424B2 1 a07-17853_17424b2.htm 424B2

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-134553

Calculation of the Registration Fee

Title of Each Class of Securities
Offered

 

Maximum Aggregate Offering
Price

 

Amount of Registration Fee(1)(2)

 

Notes

 

 

$

500,000

 

 

 

$

15.35

 

 

 

(1) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933.

(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act of 1933, filing fees of $854,865.58 have already been paid with respect to unsold securities that were previously registered pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-134553) filed by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the other Registrants thereto on May 30, 2006, and have been carried forward, of which $15.35 is offset against the registration fee due for this offering and of which $1,211,565.91 remains available for future registration fees. No additional registration fee has been paid with respect to this offering.




PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 291
(To prospectus dated May 30, 2006
and prospectus supplement dated May 30, 2006)

U.S.$500,000

LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC.

Medium-Term Notes, Series I

Three-Year Notes Linked to the LBCI Agriculture Index Total Return

Due July 13, 2010

Because these notes are part of a series of Lehman Brothers Holdings’ debt securities called Medium-Term Notes, Series I, this pricing supplement should also be read with the accompanying prospectus supplement, dated May 30, 2006 (the “MTN prospectus supplement”) and the accompanying prospectus dated May 30, 2006 (the “base prospectus”).  Terms used here have the meanings given to them in the MTN prospectus supplement or the base prospectus, unless the context requires otherwise.

General:

·                 Senior unsecured obligations of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

·                 CUSIP: 52517P3X7

·                 ISIN: US52517P3X72

·                 Index: The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index Agriculture Total Return calculated and published by Lehman Brothers Inc.  For further information on the Index, see “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index”.

·                 The notes are designed for investors who believe that the Index will increase during the term of the notes.  The Index is a total return index, reflecting the combined returns associated with the changes in price of the underlying Index Contracts (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) together with the “roll yields” for those Index Contracts, together with the interest return on a hypothetical fully collateralized investment in the Index Contracts.

·                 Maturity Date: July 13, 2010; provided that, if as a result of a Market Disruption Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) the Valuation Date for one or more Index Contracts is postponed so that it falls less than three New York business days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date will be the third New York business day following the latest occurring postponed Valuation Date for the affected Index Contract.

 

·                 Valuation Date: July 6, 2010, or if such day is not an Index Business Day, the immediately preceding Index Business Day; provided that if a Market Disruption Event is in effect for one or more Index Contracts on the scheduled Valuation Date, the Valuation Date may be postponed (as described in “Description of the Notes” below).

·                 The notes will not be listed on a stock exchange.

·                 Denominations: U.S.$10,000 and whole multiples of U.S.$10,000 in excess thereof.

Payments:

·                 No interest payments during the term of the notes.

·                 The notes are not principal protected, even if held to maturity.

·                 Each $10,000 denominated note will receive a single U.S. Dollar payment on the Maturity Date equal to $10,000 multiplied by the sum of the Index Performance and the Adjustment Percentage.

·                 Index Performance: The quotient of the Final Index Value divided by the Initial Index Value.

·                 Final Index Value:  The closing level of the Index on the Valuation Date, as determined and published by the Index Sponsor (as defined in “Description of Notes” below) (subject to the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event or an Index Unavailability Event), rounded to four decimal places.

·                 Initial Index Value: 120.1300, which is the closing level of the Index on the date hereof, as determined and published by Lehman Brothers Inc., rounded to four decimal places.

·                 Adjustment Percentage: 0.75%

 

The notes are not principal protected, even if held to maturity, and you may lose all or a substantial portion of your investment.  If the Index Performance is less than 100.75% on the Valuation Date—that is, if the Final Index Value has not appreciated by at least 0.75% relative to the Initial Index Value (the amount of the Adjustment Percentage that is subtracted from the Redemption Amount at Maturity)—the Redemption Amount at Maturity will be less than, and may be substantially less than, $10,000, and could be zero.

Investing in the notes involves risks.  Risk Factors begin on page PS-4 and on page S-4 of the MTN prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this pricing supplement or any accompanying prospectus supplement or prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Per Note

 

Total

 

Public offering price (1)

 

100%

 

U.S.$500,000

 

Underwriting discount (2)

 

1%

 

U.S.$5,000

 

Proceeds to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

 

99%

 

U.S.$495,000

 

 

(1) The price to public includes the cost of hedging Lehman Brothers Holdings’ obligations under the notes through one or more of Lehman Brothers Holdings’ affiliates, which includes the Lehman Brothers Holdings’ affiliates expected cost of providing such hedge as well as the profit Lehman Brothers Holdings’ affiliates expect to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in providing such hedge.

(2)  Lehman Brothers Inc. will receive commissions equal to $100.00 per $10,000 principal amount, or 1.00%, and may use all or a portion of these commissions to pay selling concessions or fees to other dealers. Lehman Brothers Inc. and/or an affiliate may earn additional income as a result of payments pursuant to any hedges.

The notes are expected to be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about July 13, 2007.


 

Lehman Brothers Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings, makes a market in Lehman Brothers Holdings’ securities.  It may act as principal or agent in, and this pricing supplement may be used in connection with, those transactions.  Any such sales will be made at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.


 

LEHMAN BROTHERS

July 6, 2007




 

SUMMARY INFORMATION — Q&A

 

This summary highlights selected information from this pricing supplement, the MTN prospectus supplement and the base prospectus to help you understand the notes. You should carefully read this pricing supplement, the MTN prospectus supplement and the base prospectus to understand fully the terms of the notes and the tax and other considerations that are important to you in making a decision about whether to invest in the notes. You should pay special attention to the “Risk Factors” section on page PS-4 of this pricing supplement and page S-4 of the MTN prospectus supplement to determine whether an investment in the notes is appropriate for you.

What are the notes?

The notes will be a series of our senior unsecured debt that are linked to the performance of the Index.  The Index is the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index Agriculture Total Return (also referred to herein as the LBCI Agriculture Index Total Return), which reflects the return associated with the changes in the prices of the underlying Index Contracts (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) and the “roll yields” for those Index Contracts, together with the interest return on a hypothetical fully collateralized investment in the Index Contracts. For further information on the Index, see “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index”.

The notes will rank equally with all other unsecured debt of Lehman Brothers Holdings, except subordinated debt, and will mature on July 13, 2010 (or if such day is not a New York business day, the next succeeding New York business day); provided that, if as a result of a Market Disruption Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) the Valuation Date for one or more Index Contracts (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) is postponed so that it falls less than three New York business days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date will be the third New York business day following the latest occurring postponed Valuation Date for the affected Index Contract.

What payments will I receive on the notes before maturity?

None. Unlike ordinary debt securities, the notes do not pay interest and do not guarantee any return on principal at maturity.

What will I receive if I hold the notes until the Maturity Date?

We have designed this type of note for investors who want to take a view on the value of the Index relative to the Initial Index Value of 120.1300. You can review the historical performance of the Index under “Historical Performance of The LBCI Agriculture Index Total Return”.

At maturity, you will receive for each $10,000 denominated note a single U.S. dollar payment equal to the product of $10,000 multiplied by the difference of the Index Performance minus the Adjustment Percentage.

The Index Performance is equal to the quotient of the Final Index Value divided by the Initial Index Value.

The Adjustment Percentage is 0.75%.

The Initial Index Value is 120.1300, which is the closing level of the Index on the date hereof, as determined and published by Lehman Brothers Inc. as Index sponsor, rounded to four decimal places.

The Final Index Value will be the closing level of the Index on the Valuation Date, as determined and published by Lehman Brothers Inc., as Index sponsor (subject to the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event or an Index Unavailability Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below)), rounded to four decimal places.

The Valuation Date is July 6, 2010; provided that if a Market Disruption Event is in effect for one or more Index Contracts on the scheduled Valuation Date, the Valuation Date may be postponed (as described in “Description of the Notes” below).

The notes are not principal protected, even if held to maturity, and you may lose all or a substantial portion of your investment.  If the Index Performance is less than 100.75% on the Valuation Date—that is, if the Final Index Value has not appreciated by at least 0.75% relative to the Initial Index Value (the amount of the Adjustment Percentage that is subtracted from the Redemption Amount at Maturity)—the Redemption Amount at Maturity will be less than, and may be substantially less than, $10,000, and could be zero.

You can review hypothetical Redemption Amount at Maturity payment examples under “Description of the Notes—Hypothetical Redemption Amount at Maturity Payment Examples”.

How will I be able to find the closing value of the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index Agriculture Total Return at any point in time?

 

PS-1




 

You can obtain the level of the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index Agriculture Total Return at any time by calling your Lehman Brothers sales representative.

Are there any risks associated with my investment?

Yes, the notes will be subject to a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on PS-4 of this pricing supplement and page S-4 of the MTN prospectus supplement.

What about taxes?

We intend to treat the notes as financial contracts as described under “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” below and “Supplemental United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Financial Contracts” in the MTN prospectus supplement.

What happens in the event of a Market Disruption Event?

If the Calculation Agent determines that a Market Disruption Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) relating to one or more Index Contracts (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) is in effect on the scheduled Valuation Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the Final Index Value in good faith in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Index last in effect prior to commencement of the Market Disruption Event, using:

·                 for each Index Contract that did not suffer a Market Disruption Event on the scheduled Valuation Date, the settlement price on the applicable Relevant Exchange of such Index Contract on the scheduled Valuation Date, and

·                  for each Index Contract that did suffer a Market Disruption Event on the scheduled Valuation Date, the settlement price of such Index Contract on the applicable Relevant Exchange on the immediately succeeding trading day on which no Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing  with respect to such Index Contract;

provided however that if a Market Disruption Event has occurred or is continuing with respect to such Index Contract on each of the eight scheduled trading days following the scheduled Valuation Date, then (a) the eighth scheduled trading day shall be deemed the Valuation Date for such Index Contract and (b) the Calculation Agent will determine the price for such Index Contract on such eighth scheduled trading day in its sole and absolute discretion taking into account the latest available quotation for the price for such Index Contract and any other information that in good faith it deems relevant.  See “Description of the Notes”.

What happens in the event of an Index Unavailability Event?

If an Index Unavailability Event is in effect on the scheduled Valuation Date (and no Market Disruption Event is then in effect), the Calculation Agent will determine the Final Index Value on the Valuation Date in good faith in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Index last in effect prior to commencement of the Index Unavailability Event using the closing price on the Relevant Exchanges (as defined in “Description of the Notes” below) of each Index Contract.

Who is Lehman Brothers Holdings?

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively “Lehman Brothers Holdings”) an innovator in global finance, serves the financial needs of corporations, governments and municipalities, institutional clients and high-net-worth clients worldwide. Lehman Brothers Holdings’ worldwide headquarters in New York and regional headquarters in London and Tokyo are complemented by offices in additional locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. See “Prospectus Summary — Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.” and “Where You Can Find More Information” on pages 1 and 58, respectively, of the base prospectus.

You may request a copy of any document Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, at no cost, by writing or telephoning Lehman Brothers Holdings at the address set forth under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information” in the base prospectus.

