only one depositary but it may have more. Each series of securities will have one or more of the following as the depositaries:
| The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which is known as DTC; | |
| Euroclear System, which is known as Euroclear; | |
| Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, Luxembourg, which is known as Clearstream; and | |
| any other clearing system or financial institution named in the prospectus supplement. |
The depositaries named above may also be participants in one anothers systems. Thus, for example, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, investors may hold beneficial interests in that security through
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A global security may represent one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple securities of the same kind, such as debt securities, that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under Holders Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only indirect interests in a global security. Indirect interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect owner of an interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under Holders Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
As an indirect owner, an investors rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the depositary and those of the investors bank, broker, financial institution or other intermediary through which it holds its interest (e.g., Euroclear or Clearstream, if DTC is the depositary), as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor or any intermediary as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
| An investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her own name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; | |
| An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank, broker or other financial institution for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above under Who is the Legal Owner of a Registered Security?; | |
| An investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; | |
| An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; | |
| The depositarys policies will govern payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to an investors interest in a global security, and those policies may change from time to time. We, the trustee and any warrant agents and unit agents will have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositarys policies, actions or records of ownership interests in a global security. We, the trustee and any warrant agents and unit agents also do not supervise the depositary in any way; |
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| The depositary may require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds and your bank, broker or other financial institution may require you to do so as well; and | |
| Financial institutions that participate in the depositarys book-entry system and through which an investor holds its interest in the global securities, directly or indirectly, may also have their own policies affecting payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities, and those policies may change from time to time. For example, if you hold an interest in a global security through Euroclear or Clearstream, when DTC is the depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, may require those who purchase and sell interests in that security through them to use immediately available funds and comply with other policies and procedures, including deadlines for giving instructions as to transactions that are to be effected on a particular day. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the policies or actions or records of ownership interests of any of those intermediaries. |
Holders Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated |
If we issue any series of securities in book-entry form but we choose to give the beneficial owners of that series the right to obtain non-global securities, any beneficial owner entitled to obtain non-global securities may do so by following the applicable procedures of the depositary, any transfer agent or registrar for that series and that owners bank, broker or other financial institution through which that owner holds its beneficial interest in the securities. If you are entitled to request a non-global certificate and wish to do so, you will need to allow sufficient lead time to enable us or our agent to prepare the requested certificate.
In addition, in a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions, to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under Who is the Legal Owner of a Registered Security?
The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:
| if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 60 days; | |
| if we notify the trustee, warrant agent or unit agent, as applicable, that we wish to terminate that global security; or | |
| in the case of a global security representing debt securities or warrants issued under an indenture, if an event of default has occurred with regard to these debt securities or warrants and has not been cured or waived. |
If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we, the trustee for any debt securities, the warrant agent for any warrants or the unit agent for any units, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those securities.
Considerations Relating to DTC
DTC has informed us that it 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
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Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through DTC participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTCs records. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTCs nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of the securities. If less than all of the securities are being redeemed, DTC will determine the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed in accordance with its then current procedures.
In instances in which a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy to the relevant trustee 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 such securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Distribution payments on the securities will be made by the relevant trustee to DTC. DTCs usual practice is to credit direct participants accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTCs records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participants and not of DTC, the relevant trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the relevant trustee, and disbursements of such payments to the beneficial owners are the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. We do not have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
Considerations Relating to Euroclear and Clearstream
Euroclear and Clearstream are securities clearance systems in Europe. Both systems clear and settle securities transactions between their participants through electronic, book-entry delivery of securities against payment.
Euroclear and Clearstream may be depositaries for a global security. In addition, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global security as participants in DTC.
As long as any global security is held by Euroclear or Clearstream, as depositary, you may hold an interest in the global security only through an organization that participates, directly or indirectly, in Euroclear or Clearstream. If Euroclear or Clearstream is the depositary for a global security and there is no depositary in the United States, you will not be able to hold interests in that global security through any securities clearance system in the United States.
Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities made through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Those systems
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Special Timing Considerations Relating to Transactions in Euroclear and Clearstream |
Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other financial institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchases or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems, and those transactions may settle later than would be the case for transactions within one clearing system.
CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES ISSUED IN BEARER FORM
If we issue securities in bearer, rather than registered, form, those securities will be subject to special provisions described in this section. This section primarily describes provisions relating to debt securities issued in bearer form. Other provisions may apply to securities of other kinds issued in bearer form. To the extent the provisions described in this section are inconsistent with those described elsewhere in this prospectus, they supersede those described elsewhere with regard to any bearer securities. Otherwise, the relevant provisions described elsewhere in this prospectus will apply to bearer securities.
General
Temporary and Permanent Bearer Global Securities |
If we issue securities in bearer form, and unless otherwise noted in the applicable pricing supplement, all securities of the same series and kind will initially be represented by a temporary bearer global security, which we will deposit with a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream. Euroclear and Clearstream will credit the account of each of their subscribers with the amount of securities the subscriber purchases. We will promise to exchange the temporary bearer global security for a permanent bearer global security, which we will deliver to the common depositary upon the later of the following two dates:
| the date that is 40 days after the later of (a) the completion of the distribution of the securities as determined by the underwriter, dealer or agent and (b) the closing date for the sale of the securities by us; we may extend this date as described below under Extensions for Further Issuances; and | |
| the date on which Euroclear and Clearstream provide us or our agent with the necessary tax certificates described below under U.S. Tax Certificate Required. |
Unless we say otherwise in your prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a permanent bearer global security will be able to exchange those interests at their option, in whole but not in part, for:
| non-global securities in bearer form with interest coupons attached, if applicable; or | |
| non-global securities in registered form without coupons attached. |
A beneficial owner will be able to make this exchange by giving us or our designated agent 60 days prior written notice in accordance with the terms of the securities.
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Extensions for Further Issuances |
Without the consent of the trustee, any holders or any other person, we may issue additional securities identical to a prior issue from time to time. If we issue additional securities before the date on which we would otherwise be required to exchange the temporary bearer global security representing the prior issue for a permanent bearer global security as described above, that date will be extended until the 40th day after the completion of the distribution and the closing, whichever is later, for the additional securities. Extensions of this kind may be repeated if we sell additional identical securities. As a result of these extensions, beneficial interests in the temporary bearer global security may not be exchanged for interests in a permanent bearer global security until the 40th day after the additional securities have been distributed and sold.
U.S. Tax Certificate Required |
We will not pay or deliver interest or other amounts in respect of any portion of a temporary bearer global security unless and until Euroclear or Clearstream delivers to us or our agent a tax certificate with regard to the owners of the beneficial interests in that portion of the global security or a security in any other form. Also, we will not exchange any portion of a temporary bearer global security for a permanent bearer global security unless and until we receive from Euroclear or Clearstream a tax certificate with regard to the owners of the beneficial interests in the portion to be exchanged. In each case, this tax certificate must state that each of the relevant owners:
| is not a United States person, as defined below under Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Debt Securities; | |
| is a foreign branch of a United States financial institution purchasing for its own account or for resale, or is a United States person who acquired the security through a financial institution of this kind and who holds the security through that financial institution on the date of certification, provided in either case that the financial institution provides a certificate to us or the distributor selling the security to it stating that it agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the U.S. Treasury Regulations under that Section; or | |
| is a financial institution holding for purposes of resale during the restricted period, as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7). A financial institution of this kind, whether or not it is also described in either of the two preceding bullet points, must certify that it has not acquired the security for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions. |
The tax certificate must be signed by an authorized person satisfactory to us.
No one who owns an interest in a temporary bearer global security will receive payment or delivery of any amount or property in respect of its interest, and will not be permitted to exchange its interest for an interest in a permanent bearer global security or a security in any other form, unless we or our agent have received the required tax certificate on its behalf.
Special requirements and restrictions imposed by United States federal tax laws and regulations will apply to bearer debt securities. We describe these below under Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Debt Securities.
Legal Ownership of Bearer Securities
Securities in bearer form are not registered in any name. Whoever is the bearer of the certificate representing a security in bearer form is the legal owner of that security. Legal title and ownership of bearer securities will pass by delivery of the certificates representing the securities. Thus, when we use the term holder in this prospectus with regard to bearer securities, we mean the bearer of those securities.
