424B2 1 424(B)(2) PROSPECTUS FOR CORNING INCORPORATED PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 19, 1995 $500,000,000 Corning Incorporated Series A Medium-Term Notes Due from 9 Months to 30 Years from Date of Issue The Company may offer from time to time its Medium-Term Notes, due from 9 months to 30 years from the date of issue (the "Notes"), as selected by the purchaser and agreed to by the Company, at an aggregate initial public offering price not to exceed U.S. $500,000,000 or its equivalent in another currency or composite currency. The Notes may be denominated in U.S. dollars or in such foreign currencies or composite currencies as may be designated by the Company at the time of offering. The Notes may also be issued with the principal amount thereof payable at Maturity, or the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, to be determined by reference to an index (e.g., currencies, composite currencies, commodities or financial or non-financial indices) ("Indexed Notes"), as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The specific currency, composite currency or any index, interest rate (if any), issue price and maturity date of any Note will be set forth in a Pricing Supplement to this Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars or ECUs will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country issuing the Specified Currency. See "Description of Notes". Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes, except Zero Coupon Notes, will bear interest at a fixed rate or rates (a "Fixed Rate Note") or at a floating rate (a "Floating Rate Note") determined by reference to the Commercial Paper Rate, the Prime Rate, LIBOR, the Treasury Rate, the CD Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or such other interest rate formula as set forth in the Pricing Supplement, as adjusted by the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any, applicable to such Notes. Interest rates and interest rate formulas are subject to change by the Company, but no such change will affect any Notes already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on the Fixed Rate Notes will be payable on each June 1 and December 1 and at Maturity. Interest on the Floating Rate Notes will be payable on the dates specified therein and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Zero Coupon Notes will not bear interest. Unless a Redemption Commencement Date or a Repayment Date is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will not be redeemable or repayable prior to their Stated Maturity. If a Redemption Commencement Date or a Repayment Date is so specified, the Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, or repayable at the option of the Holder, or both (as specified therein), at any time after such date (or for a limited period) as described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Notes offered hereby will be issued in global or definitive form in a minimum denomination of U.S. $100,000 or the approximate equivalent thereof in the Specified Currency, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. A global Note representing Book-Entry Notes will be registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, which will act as Depositary. Interests in Book-Entry Notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants' interests) and its participants. Except as described herein under "Description of Notes -- Book-Entry System", owners of beneficial interests in a global Note will not be considered the Holders thereof and will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in definitive form, and no global Note will be exchangeable except for another global Note of like denomination and terms to be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. See "Description of Notes". THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, ANY PRICING SUPPLEMENT HERETO OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. Price to Agents' Proceeds to Public (1) Commission (2) Company (2) (3) Per Note 100% .125%-.750% 99.250%-99.875% Total (4) $500,000,000 $625,000-$3,750,000 $496,250,000-$499,375,000 (1) Notes will be issued at 100% of their principal amount, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. (2) The Company will pay the Agents a commission of from .125% to .750%, depending on maturity, of the principal amount of any Notes sold through them as Agents. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any Note sold to an Agent as principal will be purchased by such Agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage equal to the commission applicable to an agency sale of a Note of identical maturity, and may be resold by such Agent. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. (3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $450,000 payable by the Company, including $110,000 of estimated expenses of the Agents to be reimbursed by the Company. (4) Or the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies or currency units. Offers to purchase Notes are being solicited, on a reasonable efforts basis, from time to time by the Agents on behalf of the Company. Notes may be sold to the Agents on their own behalf at negotiated discounts. The Company reserves the right to sell Notes directly on its own behalf. The Company also reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering contemplated hereby without notice. No termination date for the offering of the Notes has been established. The Company or the Agents may reject any order as a whole or in part. See "Supplemental Plan of Distribution". Goldman, Sachs & Co. Lazard Freres & Co. Citicorp Securities, Inc. The date of this Prospectus Supplement is March 23, 1995. IN CONNECTION WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE NOTES, THE AGENTS MAY EFFECT TRANSACTIONS IN THE NOTES WITH A VIEW TO STABILIZING OR MAINTAINING THE MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES AT LEVELS OTHER THAN THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED IN ANY OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE AND, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME. DESCRIPTION OF NOTES General The following description of the particular terms of the Notes offered hereby supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of Debt Securities set forth in the accompanying Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made. The Notes constitute a single series for purposes of the Indenture and are limited in amount as set forth on the cover page hereof. The foregoing limit, however, may be increased by the Company if in the future it determines that it may wish to sell additional Notes. The aggregate offering price of Notes that may be issued and sold may be reduced as a result of the sale by the Company of any other series of Debt Securities. For a description of the rights attaching to different series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, see "Description of Debt Securities" in the Prospectus. Unless previously redeemed, a Note will mature on the date ("Stated Maturity") from 9 months to 30 years from its date of issue that is specified on the face thereof and in the applicable Pricing Supplement or, if such Note is a Floating Rate Note and such specified date is not a Market Day with respect to such Note, the next succeeding Market Day (or, in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such next succeeding Market Day falls in the next calendar month, the next preceding Market Day). As used herein, the term "Market Day" means (a) with respect to any Note (other than any LIBOR Note), any Business Day, and (b) with respect to any LIBOR Note, any such Business Day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market. The term "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is (i) not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York generally are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, and (ii) if the Note is denominated in a Specified Currency (as defined below) other than U.S. dollars, not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close in the financial center of the country issuing the Specified Currency (which in the case of European Currency Units ("ECUs") shall be Luxembourg, in which case "Business Day" shall not include any day that is a non-ECU clearing day as determined by the ECU Banking Association in Paris). Each Note will be denominated in a currency or composite currency ("Specified Currency") as specified on the face thereof and in the applicable Pricing Supplement, which may include U.S. dollars, Australian dollars, New Zealand dollars, Canadian dollars, Danish kroner, Italian lire, ECUs or any other currency set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Purchasers of the Notes are required to pay for them by delivery of the requisite amount of the Specified Currency to an Agent, unless other arrangements have been made. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payments on the Notes will be made in the applicable Specified Currency; provided that, at the election of the Holder thereof and in certain circumstances at the option of the Company, payments on Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars may be made in U.S. dollars. See "Payment of Principal and Interest". Each Note will be represented by either a global security (a "Global Security") registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary (each such Note represented by a Global Security being herein referred to as a "Book-Entry Note") or a certificate issued in definitive registered form, without coupons (a "Certificated Note"), as set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Except as set forth under "Book- Entry System" below, Book-Entry Notes will not be issuable in certificated form. So long as the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, is the registered owner of any Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Book-Entry Note or Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture and the Book-Entry Notes. See "Book-Entry System" below. The authorized denominations of any Note denominated in U.S. dollars will be $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The authorized denominations of any Note denominated in other than U.S. dollars will be the amount of the Specified Currency for such Note equivalent, at the noon buying S-2 rate for cable transfers in The City of New York for such Specified Currency (the "Exchange Rate") on the first Business Day next preceding the date on which the Company accepts the offer to purchase such Note to U.S. $100,000 (rounded down to an integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency) and any greater amount that is an integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency. Notes will be sold in individual issues of Notes having such interest rate or interest rate formula, if any, Stated Maturity and date of original issuance as shall be selected by the initial purchasers and agreed to by the Company. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each Note, except any Zero Coupon Note (as defined below), will bear interest at either (i) a fixed rate (a "Fixed Rate Note"), which may be zero in the case of Notes issued at a discount from the principal amount payable at Maturity thereof (a "Zero Coupon Note"), or (ii) a floating rate (a "Floating Rate Note") determined by reference to the interest rate formula which may be adjusted by adding or subtracting the Spread or multiplying by the Spread Multiplier (each term as defined in "Floating Rate Notes" below). The Notes may be issued as Original Issue Discount Notes. An Original Issue Discount Note is a Note, including any Zero Coupon Note, which is issued at a price lower than the principal amount thereof and which provides that upon redemption or acceleration of the maturity thereof an amount less than the principal thereof shall become due and payable. In the event of redemption or acceleration of the maturity of an Original Issue Discount Note, the amount payable to the Holder of such Note upon such redemption or acceleration will be determined in accordance with the terms of the Note, but will be an amount less than the amount payable at the Stated Maturity of such Note. In addition, a Note issued at a discount may, for United States federal income tax purposes, be considered an original issue discount note, regardless of the amount payable upon redemption or acceleration of maturity of such Note. See "United States Taxation -- United States Holders -- Original Issue Discount" below. Indexed Notes may be issued with the principal amount payable at Maturity, or the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, to be determined by reference to a currency exchange rate, composite currency, commodity price or other financial or non-financial index as set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Holders of Indexed Notes may receive a principal amount at Maturity that is greater than or less than the face amount of such Notes depending upon the value at Maturity of the applicable index. Information as to the methods for determining the principal amount payable at Maturity or the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, as the case may be, any currency or commodity market to which principal or interest is indexed, foreign exchange risks and certain additional tax considerations with respect to Indexed Notes will be set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund and, unless a Redemption Commencement Date or a Repayment Date is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, will not be redeemable or repayable prior to their Stated Maturity. If a Redemption Commencement Date is so specified with respect to any Note, the applicable Pricing Supplement will also specify one or more redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of such Note) ("Redemption Prices") and the redemption period or periods ("Redemption Periods") during which such Redemption Prices shall apply. Unless otherwise specified in the Pricing Supplement, any such Note shall be redeemable at the option of the Company or repayable at the option of the Holder thereof (as specified in such Pricing Supplement) at any time on or after such specified Redemption Commencement Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be, at the specified Redemption Price applicable to the Redemption Period during which such Note is to be redeemed, together with interest accrued to the redemption date. With respect to the redemption of Global Securities, the Depositary advises that if less than all of the Notes with like tenor and terms are to be redeemed, the particular interests (in integral multiples of $1,000) in the Book-Entry Notes representing the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary's impartial lottery procedures. The Pricing Supplement relating to each Note will describe the following terms: (i) the Specified Currency with respect to such Note (and, if such Specified Currency is other than U.S. dollars, certain other terms relating to such Note, including the authorized denominations); (ii) the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such Note will be issued; (iii) the date on which such Note will be issued; (iv) the date on which such Note will mature; (v) whether such Note is a Fixed Rate Note or a Floating Rate Note; (vi) if such Note is a Fixed Rate Note, the rate per annum at which such Note will bear interest, if any, and the interest payment date or dates, if different from those set forth below under "Fixed Rate Notes"; (vii) if such Note is a Floating Rate Note, the interest rate basis S-3 (the "Interest Rate Basis") for each such Floating Rate Note, which will be (a) the Commercial Paper Rate, in which case such Note will be a Commercial Paper Rate Note, (b) the Prime Rate, in which case such Note will be a Prime Rate Note, (c) the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), in which case such Note will be a LIBOR Note, (d) the Treasury Rate, in which case such Note