What is the role of Lehman Brothers Inc.?

Lehman Brothers Inc., one of our subsidiaries, will be the Agent and Calculation Agent for purposes of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred and is continuing.  Potential conflicts of interest may exist between Lehman Brothers Inc. and you as a beneficial owner of the notes. See “Risk Factors— An affiliate of ours may act as calculation agent on the notes, creating a potential conflict of interest between you and us” in the MTN prospectus supplement and “Description of the Notes” below

Can you tell me more about the effect of hedging activity by Lehman Brothers Holdings?

We expect to hedge our obligations under the notes through one or more of our affiliates. This hedging activity will likely involve trading in the Index

 

PS-2




 

Contracts or in other instruments, such as options, swaps or futures, based on the commodities underlying the Index Contracts. This hedging activity could adversely affect the price at which your notes will trade in the secondary market. Moreover, this hedging activity may result in us or our affiliates receiving a profit, even if the market value of the notes declines.  See “Risk Factors— Trading and other transactions by affiliates of Lehman Brothers Holdings and others in the Index Contracts and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts may affect the level of the Index” below.

In what form will the notes be issued?

The notes of each series will be represented by one or more global securities that will be deposited with and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or its nominee. Except in very limited circumstances you will not receive a certificate for your notes.

Will the notes be listed on a stock exchange?

No, the notes will not be listed on a stock exchange.

After the initial offering of the notes, Lehman Brothers Inc. intends to make a market in the notes and may stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes during the initial distribution of the notes.  However, Lehman Brothers Inc. will not be obligated to engage in any of these market activities or to continue them once they are begun. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

 

PS-3




 

RISK FACTORS

Unlike ordinary debt securities, the return on the notes at maturity depends on the price of the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index Agriculture Total Return on the Valuation Date. The notes are a riskier investment than ordinary debt securities. Also, the notes are not equivalent to investing directly in the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts. Before investing in the notes, certain risk factors should be carefully considered by prospective investors in the notes. Risks specific to the notes are described below and are in addition to, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors disclosed in the MTN prospectus supplement.

An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with the performance of the Index and you may lose all or a substantial part of your investment.

Because the notes do not bear interest, your return on the notes will depend solely on the Redemption Amount at Maturity, which in turn is dependent on the performance of the Index.  If the Index Performance is less than 100.75% on the Valuation Date—that is, if the Final Index Value has not appreciated by at least 0.75% relative to the Initial Index Value (the amount of the Adjustment Percentage that is subtracted from the Redemption Amount at Maturity)—the Redemption Amount at Maturity you receive will be less than, and may be substantially less than, the amount of principal you invested, and could be zero.

Prices of the agricultural commodities underlying the Index Contracts change unpredictably, which may affect the Index level and the value of your notes in unforeseeable ways.

Because the Index is the agriculture-only element of the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index (“LBCI”) Total Return, the level of the Index will be primarily determined by current and expected future prices of the Index Contracts representing specified physical agricultural commodities, which are primarily influenced by the global supply of, and demand for, these agricultural commodities.  For 2007, the commodities underlying the Index Contracts include corn, soybean, soybean meal, soybean oil, wheat, coffee cotton and sugar.  Trading in the Index Contracts and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts is speculative and can be extremely volatile. Market prices of the Index Contracts and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts may fluctuate rapidly based on numerous factors, including:

·      changes in supply and demand relationships;

·                 weather;

·                 agriculture;

·                 trade;

·                 fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs;

·                 domestic and foreign political and economic events and policies;

·                 disease;

·                 technological developments;

·                 changes in interest rates and growth rates in the global economy; and

·                 trading activities in agricultural and other commodities and related contracts, including the Index Contracts.

These factors may affect the level of the Index and the value of your notes in varying ways, and different factors may cause the value of different Index Contracts and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts, and the volatilities of their prices, to move in inconsistent directions at inconsistent rates.

An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with lack of diversification.

The notes are linked to the Index, which reflects the excess returns on a group of eight futures contracts on specified agricultural commodities.  Accordingly, the notes are exposed to the risks associated with an undiversified investment in the agricultural sector.  An investment linked only to the Index is likely to be more volatile than an investment linked to a broader range of products, to a diversified commodity Index, such as the LBCI, or to a broader basket of commodities and/or commodities futures contracts.  Increased volatility increases the chance that the Final Index Value will be less than the Initial Index Value on the Valuation Date, which would result in a Redemption Amount at Maturity being less than, and potentially substantially less than, the principal amount of the notes.

Higher future prices of the commodity futures contracts constituting the Index relative to their current prices may decrease the level of the Index, and therefore the amount payable on the notes.

The Index is composed of the Index Contracts, which are futures contracts on physical commodities, and reflects the total combined returns associated with the changes in price of the underlying Index Contracts and the “roll yields” for those Index Contracts (the price changes and roll yield taken together constitute the “excess return”), together with the interest return on a hypothetical fully collateralized position in these futures contracts (the excess return together with this collateral return constitute the “total return”).  Unlike

 

PS-4




 

equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, and unlike owning the commodity directly, a commodity futures contract normally specifies a certain date for delivery of the underlying physical commodity.  A fundamental characteristic of the Index, like other commodity indices, is that as a result of being comprised of futures contracts, the Index must be managed to ensure it does not take delivery of the commodities in question.  This is achieved through a process referred to as “rolling”, under which a given Index Contract during a month in which it approaches its settlement date is rolled forward to a new contract date (i.e., the Index Contract is effectively “sold” to “buy” a longer-dated Index Contract).  For further information on the roll process for the Index, “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—LBCI Return Calculations” below.

Roll yield is generated during the roll process from the difference in price between the near-term and longer-dated futures contracts.  When longer-dated contracts are priced lower than the nearer contract and spot prices, the market is in backwardation, and positive roll yield is generated when higher-priced near-term futures contracts are “sold” to “buy” lower priced longer-dated contracts.  When the opposite is true and longer-dated contracts are priced higher, the market is in contango, and negative roll yields result from the “sale” of lower priced near-term futures contracts to “buy” higher priced longer-dated contracts.  While many of the commodities underlying the Index Contracts have historically exhibited consistent periods of backwardation, backwardation will most likely not exist at all times.  Moreover, certain commodities, such as gold, have historically traded in “contango” markets. Soybeans, which make up 36.34% of the Index based on its daily weighting as June 29, 2007, for example, has been in contango for approximately two years.  Accordingly, because the level of the Index includes the excess returns in the underlying Index Contracts, negative “roll yields” resulting from contango markets could adversely affect the level of the Index.

Many economic and market factors will impact the value of the notes; these factors interrelate in complex ways and the effect of any one factor may offset or magnify the effect of another factor.

In addition to the level of the Index on any day, the value of the notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:

·                 the market price of the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts and expected future prices of the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts (as reflected in the monthly “roll yield” in the Index Contracts);

·                 the volatility or expected volatility of the Index, the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts;

·                 the time to maturity of the notes (and any associated “time premium”);

·                 interest rates in the market generally;

·                 a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory, geographical, agricultural, meteorological or judicial events; and

·                 our credit ratings.

Risks associated with the composition of the Index may adversely affect the value of your notes.

The annual composition of the Index will be calculated in reliance upon historical commodity futures liquidity that is subject to potential errors in data sources or errors that may affect the weighting of components of the Index. Any discrepancies that require revision are not applied retroactively but will be reflected in the weighting calculations of the Index for the following year. However, Lehman Brothers Inc. as Index Sponsor, may not discover every discrepancy. Furthermore, the annual weightings for the Index are determined each year in January by Lehman Brothers Inc. as Index Sponsor, which has a significant degree of discretion in exercising its supervisory duties with respect to the Index and has no obligation to take the needs of any parties to transactions involving the Index into consideration when reweighting or making any other changes to the Index. In addition, there are no caps or floors on a particular commodity weighting based on liquidity, as described in “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—Commodity Weightings”. An investment in the notes may therefore carry risks similar to a concentrated securities investment in a limited number of industries or sectors.

The return on your notes may not reflect developments in the Index Contracts prior to the Valuation Date.

Because the Final Index Value will be based on the Index closing level on the Valuation Date, which is a single Index Business Day near the end of the term of the notes, the level of the Index or at other times during the term of the notes or at the Maturity Date could be higher than the Final Index Value. This difference could be particularly large if there is a significant decrease in the level of the Index during the latter portion of the term of the notes or if there is significant volatility in the Index closing level during

 

PS-5




 

the term of the notes, especially on dates near the Valuation Date.

The notes are not directly linked to the Index Contracts or any other exchange-traded futures contracts.

The notes are not linked directly to the Index Contracts or any other exchange-traded futures contracts.  The notes are linked to the Index, which, as described above, includes the excess returns that are potentially available through an investment in the Index Contracts (in addition to the interest return on a hypothetical fully collateralized position in these futures contracts).  Accordingly, the return on your notes will reflect the excess returns associated with the Index Contracts, including any positive or negative “roll yield”, and therefore will not reflect the return you would realize if the notes were linked directly to the Index Contracts or if you actually owned the Index Contracts or other exchange-traded futures contracts for a similar period.

The inclusion in the original issue price of the broker’s fee and our cost of hedging our obligations under the notes through one or more of its affiliates is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes prior to maturity.

The original issue price of the notes includes the broker’s fee and our cost of hedging its obligations under the notes through one or more of its affiliates.  Such cost includes such affiliates’ expected cost of providing this hedge, as well as the profit these affiliates expect to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in providing such hedge.  As a result, assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which a broker will be willing to purchase notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the original issue price.  In addition, any such prices may differ from values determined by pricing models used by a broker, as a result of such compensation or other transaction costs.

As sponsor of the LBCI, Lehman Brothers Inc., an affiliate of ours, will have the authority to make determinations that could create conflicts of interest or materially affect your notes in various ways.

As further described under “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index”, the LBCI was developed, and is owned, by Lehman Brothers Inc., one of our affiliates. Lehman Brothers Inc. is responsible for, and has determinative influence over, the composition, calculation and maintenance of the LBCI. The judgments that Lehman Brothers Inc., as the sponsor of the LBCI, makes in connection with the composition, calculation and maintenance of the LBCI, may affect                        the value of the notes, the Final Index Value and the Redemption Amount at Maturity payable on the notes.  See “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index” for additional details on the role of Lehman Brothers Inc. as Index Sponsor.

The role played by Lehman Brothers Inc., as Index Sponsor, and the exercise by it of the kinds of discretion described above could present it with a conflict of interest. Lehman Brothers Inc., in its capacity as LBCI sponsor, has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason. Lehman Brothers Inc. may decide to discontinue calculating and publishing the LBCI, which would mean that, if Lehman Brothers Inc., an affiliate of ours, as calculation agent, determines that no successor index exists on the date when the Final Index Value is required to be determined, then Lehman Brothers Inc. in its capacity as calculation agent would have the discretion to make determinations with respect to the level of the LBCI, which may adversely affect the value of the notes, the Final Index Value and the Redemption Amount at Maturity payable on the notes.  See “Index Adjustment” below.

