e424b2
The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed.
This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell
these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where
the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2007
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Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) |
(To Prospectus dated October 13, 2005)
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Registration No. 333-117742 |
$300,000,000
% Notes Due March 1, 2017
The Notes will bear interest at the rate of % per year. Interest on the Notes is
payable on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2007. The Notes will mature on March 1,
2017. We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time, at a price equal
to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus a make-whole premium. The redemption price is
discussed under the caption Description of the Notes Optional Redemption beginning on page
S-3.
The Notes will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior
indebtedness from time to time outstanding.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus Supplement or the
accompanying Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
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Per Note |
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Total |
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Public Offering Price (1) |
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% |
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Underwriting Discount |
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Proceeds to Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. |
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$ |
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(1) |
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Plus accrued interest from , if settlement occurs after that date. |
We do not currently intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange. Currently, there is
no public market for the Notes.
The underwriters are offering the Notes subject to various conditions. The underwriters
expect to deliver the Notes in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust
Company on or about , 2007.
Joint Book-Running Managers
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Barclays Capital
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Citigroup
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SunTrust Robinson Humphrey |
Co-Managers
Banc of America Securities LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
JPMorgan
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Morgan Stanley
UBS Investment Bank
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not,
authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We and the underwriters are not making
an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume
that the information provided by this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus is
accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this Prospectus Supplement or, with
respect to information incorporated by reference, as of the date of that information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
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Page |
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S-3 |
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S-4 |
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S-4 |
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S-6 |
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S-6 |
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Prospectus |
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2 |
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2 |
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10 |
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11 |
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11 |
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S-2
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
We will issue the Notes under an Indenture dated as of July 1, 2001 (the Indenture) between
us and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase
Manhattan Bank)), as Trustee. Information about the Indenture is in the accompanying Prospectus
under Description of the Debt Securities.
The interest rate on the Notes will be % per year, accruing from
. We will pay interest
on March 1 and September 1, beginning on September 1, 2007. We
will pay interest to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business
on the February 15 or August 15 (whether or not a business day) preceding
the interest payment date.
We will issue the Notes in book entry form, as a single global note registered in the name
of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, which will act as Depositary, or in the name of the
Depositary. Beneficial interests in book entry Notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be made only through, records maintained by the Depositary and its participants. Except as
described in the Prospectus under Book Entry Debt Securities, owners of beneficial interests in
a global note will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates for the Notes.
Optional Redemption
We may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at our option at any time at a redemption price
equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes and (b) as determined by a
Quotation Agent (as defined below), the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled
payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest
accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as
defined below) plus basis points plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of
redemption.
Adjusted Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal
to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price
for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by a Quotation
Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would
be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of
such Notes.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date, (a) the average of the
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and
lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than
three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Quotation Agent means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means (a) Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc.,
Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, SunTrust Capital Markets,
Inc., UBS Securities LLC and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the
foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a
Primary Treasury Dealer), we shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (b)
any other Primary Treasury Dealer we select.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer
and any redemption date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the
Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted
in writing to the
S-3
Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the
redemption date to each holder of the Notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the
redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or
portions thereof called for redemption.
The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
The Notes will trade in the Depositarys same-day funds settlement system until maturity or
until we issue the Notes in definitive form. The Depositary will therefore require secondary
market trading activity in the Notes to settle in immediately available funds.
Governing Law
The Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
Additional Notes
We may elect to issue additional Notes under the Indenture which would be considered part of
the same issue as the Notes. If we do so, those securities would have the same interest rate, the
same maturity date and the same payment terms as the Notes.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to add the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to our general funds. We expect
to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures
and repayment of borrowings. Before we use the proceeds for these purposes, we may invest them in
short-term investments.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement and the terms
agreement dated the date of this Prospectus Supplement, the underwriters named below, for whom
Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. are acting
as joint book-running managers, have severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to
such underwriters, the principal amounts of Notes set forth opposite the names of such
underwriters.