will be a Treasury Rate Note, (e) the CD Rate, in which case such Note will be a CD Rate Note, (f) the Federal Funds Rate, in which case such Note will be a Federal Funds Rate Note, or (g) such other interest rate formula as is set forth in such Pricing Supplement, and, if applicable, the Calculation Agent, the Index Maturity, the Spread or Spread Multiplier, the Maximum Rate, the Minimum Rate, the Initial Interest Rate, the Interest Payment Dates, the Regular Record Dates, the Calculation Date, the Interest Determination Date and the Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note; (viii) whether such Note is an Original Issue Discount Note, and if so, the yield to maturity; (ix) whether such Note is an Indexed Note, and if so, the principal amount thereof payable at Maturity, or the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, as determined by reference to the applicable index, in addition to certain other information relating to the Indexed Note; (x) whether such Note may be redeemed at the option of the Company, or repaid at the option of the holder, prior to the Stated Maturity Date and, if so, the provisions relating to such redemption or repayment; (xi) whether such Note will be issued initially as a Book-Entry Note or a Certificated Note; and (xii) any other terms of such Note not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture. Certificated Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange at the Corporate Trust Office of United States Trust Company of New York in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Unless otherwise indicated in a Pricing Supplement, neither the covenants of the Company under the Indenture nor those contained in the Notes will necessarily afford Holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company, such as a leveraged buyout. Fixed Rate Notes Each Fixed Rate Note (except any Zero Coupon Note) will bear interest from its date of issue or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest on such Note has been paid or duly provided for at the fixed rate per annum stated on the face thereof and in the applicable Pricing Supplement until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. The Pricing Supplement relating to each Fixed Rate Note will indicate whether interest on such Fixed Rate Note will be payable semiannually each June 1 and December 1 (each an "Interest Payment Date") and at maturity or upon earlier redemption or repayment. Each payment of interest in respect of an Interest Payment Date will include interest accrued to but excluding such Interest Payment Date. Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest will be payable on each Interest Payment Date and at maturity as specified below under "Payment of Principal and Interest". Floating Rate Notes Each Floating Rate Note will bear interest from its date of issue or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (or if the applicable Interest Reset Dates are weekly, from the day following the most recent Regular Record Date) to which interest on such Note has been paid or duly provided for at the rate per annum determined pursuant to the interest rate formula stated therein and in the applicable Pricing Supplement until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be payable on each Interest Payment Date and at Maturity as specified below under "Payment of Principal and Interest". The interest rate for each Floating Rate Note will be determined by reference to an interest rate formula which may be adjusted by adding or subtracting the Spread or multiplying by the Spread Multiplier (both terms as defined below). A Floating Rate Note may also have either or both of the following: (a) a maximum numerical interest rate limitation, or ceiling, on the rate of interest which may accrue during any interest period (a "Maximum Rate"); and (b) a minimum numerical interest rate limitation, or floor, on the rate of interest which may accrue during any interest period (a "Minimum Rate"). The "Spread" is the number of basis points specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as being applicable to the interest rate for such Note, and the "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as being applicable to the interest rate for such Note. "Index Maturity" means, with respect to a Floating Rate Note, the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation on which the interest rate formula is based, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, United States Trust Company of New York will be the calculation agent (the "Calculation Agent") with respect to the Floating Rate Notes. The rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually (each an "lnterest Reset Date"), as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The S-4 Interest Reset Date will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes (other than Treasury Rate Notes) which reset weekly, the Wednesday of each week; in the case of Treasury Rate Notes which reset weekly, the Tuesday of each week; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset monthly, the third Wednesday of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset semi-annually, the third Wednesday of two months of each year as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset annually, the third Wednesday of one month of each year as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided, however, that (a) the interest rate in effect from the date of issue to the first Interest Reset Date with respect to a Floating Rate Note will be the Initial Interest Rate (as set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement) and (b) the interest rate in effect for the ten days immediately prior to Maturity of a Note will be that in effect on the tenth day preceding such Maturity. If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Market Day with respect to such Floating Rate Note, the Interest Reset Date for such Floating Rate Note shall be postponed to the next day that is a Market Day with respect to such Floating Rate Note, except that in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Market Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Market Day. The Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a Commercial Paper Rate Note (the "Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date"), for a Prime Rate Note (the "Prime Rate Interest Determination Date"), for a LIBOR Note (the "LIBOR Interest Determination Date"), for a CD Rate Note (the "CD Rate Interest Determination Date") and for a Federal Funds Rate Note (the "Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date") will be the second Market Day preceding such Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a Treasury Rate Note (the "Treasury Interest Determination Date") will be the day of the week in which such Interest Reset Date falls on which Treasury bills would normally be auctioned. Treasury bills are usually sold at auction on the Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is usually held on the following Tuesday, except that such auction may be held on the preceding Friday. If, as the result of a legal holiday, an auction is so held on the preceding Friday, such Friday will be the Treasury Interest Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next succeeding week. If an auction date shall fall on any Interest Reset Date for a Treasury Rate Note, then such Interest Reset Date shall instead be the first Market Day immediately following such auction date. All percentages resulting from any calculations referred to in this Prospectus Supplement will be rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (e.g., 9.876541% (or .09876541) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all U.S. dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent or more being rounded upwards). In addition to any maximum interest rate which may be applicable to any Floating Rate Note pursuant to the above provisions, the interest rate on the Floating Rate Notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application. Under present New York law the maximum rate of interest is 25% per annum on a simple interest basis, with certain exceptions. The limit may not apply to Floating Rate Notes in which U.S. $2,500,000 or more has been invested. Upon the request of the Holder of any Floating Rate Note, the Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect, and, if determined, the interest rate which will become effective on the next Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note. The Calculation Agent's determination of any interest rate will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error. Commercial Paper Rate Notes Commercial Paper Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates (calculated with reference to the Commercial Paper Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any), and will be payable on the dates, specified on the face of the Commercial Paper Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date" pertaining to a Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date will be the tenth day after such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date or, if any such day is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Commercial Paper Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Reset Date, the Money Market Yield (calculated as described below) of the S-5 per annum rate (quoted on a bank discount basis) for the relevant Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the specified Index Maturity as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in "Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates" or any successor publication of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("H.15(519)") under the heading "Commercial Paper". In the event that such rate is not published prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the relevant Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date shall be the Money Market Yield of such rate on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the specified Index Maturity as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in its daily statistical release, "Composite 3:30 P.M. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or any successor publication published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ("Composite Quotations") under the heading "Commercial Paper". If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date such rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations, the Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered per annum rates (quoted on a bank discount basis), as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date, of three leading dealers of commercial paper in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper of the specified Index Maturity placed for an industrial issuer whose bond rating is "AA", or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized rating agency; provided, however, that if fewer than three dealers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the Commercial Paper Rate in effect on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date. "Money Market Yield" shall be a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula: Money Market Yield = 100 X 360 X D ------------- 360 - (D X M) where "D" refers to the per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal; and "M" refers to the actual number of days in the period from the Interest Reset Date to but excluding the day that numerically corresponds to such Interest Reset Date (or if there is not any such numerically corresponding day, the last day) in the calendar month that is the number of months corresponding to the specified Index Maturity after the month in which such Interest Reset Date falls. Prime Rate Notes Prime Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates (calculated with reference to the Prime Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any), and will be payable on the dates specified on the face of the Prime Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date" pertaining to a Prime Rate Interest Determination Date will be the tenth day after such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date or, if any such day is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Prime Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Reset Date, the rate set forth for the relevant Prime Rate Interest Determination Date in H.15(5l9) under the heading "Bank Prime Loan". In the event that such rate is not published prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the relevant Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the display designated as page "NYMF" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may replace the NYMF page on that service for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks) ("Reuters Screen NYMF Page") as such bank's prime rate or base lending rate as in effect for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. If fewer than four such rates appear on the Reuters Screen NYMF Page on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, the Prime Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates (quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year) as of the close of business on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by three major banks in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if fewer than three banks selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the Prime Rate in effect on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. S-6 LIBOR Notes LIBOR Notes will bear interest at the interest rates (calculated with reference to LIBOR and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any), and will be payable on the dates specified on the face of the LIBOR Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date" with respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the tenth day after such LIBOR Interest Determination Date or, if any such day is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, LIBOR, with respect to any Interest Reset Date, will be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions: (i) On the relevant LIBOR Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the offered rates for deposits of not less than U.S. $1,000,000 having the specified Index Maturity, commencing on the second Market Day immediately following such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, which appear on the display designated as page "LIBO" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may replace the LIBO page on that service for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates of major banks) ("Reuters Screen LIBO Page") as of 11:00 A.M., London time. If at least two such offered rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, LIBOR with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the arithmetic mean of such offered rates as determined by the Calculation Agent. If fewer than two offered rates appear, LIBOR with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be determined as described in (ii) below. (ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date on which fewer than two offered rates for the applicable Index Maturity appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as described in (i) above, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date at which deposits in U.S. dollars having the specified Index Maturity are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent commencing on the second Market Day immediately following such LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount equal to an amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000 that in the Calculation Agent's judgment is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time (a "Representative Amount"). The Calculation Agent will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks in The City of New York, selected by the Calculation Agent, for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having the specified Index