Suspension or disruptions of market trading in the commodity and related futures markets may require an adjustment to the calculation of the Index and may adversely affect the value of the notes.

The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, the participation of speculators and government regulation and intervention. In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the level of the Index and, therefore, the value of your notes.

Certain of the events set forth above also constitute Market Disruption Events under the terms of the notes.  To the extent any Market Disruption Event occurs with respect to one or more Index Contracts and remains in effect on the scheduled Valuation Date for the notes, the Valuation Date for the affected Index Contracts will be postponed until the Market Disruption Event

 

PS-6




 

ceases to be in effect or, if the Market Disruption Event remains in effect for eight scheduled trading days after the Valuation Date, the Final Index Value will be determined by the Calculation Agent as described above under “Market Disruption Event”.  In the event the Valuation Date is postponed, the Final Index Value may be lower than you may have anticipated based on the last available closing value of the Index, and possibly less than the Initial Index Value, which may adversely affect the Redemption Amount at Maturity or the value of your notes.  In addition, if the Valuation Date is postponed due to a Market Disruption Event as described above so that it falls less than three New York business days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date will be postponed to the third New York business day following the postponed Valuation Date.

Trading and other transactions by our affiliates and others in the Index Contracts and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts may affect the level of the Index.

Lehman Brothers Commodity Services Inc. and certain of our other affiliates actively trade the Index Contracts and options on futures contracts on the commodities underlying the Index Contracts. Lehman Brothers Commodity Services Inc. and certain of our other affiliates, also actively enter into or trade and market securities, swaps, options, derivatives, and related instruments that are linked to the performance of the Index, the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts. Certain affiliates of ours may underwrite or issue other securities or financial instruments indexed to the Index and related indices.  Lehman Brothers Inc. and certain of its affiliates may license the Index for publication or for use by unaffiliated third parties. The markets in certain of the Index Contracts may not be traded in significant volumes and may be significantly affected by trading activities, including speculators.

Trading and underwriting activities by us and our affiliates could adversely affect the value of the Index Contracts, the commodities underlying the Index Contracts and the level of the Index, and therefore could in turn affect the return on and the value of the notes.  For instance, a market maker in a financial instrument linked to the performance of the Index may expect to hedge some or all of its position in that financial instrument. Purchase (or selling) activity in the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts in order to hedge the market maker’s position in the financial instrument may affect the market price of the Index Contracts, which in turn may affect the value of the Index. With respect to any of the activities described above, neither we nor any of our affiliates has any obligation to take the needs of any buyers, sellers or holders of the notes into consideration at any time.

Lehman Brothers Inc. may be required to replace an Index Contract if that contract is terminated or replaced.

Each Index Contract is a “Designated Contract” that has been selected as the reference contract for each commodity represented in the Index, as described under the heading “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—Commodity Selection and Weights” below.  Data concerning these Designated Contracts will be used to calculate the Index.  If an Index Contract were to be terminated or replaced by an exchange, a comparable futures contract, if available, would be selected by Lehman Brothers Inc. as a Designated Contract to replace that Index Contract.  The termination or replacement of any Index Contract may have an adverse impact on the level of the Index.

Lack of regulation by the CFTC.

The notes are debt securities that are our direct obligations. The net proceeds we receive from the sale of the notes will not be used to purchase or sell Index Contracts, the commodities underlying the Index Contracts or other futures contracts on such commodities for the benefit of holders of the notes. The notes are not themselves commodities futures contracts, and an investment in the notes does not constitute either an investment in the Index Contracts, the commodities underlying the Index Contracts or other futures contracts on such commodities, or in a collective investment vehicle that trades in the Index Contracts, the commodities underlying the Index Contracts or other futures contracts on such commodities.

Unlike an investment in the notes, an investment in a collective investment vehicle that invests in commodities on behalf of its participants may be regulated as a commodity pool and its operator may be required to be registered with and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”). Because the notes are not interests in a commodity pool, the notes will not be regulated by the CFTC as a commodity pool, we will not be registered with the CFTC as a CPO, and you will not benefit from the CFTC’s or any non-U.S. regulatory authority’s regulatory protections afforded to persons who trade in commodities or who invest in regulated commodity pools.

Because the notes do not constitute investments by you in futures contracts traded on regulated futures exchanges, your you will not benefit from the CFTC’s or any other regulatory authority’s regulatory

 

PS-7




 

protections afforded to persons who trade in futures contracts on a regulated futures exchange.

You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Index and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts that comprise the Index.

In the ordinary course of their businesses, affiliates of ours may from time to time express views on expected movements in the level of the Index, the individual Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts.  These views are sometimes communicated to clients who participate in markets in the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts. However, these views, depending upon world-wide economic, political and other developments, may vary over differing time horizons and are subject to change. Moreover, other professionals who deal in markets for the Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts may at any time have significantly different views from those of us or its affiliates.  In connection with your purchase of the notes, you should investigate the Index, the Index Contracts and the commodities underlying the Index Contracts and not rely on views which may be expressed by us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses with respect to the Index or any such Index Contract or underlying commodity.

You should make such investigation as you deem appropriate as to the merits of an investment linked to the Index.  Neither the offering of the notes nor any views which may from time to time be expressed by us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses with respect to the Index, individual Index Contracts or the commodities underlying the Index Contracts constitutes a recommendation as to the merits of an investment in your notes.

The Index may in the future include Index Contracts that are not traded on regulated futures exchanges.

The Index is based on the Index Contracts, which are all futures contracts traded on regulated futures exchanges (referred to in the United States as “designated contract markets”). However, it is possible that the Index could in the future include over-the-counter contracts (such as swaps and forward contracts) traded on trading facilities that are subject to lesser degrees of regulation or, in some cases, no substantive regulation. As a result, trading in such contracts, and the manner in which prices and volumes are reported by the relevant trading facilities, may not be subject to the provisions of, and the protections afforded by, the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, or other applicable statutes and related regulations, that govern trading on regulated futures  exchanges. In addition, many electronic trading facilities have only recently initiated trading and do not have significant trading histories. As a result, the trading of contracts on such facilities, and the inclusion of such contracts in the Index, could present certain risks not associated with most exchange traded futures contracts, including risks related to the liquidity and price histories of the relevant contracts.

 

PS-8




 

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The U.S.$500,000 aggregate principal amount of Three-Year Notes Linked to the LBCI Aagriculture Index Total Return Due July 13, 2010 offered hereby are Medium-Term Notes, Series I, of Lehman Brothers Holdings.  The CUSIP number for the notes is 52517P3X7 and the ISIN number is US52517P3X72. The notes will be issued in book-entry form only, and will be eligible for transfer through the facilities of DTC or any successor depository. See “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement” in the base prospectus.

The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of U.S.$10,000 and in integral multiples of U.S.$10,000 in excess thereof, and will have a stated “Maturity Date” of July 13, 2010 or if such day is not a New York business day, on the next following New York business day; provided that, if as a result of a Market Disruption Event (as described below) the Final Valuation Date is postponed so that it falls less than three New York business days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date will be the third New York business day following the postponed Final Valuation Date.

The notes are offered as commodity index-linked notes with a Redemption Amount at Maturity determined by reference to the performance of the value of the Index in relation to the Initial Index Value.

The “Redemption Amount at Maturity” for each $10,000 note will be a single U.S. dollar payment on the Maturity Date equal to the product of $10,000 multiplied by the difference of the Index Performance minus the Adjustment Percentage.

The notes are not principal protected, even if held to maturity, and you may lose all or a substantial portion of your investment.  If the Index Performance is less than 100.75% on the Valuation Date—that is, if the Final Index Value has not appreciated by at least 0.75% relative to the Initial Index Value (the amount of the Adjustment Percentage that is subtracted from the Redemption Amount at Maturity)—the Redemption Amount at Maturity will be less than, and may be substantially less than, $10,000, and could be zero.

The “Index” is the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index Agriculture Total Return (also referred to herein as the “LBCI Agriculture Index Total Return”) calculated and published by the Index Sponsor, subject to adjustment in accordance with “—Index Adjustment”, as described below.  For further information on the Index, see “The LBCI Agriculture Index Total Return”.

The “Index Sponsor” is Lehman Brothers Inc.

The “Index Contracts” means the commodities contracts underlying the Index or any Successor Index. See “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—Commodity Selection and Weights” below.

The “Relevant Exchange” means any organized exchange or market of trading for any futures contract (or any combination thereof) included in the Index or any Successor Index.  See “The LBCI Agriculture Index Total Return—Index Composition” below.

The notes are not principal protected, even if held to maturity, and no interest will accrue during the term of the notes and no interest will be payable on the Maturity Date except in the event that the Redemption Amount at Maturity is not paid when due, as described below.

The “Index Performance” is equal to the quotient of the Final Index Value divided by the Initial Index Value.

The “Adjustment Percentage” is 0.75%.

The “Initial Index Value” is 120.1300, which is the closing level of the Index on the Trade Date, as determined and published by the Index Sponsor, rounded to four decimal places.

The “Final Index Value” will be the closing level of the Index on the Valuation Date, as determined and published by the Index Sponsor (subject to the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event or an Index Unavailability Event (as defined below)), rounded to four decimal places.

The “Trade Date” is the date hereof.

The “Issue Date” is July 13, 2007.

The “Valuation Date” is July 6, 2010, or if such day is not an Index Business Day, the immediately preceding Index Business Day; provided that if a Market Disruption Event is in effect for one or more Index Contracts on the scheduled Valuation Date, the Valuation Date may be postponed (as described below).

An “Index Business Day” is a day, as determined in good faith by the Calculation Agent, on which trading is generally conducted on the Relevant Exchange for each Index Contract then comprising the Index or any Successor Index.

 

PS-9




 

If a Market Disruption Event relating to one or more Index Contracts is in effect on the scheduled Valuation Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the Final Index Value in good faith in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Index last in effect prior to commencement of the Market Disruption Event, using:

·                 for each Index Contract that did not suffer a Market Disruption Event on the scheduled Valuation Date, the settlement price on the applicable Relevant Exchange of such Index Contract on the scheduled Valuation Date, and

·                 for each Index Contract that did suffer a Market Disruption Event on the scheduled Valuation Date, the settlement price of such Index Contract on the applicable Relevant Exchange on the immediately succeeding trading day on which no Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing  with respect to such Index Contract;

provided however that if a Market Disruption Event has occurred or is continuing with respect to such Index Contract on each of the eight scheduled trading days following the scheduled Valuation Date, then (a) the eighth scheduled trading day shall be deemed the Valuation Date for such Index Contract and (b) the Calculation Agent will determine the price for such Index Contract on such eighth scheduled trading day in its sole and absolute discretion taking into account the latest available quotation for the price for such Index Contract and any other information that in good faith it deems relevant.