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Principal Amount |
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Underwriter |
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of Notes |
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Barclays Capital Inc. |
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$ |
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. |
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Banc of America Securities LLC |
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Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. |
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
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Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated |
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UBS Securities LLC |
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The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase
the Notes included in this offering are subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and
to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Notes if they
purchase any of the Notes.
S-4
The underwriters propose to offer some of the Notes directly to the public at the public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement and some of the Notes to
certain dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of % of the
principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession not in excess of % of the principal amount of the Notes on sales to certain
other dealers. After the initial offering of the Notes to the public, the public offering price and
the concession may be changed.
The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not
currently intend to apply for the listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or for quotation
of the Notes in any dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that one or
more of them intends to make a market in the Notes, but the underwriters are not obligated to do so
and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. We can give no
assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Notes.
The following table shows the underwriting discount we will pay to the underwriters. These
amounts show the discount paid per Note and the total for the purchase of all the Notes being
offered.
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We estimate that we will spend approximately $ for printing, rating agency
fees, registration fees, Trustees fees, legal fees and other expenses of the offering. The
underwriters have agreed to make a payment to us of $ , which is in excess of the direct
expenses incurred by us in connection with the offering.
In connection with the offering, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell Notes in the
open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and
stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of Notes in excess of the
principal amount of Notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a
syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of Notes in the open
market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of Notes made for the purpose of
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Notes while the offering is in
progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to
reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global
Markets Inc. or SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., in covering syndicate short positions or making
stabilizing purchases, repurchases Notes originally sold by that syndicate member.
Any of these activities may cause the price of the Notes to be higher than the price that
otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of such transactions. These transactions
may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued
at any time.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We entered into interest rate derivative transactions with Citibank N.A., New York relating to
a government security which served as the reference interest rate for the Notes.
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, the Trustee and all of the underwriters
or their affiliates have performed and may in the future perform various financial advisory,
commercial banking and investment banking services for us from time to time, for which they have
received or will receive customary fees. In addition, the Trustee and all of the underwriters or
their affiliates are lenders under our bank credit agreement.
S-5
LEGAL OPINIONS
Prior to the delivery of the Notes, Armstrong Teasdale LLP, St. Louis, Missouri, as our
counsel, will issue an opinion as to the legality of the Notes and certain other matters, and
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, New York, New York, will issue an opinion to the underwriters
as to the legality of the Notes and certain other matters.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We incorporate by reference as part of this Prospectus Supplement our Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2007, including the information furnished to the SEC
therein.
S-6
PROSPECTUS
$1,750,000,000
Debt Securities
This Prospectus describes Debt Securities which Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. may
issue and sell at various times. More detailed information is under Description of the Debt
Securities on page 4 of this Prospectus.
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The Debt Securities may be debentures, notes or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness. |
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We may issue the Debt Securities in one or several series. |
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The total principal amount of the Debt Securities to be issued under this Prospectus
will not exceed $1,750,000,000 (or the equivalent amount in other currencies). |
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We will determine the terms of each series of Debt Securities (interest rates,
maturity, redemption provisions and other terms) at the time of sale, and we will specify
the terms in a prospectus supplement which we will deliver together with this Prospectus
at the time of the sale. |
We may sell Debt Securities directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or
agents. More information about the way we will distribute the Debt Securities is under the
heading Plan of Distribution on page 11 of this Prospectus. Information about the
underwriters or agents who will participate in any particular sale of Debt Securities will be in
the prospectus supplement relating to that series of Debt Securities.
Our principal office is at One Busch Place, St. Louis, Missouri 63118, and our telephone
number is (314) 577-2000.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this Prospectus is October 13, 2005.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or to make any representations
concerning the offering of the Debt Securities except those which are in this Prospectus, the
prospectus supplement which is delivered with this Prospectus, or which are incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus or prospectus supplement. If anyone gives any other information or
representation, you should not rely on it. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the Debt Securities which are referred to
in the prospectus supplement. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy Debt Securities in any circumstances in which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.