Maturity commencing on the Interest Reset Date and in a Representative Amount; provided, however, that if fewer than three banks selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. Treasury Rate Notes Treasury Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates (calculated with reference to the Treasury Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any) and will be payable on the dates specified on the face of the Treasury Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date" with respect to a Treasury Interest Determination Date will be the tenth day after such Treasury Interest Determination Date or, if any such day is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Reset Date, the rate for the auction on the relevant Treasury Interest Determination Date of direct obligations of the United States ("Treasury bills") having the specified Index Maturity as published in H.15(519) under the heading "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction Average (Investment)" or, if not so published by 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the relevant Calculation Date, the auction average rate (expressed as a bond equivalent, on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) for such auction as otherwise announced by the United States Department of the Treasury. In the event that the results of such auction of Treasury bills having the specified Index Maturity are not published or reported as provided above by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, or if no such auction is held during such week, then the Treasury S-7 Rate shall be the rate set forth in H.15(519) for the relevant Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date for the specified Index Maturity under the heading "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market". In the event such rate is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the relevant Calculation Date, the Treasury Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond equivalent, on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for the issue of Treasury bills with a remaining maturity closest to the specified Index Maturity; provided, however, that if fewer than three dealers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the Treasury Rate in effect on such Treasury Interest Determination Date. CD Rate Notes CD Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates (calculated with reference to the CD Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any), and will be payable on the dates specified on the face of the CD Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date" pertaining to a CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be the tenth day after such CD Rate Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "CD Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Reset Date, the rate for the relevant CD Rate Interest Determination Date for negotiable certificates of deposit having the specified Index Maturity as published in H.15(519) under the heading "CDs (Secondary Market)". In the event that such rate is not published prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the relevant Calculation Date, then the CD Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date shall be the rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date for negotiable certificates of deposit having the specified Index Maturity as published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Certificates of Deposit". If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations, the CD Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates, as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers of negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks with a remaining maturity closest to the specified Index Maturity in a denomination of U.S. $5,000,000; provided, however, that if fewer than three dealers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the CD Rate in effect on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date. Federal Funds Rate Notes Federal Funds Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates (calculated with reference to the Federal Funds Rate and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any), and will be payable on the dates specified on the face of the Federal Funds Rate Note and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date" pertaining to a Federal Funds Interest Determination Date will be the tenth day after such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Market Day, the next succeeding Market Day. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Federal Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Reset Date, the rate on the relevant Federal Funds Interest Determination Date for Federal Funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)". In the event that such rate is not published prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the relevant Calculation Date, then the Federal Funds Rate with respect to such lnterest Reset Date will be the rate on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date as published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Federal Funds/Effective Rate". If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations, the Federal Funds Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates, as of 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date, for the last transaction in overnight Federal Funds arranged by three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if fewer S-8 than three brokers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Federal Funds Rate with respect to such Interest Reset Date will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date. Payment of Principal and Interest Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Book-Entry Notes will be payable in accordance with the procedures described below under "Book-Entry System". Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate Notes which are Certificated Notes will be made in the applicable Specified Currency. Notwithstanding the prior two sentences, payments of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars will nevertheless be made in U.S. dollars (i) with respect to any Certificated Notes, at the option of the Holders thereof under the procedures described in the two following paragraphs and (ii) with respect to any Notes, at the option of the Company in the case of imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company as described in the last paragraph under this heading. If specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the amount of principal payable on the Notes therein described will be determined by reference to an index or formula described in such Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, and except as provided in the next paragraph, payments of interest and principal (and premium, if any) with respect to any Certificated Note denominated in other than U.S. dollars will be made in U.S. dollars if the registered Holder of such Note on the relevant Regular Record Date or at Maturity, as the case may be, has transmitted a written request for such payment in U.S. dollars to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office in The City of New York on or prior to such Regular Record Date or the date 15 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be. Such request may be in writing (mailed or hand delivered) or by cable or telex or, if promptly confirmed in writing, by other form of facsimile transmission. Any such request made with respect to any Certificated Note by a registered Holder will remain in effect with respect to any further payments of interest and principal (and premium, if any) with respect to such Note payable to such Holder, unless such request is revoked on or prior to the relevant Regular Record Date or the date 15 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be. Holders of Certificated Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars whose Notes are registered in the name of a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether and how an election to receive payments in U.S. dollars may be made. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the U.S. dollar amount to be received by a Holder of a Note (including a Book-Entry Note) denominated in other than U.S. dollars who elects to receive payment in U.S. dollars will be based on the highest bid quotation in The City of New York received by the Exchange Rate Agent (as defined below) as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second Business Day next preceding the applicable payment date from three recognized foreign exchange dealers (one of which may be the Exchange Rate Agent) for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the Specified Currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on such payment date in the aggregate amount of the Specified Currency payable to all Holders of Notes electing to receive U.S. dollar payments and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If three such bid quotations are not available on the second Business Day preceding the date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest with respect to any Note, such payment will be made in the Specified Currency. All currency exchange costs associated with any payment in U.S. dollars on any such Note will be borne by the Holder thereof by deductions from such payment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, United States Trust Company of New York will be the Exchange Rate Agent (the "Exchange Rate Agent") with respect to the Notes. Interest will be payable to the person in whose name a Note is registered (which in the case of Global Securities representing Book-Entry Notes will be the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary) at the close of business on the Regular Record Date next preceding each Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity will be payable to the person to whom principal shall be payable (which in the case of Global Securities representing Book-Entry Notes will be the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary). The first payment of interest on any Note originally issued between a Regular Record Date and an Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date to the registered owner on such next succeeding Regular Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Regular Record Date" with respect to any Floating Rate Note shall be the date 15 calendar days prior to each Interest Payment Date, whether S-9 or not such date shall be a Business Day, and the "Regular Record Date" with respect to any Fixed Rate Note shall be the May 15 and November 15 next preceding the June 1 and December 1 Interest Payment Dates. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, and except as provided below, interest will be payable, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset weekly, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year (as indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement); in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset quarterly, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset semi-annually, on the third Wednesday of the two months of each year specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset annually, on the third Wednesday of the month specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (each an "Interest Payment Date"), and in each case, at Maturity. If an Interest Payment Date with respect to any Floating Rate Note would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Market Day with respect to such Note, such Interest Payment Date will be the next succeeding Market Day (or, in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such day falls in the next calendar month, the next preceding Market Day). Payments of interest on any Fixed Rate Note or Floating Rate Note with respect to any Interest Payment Date will include interest accrued to but excluding such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that if the Interest Reset Dates with respect to any Floating Rate Note are weekly, interest payable on such Note on any Interest Payment Date, other than interest payable on the date on which principal on such Note is payable, will include interest accrued through but excluding the day following the next preceding Regular Record Date. With respect to a Floating Rate Note, accrued interest from the date of issue or from the last date to which interest has been paid is calculated by multiplying the face amount of such Floating Rate Note by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day from the date of issue, or from the last date to which interest has been paid, to but excluding the date for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor (expressed as a decimal) for each such day is computed by dividing the interest rate (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such date by 360, in the case of Commercial Paper Rate Notes, Prime Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes, CD Rate Notes or Federal Funds Rate Notes, or by the actual number of days in the year, in the case of Treasury Rate Notes. Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Any payment on any Note due on any day which is not a Market Day, need not be made on such day, but may be made on the next succeeding Market Day (or, in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such day falls in the next calendar month, the next preceding Market Day) with the same force and effect as if made on the due date, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest due with respect to any Certificated Note at Maturity to be made in U.S. dollars will be made in immediately available funds upon surrender of such Note at the Corporate Trust Office of United States Trust Company of New York in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, provided that the Certificated Note is presented to the Paying Agent in time for the Paying Agent to make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Payments of interest with respect to Certificated Notes to be made in U.S. dollars other than at Maturity will be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the Security Register or by wire transfer to such account as may have been appropriately designated by such Person. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payments of interest and principal (and premium, if any) with respect to any Certificated Note to be made in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account with a bank located in the country issuing the Specified Currency (or, with respect to Certificated Notes denominated in ECUs, to an ECU account) or other jurisdiction acceptable to the Company and the Trustee as shall have been designated at least five Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, by the registered Holder of such Note on the relevant Regular Record Date or Maturity, provided that, in the case of payment of principal (and premium, if any) and any interest due at Maturity, the Certificated Note is presented to the Paying Agent in time for the Paying Agent to make S-10 such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Such designation shall be made by filing the appropriate information with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office in The City of New York and, unless revoked, any such designation made with respect to any Certificated Note by a registered Holder will remain in effect with respect to any further payments with respect to such Note payable to such Holder. If a payment with respect to any such Note cannot be made by wire transfer because the required designation has not been received by the Trustee on or before the requisite date or for any other reason, a notice will be mailed to the Holder at its registered address requesting a designation pursuant to which such wire transfer can be made and, upon the Trustee's receipt of such a designation, such payment will be made within five Business Days of such receipt. The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks in connection with making payments by wire transfer, but any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon payments will be borne by the Holders of the Certificated Notes in respect of which payments are made. If the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Note (including any Book-Entry Note) is payable in other than U.S. dollars and such Specified Currency is not available due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Notes by making such payment in U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in other than U.S. dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. Book-Entry System Upon issuance, all Book-Entry Notes bearing interest (if any) at the same rate or pursuant to the same formula, having the same date of issuance, redemption provisions, if any, Specified Currency, Stated Maturity and other terms will be represented by a single Global Security. Each Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the "Depositary"), and will be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee will credit the accounts of persons held with it with the respective principal or face amounts of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Security. Such accounts shall be designated by the Agents with respect to Book-Entry Notes or by the Company if such Notes are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to participants and to persons that have accounts with the Depositary ("participants") or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership interests in a Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee (with respect to a participant's interest) for such Global Security and records maintained by participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer interests in a Global Note. The total amount of any principal, premium, if any, and interest due on any Global Security representing one or more Book-Entry Notes on any Interest Payment Date or at Maturity will be made available to the Trustee on such date. As soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to the Depositary. The Depositary will allocate such payments to each Book-Entry Note represented by such Global Security and make payments to the owners or holders thereof in accordance with its existing operating procedures. Neither the Company or the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the Depositary's records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security representing any Book-Entry Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the Depositary's records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. With respect to any Book-Entry Note denominated in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars, the Depositary currently has elected to have payments of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on such Note made in U.S. dollars unless notified by any of its participants through which an interest in such Note is held that it elects to receive such payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest in such Specified Currency. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, a beneficial owner of Book-Entry Notes denominated in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars electing to receive payments of principal or any premium or interest in a currency other than U.S. dollars S-11 must notify the participant through which its interest is held on or prior to the applicable Record Date, in the case of a payment of interest, and on or prior to the sixteenth day prior to the maturity date, in the case of principal or premium, of such beneficial owner's election to receive all or a portion of such payment in such Specified Currency. Such participant must notify the Depositary of such election on or prior to the third Business Day after such Record Date or after such sixteenth day. The Depositary will notify the Trustee of such election on or prior to the fifth Business Day after such Record Date or after such sixteenth day. If complete instructions are received by the participant and forwarded by the participant to the Depositary, and by the Depositary to the Trustee, on or prior to such dates, the beneficial owner will receive payments in the Specified Currency. The Company has been advised by the Depositary that upon receipt of any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Global Security, the Depositary will immediately credit, on its book- entry registration and transfer system, the accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of the Depositary. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in "street name", and will be the sole responsibility of such participants. A Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary. A Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes is exchangeable only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that all such Global Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes in registered form, or (iii) an Event of Default, or an event with notice or the passage of time would be an Event of Default, with respect to the Notes represented by such Global Security has occurred and is continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Certificated Notes issuable in denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary holding such Global Security shall direct. Subject to the foregoing, the Global Security is not exchangeable, except for a Global Security of like denomination to be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or Holder of Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Security for the purposes of receiving payment on the Notes, receiving notices and for all other purposes under the Indenture and the Notes. Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in such a Global Security must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder under the Indenture. The Indenture provides that the Depositary may grant proxies and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture. The Company understands that under existing industry practices, in the event that the Company requests any action of Holders or that an owner of a beneficial interest in such a Global Security desires to give or take any action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture, the Depositary would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them. The Depositary has advised the Company that the Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered under the Exchange Act. The Depositary was created to hold the securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Depositary's participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the Agents), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other S-12 organizations some of whom (and/or their representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary's book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. FOREIGN CURRENCY RISKS General Exchange Rates and Exchange Controls. An investment in Notes that are denominated in other than U.S. dollars entails significant risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in U.S. dollars. Such risks include, without limitation, 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. Such risks generally depend on factors over which the Company has no control, such as economic and political events and the supply of and demand for the relevant currencies. In recent years, rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and certain foreign currencies have been highly volatile and such volatility may be expected in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations in the rate that may occur during the term of any Note. Depreciation of a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars against the U.S. dollar would result in a decrease in the effective yield of such Note below its coupon rate, and in certain circumstances could result in a loss to the investor on a U.S. dollar basis. Governments have imposed from time to time and may in the future impose exchange controls which could affect exchange rates as well as the availability of the Specified Currency at a Note's maturity. Even if there are no actual exchange controls, it is possible that the Specified Currency for any particular Note would not be available at such Note's maturity. In that event, the Company will repay in U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. See "Description of Notes -- Payment of Principal and Interest". Currently, there are limited facilities in the United States for conversion of U.S. dollars into foreign currencies, and vice versa. Accordingly, payments on Notes made in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars will be made from an account with a bank located in the country issuing the Specified Currency (or, with respect to Notes denominated in ECUs, from an ECU account). See "Description of Notes -- Payment of Principal and Interest". Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars or ECUs will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country issuing the Specified Currency in which particular Notes are denominated. This Prospectus Supplement and the attached Prospectus and Pricing Supplement do not describe all the risks of an investment in the Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars. Prospective investors should consult their own financial and legal advisors as to the risks entailed by an investment in the Notes denominated in a currency (including any composite currency) in other than U.S. dollars. Such Notes are not an appropriate investment for investors who are unsophisticated with respect to foreign currency transactions. The information set forth in the Prospectus Supplement is directed to prospective purchasers who are United States residents, and the Company disclaims any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers who are residents of countries other than the United States with respect to any matters that may affect the purchase, holding or receipt of payments of principal of and interest on the Notes. Such persons should consult their own financial and legal advisors with regard to such matters. Governing Law and Foreign Currency Judgments. The Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. If an action based on the Notes were commenced in a court in the United States, it is likely that such court would grant judgment relating to the Notes only in U.S. dollars. It is not clear, however, whether, in granting such judgment, the rate of conversion into U.S. dollars would be determined with reference to the date of default, the date judgment is rendered or some other date. New York statutory law provides, however, that a court shall render a judgment in the foreign currency of the underlying obligation and that the judgment shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of the entry of the judgment. S-13 Exchange Rates and Exchange Controls for Specified Currencies With respect to any Note denominated in other than U.S. dollars, a Pricing Supplement including a currency supplement with respect to the applicable Specified Currency (which supplement shall include information with respect to applicable current foreign exchange controls, if any), and the relevant historical exchange rates for the Specified Currency shall constitute a part of this Prospectus Supplement. The information therein concerning exchange rates is furnished as a matter of information only and should not be regarded as indicative of the range of or trends in fluctuations in currency exchange rates that may occur in the future. If payment on a Note is required to be made in ECUs and on a payment date with respect to such Note, ECUs are unavailable due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the Company's control or are no longer used in the European Monetary System, then all payments due on such payment date shall be made in U.S. dollars. The amount so payable on any payment date in ECUs shall be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate determined by the Exchange Rate Agent as of the second Business Day prior to the date on which such payment is due on the following basis: the component currencies of the ECUs for this purpose (the "Components") shall be the currency amounts that were components of the ECUs as of the last date on which ECUs were used in the European Monetary System. The equivalent of ECUs in U.S. dollars shall be calculated by aggregating the U.S. dollar equivalents of the Components. The U.S. dollar equivalent of each of the Components shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate for the Components, or as otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If the official unit of any component currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the number of units of that currency as a Component shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If two or more component currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the amounts of those currencies as Components shall be replaced by an amount in such single currency equal to the sum of the amounts of the consolidated component currencies expressed in such single currency. If any component currency is divided into two or more currencies, the amount of that currency as a Component shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, each of which shall have a value on the date of division equal to the amount of the former component currency divided by the number of currencies into which that currency was divided. All determinations referred to above made by the Exchange Rate Agent shall be at its sole discretion (except to the extent expressly provided herein or in the applicable Pricing Supplement that any determination is subject to approval by the Company) and, in the absence of manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on Holders of the Notes and the Company, and the Exchange Rate Agent shall have no liability therefor. UNITED STATES TAXATION The following summary of the principal United States federal income tax consequences of ownership of Notes is based upon the opinion of Donald W. Stevenson, Manager of Tax Research and Audits of the Company. It deals only with Notes held as capital assets by initial purchasers, and not with special classes of holders, such as dealers in securities or currencies, banks, tax-exempt organizations, life insurance companies, persons that hold Notes that are a hedge or that are hedged against currency risks or that are part of a straddle or conversion transaction, or persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. Except as described below with respect to Notes providing for alternative payment schedules or Variable Rate Notes, this summary does not apply with respect to Notes payments on which are determined by reference to any index or subject to any contingency. The applicable Pricing Supplement will contain a discussion of any special United States federal income tax rules with respect to such Notes. The summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect and all subject to change at any time, perhaps with retroactive effect. This summary is intended to be a general statement of present United States federal tax law and is not intended to interpret such law with respect to any particular Holder. Prospective purchasers of Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the consequences, in their particular circumstances, under the Code and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction, of ownership of Notes. S-14 United States Holders Payments of Interest Interest on a Note, whether payable in U.S. dollars or a currency, composite currency or basket of currencies other than U.S. dollars (a "foreign currency"), other than interest on a "Discount Note" that is not "qualified stated interest" (each as defined below under "Original Issue Discount -- General"), will be taxable to a United States Holder as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued, depending on the holder's method of accounting