A “Market Disruption Event” means any of the following events as determined in good faith by the Calculation Agent:

(A)     the termination or suspension of, or material limitation or disruption in the trading on a Relevant Exchange of any Index Contract;

(B)       the settlement price on a Relevant Exchange of any Index Contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the maximum permitted price change from the previous day’s settlement price; or

(C)       the settlement price of any Index Contract is not published by the Relevant Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following events will not constitute Market Disruption Events:

(1)          a limitation on the hours in a trading day and/or number of days of trading, if it results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the Relevant Exchange; or

(2)          a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the Index Contract or options or futures contracts relating to the Index or the Index Contract.

If an Index Unavailability Event is in effect on the scheduled Valuation Date (and no Market Disruption Event is then in effect), the Calculation Agent will determine the Final Index Value on the Valuation Date in good faith in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Index last in effect prior to commencement of the Index Unavailability Event using the closing price on the Relevant Exchanges of each Index Contract.

An “Index Unavailability Event” means that the Index is not calculated by the Index Sponsors or any Successor Index is not calculated and published by the sponsors thereof.

Index Adjustment

If Lehman Brothers Inc. discontinues publication of the Index and Lehman Brothers Inc. or another entity publishes a successor or substitute index that the Calculation Agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the discontinued Index (such index, a “Successor Index”), then the Final Index Value will be determined by reference to the level of such Successor Index at the close of trading on the Relevant Exchange or market of the Successor Index last to close on the Valuation Date; provided, however, that the Calculation Agent, in its sole discretion, may make such adjustments as it deems necessary to the level of the Successor Index so that the level of the Successor Index reflects the same level as that of the Index before it was discontinued.  Upon any selection by the Calculation Agent of a Successor Index, the Calculation agent will cause written notice thereof to be promptly furnished to the trustee, to the Issuer and to the holders of the notes.

If Lehman Brothers Inc. discontinues publication of the Index prior to, and such discontinuation is continuing on, the Valuation Date, and the Calculation Agent determines, in its sole discretion, that no Successor Index is available at such time, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Final Index Value on the Valuation Date.  The Final Index Value will be computed by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Index last in effect prior to such discontinuation, using the settlement prices on the Relevant Exchanges (or, if trading in an Index Contract has been materially suspended or materially limited, its good faith estimate of the settlement price that would have prevailed but for such suspension or

 

PS-10




 

limitation) at the close of trading on the Valuation Date.

If at any time the method of calculating the Index or a Successor Index, or the level thereof, is, in the good faith judgment of the Calculation Agent, changed or modified in a material respect, the Calculation Agent may (but is not obligated to) make such adjustments to the Index or Successor Index or their respective methods of calculation as, in the good faith judgment of the Calculation Agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a level of a commodity index comparable to the Index or such Successor Index, as the case may be, as if such changes or modifications had not been made, and the Calculation Agent will calculate the Final Index Value with reference to the Index or such Successor Index as adjusted.  Accordingly, if the method of calculating the Index or a Successor Index is modified or rebased so that the level of the Index or Successor Index is a fraction or multiple of what it would have been if it had not been modified or rebased, then the Calculation Agent will adjust the level of the Index or Successor Index in order to arrive at a level of the Index or Successor Index as if it has not been modified or rebased.

The notes are not subject to redemption at our option or to repayment at the option of the Holders of the notes prior to the Maturity Date.

In case an event of default (as described in the base prospectus) with respect to any note shall have occurred and be continuing, the amount that may be declared due and payable upon any acceleration of the notes will be determined by the Calculation Agent for the period from and including the Issue Date to but excluding the date of early repayment and will equal, for each note, the Redemption Amount, calculated as though the date of early repayment were the Maturity Date. If a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced in respect of Lehman Brothers Holdings, the claim of the beneficial owner of a note for the period from and including the Issue Date to but excluding the date of early repayment will be capped at the Redemption Amount, calculated as though the date of the commencement of the proceeding were the Maturity Date.

Any overdue payment in respect of any note will bear interest until the date upon which all sums due in respect of such note are received by or on behalf of the relevant Holder, at the rate per annum that is the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period of six months that appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR page as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the first London business day following such failure to pay. Such rate will be determined by the Calculation Agent.  If interest in respect of overdue amounts is calculated for a period of less than one year, it will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each, and, in the case of an incomplete month, the number of days elapsed.

The “Calculation Agent” means Lehman Brothers Inc., the determinations and calculations of which will be binding in absence of manifest error.

PS-11




 

Hypothetical Redemption Amount at Maturity Payment Examples

The Redemption Amount at Maturity payable on the notes will equal the principal amount of the notes times the sum of the Index Performance minus the Adjustment Percentage; accordingly the Redemption Amount at Maturity will increase or decrease in direct proportion to the appreciation or depreciation (before subtracting the Adjustment Percentage) of the Final Index Value relative to the Initial index Value.  If the Final Index Value has not appreciated by at least the amount of the Adjustment Percentage that is subtracted from the Redemption Amount at Maturity, the Redemption Amount at Maturity you receive will be less than, and may be substantially less than, the amount of principal you invested, and could be zero.

The table below illustrates the hypothetical Redemption Amount at Maturity per $10,000 principal amount of notes, based on the Adjustment Percentage of 0.75% and the Initial Index Value of 120.1300 (each as determined on the Trade Date), as well as a hypothetical series of Final Index Values and consequent range for the Index Performance from 160% to 40% (i.e., from 60% appreciation to 60% depreciation in the Final Index Value relative to the Initial Index Value).  The following results are based solely on the hypothetical examples cited; the Final Index Values and resulting Index Performance have been chosen arbitrarily for the purpose of these examples and should not be taken as indicative of the future performance of the Index.

 

Final Index Value
(on the
Valuation Date)

 

Index Performance
(Final Index Value /
Initial Index Value)

 

Adjustment
Percentage

 

Index
Performance –
Adjustment
Percentage

 

Redemption
Amount
at Maturity

192.2080

 

160%

 

0.75%

 

159.25%

 

$15,925.00

168.1820

 

140%

 

0.75%

 

139.25%

 

$13,925.00

144.1560

 

120%

 

0.75%

 

119.25%

 

$11,925.00

132.1430

 

110%

 

0.75%

 

109.25%

 

$10,925.00

120.1300

 

100%

 

0.75%

 

99.25%

 

$9,925.00

108.1170

 

90%

 

0.75%

 

89.25%

 

$8,925.00

96.1040

 

80%

 

0.75%

 

79.25%

 

$7,925.00

72.0780

 

60%

 

0.75%

 

59.25%

 

$5,925.00

48.0520

 

40%

 

0.75%

 

39.25%

 

$3,925.00

 

Example 1: The level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Value to a Final Index Value on the Valuation Date of 168.1820

Because the Final Index Value of 168.1820 has appreciated 40% relative to the Initial Index Value, resulting in an Index Performance of 140% (and, after subtracting the Adjustment Percentage of 0.75%, 139.25%), the Redemption Amount at Maturity is equal to $13,925.00 per $10,000 principal amount of notes, calculated as follows:

 

Redemption Amount at Maturity = $10,000 * [(168.1820 / 120.1300) – 0.0075] = $13,925.00

Example 2: The level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Value to a Final Index Value on the Valuation Date of 72.0780

Because the Final Index Value of 72.0780 has depreciated 40% relative to the Initial Index Value, resulting in an Index Performance of 60% (and, after subtracting the Adjustment Percentage of 0.75%, 59.25%), the Redemption Amount at Maturity equal to $5,925.00 per

PS-12




 

$10,000 principal amount of notes – a loss of $4,075.00 of principal – calculated as follows:

Redemption Amount at Maturity = $10,000 * [(72.0780 / 120.1300) – 0.0075] = $5,925.00

Example 3: The Final Index Value on the Valuation Date of 120.1300 is equal to the Initial Index Value (i.e., the level of the Index is unchanged)

 

Because the Final Index Value of 120.1300 is equal to the Initial Index Value, resulting in an Index Performance of 100% (and, after subtracting the Adjustment Percentage of 0.75%, 99.25%), the Redemption Amount at Maturity equal to $9,925.00 per $10,000 principal amount of notes, calculated as follows:

Redemption Amount at Maturity = $10,000 *[(120.1300 / 120.1300) – 0.0075] = $9,925.00

 

PS-13




 

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE LBCI AGRICULTURE INDEX TOTAL RETURN

 

As the Index was launched on July 1, 2006, the same date on which the LBCI was launched, limited actual historical information concerning the level of the Index is available.  The following graph shows (a) hypothetical daily historical levels for the Index from January 1, 2001, to July 1, 2006, calculated based on a level for the Index that was set to 100 on June 30, 2006, and using the same objective criteria as will be used by the Index going forward, as well as actual observable data for the Index Contracts, and (b) actual daily historical levels for the Index from July 1, 2006, to July 6, 2007.  Neither the hypothetical nor actual historical levels of the Index are necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index, the Final Index Value, or what the value of the notes may be.  Fluctuations in the level of the Index make it difficult to predict whether the Final Index Value will exceed the Initial Index Value, or what the Redemption Amount at Maturity will be (and whether that Redemption Amount at Maturity will result in a positive return on the notes or a loss of principal).  Fluctuations in the hypothetical or actual historical levels of the Index may be greater or lesser than fluctuations experienced by the holders of the notes.

 

 

 

As discussed in “Risk Factors—An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with lack of diversification”, because the Index is based on the total returns associated with Index Contracts representing solely agricultural commodities, it is less diversified than, and its performance will differ from that of, the LBCI generally.  For illustrative purposes only, the graph below reflects the pro forma and actual historical levels of the Agricultural Index (determined as described above) as compared to the historical levels of the LBCI Total Return.  The LBCI Total Return levels shown in the graph below reflect (a) hypothetical daily historical levels for the LBCI Total Return from January 1, 2001, to July 1, 2006, calculated using the same objective criteria for commodity selection and weighting as will be used by the LBCI Excess Return going forward, together with actual observable data for the relevant Index Contracts, and (b) actual daily historical levels for the LBCI Total Return from July 1, 2006, to July 6, 2007.  To enable comparison of performance, the Index level and LBCI Total Return level were each set to 100 on January 1, 2001.

 

PS-14




 

THE LBCI AGRICULTURE INDEX TOTAL RETURN

Index Composition

The Index is the agricultural-only element of the LBCI Excess Return Index and is comprised solely of the agricultural Index Contracts included in the LBCI Total Return for each year. Lehman Brothers Inc., as Index Sponsor, has developed and calculates a number of sub-indices representing components of the LBCI Excess Return.  The Index is one of these sub-indices.

For 2007, the Index consists of the following eight Index Contracts on the applicable Relevant Exchanges:

 

 

Commodity

 

Index Contract

 

Relevant Exchange

 

Ticker

Grains

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corn

 

Corn

 

CBOT

 

C

Soybean

 

Soybean

 

CBOT

 

S

Soybean Meal

 

Soybean Meal

 

CBOT

 

SM

Soybean Oil

 

Soybean Oil

 

CBOT

 

BO

Wheat

 

Wheat (Chicago)

 

CBOT

 

W

Softs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee

 

Coffee ‘C’

 

NYBOT

 

KC

Cotton

 

Cotton No. 2

 

NYBOT

 

CT

Sugar

 

Sugar No. 11

 

NYBOT

 

SB

 

 

For a description of how contracts are selected for the LBCI and a discussion of the LBCI in general, see “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—Commodity Selection and Weights” below.