You should not interpret the delivery of this Prospectus, or any sale of Debt Securities, as an
indication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this Prospectus. You
should also be aware that information in this Prospectus may change after this date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Where You Can Find More Information |
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Information About Anheuser-Busch |
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Use of Proceeds |
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Description of The Debt Securities |
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General |
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Payments on Debt Securities; Transfers |
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Form and Denominations |
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Certain Restrictions |
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Modification or Amendment of the Indenture |
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Defeasance |
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Events of Default, Notice and Waiver |
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Regarding the Trustee |
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Book-Entry Debt Securities |
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Plan of Distribution |
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Legal Opinion |
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Experts |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You may read and copy any of these documents at the
SECs public reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call
the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings
are also available to the public at the SECs Internet website at http://www.sec.gov and our
website at http://www.anheuser-busch.com. The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents.
The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Prospectus, and
later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made
with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until
we sell all of the Debt Securities.
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Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, as amended; |
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Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and June
30, 2005; and |
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Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2005, February 24, 2005, March
28, 2005, April 5, 2005, April 21, 2005, April 28, 2005 and August 24, 2005. |
You may receive a copy of any of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning the
Corporate Secretary, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., One Busch Place, St. Louis, Missouri 63118,
telephone 314-577-2000.
We have filed with the SEC a Registration Statement to register the Debt Securities under the
Securities Act of 1933. This Prospectus omits certain information contained in the Registration
Statement, as permitted by SEC rules. You may obtain copies of the Registration Statement,
including exhibits, as noted in the first paragraph above.
-2-
INFORMATION ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. (Anheuser-Busch) is a Delaware corporation that was organized
in 1979 as the holding company parent of Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated (ABI), a Missouri
corporation whose origins date back to 1875. In addition to ABI, which is the worlds largest
brewer of beer, we are also the parent corporation to a number of subsidiaries that conduct various
other business operations, including those related to manufacture and recycling of aluminum
beverage containers and the operation of theme parks.
These are our most important subsidiaries:
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ABI produces and distributes beer in a variety
of containers primarily under the brand names
Budweiser, Bud Light, Budweiser Select, Bud
Dry, Bud Ice, Bud Ice Light, BE,
Michelob, Michelob Light, Michelob ULTRA,
Michelob Golden Draft, Michelob Golden Draft
Light, Michelob Amber Bock, Michelob Honey
Lager, Michelob Marzen, Busch, Busch Light,
Busch Ice, Natural Light, Natural Ice, King
Cobra, ZiegenBock Amber, ZiegenBock Light,
Hurricane Malt Liquor, Hurricane Ice, Tequiza,
Anheuser-World Select, Bacardi Black Cherry,
Bacardi Green Apple, Bacardi Limon, Bacardi
Silver, Bacardi Silver 03 and Bacardi Silver
Raz. ABIs products also include three
non-alcohol malt beverages, ODouls, Busch NA
and ODouls Amber. |
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Anheuser-Busch International, Inc.
oversees the marketing and sale of Budweiser
and other Anheuser-Busch brands outside the
United States, operates breweries in the
United Kingdom and China, negotiates and
administers license and contract brewing
agreements on behalf of ABI with various
foreign brewers, and negotiates and manages
equity investments in foreign brewing
partners. |
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Metal Container Corporation manufactures
beverage cans at eight plants and beverage can
lids at three plants for sale to ABI and to
U.S. soft drink customers. Anheuser-Busch
Recycling Corporation recycles aluminum cans,
Precision Printing and Packaging, Inc.
manufactures pressure sensitive, metalized and
paper labels, and Eagle Packaging, Inc.
manufactures crown and closure liner
materials. |
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Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC)
operates Busch Garden theme parks in Tampa,
Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia, and
SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, Florida, San
Antonio, Texas and San Diego, California. BEC
operates water park attractions in Tampa,
Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia and
Langhorne, Pennsylvania, as well as Discovery
Cove in Orlando, Florida, a reservations-only
attraction offering interaction with marine
animals. |
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement which accompanies this Prospectus,
we intend to add the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities to our general funds. We
expect to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital
expenditures and repayment of borrowings. Before we use the proceeds for these purposes, we may
invest them in short-term investments.