The common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream will be the bearer, and thus the holder and legal owner, of both the temporary and permanent bearer global securities described above. Investors in those
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As long as the common depositary is the bearer of any bearer security in global form, the common depositary will be considered the sole legal owner and holder of the securities represented by the bearer security in global form. Ownership of beneficial interests in any bearer security in global form will be shown on records maintained by Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, or by the common depositary on their behalf, and by the direct and indirect participants in their systems, and ownership interests can be held and transferred only through those records. We will pay any amounts owing with respect to a bearer global security only to the common depositary.
Neither we, the trustee nor any of our agents will recognize any owner of indirect interests as a holder or legal owner. Nor will we, the trustee or any of our agents have any responsibility for the ownership records or practices of Euroclear or Clearstream, the common depositary or any direct or indirect participants in those systems or for any payments, transfers, deliveries, notices or other transactions within those systems, all of which will be subject to the rules and procedures of those systems and participants. If you own an indirect interest in a bearer global security, you must look only to the common depositary for Euroclear or Clearstream, and to their direct and indirect participants through which you hold your interest, for your ownership rights. You should read the section above entitled Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance for more information about holding interests through Euroclear and Clearstream.
Payment and Exchange of Non-Global Bearer Securities
Payments and deliveries owing on non-global bearer securities will be made, in the case of interest payments, only to the holder of the relevant coupon after the coupon is surrendered to the paying agent. In all other cases, payments and deliveries will be made only to the holder of the certificate representing the relevant security after the certificate is surrendered to the paying agent.
Non-global bearer securities, with all unmatured coupons relating to the securities, if any, may be exchanged for a like aggregate amount of registered securities of like kind. Non-global registered securities may be exchanged for a like aggregate amount of non-global registered securities of like kind, as described above in the sections on the different types of securities we may offer. However, we will not issue bearer securities in exchange for any registered securities.
Replacement certificates and coupons for non-global bearer securities will not be issued in lieu of any lost, stolen or destroyed certificates and coupons unless we and our transfer agent receive evidence of the loss, theft or destruction, and an indemnity against liabilities, satisfactory to us and our agent. Upon redemption or any other settlement before the stated maturity or expiration, as well as upon any exchange, of a non-global bearer security, the holder will be required to surrender all unmatured coupons to us or our designated agent. If any unmatured coupons are not surrendered, we or our agent may deduct the amount of interest relating to those coupons from the amount otherwise payable or deliverable or we or our agent may demand an indemnity against liabilities satisfactory to us and our agent.
We may make payments, deliveries and exchanges in respect of bearer securities in global form in any manner acceptable to us and the depositary.
Notices
If we are required to give notice to the holders of bearer securities, we will do so in the manner prescribed by any securities exchange on which the bearer securities are listed or, if the bearer securities are not listed on a securities exchange, we will give notice in the manner prescribed by the bearer securities. If the bearer securities do not prescribe the manner for giving notice, then we will determine, in our sole judgment, the manner in which we shall give notice.
We may give any required notice with regard to bearer securities in global form to the common depositary for the securities, in accordance with its applicable procedures.
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Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Debt Securities
In compliance with United States federal income tax laws and regulations, bearer debt securities, including bearer debt securities in global form, will not be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or its possessions or to United States persons, as defined below, except as otherwise permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D). Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offerings of bearer debt securities, directly or indirectly, must agree that they will not, in connection with the original issuance of any bearer debt securities or during the restricted period applicable under the Treasury Regulations cited earlier, offer, sell, resell or deliver, directly or indirectly, any bearer debt securities in the United States or its possessions or to United States persons, other than as permitted by the applicable Treasury Regulations described above.
In addition, any underwriters, dealers or agents must have procedures reasonably designed to ensure that their employees or agents who are directly engaged in selling bearer debt securities are aware of the above restrictions on the offering, sale, resale or delivery of bearer debt securities.
We will make payments on bearer debt securities only outside the United States and its possessions except as permitted by the applicable Treasury Regulations described above.
Bearer debt securities and any coupons will bear the following legend:
Any United States person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax laws, including the limitations provided in sections 165(j) and 1,287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
The sections referred to in this legend provide that, with certain limited exceptions, a United States person will not be permitted to deduct any loss, and will not be eligible for capital gain treatment with respect to any gain, realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of that bearer debt security or coupon.