Index Weighting

Once the list of LBCI-eligible contracts has been determined, each commodity in the Index will be re-weighted at the start of each year (implemented during the January roll period) using its average daily liquidity as of the previous November month-end. Average daily liquidity as of November 30th is converted into a commodity liquidity factor (based on contract closing prices as of the second LBCI Business Day of the year) that is held constant for each commodity after the January roll period. Though the liquidity factor remains constant, daily Index weightings will adjust throughout the year with the price movements of the underlying Index Contracts (i.e., price appreciation in an Index Contract will increase the weight of that Index Contract in the Index).  For a description of how contracts weighting in the LBCI (including the calculation of liquidity factors), see “The Lehman “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—Commodity Selection and Weights” below.

 

As time progresses the LBCI will experience some turnover in the list of eligible commodity contracts. If a new contract becomes eligible or ceases to be eligible at the end of November based upon trailing three-year daily average liquidity, then it will enter or exit during the January weighting roll period.

The following tables show (a) the hypothetical initial annual weights for the Index, which was launched on July 1, 2006, over the period starting from January 1, 2001 until July 1, 2006, and actual initial annual Index weights as of July 1, 2006, and (b) the initial annual weights for the Index as of January 1, 2007 as compared to the actual weights for the Index as of the end of June 2007.. The hypothetical and actual historical weights presented below are not necessarily indicative of the future weightings of any particular Index Contract, commodity or sector in the Index.

PS-15




Initial Annual LBCI Agriculture Weights Since 2001

Sector & Commodity Selection

 

Initial Annual Index Weights (as of January 1, unless otherwise specified)

 

Sector/Commodity

 

Contract

 

Exch.

 

2007

 

Jul 1,
2006

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soybeans

 

Soybeans

 

CBT

 

33.9

%

36.05

%

38.32

%

30.82

%

37.03

%

35.18

%

32.84

%

34.79

%

Corn

 

Corn

 

CBT

 

24.49

%

18.68

%

16.35

%

19.24

%

16.97

%

17.51

%

19.74

%

17.85

%

Soybean Meal

 

Soybean Meal

 

CBT

 

8.33

%

8.96

%

12.02

%

9.78

%

13.33

%

10.35

%

9.14

%

11.88

%

Wheat

 

Chicago

 

CBT

 

10.36

%

9.83

%

8.85

%

9.75

%

9.40

%

8.51

%

10.42

%

7.89

%

Soybean Oil

 

Soybean Oil

 

CBT

 

6.79

%

7.52

%

6.68

%

6.53

%

6.90

%

7.00

%

8.98

%

5.90

%

Total Grains

 

 

 

 

 

83.87

%

81.04

%

82.23

%

76.13

%

83.64

%

78.55

%

81.12

%

78.31

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Softs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee

 

Coffee “C”

 

NYBOT

 

7.27

%

6.93

%

5.58

%

10.48

%

5.63

%

8.74

%

8.42

%

4.92

%

Cotton

 

Cotton #2

 

NYBOT

 

5.10

%

5.63

%

6.09

%

4.64

%

7.59

%

8.52

%

6.07

%

9.35

%

Sugar

 

World Sugar #11

 

NYBOT

 

3.76

%

6.41

%

6.09

%

8.75

%

3.13

%

4.19

%

4.40

%

7.43

%

Total Softs

 

 

 

 

 

16.13

%

18.96

%

17.77

%

23.87

%

16.36

%

21.45

%

18.88

%

21.69

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Index

 

 

 

 

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%


Source:             Lehman Brothers Inc., 2007

LBCI Agriculture Weights as of January 1, 2007 and June 29, 2007

Commodity

 

Index Contract

 

Initial Annual 
Index Weights 
as of January 1, 2007

 

Index Weights 
as of June 29, 2007

 

Grains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soybean

 

Soybean

 

33.90

%

36.34

%

Corn

 

Corn

 

24.49

%

16.24

%

Soybean Meal

 

Soybean Meal

 

8.33

%

9.05

%

Wheat

 

Wheat (Chicago)

 

10.36

%

12.32

%

Soybean Oil

 

Soybean Oil

 

6.79

%

6.91

%

Total Grains

 

 

 

83.87

%

80.86

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Softs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee

 

Coffee ‘C’

 

7.27

%

6.87

%

Cotton

 

Cotton No. 2

 

5.10

%

5.70

%

Sugar

 

Sugar No. 11

 

3.76

%

6.57

%

Total Softs

 

 

 

16.13

%

19.14

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Index

 

 

 

100.00

%

100.00

%

 

PS-16




Calculation of the Daily Index Level and Index Returns

Like the general LBCI Total Return, the Index is a total return index.  Accordingly, the daily Index level and returns on the Index reflect:

·                  Spot return – the returns associated with the percentage of the underlying Index Contracts used to price the LBCI before any contract rolling has occurred.

·                  Excess return – the combined returns associated with the changes in price of the underlying Index Contracts together with the “roll yields” for those Index Contracts; and

·                  Total return – the excess return plus the return on the collateral that has to be posted as margin against the futures positions.

The final Index level for each LBCI Business Day is published at such time on Bloomberg page “LBAGTR <INDEX>”, Reuters page “LEH/COMMC” and LehmanLive.

Spot Returns

On any LBCI Business Day in a month other than a day during a roll period for the Index Contract, or in a month in which no roll is scheduled to occur for the Index Contract, the level of the Index will increase or decrease from the previous day’s Index level in direct proportion to the daily percentage appreciation or depreciation (the “spot price movements”) in the price of the then-active (prompt) Index Contract relative to the previous day’s closing price for the prompt Index Contract on the Relevant Exchange.

Excess Returns

The “excess returns” of the Index are the combined return of spot price movements and roll yield associated with the Index Contracts.  During any month in which an Index Contract is scheduled to roll, the roll period (like the roll period for all other commodity contracts included in the LBCI) will begin at the end of the fifth LBCI Business Day (as defined in “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—Overview” below) in that month and last for five LBCI Business Days.  During the roll period, the hypothetical position in that Index Contract is gradually shifted from the prompt Index Contract to the prompt + 1 Index Contract (i.e., the Index Contract with the next nearest expiration) in 20% daily increments.  For a further details on the rolling of the Index Contracts and the impact of this rolling on the calculation of the daily Index level during the roll period, see “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—LBCI Return Calculations—Commodity Roll Mechanics” below.

The roll from the prompt to the prompt + 1 contract generates “roll yield”.  When longer dated contracts are priced lower than the nearer contract and spot prices, the market is in backwardation.  When the opposite is true and longer contracts are priced higher, the market is in contango.  Positive roll yield is generated in backwardated markets when higher priced spot or near-term futures contracts are “sold” to “buy” lower priced longer dated contracts.  Negative roll yield occurs in contangoed markets when lower priced spot or near-term futures contracts are “sold” to “buy” higher priced longer dated contracts.  Accordingly, when the market for an Index Contract is in backwardation, the roll yield for the Index Contract in that month will be positive and therefore serve to increase the level of the Index relative to what it would have been based solely on the spot price movements in the Index Contract.  Conversely, when the market for an Index Contract is in contango, the roll yield for that month will be negative and therefore will decrease the level of the Index.

Total Returns

Total returns for Index are calculated by adding a Treasury Bill return (compounded daily) to the excess returns described above to represent the total return earned by a fully collateralized futures position.  For each calendar day during the Index calculation period, collateral will earn a daily Treasury Bill return, and if there is more than one calendar day in the calculation period this return will be compounded for the number of days in the period.  For further details concerning the calculation of the total return, see “LBCI Return Calculations—Total Returns” below.

Contract Roll Schedule

The LBCI Contract Calendar specifies which Index Contracts (by settlement month) are used to calculate LBCI returns for each monthly reporting period.  The calculation of returns on the Index will follow the LBCI Contract Calendar with respect to the applicable Index Contracts. For further discussion of the LBCI Contract Calendar, see “The Lehman Brothers Commodity Index—LBCI Return Calculations—Commodity Roll Mechanics” and “—LBCI Contract Calendar” below.

PS-17




THE LEHMAN BROTHERS COMMODITY INDEX

Overview

Lehman Brothers Inc. launched the Lehman Brothers Commodity Index (“LBCI”), which includes the LBCI Total Return and LBCI Excess Return (see “—LBCI Return Calculations” below) on July 1, 2006.  The LBCI is a rules-based index of commodities futures that uses liquidity as the primary criterion for commodity selection and weights.  The LBCI includes commodities with an average daily dollar trading volume exceeding $250 million (or $1 billion for industrial metals traded on the London Metals Exchange) over the previous three years as of November 30. The LBCI currently is composed of the prices of 20 exchange-traded futures contracts (the “Index Contracts”) on physical commodities.  A futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity or financial instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price.  For a general description of the commodity future markets, please see “The Commodity Futures Markets” below.  The commodities currently included in the LBCI are: crude oil, heating oil, natural gas, unleaded gas, aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc, gold, silver, lean hogs, live cattle, corn, soybean, soybean meal, soybean oil, wheat, coffee, cotton and sugar.

The LBCI contains four major sectors: energy, metals, agriculture, and livestock. Within metals, there are additional subsectors for industrial metals and precious metals. Within agriculture there are subsectors for grains and softs. Each of these sector indices represents the liquidity weighted returns of its commodity components.

The LBCI Total Return is a total return index, reflecting the combined returns associated with the changes in price of the underlying Index Contracts together with the “roll yields” for those Index Contracts (together, the “excess return”), together with the interest return on a hypothetical fully collateralized investment in the Index Contracts.  The LBCI Excess Return, by contrast, is an excess return index, reflecting the excess return associated with the underlying Index Contracts without any return on collateral.  For a description of calculation of the excess return and total return, see below under “—LBCI Return Calculations”.  Lehman Brothers Inc. has also developed and calculates a number of sub-indices representing components of the LBCI, as well as certain variations of the LBCI or its sub-indices reflecting weightings of the component Index Contracts that are different than the annual weighting assigned of the LBCI generally (or the sub-indices of the LBCI).

The LBCI, including the LBCI Total Return, the LBCI Excess Return, each LBCI sub-index and any variations of the LBCI or its sub-indices, is a proprietary index that Lehman Brothers Inc. developed and calculates.  The methodology for determining the composition and the weighting of the LBCI and for calculating its value is subject to modification by Lehman Brothers Inc. at any time.  Initial LBCI returns are published once between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) on each LBCI Business Day (as defined below) for the LBCI and its components.  When final closing prices are published for each Index Contract on their respective exchanges, the daily returns will be finalized. The final LBCI level for each LBCI Business Day is published at such time on Bloomberg page “LBCI”, Reuters page “LEH/COMMA” and LehmanLive.  Index levels for the LBCI Excess Return, the LBCI Total Return and certain LBCI sub-indices can also be obtained from the official website of Lehman Brothers at http://www.lehman.com/LL_S/public/publicsite/bondindex.html. The Issuer is not incorporating by reference herein the website or any material included in the website.