for tax purposes. A United States Holder is a beneficial owner who or that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a domestic corporation or (iii) otherwise subject to United States federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of the Note. If an interest payment is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, the amount of income recognized by a cash basis United States Holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment, based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. An accrual basis United States Holder may determine the amount of income recognized with respect to an interest payment denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency in accordance with either of two methods. Under the first method, the amount of income accrued will be based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period (or, with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, the part of the period within the taxable year). Upon receipt of the interest payment (including a payment attributable to accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or retirement of a Note) denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, the United States Holder will recognize ordinary income or loss measured by the difference between the average exchange rate used to accrue interest income and the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Under the second method, the United States Holder may elect to determine the amount of income accrued on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the accrual period or, in the case of an accrual period that spans two taxable years, the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the part of the period within the taxable year. Additionally, if a payment of interest is actually received within five business days of the last day of the accrual period or taxable year, an electing accrual basis United States Holder may instead translate such accrued interest into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day of actual receipt. Any such election will apply to all debt instruments held by the United States Holder at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the United States Holder, and will be irrevocable without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service"). Original Issue Discount General. A Note, other than a Note with a term of one year or less (a "short-term Note"), will be treated as issued at an original issue discount (a "Discount Note") if the excess of the Note's "stated redemption price at maturity" over its issue price is more than a "de minimis amount" (as defined below). Generally, the issue price of a Note will be the first price at which a substantial amount of Notes included in the issue of which the Note is a part is sold to other than bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers. The stated redemption price at maturity of a Note is the total of all payments provided by the Note that are not payments of "qualified stated interest". A qualified stated interest payment is generally any one of a series of stated interest payments on a Note that are unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate (with certain exceptions for lower rates paid during some periods) applied to the outstanding principal amount of the Note. Special rules for "Variable Rate Notes" (as defined below under "Original Issue Discount -- Variable Rate Notes") are described below under "Original Issue Discount -- Variable Rate Notes". In general, if the excess of a Note's stated redemption price at maturity over its issue price is less than 1/4 of 1 percent of the Note's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity (the "de minimis amount"), then such excess, if any, constitutes "de minimis original issue discount" and the Note is not a Discount Note. Unless the election described below under "Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount" is made, a United States Holder of a Note with de minimis original issue discount must include such de minimis original issue discount in income as stated principal payments on the Note are made. The includible amount with respect to each such payment will equal S-15 the product of the total amount of the Note's de minimis original issue discount and a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the principal payment made and the denominator of which is the stated principal amount of the Note. United States Holders of Discount Notes having a maturity of more than one year from their date of issue must include original issue discount ("OID") in income calculated on a constant-yield method before the receipt of cash attributable to such income, and generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID over the life of the Note. The amount of OID includible in income by a United States Holder of a Discount Note is the sum of the daily portions of OID with respect to the Discount Note for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year on which the United States Holder holds such Discount Note ("accrued OID"). The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any "accrual period" a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. Accrual periods with respect to a Note may be of any length selected by the United States Holder and may vary in length over the term of the Note as long as (i) no accrual period is longer than one year and (ii) each scheduled payment of interest or principal on the Note occurs on either the final or first day of an accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to an accrual period equals the excess of (a) the product of the Discount Note's adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period and such Note's yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period) over (b) the sum of the payments of qualified stated interest on the Note allocable to the accrual period. The "adjusted issue price" of a Discount Note at the beginning of any accrual period is the issue price of the Note increased by (x) the amount of accrued OID for each prior accrual period and decreased by (y) the amount of any payments previously made on the Note that were not qualified stated interest payments. For purposes of determining the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period, if an interval between payments of qualified stated interest on the Note contains more than one accrual period, the amount of qualified stated interest payable at the end of the interval (including any qualified stated interest that is payable on the first day of the accrual period immediately following the interval) is allocated pro rata on the basis of relative lengths to each accrual period in the interval, and the adjusted issue price at the beginning of each accrual period in the interval must be increased by the amount of any qualified stated interest that has accrued prior to the first day of the accrual period but that is not payable until the end of the interval. The amount of OID allocable to an initial short accrual period may be computed using any reasonable method if all other accrual periods other than a final short accrual period are of equal length. The amount of OID allocable to the final accrual period is the difference between (x) the amount payable at the maturity of the Note (other than any payment of qualified stated interest) and (y) the Note's adjusted issue price as of the beginning of the final accrual period. Acquisition Premium. A United States Holder that purchases a Note for an amount less than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest but in excess of its adjusted issue price (any such excess being "acquisition premium") and that does not make the election described below under "Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount" is permitted to reduce the daily portions of OID by a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of the United States Holder's adjusted basis in the Note immediately after its purchase over the adjusted issue price of the Note, and the denominator of which is the excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date, other than payments of qualified stated interest, over the Note's adjusted issue price. Market Discount. A Note, other than a short-term Note, will be treated as purchased at a market discount (a "Market Discount Note") if (i) the amount for which a United States Holder purchased the Note is less than the Note's issue price (as determined above under "Original Issue Discount -- General") and (ii) the Note's stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of a Discount Note, the Note's "revised issue price", exceeds the amount for which the United States Holder purchased the Note by at least 1/4 of 1 percent of such Note's stated redemption price at maturity or revised issue price, respectively, multiplied by the number of complete years to the Note's maturity. If such excess is not sufficient to cause the Note to be a Market Discount Note, then such excess constitutes "de minimis market discount". The Code provides that, for these purposes, the "revised issue price" of a Note generally equals its issue price, increased by the amount of any OID that has accrued on the Note. Any gain recognized on the maturity or disposition of a Market Discount Note will be treated as ordinary income to the extent that such gain does not exceed the accrued market discount on such Note. Alternatively, a United States Holder of a Market Discount Note may elect to include market discount in S-16 income currently over the life of the Note. Such an election shall apply to all debt instruments with market discount acquired by the electing United States Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. This election may not be revoked without the consent of the Service. Market discount on a Market Discount Note will accrue on a straight-line basis unless the United States Holder elects to accrue such market discount on a constant-yield method. Such an election shall apply only to the Note with respect to which it is made and may not be revoked without the consent of the Service. A United States Holder of a Market Discount Note that does not elect to include market discount in income currently generally will be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to such Note in an amount not exceeding the accrued market discount on such Note until the maturity or disposition of such Note. Pre-Issuance Accrued Interest. If (i) a portion of the initial purchase price of a Note is attributable to pre-issuance accrued interest, (ii) the first stated interest payment on the Note is to be made within one year of the Note's issue date and (iii) the payment will equal or exceed the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest, then the United States Holder may elect to decrease the issue price of the Note by the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest. In that event, a portion of the first stated interest payment will be treated as a return of the excluded pre-issuance accrued interest and not as an amount payable on the Note. Notes Subject to Contingencies Including Optional Redemption. In general, if a Note provides for an alternative payment schedule or schedules applicable upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies and the timing and amounts of the payments that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue date, the yield and maturity of the Note are determined by assuming that the payments will be made according to the Note's stated payment schedule. If, however, based on all the facts and circumstances as of the issue date, it is more likely than not that the Note's stated payment schedule will not occur, then, in general, the yield and maturity of the Note are computed based on the payment schedule most likely to occur. Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity in the case of Notes subject to contingencies, if the Company has an unconditional option or options to redeem a Note, or the Holder has an unconditional option or options to cause a Note to be repurchased, prior to the Note's stated maturity, then (i) in the case of an option or options of the Company, the Company will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that minimizes the yield on the Note and (ii) in the case of an option or options of the Holder, the Holder will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on the Note. For purposes of those calculations, the yield on the Note is determined by using any date on which the Note may be redeemed or repurchased as the maturity date and the amount payable on such date in accordance with the terms of the Note as the principal amount payable at maturity. If a contingency (including the exercise of an option) actually occurs or does not occur contrary to an assumption made according to the above rules (a "change in circumstances") then, except to the extent that a portion of the Note is repaid as a result of a change in circumstances and solely for purposes of the accrual of OID, the yield and maturity of the Note are redetermined by treating the Note as reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to the Note's adjusted issue price on that date. Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount. A United States Holder may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues on a Note using the constant-yield method described above under the heading "Original Issue Discount -- General", with the modifications described below. For purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest, OID, de minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium (described below under "Notes Purchased at a Premium") or acquisition premium. In applying the constant-yield method to a Note with respect to which this election has been made, the issue price of the Note will equal the electing United States Holder's adjusted basis in the Note immediately after its acquisition, the issue date of the Note will be the date of its acquisition by the electing United States Holder, and no payments on the Note will be treated as payments of qualified stated interest. This election will generally apply only to the Note with respect to which it is made and may not be revoked without the consent of the Service. If this election is made with respect to a Note with amortizable bond premium, then the electing United States Holder will be deemed to have elected to S-17 apply amortizable bond premium against interest with respect to all debt instruments with amortizable bond premium (other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income) held by the electing United States Holder as of the beginning of the taxable year in which the Note with respect to which the election is made is acquired or thereafter acquired. The deemed election with respect to amortizable bond premium may not be revoked without the consent of the Service. If the election to apply the constant-yield method to all interest on a Note is made with respect to a Market Discount Note, the electing United States Holder will be treated as having made the election discussed above under "Original Issue Discount -- Market Discount" to include market discount in income currently over the life of all debt instruments held or thereafter acquired by such United States Holder. Variable Rate Notes. A "Variable Rate Note" is a Note that: (i) has an issue price that does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments by more than the lesser of (1) the product of (x) the total noncontingent principal payments, (y) the number of complete years to maturity from the issue date and (z) .015, or (2) 15 percent of the total noncontingent principal payments, and (ii) provides for stated interest compounded or paid at least annually at (1) one or more "qualified floating rates", (2) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates, (3) a single "objective rate" or (4) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a "qualified inverse floating rate". A qualified floating rate or objective