As used in this subsection, the term bearer debt securities includes bearer debt securities that are part of units. As used in this section entitled Considerations Relating to Securities Issued in Bearer Form, United States person means a person that is, for U.S. federal income tax law purposes:
| a citizen or resident of the United States; | |
| a corporation or partnership, including an entity treated as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; | |
| an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or | |
| a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision of the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. |
United States means the United States of America, including the States and the District of Columbia, and possessions of the United States include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.
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ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
A fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan (a plan) subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the plans particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in securities offered hereunder. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan.
ERISA and the Code prohibit plans, as well as individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans (also plans), from engaging in certain transactions involving plan assets with persons who are parties in interest under ERISA or disqualified persons under the Code (together, parties in interest) with respect to the plan. A violation of these prohibited transaction rules may result in civil penalties or other liabilities under ERISA and/or an excise tax under the Code for those persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption. Certain employee benefit plans and arrangements including governmental plans, certain church plans and foreign plans (non-ERISA arrangements) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or the Code but may be subject to similar provisions under applicable federal, state, local, foreign or other laws (similar laws).
AIG and certain of its affiliates may each be considered a party in interest with respect to many plans. The acquisition of the debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, and certain units that we may offer by a plan with respect to which we or an affiliate is or becomes a party in interest may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code, unless those securities are acquired pursuant to an applicable exemption, such as the prohibited transaction class exemptions issued by the U.S. Department of Labor for transactions effected by a qualified professional asset manager or an in-house asset manager. Additional special considerations may arise in connection with the purchase of capital securities by or with the assets of a plan.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is important that fiduciaries or other persons considering the purchase of securities offered hereunder on behalf of or with plan assets of any plan or non-ERISA arrangement consult with their counsel regarding the availability of an exemption, or the potential consequences of any purchase or holding under similar laws, as applicable. If you are an insurance company or the fiduciary of a pension plan or an employee benefit plan, and propose to invest in securities offered hereunder, you should consult your legal counsel.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Initial Offering and Sale of Securities
We may sell securities:
| to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters; | |
| through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public; | |
| through dealers or agents; and | |
| to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions. |
Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of any series of the securities will be named in the prospectus supplement. One or more of our subsidiaries may act as an underwriter or agent.
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The prospectus supplement for each series of securities will describe:
| the terms of the offering of these securities, including the name of the agent or the name or names of any underwriters; | |
| the public offering or purchase price; | |
| any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters and all other items constituting underwriting compensation; | |
| any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and | |
| other specific terms of the particular offering or sale. |
Only the agents or underwriters named in a prospectus supplement are agents or underwriters in connection with the securities being offered by that prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, agents and dealers may be entitled, under agreements with us, to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
Underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale are obliged to purchase all of those particular securities if any are purchased. This obligation is subject to certain conditions and may be modified in the prospectus supplement.
Any subsidiary of ours, such as AIG Financial Securities Corp., that participates in a particular offering of securities will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 2720 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. In compliance with guidelines of the NASD, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any NASD member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate principal amount of securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We anticipate, however, that the maximum commission or discount to be received in any particular offering of securities will be significantly less than this amount.
Underwriters, dealers or agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries
This prospectus may be used by our subsidiaries in connection with offers and sales of the securities in market-making transactions. In market-making transactions, our subsidiaries may resell securities they acquire from other holders, after the original offering and sale of the securities. Resales of this kind may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated, at prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. In these transactions, our subsidiaries may act as principal or agent. Our subsidiaries may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions from both the purchaser and seller. Our subsidiaries may also engage in transactions of this kind and may use this prospectus for this purpose.
The aggregate initial offering price specified on the cover of this prospectus relates to the initial offering of the securities not yet issued as of the date of this prospectus. This amount does not include the securities to be sold in market-making transactions. The latter includes securities to be issued after the date of this prospectus, as well as securities previously issued.
We do not expect to receive any proceeds from market-making transactions. We do not expect that any of our subsidiaries that engage in these transactions will pay any proceeds from market-making resales to us.