An “LBCI Business Day” will follow the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) holiday calendar and the LBCI will only be published on days when the NYMEX is open for trading (including half days). On those days when any other exchange (LME, CBOT, CME, and NYBOT) is closed and the NYMEX is open, Lehman Brothers Inc. will use data for the affected Index Contract(s) from the previous available business day on which such exchange(s) was open for LBCI calculations. On days when the NYMEX is closed and other exchanges are open, returns will be reflected on the next day when the NYMEX is open. Contract roll schedules will reflect the NYMEX calendar for all commodities. If there is a NYMEX holiday before or during a roll period, the scheduled roll will be pushed forward to the next LBCI Business Day.

Lehman Brothers Inc. and its affiliates actively trade futures contracts and options on future contracts on the commodities that underlie the LBCI, as well as commodities, including commodities represented by the Index Contracts.  For information about how this trading may affect the value of the LBCI, see “Risk Factors—Trading and other transactions by our affiliates and others in the Index Contracts and the

PS-18




commodities underlying the Index Contracts may affect the level of the Index.”

Commodity Selection and Weights

LBCI composition and weights are reset annually each January to reflect updated historical commodity contract liquidity data as of November 30 of the previous year. In addition, Lehman Brothers Inc. will also calculate and publish the projected liquidity factors and LBCI weights throughout the year using the trailing three-year average daily volume as of that day. This timeframe enables the LBCI to be constructed using more recent liquidity data while still giving investors sufficient time to prepare for the LBCI rebalancing.

Quantifying Commodity Liquidity

The LBCI components are both selected and weighted based on historical commodity futures liquidity. For LBCI purposes, liquidity is derived from the exchange reported trading volume of non-financial commodities futures. To make a meaningful comparison across commodity markets, Lehman Brothers Inc. calculates a trailing three-year average of the average daily dollar volume of contracts traded (DVCT) for all commodities that may be eligible for the LBCI. Converting published volumes from each of the exchanges into a daily dollar value allows for direct comparisons of liquidity across exchanges in a common metric. Daily calculations over a three-year period capture intra-month liquidity changes while offering a historical perspective that reflects the seasonality and cyclicality of different markets and maintains LBCI stability.

For each commodity Lehman Brothers Inc. calculates a DVCT using the following steps:

1.               Identify contract-specific trading volumes and closing prices as reported daily by each global futures exchange. All futures expirations of a standardized contract with trading activity are included in the calculation. If volumes are not published for specific settlement dates in the future, Lehman Brothers Inc. will use the aggregated volumes published for each contract across all settlement dates.

2.               To derive the DVCT of a contract: multiply the closing price of that contract times (A) the daily reported trading volume of that contract and (B) the fixed number of units in which each contract is denominated.

3.               Aggregate the daily values derived in step 2 for all settlement dates of that contract to determine the summed daily dollar volume traded for the entire commodity contract.

4.               Average the daily dollar volume traded in step 3 over the trailing three-year period to calculate a trailing three-year average daily DVCT.

Selecting Commodities for the LBCI Based on Liquidity

To be eligible for the LBCI, a commodity must meet a minimum liquidity threshold based on trading volume in the past three years. Commodity liquidity is evaluated across all contracts and settlement dates on the various global commodity futures exchanges for commodities that may be eligible for the LBCI.

·                  Commodities with an average daily dollar trading volume exceeding $250 million over the previous three years as of November 30 are eligible for inclusion in the LBCI (except industrial metals traded on the London Metals Exchange (LME), which will require a minimum average daily trading volume of $1 billion because of differences in their method for reporting volumes compared with other exchanges).

·                  LBCI-eligible commodities will remain in the LBCI until their average daily dollar volume traded over the previous three years as of November 30 drops below $200 million ($800 million for LME metals). This will help maintain LBCI compositional stability and prevent commodities from exiting the LBCI for a year just to re-enter at the beginning of the next year if they are at or near the $250 million ($1 billion) threshold.

·                  Only the largest contract per commodity based on liquidity will be LBCI-eligible. For example, the largest crude oil contract, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil, which trades on the NYMEX, will be the Index Contract for crude oil while Brent Crude, which trades on the Inter Continental Exchange (ICE), will not, despite the fact that both contracts meet the LBCI liquidity requirement.

·                  If the LBCI-eligible contract of a particular commodity is discontinued or substituted in the market by a different contract as a result of external factors such as government regulations, Lehman Brothers Inc. may substitute the new contract as the Index Contract in between LBCI rebalancing dates

PS-19




after providing advanced notice to LBCI users.

·                  Commodities that are considered to be derivatives or downstream products created from other LBCI-eligible commodities are treated as separate commodities as long as they have sufficient market liquidity and are evaluated for LBCI eligibility on a stand-alone basis. For example, soybeans, soybean meal, and soybean oil are treated as separate commodities and will each be LBCI-eligible if their respective liquidity exceeds $250 million daily. The same holds true for crude oil and its downstream products of heating oil and unleaded gasoline.

·                  Only U.S. dollar-denominated contracts are currently LBCI-eligible. Alternate versions of the LBCI that may substitute or add non-U.S. dollar contracts are planned for future development.

·                  The LBCI contains 20 commodities that qualified for inclusion, each with its single associated Index Contract (see Figure 1 below). Commodities that did not meet the minimum liquidity threshold but are represented in other major indices include cocoa, lead, and feeder cattle.

Figure 1.  LBCI Eligible Commodities and Contracts for 2007

Commodity

 

Contract Used in LBCI

 

Exchange

 

Ticker

 

USD Denominated Futures Contracts Greater than
$250m DVCT Not Currently Eligible for LBCI

Crude Oil

 

West Texas Intermediate

 

NYMEX

 

CL

 

Brent Crude (IPE)

Heating Oil

 

Heating Oil

 

NYMEX

 

HO

 

Gasoil (IPE)

Natural Gas

 

Henry Hub

 

NYMEX

 

NG

 

 

Unleaded Gas

 

RBOB

 

NYMEX

 

XB

 

HU RFG (used prior to July 1, 2006)

Aluminum

 

High Grade Aluminum (London)

 

LME

 

LA

 

Alloy (LME), Aluminum (COMEX)

Copper

 

Copper (London)

 

LME

 

LP

 

Copper (COMEX)

Nickel

 

Primary Nickel (London)

 

LME

 

LN

 

 

Zinc

 

High Grade Zinc (London)

 

LME

 

LX

 

 

Gold

 

Gold (New York)

 

COMEX

 

GC

 

Gold (CBOT)

Silver

 

Silver (New York)

 

COMEX

 

SI

 

Silver (CBOT)

Lean Hogs

 

Lean Hogs

 

CME

 

LH

 

 

Live Cattle

 

Live Cattle

 

CME

 

LC

 

 

Corn

 

Corn

 

CBOT

 

C

 

 

Soybean

 

Soybean

 

CBOT

 

S

 

 

Soybean Meal

 

Soybean Meal

 

CBOT

 

SM

 

 

Soybean Oil

 

Soybean Oil

 

CBOT

 

BO

 

 

Wheat

 

Wheat (Chicago)

 

CBOT

 

W

 

Kansas (KCBOT), Minneapolis (MGE)

Coffee

 

Coffee ‘C’

 

NYBOT

 

KC

 

Arabica (BMF), Robusta (LIFFE)

Cotton

 

Cotton No. 2

 

NYBOT

 

CT

 

 

Sugar

 

Sugar No. 11

 

NYBOT

 

SB

 

Sugar No. 14 (NYBOT)


Source:             Lehman Brothers Inc., 2007

Commodity Weightings

Once the list of LBCI-eligible contracts has been determined, each commodity will be re-weighted in the LBCI at the start of each year (implemented during the January roll period) using its average daily liquidity as of the previous November month-end. Average daily liquidity as of November 30 is converted into a commodity liquidity factor (based on contract closing prices as of the second LBCI Business Day of the year) that is held constant for each commodity after the January roll period. Though the liquidity factor remains constant, daily LBCI weightings will adjust throughout the year with the price movements of the underlying Index Contracts (i.e., price appreciation in an Index Contract will increase the weight of that Index Contract in the LBCI).

PS-20




·                  Each Index Contract will be weighted in the LBCI in proportion to its liquidity relative to the other Index Contracts. Volumes for Index Contracts traded on the LME are divided by two to more accurately reflect the liquidity of the metals represented by these Index Contracts relative to other LBCI-eligible commodities.

·                  If a commodity does not have liquidity data for the full three-year period as of November month-end, average daily liquidity will be used for the data points that do exist, provided that the time series is longer than one year. If an Index Contract was substituted for a different Index Contract for that commodity, the previous Index Contract’s historical liquidity may also be considered to determine LBCI weights for that commodity.

·                  There will be no caps or floors on a particular commodity or sector weighting based on liquidity.

·                  LBCI weights will be published daily. In addition, Lehman Brothers Inc. will also calculate projected LBCI weights for the following year using the trailing three-year average daily volume as of that day. On November 30, this projected weight will become the initial weight for the following year. Figure 2 under “—Calculating Commodity Liquidity Factors and LBCI Weights—Introducing and Removing Commodities” below shows the evolution of commodity and sector LBCI weights since 2001.

Calculating Commodity Liquidity Factors and LBCI Weights

The two components used to calculate a commodity’s daily LBCI weight are its liquidity factor and the price of the relevant Index Contract. While a commodity’s Index Contract price changes daily based on movements in the futures markets, its liquidity factor, or “amount outstanding”, is reset only once a year based on its trailing three-year historical contract liquidity.

The liquidity factor is a derived number equivalent to the relative amount of each commodity needed to achieve the liquidity-based weightings set forth by the LBCI rules. It is not a direct measure of trading volume or market liquidity. It is calculated by dividing the average daily dollar value of contracts traded as of November 30 of the previous year (which determines the beginning of year LBCI weights) by the closing prices of each Index Contract as of the second LBCI Business Day of the new calendar year. For a given commodity contract, the formula for liquidity factor is:

 

Liquidity Factor

=

DVCT Prev Nov ME

 

 

Price 2nd Business Day

 

 

Where:         DVCT Prev Nov ME, i = Trailing three-year average dollar value of contracts traded for LBCI-eligible contract i as of November 30 of the previous year.

Price 2nd Business Day = Prompt contract closing price of Index Contract for commodity i, as of the second LBCI Business Day of the year.

Rebalancing Liquidity Factors

Annual LBCI rebalancing is implemented during the January LBCI roll period. This occurs by switching from the previous year’s liquidity factor to the current year’s liquidity factor in 20% daily increments during the five-day roll period. Rebalancing over a five-day roll period maintains LBCI stability by not causing a major LBCI re-weighting on a single LBCI Business Day. Liquidity factors for each year will be announced at the end of the second LBCI Business Day of that year.