rate in effect at any time during the term of the instrument must be set at a "current value" of that rate. A "current value" of a rate is the value of the rate on any day that is no earlier than 3 months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than 1 year following that first day. A variable rate is a "qualified floating rate" if (i) variations in the value of the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the Note is denominated or (ii) it is equal to the product of such a rate and either (a) a fixed multiple that is greater than zero but not more than 1.35, or (b) a fixed multiple greater than zero but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate. A rate is not a qualified floating rate, however, if the rate is subject to certain restrictions (including caps, floors, governors, or other similar restrictions) unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the Note or are not reasonably expected to significantly affect the yield on the Note. An "objective rate" is a rate, other than a qualified floating rate, that is determined using a single, fixed formula and that is based on (i) one or more qualified floating rates, (ii) one or more rates each of which would be a qualified floating rate for a debt instrument denominated in a currency other than the currency in which the debt instrument is denominated, (iii) the yield or changes in the price of one or more actively traded items of personal property other than stock or debt of the issuer or a related party, or (iv) a combination of objective rates. A variable rate is not an objective rate, however, if it is reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of the Note's term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the average value of the rate during the final half of the Note's term. An objective rate is a "qualified inverse floating rate" if (i) the rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, and (ii) the variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds. Under these rules, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, Prime Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes, Treasury Rate Notes, CD Rate Notes, and Federal Funds Rate Notes will generally be treated as Variable Rate Notes. In general, if a Variable Rate Note provides for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, all stated interest on the Note is qualified stated interest and the amount of OID, if any, is determined by using, in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or, in the case of any other objective rate, a fixed rate that reflects the yield reasonably expected for the Note. If a Variable Rate Note does not provide for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, or at a single fixed rate (other than at a single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and OID accruals on the Note are generally determined by (i) determining a fixed rate substitute for each variable rate provided under the Variable Rate Note (generally, the value of each variable rate as of the issue date or, in the case of an objective rate that is not a qualified inverse floating rate, a rate that reflects the reasonably expected yield on the Note), (ii) constructing the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument (using the fixed rate substitute described above), (iii) determining the amount of S-18 qualified stated interest and OID with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, and (iv) making the appropriate adjustments for actual variable rates during the applicable accrual period. If a Variable Rate Note provides for stated interest either at one or more qualified floating rates or at a qualified inverse floating rate, and in addition provides for stated interest at a single fixed rate (other than at a single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and OID accruals are determined as in the immediately preceding paragraph with the modification that the Variable Rate Note is treated, for purposes of the first three steps of the determination, as if it provided for a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be) rather than the fixed rate. The qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating rate) replacing the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the Variable Rate Note as of the issue date would be approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating rate) rather than the fixed rate. Short-Term Notes. In general, an individual or other cash basis United States Holder of a short-term Note is not required to accrue OID (as specially defined below for the purposes of this paragraph) for United States federal income tax purposes unless it elects to do so (but may be required to include any stated interest in income as the interest is received). Accrual basis United States Holders and certain other United States Holders, including banks, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities, common trust funds, United States Holders who hold Notes as part of certain identified hedging transactions, certain pass-thru entities and cash basis United States Holders who so elect, are required to accrue OID on short-term Notes on either a straight-line basis or under the constant-yield method (based on daily compounding), at the election of the United States Holder. In the case of a United States Holder not required and not electing to include OID in income currently, any gain realized on the sale or retirement of the short-term Note will be ordinary income to the extent of the OID accrued on a straight-line basis (unless an election is made to accrue the OID under the constant-yield method) through the date of sale or retirement. United States Holders who are not required and do not elect to accrue OID on short-term Notes will be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to short-term Notes in an amount not exceeding the deferred income until the deferred income is realized. For purposes of determining the amount of OID subject to these rules, all interest payments on a short-term Note, including stated interest, are included in the short-term Note's stated redemption price at maturity. Foreign Currency Discount Note. OID for any accrual period on a Discount Note that is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency will be determined in the foreign currency and then translated into U.S. dollars in the same manner as stated interest accrued by an accrual basis United States Holder, as described under "Payments of Interest". Upon receipt of an amount attributable to OID (whether in connection with a payment of interest or the sale or retirement of a Note), a United States Holder may recognize ordinary income or loss. Notes Purchased at a Premium A United States Holder that purchases a Note for an amount in excess of its principal amount may elect to treat such excess as "amortizable bond premium", in which case the amount required to be included in the United States Holder's income each year with respect to interest on the Note will be reduced by the amount of amortizable bond premium allocable (based on the Note's yield to maturity) to such year. In the case of a Note that is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, bond premium will be computed in units of foreign currency, and amortizable bond premium will reduce interest income in units of the foreign currency. At the time amortized bond premium offsets interest income, exchange gain or loss (taxable as ordinary income or loss) is realized measured by the difference between exchange rates at that time and at the time of the acquisition of the Notes. Any election to amortize bond premium shall apply to all bonds (other than bonds the interest on which is excludible from gross income) held by the United States Holder at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the United States Holder, and is irrevocable without the consent of the Service. See also "Original Issue Discount -- Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount". Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Notes A United States Holder's tax basis in a Note will generally be its U.S. dollar cost (as defined below), increased by the amount of any OID or market discount included in the United States Holder's income S-19 with respect to the Note and the amount, if any, of income attributable to de minimis original issue discount and de minimis market discount included in the United States Holder's income with respect to the Note, and reduced by (i) the amount of any payments that are not qualified stated interest payments, and (ii) the amount of any amortizable bond premium applied to reduce interest on the Note. The U.S. dollar cost of a Note purchased with a foreign currency will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the date of purchase or, in the case of Notes traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury Regulations, that are purchased by a cash basis United States Holder (or an accrual basis United States Holder that so elects), on the settlement date for the purchase. A United States Holder will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or retirement of a Note equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or retirement and the tax basis of the Note. The amount realized on a sale or retirement for an amount in foreign currency will be the U.S. dollar value of such amount on the date of sale or retirement or, in the case of Notes traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury Regulations, sold by a cash basis United States Holder (or an accrual basis United States Holder that so elects), on the settlement date for the sale. Except to the extent described above under "Original Issue Discount -- Short-Term Notes" or "Original Issue Discount -- Market Discount" or described in the next succeeding paragraph or attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, gain or loss recognized on the sale or retirement of a Note will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Note was held for more than one year. Gain or loss recognized by a United States Holder on the sale or retirement of a Note that is attributable to changes in exchange rates will be treated as ordinary income or loss. However, exchange gain or loss is taken into account only to the extent of total gain or loss realized on the transaction. Exchange of Amounts in Other Than U.S. Dollars Foreign currency received as interest on a Note or on the sale or retirement of a Note will have a tax basis equal to its U.S. dollar value at the time such interest is received or at the time of such sale or retirement. Foreign currency that is purchased will generally have a tax basis equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on the date of purchase. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or other disposition of a foreign currency (including its use to purchase Notes or upon exchange for U.S. dollars) will be ordinary income or loss. United States Alien Holders For purposes of this discussion, a "United States Alien Holder" is any holder of a Note who is (i) a nonresident alien individual or (ii) a foreign corporation, partnership or estate or trust which is not subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of income or gain from a Note. This discussion assumes that the Note is not subject to the rules of Section 871(h)(4)(A) of the Code (relating to interest payments that are determined by reference to the income, profits, changes in the value of property or other attributes of the debtor or a related party). Under present United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the discussion of backup withholding below: (i) payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest, including OID, by the Company or any of its paying agents to any holder of a Note that is a United States Alien Holder will not be subject to United States federal withholding tax if, in the case of interest or OID, (a) the beneficial owner of the Note does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, (b) the beneficial owner of the Note is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Company through stock ownership, and (c) either (A) the beneficial owner of the Note certifies to the Company or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States Holder and provides its name and address or (B) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers' securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a "financial institution") and holds the Note certifies to the Company or its agent under penalties of perjury that such statement has been received from the beneficial owner by it or by a financial institution between it and the beneficial owner and furnishes the payor with a copy thereof; (ii) a United States Alien Holder of a Note will not be subject to United States federal withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale or exchange of a Note; and (iii) a Note held by an individual who at death is not a citizen or resident of the United States will not be includible in the individual's gross estate for purposes of the United States federal estate tax as S-20 a result of the individual's death if (a) the individual did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote and (b) the income on the Note would not have been effectively connected with a United States trade or business of the individual at the individual's death. Backup Withholding and Information Reporting United States Holders In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal, any premium and interest on a Note and the proceeds of the sale of a Note before maturity within the United States to, and to the accrual of OID on a Discount Note with respect to, non-corporate United States Holders, and "backup withholding" at a rate of 31% will apply to such payments and to payments of OID if the United States Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on its federal income tax returns. United States Alien Holders Information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest (including OID) made by the Company or a paying agent to a United States Alien Holder on a Note if the certification described in clause (i)(c) under "United States Alien Holders" above is received, and provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder is a United States person. Payments of the proceeds from the sale by a United States Alien Holder of a Note made to or through a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding, except that if the broker is a United States person, a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, information reporting may apply to such payments. Payments of the proceeds from the sale of a Note to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the holder or beneficial owner certifies as to its non-United States status or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding. SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement, dated March 23, 1995 (the "Distribution Agreement"), the Notes are being offered on a continuing basis by the Company through Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lazard Freres & Co. and Citicorp Securities, Inc. (the "Agents"), who have agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes. The Company will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes and may reject any proposed purchase of Notes as a whole or in part. The Agents shall have the right, in their discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any offer to purchase Notes, as a whole or in part. The Company will pay the Agents a commission of from .125% to .750% of the principal amount of Notes, depending upon maturity, for sales made through them as Agents. The Company may also sell Notes to the Agents as principals for their own accounts at a discount to be agreed upon at the time of sale, or the purchasing Agents may receive from the Company a commission or discount equivalent to that set forth on the cover page hereof in the case of any such principal transaction in which