Information about the trade and settlement dates, as well as the purchase price, for a market-making transaction will be provided to the purchaser in a separate confirmation of sale.
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Unless we or an agent informs you in your confirmation of sale that your security is being purchased in its original offering and sale, you may assume that you are purchasing your security in a market-making transaction.
Matters Relating to Initial Offering and Market-Making Resales
Each series of securities will be a new issue, and there will be no established trading market for any security prior to its original issue date. We may not list a particular series of securities on a securities exchange or quotation system. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering may make a market in those securities. However, no such underwriter that makes a market is obligated to do so, and any of them may stop doing so at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity or trading market for any of the securities.
Unless otherwise indicated in your prospectus supplement or confirmation of sale, the purchase price of the securities will be required to be paid in immediately available funds in New York City.
In this prospectus, the term this offering means the initial offering of the securities made in connection with their original issuance. This term does not refer to any subsequent resales of securities in market-making transactions.
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
Unless we state otherwise in any prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York or by Kathleen E. Shannon, Esq., Senior Vice President, Secretary and Deputy General Counsel of AIG and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in your prospectus supplement. Partners of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP involved in the representation of AIG beneficially own approximately 11,360 shares of AIG common stock. Ms. Shannon is regularly employed by AIG, participates in various AIG employee benefit plans under which she may receive shares of AIG common stock and currently beneficially owns less than 1% of the outstanding shares of AIG common stock.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, the financial statement schedules and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
AIG is required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at:
SEC Public Reference Room | |
100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580 | |
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. AIGs filings are also available to the public through:
| The SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov | |
| The New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 |
AIGs common stock is listed on the NYSE and trades under the symbol AIG.
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AIG has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities. This prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document, please be aware that the reference is not necessarily complete and that you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. as well as through the SECs internet site noted above.
The SEC allows AIG to incorporate by reference the information AIG files with the SEC, which means that AIG can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents, and later information that AIG files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information as well as the information included in this prospectus. AIG incorporates by reference the documents below, any filings that we make after the date of the initial filing of this registration statement (or post-effective amendment) and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement (or post-effective amendment) and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until all the securities are sold. This prospectus is part of a registration statement AIG filed with the SEC.
(1) | Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. | |
(2) | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. | |
(3) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006. | |
(4) | Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q/A for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2005 and March 31, 2005. | |
(5) | Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on May 22, 2006, February 13, 2006, February 9, 2006, January 19, 2006, January 13, 2006 and January 9, 2006. | |
(6) | Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed on June 19, 2006. | |
(7) | Proxy Statement, dated April 5, 2006. | |
(8) |
The description of common stock in the
registration statement on Form 8-A, dated
September 20, 1984, filed pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
AIG will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents referred to above that have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You can request those documents from AIGs Director of Investor Relations, 70 Pine Street, New York, New York 10270, telephone 212-770-6293, or you may obtain them from AIGs corporate website at www.aigcorporate.com. Except for the documents specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, information contained on AIGs website or that can be accessed through its website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. AIG has included its website address only as an inactive textual reference and does not intend it to be an active link to its website.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING PROJECTIONS AND
This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference, as well as other publicly available documents, may include, and AIGs officers and representatives may from time to time make, projections concerning financial information and statements concerning future economic performance and events, plans and objectives relating to management, operations, products and services, and assumptions underlying these projections and statements. These projections and statements are not historical facts but instead represent only AIGs belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside AIGs control. These projections and statements may address, among other things, the status and potential future outcome of the current regulatory and civil proceedings against AIG and their potential effect on AIGs businesses, financial position, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity, the effect of the credit rating downgrades on AIGs businesses and competitive position, the unwinding and resolving of various relationships between AIG and C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. and Starr International Company, Inc. and AIGs strategy for growth, product development, market position, financial results and reserves. It is possible that AIGs actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these projections and statements. Factors that could cause AIGs actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those in the specific projections and statements are discussed throughout Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7, Part II, of AIGs Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and Risk Factors in Item 1A, Part I of AIGs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and in AIGs Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006. AIG is not under any obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligations) to update or alter any projection or other statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities it describes, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
$25,139,770,000
American International Group, Inc.