On the first through fifth LBCI Business Day of each year, the liquidity factor for each commodity will be the previous year’s liquidity factor. On the sixth through ninth LBCI Business Days of the January roll period, the liquidity factor will be a weighted combination of the previous year’s and current year’s liquidity factors. From the tenth LBCI Business Day forward, the LBCI will use the current year’s liquidity factor. Once 100% of the new liquidity factor is used for LBCI weightings, the annual rebalancing has been completed. Daily LBCI weights will then reflect both the rebalanced component weights and the daily price movements that have since occurred.

Introducing and Removing Commodities

As time progresses the LBCI will experience some turnover in the list of eligible commodity contracts. If a new contract becomes eligible or ceases to be eligible at the end of November based upon trailing three-year daily average liquidity, then it will enter or exit during the January weighting roll period.

The following information shows the hypothetical yearly weights for the LBCI, which was launched on July 1, 2006, over the period starting from January 1,

PS-21




2001 until July 1, 2006, and actual LBCI weights as of July 1, 2006. The hypothetical and actual historical weights presented below are not necessarily indicative of the future weightings of any particular Index Contract, commodity or sector in the LBCI.

Figure 2. Initial Annual LBCI Weights Since 2001

Sector & Commodity Selection

 

Initial Annual LBCI Weights (as of January 1, unless otherwise specified)

Sector/Commodity

 

Contract

 

Exch.

 

2007

 

Jul 1, 2006

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

Energy

 

 

 

 

 

55.85%

 

51.02%

 

56.17%

 

52.12%

 

51.21%

 

50.77%

 

46.81%

 

40.31%

Crude Oil

 

West Texas Intermediate

 

NYM

 

29.04%

 

27.48%

 

26.65%

 

23.49%

 

22.19%

 

22.38%

 

20.81%

 

17.67%

Natural Gas

 

Henry Hub Natural Gas

 

NYM

 

13.28%

 

7.98%

 

14.63%

 

15.06%

 

15.91%

 

15.27%

 

13.74%

 

11.99%

Unleaded Gas

 

NY Harbor/RBOB (1)

 

NYM

 

6.11%

 

8.13%

 

7.54%

 

7.05%

 

6.84%

 

6.79%

 

6.27%

 

5.38%

Heating Oil

 

No. 2 Heating Oil NY

 

NYM

 

7.42%

 

7.43%

 

7.35%

 

6.52%

 

6.28%

 

6.33%

 

5.99%

 

5.28%

Metals

 

 

 

 

 

25.51%

 

30.10%

 

22.77%

 

24.47%

 

25.24%

 

26.19%

 

28.92%

 

32.13%

Industrial Metals

 

 

 

 

 

16.91%

 

20.11%

 

14.12%

 

16.08%

 

18.12%

 

20.25%

 

22.19%

 

23.84%

Aluminum

 

High Grade Primary Aluminum

 

LME

 

5.10%

 

4.54%

 

4.29%

 

6.11%

 

8.10%

 

9.12%

 

9.65%

 

9.94%

Copper

 

Copper - Grade A

 

LME

 

8.10%

 

10.50%

 

6.68%

 

6.78%

 

6.95%

 

7.52%

 

8.25%

 

8.71%

Nickel

 

Primary Nickel

 

LME

 

1.60%

 

2.23%

 

1.55%

 

1.58%

 

1.48%

 

1.83%

 

2.21%

 

2.70%

Zinc

 

Special High Grade Zinc

 

LME

 

2.12%

 

2.83%

 

1.60%

 

1.60%

 

1.59%

 

1.78%

 

2.09%

 

2.49%

Precious Metals

 

 

 

 

 

8.60%

 

10.00%

 

8.64%

 

8.40%

 

7.11%

 

5.94%

 

6.73%

 

8.29%

Gold

 

Gold

 

CMX

 

6.63%

 

7.65%

 

6.83%

 

6.70%

 

5.67%

 

4.49%

 

4.88%

 

5.83%

Silver

 

Silver

 

CMX

 

1.97%

 

2.34%

 

1.81%

 

1.70%

 

1.44%

 

1.45%

 

1.85%

 

2.46%

Agricultural

 

 

 

 

 

15.8%

 

16.54%

 

18.22%

 

20.55%

 

20.35%

 

19.75%

 

20.66%

 

23.97%

Grains

 

 

 

 

 

12.14%

 

13.40%

 

14.62%

 

17.17%

 

17.01%

 

16.17%

 

16.30%

 

18.36%

Soybeans

 

Soybeans

 

CBT

 

5.19%

 

5.76%

 

6.88%

 

7.89%

 

7.31%

 

6.59%

 

6.73%

 

7.88%

Corn

 

Corn

 

CBT

 

2.99%

 

3.24%

 

3.06%

 

3.66%

 

3.83%

 

3.98%

 

3.98%

 

4.34%

Soybean Meal

 

Soybean Meal

 

CBT

 

1.37%

 

1.48%

 

1.86%

 

2.30%

 

2.38%

 

2.30%

 

2.28%

 

2.37%

Wheat

 

Chicago

 

CBT

 

1.64%

 

1.73%

 

1.60%

 

1.86%

 

2.03%

 

2.02%

 

2.00%

 

2.04%

Soybean Oil

 

Soybean Oil

 

CBT

 

0.95%

 

1.18%

 

1.21%

 

1.47%

 

1.45%

 

1.28%

 

1.31%

 

1.73%

Softs

 

 

 

 

 

3.63%

 

3.14%

 

3.61%

 

3.38%

 

3.34%

 

3.58%

 

4.36%

 

5.61%

Coffee

 

Coffee “C”

 

NYBOT

 

1.36%

 

1.16%

 

1.43%

 

1.27%

 

1.15%

 

1.30%

 

1.76%

 

2.31%

Cotton

 

Cotton #2

 

NYBOT

 

0.90%

 

0.95%

 

1.11%

 

1.20%

 

1.27%

 

1.28%

 

1.53%

 

2.08%

Sugar

 

World Sugar #11

 

NYBOT

 

1.37%

 

1.03%

 

1.06%

 

0.90%

 

0.92%

 

1.00%

 

1.07%

 

1.22%

Livestock

 

 

 

 

 

2.87%

 

2.34%

 

2.84%

 

2.86%

 

3.21%

 

3.30%

 

3.60%

 

3.59%

Live Cattle

 

Live Cattle

 

CME

 

1.82%

 

1.43%

 

1.88%

 

1.99%

 

2.35%

 

2.33%

 

2.49%

 

2.48%

Lean Hogs

 

Lean Hogs

 

CME

 

1.05%

 

0.91%

 

0.96%

 

0.87%

 

0.86%

 

0.97%

 

1.11%

 

1.11%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%

 

100%


Source:        Lehman Brothers Inc., 2007

(1)          NY Harbor RFG Contract Used until July 1, 2006; RBOB contract used thereafter.

LBCI Return Calculations

Types and Sources of LBCI Returns from Long Futures Positions

A long position in a commodity futures contract generates returns from change in the spot price of the commodity, roll yield and collateral interest.  Accordingly, three main types of returns are calculated for the LBCI:

·                  Spot return – the returns associated with the percentage of the underlying Index Contracts used to price the LBCI before any contract rolling has occurred.

·                  Excess return – the combined returns associated with the changes in price of the underlying Index Contracts together with the “roll yields” for those Index Contracts; and

·                  Total return – the excess return plus the return on the collateral that has to be posted as margin against the futures positions.

Lehman Brothers Inc. calculates both excess and total returns on the LBCI and its components on a daily basis.

Spot Returns

Spot returns, which reflect changes in commodity spot prices, are fairly straightforward. If the LBCI is long wheat and the spot price of wheat appreciates then a positive return will accrue.  Thus, on any LBCI Business Day in a month other than a day during a roll period for an Index Contract, or in a month in which

PS-22




 

no roll is scheduled to occur for that Index Contract, the level of the LBCI will reflect the increase or decrease (in proportion to the relative weighting of the Index Contracts in the LBCI, as described in “—Commodity Selection and Weights” above) in the price of each then-active (prompt) Index Contract relative to the previous day’s closing price for that prompt Index Contract.

Excess Returns

The “excess returns” of the LBCI are the combined return of spot price movements and “roll yield” associated with the rolling of Index Contracts, as discussed in “—Commodity Roll Mechanics” below.  The roll yield generated depends on the pricing of longer-dated futures contracts relative to nearby futures and spot commodity prices. When longer-dated contracts are priced lower than the nearer contract and spot prices, the market is in backwardation. When the opposite is true and longer contracts are priced higher, the market is in contango. Positive roll yield is generated in backwardated markets when higher priced spot or near-term futures contracts are “sold” to “buy” lower priced longer-dated contracts. Negative roll yield occurs in contangoed markets when lower priced spot or near-term futures contracts are “sold” to “buy” higher priced longer-dated contracts. Accordingly, when the market for an Index Contract is in backwardation, the roll yield for a month in which that Index Contract is rolled will be positive and therefore serve to increase the level of the LBCI relative to what it would have been based solely on the spot price movements in the Index Contract.  Conversely, when the market for an Index Contract is in contango, the roll yield for a month in which that Index Contract is rolled will be negative and therefore will decrease the level of the LBCI.

Total Returns

The third source of return from a long futures position comes from collateral posted as margin. A fully collateralized futures position posts the full investment as margin, which is then invested in money market or other similar cash instruments that generate a return.  For the LBCI, total returns are calculated by adding a Treasury Bill return (compounded daily) to the excess returns described above to represent the total return earned by a fully collateralized futures position.

Daily Treasury Bill returns are compounded from the previous Index Business Day.  If the current Index Business Day is more than one calendar day from the previous Index Business Day, the Treasury Bill return will be calculated and compounded for those additional days.  For each calendar day during the Index calculation period, collateral will earn a daily Treasury Bill return as specified below. If there is more than one calendar day in the calculation period this return will be compounded for the number of days in the period.

3-Month Treasury Bill Return Daily =

 

 

 

1

﴿

  1/91

 

1 – (91/360) * HR t–1

 

 

Where: HR t–1 = for any LBCI Business Day, the 91-day auction high rate for  U.S. Treasury Bills announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and reported under the heading “High Rate” on Telerate page 56, or any successor page, on the most recent of the weekly auction dates prior to such LBCI Business Day.  The high rate is generally available on Monday afternoons (if not a holiday), and as a result the high rate for each week will generally first be used in that weeks’s return calculations beginning on Tuesday.

Commodity Roll Mechanics

A fundamental characteristic of the LBCI, like other commodity indices, is that as a result of being comprised of futures contracts, the LBCI has to be managed to ensure it does not take delivery of the commodities in question. This is achieved through the commodity roll mechanics under which the Index Contracts underlying the LBCI are rolled forward to a new contract date during the month as they approach their settlement date. Therefore, at the contract level, there are up to two Index Contracts that can contribute to LBCI returns during the month: the prompt (nearby) contract and the prompt + 1 (next nearby) contract into which it is rolled.