no other discount is agreed. Such Notes may be resold at prevailing market prices, or at prices related thereto, at the time of such resale, as determined by the Agents. The Company reserves the right to sell Notes directly on its own behalf. No commission will be payable on any Notes sold directly by the Company. The Agents, as agents or principals, may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The Company has agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Act. The Company has agreed to reimburse the Agents for certain expenses. In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Agents and their affiliates have performed, and may in the future perform, investment banking and commercial banking services for the Company. S-21 Notes may also be sold at the price to the public set forth herein to dealers who may resell to investors. Such dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Act. The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market and will not be listed on any securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the existence or liquidity of the secondary market for the Notes. VALIDITY OF NOTES The validity of the Notes will be passed upon for the Company by William C. Ugetta, General Counsel of the Company, and for the Agents by Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York. The opinions of Mr. Ugetta and Sullivan & Cromwell will be conditioned upon, and subject to certain assumptions regarding future actions required to be taken by the Company and the Trustee in connection with the issuance and sale of any particular Note, the specific terms of Notes and other matters which may affect the validity of Notes but which cannot be ascertained on the date of such opinions. S-22 PROSPECTUS Corning Incorporated Debt Securities Corning Incorporated (the "Company" or "Corning") may offer and sell from time to time its debt securities, consisting of debentures, notes and/or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities"), in an aggregate principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial public offering price not exceeding $500,000,000 (or net proceeds in the case of Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount) or the equivalent thereof in a foreign currency (including a composite currency). The Debt Securities may be offered as separate series on terms to be determined at the time of sale. The specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denomination, maturity, premium, if any, rate or rates and time of payment of interest, if any, terms for any redemption at the option of the Company or the holder, terms for any sinking fund payments, the initial public offering price and the other terms in connection with the offering and sale of the Debt Securities in respect of which the Prospectus is being delivered are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement"). As used herein, Debt Securities shall include securities denominated in United States dollars or, at the option of the Company if so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in any other currency, including composite currencies such as the European Currency Unit. The Company may sell Debt Securities to or through underwriters, and also may sell Debt Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents. See "Plan of Distribution". The names of such underwriters or agents and the principal amounts, if any, to be purchased by them and their compensation are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is January 19, 1995. No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company or any underwriter, dealer or agent. Neither this Prospectus nor any Prospectus Supplement constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer in such jurisdiction. The delivery of this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement at any time does not imply that the information herein or therein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such imformation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Available Information 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference 2 The Company 3 Use of Proceeds 3 Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3 Description of Debt Securities 4 Plan of Distribution 8 Validity of Debt Securities 9 Experts 9 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information and the Registration Statements referred to below may be inspected at the Commission's public reference facilities, Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, as well as the following regional offices: Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and copies of such materials may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York, 10005, upon which Exchange certain securities of the Company are listed. This Prospectus constitutes a part of the Registration Statement with respect to the Debt Securities filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits relating thereto for further information with respect to the Company and the Debt Securities. Any statement contained herein concerning the provisions of any document is not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed with the Commission (File No. 1-3247) are incorporated herein by reference: 1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 1994, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 2. The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993 and August 13, 1993. 3. All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since January 2, 1994, consisting of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the twelve, twenty-four and forty weeks ended March 27, 1994, June 19, 1994, and October 9, 1994, respectively; the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 24, 1994, April 6, 1994, June 28, 1994, July 26, 1994, August 3, 1994, August 31, 1994, September 29, 1994, October 18, 1994, October 24, 1994, and December 12, 1994, respectively; and the Company's Current Report on Form 8-KA dated December 12, 1994. 2 All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Debt Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document all or part of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any document subsequently filed with the Commission which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents. Such requests should be directed to the Secretary, Corning Incorporated, One Riverfront Plaza, Corning, New York 14831; telephone (607) 974-9000. THE COMPANY Corning traces its origin to a glass business established by the Houghton family in 1851. The present corporation was incorporated in the State of New York on December 24, 1936, and its name was changed from Corning Glass Works to Corning Incorporated in April 1989. Corning is an international corporation competing in four broadly based business segments: Specialty Materials, Communications, Laboratory Services and Consumer Products. Corning is engaged directly or through subsidiaries and affiliates principally in the manufacture and sale of products made from specialty glasses and related inorganic materials having special properties of chemical stability, electrical resistance, heat resistance, light transmission and mechanical strength. Corning and its subsidiaries annually produce some 60,000 different products at 41 plants in eight countries. In addition, Corning, through subsidiaries and affiliates, engages in laboratory services businesses, including life and environmental sciences and clinical laboratory testing at more than 50 facilities in 10 countries. Corning's strategy includes growth from new products developed from Corning's long-standing commitment to research and development and from mergers and acquisitions. Accordingly, Corning continuously reviews potential acquisition opportunites, primarily in the laboratory services and communications areas. However, there can be no assurance that Corning will pursue any such acquisition opportunity. Corning's executive offices are located at One Riverfront Plaza, Corning, New York 14831; telephone (607) 974-9000. USE OF PROCEEDS Except as may be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities will be used by the Company for general corporate purposes. Such purposes may include, among others, repayment or reduction of indebtedness, working capital requirements, the funding of a portion of the Company's normal, ongoing capital spending program and acquisitions. The precise amounts and timing of the application of proceeds will depend on the funding requirements of the Company. RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The following table sets forth the historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges of the Company for the periods indicated: Forty Weeks Fiscal Year Ended Ended Jan. 2, Jan. 3, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, October 9, 1994 1994 1993 1991 1990 1989 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.8x 1.1x 3.8x 4.5x 4.7x 5.0x 3 For the purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of ( 1 ) income before taxes on income, before equity in earnings and minority interest and before fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized during the period), (2) Corning's share of pre-tax earnings of fifty-percent owned companies, (3) Corning's share of pre-tax earnings of greater than fifty-percent owned unconsolidated subsidiaries, (4) dividends received from less than fifty-percent owned companies and Corning's share of losses of such companies, if any, if any debt of such companies is guaranteed by Corning and (5) previously capitalized interest amortized during the period; and fixed charges consist of (1) interest on indebtedness, (2) amortization of debt issuance costs, (3) a portion of rental expenses which represent an appropriate interest factor, (4) Corning's share of the fixed charges of fifty-percent owned companies, (5) fixed charges of greater than fifty-percent owned unconsolidated subsidiaries and (6) pre-tax dividends on convertible preferred securities of subsidiary. DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement (the "Offered Debt Securities") will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Offered Debt Securities. The Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of April 1, 1991, between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The following summary of certain provisions of the Debt Securities and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture. Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture, and references to sections or articles are to sections or articles of the Indenture. General The Debt Securities will be unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities that may be issued thereunder and provides that Debt Securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series. (Section 301) Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for certain terms or additional provisions of the Offered Debt Securities, including: (i) the title of the Offered Debt Securities; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt Securities; (iii) the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Offered Debt Securities will be issued; (iv) the date or dates on which the principal of the Offered Debt Securities will be payable; (v) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum at which the Offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any; (vi) the date or dates from which such interest, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities will accrue, the dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable, the date on which payment of such interest, if any, will commence and the regular record dates for any such interest payment dates; (vii) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Offered Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company; (viii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Offered Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder, and the periods within, the prices at and the terms and conditions upon which such Offered Debt Securities may be redeemed or purchased; (ix) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency (including composite currencies) in which payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities shall be payable; (x) any currency (including composite currencies) other than the stated currency of the Offered Debt Securities in which the principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities may, at the election of the Company or the Holders, be payable, and the periods within which, and terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made; (xi) if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; (xii) the right of the Company to defease the Offered Debt Securities or certain restrictive covenants and certain Events of Default under the Indenture; (xiii) whether the Offered Debt Securities will be issued as Global Securities and, if so, the Depositary for the Global Securities and the terms and conditions upon which a Global Security may be exchanged for definitive Debt Securities; and (xiv) any restrictive covenants, Events of Default, or other terms relating to the Offered Debt Securities in addition to those described herein. 4 Principal and any premium or interest will be payable, and the Debt Securities will be transferable, at the Place of Payment designated for such Debt Securities (Sections 305, 1002); provided that the payment of any interest may, at the option of the Company, be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the Debt Securities will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. (Section 302) No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge payable in connection therewith. (Section 305) Debt Securities may be issued under the Indenture as Original Issue Discount Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any such Original Issue Discount Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. "Original Issue Discount Security" means any security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof. (Section 101) Subsidiaries The term "Subsidiary" will be defined as a manufacturing corporation 80% or more of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries of the Company. The term "Domestic Subsidiary" will be defined as a Subsidiary of the Company except (i) a Subsidiary which neither transacts any substantial portion of its business nor regularly maintains any substantial portion of its fixed assets within the United States, or (ii) a Subsidiary which is engaged primarily in financing the operations of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries outside the United States. (Section 101) Restrictions on Secured Debt If the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary shall incur, issue, assume or guarantee any notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments ("Debt") secured by a pledge, mortgage or lien (a "Mortgage") on any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property or on any shares of stock or Debt of any Domestic Subsidiary, the Company will secure, or cause such Domestic Subsidiary to secure, the Debt Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Debt, unless after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of all such Debt so secured together with all Attributable Debt of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in respect of sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Domestic Manufacturing Properties would not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. This restriction will not apply to, and there shall be excluded in computing secured Debt for the purpose of such restriction, Debt secured by (a) Mortgages on property of, or on any shares of stock or Debt of, any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Domestic Subsidiary, (b) Mortgages in favor of the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary, (c) Mortgages in favor of U.S. governmental bodies to secure progress, advance or other payments, (d) Mortgages on property, shares