-3-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes some of the general terms of the Debt Securities. The prospectus
supplement describes the particular terms of the Debt Securities we are offering. The prospectus
supplement also indicates the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may not apply to
the Debt Securities being offered. If you would like more information on these provisions, you may
review the Indenture which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is filed with the SEC.
See Where You Can Find More Information on page 2 of this Prospectus.
We plan to issue the Debt Securities under the Indenture dated as of July 1, 2001 between us
and JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee. This Prospectus summarizes
certain important provisions of the Debt Securities and the Indenture. This is not a complete
description of the important terms. You should refer to the specific terms of the Indenture for a
complete statement of the terms of the Indenture and the Debt Securities. When we use capitalized
terms which we do not define here, those terms have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
When we use references to Sections, we mean Sections in the Indenture.
We may also issue Debt Securities under a separate, new indenture, substantially identical to
the Indenture, to be entered into between us and a new trustee. If that occurs, we will describe
any differences in the terms of any series or issue of Debt Securities in the prospectus supplement
relating to that series or issue.
General
The Debt Securities will be senior unsecured obligations of Anheuser-Busch.
We may issue Securities under the Indenture, including the Debt Securities, at various times
in one or more series and issues. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is approximately $3.68
billion in principal amount of securities outstanding under the Indenture. The Indenture does not
limit the amount of Securities that we may issue under the Indenture, nor does it limit other debt
that we may issue.
We may issue the Debt Securities at various times in different series and issues, each of
which may have different terms. The word issue means, for any series of Securities, that the
Securities have the same original issue date or date from which interest starts to accrue, the same
maturity date and the same interest rate and other payment terms or that we have otherwise
designated Securities as part of the same issue. Unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus
supplement for any series of Debt Securities, we may treat a subsequent offering of Securities as a
part of the same issue as that series.
The prospectus supplement relating to the particular series or issue of Debt Securities we are
offering includes the following information concerning those Debt Securities:
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The title of the Debt Securities. |
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The total principal amount being offered of the series or issue of Debt Securities. |
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The date on which the principal will be paid, the rights we or the holders may have
to extend the maturity of the Debt Securities and any rights the holders may have to
require payment of the Debt Securities at any time. |
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The interest rate on the Debt Securities. We may specify a fixed rate or a variable
rate, or a rate to be determined under procedures we will describe in the prospectus
supplement, and the interest rate may be subject to adjustment. |
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The dates on which we will pay interest on the Debt Securities and the regular
record dates for determining the holders who are entitled to receive the interest
payments. |
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Where payments on the Debt Securities will be made, if it is other than the office
mentioned under Payments on Debt Securities below. |
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If applicable, the prices at which we may redeem all or a part of the Debt
Securities and the time periods during which we may make the redemptions. The
redemptions may be made under a sinking fund or otherwise. |
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Any obligation we may have to redeem, purchase or repay any of the Debt Securities
under a sinking fund or otherwise or at the option of the holder, and the prices, time
periods and other terms which would apply. |
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Any additional Events of Default or covenants that will apply to the Debt
Securities. |
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The amounts we would be required to pay if the maturity of the Debt Securities is
accelerated, if it is less than the principal amount. |
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If we will make payments on the Debt Securities in any currency other than U.S.
dollars, the currencies in which we will make the payments. |
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If applicable, the terms under which we or a holder may elect that payments on the
Debt Securities be made in a currency other than U.S. dollars. |
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If amounts payable on the Debt Securities may be determined by a currency index,
information on how the payments will be determined. |
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Any other special terms that may apply to the Debt Securities. |
Payments on Debt Securities; Transfers
We will make payments on the Debt Securities to the persons in whose names the securities are
registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payments. As explained
under Book-Entry Securities below, The Depository Trust Company or its nominee will be the
initial registered holder unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise.
Unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement for any series or issue of Debt
Securities, we will make payments on the Debt Securities at the Trustees office. For JPMorgan
Chase Bank, the office is now its Institutional Trust Services office, 4 New York Plaza, New York,
New York 10004. In the case of any other Trustee, we will specify the office and address in the
related prospectus supplement. Transfers of Debt Securities can be made at the same offices.
(Sections 202, 301, 306 and 1002)
Form and Denominations
Unless we otherwise indicate in the prospectus supplement for any series or issue of Debt
Securities:
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We will only issue the Debt Securities in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. |
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We will not charge any fee to register any transfer or exchange of the Debt
Securities, except for taxes or other governmental charges, if any. (Section 306) |
Certain Restrictions
Creation of Secured Indebtedness
Under the Indenture, we and our Restricted Subsidiaries (defined below) may not create,
assume, guarantee or permit to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by a
pledge of, or a mortgage or lien on, any of our Principal Plants (defined below) or on any of our
Restricted Subsidiaries capital stock, unless we also provide equal and ratable security for the
Securities outstanding under the Indenture. A Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary which owns
or operates a Principal Plant, unless it is incorporated or has its principal place of business
outside the United States, and any other subsidiary which we elect to treat as a Restricted
Subsidiary. A Principal Plant is a brewery, or a manufacturing,
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processing or packaging plant located in the United States, but does not include a plant which we
determine is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Subsidiaries,
any plant which we determine is used primarily for transportation, marketing or warehousing or at
our option any plant that does not constitute part of the brewing operations of the Company and has
a net book value of not more than $100,000,000.
This restriction does not apply to:
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purchase money liens, |
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liens existing on property when we acquire it or securing indebtedness which we use
to pay the cost of acquisition or construction or to reimburse us for that cost, |
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liens on property of a Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary, |
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liens to secure the cost of development or construction of property, or improvements
of property, and which are released or satisfied within 120 days after completion of
the development or construction, |
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liens in connection with the acquisition or construction of Principal Plants or
additions thereto financed by tax-exempt securities, |
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liens securing indebtedness owing to us or to a Restricted Subsidiary by a
Restricted Subsidiary, |
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liens existing at July 1, 2001 (the date of the Indenture), |
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liens required in connection with state or local governmental programs which provide
financial or tax benefits, as long as substantially all of the obligations secured are
in lieu of or reduce an obligation that would have been secured by a lien permitted
under the Indenture, |
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extensions, renewals or replacements of the liens referred to above, or |
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in connection with sale-leaseback transactions permitted under the Indenture.
(Section 1006(a)) |
There is an additional exception as described below under 10% Basket Amount.
If we become obligated to provide security for the Securities as described above, we would
also be required to provide comparable security for most of our other outstanding long-term
indebtedness.
Sale Leaseback Financings
Under the Indenture, neither we nor any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into any sale and
leaseback transaction involving a Principal Plant, except a sale by a Restricted Subsidiary to us
or another Restricted Subsidiary or a lease not exceeding three years, by the end of which we
intend to discontinue use of the property, and except for any transaction with a local or state
authority that provides financial or tax benefits, unless:
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the net proceeds of the sale are at least equal to the fair market value of the
property, and |
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within 120 days of the transfer, or two years if we hold the net proceeds of the
sale in cash or cash equivalents, we repay Funded Debt (defined below) and/or make
expenditures for the expansion, construction or acquisition of a Principal Plant at
least equal to the net proceeds of the sale. (Section 1007) |
There is an additional exception as described below under 10% Basket Amount.