During any month in which an the Index Contract is scheduled to roll, the roll period will begin at the end of the fifth LBCI Business Day in that month and last for five LBCI Business Days.  During the roll period, the hypothetical position in the Index Contract is gradually shifted from the prompt Index Contract to the prompt + 1 Index Contract (i.e., the Index Contract with the next nearest expiration) in 20% daily increments.  The daily price of the Index Contract during the roll period, as well as the previous day’s price of the Index Contract against which the appreciation or depreciation of the daily Index Contract price is measured, therefore will each be a composite price of the then-current prompt Index Contract and the prompt + 1 Index Contract weighted by the percentage that has been rolled at the end of the previous LBCI Business Day.  Accordingly, during the roll period for a given Index

PS-23




 

Contract, the returns for that Index Contract are calculated as follows:

·                 On the fifth LBCI Business Day of the relevant month, Index Contract excess returns will reflect 100% of the price movements of the prompt contract.  At the end of that fifth LBCI Business Day, 20% of the prompt contract will be rolled to the prompt + 1.

·                 At the beginning of the sixth LBCI Business Day in that month, the excess returns on the Index Contract will reflect a contract “basket” containing 80% of the prompt contract and 20% of the prompt + 1 at the start of that day. Excess returns will be calculated on this “basket”. At the end of that sixth LBCI Business Day, an additional 20% is rolled.

·                 For the seventh LBCI Business Day, the “basket” will consist of 60% prompt / 40% prompt + 1.

·                 For the eighth LBCI Business Day, the “basket” will consist of 40% prompt / 60% prompt + 1.

·                 For the ninth LBCI Business Day, the “basket” will consist of 20% prompt / 80% prompt + 1.

·                 At the end of the ninth LBCI Business Day of the relevant month, the prompt contract will have been fully rolled into the prompt + 1, which then becomes the new prompt until the next roll period.

Returns on an Index Contract on and after the tenth LBCI Business Day in a month in which it is rolled will comprise 100% of the new prompt contract that has just been fully rolled into (which was formerly the prompt + 1 at the start of that month).

Adjustments to the Contract Roll Process

A number of market circumstances can lead to an adjustment in the rolling process. These adjustments occur when it would be difficult to liquidate or establish positions in the market and perform the roll. If any of these market disruption events occurs on any of the days during the roll period, then the proportion of the roll that would have taken place on that day is skipped. For example, if a market disruption event occurs on the first day of the roll, then none of the 80%/20% roll is taken. Instead the 60% / 40% proportion is taken on the next LBCI Business Day. If a market disruption event occurs on that day also, then the roll proportion will be 40% / 60% on the following LBCI Business Day. Two examples of disruption events are:

·                 Commodity reaches a limit price during the last 15 minutes of the trading session. If either the prompt or prompt +1 contract reaches a limit price during the final 15 minutes of regular or rescheduled trading, the roll will be skipped that day.

·                 Trading interrupted or terminated on an exchange – if trading is terminated prior to the expected close of business and does not resume at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled close, then the roll will be deferred.

If either event occurs, a notice will be posted on LehmanLive indicating the event and reason.

LBCI Contract Calendar

The LBCI Contract Calendar specifies which Index Contracts (by settlement month) are used to calculate LBCI returns for each monthly reporting period. For each calendar month, the LBCI Contract Calendar indicates a prompt contract and, if a given Index Contract is scheduled to be rolled during the month, the prompt + 1 contract.  If a roll is not scheduled, then only the prompt contract is listed (and LBCI returns are calculated solely be reference to the prompt contract).  Contracts are selected to ensure there is sufficient market liquidity in each commodity when calculating LBCI returns.  Monthly contracts for a given commodity that are less liquid and have significantly lower trading volumes relative to other settlement months will be excluded from the LBCI Contract Calendar, and will not be rolled into or included in commodity price calculations.  Annex A hereto shows the LBCI Contract Calendar for 2007, indicating the prompt contracts and, where applicable, the prompt + 1 contracts, for each Index Contract in each calendar month.  The LBCI Contract Calendar for each succeeding year will be published annually on LehmanLive.

PS-24




 

THE COMMODITY FUTURES MARKETS

Contracts on physical commodities are traded on regulated futures exchanges, in the over-the-counter market and on various types of physical and electronic trading facilities and markets. At present, all of the Index Contracts are exchange-traded futures contracts. An exchange-traded futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity or financial instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price. A futures contract on an index of commodities typically provides for the payment and receipt of a cash settlement based on the value of such commodities. A futures contract provides for a specified settlement month in which the commodity or financial instrument is to be delivered by the seller (whose position is described as “short”) and acquired by the purchaser (whose position is described as “long”) or in which the cash settlement amount is to be made.

Futures contracts are traded on organized exchanges, known as “contract markets” in the United States, through the facilities of a centralized clearing house and a brokerage firm which is a member of the clearing house. The clearing house guarantees the performance of each clearing member which is a party to the futures contract by, in effect, taking the opposite side of the transaction. At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market, a trader may elect to close out its position by taking an opposite position on the exchange on which the trader obtained the position. This operates to terminate the position and fix the trader’s profit or loss.

U.S. contract markets, as well as brokers and market participants, are subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Futures markets outside the United States are generally subject to regulation by comparable regulatory authorities. However, the structure and nature of trading on non-U.S. exchanges may differ from the foregoing description. From its inception to the present, the LBCI has been comprised exclusively of futures contracts traded on regulated exchanges.

PS-25




 

CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

We intend to treat the notes as financial contracts as described under “Supplemental United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Financial Contracts” in the MTN prospectus supplement.

However, alternative characterizations are possible which could affect amount, character and timing of income.  For example, the Internal Revenue Service could assert that adjustments made to the Index result in a taxable exchange of the notes at the time of such adjustments, which could affect your holding period and the timing, amount and character of income recognized with respect to the notes.  The notes are subject to complex tax rules and investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of the notes.

PS-26




 

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have agreed to sell to Lehman Brothers Inc. (the “Agent”), and the Agent has agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes at the price specified on the cover of this pricing supplement (the “Purchase Price”). The Agent is committed to take and pay for all of the notes, if any are taken.

The Agent proposes to offer the notes initially at a price equal to the public offering price on the cover of this pricing supplement and to certain dealers at a discount to the Purchase Price. After the initial public offering, the public offering price and the selling terms may from time to time be varied by the Agent.

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor more than three business days following the date of this pricing supplement. Trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the securities on any day prior to the third business day before the settlement date will be required to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement.

If the notes are sold in a market-making transaction after their initial sale, information about the purchase price and the date of the sale will be provided in a separate confirmation of sale.

PS-27




 

ANNEX A:  2007 LBCI CONTRACT CALENDAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Active Contract / Next Active Contract
by LBCI Reporting Month

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

June

 

July

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 

 

Commodity

 

Contract

 

Exchange

 

Ticker

 

(F)

 

(G)

 

(H)

 

(J)

 

(K)

 

(M)

 

(N)

 

(Q)

 

(U)

 

(V)

 

(X)

 

(Z)

 

Excluded Contracts

Crude Oil

 

West Texas Intermediate

 

NYMEX

 

CL

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Heating Oil

 

Heating Oil

 

NYMEX

 

HO

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Natural Gas

 

Henry Hub

 

NYMEX

 

NG

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Unleaded Gas

 

NYH RBOB

 

NYMEX

 

XB

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Aluminum

 

High Grade Aluminum

 

LME

 

LA

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Copper

 

Copper

 

LME

 

LP

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Nickel

 

Primary Nickel

 

LME

 

LN

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Zinc

 

High Grade Zinc

 

LME

 

LX

 

G/H

 

H/J

 

J/K

 

K/M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/U

 

U/V

 

V/X

 

X/Z

 

Z/F

 

F/G

 

 

Gold

 

Gold (New York)

 

COMEX

 

GC

 

G/J

 

J

 

J/M

 

M

 

M/Q

 

Q

 

Q/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/G

 

G

 

V

Silver

 

Silver (New York)

 

COMEX

 

SI

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/U

 

U

 

U/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/H

 

H

 

F

Lean Hogs

 

Lean Hogs

 

CME

 

LH

 

G/J

 

J

 

J/M

 

M

 

M/N

 

N/Q

 

Q/V

 

V

 

V/Z

 

Z

 

Z/G

 

G

 

K

Live Cattle

 

Live Cattle

 

CME

 

LC

 

G/J

 

J

 

J/M

 

M

 

M/Q

 

Q

 

Q/V

 

V

 

V/Z

 

Z

 

Z/G

 

G

 

K, N

Corn

 

Corn

 

CBOT

 

C

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/U

 

U

 

U/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/H

 

H

 

 

Soybean

 

Soybean

 

CBOT

 

S

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/X

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

X/F

 

F

 

F/H

 

Q, U

Soybean Meal

 

Soybean Meal

 

CBOT

 

SM

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/F

 

F

 

F/H

 

V, Q

Soybean Oil

 

Soybean Oil

 

CBOT

 

BO

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/F

 

F

 

F/H

 

V, Q

Wheat

 

Wheat (Chicago)

 

CBOT

 

W

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/U

 

U

 

U/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/H

 

H

 

 

Coffee

 

Coffee ‘C’

 

NYBOT

 

KC

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/U

 

U

 

U/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/H

 

H

 

 

Cotton

 

Cotton No. 2

 

NYBOT

 

CT

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z

 

Z/H

 

H

 

V

Sugar

 

Sugar No. 11

 

NYBOT

 

SB

 

H

 

H/K

 

K

 

K/N

 

N

 

N/V

 

V

 

V

 

V/H

 

H

 

H

 

H

 

 

Source: Lehman Brothers, 2007

Notes:

·                 Each month that a commodity has two letters listed will have the prompt contract rolled to the prompt + 1 contract for that commodity. Using Crude Oil as an example, the prompt contract at the start of the January is the G (February) contract and the prompt + 1 contract is the H (March) contract. From the fifth through the ninth LBCI Business Day, 20% of the G contract will be rolled daily into the H contract.

·                 If a commodity only has one letter listed for an LBCI Reporting Month, there will be no contract roll that month. For example, during February, the prompt gold contract is the J (April) contract. It will not be rolled during the month.

·                 Prior to July 1, 2006, the active Unleaded Gas Contract was the RFG (Ticker: HU) contract. As of July 1, 2006, the active contract is the RBOB (Ticker: XB).

PS-28




 

 

 

U.S.$500,000

LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC.

MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES I

THREE-YEAR NOTES LINKED TO THE LBCI AGRICULTURE INDEX TOTAL RETURN

DUE JULY 13, 2010


PRICING SUPPLEMENT

JULY 6, 2007

(INCLUDING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
DATED MAY 30, 2006 AND

PROSPECTUS

DATED MAY 30, 2006)


LEHMAN BROTHERS