of stock or Debt existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through merger or consolidation), purchase money Mortgages and construction Mortgages and (e) any extension, renewal or refunding of any Mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), inclusive. (Section 1008) The Indenture will not restrict the Mortgage of any of the Company's shares of stock of less than 80% owned subsidiaries or the incurring of unsecured Debt by the Company or its subsidiaries. "Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property" will be defined to include any facility (together with the land on which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) used primarily for manufacturing or warehousing, located in the United States, owned or leased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company and having a gross book value in excess of 3% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, other than any such facility or portion thereof (i) which is financed by means of industrial revenue bonds or (ii) which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries as an entirety. (Section 101) "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" will be defined to mean the consolidated assets of the Company less applicable reserves and other deductible items, current liabilities (other than extendible or renewable Funded Debt) and good will, tradenames, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and like intangibles, all as set forth on the most recent balance sheet of the Company prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (Section 101) "Funded Debt" will be defined to mean any indebtedness for borrowed money with a maturity of more than 12 months or having a maturity of less than 12 months but renewable or extendible beyond 12 months. (Section 101) 5 Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks Neither the Company nor any Domestic Subsidiary may enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property, completion of construction and commencement of full operation of which has occurred more than 120 days prior thereto, unless (a) the Company or such Domestic Subsidiary could create Debt secured by a Mortgage on such property pursuant to the restrictions set forth under "Restrictions on Secured Debt" in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to the sale and leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the Debt Securities or (b) the Company, within 120 days, applies to the retirement of its Funded Debt an amount equal to the greater of (i) the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property leased pursuant to such arrangement or (ii) the fair market value of the Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property so leased (subject to credits for certain voluntary retirements of Funded Debt). This restriction will not apply to any sale and leaseback transaction (a) between the Company and a Domestic Subsidiary or between Domestic Subsidiaries or (b) involving the taking back of a lease for a period of three years or less (including renewals). (Section 1009) "Attributable Debt" will be defined to mean the total net amount of rent (discounted at the rate per annum equal to the weighted average interest rate borne as of the date of determination by the Outstanding Debt Securities compounded semiannually) required to be paid during the remaining term of any lease. (Section 101) Merger and Consolidation The Indenture will provide that the Company may, without the consent of any Holder, consolidate with, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other corporation, provided that in any such case, (i) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof and such successor corporation shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the Debt Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Company, and (ii) the Company or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition. (Sectin 801) The Indenture will provide that no consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation and no sale or conveyance of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, may be made to another corporation if, as a result thereof, any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property or any shares of stock or Debt of any Domestic Subsidiary would become subject to a Mortgage, unless either (i) the Debt Securities shall be equally and ratably secured with (or prior to) the Debt secured by such Mortgage or (ii) such Mortgage could be created pursuant to the restrictions set forth under "Restrictions on Secured Debt" without equally and ratably securing the Debt Securities. (Section 803) Modification, Amendment or Waiver With certain limited exceptions, modifications and amendments of the Indenture may only be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected thereby, and compliance with certain covenants (including those referred to above relating to restrictions on secured debt and on sales and leasebacks) may be waived on behalf of the Holders of all Debt Securities of any series, either generally or in a specific instance and either before or after the time for compliance with such covenants, with the consent of Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, provided that without the consent of each Holder of Debt Securities affected thereby no such modifications or amendments may, among other things, reduce the principal amount of or interest on any of the Outstanding Debt Securities, change the maturity date of the principal, the Redemption Price, the Interest Payment Dates or terms of payment or reduce the percentage of Holders necessary to waive certain covenants or modify or amend the Indenture. (Section 901, 902, 1010) Events of Default The following will be Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series: (a) default in the payment of interest, if any, on a Debt Security of that series when due, continued for 30 days; (b) default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) a Debt Security of that series when due; (c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series; (d) default in the performance of any other covenant of the Company (other than a covenant included in 6 the Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Debt Securities other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice; (e) acceleration of any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $10,000,000 by the Company under the terms of the instrument under which such indebtedness is or may be outstanding, if such acceleration is not annulled, or such indebtedness is not paid, within 10 days after written notice; (f) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (g) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series. (Section 501) If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall occur and be continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount (or if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all of the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders). Upon any such declaration, such principal amount (or specified amount), plus any interest accrued on such Debt Securities to the date of declaration, shall become immediately due and payable. Upon payment (i) of (A) such principal amount and (B) such interest and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest, all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest on such Debt Securities shall terminate. Overdue principal and overdue interest will each bear interest at the rate specified in the Debt Securities of such series. At any time after such declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, but before a judgment or decree based on such declaration, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such declaration if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture. (Section 502) The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule or law or the Indenture. (Section 512) Before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the Indenture at the direction of any Holders, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such Holders reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with any such direction. (Section 603(e)) No holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless (i) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series, (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee and (iii) the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. (Section 507) However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified in such Debt Security. (Section 508) The Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement that the Company is not in default in the performance and observation of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice) and if the Company is in default, specifying all such defaults. (Section 1004) Defeasance The Prospectus Supplement will state if defeasance and/or covenant defeasance provisions will apply to the Offered Debt Securities. The Indenture provides, if such provisions are made applicable to the Debt Securities of any series, that the Company may elect either (A) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to such Debt Securities (except from the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the Debt Securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) ("defeasance") or (B) to be released from its obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under Sections 7 501(5), 1008 and 1009 of the Indenture (being the cross-acceleration provision described in clause (e) under "Events of Default", the restrictions described under "Restrictions on Secured Debt" and the restrictions described under "Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks," respectively) and any other restrictive covenants and Events of Default applicable to such series of Debt Securities if indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto ("covenant defeasance"), upon the deposit with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor. In the case of defeasance, the Holders of such Debt Securities are entitled to receive payments in respect of such Debt Securities solely from such trust. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the Indenture) to the effect that the Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion, in the case of defeasance under clause (A) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable Federal income tax law occurring after the date of the Indenture. The Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the Debt Securities of a particular series. (Article Thirteen) In the event the Company exercised its covenant defeasance option with respect to the Securities of any series and the Securities of such series were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited in trust may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Securities of such series upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such a case, the Company would remain liable for such payments. (Sections 1303 and 1304) Regarding the Trustee United States Trust Company of New York serves as the Trustee under several Indentures pursuant to which there is outstanding long-term indebtedness of the Company as follows: $75,000,000 principal amount of 8-1/4% Debentures due 2002, $75,000,000 principal amount of 8-3/8% Notes due 1996, $75,000,000 principal amount of 8-7/8% Debentures due 2016, $75,000,000 principal amount of 8-7/8% Debentures due 2021, $100,000,000 principal amount of 6.75% Debentures due 2013, $100,000,000 principal amount of 7.625% Debentures due 2024 and $100,000,000 principal amount of 6% Notes due 2003. United States Trust Company also serves as the Trustee of Medium Term Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $145,000,000 bearing various interest rates ranging from 7.08% to 7.93% and maturing at various dates from August, 2000, to March, 2023. United States Trust Company also serves as a Trustee of the Company's Pension Plan and Investment Plan, both of which are maintained by the Company for the benefit of the employees of the Company and certain participating subsidiaries. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company may sell Debt Securities to or through underwriters, and also may sell Debt Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents. Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase the Offered Debt Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and such underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the Offered Debt Securities if any are Purchased. The distribution of the Debt Securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the method of distribution of the Offered Debt Securities. In connection with the sale of Debt Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company or from purchasers of Debt Securities for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of Debt Securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). Any such underwriter, dealer or agent will be identified, and any such compensation will be described, in the Prospectus Supplement. 8 Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Debt Securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize dealers or other persons acting as the Company's agent to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Debt Securities from the Company pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. VALIDITY OF DEBT SECURITIES The validity of the Debt Securities is being passed on for the Company by William C. Ughetta, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Corning, and for any underwriters, dealers or agents by Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York. Mr. Ughetta owns substantially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Corning Common Stock. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of the Company and of Dow Corning Corporation incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Company's 1993 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 1994, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The consolidated financial statements of Damon Corporation, as of December 31, 1992 and 1991 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1992, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 4, 1993 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The financial statements of Moran Research Labs as of and for the year ended December 31, 1993 incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to Corning's Current Report on Form 8-KA dated December 12, 1994 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Leverone & Company, certified public accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. 9 No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized by the Company to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement, any Pricing Supplement or the Prospectus in connection with the offer made by this Prospectus Supplement, any Pricing Supplement and the Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus Supplement, any Pricing Supplement and the Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder and thereunder shall under any circumstances create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or thereof. This Prospectus Supplement, any Pricing Supplement and the Prospectus do not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in any state in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Prospectus Supplement Page Description of Notes S-2 Foreign Currency Risks S-13 United States Taxation S-14 Supplemental Plan of Distribution S-21 Validity of Notes S-22 Prospectus Available Information 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference 2 The Company 3 Use of Proceeds 3 Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3 Description of Debt Securities 4 Plan of Distribution 8 Validity of Debt Securities 9 Experts 9 $500,000,000 Corning Incorporated Series A Medium-Term Notes CORNING Goldman, Sachs & Co. Lazard Freres & Co. Citicorp Securities, Inc.