Limitation on Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries
We may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to create, assume or permit to exist any Funded
Debt other than:
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Funded Debt secured by a mortgage, pledge or lien which is permitted under the
provisions described above under Creation of Secured Indebtedness, |
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Funded Debt owed to us or any Restricted Subsidiary, |
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Funded Debt of a corporation existing at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, |
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Funded Debt created in connection with, or with a view to, compliance with the
requirements of any program, law, statute or regulation of any federal, state or local
governmental authority and applicable to the Restricted Subsidiary and providing
financial or tax benefits to the Restricted Subsidiary, and |
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guarantees existing at July 1, 2001 (the date of the Indenture). (Section 1008(a)) |
There is an additional exception as described below under 10% Basket Amount.
Funded Debt means all indebtedness for money borrowed, including purchase money
indebtedness, having a maturity of more than twelve months from the date of determination or having
a maturity of less than twelve months but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond twelve
months at the borrowers option, subject only to conditions which the borrower is then capable of
fulfilling, and direct guarantees of similar indebtedness for money borrowed of others and any
other indebtedness classified as long-term indebtedness in the financial statements of the
borrower, except that Funded Debt does not include:
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Any indebtedness of a person held in treasury by that person, or |
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Any indebtedness with respect to which sufficient money has been deposited or set
aside to pay the indebtedness, or |
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Any amount representing capitalized lease obligations, or |
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Any indirect guarantees or other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness
of other persons, or |
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Any guarantees with respect to lease or other similar periodic payments to be made
by other persons. |
10% Basket Amount
In addition to the exceptions described above under Creation of Secured Indebtedness, Sale
- Leaseback Financings and Limitation on Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries, the Indenture
allows additional secured indebtedness, additional sale leaseback financings and additional
Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries as long as the total of the additional indebtedness and
Funded Debt and the fair market value of the property transferred in the additional sale
leaseback financings does not exceed 10% of our Net Tangible Assets. Net Tangible Assets means
our total assets including those of our subsidiaries after deducting current liabilities (except
for those which are Funded Debt) and goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt
discount and expense, organization and developmental expenses and other like segregated
intangibles. Deferred income taxes, deferred investment tax credit or other similar items will not
be considered as a liability or as a deduction from or adjustment to total assets. (Sections
1006(d), 1007(c) and 1008(b))
Merger
We may consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or transfer or lease our
properties and assets substantially as an entirety as long as we meet certain conditions, including
the assumption of the Securities by any successor corporation. (Section 801) The Company is not
restricted from transferring its aluminum can manufacturing business and related operations.
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Modification or Amendment of the Indenture
We may modify and amend the Indenture if the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities affected by the modification or amendment consent, except that no
supplemental indenture may reduce the principal amount of or interest or premium payable on any
Security, change the maturity date or dates of principal payments, the interest payment dates or
other terms of payment, or reduce the percentage of holders necessary to approve a modification or
amendment of the Indenture, without the consent of each holder of outstanding Securities affected
by the supplemental indenture. (Section 902)
We and the Trustee may amend the Indenture without the holders consent for certain specified
purposes, including any change which, in our counsels opinion, does not materially adversely
affect the holders interests. (Section 901)
Defeasance
The Indenture includes provisions allowing defeasance of the Debt Securities of any series.
In order to defease a series of Debt Securities, we would deposit with the Trustee or another
trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to make all payments on those Debt
Securities. If we make a defeasance deposit with respect to a series of Debt Securities, we may
elect either:
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to be discharged from all of our obligations on that series of Debt Securities,
except for our obligations to register transfers and exchanges, to replace temporary or
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, to maintain an office or agency
in respect of the Debt Securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust; or |
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to be released from our restrictions described above relating to liens, sale -
leaseback transactions and Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries. |
To establish the trust, we must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of our counsel that the
holders of that series of Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax
purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance had
not occurred. (Article Thirteen)
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
An Event of Default in respect of any issue of Securities means:
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default for 30 days in any payment of interest, |
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default in payment of principal or premium at maturity, or default in payment of any
required redemption or sinking fund amount which continues for 30 days, |
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default in performance of or breach of any covenant in the Indenture which applies
to the issue which continues for 90 days after notice to us by the Trustee or by the
holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of the affected
issues, and |
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certain events of our bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization. (Section 501) |
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing in respect of any series or issue of
Securities, either the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of such Securities then
outstanding may declare the principal of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities of those
issues to be due and payable. If other specified Events of Default occur and are continuing,
either the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may
declare the principal of and accrued interest, if any, on all the outstanding Securities to be due
and payable. (Section 502)
Within 90 days after a default in respect of any issue of Securities, the Trustee must give to
the holders of the Securities of that issue notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults by us known
to it; however, except in the case of default in payment, the Trustee may withhold the notice if it
in good faith
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determines that it is in the interest of the holders. The term default means, for this purpose,
the occurrence of any event that is or, upon notice or lapse of time would be, an Event of Default.
(Section 602)
Before the Trustee is required to exercise rights under the Indenture at the request of
holders, it is entitled to be indemnified by the holders, subject to its duty, during an Event of
Default, to act with the required standard of care. (Article Six)
A holder of a Security will not be entitled to pursue any remedy under the Indenture except
under the following circumstances:
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the holder has notified the Trustee in writing of an Event of Default, |
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holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities in
respect of which the Event of Default has occurred have delivered a written request to
the Trustee to pursue the remedy, |
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the holder or holders have offered to the Trustee a reasonable indemnity against the
costs to be incurred by the Trustee in pursuing the remedy, |
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the Trustee does not pursue the remedy for a period of 60 days, and |
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the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities in
respect of which the Event of Default has occurred have not delivered written
directions to the Trustee inconsistent with the initial written request from the
holders described above. (Section 507) |
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series
(voting as a single class) may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee in
respect of the securities of that series. (Section 512)
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all series
affected by a default (voting as a single class) may, on behalf of the holders of all those
Securities, waive the default except a default in payment of the principal of or premium, if any,
or interest on any Security. (Section 513) The holders of a majority in principal amount of
outstanding Securities of all series entitled to the benefits thereof (voting as a single class)
may waive compliance with certain covenants under the Indenture. (Section 1010)
We will furnish to the Trustee, annually, a statement as to the fulfillment by us of our
obligations under the Indenture. (Section 1004)
Regarding the Trustee
JPMorgan Chase Bank is the Trustee under the Indenture. The Indenture is dated as of July 1,
2001. JPMorgan Chase Bank also acts as trustee (or successor trustee) under other indentures with
us under which an aggregate of approximately $2.75 billion in principal amount of indebtedness is
issued and outstanding as of the date of this Prospectus. JPMorgan Chase Bank and its affiliates
also are parties to our credit agreement, under which they have committed to lend us up to $275
million, and they provide other commercial banking services to us. Affiliates of JPMorgan Chase
Bank have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking and/or general financing and
banking transactions with us.
We can remove the Trustee of any series as long as there is no Event of Default and no event
that, upon notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default. The holders of a
majority of the principal amount of the Securities of any series may also remove the Trustee at any
time. The Indenture prescribes procedures by which the Trustee will be replaced, in the event of
its removal. (Section 610)
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BOOK-ENTRY DEBT SECURITIES
The prospectus supplement will indicate whether we are issuing the related Debt Securities as
book-entry securities. Book-entry securities of a series will be issued in the form of one or more
global notes that will be deposited with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and will
evidence all of the Debt Securities of that series. This means that we will not issue certificates
to each holder. We will issue one or more global securities to DTC, which will keep a computerized
record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the Debt
Securities. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who own the Debt Securities.
Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a security evidenced by individual certificates, a
global security may not be transferred, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may
transfer a global security as a whole to one another. Beneficial interests in global securities
will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in global notes will be made only through,
records maintained by DTC and its participants. Each person owning a beneficial interest in a
global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if the person is not a participant, on the
procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest to exercise any rights of
a holder of Debt Securities under the Indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities such as Debt
Securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may
impair your ability to acquire or transfer beneficial interests in the global security.
We will make payments on each series of book-entry Debt Securities to DTC or its nominee, as
the sole registered owner and holder of the global security. Neither Anheuser-Busch, the Trustee
nor any of their agents will be responsible or liable for any aspect of DTCs records relating to
or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global security or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTCs records relating to the beneficial ownership
interests.
DTC has advised us that, when it receives any payment on a global security, it will
immediately, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, credit the accounts of
participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their beneficial interests in the global
security as shown on DTCs records. Payments by participants to you, as an owner of a beneficial
interest in the global security, will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices
(as is now the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in street name) and
will be the sole responsibility of the participants.
A global security representing a series will be exchanged for certificated Debt Securities of
that series if (a) DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or if
DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and we do
not appoint a successor within 90 days or (b) we decide that the global security shall be
exchangeable. If that occurs, we will issue Debt Securities of that series in certificated form in
exchange for the global security. An owner of a beneficial interest in the global security then
will be entitled to physical delivery of a certificate for Debt Securities of the series equal in
principal amount to that beneficial interest and to have those Debt Securities registered in its
name. We would issue the certificates for the Debt Securities in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof, and in registered form only without coupons, unless otherwise specified
in the related prospectus supplement.
DTC has informed us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York
Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of
the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants (known as direct
participants) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among direct participants of
securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants accounts. This
eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants in DTC
include securities brokers and dealers,
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banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC
system is also available to others, known as indirect participants, such as securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear transactions through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant. The rules applicable to DTC and its
participants are on file with the SEC.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell Debt Securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers, and also may
sell Debt Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents. These firms may also act as
our agents in the sale of Debt Securities. Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement
will be considered as underwriters of the Debt Securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
We may distribute Debt Securities at different times in one or more transactions. We may sell
Debt Securities at fixed prices, which may change, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale,
at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
In connection with the sale of Debt Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us
or from purchasers of Debt Securities in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of Debt Securities may be
deemed to be underwriters. Discounts or commissions they receive and any profit on their resale of
Debt Securities may be considered underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act
of 1933. We will identify any underwriter or agent, and we will describe any compensation, in the
prospectus supplement.
We may agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution
of Debt Securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933.
We may authorize dealers or other persons who act as our agents to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase Debt Securities from us under contracts which provide for payment and
delivery on a future date. We may enter into these contracts with commercial and savings banks,
insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions
and others. If we enter into these agreements concerning any series of Debt Securities, we will
indicate that in the prospectus supplement.
In connection with an offering of Debt Securities, underwriters may engage in transactions
that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Debt Securities. Specifically,
underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a syndicate short position in
the Debt Securities for their own account. In addition, underwriters may bid for, and purchase,
Debt Securities in the open market to cover short positions or to stabilize the price of the Debt
Securities. Finally, underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed for distributing the
Debt Securities in the offering if the underwriters repurchase previously distributed Debt
Securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise.
Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Debt Securities above
independent market levels. Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities and
may end any of these activities at any time.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, each series of Debt Securities
offered will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. The Debt
Securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given
as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any Debt Securities.
LEGAL OPINION
Armstrong Teasdale LLP, St. Louis, Missouri, as our counsel, has issued an opinion as to the
legality of the Debt Securities.
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EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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$300,000,000
% Notes Due March 1, 2017
Prospectus Supplement
February , 2007
Barclays Capital
Citigroup
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
Banc of America Securities LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
JPMorgan
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Morgan Stanley
UBS Investment Bank